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70 plus people attended the Foss Farm Neighborhood block party on Ryan Way last week on Tuesday, July 20th. Courtesy Laura Zercher
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The bookstore, run by the Friends of the Durham Public Library and located on the second floor next to the cafe, is open once again! Everyone is welcome to come buy gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and audio books. If you join the Friends while there, you will receive our gratitude and a coupon for one free item.
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AS A WELL EDUCATED COLLEGE COMMUNITY, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE STATE REPORTS ONLY 29% OF DURHAM INHABITANTS ARE VACCINATED? The UNH student population in Durham is likely impacting the data.
Numbers provided by the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services and reported on by The Concord Monitor show that New Hampshire boasts one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, but not all towns in the state are not evenly protected. View an article regarding NH vaccination rates town by town HERE.
We estimate that despite Durham’s Census population of around 16,000 +/- people our non-UNH student population for Durham is around 6,000 +/-. As such, we’re guessing that many of the students listed their parents’ address as their address for vaccination purposes so “credit” for vaccination is going to those other communities. This would be the case for fully vaccinated UNH faculty/staff who work on campus but live elsewhere (outside of Durham) as well.
If the 29% reported by the Monitor represents 4,640 people, that would mean Durham’s vaccination rate on our 6,000 +/- non-UNH student population base would be around 77%. This feels about right to Admin. Selig, particularly with long-term congregate care facilities non-reporting in this batch of data. Durham is a highly educated, forward thinking community, which would tend to equate to higher vaccination rates versus the average NH town/city.
We had looked at the NH DHHS vaccination rate data by community about a month ago and using the same logic had estimated around 70% of Durham’s 6,000 +/- non-UNH student population had been vaccinated. The uptick over the last few weeks is likely representative of the 12-16 age cohort since June that has become eligible for vaccination and others who have ultimately chosen to become vaccinated.
On a positive note, the number of active Covid-19 active cases for Durham continues to be in the 1-4 range, as it has since June. In the meantime, Durham and UNH will be working together to plan for the fall opening. Details to follow in the coming weeks.
See graph below illustrating the proportion of the Durham population that has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by age cohort.
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This graphic from NH DHHS indicates most Durham age cohorts have an 80%+ vaccination rate. This is great! The very low rates (11 – 15%) in our 12 – 29 groups are because of the issue where many UNH students used their parents’ address, which is unfortunate and likely is impacting other college towns too.
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THE GENERAL JOHN SULLIVAN HISTORIC MARKER IS BEING REFURBISHED BY THE STATE
This week, a resident noticed that The Gen. John Sullivan historic marker was missing. Upon inquiry to the Town, Durham inquired with the state, and we have subsequently learned that the marker, located on Route 108/Newmarket Road by the Sullivan monument just up the road from the Oyster River, was removed to be refurbished. Once that is done, it will be re-installed by the state.
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Welcoming sign denoting the entrance to Durham along Route 108/Newmarket Road surrounded by beautiful yellow flowers over the last two weeks. Courtesy Todd Selig
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STATE ADOPTS NEW DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE PROHIBITIONS APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
House Bill 2 was passed this past legislative session by both bodies of the legislature and signed into law by the Governor on June 25, 2021. Included in HB 2 are sections 297 and 298, Right to Freedom from Discrimination in Public Workplaces and Education.
There has been much discussion about this law and what prohibitions it imposes on public employers, government programs, and schools. The State of New Hampshire and its political subdivisions recognize that they have a duty to ensure that they treat all residents and visitors equally. This means that all employees or individuals who work to provide or administer programs and services on behalf of the State of New Hampshire, including teachers in an educational setting, must continually strive to treat all of those with whom they may come into contact equally and with dignity and respect.
The NH Department of Education, NH Department of Justice, and the NH Commission on Human Rights issued a FAQ sheet this week to provide guidance to public employers, government program administrators, and school systems as they review their compliance with this new law.
This FAQ document addresses questions that may arise regarding the changes to the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, RSA chapter 354-A, that impact public employers and government programs. View the full FAQ sheet HERE.
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MASTER PATROL OFFICER HOLLY MALASKY, DURHAM’S PROBLEM ORIENTED POLICE (POP) OFFICER, RETIRES
After nineteen years of dedicated service to the Durham community (following police service in Newmarket), Master Patrol Officer Holly Malasky is retiring. We wish Officer Malasky all the very best in her retirement!
With the retirement Officer Malasky, an opening was created for the POP Officer position. Chief Kelley is pleased to announce that Officer Emily Festa has been selected to replace Holly as the POP Officer. Emily will assume the duties as POP Officer in August, prior to the fall opening of UNH.
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NH RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO AUDIT TOWN OF DURHAM AS PART OF ROUTINE AUDITING CYCLICAL PROCESS
It’s been about seven years since Durham was last audited by the NH Retirement System (NHRS) for compliance with applicable statutes, rules, and regulations. As such, Admin. Selig received courtesy notification that the NHRS would be auditing Durham this fall. Of interest is the fact that Durham was the first community the NHRS auditor audited when this person began as an auditor at NHRS in the early 2000’s. We are very pleased to participate in the process. Durham’s goal is to undertake our practices and processes correctly. We believe we do and strive to do so as a goal, but it’s good to be sure and the audit will assist us with meeting our objectives.
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DURHAM BUSINESSES: PLEASE TAKE THE COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY
Local businesses have received an email from Community Economic Development Director Christine Soutter inviting them to take a Community Sustainability Survey. This survey is part of a research project created by UNH researchers, working with the Regional Compost Working Group (comprised of representatives from the Towns of Durham, Lee, the Oyster River School District, and the University of New Hampshire), and is designed to inform future local sustainability initiatives, such as community-scale composting, renewable energy implementation, and other sustainability programs.
To all Durham businesses: help us understand your sustainability practices and needs and get your voice heard! Please take the survey by July 23rd. Thank you!
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DID YOU KNOW?
Caps should be placed back onto plastic bottles and jugs before recycling.If caps are not placed back onto the plastic containers, they should be thrown into the trash because they are too small for the recycling equipment to handle properly.
On the other hand, caps should not be placed back onto glass or paper containers because the caps are composed of different materials from the containers.
Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee
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PLANNING BOARD MEETING - Mill Plaza Application Review Postponed at Applicant's Request
The Planning Board is meeting this coming Wednesday, July 28, 2021. The agenda for this meeting can be viewed HERE. Details of each item can be seen by clicking on the green highlighted section. Please note that the Mill Plaza project has been postponed to the August 25 meeting at the applicant’s request. The Planning Board is holding an extra meeting next month, on August 18 to review plans for 74 Main Street, a proposed 4-story mixed use redevelopment of the lot (with the yellow house) at the juncture of Pettee Brook Lane and Main Street.
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Mill Pond dam. Courtesy Todd Selig
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VHB COMPLETES SUPPLEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF MILL POND DAM ON OYSTER RIVER
At the Town Council meeting on Monday evening, July 12th, the Council received a presentation from VHB regarding the supplement to the Mill Pond Dam Feasibility Study. The VHB team completed a supplemental analysis of Alternative 3 (Dam Stabilization) without Option 1 (Pond Restoration Dredge). The goal of this supplemental analysis was to determine whether the water quality impairments within the Mill Pond impoundment can be addressed through a series of watershed management strategies. The analysis focused on answering the specific questions posed in an email from Town Councilors Welsh and Lawson to Councilor Marple dated February 24, 2021, as discussed at the March 1 Town Council meeting, as well as subsequent communication with the Town.
The VHB team will return to the Town Council meeting on August 16, 2021, to continue discussions with Council members. Interested members of the public are asked to submit any questions and concerns relative to the Mill Pond dam to Town Engineer, April Talon, atalon@ci.durham.nh.us by Friday, July 30, 2021 in order to allow time for the VHB team to review and be able to address additional questions and concerns at the August 16th Council meeting.
No decision regarding the dam will occur until the Town Council’s first meeting in September, 2021.
The approved scope of work can be found HERE.
The supplemental analysis to the dam feasibility study is now available for public review and can be found on the Town website or viewed HERE.
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DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS PLANS TO COMPLETE A RE-INSPECTION OF THE MILL POND DAM THIS SUMMER WITH VHB AND PARE CORPORATION
The Department of Public Works plans to reinspect the Mill Pond Dam this summer to monitor structural deterioration of the concrete, primarily one of the ribs nearest the gate structure. This may require lowering the Mill Pond by a few inches depending on flows in the Oyster River. More information will be provided to the public and abutters when the work is scheduled.
Questions and comments should be directed to Town Engineer April Talon at (603) 868-5578, or email atalon@ci.durham.nh.us
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Offsite overall plan. CivilWorks New England
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TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES TO BEGIN AROUND ORMS CONSTRUCTION SITE
At the Town Council meeting on July 12, 2021, Stephen Haight from CivilWorks New England, the Project Engineer for the Oyster River Middle School project, updated Council members on changes to be made to the traffic patterns around the new middle school. The traffic reorientation plan will include Coe Drive, Dennison Road, Garrison Avenue, Bagdad Road. This plan has been reviewed with town department over the course of several meetings.
View the letter sent to neighborhoods around the Middle School notifying residents of the upcoming work HERE.
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OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE - July 21, 2021
Construction on the new Oyster River Middle School was 64% complete in June and about 70% complete as of July 21. Interior finishing including paint and tile is going in now, and solar panels are being installed on the roof. The canopy to support additional solar panels will be built over the next month or so, weather-permitting. At this point the project appears on track to obtain LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.
ORCSD is working with the UNH Survey Center to develop communications surveys to provide more detail to the work that the superintendent's communications committee completed this spring. Separate sets of questions will be targeted to the broader community, parents, and staff. Look for more details in September/October.
Oyster River High School and Middle School will welcome 2 new Mandarin language teachers this fall, which will continue the Chinese Mandarin language program for grades 6-12. The district is still working with One World Language School to develop a proposed local K-5 after school program to replace the program previously offered by the UNH Confucius Institute.
Rebecca Noe, formerly assistant principal at Bedford High School, is the new principal of Oyster River High School. An interview team including students, parents, staff, administration, and school board members participated in the selection process, and the school board approved the nomination on June 16. Welcome Ms. Noe!
At future school board meetings the school board is expecting to review the fall school opening framework and begin updating the strategic plan. Work on the 2022-2023 budget will begin in September. As always, community input to the school board is welcome. The easiest way to contact the school board is orcsdsb@orcsd.org.
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DON'T FORGET TO APPLY FOR YOUR SOLAR EXEMPTION - A reminder from Assessor Jim Rice.
While inspecting properties for improvements/renovations, it has been noted that several property owners in Durham who have installed solar equipment have not applied for their solar exemption.
If you own property in Durham and have recently installed, upgraded or replaced a “solar energy system” that utilizes solar energy to heat or cool the interior of your building; heat water or to provide electricity, you may qualify for a solar exemption. If you are already receiving a solar exemption, you do not need to reapply.
The Town of Durham adopted the Exemption for Solar Systems per RSA 72:62 where you may qualify for a solar exemption from your property tax assessment.
To qualify for this exemption, you must submit a PA-29 exemption application by April 15, 2022. Applications are located on the Town’s website or you may pick one up at the Assessor’s Office. Your application must also include the total installation cost and a detailed list of what equipment was installed on your property.
If approved, this exemption will be applied to your assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact the Assessor’s Office at 603-868-8064.
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AMTRAK DOWNEASTER - DURHAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN TAKE THE EVENT NITE TRAIN TO/FROM BOSTON
Catching a Sox Game? Or got tickets for a Fenway Concert? Take the Event Nite Train!
Red Sox at Home from 7/22-7/29
The Fenway Park experience is back and full of fun! Cheer on the Red Sox as they face the NY Yankees and then the Toronto Blue Jays. Watch the Sox hold first in the AL East!
Can't Wait for Concerts?
8/3 - Guns n Roses @ Fenway
8/4 - Billy Joel @ Fenway
8/5 - Green Day @ Fenway
8/6 - NKOTB @ Fenway
8/8 - Zac Brown Band @ Fenway
View more information HERE.
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DON'T LEAVE ANIMALS IN VEHICLES DURING HOT WEATHER
With the arrival of summer-like weather, Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley wants to remind all pet owners to please leave their pets at home instead of bringing them with you and leaving them alone locked in a vehicle. Temperatures inside a parked car can rise quickly to levels that are dangerous to our furry friends.
Please view information HERE from the Humane Society of the United States for helpful information and their warning of the dangers of leaving a pet unattended in a parked car.
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MARINA'S MILES 5K RUN/WALK
Marina’s Miles 5K Run/Walk will be held virtually July 18 through August 18, 2021 (Marina’s birthday). Run or walk 5K anywhere. Registration is $20 and includes a free t-shirt if registrations are received by July 14, 2021.
Registration forms are available on the MarinasMiles website or the Facebook page. The course map is located at the bottom of the website page. Sign up, time yourself, and email us at MarinasMiles5K@gmail.com and let us know your results. Results will be posted on the website and Facebook, along with a picture of you running if you choose to send one. Registrants will automatically be entered in the door prize raffle.
Help remember an enthusiastically loving person and barefoot championship runner, Marina Slavin, who died in 2013 of a heart infection at the age of 20. Proceeds go to a college-bound student at Oyster River High School in Durham, NH (Marina’s alma mater). Donations for the scholarship are accepted via Paypal (https://marinasmiles.org/donate/), or a check made out to Marina’s Miles can be mailed to Marina’s Miles, 10 Burnham Ave, Durham, NH 03824. We are a 501c3 charitable organization, so your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law.
Major sponsor for the event is Trueworthy and Associates.
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HARMONY HOMES ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF HARMONY PLACEI Harmony Homes is proud to announce the Grand Opening of its newest addition, Harmony Place. Harmony Place will consist of employee apartments, day care center for employees, and office/training space to further develop our employees.
The event takes place on August 12th from 8AM - 6PM at 40 Briggs Way in Durham. There will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 AM, hosted by the Dover Chamber of Commerce, along with breakfast, tours, and goody-bags.
A second session will be held from 2 - 6PM where Hors’ Doeuvres will be served along with Harmony Homes' signature non-alcoholic Harmony Place drinks, goody bags & more tours!
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Do you Want to be a Citizen Scientist this Summer?
If you are a college or high school student living in the Durham NH area and want to benefit your community and the planet while learning about climate science, then this is an opportunity for you. Your participation will help continue a research project about urban heat island effect and its impacts on the Town of Durham and UNH campus. View the project’s initial results in the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference media gallery HERE.
Volunteers will visit various sites throughout Durham to monitor the natural conditions of several common land covers (e.g. grasses, pavements, water, etc.). Responsibilities include writing descriptive observations of the sky and ground at each site, using handheld equipment to gather environmental and meteorological measurements, and recording organized data. Volunteers will be trained on how to use each piece of equipment (shortwave pyranometer, soil moisture sensor, IR thermometer) and shown proper data collection techniques. These skills will be of great use to an aspiring scientist!
The schedule for data collection is ongoing from July to early September 2021, ideally Monday to Friday from 12 Noon - 3PM but may vary slightly on a week-to-week basis, as all work is outdoors and very weather dependent. Volunteers are not expected to collect data on days with considerable overcast, precipitation, or storms. Data collection will only occur on days with a clear sunny sky.
If this opportunity appeals to you, and would like more information about this seasonal experience, or results of the previous year’s project, please contact Connor Melican, UNH CEPS ’21 - Earth Climate Science, B.S., at cmm1090@wildcats.unh.edu
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AUGUST 21ST IS DURHAM FARM DAY!
Do you know you don’t need a tractor to make your yard into a garden? You can make garden beds right on top of your lawn using the technique of sheet mulching to create planting areas. Join us at on August 21st at LaRoche Farm on Bennett Road to learn more. The sheet mulching demonstration begins at 11am. And at 2pm at LaRoche Farm you can meet the oyster farmers of Wagon Hill Farm. Learn how oysters are sown, raised, and harvested right here in Durham! And don’t forget the new Farm Day contests – enter your funniest looking tomato, longest bean, and heaviest zucchini! Entries accepted during Farm Day at LaRoche Farm between 10am and 2pm with winners announced at 3pm. There will be lots to learn, see, and do on Farm Day with a full list of events available soon. Stay Tuned!
Visit UNH Research Farms on Durham Farm Day, Saturday, August 21st. Preregistration required due to COVID protocols. For more information and to preregister, click HERE.
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SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST
The Supervisors of the Checklist will hold a session Monday August 9 from 7:00 – 8:00 PM at the Durham Town Hall in the office of the Clerk. The purpose of this session will be for new voter registrations, requests for the correction of the checklist, and/or change of political party affiliation. Voters may check party affiliation online HERE.
Residents who have received a letter from the Supervisors regarding being removed from the Checklist during our verification process may re-register at this session. This will be the last date these people can re-register without being removed from the checklist. However, anyone can then register at the Town Hall any time during regular business hours, or at any future election or Supervisor session.
Applicants for registration or re-registration, whether at the Clerk’s office or with the Supervisors, should bring with them proofs of Identity, Age (18 by the next election, which is March 2022), Citizenship, and Domicile. Affidavits may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking.
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DURHAM SWAP SHOP
For folks who haven’t been to the Swap Shop (which is at the Transfer Station), you may not realize what a unique spot in our Town exists at the facility. You can drop off a cooking pot that you no longer need and before you know it, a new home has been found! You may bump into a friend or meet your new neighbor.
And then there are the things you may hear. “This playpen will be perfect for my baby goats!” “I was just about to buy a bread maker. It looks brand new!” “Oh, this will be perfect for our Yankee Swap.”
Visitors often come in to ask if we “have” a certain thing. During this season of weddings, several people have asked for vases, fancy stemware, dinner plates, and planters. Such was the case for a wedding that recently took place in Madbury. Planting pots, mugs, and vases were used for the basil plants that guests took home. A wooden shelf and metal table held the plants and wood was found to make signs. What a great way to reuse and repurpose!
So before you go out to buy something you need or want, consider taking a trip to the Swap Shop. You may be surprised at what you will find. You can also drop off something that someone else could use. It’s great when we keep things out of the waste stream.
The Durham Swap Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9am-2:30pm. Items that are dropped off need to be functional, clean, and with no missing parts. Please check specific guidelines about items HERE.
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OYSTER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATORY WEEKEND OF SOCCER
In an effort to recognize the phenomenal 60 year success of the Oyster River High School Soccer program, Paul Bamford, OR’s golf coach and soccer alum, is organizing a celebratory weekend of soccer to be held September 24-25, 2021 at the high school. The event is doubling as a fundraiser for the proposed press box/sound system ($175,000+) to be attached to the newly installed bleachers. “The Voice of the Boston Bruins” and former OR/UNH soccer star Jack Edwards will serve as MC.
To commemorate the weekend, a unique event T-shirt, co-designed by Elijah Edwards, Jack’s son (front of shirt), along with Wolfe Ramsay, a star member of this year’s OR basketball team (back of shirt) is being offered. T-shirts can be ordered separately for $25. All orders are on-line only, to be picked up at the event.
Registration instructions for attendance, game/food ticket purchase, and all other information are included HERE.
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Here is the latest rendering by Elline Lonske, Riverwoods resident, of sites and structures in Durham, depicting the iconic UNH Wildcat in front of the Whittemore Center. Ellie uses various techniques for different images ranging from a straight watercolor painting to incorporating details on photoshop into a watercolor. Here is the multi-step process Ellie described for this picture:
- In Photoshop: lightened the image and then converted it to grayscale;
- Printed the grayscale "ghost image" on watercolor paper;
- Painted over that with watercolors;
- Scanned the painted image;
- In Photoshop, then pasted the Wildcat on the water-colored image.
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TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS
Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
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Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.
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Family Theatre Night at the DPL sponsored by Durham Parks & Recreation.
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Join DPL for Tails & Tales this July!
All summer reading is under way and this year's programming runs this year from June 28th through July 30th!
Return your Adult Summer Reading Challenge card any time next week for our FINAL Friday drawings! Need a new one? Download one HERE or pick one up at the library! There is NO registration and no pressure. Write down your book titles and contact info. on the card and return the card with your books! Congrats to our Week 3 winners, Karyn Laird and Ada Gerard!
Our ongoing Meditation & Yoga with JiongJiong Hu continues through August 1st this summer and Ask Your Ambulance! with McGregor EMS returns on August 5th with more emergency-focused tips and training! This month's topic centers on emergency tips bleeding control. Interested in what we've got planned for the fall? Check out our events page throughout August for schedule fall programs and events!
This summer is still packed with another week of reading fun in Youth Services! Discover reading logs/Bingo boards, prizes, beading, crafts, YA Zoom Mondays, Storytime, Baby Lap-sit, Crafty Critters grab 'n go crafts and much more! The full youth July calendar is also available to download anytime! Summer Reading 2021 Registration is still open in Youth Services through July 30th! And don't forget to mark your calendars for next week's Joint Library Finale Zoom Program with Keith Munslow on Thursday, July 29 at 10:30 AM! Register today!
Questions? Check out our website at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/. As always, library staff is available by phone during business hours at 603-868-6699 or by email at mailto:durhampl@gmail.com
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HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)
Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."
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1757 - A "wag-on-the-wall" clock bears this inscription: Thos. Wille Durham 1757. It is the only existing clock known to be made by him. Willey is recorded in a deed as clock-maker, and was commissioned to repair the arms taken at New Castle.
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Have a very nice weekend.
Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham, NH
a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA
t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us
He/him/his pronouns
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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