 |
The Juicery/Soupery on Main Street. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
___________________________
Please be sure to support our many great downtown restaurants and businesses this summer and year-round.
|
A FEW GENERAL ITEMS IN DURHAM
At Admin. Selig’s direction, DPW has been hard at work identifying appropriate/eligible water, wastewater, stormwater infrastructure projects for Durham’s Federal ARPA pandemic allocation of around $1.7 million. We’ll be bringing something to the Council for discussion in the coming weeks. Mr. Selig views these funds an opportunity to invest in Durham’s critical infrastructure and to reduce future recurring/capital costs for our local taxpayers/ratepayers, not an opportunity to launch new TBD programs. Staff are taking a very conservative, fiscally focused approach with any funding we receive.
Durham has been very aggressive in pursuing Congressionally earmarked allocations to support critical needs within our community. To this end and at our request, we are pleased to report Sen. Shaheen has recommended $900,000 for our LMR (Land Mobile Radio) replacement project, $543,000 for Durham emergency generators at critical municipal facilities, and $75,000 for administrative/emergency management enhancements at the Durham Fire Department. Very positive news. Note as well UNH is recommended to receive over $1.3 million for Covid-19 wastewater tracking efforts, among other things, which will also directly benefit the broader Durham community.
Durham Day is scheduled for September 18th downtown this year at 66 Main Street. We hope to leverage the event to support downtown businesses/restaurants. More details to follow in the coming weeks.
At this week’s Parks & Recreation Committee meeting, the committee and Mr. Selig discussed the need to evaluate a second full time position within the department, an assistant director position to support the Director. Per plan, the department has been successful in developing an array of robust and desirable programming for the community but it’s too much for our one full time person – the Director – to manage alone. To a certain degree, it means we're meeting our goals at programming but are failing to support a sustainable/resilient program over time in terms of staffing. The group will be working on a proposal for consideration by the Council this fall.
The Parks & Recreation Dept. is having a very busy summer, things are non-stop. Reach Camp in partnership with ORCSD is now 5.5 weeks complete. Dealing with Covid-19 related issues has been a constant challenge but the approx. 50 kids are having a fantastic time. Engaged with ongoing program planning for the rest of the summer and now looking ahead to fall.
The new ORMS facility will have three Pickle Ball courts marked out for use on the gymnasium floor, among many other uses. It’s a multi-operational facility. Pickle Ball is a big hit with adults. Apparently Four Square was a very big hit this past year with ORMS students.
The DFD hiring process for our vacant firefighter position at the Fire Dept. is proceeding, as is the process to find an assistant fire marshal position. In addition, the overtime budget is over spent this year to date but is being offset by under expenditures in other parts of the department.
The annual 2022 Budget Development Process is under way for departments, boards, commissions, and committees. CIP item requests are due to the Business Office by August 4th. Budget requests due to the Business Office by August 11th. Business Manager Jablonski and Mr. Selig plant to attend the Planning Board meetings on Sept. 15th and Sept. 29th (if needed) to discuss the CIP requests received. Once budget request are received, Business Manager Jablonski will assemble the information and schedule budget sessions for departments to discuss their request with the Administrator. The Administrator must present a formal budget to the Council by the last business day in October. The Council then must adopt a budget of its own by the last business day in December or the budget proposed by the Administrator becomes the budget by default. It’s a time-consuming, detailed process to be sure but it works very well in developing, fleshing out, making cuts, and finding consensus around a budget/tax implication that is acceptable to the Council/community.
The Energy Committee will be working with Mr. Selig to evaluate the idea of municipal aggregation to potentially secure greener electricity in bulk on the open market in support of Durham’s climate goals. To that end, we’ve been in touch with the Town of Hanover to learn more about what such an effort entails. (Hanover has been a leader in this regard.) In addition, due to other pressing demands, we will likely forego evaluation of purchasing PPA 2, our 640 kW Oyster River Solar Array (actually owned by IGS Solar), within Durham’s gravel pit in Lee on Packers Falls Road. It supplies enough power to offset a great deal of Durham municipal infrastructure as well as some of the ORCSD’s electrical load. Did you know that with the exception of our Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durham offset's 100% of our municipal energy load with green solar power? And we purchase 100% green wind power for our WWTP on the open market!
66 Main Street Parking Lot is coming along well. The parking lot is almost complete. Stormwater detention basin installed. Steps leading from the parcel down to Pettee Brook Lane are in place. Painting stripes needed for parking. Old steel fencing to be removed and reutilized elsewhere by DPW to be replaced with decorative black aluminum fence line along stone wall facing Main St. for safety purposes. We plan to have the site operational by September. DPW is doing an excellent job. For folks who think it takes municipalities a long time to accomplish things, just take a look at what Durham DPW is doing here when they had clear direction from the community. Great work!
The new parking area on Longmarsh Road is nearly complete. DPW Dir. Rich Reine sent over a photo to this week and it looked great.
Water/Sewer bills are due August 26th.
Town Clerk/Tax Collector Lorrie Pitt indicates we are in excess of 96% collected on the spring property tax bill.
The Durham Public Library has been very busy. Circulation is up, visits are up, and two meeting rooms are now available for public use once again. The DPL has been working on some collaborative projects with both Parks & Rec. and Riverwoods Durham. (P&R worked with the Library to pull together a great family movie night there last week.) DPW effectuated a repair in the basement a week ago to address a leak.
The NHRS will be conducting an audit of Town operations in the coming weeks. Audits are conducted about every 7 years by NHRS.
The Town and the Durham Professional Firefighters Association have reached a tentative agreement for a successor Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current agreement expired 12/31/20. Details to follow in the coming weeks.
DISH Wireless has approached the Town about leasing space on the Town’s Foss Farm water tank for the lease rate of $2,000/mo. The Town will be meeting with representatives from DISH to discuss. Co-location on the tank is not something that requires Planning Board review, in fact it’s specifically exempt, but we will work toward a courtesy public process of some type with DISH so abutters might provide feedback on the actual proposal, when received. Admin. Selig has indicated that the Town will be evaluating whether $2,000/mo. is a market rate or too low.
Cable Franchise negotiations between the Town and Atlantic Broadband (ABB) have been ongoing for many months and are nearing a close. The Town team plans to bring forward a proposal for the Council to consider at its meeting on August 16th, and if acceptable, will recommend scheduling a public hearing and action on September 13th. By Federal law, the terms of the franchise with ABB must be commensurate/consistent with the existing Cable Franchise Agreement between Durham and Comcast. Franchise negotiations with cable companies are weighted substantially in favor of the cable companies. Municipalities in practice have little say over what customers care about most: price, build out, channel line up, etc.
|
ELIGIBLE DURHAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS URGED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER BECOMMING FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19
The current public health recommendation is to become fully vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated will decrease your chances of becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus or transmitting it to your family, friends, and others in the community with whom you have close contact.
In addition, fully vaccinated people who become infected with COVID-19 are less likely to experience severe symptoms, hospitalization, or death.
If you have questions about the vaccine, it is recommended that you discuss this with your personal physician.
|
The above chart from NH DHHS shows vaccination information for different age cohorts in Durham. With the exception of the 12-19, 20-29, and 60-69 age cohorts, Durham’s vaccination rates are very high. Courtesy NH DHHS
|
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 (current at around 53% fully vaccinated), but not all towns in the state are not evenly protected.
We estimate that despite Durham’s Census population of around 16,300 +/- people our non-UNH student population for Durham is around 6,000 +/-. As such, we’re guessing that many of the students (though certainly not all) 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 state represents 4,709 people as of 7/30/21, that would mean Durham’s vaccination rate on our 6,000 +/- non-UNH student population base would be around 79.8%. This is no doubt a high estimation given that some UNH students would have in fact listed Durham as their primary address. The full vaccination rate for Lee is around 59% and Madbury is around 61% -- so Durham is probably somewhere north of 60% (certainly higher than 29%!), but it's not possible to discern with certainty with available data.
The number of active Covid-19 active cases for Durham continues to be in the 1-4 range, as it has since June. However, UNH's Covid-19 biomarker testing within our wastewater flow in Durham indicates that while Covid markers were virtually non-existent from late-May through last week, we're starting to see a modest uptick in biomarkers indicating Covid is present in Town (and this is before UNH students really begin to return in any significant numbers). So this means that some people likely have Covid in Durham and are asymptomatic and don't know they have it -- and without testing and if the disease remains asymptomatic, they'll never know -- but the disease is here so caution is important and vaccination is highly recommended.
The ORCSD will be discussing Covid-19 planning at an upcoming meeting in early-August.
Durham and UNH continue to work together to plan for the fall campus opening. UNH reports first year student pre-enrollment remains strong. Please see this week’s announcement from UNH President Jim Dean in the next item...
|
UNH PLANNING AROUND COVID-19 FOR FALL SEMESTER – A message from President Dean
Durham and UNH officials continue to meet and discuss Covid-19 related planning around the upcoming fall semester and beyond. The following information was provided from President Dean yesterday to the campus community.
UNH President James Dean devoted the entirety of his campus July update to COVID-19, specifically the University’s protocols for the fall semester and the need to understand the level of vaccination within the UNH community so the campus can be as safe as possible.
While state law prohibits UNH from requiring vaccination, President Dean cannot stress enough how important vaccination is for the health, safety and yes, the lives of the UNH community. The more members of the UNH community who are vaccinated, the more safe and open the UNH campuses will be, especially for those who are unable to or choose not to be vaccinated. The University wants to provide the best experience possible for its students with as few restrictions as possible, consistent with its responsibility for the health of the community. To do that in light of the uptick in cases around the country, reports (still rare) of fully vaccinated people testing positive, and the more contagious Delta variant, UNH will require arrival testing as well as regular testing for the month of September for every member of the UNH community, vaccinated or unvaccinated. Campus-specific arrival testing information will follow in the second week of August, but regular testing for the month of September will be as follows:
- If individuals have not told UNH they are fully vaccinated: same frequency as last year, two times a week for students, once a week for UNH employees;
- If individuals have told UNH they are fully vaccinated: once every other week or more frequently on a voluntary basis
- Review this flow chart to determine the general testing requirement
If UNH community members are fully vaccinated, please let them know using the confidential UNH Health & Wellness portal or HERE. The information provided will be confidential and used only for the purpose of confirming your vaccination status, consistent with the Health & Wellness Notice of Privacy Practices.
Currently, CDC guidance is evolving and UNH is monitoring the campuses' and regional data daily. Unlike parts of the U.S. today, all current indicators for our region and campuses support current protocols of no mask mandate, no physical distance requirements and no limit on gathering size. However, UNH is prepared to adjust its protocols as needed for the safety of the UNH community as the campus did last year.
UNH’s proven testing program will continue to provide data about community health and be available for all UNH community members who wish personal testing beyond the requirements. Wastewater surveillance at up to 30 campus locations will be ongoing. Infection rates may trigger additional testing as needed or adjustments to protocols, such as mandatory mask wearing in UNH classrooms or indoors. Additional guidance for classrooms, syllabi and labs will be shared by UNH in the second week of August.
UNH asks the campus community to please continue to follow CDC guidance for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals. Those who test positive for COVID-19 will follow the same isolation and contact tracing protocols as last year.
President Dean looks forward to seeing everyone on our campuses soon. Enjoy the rest of the summer and please continue to watch for more detailed information. The main COVID-19 website will be updated as information becomes available in August.
|
Passersby on Main Street and those patronizing Breaking New Grounds were treated with music this morning. Courtesy DCAT Studios
|
DID YOU KNOW?
Every year, 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes end up in landfills, and it takes 500-700 years for a toothpaste tube to degrade there. In addition, toothbrushes are one of the most complicated items to recycle. These items are made up of three different components - the nylon bristles, a metal staple that holds the bristles in place, and the plastic handle.
The Durham Transfer Station is now accepting oral care products for recycling! We have a TerraCycle box available for Durham residents to collect these items and sustainably recycle them.
Please bring your toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes (NOT electric toothbrush heads) and floss containers to the transfer station and give them to the attendant in the green hut (where the box is located). Thank you for your participation.
Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee
|
OYSTER WORKSHOPS AT DURHAM'S COMMUNITY OYSTER GARDEN - At the Town Landing.
Have you ever wondered what oysters are up to? Where do they live, and what types of animals make their home among them? Come learn and explore at the new Durham's Community Oyster Garden with our Oyster Workshops! The Durham Community Oyster Garden is located at the Town Landing where The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will be installing cages full of young oysters. TNC will be hosting oyster workshops for the public, where they will be doing presentations about oysters and the environment. There will be interactive activities, including examining inside the oyster cages and exploring what types of animals and plants occur in an oyster habitat. If they like, volunteers will also be able to help collect data on the oysters in the garden to help in an ongoing conservation study.
The event is free, but spots are limited to 6 per event because of COVID restrictions. Luckily the events will be happening through September!
Learn more and register on the Nature Groupie website.
|
FIREFIGHTER MATT HUNT COMPLETES FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES INSTRUCTOR COURSE
This 40-hour hybrid course is comprised of both in-class and online assignments and provides the instructor basic knowledge to prepare and deliver effective modern training programs. This course emphasizes techniques that have wide application in teaching situations, while reinforcing principles of learning and instructional planning for fire and emergency services. This certification is a valuable tool that will help firefighters to keep the members of our community safe while supporting a standard of excellence for firefighter safety.
Congratulations (and thank you) to Matt on successfully completing this valuable course!
|
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.
|
TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES TO COMMENCE AROUND ORMS CONSTRUCTION SITE IN ADVANCE OF 2021/2022 ORCSD SCHOOL YEAR
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.
|
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.
|
Durham's UNH Sustainability Fellow Cathy Fletcher visited the DPD on Thursday to see our two new (our first two, in fact!) hybrid police vehicles. Moving forward we hope to convert the fleet to hybrid and then electric, technology permitting. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
OUR UNH SUSTAINABILITY FELLOW VISITED TOWN ON THURSDAY -- Durham's new hybrid police vehicles coming on line...
University of New Hampshire Sustainability fellow Cathy Fletcher visited Durham yesterday.
While this semester‘s interactions have been exclusively done via Zoom, we were able to bring Cathy to town for one day to tour the community, meet key stakeholders, and examine Durham‘s two new hybrid police vehicles, which a former fellow had in fact specked out for us and built the case study around demonstrating the fiscal and ennvironmental effectiveness for the purchase.
Cathy is working this semester on developing a more detailed carbon sequestration analysis focusing on conservation and forested lands within the community.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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!
|
The inner workings of Durham's WWTP clarifiers are rusting out due to age/use. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CAPITAL NEEDS INVENTORY UNDER WAY
Public Works Director Rich Reine is working closely with staff at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and our external consulting engineers at Wright Pierce to update the list of capital needs at the facility.
Shown in the photo is one of our two primary clarifiers reaching end of life (20 yrs.) as demonstrated by the rusting infrastructure shown within the tank.
|
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
|
HAY BALE TOSSING - A NEW OLYMPIC SPORT?
Perhaps not, but the Durham Agricultural Commission invites you to show off how far you can throw a bale at the hay bale tossing competition being held on Durham Farm Day on Saturday, August 21st at LaRoche Farm on Bennett Road between 10am and 4pm, open to all ages. While you’re at LaRoche Farm you can enter the hay bale stacking contest, sample locally produced honey and maple syrup, admire the antique tractor display, take a hay ride around the farm, and much more. Mark your calendar and plan on spending August 21st visiting farms in Durham and on campus. Final details soon!
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.
|
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.
|
Solar panels are in the process of being installed on the new OR Middle School. Courtesy Todd Selig
|
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE FOR NEW OYSTER RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
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 in the parking lot behind the new facility will be built over the next several months, weather-permitting. Some delays from the manufacturer/installer due to Covid-19 will unfortunately stretch out the solar canopy installation process.
At this point the project appears on track to obtain LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.
|
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.
|
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.
|
Here is another Durham icon rendered by Ellie Lonske, a resident of Riverwoods and member of the Planning Board. Note the two small lions guarding the side entrance. The James Paul house was built between 1830 and 1840. According to the walking tour published by the Durham Historic Association in 1992, the property was home to James Paul, who died tragically when he was removing staging for the house; a Reverend Barnum who it is said, “walked to Town as going to a funeral;” and a Reverend C. H. Chapin, who, in contrast, “ran all the way to the Post Office and back.” We leave it to the reader to interpret these curious comments. The house is distinguished by its magnificent multicolored stone; the contrasting granite foundation, window lintels, and corner quoins; the decorative entrance, and paired end chimneys. The stone is believed to be trap rock. There are some fine buildings in downtown Newmarket built of the same material.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
Durham resident Macy patiently waiting for her people at DPL. Courtesy DPL.
|
Join us for Outdoor Family Movie Night at DPL!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 18th when DPL will be partnering again with Durham Parks & Rec. to bring you Family Movie Night outdoors at the library! The movie will begin at 8:15 pm and the feature will be Dolittle! Join us for this fun evening intended for all ages!
Thank you for joining us for Summer Reading 2021!
Congrats to last week's Week 4 winners of our Adult Summer Reading Challenge, Kim Gaulin and Melissa Kearney! Our final prize drawing takes place this Friday! Interested in what we've got planned for the fall? Check out our events page throughout August for schedule fall programs and events! Our ongoing Meditation & Yoga with JiongJiong Hu wraps up for the summer this Sunday, August 1st. Give it a try and stay tuned for fall dates! Ask Your Ambulance! with McGregor EMS continues on August 5th with more emergency-focused tips and training! Need help with any of our digital resources? Give us a call at 603-868-6699 during business hours to set up a device help time!
Thank you for participating in our 'Tails & Tales' Summer Reading Programs!
We've reached the end of the official Tails & Tales Summer Reading program in Youth Services. Congratulations summer readers! You have read 97,966 minutes in Weeks 1 through 4! The final tally with Week 5 will be ready next week! DPL would also like to thank all of the local businesses who have sponsored prizes for the summer reading program: Bagel Works, Wildcat Pizza, Big Bean, Clarks, Dunkin, The Juicery, Hop 'n Grind, Oyster River Cycle and Sports, Sweetened Memories, Monkey Minds Escape Room, and Hayden Sports. There's still fun to be had in August while we get ready for fall programming! Try out the August Literary Calendar to continue with your summer reading goals!
Interested in joining our team? DPL is hiring for a Library Assistant position in Youth Services! For a complete job description and application information, click HERE! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
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."
________________________
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.
|
Have a very nice weekend. Stay dry with all of this rain! We do need it, though. If only it could come at night leaving blue skies and sunny weather during our limited NH summer days!
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?
---
|
|
|
|
|
|
