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Durham Parks & Recreation had a full roster of 20 families participate in the campout at Wagon Hill Farm on Saturday, June 22nd. DPR provided a BBQ dinner, campfire and s’mores, a scavenger hunt and yard games Saturday evening. Sunday morning, participants were served a simple coffee/hot cocoa and doughnut breakfast before everyone packed up and headed for home! Courtesy Jeremy Gasowski
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A final reminder that all Town Offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2019 in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
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Also...the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office hours during the week of July 4th will be as follows:
Mon - (Jul 1): Open 8AM to 6PM
Tue - Wed (Jul 2 & 3): Open 8AM to 4:30PM
Thu - Fri (Jul 4 & 5): Closed
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JULY 4TH HOLIDAY REFUSE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION
All Town offices will be closed for Independence Day on Thursday, July 4, 2019. There will be *NO COLLECTION ON THURSDAY- DELAYED ONE DAY REST OF WEEK- THURSDAY’S COLLECTION WILL BE ON FRIDAY AND THERE WILL BE NO COMMERCIAL COLLECTION ON FRIDAY 7/5/19.
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JULY 1, 2019 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING CANCELLED
As there is no business to place on the July 1, 2019 Town Council agenda for action, the July 1st Council meeting has been CANCELLED.
The next regularly scheduled Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 15, 2019.
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ROTARY CLUB OF DURHAM-GREAT BAY WILL HOST DURHAM/UNH FIREWORKS IN 2019
On Wednesday, July 3, 2019, the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay will present The Durham-Great Bay Independence Day Celebration, at Wildcat Stadium, in conjunction with the University of New Hampshire and the Town of Durham. Gates open at 6PM with fireworks beginning at approximately 9PM.
In 2019, in partnership with the University of New Hampshire, Rotary is breathing life into this important community event. Rotary is seeking support from businesses in the area to help make this event a huge success. This is a wonderful community event that draws families from all surrounding communities including Lee, Madbury, Barrington, Newmarket, Dover, and beyond thus building a stronger community.
Both residents and local businesses can become a sponsor and most importantly, join Rotary for a fun evening of fireworks and celebrating our Nations 243rd birthday. We plan to have food, fun and games for children. Last year the Food Trucks and Bouncy Area were big hits. We will be working with Durham Recreation Department again for a great children’s fun area.
Donations are still needed so we can bring this event to you free of charge. To donate please go to: https://durhamgreatbayrotary.org/
For more information, contact Durham-Great Bay Rotary President Tom Boisvert at mailto:tports@comcast.net
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Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector Barbara Landgraf. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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DEPUTY TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR BARBARA LANDGRAF RETIRES!
At the end of the work day today, Durham's Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector, Barbara Landgraf, officially retires. Barbara began employment with the Town on May 17, 2004 when she replaced former deputy Lorrie Pitt who was elected as the Town Clerk-Tax Collector to replace longtime employee Linda Ekdahl when she retired in March 2004. Residents will see Barbara again, though, as she will be returning in August for a time to assist the Clerk's office while the office conducts a search, hires, and begins training her replacement.
Thank you, Barbara, for your many years of devoted service to the Durham community!
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - DEPUTY TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR
The Town of Durham is seeking applicants for a Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector who will provide administrative support to the Office of Town Clerk. We are seeking a person who has a strong work ethic, is organized, detail-oriented, and who demonstrates exemplary customer service skills as the position requires a high degree of interaction with the public.
This position assists the Town Clerk with a variety of routine and complex administrative functions relating to the recording and retention of official Town records, assists customers with various registrations and licenses at the counter, assists with election duties, and runs various reports. The position requires considerable knowledge of cash handling and cash reconciliation procedures. The successful candidate will be adept at performing a variety of tasks and able to adapt to changing circumstances.
This position reports directly to the Town Clerk. The work week is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although the employee may need to work in the evenings during elections and share in working one evening a month until 6:00 p.m.
Must be a resident of Durham, NH.
Interested applicants should submit a completed application, along with a cover letter and resume by 4:00pm, July 1, 2019 to:
Lorrie L. Pitt
Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office
8 Newmarket Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: 603.868.5577
Fax: 603.868.1858
Email: mailto:lpitt@ci.durham.nh.us
Durham is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
View the full job description and access an employment application form HERE.
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DPW EMPLOYEE SAM HEWITT FEATURED IN UNH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER'S NEWSLETTER
This week, the Administrator's office received in the mail a copy of the UNH Technology Transfer Center's Newsletter, Road Business, with an accompanying letter which read: "We are excited to share our latest newsletter with you that features one of Durham's hard-working public works employees, Sam Hewitt. We recently had the pleasure of meeting Sam and asking him about his unique career approach to public works and what his daily work in Durham means to him."
The interview with Sam, beginning on page 4, can be viewed HERE.
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Grownups like ice cream too! Courtesy Julia Griewank
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DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET - Each Monday afternoon in the Sammy's downtown lot off Pettee Brook Lane
Be sure to stop by the Durham Farmers' Market being held on Monday afternoons at the Sammy's/Store 24 Parking Lot. A variety of locally produced farm products, prepared foods, and fine crafts will be available Mondays 2:15 - 6:00 PM. There will be regular as well as guest vendors with an increasing variety of vegetables available as the season progresses.
We've received very positive feedback from the community so far with this new location. Farmers report record attendance!
One positive aspect is that folks can walk downtown to access the market and while they are there, shop/eat in other downtown establishments.
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SWAP SHOP CLOSED ON TUESDAY JULY 16TH
The Swap Shop will be closed on Tuesday, July 16th in preparation for the construction of new shelving! We will attempt to reopen on Saturday, July 20, but if we do, volunteers will be restocking so you will be asked to put any items you are dropping off on the shelves instead of on the outside tables. Please make your plans accordingly.
Special appreciation goes out to the Town of Durham for providing the funding and the members of the Great Bay Rotary for their building expertise of this initial shelving project. Please also remember that the Swap Shop accepts items from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
Interested in volunteering? Call or text 603-969-4732. Joanna or Cristina at mailto:foggdrive@yahoo.com
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DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS TRAINING SESSION - Administrative Offices at DFD to be closed on Monday, July 1, 2019, from 8:00 A.M. UNTIL 10:30 A.M
The staff of the Durham Fire Department will be engaged in a department-wide training session on Monday, July 1, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The fire department members, officers, and administrative staff will be offsite at a professional development session which includes officer training and leadership coaching with a focus on team development and maintaining a positive workplace culture.
The on-duty crew will be available to respond to emergency calls as usual; however, the administrative staff will not be available during the above-noted hours due to the training. The administrative offices will re-open for business at 10:30 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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UPDATE ON EVERSOURCE TREE CUTTING APPLICATION ON DURHAM POINT ROAD - News from the Planning Board
The Planning Board reviewed the application from Eversource this past Wednesday evening to remove 48 trees and trim numerous others on Durham Point Road, a designated scenic road. Council Chambers was nearly packed with residents offering comments about the proposal.
The Planning Board closed the public hearing and started its deliberations, discussing with Eversource the pertinent issues: height of poles, clearance standard for trimming around the wires, oversight by the Eversource arborists, proposal for the Town to hire its own arborist, and the general policy that was adopted by the Planning Board for cutting trees on scenic roads. The board’s deliberations are continued to the July 10 meeting.
The Planning Board did approve a related application by Eversource for installation of 13 poles within the wetland overlay district finding that the required criteria in the ordinance were met.
View the documents related to the application HERE.
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20 families participated in the campout at Wagon Hill Farm organized by Durham Parks and Recreation on Saturday, June 22nd. Courtesy Jeremy Gasowski
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DURHAM AWARDED $1,450.00 FROM DOVER DISTRICT COURT RELATIVE TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS TRASH VIOLATIONS AT CAMPUS CONVENIENCE
Last week Durham prevailed during a hearing at the Dover District Court for accumulated trash violations issued to a downtown business. The Court awarded Durham the full $1,450.00 in fines from three separate violation notices, which were contested by the property owner.
Part-time Code Enforcement Officer Adkins presented evidence compiled over more than a year, during which time multiple outreach efforts were made to the business owner to bring about voluntary compliance. Unfortunately, consistent compliance was not achieved, and the resulting citations were issued.
The Judge’s Order included comments that Durham’s Code Department complied with the procedural requirements and Code Officer Adkins testified credibly. The Court did not find the testimony of the owner of Campus Convenience to be credible, and accordingly found the defendant guilty of violating Durham’s trash ordinance.
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OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS – June 24, 2019
June 19 was the last day of school for this school year in Oyster River. Congratulations students, staff, and families! We wish everybody a wonderful summer.
Ron Lamare, lead architect for the proposed middle school project, discussed safety considerations for the design of the new middle school. He presented data indicating that traffic and transportation are the leading cause of student deaths in school settings. He discussed safety by design in terms of traffic patterns, staff visibility and control of school grounds, access controls to enter both the building and academic core areas, design features to enhance ability to lock down the school if needed, and other considerations. The Town of Durham and the ORCSD are working together to look at traffic patterns on roadways around the middle school. ORCSD is looking at the middle school site specifically. Durham is looking at the roadways around the middle school. To this end, Durham has received a proposal for $25,000 for determining necessary engineering data for the following roadways around ORMS: Garrison, Dennison, Coe Drive, and Madbury Road. We plan to take vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, and busses into account with the work to be done. A traffic study will also be needed once school is back in session.
The School District recognizes 10 staff members retiring this year across the district. Thank you for your dedication to our schools and students: Linda Rief (38 years), June Paradis (31 years), Eileen Moran (23), Janice O'Brien (21), Pamela Mahokin (21), Deb Poulin (21), Paul Byron (19), Brenda Tirrell (17), Alexa Grout (15), and Barbara Kester (5).
A committee of students, parents, and teachers will be formed to conduct focus groups and collect broad community input on the grading system at the middle school. This group will start in the fall and is expected to complete its work by May 2020.
The elementary world language committee continues its work including visits to other schools. It will also be collecting family input in the fall. Rising 5th graders who have been taking after-school Mandarin will have the opportunity to continue Mandarin at ORMS during Bobcat Time starting in October.
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4-H GROUP VISITS DURHAM POLICE
UNH hosted a 4-H camp that provides opportunity for teenaged students to focus upon leadership while engaged in a number of STEM activities. STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
Problem Oriented Policing Officer (POP) Tom Kilroy and Detective Katie Bolton presented a criminal forensic presentation on the sciences involved in solving crime. They delved into the series of arsons that occurred in Durham in 2015 where DNA evidence, coupled with other technology was used to solve the case and ultimately result in a conviction of the arsonist.
Other cases where trace evidence is used to obtain a conviction were discussed to the extremely interested campers.
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"To Lift a Nation," the 9/11 National Memorial, at the National Fire Academy, formerly Saint Joseph College, in Emmitsburg, Maryland
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DURHAM FIREFIGHTER ATTENDS NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY
Firefighter Brendan O’Sullivan recently attended a 10-day course at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland regarding Fire Investigation Interview and Testimony.
This 10-day course provided fire/arson investigators with the necessary tools to conduct sound, legally supported interviews and interrogations with witnesses and suspects in preparation for court testimony. Further, the course provided essential and critical skills for investigators in courtroom testimony preparation and presentation with the intent that the trained student would be able to provide expert testimony. The students participated in a mock trial exercise where they were expected to defend their findings based on cases assigned in class.
Successful completion of this course provided students with credit for the expert witness testimony component for the International Association of Arson Investigators CFI Certification Program.
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Three of the six SCA-AmeriCorps crew at Doe Farm working on one of the four bridges they built on Doe Farm Trails; this bridge includes sills and stringers made from a spruce that they cut down on-site, de-limbed, peeled, carried, and then notched once set in place. Courtesy Ellen Snyder.
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NEW TRAIL BRIDGES AT DOE FARM BUILT BY SCA-AMERICORPS
Thanks to the generous donations of many Durham residents to the Durham Land Stewardship Patron’s Trust to help fund trail projects on the 87-acre Doe Farm, we are making great progress in reaching our stewardship goals. Funded by these donations, a 6-member Student Conservation Association (SCA)-AmeriCorps crew wraps up their 11-day “hitch” today. They’ve spent two weeks building four beautiful trail bridges that will keep walkers, skiers, and mountain bikers out of wet areas. They’ve carried heavy granite abutments, pressure treated lumber, and spruce logs to bridge sites, enduring rain, humidity, mud, and mosquitoes. Two bridges have “native timber” for “stringers”— the wood that the decking is screwed to. The crew cut two spruce trees on-site, de-barked, and placed, enduring
They discuss and plan each step. Three days in they are busy carrying heavy granite abutments and lumber to the first bridge site and they are underway with construction, despite rain, mud, and mosquitoes. This is their first project after months of classes and training and are enthusiastic to be working with Durham on this project. After their two-week stint at Doe Farm they will move on to other projects throughout New Hampshire through early October.
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NATURE CONSERVANCY AND TOWN OF DURHAM TEAMING UP TO BRING OYSTER GARDEN TO AN OLD LANDING NEAR YOU...
The Public Works Department is teaming up with The Nature Conservancy New Hampshire Chapter’s volunteer Oyster Conservationist program to pilot a Durham Community Oyster Garden at the Town Landing off of Old Landing Road to engage Durham community members and improve the health of Great Bay and the Piscataqua Estuary through oyster restoration.
TNC will provide the Town with 3 oyster cages in late July that would be located along the water at the Town Landing and sit in the tidal portion of the Oyster River. The Town would “foster” them and volunteers could sign up to pull the cages up out of the water so that the oysters could be cleaned, counted and inspected. The Town and community members would then work with TNC over the summer to provide data to them at different intervals. TNC would collect the cages in late September so that the Oysters could be counted and measured and placed with their oyster restoration areas in the estuary. In addition, we plan to install a panel with signage where the public could visit the site and learn about oyster restoration efforts.
The details are being worked out for a community training event at the Town Landing in July. More information will be posted on the Town’s website and shared in the next few weeks.
Please contact Town Engineer April Talon at 603-868-5578 or atalon@ci.durham.nh.us for more information or if you are interested in signing up!
View more information regarding oyster reef restoration efforts HERE.
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A MEET AND GREET FOR THE NEW RESIDENTS OF RIVERWOODS DURHAM TOOK PLACE THIS WEEK
POP Officer Tom Kilroy attended a get together of residents excitedly awaiting the completion of RiverWoods so they may move into their new residences. The Durham Police are looking forward to working collaboratively with the RiverWoods folks to offer any presentations or programs that the residents may feel will benefit them.
The POP position is designed to work closely with a number of entities offering insight to policing in Durham as well as scams that historically target our older residents.
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View of Main Street looking up Church Hill on Wednesday afternoon this week. Courtesy Todd Selig
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KNOTWEED PROJECT - IT'S ONE TOUGH INVASIVE PLANT!
The Town has embarked on an effort to control invasive Japanese knotweed along Mill Pond Road and around the Town Hall. Ellen Snyder is working with NH State Invasive Plant Specialist Doug Cygan on implementing the best control methods. Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is an aggressive and highly invasive herbaceous to somewhat woody perennial originating from eastern Asia (Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan). One of the plant characteristics is the noticeably jointed stems, much like bamboo.
View images of Japanese knotweed and read more about the plant and best management practices HERE.
The most effective control method is herbicide application by a NH licensed applicator. Japanese knotweed is unlike most plants in that the flow of nutrients/carbohydrates is in one direction, moving upward during the growing season until flowering and then the process reverses to deliver the nutrients/carbs back down to the rhizome system for overwintering. Therefore, chemical application is most effective just after flowering up until the first killing frost (September – November). To increase effectiveness of the treatment, the stems can be cut to the ground in June. The re-growth will be reduced by the time of treatment in the fall. We’ve done this at two sites—behind the town hall and at the College Brook bridge. These piles will be left to dry out to ensure they are non-viable before being taken to the town transfer station for burning. Doug Cygan will be treating the re-growth in the fall and other invasive plants along Mill Pond Road (not on the Milne Sanctuary) as well.
Ellen is mapping knotweed populations throughout Durham. If you know of a stand, please mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com. Thanks to all those who have submitted sites thus far. Ideally, we will be able to stop the spread of this plant through best management practices.
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NEWS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION - Public Information Session on proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance related to agriculture on Monday, July 8th, 7:00 p.m., town Council Chambers in Town Hall.
The Agricultural Commission has been working for many months with Town Planner Michael Behrendt to draft extensive proposed changes to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance related to agriculture. Changes including adopting the State’s definition of agriculture to provide residents and Town staff with guidance to enable and regulate farming activity in Durham and expanding opportunities for agriculture in all zoning districts. Adopting the proposed changes is a primary goal in the Agricultural Resources chapter of the Town’s Master Plan. The Agricultural Commission welcomes the opportunity to talk with residents about this important work. Please join us on July 8th at 7pm.
The proposed changes are available on the Town website HERE.
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7TH ANNUAL DURHAM FARM DAY IS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH, RAIN OR SHINE!
An action-packed day to celebrate Durham’s working landscape of farms and gardens across town and campus. Full list of events available soon, including a Community-Bring-Your-Own Picnic Lunch at noon LaRoche Farm which will feature steamed local sweet corn provided by the Agricultural Commission. So much to see and do, mark your calendars and bring your family!
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FOOD FRIENDLY YARDS - The Durham Agricultural Commission can be a great resource.
The Durham Agricultural Commission encourages Durham residents to produce their own food through the Food Friendly Yards program. We are a resource for residents wishing to learn more about growing fruit, starting vegetable gardens and creating pollinator habitat in their own yards. We can provide information about raising poultry and other livestock where appropriate. Each year we host a Food Friendly Yards Tour on Farm Day, inviting residents to visit and learn from their neighbors.
For more information or questions, mailto:foodfriendlyyards@gmail.com
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MILNE NATURE SANCTUARY RESTORATION CONTINUES
The Milne Nature Sanctuary Committee is moving ahead with the next phase of the restoration of this one-acre property that lies on the shores of College Brook, Oyster River, and Mill Pond, and which was given to the Town by Margery Milne as a nature sanctuary and a place where residents could enjoy quiet, reflective time in nature.
Orion Tree Service will cut six large overstory invasive Norway maples; these maples produce thousands of seeds and prevent native plants from thriving. Once removed and stumps ground down, a native pollinator meadow will be created by augmenting existing natives with a wildflower seed mix and plants.
Hand-pulling of invasive plants will be needed for awhile. Pathways will continue to be improved.
If anyone would like to assist, please contact mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com or Milne Trustee Diana Carroll at mailto:dianacarrollnh@gmail.com.
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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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R.E.A.C.H. SUMMER DAY CAMP - July 8 - August 9, 2019
R.E.A.C.H. Summer Day Camp is a community-based summer camp collaboration between Oyster River Cooperative School District and Durham Parks & Recreation. It meets Monday- Thursday, July 8 through August 9 at the Oyster River Middle School. Campers can participate in a morning ORCSD program, and then have the option to transition to afternoon camp with Durham Parks & Recreation. Since Oyster River is providing lunch for all school-aged kids, there is no need to pack one! To complete the week, Durham Parks and Recreation is also offering Friday Field Trips.
Read more about the program in the April 2019 Celebrate Durham blog HERE.
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DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS
The Library will be closing at 5PM on Wednesday, July 3rd and will be Closed on Thursday, July 4th.
Happy Fourth of July!
Tuesday, July 2nd - 7:00-8:00 pm
Guided Meditation at DPL! Back by popular demand!
Mindful Meditation with Jiong Jiong Hu
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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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1918 - The influenza epidemic, lasting 3 months, started with SATC students, billeted in the Barracks; 3 college building served as hospitals. Strict quarantine, with guards on streets and buildings; passes were necessary. 12 deaths occurred among townspeople and students.
1918 - The 1897 T. Hall flagpole needed replacement. Digging the stump was unsuccessful, so it was bored, packed with dynamite, and fired as the clock struck twelve. The stump shot higher than the tower, turned, and plunged into the hole. It was not hard to find witnesses 20 years ago.
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Youngsters and their parents enjoy roasting marshmallows during the campout at Wagon Hill Farm last weekend. Courtesy Jeremy Gasowski
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Have a very nice weekend and a safe and fun Fourth of July!
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