Friday Updates - March 10, 2023

Friday, March 10, 2023

March 14 is considered Pi Day. π (spelled out as "pi") is the symbol for a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159. . .. The Greek letter π appears in many formulae across mathematics and physics. It represents an irrational number. Its decimal representation never ends, nor enters a permanently repeating pattern.

Daylight Savings begins this weekend. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one-hour this Saturday evening! (Editorial comment: If Admin. Selig could help facilitate ending the arcane practice of adjusting clocks two times each year, he would do so!)

McGregor EMS is offering free COVID-19 test kits to residents of the towns of Durham, Lee, and Madbury through NH Health and Human Services. There is a limit of 5 test kits per household. Test kits can be picked up between 8am and 5pm. To reduce the chances that we are out on an ambulance call, please consider calling 603-862-3674 right before you come. McGregor EMS is located behind the Durham Fire Department at 47 College Road. If you have any questions, please email rlyons@mcgregorems.org.

UPDATE ON RETIRED DURHAM FIRE CAPTAIN TRAVELING TO UKRAINE

Mike Hoffman leaves for Ukraine this Monday with strong support of the Durham community. This Ukrainian humanitarian relief fundraising effort has raised over $14,000 in just over a week! The people of Ukraine will receive much needed assistance from the people of Durham. These missions not only bring essential supplies, but our compassion is emotionally uplifting to those who could use a little boost. Mike reports hundreds of emotionally-drained citizens will be aided with this effort and would like to thank the community!

PREPARATIONS IN PLACE FOR A POTENTIAL LATE-SEASON WINTER STORM ON TUESDAY - No.....

At this early stage, the weather forecast model currently paints a significant high-impact winter storm centered around Tuesday to affect New England. Significant impacts from heavy precipitation and wind are possible from this classic Nor’Easter along with coastal impacts during the high tide cycles. Durham Public Works remains ready to respond, as always, and will continue to evaluate the latest forecasts as they become available. 

DPW has had a very busy winter maintenance season over the past several months battling a parade of winter storms with four long-duration emergency responses taking place between February 26th and March 4th. The Department has now responded to 19 winter storm events in the 2022-2023 season.

Lorrie Pitt began her service with the Town of Durham as a Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector in July 1992 and was later elected Town Clerk in March 2004. Friday, March 31, 2023, will mark the end to her 30-year journey in the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s office. While the Town plans to host a more formal farewell for Lorrie on April 19th, in conjunction with recently retired administrative assistant Jennie Berry (more on this to come in future Updates), residents are welcome to stop by Town Hall this month to offer Lorrie their best wishes.

Over her long tenure, Lorrie has accomplished many things, but her biggest feat may be the efforts she took to modernize the Town Clerk’s office.  These upgrades created a more efficient office that reduced lines and wait times. She was one of the first Town Clerks in the state to advocate for residents to be able to use credit cards to pay for registrations and taxes. Lorrie completed the NHCTCA certification training between 2004-2008 and has maintained her certified credentials for the past 15 years. Additionally, Lorrie has successfully managed all federal, state, and town elections in Durham for almost two decades. She is considered one of the most respected leaders among Town Clerks, often called into hearings to testify as an expert or participate in discussions with state leaders. Lorrie has served on several state boards and committees, including membership in the NH City and Town Clerks Association, the New England Clerks Association, and the NH Tax Collectors Association.  

Lorrie’s contributions to the Town of Durham over the last three decades are endless, but it is her warm, caring nature and giving spirit that will be her legacy. We sincerely thank Lorrie for her dedicated service to the community and wish her well in the years ahead!

On April 30, 2023, terms on various Town boards, commissions, and committees will expire. In April, the Town Council will begin the process for making its annual appointments/ reappointments to Town boards, with appointments to take effect May 1, 2023. The Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to fill these vacancies, which are listed above.

Citizens interested in board appointments may stop in or contact the Administrator’s office at 603-868-5571 and ask for a board application form. Applications are also available on the Town’s web site by clicking HERE.

Completed applications may be mailed to the Administrator’s Office or submitted via email to kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Kitty Marple (left) was honored at the March 6 Town Council meeting for her many years of service on the Town Council. Sally Needell (right) was also honored for her years of service on the Town Council. While Sally is running for re-election, Kitty has decided to step down. Courtesy Todd Selig

UPCOMING 2023 TOWN ELECTION AND ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION

The 2023 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Oyster River High School, Multipurpose Room, Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. The polling hours are 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. If you are unable to vote in person, you may qualify for an absentee ballot. Please click HERE or call the Durham Town Clerk’s Office at 603-868-5577 for more information on how to vote absentee.  

The following is a list of candidates that have filed for positions for the March 14, 2023 Town & Oyster River Cooperative School District Election. To read about each Town Candidate's qualifications and interests, please click HERE.

Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term)

• Wayne Burton
• Emily Friedrichs
• Sally W. Needell

Two positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)

• Robin Glasser
• Kimberly Sweetman

One position for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (1-year term)

• Randall O'Brien

One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term)

• Theodore Howard

One position for Town Clerk-Tax Collector (3-year term)

• Rachel Deane

One position for Town Treasurer (3-year term)

• Karl A. Van Asselt

Two positions for School Board At-Large (3-year term)

• Denise Day
• Giana Gelsey

One position for School Board Durham Member (1-year term)

• Thomas Newkirk

One position for School District Moderator

• Michael Williams

Pat Rassamee, owner of Bamee Restaurant, grew up in Phichit, Thailand, a small town a few hours north of Bangkok. Her mother Yuphin came to America when Pat was around ten. Pat remained in Thailand and she was raised from that time by her grandparents. Pat came to New England for her college education, earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing, a master’s degree in Leadership in Human Resources, an MBA in Hospitality and a certificate in Pastry Arts.

Pat opened Bamee Restaurant in 2017. Some friends hers were skeptical that a Thai restaurant not serving Pad Thai (the national dish of Thailand), Drunken Noodles, Orange Chicken, and Massaman Curry would succeed. But Pat has acquired an enthusiastic following. Customers come from all over for her Tom Yum soup, Ga Prao stir fry, Udon Kee Mao noodle dish, and other delicacies.

Bamee, located on Jenkins Court, offers Thai street food. Street food is often closer to the indigenous cuisine of a culture than restaurant fare which is typically prepared for a more universal palate. (For excellent traditional restaurant cuisine, visit Thai Smile 2, just across the street.) Pat says, “This is comfort food. It is authentic and affordable. In Bangkok, at a kiosk on the street they cook the food in front of you. If they sell Pad Thai, then they sell only Pad Thai, and it is very good. Do what you do really well. I offer a limited number of dishes. That way I can keep things fresh.” 

Then she adds, “But my menu keeps getting bigger. I offer a special and people won’t let me take it down!” Click HERE to read more about Pat and her restaurant.

FOLLOWING SEVERAL MONTHS OF NEGOTIATION, TOWN COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY RATIFIES COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN DURHAM AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES COUNCIL 93, LOCAL 863 (AFSCME - DPW) FOR THE PERIOD1/1/23 – 12/31/25

The Town began the contract negotiation process in November 2022 with the AFSCME representing the seventeen Public Works employees covered by the contract. The bargaining team consisted of Town Attorney Joseph McKittrick, Business Manager Gail Jablonski, Public Works Director Richard Reine, and Mr. Selig. 

This past Monday evening, the Council approved the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that will extend from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025.

The negotiated changes included items in the following Articles:

• Article 16  Vacation Leave
• Article 18  Sick Leave Incentive
• Article 29  Uniforms
• Article 31  Educational Incentive Reimbursement
• Article 32  Wage Scale and Pay Plan                                              

Given that recent consumer price index increases at the national level are around 6.4%, down from over 8% in the fall, combined with increased competition for regional employers to attract quality employees, the changes noted herein appeared warranted.

FINANCIAL DETAILS:

The negotiated Cost of Living Adjustments to wages are as follows:

• 2023     4%
• 2024     3%
• 2025     3%

In addition the per day differential for those employees placed on “standby” was increased from $36.41 to $40.00 effective January 1, 2023 and will increase to $41.00 on January 1, 2025. The previous reference to “dual standby” has been eliminated.

The cost impact for the wage increases and associated benefits per year is as follows: 

COMMUNITY POWER COALITION OF NH TO ANNOUNCE RATES ON MONDAY IN NASHUA – Durham, while a member community, has opted to look to being part of wave 1.5 or wave 2 in the coming months. 

The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire will announce the initial electric rate, which will be to some degree lower than the default rate offered by the state’s electric utilities. This announcement will mark the launch of the state’s Community Power, which was enabled by the legislature in 2019, and is now launching with an initial wave of ten communities: Enfield, Exeter, Hanover, Harrisville, Lebanon, Nashua, Peterborough, Plainfield, Rye, and Walpose. 

Durham was one of the initial communities that spearheaded the formation of the new effort but has opted to wait to see how implementation goes for the initial ten communities. 

Residents of the initial ten launch communities will potentially benefit from lower electric bills and expanded energy choices in May, when the Coalition takes over as the default electricity provider for their communities. Under Community Power, electric distribution utilities (in Durham’s case, Eversource) continue to own and operate the power grid while local communities gain control over from where their power is sourced.

Many other NH communities have begun the process to launch their own programs in the coming months and years. A total of 30 communities (including Durham) have already voted to join the Community Power Coalition and are currently in the process of evaluating and/or launching their own Community Power Programs. 

Sally Tobias (left) was honored at the March 6 Town Council meeting for her years of service on the Town Council. While Sally is not running for re-election, she intends to continue to serve on other Durham Boards and Committees. Courtesy, Todd Selig

SOLICITATION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ON RENEWAL OF COMCAST CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT

The Town of Durham is soliciting comments on the renewal of the Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement. The Town Council must undertake a process to ascertain the cable related needs and interests of the community before a renewed agreement can be approved. Please Note: Pricing, channel lineup and system build-out are not areas of which the Town has oversight as part of this process.

Please submit any comments or concerns on this renewal agreement to Administrative Assistant, Karen Edwards, at kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us or at 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824.

The current Agreement is available for viewing in the Administrator’s Office located on the second floor of the Town Hall at 8 Newmarket Road during normal office hours 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

PUBLIC HEARING ON REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 17

The Strafford Regional Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) in accordance with RSA 36:47. The public hearing has been scheduled for Friday, March 17, 2023 at 9 AM. The hearing can be attended in person or via Zoom:

In Person: SRPC’s Conference Room 1A, 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH

Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85802372877, Meeting ID: 858 0237 2877, Telephone-only Access: 1-646-558-8656

The draft RHNA documents are available on the SRPC website (strafford.org) and at the Rochester, Somersworth, and Dover public libraries. Copies can be provided upon request. If anybody has a problem accessing the hearing or needs special arrangements, please email srpc@strafford.org or call 603-994-3500 x115

On Friday, March 3, 2023, Durham hosted a delegation from Friends Forever International, based right here in Durham, which included a group of NH high school students interested in the topic of social change. The kids were participating in FFI’s first-ever credit bearing high school program. Town Clerk-Tax Collector Lorrie Pitt, Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector Rachel Deane, Financial Analyst Deb Ahlstrom, and Mr. Selig all had an opportunity to meet with the group.  

COLONIAL DURHAM ASSOCIATES, LP V. TOWN OF DURHAM APPEAL – The NH Supreme Court begins to schedule its appeal process.

In Case No. 2023-0009, Appeal of Colonial Durham Associates, LP, the Clerk of Court on March 10, 2023, issued an order:

There was no response received from any of the parties regarding the court's order of February 9, 2023, regarding appellate mediation, and as such, the case will proceed to the preparation of the certified copy of the record.

On or before May 9, 2023, the New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board, which has ruled unanimously in favor of the Town of Durham, shall file with the NH Supreme Court a certified copy of the record in the proceeding. The certified copy of the record shall include a table of contents with references to the page of the record at which each item listed in the table of contents begins. See Rule 10(3). Unless the moving party requests that a transcript be prepared, in compliance with the administrative agency’s regulations and/or RSA 541- A:31, no transcript will be prepared for inclusion in the record. See Rule 10(2) Note. If a transcript of the proceeding before the New Hampshire Housing Appeals Board is requested, it shall be filed with the certified copy of the record.

SETTLEMENT IN TYCHE CAPITAL GROUP LLC V. TOWN OF DURHAM - Town to receive $10,000 civil penalty plus attorney's fees from local landlord.

Durham Code Enforcement, in conjunction with the Durham Fire Marshal, recently concluded a settlement agreement with an off-campus housing landlord based on a Motion for Contempt due to a violation of a June 2020 settlement. Tyche Capital Group, LLC was using its property at 26 Strafford Avenue in violation of the Durham Zoning Ordinance, which limits occupancy of the property to no more than three unrelated persons.

Frederick Kell, the Manager of Tyche, acknowledged the over occupancy of the property, thus admitting to the violations. Tyche also owns properties at 14 Edgewood Road and 21 Edgewood Road, which have at times been over occupied contrary to the applicable ordinance, as well as properties at 9 Dover Road and 17-19 Edgewood Road.

The 2023 Settlement agreement provides that for the next seven school years, copies of each of the leases for all six properties, as well as contact information for each tenant including license plate numbers of the tenants' vehicles, will be submitted to the Code Enforcement Department.

The Town is further entitled to two inspections per semester of all the properties upon 24 hours’ notice without cause, as well as additional inspections of any of the properties if good cause to do so exists. Tyche shall also correct all outstanding code violations, including Rental Housing Ordinance violations, at the properties by the end of the current school year.

Tyche will pay civil penalties in the amount of $10,000 and reimburse the Town of Durham its costs and attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the Motion for Contempt. You may read the entire Settlement Agreement HERE.

AN UPDATE ON DURHAM’S ONGOING PROPERTY REVALUATION PROCESS

Callback appointments continue to take place and be scheduled for properties which had an initial exterior-only visit. Data entry is 83% complete, leaving only a small portion of data to be entered from initial visits. Remaining data entry will come from properties needing an initial visit or from callback appointments having a second visit. Under 280 properties still need an initial visit. We anticipate all properties will be visited by the middle of April.

Meanwhile, appraisal supervisors from our contractor, MRI, have been reviewing all properties, correcting database errors, and updating database tables. The condo, depreciation, and land curve tables have been updated, but may be adjusted in response to sale data and information gathered during sales field review.

Next Phases: The next phases in the process will continue simultaneously as MRI contractors conduct sales field review next month to update neighborhood factors and site indexes. Neighborhood factors affect land values of certain areas in Durham to account for location desirability demonstrated through the market sales. Site indexes further adjust for specific property conditions within the neighborhood. A full field review is anticipated during April, once the database has been adjusted with sale information and all measure and list data has been entered. 

Robin Glasser (left) was honored at the March 6 Town Council meeting for her years of service as a Library Board of Trustee. Robin is running for re-election as a Trustee and is looking forward to continuing to serve. Courtesy, Todd Selig

DID YOU KNOW? - There's an app for that!

Sustainability apps can be great resources to learn more about eco-friendly options in our everyday lives. Here are some examples of sustainability apps that might work for you.

Too Good to Go 

Here’s how it works. When a business (think pizzerias, bakeries, etc.) has a food surplus, they list it on the app as a “surprise bag”. Consumers using the app can then prepay for the food (at ⅓ of the price!!) through the app and pick it up. Using this system, consumers can get some good takeout food for a discount, and food is being diverted from a landfill at the same time.

Good On You

A go-to for checking in on the sustainability and ethics of your favorite fashion brands. Using the app, you can also discover alternative ethical and sustainable fashion brands as options. 

Joule Bug

This app helps to promote sustainable actions in your everyday life. Their goal is not only to make sustainable living more simple but also fun!When you complete sustainable actions on their app, you will earn points that can be turned into a fun competition with your friends and family. Some of the actions you can take include turning your A/C off to conserve energy, refilling a reusable water bottle, or recycling! This app is a great way to get the kids and family involved in eco-living!

Giki Zero

This app provides you with a personalized guide on how you can reduce your carbon footprint (and it's free)! They have over 150 steps you can take so you will never be short of ideas.

Source: The Eco Hub

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com

SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING DISPOSAL PROCEDURES – A Reminder to Residents

Durham Public Works would like to kindly remind residents of the following:

1) Solid waste collected curbside must be in a tied bag and preferably placed into a lock-on style container for ease of disposal. The collection vehicles are operated by a single employee who on average handles between 10,000 – 14,000 pounds of solid waste per day.

2) Commingled and mixed paper recycling are collected on alternate weeks. A container which includes a mixture of these materials will not be collected.

3) Our collection vehicles do not handle large boxes well. They get caught at the top of the compaction hopper, causing other materials to back-up and eventually overflow. This is particularly dangerous when the truck is driving down the road, as the cardboard is prone to flying out of the hopper. We kindly ask that all cardboard be cut into 2’x2’ pieces before being placed in your blue bin or other recycling container and when disposing of at the Transfer Station. We also ask that loose cardboard left beside containers be tied with string for ease of handling. It is important to note that when disposing of cardboard curbside, it may be commingled with mixed paper products.

DURHAM ROADWAYS POSTED FOR RESTRICTED WEIGHT LIMITS BEGINNING MARCH 15

A reminder to residents and contractors that unless specifically permitted by the written directive of the Public Works Director, it is unlawful for any person, partnership or corporation to haul, transport or cause to be transported by a vehicle with a gross weight over six (6) tons any material over restricted Class V roads from 12:01 am on March 15th through 11:59 pm on April 30th. To see the full list of restricted roadways, please click HERE.

In Spring 2022, DPW awarded a contract to Pichette Brothers Construction of Manchester, NH for the replacement of approximately 2500 lineal feet of 6” and 8” cast iron water piping on Emerson Road between Madbury Road and Westerly entrance of Littlehale Road. The watermain has experienced significant break history recently with six water main breaks in as many years. During each emergency response break event, customers experienced unplanned and extended water service interruptions, and the roadway longevity was greatly impacted by required roadway trench excavations to access the watermain and make the necessary repair. Significant supply chain disruptions delayed pipe delivery by 9 months, thus delaying the project until this year.

DPW and Underwood Engineers, who will provide Engineering Inspection Services for the Town, hosted a pre-construction meeting with Pichette Brothers this week to review project logistics and set a firm date for construction commencement. A neighborhood meeting with affected residents will be scheduled soon with notification through door hangers and the Friday Updates publication.

Weather permitting, construction operations are set to begin during the first week of April on the segment from Madbury Road to Edgewood Road and will require phased roadway closures for through traffic during work hours. Access will be maintained for residents and vehicles making deliveries within the closure limits. The maps above show the phased closure limits and associated traffic detour pattern.

2023 ROAD AND SIDEWALK PROGRAM TO BEGIN IN EARLY APRIL

The 2023 Road and Sidewalk Program contract was recently awarded to Continental Paving of Londonderry, NH, with work scheduled to begin in early April. The Program will include roadway reclamation, milling, paving, and drainage improvements to Emerson Road following the Water Main Replacement Project. Additionally, paved surfaces at the Durham Public Works campus will receive drainage improvements prior to a full reclamation and paving. Furthermore, a targeted mill and fill program is planned for several roadways including Durham Point Road, Wiswall Road, and Bagdad Road. 

The scope of work includes pavement overlays for roadways owned and maintained within the University of New Hampshire (UNH) campus, specifically College Road, McDaniel Drive, Field House Rear Drive and Spinney Lane. The value of this work is contained within the Town’s capital improvement plan and funded entirely by the University.

The Program consists of continued phased reconstruction of sections of deteriorated concrete sidewalks with brick edging within the Downtown corridor. Planned construction improvements in 2023 include the sidewalk segment on Main Street that extends from Smith Park Lane down Newmarket Road to Mill Pond Road. These sidewalks currently have non-complainant accessible ramps, areas of failed and overturned curbing, dislodged bricks with upheaved and deteriorated concrete panels. This project will remove the existing concrete and brick banded sidewalks and replace them with new concrete panels eliminating the failed brick banding and sections of upheaved bricks. Additionally, the bituminous sidewalks along Emerson Road from Bagdad Road to Edgewood Road will be replaced and compliant ADA ramps installed.

REGULAR PART-TIME MECHANIC NEEDED AT DPW

The Public Works Department is seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Regular Part-Time Equipment Mechanic. The successful candidate will assist the Fleet Services Supervisor in the maintenance, repair, and installation of a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment within the Public Works Fleet. Responsibilities include diagnosing and troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, performing regular preventative maintenance on equipment, ensuring equipment is operating safely and efficiently, and keeping accurate and detailed maintenance records. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Fleet Services Supervisor and Operations Manager.

The salary for this position is $23.00 - $25.00 per hour, depending upon qualifications. Flexible scheduling is available for this 24 hour per week position, with normal work hours from 7:00am – 3:30pm Monday – Friday. The successful candidate will have a minimum of (1) year of experience or formal training in the maintenance of fleet vehicles and heavy equipment. Possession of a Class B Commercial Driver’s License and State Inspection Certification desired.

Applications are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs. Please send resume and cover letter to Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us by 4:30 PM on March 10th, 2023.

PART-TIME SEASONAL LABORERS NEEDED AT DPW

The Public Works Department is seeking several highly motivated team members to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Part-Time Seasonal Laborer. The successful candidates will assist the Operations Manager and Buildings and Grounds Supervisor in completing routine public works projects such as landscaping, park and facility maintenance, and road maintenance.

The salary for these part-time, seasonal positions is $14-16/hr, depending upon qualifications. These 40 hour/week positions run from May-August and normal work hours are 7:00am – 3:30pm, Monday – Friday. The successful candidates must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license or may be 16 or 17 years of age with signed parental permission. Experience with small engine operation, including lawn mowers, string trimmers, and lead blowers is desired.

Applications are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs. Please send resume and cover letter to Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us by 4:30 PM on March 10th, 2023.    

Martha Gooze (left) was honored at the March 6 Town Council meeting for her service as a Library Board of Trustee. Martha graciously agreed to step in as a Trustee last year for a one-year term when a vacancy unexpectedly arose. Courtesy, Todd Selig

On Sunday of last week, Durham Police Administrative Assistant Jen Johnson celebrated her 50th birthday. Now most people celebrating that milestone would be content to spend the day celebrating and eating cake, but that’s not Jen’s style. Instead of relaxing with friends, Jen decided to celebrate by running 50 miles. An avid runner since her days of burning up the tracks at Oyster River High School, Jen has been a serious runner completing eleven marathons, including the Boston Marathon, and the United States Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. Jen has also competed in three ultra marathons.  

Jen began her birthday run at 6:00 AM and finished 10 hours and 50 seconds later, an incredible pace for such a long distance. Jen did not run alone, as she was accompanied by a host of other seacoast runners and friends who each ran a portion of the event with Jen, encouraging and supporting her on her journey. Other than a couple of sore feet and tired legs, Jen said she felt amazing after the run. Rumor has it that she will soon begin training for her 60 for 60! Congratulations, Jen! Your Durham PD family are so happy and proud of you! 

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly so Parents can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #10

What do you do if you encounter smoke in your house?

GET LOW, GET OUT.

Smoke and heat rise during a fire, by staying under the smoke and heat there is oxygen and cooler temperatures. Click HERE for a helpful link to explain more.

The Oyster River High School spring musical is coming right up on Friday and Saturday, March 17th and 18th. Don't miss this exciting opportunity so buy your tickets by clicking HERE before the last petal falls!

Friday, March 17 at 7:00 pm

Saturday, March 18 at 1:00 and 7:00 pm

Location: Oyster River High School Auditorium (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

This March 24, the Oyster River Cooperative School District will be welcoming Ms. Tona Brown for a special concert. Tona is an internationally acclaimed musician, and she was the first transgender woman of color to perform for a sitting president. She frequently speaks and performs at universities—and we’re lucky to be hosting her! The concert is at 7:00 pm at the Middle School's Recital Hall (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). 

Free admission and seating limited. First come first serve!

Superintendent James Morse and Principal Jay Richard wish to congratulate Oyster River Middle School robotics teams on their recent successes at the 2023 NH/VT VEX IQ Challenge Slapshot State Championship. This event held on Feb. 19 welcomed students from New Hampshire and was hosted by Manchester Community College. This event also served as a qualifier for the 2023 VEX IQ Challenge World Championship.

The event was tournament-style, and 12 Oyster River teams competed among 40 teams. The following five Oyster River teams earned qualifications to compete at the 2023 VEX IQ Challenge World Championship. The event will be held from April 30 to May 2 in Dallas.

Team 2820A, the LU-natics, finished first overall in the Teamwork Challenge. They also won the Excellence Award, a Robot Skills Champion Award, and a Teamwork Champion Award. Team members are Andrew Lu, Fiona Liu, and Olivia Liu.

Team 2820D, Straight Outta Durham, finished second overall in the Skills Challenge, won the Teamwork 2nd Place Award which qualified them for Worlds, and the Amaze Award. Team members are Eli Evans, Cal Kimball, James Saunders, Brayden Alvarez, and Xander Ahn.

Team 2820B, the AutoBots, finished fourth in the Skills Challenge, and received a Teamwork Champion Award which qualified them for Worlds. Team members are Sid Arthanat, Tino Leo, Ian Zhou, Advait Govindarajula, and Yash Joglekar.

Team 2820E, Five Guys, finished fifth in the Skills Challenge. Team members are Yizhou Zhao, Jack Howey-Clark, Samuel Li, Sanchin Webber, and Thomas Mullins.

Team 2820M, the Mighty Monkeys, finished seventh in the Skills Challenge and won the Design Award which qualified the team for Worlds. Team members are Rina Han, Diya Sridharan, Sid Sanjay, and Arwa Alnazer.

“We are very proud of our robotics students," Principal Richard said. “Their accomplishments reflect their dedication and work ethic. In addition, I would like to thank and acknowledge our robotics program leaders, John Silverio, Jason Duff, and Jade Terrill for their commitment to the program.”

“Oyster River students have, again, demonstrated their innovation and ingenuity,” Superintendent Morse said. “We are proud of all teams who took part in the competition and look forward to following the qualified teams’ journey to the 2023 VEX IQ Challenge World Championship in Dallas.”

To view the webcast of this event, click HERE.

COLLECT YOUR LOOSE CHANGE AND SUPPORT OYSTER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS!

The Oyster River High School Press Box/Sound System Committee is organizing a school district-wide coin drive April 3-7 to help fund the construction of a new press box and sound system at the high school athletic complex.

Details and instructions for drop-off will be provided to students and their families in the next few weeks, but if other residents choose to make a tax-deductible donation, they may drop off their coins April 3-7 between 9am-4pm at any of the Oyster River Schools (Mast Way, Moharimet, OR Middle School, and OR High School). 

The coins must be in a zip lock bag with the person’s name/address (for tax deduction notification) and the amount of coin donated written in permanent marker on the outside of the bag. Please, no paper/plastic shopping bags or other containers! The committee, administration, parents, and students of the district thank you in advance for your generosity!

For additional information, please contact Paul Bamford, Committee Chair, at pdb53@yahoo.com or 603-494-9624. 

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

School District and town elections are March 14, 2023. The School District ballot is available HERE. In addition to electing 3 school board members and the moderator, voters will vote Yes or No on the 2023-2024 school budget and to reserve funds for future solar array purchase. Voters from all three towns can vote on all three school board seats including the Durham seat which must be held by a Durham resident. The budget represents a 1.54% increase in total spending, and a 1.5% increase in general fund spending from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024. More information on the budget and the annual report of the district are HERE.

Assistant superintendent Suzanne Filippone presented student achievement data from elementary and middle school standardized testing and discussed how student learning growth is measured and monitored. These data show that more students meet or exceed academic standards now than pre-pandemic. Data presented are posted HERE.

A personal note from outgoing School Board Chair Michael Williams: "I have been writing these brief highlights of School Board meetings for 4 years and hope they have provided more accessible information about ORCSD School Board activity. There is always more detail on the district web site and in meeting recordings. Please continue to share your input with the School Board (orcsdsb@orcsd.org). As I leave the School Board, I am grateful for the continued support the Oyster River community gives to public education and ORCSD, and for the ways that the community holds schools and the School Board accountable to serving our students and community."

UNH RESEARCHERS RETRACE COLONISTS’ SPREAD INTO GREAT BAY - Innovative technology sheds new light on English colonists’ movements across land and water

After four hundred years, it’s still not settled science: How, exactly, did the early English colonists travel over the landscape and waterways to put down roots along the shores of New Hampshire’s Great Bay Estuary? The 17th century maps and written accounts are riddled with gaps and potential biases. But now, UNH scientists are using an innovative tactic that reveals the decision-making behind colonists’ movements across the region — while also re-examining our own inherited narrative about colonialism.

Their research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, indicates that wetlands and the head of tides played a large role in how the colonists began working their way up into the Great Bay Estuary to establish their homesteads in the region. By using a computer model typically applied to ecological research, scientists tapped into this new tool and used it in a way that had never been done in archaeology — one that provides a more accurate historic simulation of the area’s colonization and may help anthropologists locate additional archaeological sites in the future.

The research fits into the larger historical picture being revealed by the Great Bay Archaeological Survey, a project led by Meghan Howey, UNH professor of anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and the Earth Systems Research Center. Howey is a co-author on this published research, and she notes, “This computer model is such a great advancement for archaeology. We can really get at the nuances of the colonists’ decision-making about moving over the land and water — their mindset, choices, behaviors and limitations.”

Howey also explains the importance of treating a historical period as if it’s completely unknown. “It’s easy to fall back on our inherited knowledge; that’s the stuff written down by the people who controlled society at the time, but let’s not assume we know everything just because we have strong associations with those stories,” she says. “It’s important to treat history scientifically — question it, model it, validate it, advance how we understand it. That gets us closer to the truth of what really happened.”

Moving forward, Howey is working with tribal partners on a model driven by Indigenous knowledge, one that explores their people’s embeddedness in the landscape, in order to see how that knowledge compares and contrasts to the decisions made by the colonists of that era.

To read more in UNH Today, click HERE.

DURHAM PROVIDES LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR UNH SOUTH DRIVE PROJECT - $3.8M Infrastructure Investment for Accessibility, Economic Development, Resiliency and Emission Reduction

The Town has provided a letter of support for the completion of a 1/2-mile street, culvert/bridge replacement, sidewalk, transit and pedestrian improvements on the corridor connecting Main Street (roundabout) to McDaniel Drive on the UNH campus.

This transport corridor was envisioned in the 2004 Campus Master Plan and reaffirmed in 2012. By relieving Main Street congestion, the project will improve transit operations, reduce fuel consumption, travel times, and emissions. The project would demonstrate new materials technologies; enhance bike/pedestrian safety, improve emergency response times, enhance a critical underpass of the CSX rail line, and support southwest quad campus development. The project will also ensure long-term resiliency by enhancing the College Brook bridge/culvert to accommodate expected higher flows during peak storm events.

South Drive is currently open to traffic on temporary status and lacks pedestrian and transit accommodation. Funds would be used to construct a required upgrade to the crossing of College Brook, realignment of the roadway revised to the footprint of the new Health Science Simulation Center (HSSC), and introduction of pedestrian and transit connections to the southwest quadrant.

DURHAM PROVIDES LETTER OF SUPPORT TARGETING FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR THE EDGE AT UNH’S WEST END

During his State of the University Address on February 14, 2023, President Dean's remarks included plans for UNH to revisit The Edge at West End.

If you recall, UNH and the Town had been discussing this idea in the 2018/19 timeframe to create a public-private high-tech campus/business park with some mixed use on UNH land presently occupied by single story University utility, maintenance, and parking structures along Old Concord Road/Main St. behind the US Forestry Service building in the vicinity of West Edge Lot. The pandemic had shoved the idea to the back burner while we dealt together with the Covid-19 crisis.

On a positive note, The Edge at West End is back (at least in concept), which is potentially positive news for both UNH and Durham.

To view a UNH video and learn more about The Edge at West End, click HERE.   

To read the letter of support provided from Admin. Selig for the project, click HERE.

UNH SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT

UNH Summer Youth Programs are open for enrollment, and spots are filling up fast. For more information or to enroll in one of 30 summer offerings in the arts, athletics, STEM, and more, click HERE.

DURHAM DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE TO HOLD CAUCUS

The Durham Democratic Committee will hold its caucus to elect officers and state convention delegates on Thursday, March 16 at 6 PM. This will be a hybrid meeting in person at Durham Public Library in the community room and also on Zoom. Only registered Democrats are able to vote in the caucus.

For questions, please reach out to Susan Roman at reganroman@comcast.net.