Friday Updates - March 24, 2023

Friday, March 24, 2023

DURHAM/UNH TRAIN STATION MARKS 1 MILLIONTH PASSENGER ON AMTRAK DOWNEASTER

This week, UNH, Durham, and the Northern NE Passenger Rail Authority marked a milestone - the 1 millionth passenger to arrive/board from the Durham/UNH station. A group of enthusiastic representatives from each entity and residents were there to celebrate the event.

STRONG REGISTRATION AT DURHAM PARKS & REC SUMMER CAMPS | CAMP COUNSELOR OPENINGS | UPCOMING PROGRAMMING FOR COMMUNTY

Summer Camp registration opened on Friday, March 17th, and within just a few hours many sessions were close to selling out. The department still has spots open in some camp programs. 

Durham Parks & Rec. is hiring summer camp staff for summer 2023. The dept. is looking to fill the Camp Director position and as well as some new Camp Counselor positions. At this time, the dept. is no longer accepting applications for Jr. Counselors or CITs (Counselors-In-Training). For more information, please contact the P&R office or visit durhamrec.recdesk.com for job descriptions and an employment application. 

The department has teamed up with Nature's Classroom to offer an overnight night camp at Ocean Park in Maine over April Vacation week! This is a three-day, two-night camp that will be packed with fun, engaging and educational projects and lessons. Ocean Park is about 45 min from Durham on the beautiful coast of Maine. 

Spring afterschool and evening youth program registration is open. This includes some great programs taking place this spring to close out the school year.

Mark your calendars for all of the upcoming community events that are scheduled for this Spring! Durham Annual Egg Hunt, Memorial Day Ceremony, the 1st Annual Durham Day Dash 5K (NEW), and the Downtown Durham Day Community Celebration. 

To learn more about joining the DPR Summer Rec. Squad, April Vacation Overnight Camp, summer camps, spring programs, and upcoming community events, contact Director Rachel Gasowski at rgasowski@ci.durham.nh.us or Asst. Director Kellie DeSimone at kdesimone@ci.durham.nh.us.  

COLLEGE COMMUNITY ELECTION OFFICIALS MET THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS PROCESSES AROUND VOTER REGISTRATION, ETC.

Durham and Hanover election officials met over Zoom to talk through how each community handles the nuances and complexities of voter registration. Guidance from the NH Secretary of State’s Office is helpful during the voter registration process.

PLANNING ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVAL OF MILL POND DAM ON OYSTER RIVER CONTINUES – The Section 106 Historic Mitigation Process

A continuing conversation was held this week with various local stakeholders, as well as officials from the NH Division of Historic Resources and representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, as part of the Section 106 Historic Mitigation process.

All federally funded, licensed, or assisted projects in New Hampshire are subject to the review requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, implemented by the procedures of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Mill Pond Dam on the Oyster River removal project falls under this process.

Federal agencies or their legal designees are required to take into account the possible impacts of their projects on historical resources, and to submit proposed projects to the Director/State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) of the Division of Historical Resources, for a determination of potential effects on properties that are listed, or are eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. The Mill Pond Dam is so listed. 

Section 106 Process. The "Section 106" procedures occurring over many months require public participation and consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and others for each part of the process:

1. INITIATION: defining the undertaking, determining the area of potential affect, developing a public participation plan, and identifying other consulting parties.
2. IDENTIFICATION / EVALUATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES: identifying those properties already listed in the National Register of Historic Places, preparing documentation for potentially eligible properties, and making a "determination of eligibility" to determine whether a property or district is eligible for the National Register. Section 106 gives equal consideration to properties that are listed in OR determined to be eligible for the National Register.
3. DETERMINATION OF EFFECT: applying the Advisory Council's "Criteria of Effect" and making a "determination of effect.” 
4. RESOLUTION OF ADVERSE EFFECTS: if adverse effects of state or federal projects are identified or appear to be likely, consultation continues to identify ways to achieve the project purpose and to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects, taking into consideration the values of the historic property or district, the parts of the undertaking that are essential to achieving the purpose of the project, and the adequacy of planning and of funding to achieve both the project objectives and a satisfactory resolution of adverse effects. Mitigation may include avoidance, alternative treatments, redesign, relocation, data recovery, documentation, public education initiatives or interpretive measures.
5. COMPLETION: if consultation is successful, a Memorandum of Agreement is prepared. The MOA is a legally binding document with stipulations that describe the measures that the project sponsor and/or lead agency (the Town of Durham) will take to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects. If there is no agreement, the lead agency continues consultation with the Advisory Council, and the Council's final comments must be taken into account by the agency.

Looking across the Oyster River at the Town Landing. Courtesy, Bill Cote

SWAP SHOP RE-OPENS FOR THE SEASON ON SATURDAY, APRIL 1ST! - No, it's not an April Fool's prank!

The Swap Shop will be opening for the season on Saturday, April 1^st, 2023! Durham Public Works and Swap Shop Volunteers would like to remind residents that the Transfer Station’s Swap Shop does not accept certain items. While they would like to keep reusable items out of the waste stream and the landfill, indoor storage space is limited, and other safety concerns must be considered. When entering the Transfer Station, it is mandatory to stop and check-in with one of the Attendants to review the items you wish to donate to the Swap Shop. The Attendant(s) will evaluate each item(s) based on the criteria below to determine if it will be accepted. A bulky waste coupon may be required in situations where the item(s) is not accepted. We encourage residents to discuss other options for donating their goods with the attendants and Swap Shop Volunteers. A reminder that users of the Swap Shop are encouraged to remain at the facility for no longer than thirty minutes during any one visit to allow other residents an opportunity to view and take items. The following is a list of items that are not accepted at the Swap Shop:

• Dirty, moldy or stained items. Stained fabrics may go into the Ecosmith Textile Recycling bin.
• Broken, non-functioning or items missing pieces (a chair without a leg, desk without a drawer or drawer knobs, etc..)
• Boxes full of unsorted items (unless approved by a Transfer Station Attendant or Swap Shop Volunteer.)
• Upholstered furniture (mattresses, box springs, chairs, couches, headboards, pillows, etc.)
• Electronic items (all of which require an electronic coupon for disposal):
• Refrigerators
• Dehumidifiers
• Air Conditioners
• Other items containing a refrigerant
• Televisions
• Computer Monitors
• Construction materials of any kind (wood, shingles, sheetrock, insulation, etc.)
• Concrete, bricks, stone, solid fill.
• Appliances larger than a microwave (appliances containing refrigerant that have an electronic coupon will be considered for donation).
• Hazardous Materials or Chemicals (oils, gas, diesel, kerosene, propane, oxygen, mercury containing items, etc.)
• Food, beverages, cosmetics
• Textbooks, dated manuals, reference books (can be recycled using the Discover Books bin)
• Skies, ski boots, snow boards
• Child safety equipment (car seats, helmets)
• Weapons
• Broken glass (including glass from picture frames)
• Clothing and shoes (Use the Salvation Army bin for clothing and shoes in good condition. The Ecosmith bins for these and any stained bedding, towels, fabric stuffed animals, etc.)

Last spring, a new plaque was dedicated to commemorate General Lafayette’s tour through parts of the United States in 1825, including Durham, NH. (To learn more about the dedication last spring, click HERE for a story on Seacoast Online.)

The handsome red, white, and blue historic marker stands proudly at the corner in front of Town Hall. Members of the Historic District Commission felt that it would be appropriate to create a pocket park in this location as well. To that end, HDC member Charlotte Hitchcock, a talented architect in her own right, created a sketch plan (see above), which the HDC is interested in the Town implementing.

The next step will be to coordinate what the logistics of the project might look like, cost, timing, etc. We really appreciate the good work of the HDC on this idea!

The Durham Historic Association will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, April 16th at 1:30 p.m. in the Durham Town Hall Council Chambers. There will be a brief business meeting for the election of officers and directors for 2023-2025.  Annual membership dues will also be collected at this time.

Following the business meeting, Alan Hoffman from New Hampshire Humanities will present “Lafayette and Human Rights”.

General Lafayette's first foray into human rights work was during the American Revolution, which he saw as a cause important to all people. He continued to promote universal natural rights throughout his life. During the French Revolution he drafted "the Rights of Man and the Citizen" and later supported other revolutions in Europe and South America as well as causes designed to deliver human rights to the oppressed. In particular, the abolition of slavery engaged General Lafayette continuously, from the American Revolution and his return tour of the United States, until his death in 1834. General Lafayette said: "I would never have drawn my sword in the cause of America, if I could have conceived that thereby I was founding a land of slavery."

This event is open to the general public. Refreshments will be served. 

Family boat building is grounded in the belief that families and multi-generational groups will bond and grow together by completing a grand project together. In the past thirteen years, we have helped 72 families get on the water together and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Participating families experience the joy and pride of watching a pile of lumber grow into a beautiful and useful boat through their own efforts. In the process, they grow as a family while they:

• Develop woodworking and teamwork skills and
• Learn about our marine heritage and the natural resources of our coastal and estuarine environment

Friday through Sunday, May 19 - 21, 2023, there will be an opportunity to build the Oyster River Cat, a 12' sailboat. A professionally made sail is included. The marine plywood hull has a 5' beam that easily carries two adults or even three in light wind. She is equally adept as a rowboat for calm days at the lake. For more information and to register, please click HERE.

The Durham Great Bay Rotary is planning for Summerfest 2023 to be held on June 17, from 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. at UNH Boulder Field. The Rotary needs sponsors and has vendor spaces available. If you would like to help sponsor this event or want to be involved as a vendor, please click HERE for full information.

HIGH GAS PRICES OR HEATING BILLS? Or are you...REPAIRING YOUR HOME OR COMMERCIAL BUILDING THIS YEAR? - Potential grant funding available for Durham residents from the IRA.

Durham's Energy Committee has put together an online tool to help all Durham residents and businesses identify funds for which they're eligible through new federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) legislation. Significant federal funding is available for all income levels to upgrade buildings and vehicles to be more energy efficient. Households and nonprofits are eligible of upward of $14,000 and some businesses upward of $400,000.

The effort was made possible with help from Town Councilor candidate Emily Friedrichs' employer and can be accessed HERE.

What happens when Durham’s committees and commissions collaborate on Earth Day?  It becomes a great community event packed with information that can help your family benefit from a more Sustainable Durham!! 

Here are just some of the things planned for Durham’s April 22^nd Earth Day event between 10AM and 2PM at 66 Main Street:

• Learn about the benefits of composting and about how it helps the environment – and your garden.
• Learn about new tax credits and rebates available when you weatherize your home or install an energy efficient HVAC system.
• Learn about the sustainable value of local food production and get your questions answered by members of the Agricultural Commission.
• Take an up-close look at Electric Vehicles and talk with dealers and owners.
• Get tips and have your questions answered about recycling right.
• Get first dibs at Swap Shop treasures.
• Explore a working solar system and talk to Durham families about their experiences investing in solar energy.
• Learn about the value of Durham’s conservation work and how you can enjoy our conserved lands.
• Plus, lots more!

The Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee invites you to be part of Durham’s Earth Day event, April 22, 2023. They would like to let Durham residents know that your business is using sustainable practices. 

You may choose to participate by bringing your business to the event or by advertising your practices with the support of IWMAC. Please contact Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com for more information.

Have you visited Thompson Forest? If so, please help the Land Stewardship Subcommittee learn more about your experiences by completing the Thompson Forest questionnaire HERE.

Thank you! The Land Stewardship Subcommittee.

DID YOU KNOW? - Pet Treats and Sustainable Practices

Dog and cat food and treat bags are usually not recyclable. That is, with one exception! Earthborn, a family-owned business, makes holistic food and treats for dogs and cats and subscribes to many sustainable practices. For example,  Earthborn’s PlantBag is BPA-Free and contains more than 40% plant-based plastic, made from renewable and sustainable Brazilian sugarcane ethanol.

In addition, when consumers drop off their Earthborn empty bags at a participating retail location, they can recycle them and in exchange, Earthborn will donate money to pet charities nationwide!

Pet Supplies Plus, 172 Tri City Plaza, Somersworth, NH, is one local store that sells the Earthborn brand and accepts their bags back for recycling. 

To learn more about Earthborn and their sustainable practices, click HERE.

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

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

The Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA) is holding their annual backyard compost bin sale. If you are interested in starting your own backyard compost and would like to purchase a bin, please bring a check for $68 (a great price!) made out to NRRA to the Durham Public Works office and reserve your bin. If we receive 20 orders by April 18th we will place the order and you will receive your bin between May 12th – 20th. The bins will be delivered to the Durham Public Works office and you will be contacted once your bin has arrived.

Please see the information above for more details about the bin. It does come with a user’s manual. NOTE: The deadline to purchase a backyard compost bin is April 18th.

A bobcat on the Oyster River Trail Courtesy of Deb Burke

Durham Public Works’ Operations Division participated this week in a National Safety Council Flagger Training Course hosted by Primex in the Council Chambers of the Durham Town Hall.

Controlling traffic through work zones is one of the most dangerous and important functions in road maintenance and construction.

Crews learned standard flagging procedures and how to provide safe passage in and around work areas. 

Durham Public Works continues to progress on improvements to the Lee Well Water Production Facility. Earlier this week, instrumentation contractor, A&D Instruments completed an in-kind replacement of the 25-year-old obsolete chemical analyzers and Caprioli Painting finished applying a fresh coat of paint to the ceilings and walls. Additional items to be completed this year include the replacement of aging near-well piping and an obsolete programmable logic controller, and the installation of a variable frequency drive device to control the output of the well pump.

Last year, Public Works and Weston and Sampson Engineers field crews completed a full redevelopment of the well. This included the removal and replacement of all pumping equipment as well as chemical treatments to break down and dissolve mineral deposits within the well casing and screen structures to reestablish well pumping and specific capacity.

Additionally, a full renovation of the roof structure, soffit vents, trim, and gable siding was completed. Furthermore, new chemical storage tanks were installed, and the chemical storage room received a fresh coat of paint including an epoxy membrane which was applied to the chemical containment areas.

A portion of the funding for this project was obtained through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Infrastructure Bill.

SEEKING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK - DURHAM POLICE COMMUNITY SURVEY NOW ON LINE RELATIVE TO LOCAL SAFETY, SERVICE DELIVERY, ETC.

The Durham Police Department is conducting a survey of Durham community members to better understand concerns about crime in the community, and the Durham Police Department wants to hear from you! Your response is greatly appreciated and will help us make future improvements to our service. Please complete the survey by April 1st, 2023. 

The survey should take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Simply click the link HERE to get started! 

Congratulations to Team Police and Durham's very own Officer Erik Burke, #18, who played in this past weekend’s Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHAD) Battle of the Badges charity hockey game, held at the SNHU arena in Manchester. Team Police was victorious with a 5-1 win over Team Fire, which included a goal by Officer Burke! Of course, the real winners are the children that this wonderful game will benefit.

It was a great game and a huge success, raising thousands of dollars for a great cause.  

DURHAM’S NEW HYBRID POLICE CRUISERS DELAYED AT THE SHOP WAITING TO BE OUTFITTED WITH GEAR, RADIOS

Durham’s three new Ford Explorer police vehicles are being stored at our vender’s place of business waiting to be equipped with radios, paint jobs, etc. due to supply chain delays.  

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 #12

NEVER HIDE IN CLOSETS OR UNDER THE BED DURING A FIRE.

Tell your kids to make as much noise as possible and not to be afraid of how a firefighter is dressed. The more noise that is made, the easier it is for firefighters to find you and assist you to safety. Remember we do not live in your house. We do not know the layout. For more tips on safety, please click HERE.

Tonight 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!

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Chuck Bates, executive director of the NH Association of School Business Officials presented Sue Caswell with the 2023 Alexander J Blastos Distinguished Service Award. Congratulations to Ms. Caswell for this well-deserved honor.

The Board approved the nomination of Amy Ransom as the new district business administrator. Ms. Ransom will succeed Sue Caswell, who is retiring at the end of June. Ms. Ransom has over 15 years of experience as a school business administrator. She currently serves as the chief financial officer for the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS).

Shannon Caron, director of counseling at the high school and Stephanie Kadden, eighth grade counselor presented on the transition from eighth grade to the high school. They discussed the different opportunities that this year’s eighth graders and their parents have to prepare them both academically and socially for the transition to ninth grade. The counselors also shared results of a survey of this year’s ninth and tenth graders. 83 percent of respondents reported that the transition to a 100-point grade scale was easy or extremely easy for them. The counselors explained that the transition is a process that will continue into ninth grade and that there are many individuals available to support the students in this process.

The Board received an update on the middle school solar array which shows that the solar array is functioning as predicted. The system generated 682,236 kilowatt-hours of zero-emission solar power over the course of this service year.

A reminder to the community that Tona Brown will be performing this Friday evening at the Oyster River Middle School at 7:00. The public is invited.

OYSTER RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT DATES - Open to the Public

4/20/23 MS Band Concert: 5th-8th grade band students perform. Concert begins at 7 pm 

5/18/23 MS String Orchestra Concert: 5th-8th grade orchestra students perform. Concert begins at 7 pm 

5/24/23 HS Music Concert: Oyster River High School Band, String Orchestra, and Chorus perform. Concert begins at 7 pm. 

6/1/23 MS Chorus Concert: 5th-8th grade chorus students perform. Concert begins at 7 pm. 

The Oyster River High School Press Box/Sound System Committee is organizing a 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. 

Place your coins in a Zip Lock bag (no plastic or paper shopping bags, no cans or Tupperware, please). With a permanent marker, legibly write the student's name, grade and teacher's name, classroom, and donation amount. Please notify Paul Bamford if a parent or guardian works for an organization that matches funds by writing the organization's name outside the bag. Between April 3-7, place your bag in the receptacles provided by each school (do NOT empty its contents).

Families and individuals wishing to make a tax-deductible donation can contact Paul Bamford, Committee Chair, at pdb53@yahoo.com or 603-494-9624. 

ORCSD COMMUNITY DINNER APRIL 13 - Save the Date!

The district's last community dinner at the Oyster River High School welcomed about 300 community members. Will you join us on April 13? More information coming soon!

DURHAM DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE HAS RESCHEDULED THEIR CAUCUS

The Durham Democratic Committee will hold its caucus to elect officers and state convention delegates on Monday, March 27 at 6 PM (postponed from March 16). This will be a hybrid meeting in person at Durham Public Library in the community room and also on Zoom. Our State Representatives will provide a legislative update & there will be a brief business meeting. Voting to start at 6:30. Only registered Democrats are able to vote in the caucus.

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

The UNH Center for the Humanities is excited to announce that Sidore has this year joined forces with the history department’s Dunfey Fund to bring you a symposium: “The Ethics of Encounter: Research, Communities, and Repair” 

The symposium will be a public event, taking place March 30 through April 1, both on campus and at the Browne Center. All are welcome! Registration is encouraged for the sessions at the Browne Center. To learn more and to register, please click HERE.

A NEW VIDEO FROM UNH OUTLINING POTENTIAL PLANS FOR THE EDGE AT WEST END

To watch a video regarding The Edge at West End which was addressed during the State of the University speech from President Dean, please click HERE.