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Friday, March 29, 2019
APRIL FOOL'S EDITION
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Please Use Caution sign on Route 108/Newmarket Road. Courtesy Todd Selig
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Representatives from the State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Keith Cota and Nickie Hunter, have been invited to attend Monday night’s Council meeting to provide information regarding the road work planned to begin again in the spring for the Route 108/Newmarket Road project and for the upcoming Route 4 upgrade at Bunker Creek, which is a “red list” of bridges most in need of replacement. Construction is projected to begin late summer or fall of 2019.
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The following items are definitely "alternative facts"…
APRIL FOOLS' EDITION...
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UNH President James Dean and partner, Jan, outside their home in Durham.
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JAMES AND JAN DEAN ARE THE COUPLE TO WATCH THIS FALL ON DANCING WITH THE STARS
ABC released its spring schedule last week, and there was a conspicuous absence: Dancing with the Stars will not have a season this spring, not even a shortened season like the all-athlete version that aired in 2018!
Why IS Dancing with the Stars 28 not on air this spring? Backlash over the most-recent winner — Bobby Bones, who also happens to be American Idol’s mentor and not a great dancer? No.
Sources have disclosed it’s because UNH President James Dean and his amazing partner Jan will be the featured all star competitors, and they were not free until September!
“I told Jan we had this thing in the bag,” says Jim Dean, who was announced in April as the 20th president of the University of New Hampshire.
Dean and Jan bring more than 30 years of competitive dancing experience to Dancing with the Stars. In fact, Jim has written two books about the intersection between organization, management and dance, and will soon publish a third, aimed at helping businesses and higher education institutions work together more effectively with steps developed originally for The Monster Mash!
“They are solid performers,” stated Dancing host Tom Bergeron, who lives in Lee and has deep connections with the UNH community as the former host of Granite State Challenge at NHPTV. “The Deans are definitely the couple to watch!"
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Durham Parks & Recreation Director Rachel Gasowski with her pup, Bruin.
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BOSTON BRUINS MOVING TRAINING FACILITY TO DURHAM’S CHURCHILL RINK
Inspired by the strength of their fan base within the Oyster River community, the Boston Bruins have announced a 20-year, $42 million deal with the Town of Durham for the complete renovation of the Churchill Rink as the team’s new off-season training facility. Park’s and Recreation Director Rachel Gasowski, who recently named her family’s puppy “Bruin,” indicates the move comes after months of fruitful discussions with the team. “The Parks and Recreation Committee sees many great opportunities for partnership under this arrangement,” stated Gasowski.
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RECYCLING BY THE NUMBERS
The Integrated Waste Management Committee and the Public Works Department have been working hard to streamline the Town's recycling program over the last several months. To simplify things even further, the following curbside collection schedule will be implemented as of January 1st, linking the type of recyclables to the corresponding day of the week:
Sunday - #1 plastics: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Monday - #2 plastics: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Tuesday - #3 plastics: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Wednesday - #4 plastics: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Thursday - #5 plastics: PP (Polypropylene)
Friday - #6 plastics: PS (Polystyrene)
Saturday - #7 plastics and everything else.
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NHDOT project Route 108/Newmarket Road.
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MAIN STREET REPAVING PLANNED FOR SUMMER 2019
In recognition of how smoothly and efficiently the NHDOT's Route 108 (Durham to Newmarket) project has gone over the last 3-5 years, Town officials have contracted with DOT to manage and oversee this summer’s planned Main Street Durham repaving project. The Seacoast's own Juston McKinney has even written a comedy sketch focusing on this past summer’s adventures with NHDOT.
“We’re bringing in the big guns to do it right," stated DPW Director Mike Lynch.
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Tesla Wardenclyffe tower.
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SEACOAST RELIABILITY PROJECT REVAMPED - Nikola Tesla fans optimistic.
In a stunning reversal issued this week, the NH Site Evaluation Committee (SEC), Eversource, and the towns of Durham and Newington jointly announced that the Seacoast Reliability Project will be completely revamped to transmit power wirelessly across Durham, Madbury, and Little Bay from the utility's Madbury substation to Portsmouth wirelessly.
Wardenclyffe Tower (1901–1917), also known as the Tesla Tower, was an early experimental wireless transmission station designed and built by Nikola Tesla in Shoreham, New York. Tesla intended to transmit messages and telephony to England and to ships at sea based on his theories of using the Earth to conduct the signals. His decision to scale up the facility and add his ideas of wireless power transmission to better compete with Guglielmo Marconi's radio based telegraph system was met with a refusal to fund the changes by the project's primary backer, financier J. P. Morgan.
But in response to recent inquiries from the towns of Durham and Newington, as well as Eversource and the SEC, J. P. Morgan & Co. has reinstated complete funding for a Durham-based project allowing for a truly innovative approach in power transmission within NH's beautiful Seacoast region.
"We're really pleased with this outcome," stated Eversource spokesperson Kaitlyn Woods. "Our goal is always to work with host communities to find win-win solutions."
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Durham Community Church located on Main Street.
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DURHAM COMMUNITY CHURCH/XFINITY MOVING FORWARD WITH DOWNTOWN WIFI HUB IN HISTORIC CHURCH STEEPLE
Representatives of the Durham Community Church have alerted the Town of the fact that they will be having some pretty impressive work done on the beautiful white steeple starting this week.
The top of the steeple is being equipped with a state of the art WiFi node to provide free internet service to the entire downtown core. Consequently, there will be a huge lift that will be parked in front of the church for several weeks.
Andrea Bodo, the Vice Chair of Durham’s Historic District Commission, is excited about this innovative project. "It's a very iconic Durham landmark,” stated Bodo. “We love to see strict adherence to historically appropriate renovations while also meeting the demands of the internet age. And who doesn't love free WiFi!"
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PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS: IF THERE WEREN’T ALREADY ENOUGH
As of March 18, 2019, 615 candidates have filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run for president in 2020. Of these, 18 are elected officials and/or notable public figures—16 Democrats and two Republicans, from Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard to Donald Trump and Bill Weld.
A candidate for president must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.
As if the field were not already sufficiently crowded, on Friday all nine members of the Durham Town Council resigned to run for President.
“There’s nothing like a good horse race,” said Town Council Chair Kitty Marple.
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United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May addressing members of the Parliament.
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DURHAM TO THE RESCUE: BREXIT
The Brexit agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated has twice been rejected by British lawmakers. She hopes Durham officials can help! A team consisting of former Town Councilor Firoze Katrak, current Councilors Jim Lawson, Kenny Rotner and Carden Welsh, Business Manager Gail Jablonski, and Administrator Todd Selig will be dispatched to London as early as this Friday. The team recently was involved with successfully renegotiating a suite of decennial Durham/UNH Agreements, a PILOT agreement with Riverwoods, and other notable negotiation accomplishments.
“I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party,” Mrs. May told the lawmakers. “I know there is a desire for a new approach, and I’ve tapped our friends from across the Pond in Durham to chart a path forward.”
The European Union has said it would approve an extension in the Brexit process to May 22, if May's plan ultimately gained approval.
Administrator Selig, who has studies negotiation at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, indicated he planned to ask long-time Durham resident William Hall to accompany the team on the trip. “It will be good to have a variety of voices around the table for these important discussions,” he said.
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SUPERVISORS OF CHECKLIST PLAN AHEAD FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Durham has very strict purchasing protocols for the requisition of goods and services. To this end, the Town’s Supervisors of the Checklist have just put out to bid the bi-annual bus contract for the transport of interested voters from the Massachusetts state line to the Oyster River High School.
Interestingly, the government of Russia has offered to provide such services, as well as state of the art automated ballot counting machines, at no cost!
“Our comrades from NH, the great First in the Nation Primary state, deserve our full support in ensuring a fair and impartial Presidential Primary,” stated Vladimir Putin in a Press Release.
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PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS TAKE THE PLEDGE
In a rare display of bipartisanship, politicians from across the political spectrum, save one, have signed on to take the Pledge; Durham's Water Bottle Pledge. These committed candidates have pledged only to use reusable water bottles for the duration of their presidential campaigns to support the environment.
Senators Shaheen and Hassan, and Governor Sununu have endorsed the initiative as being, “Classic NH!”
Always the contrarian, when questioned in the Hannaford parking lot carrying his groceries in single use plastic bags, President Trump indicated he’ll be using disposable bottles with a very, very BIG straw during the campaign!
Representative Judith Spang from Durham plans to have a word with the President when he next visits town.
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OYSTER RIVER’S DAVE ERVIN TO PREMIERE IN HAMILTON DURING 2019 SUMMER SEASON
Oyster River’s amazing band teacher, Dave Ervin, has announced he’ll be appearing on Broadway this summer for eight special weekend performances as Alexander Hamilton.
This popular play is a sung-and-rapped through musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It was inspired by the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by historian Ron Chernow. Incorporating hip hop, R&B, pop, soul, traditional-style show tunes, and color-conscious casting of non-white actors as the Founding Fathers and other historical figures the musical has achieved both critical acclaim and box office success.
Ervin coordinates both the Middle School Jazz Band and the High School Band.
"Remember the Staccatos!” stated Ervin.
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Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson and Durham's own Andrew Corrow.
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WWF COMES TO WHITTEMORE CENTER IN DURHAM
Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time. The Rock headlined the most bought professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event of the 1990’s, WrestleMania XXVIII, and was featured in some of the most watched WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown television episodes.
Who knew that The Rock and Durham’s own Andrew Corrow were childhood friends? To benefit local veterans' causes, they've planned a charity wrestling benefit bout on April 1st in the Whittemore Center Arena: Corrow v. The Rock!
"Game on!" stated Corrow. "Just one look at me and Dwayne Johnson will be running for the hills."
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A new breed of building inspectors in NY City are reviewing code issues 35+ stories above the ground! Courtesy NY Times
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WANT TO BE A REAL LIFE ACTION HERO?
Finally, Town Building Inspector Audrey Cline has given permission for us to announce that she’s interested in changing to a new job as real life action hero. Check out the following link to learn more HERE.
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AND NOW ... SOME REAL NEWS
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Contractors remove the beautiful wind vane from atop the Community Church steeple. Courtesy Todd Selig
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COMMUNITY CHURCH MAKES REPAIRS TO STEEPLE
The Community Church of Durham IS in fact doing work on its steeple, but NOT to install a WiFi node. The top of the steeple is rotten so there will be a lift that will be parked in front of the church. Depending on the extent of the rot, the lift may be there for some time. This is a beautiful Durham landmark and we certainly all appreciate the efforts of the church to make the needed repairs.
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CONTRACTORS OFFERING TO CUT TREES FOR FREE IN DURHAM | There is no free ride!
Now that it is spring, residents may start to see signs from contractors offering to cut trees or remove broken branches on private properties in Durham for free. Residents are certainly free to undertake such work as long as they do so in accordance with local regulations, such as filing an intent to cut for large timer cuts and remaining outside wetland and shoreland setbacks.
However, our staff has become aware of information that may be discouraging to the property owners that have had trees cut down to date. In a nutshell, such companies typically take only the trees they cut off the lot that are able to be sent to a sawmill for a profit. Everything else, they leave where it falls. This includes logs the contractor doesn't want, and “slash” (all the other limbs, etc.). After the job, the property looks like a mess.
The homeowner is then responsible for the removal/cleanup of what the contractor leaves behind — junk wood, stumps, limbs, uneven ground, required chipping, etc.
Several of the sites staff have seen after the fact in Durham look like a tornado has come through with large timber pieces helter-skelter, pell-mell.
The state requires that such slash be cleaned up to reduce fire load within 100’ of a structure (any structure) and within 25’ of all property lines. Clearly this can be expensive!
Folks who believe renting a chipper themselves on a Saturday will be sufficient to clean up the site will be sorely (think sore back) mistaken. The limbs of large numbers of trees can take a week to chip, and the stumps and butts that are left will need heavy duty equipment to address.
Again, residents are free to utilize such services and in many cases it might work well, but they should do so as a smart consumer. Remember, caveat emptor!
If residents have questions, they are encouraged to contact Durham’s Tree Warden/Public Works Director Mike Lynch at mlynch@ci.durham.nh.us.
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CURBSIDE RECYCLING FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 1 - 5, 2019
PAPER/CARDBOARD will be collected the week of April 1st. View the 2019 Recycling Collection Calendar HERE. Below is the definition of each category:
CO-MINGLED RECYCLABLES
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UNH NAMED #1 BEST ALTERNATIVE ENERGY COLLEGE IN NATION
The website Great Value Colleges has ranked the University of New Hampshire as its #1 college for addressing climate change through renewable sources of energy. Most all young people want to see solutions to climate change. And some of the best places to witness this in action are at the colleges that they attend. If you know or are a young person who wants to go to a college that’s doing all that it can to utilize alternative energy sources, then this information may be of interest for you. The survey ranks the top 50 US colleges that are taking advantage of the growing number of opportunities in renewable energy.
View more information HERE.
Of interest, the reference to the wind power is additional renewable energy certificates UNH purchases to offset its imported electricity and any self generated energy which the institution cannot attribute to the EcoLine project. It is part of the University's greater sustainability initiative to meet its climate targets.
Kudos to UNH.
Note that the Town of Durham also is very climate change focused. We have solar arrays on our library, police station, ice rink, and at the Packers Falls Road gravel pit. Together, they generate sufficient electricity to power all of the municipality’s electric needs, with the exception of our Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Oyster River School District is also extremely climate change focused and is making meaningful strides as well. We truly live in a progressive, forward-looking community with respect to addressing the very real concerns associated with Climate Change.
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THE PLAY’S THE THING - Durham's Police Chief and a UNH Theatre Professor Join Forces to Confront Bias in Police Departments – Police Chief Magazine
Police Chief David Kurz has given a great deal of thought to an incident he was made aware of earlier in his career. A police officer was on a construction detail when a car with four, young African American, men pulled up to him and stopped. It turned out they were lost. The young man in the front seat asked the officer for directions. The officer pondered this for a moment and then said, “Boy, it’s not easy to get there from here.” One of the men in the back seat rolled down the window and said, “Who you calling boy?” and the interaction went quickly downhill from there. A simple encounter that should have be innocuous became a situation.
The story had a significant impact on Chief Kurz. It brought home to him the immediate effect that language can have and the damage that can result from a lack of awareness and understanding of this fact.
Chief Kurz teamed up with UNH Theatre Professor David Kaye to brainstorm ways to potentially utilize theatre and theatre pedagogy in areas outside of traditional performance. A marriage or sorts was forged and a terrific new program launched upon the national stage, only because of the close collaboration between the Town of Durham and the University of New Hampshire.
Read the full article in this month’s Police Chief Magazine exploring this innovate new program HERE.
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CURRENT USE VALUE RANGES FOR 2019-2020
Current Use Assessment provides a property tax incentive to all qualifying landowners who agree to maintain their land in an undeveloped condition. This assessment is based on the capacity of the land to produce income in its current use-whether it is managed farm or forest, or unmanaged open space. Current Use is the cornerstone of the state's land conservation efforts, with over half the land in New Hampshire is enrolled in this valuable program.
"It is hereby declared to be in the public interest to encourage preservation of open space, thus providing a healthful and attractive outdoor environment for work and recreation of the state's citizen's, maintaining the character of the state's landscape, and conserving the land, water, forest, agricultural and wildlife resources."
- NH Current Use law RSA 79-A
(enacted July 1, 1973)
For land to qualify for Current Use it must be a tract of land or a combination of contiguous tracts under identical ownership comprised of a minimum of ten (10) acres.
When land is disqualified from Current Use due to development of the land or because it no longer meets the minimum acreage requirement, it is subject to a land use change tax equal to 10% of the full and true value of the land at the time it is disqualified.
For more information regarding Current Use, please go to the following website: http://www.revenue.nh.gov/current-use/index.htm
Per RSA 79-A, the Current Use Board has revised the Current Use value ranges for 2019-2020.
Cub 304.07 Assessment Ranges for Forest Land Categories. The assessment ranges for forest land categories without documented stewardship shall be as follows:
(a) The category of white pine shall be $118 to $176 per acre;
(b) The category of hardwood shall be $57 to $86 per acre;
(c) The category of all other shall be $38 to $57 per acre.
Cub 304.08 Assessment Ranges for Forest Land Categories with Documented Stewardship. The assessment ranges for forest land categories with documented stewardship shall be as follows:
(a) The category of white pine shall be $71 to $106 per acre;
(b) The category of hardwood shall be $34 to $52 per acre;
(c) The category of all other shall be $23 to $34 per acre.
Cub 304.13 Assessment Range for Unproductive Land. The assessment for unproductive land shall be $23 per acre.
Cub 304.14 Assessment Range for Wetland. The assessment for wetland shall be $23 per acre.
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Bear at a bird feeder. Courtesy World Wide Web
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BRING IN YOUR BIRD FEEDERS! Bears are out and about...
It’s that time of year again and the bears are on the move and it is important to understand how we can limit our interactions so the bears and humans remain safe and peaceful neighbors.
According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game website, black bears are generally shy and usually avoid humans. They are opportunistic and will search for human food supplies when natural foods are not available. Maintaining a sustainable bear population in New Hampshire depends on minimizing human-bear conflicts.
It is illegal to intentionally feed bears in New Hampshire. Intentional feeding can create problems within residential areas and can result in fines. It also may threaten the life of the bear, if it becomes a nuisance animal as a result of this feeding.
New Hampshire Fish and Game understands the importance of educating the public and provide very good tips for helping to avoid conflicts with bears. You can find the following tips HERE.
Take down, clean and put away bird feeders by April 1! Store the bird feeder until late fall. (Birds will do just fine with the natural foods available.) Bear damage to bird feeders is a common and growing spring complaint.
Clean up spilled seed below feeder stations.
Keep garbage in airtight containers inside your garage or storage area. Double bagging and the use of ammonia will reduce odors that attract bears.
Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
Do not place meat or sweet food scraps in your compost pile.
Do not leave pet food or dishes outdoors at night.
Clean up and/or store outdoor grills after use.Use a bear-proof dumpster.
Never intentionally feed bears to attract them to your yard for viewing.
New Hampshire Fish and Game suggests that you wait at least until December 1 to put your feeder back up. However, if we have not had several days and nights of cold weather, bears may still be active and looking for food; then you should keep your feeder down until we have had several days of cold weather.
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NHDOT TO PERFORM HYDROLOGICAL ANALYSIS WHERE BEARDS CREEK CROSSES UNDER NH ROUTE 108
We have received notification from the NH Department of Transportation that it has scheduled an hydrological analysis survey of existing conditions at the location where Beards Creek crosses under NH Route 108. A NHDOT survey crew will be in the area in the foreseeable future. They will visually review the natural and cultural resource impacts of their project to address flooding issues and deficiencies associated with the existing dam system at this location. All NHDOT personnel will travel in NHDOT lettered vehicles and will be equipped with proper identification of their affiliation with NHDOT.
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DUE TO DURHAM’S INTERVENTION, IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR ROUTE 4 AND MADBURY ROAD INTERSECTION
If you remember, Peter Crouch of NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) attended a February Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) meeting and discussed at length the adjustments to this signalized intersection, all designed to make the intersection more “snappy” and responsive to the traffic pressures in the area. While the cycle of traffic signal lights were altered form 126 seconds to 144, new technology that measures the distance between vehicles was also installed with the goal to more accurately reflect demands.
You may also remember that Colin Lentz from Strafford County Regional Planning had submitted a grant for a Road Safety Audit on Durham’s behalf to study the need for more extensive physical enhancements at this intersection.
We have subsequently received further communication from the NHDOT indicating that a Road Safety Audit is not necessary for the intersection. In lieu of such an audit the NHDOT proposes to advance directly to a project. This determination was made because the intersection’s safety issues are evident and well-known, and the range of potential alternatives for improving the safety is relatively limited. The project will follow the NHDOT’s customary development process involving preliminary design for the evaluation of alternatives, followed by final design and construction. NHDOT will work closely with Durham with meetings held throughout the project’s design phase. The schedule for the project has not yet been determined and will depend largely upon the alternative that is ultimately selected.
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Melanson & Heath auditor Victoria Cameron undertakes the FY 2018 audit in the Town Council chambers this week. Victoria was part of the larger audit team that reviewed the Town’s books. Courtesy Todd Selig
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AUDITORS AT TOWN HALL THIS WEEK
The audit team from the firm of Melanson & Heath have been at Town Hall all week this week undertaking the annual financial audit of the Town of Durham’s financial books/statements for the 2018 fiscal year, which spans from January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018. When the annual audit is received later this year, it will be posted on the Durham web site and the auditors will present their findings publicly to the Town Council.
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BARN PRESERVATION INCENTIVE AVAILABLE TO QUALIFYING STRUCTURES IN DURHAM
If you own a barn or other agricultural building that is at last 75 years old and is presently, or was formerly, in agricultural use, you may be able to reduce your taxes on the structure.
RSA 79-D, Discretionary Preservation Easement for Preserving Historic Agricultural Structures, authorizes towns and cities to grant property tax relief to building owners who: (a) can demonstrate the public benefit of preserving the structure, and (b) agree to maintain the structure throughout a minimum 10-year preservation easement. For the duration of the easement, the assessment for the structure is reduced to between 25% and 75% of its assessed value and the assessment is not increased from any new maintenance or rehabilitation work.
For more information, please contact Michael Behrendt, Durham Town Planner, at 603-868-8064 or mailto:mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.
View the document HERE.
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COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON BIKE SHARE, BIKE CULTURE, AND OTHER SHARED MOBILITY SERVICES RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 1ST
UNH Campus Planning invites you to join in for refreshments and a conversation about bike culture, bike share, and other shared mobility systems in the community. What’s best for UNH/Durham? UNH Transportation/Special Projects Manager Steve Pesci has a couple of dedicated interns who have pulled together a great deal of information that they will share at this session scheduled for Monday, April 1st, from 5:15 – 6:45 PM at the Durham/UNH Train Station/Dairy Bar located at 3 Depot Road. Seating is limited to 50. Organizations please send one representative. Doors open at 5 PM.
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DURHAM TO BE INCLUDED IN HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN’S 2019 MUNICIPAL EQUITY INDEX SURVEY
Durham will be included in the eighth edition of the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) this year.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Americans. The MEI is the first nationwide evaluation of municipal laws, policies, and services affecting the LGBTQ community.
This year, HRC will evaluate the 506 cities rated in last year’s publication. These include the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the country, the five largest cities in each state, the cities home to the state’s two largest public universities, and 98 cities selected by HRC and Equality Federation group members and supporters.
The MEI will be published and released in October.
Since the inception of the MEI, Durham has been the highest scoring municipality in NH.
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DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
The Durham Historic Association is looking for local residents who love history and are willing to give back to our community by volunteering some of their time with the DHA. The DHA is seeking additional officers/directors on our board who will help our organization grow and help shape our future.
If you are interested, please contact David Strong at mailto:luckychuck@comcast.net
The DHA's mission is:
- To preserve the memory of events connected with the history of the Town of Durham, or of individuals who may have resided there;
- To serve as guardian of the town's history;
- To preserve the artifacts of the town's history;
- To inform and educate the citizens of Durham and others of the history of the town and how contemporary Durham arises out of its past.
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DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
The Durham Historic Association will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, April 14th at 1 p.m. in the Durham Town Hall Council Chambers. There will be a brief business meeting for the election of officers and directors for 2019-2021. Annual membership dues will also be collected at this time.
Following the business meeting, the DHA will present “The Lives and Work of Ed and Mary Scheier”.
Ed and Mary Scheier were American potters who were part of the revival of American crafts that blossomed during the mid-twentieth century. They came to UNH in 1940 to teach, and during their long tenure here became internationally famous. Their pottery is unique in the American Craft movement, and is collected by major museums. The work of these former UNH professors, Durham residents, and internationally acclaimed artists continues to be in great demand by collectors.
This program will include a short video presentation about the Scheiers and examples of their work. We also encourage you to share your own memories and stories about the Scheiers. Please feel welcome to bring your own treasured piece to share with the audience.
This event is open to the general public. Refreshments will be served.
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HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR YOUR SOLAR EXEMPTION YET?
If you own property in Durham and recently installed a “solar energy system” that utilizes solar energy to heat or cool the interior of your building; heat water or to provide electricity, you may qualify for a solar exemption. If you are already receiving a solar exemption, you do not need to reapply.
The Town of Durham has adopted the Exemption for Solar Systems per RSA 72:62 where you may qualify for a solar exemption from your property tax assessment.
To qualify for this exemption, you must submit a PA-29 exemption application by April 15, 2019. Applications are located on the Town’s website or you may pick one up at the Assessor’s Office. Your application must also include the total installation cost and a detailed list of what equipment was installed on your property.
If approved, this exemption will be applied to your 2019 assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact the Assessor’s Office at 603-868-8064.
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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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MARINA'S MILES
If residents have run Marina's Miles in the last two years and still have their bright orange or pink shirt, please wear it to school, to work, to shop or for your daily run around Durham. Lets get the word out about this great 5K right here in Durham.
View more information or to pre-register HERE.
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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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JOIN THE DURHAM LIBRARY THIS WEEK FOR:
Monthly Cartooning Workshop! Monday, April 1st at 6:30-7:30 pm
Durham resident Susan Stehle will be offering a monthly cartooning workshop for students grades 5-8. Held in the YA room. Register on our website .REGISTRATION REQUIRED
AND
Next week...
Poetry Reading with Abigail Carroll, Tuesday, April 9th at 6:30 pm
Join DPL as we welcome Abigail Carroll back to the library for a reading of her most recent publication, Habitation of Wonder.
Abigail Carroll's poems travel the intersection of the natural landscape and the landscape of spirit--always in search of wonder. The Chicago Tribune has called her work, “sparked with joy and stitched with whimsy.” Carroll is also author of A Gathering of Larks: Letters to Saint Francis from a Modern-Day Pilgrim (2017) and Three Squares: The Invention of the American Meal (2013). A Durham native, she currently lives and writes in Vermont, where she finds pleasure in gardening, photographing nature, and sipping a well brewed cup of tea.
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*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.
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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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1907 - The deplorable condition of the Sullivan graveyard was discovered by Rev. Beard and his mother. The Woman's Club raised money and obtained volunteer labor. The wall was built by Dan Chesley and the metal gates donated by the Dover DAR. Many dignitaries attended the dedication.
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If you know of others who would find the weekly "Friday Updates" of interest, please pass them along. Folks can sign up on the Town's web site HERE on the left side of the page. Click on "Friday Updates" then enter your email address and first and last name.
Mr. Selig will be on vacation next week, shadowing the Oyster River Jazz Band, which will be performing at Disney World! During his absence, Business Manager Gail Jablonski will serve as Acting Administrator.
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