Friday Updates - May 3, 2024

Friday, May 3, 2024

Spring brings new beginnings. Courtesy, Karen Edwards

Governor Sununu has directed flags on all public buildings and grounds in the State of New Hampshire to fly at half-staff on Sunday, May 5, 2024, from sunrise to sunset, in observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico, (Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. More popular in the United States than in Mexico, it has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, the most important national holiday in Mexico, which is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores in 1810, which initiated the Mexican War of Independence from Spain.  

And finally, if you missed the 50-year celebration of the defeat of the oil refinery, you can watch it HERE.

TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY– Downtown Roadway Painting

Please be advised that Durham Public Works’ contractor for the Town's Pavement Marking Program, Pin Point Line Striping and Marking, will be completing stencil and crosswalk work along the following roadways from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am on Monday and Tuesday, May 6 and 7.

• Main Street
• Pettee Brook Lane
• Garrison Avenue
• Madbury Road (Main Street to Pettee Brook Lane)
• Woodman Road (Madbury Road to Dennison Road)

The roadway in the work areas will be restricted to one lane with alternating traffic between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am. Access to adjacent residences, businesses and institutions within the work areas will be maintained at all times. 

Disruptions to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected to be minimal however we ask that the commuting public seek alternative routes if possible and allow additional time to reach their destinations. We thank you for your patience.  For additional information please contact Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578.

We endeavor annually to get the downtown roadways looking ship shape for the upcoming UNH commencement.

New Hampshire specifically is home to 20+ colleges and universities. But it's not just these institutions themselves that hold appeal to prospective students – it's the towns they're located in. When students are not in the classroom or studying, these communities are where they go to shop, eat, and hang out with friends.

Recently, U.S. News published a list of destination college towns in the Northeast. According to an article on WOKQ 97.5, while New England dominated as a whole, two NH towns were selected to be featured – Durham and Hanover.

To read the full article, click HERE.

Following a year of review, FEMA notified us this week that it had approved the Town of Durham’s 2024 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update effective April 19, 2024, through April 18, 2029. 

With this plan approval, the Durham is eligible to apply to New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management for mitigation grants administered by FEMA.

The plan must be updated and resubmitted to the FEMA Region 1 Mitigation Division for approval every five years to remain eligible for FEMA mitigation grant funding.

A positive development undertaken in partnership with the Strafford Regional Planning Commission. To view the plan, click HERE.

The Seacoast Commission on Long-Term Goals and Requirements for Drinking Water and the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), in conjunction with Underwood Engineers (UE) and GZA GeoEnvironmental, is advancing a long-term planning study to evaluate water system interconnections within the Seacoast Region for the primary purpose of mutual aid. This study will build on the 2006 Seacoast NH Mutual Aid Study, while expanding the boundaries of the study area and considering the needs of small community water systems (CWS).

The study will provide long-term planning recommendations to improve the resiliency, redundancy, and mutual aid of water supply and distribution systems in the Seacoast. Evaluation of existing water suppliers as well as communities in the study area that do not currently have a municipal water system could benefit from the development of this guidance document. The intent of the study is to help inform long-term decision making and investments over a 50-year planning window.

This study is not intended to reallocate a community’s water resources but rather foster regional resiliency and cooperation in the best interest of the area. This project will take a holistic look at the vulnerabilities of the region’s water infrastructure while considering the individual needs of each community within the Seacoast. The recommendations made by this study are non-committal and for planning purposes only.

The UNH/Durham Water System is participating as part of the study.  

A never-before-told story of the UNH President's Residence and the families who have lived in it since 1904. Part history, part memoir, this collective biography of First Families offers a peek inside the home that has been a part of the fabric of the university for over a century. Its residents have weathered cultural revolutions, world wars, pandemics, and protests while balancing the public-facing duties inherent to their positions with the personal joys and sorrows known to all families. In this book, Jan Dean gives readers an opportunity to go inside the walls of this historic house at the corner of Garrison and Main, and to get to know the families who have made it their own.

Dean’s account moves chronologically through the history of UNH presidents and their families living in the house, shedding light on the changes both the residence and campus underwent during each tenure.

The result is a chronicle of life on campus for presidents and their families through many memorable and often turbulent historic eras, including World Wars I and II, the societal tumult of the 60s and 70s, 9/11 and its aftermath, and COVID.

For instance, Dean notes that President Harold Stoke and his wife, Persis “Esther” Stoke presided over the university during World War II, when everything was in short supply due to rations and most of the male students were away from campus in battle. The return of the veterans ushered in the arrival of the GI Bill.

The most challenging era on campus in her eyes, though, was the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly the stretch under President John McConnell and his wife, Harriett McConnell, when the leadership had to “balance out the furor of the students” over so many cultural issues.

Dean indicates she leaned on the UNH archives and student newspaper for much of her research, and also tapped into ancestry.com and newspapers.com. She gives particular credit to the UNH library’s Morgan Wilson, public services coordinator, and Eleta Exline, scholarly communication librarian, for their key assistance.

Dean even found university connections where she wasn’t expecting to throughout the process. She reached out to Sue Hertz, a professor in the English department, to find some freelance editing help and was connected to Maggie Wallace, an MFA graduate who took on the task. Another alum, John Herman, played a key role in formatting the book for publication.

Dean opted to self-publish through Amazon and will be donating all of the proceeds from the sale of the book back to UNH. A digital copy will be placed in the UNH Repository, as well – and the latter placement, Dean hopes, could provide an opportunity for the story of the house and its inhabitants to continue to develop well into the future.

To order a copy of the book through Amazon, please click HERE.

The owners of 20 Newmarket Road, Steve and Janie Taylor, invite you to their home on Sunday, May 5, between 12-5:00 p.m. to view their 1,900 bulbs in bloom.

To encourage a positive attitude toward dandelions, the Durham Agricultural Commission Bee Friendly Program offers the following:

- Dandelions are not weeds but bee-utiful spring wildflowers.

- Dandelions are an important source of both pollen and nectar for honeybees.

- Honeybees visiting dandelions in the early spring contributes to sweet results (honey!) that can be enjoyed throughout the entire year.

- There are at least eight beekeepers and over 20 beehives in Durham producing local honey. Honeybees fly 2-3 miles away from their hive to find nectar and pollen.

    - Do your part by not mowing your lawn until after the dandelions seed heads appear.

DURHAM'S ANNUAL RIGHT-TO-KNOW WORKSHOP BEING HELD MAY 9

On Thursday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Durham Town Hall there will be a workshop presented by Town Attorney Laura Spector-Morgan regarding the ins-and-outs of the New Hampshire Right-To-Know law. The focus will be for Town Government and Boards/Committees/ Commissions. However, anyone is welcome to attend.

We've extended an invitation to Lee, Madbury, Newmarket, and the ORCSD as well for officials there to attend.

There will also be a Zoom option. You can register for the Zoom invitation HERE.

ZONING ORDINANCE DEFINITIONS RE-WRITE COMPLETED BY PLANNING BOARD - Will now go to Town Council to be reviewed.

After over a year of review, the Planning Board has finished rewriting the Definitions section of the Zoning Ordinance. So much time was needed because the article is very long. The definitions need to be precise because the terminology affects where uses are allowed and various aspects of development. Professional nerds like the Town Planner love this stuff, but thanks are due to the Planning Board for digging into an important but not exactly a scintillating topic. The draft now goes to the Town Council for consideration. You can see the documents related to the review HERE.

HOUSING ISSUES EXPLAINED - What to know about expanding housing opportunities in Durham and beyond.

The Housing Task Force will include items periodically in Friday Updates to help the public understand various issues related to housing. A “Housing Dictionary” from the Workforce Housing Coalition, explaining various terms like affordable housing and workforce housing can be downloaded HERE. 

There is much discussion in planning these days about “Missing Middle” housing and “Mixed-Use Development.” To learn more about "Missing Middle" housing, click HERE, and to learn more about "Mixed Use Development," click HERE. 

Great Blue Heron on Mill Pond Courtesy, Jane Taylor

DID YOU KNOW?  - Plastic Utensils

Each year about 40 billion pounds of plastic utensils (enough to circle the earth 300 times) end up in landfills, where they’ll take 500 years to decompose.  

In addition, plastic utensils cannot be recycled.

How can you help? When ordering takeout, be sure to mention that you don’t need any plastic utensils. Also, keep sets of reusable utensils in the car for when you are away from home.

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee

Questions about recycling or composting: Email us at DurhamRecycles603@gmail.com.

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: www.Recyclesmartma.org

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Click HERE.

Durham Public Works’ contractor, Severino Trucking, Inc. completed select tree removals this week within the work areas of the Littlehale Creek crossings under Madbury Road and Edgewood Road.

On Monday, May 6, 2024, excavation activity will begin at the Madbury Road location and include test pitting to determine the elevation of the water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure in the vicinity of the culvert. Additionally, sections of guardrail will be removed on the Southeast side to facilitate the construction of an access road for transporting materials and equipment to the base of the culvert.

An alternate lane traffic configuration with traffic direction and flaggers will be in place. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible and allow additional time to reach their destination. This schedule is subject to change without notice due to weather, mechanical issues, and other conditions. 

TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY – Center & Edge Line Painting

Please be advised that Durham Public Works’ contractor for its Roadway Center & Edge Line Striping Program, Industrial Traffic Lines, will be painting center and edge lines along Town roadways on Wednesday, May 8. The roadway in the work areas will be restricted to one lane with alternating traffic between 8:00am and 4:00pm. Access to adjacent residences, businesses and institutions within the work areas will be maintained at all times. Disruptions to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected to be minimal however we ask that the commuting public seek alternative routes if possible and allow additional time to reach their destinations. We thank you for your patience.  For additional information please contact  Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578.

The Town of Durham and UNH Joint Water System’s contractors, Yates Electric and TCS Communications completed an update to the radio communication system infrastructure this week. State of the Art water systems, such as the Durham/UNH system, utilize Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) to 1) monitor and control water operations 2) gather and process real time data 3) directly interact with devices such as sensors, valves, pumps, motors, and 4) record various events and information. This is achieved through radio communication infrastructure at water tanks, treatment plants, and well sites. Following a comprehensive radio path study earlier this Spring, obsolete equipment was replaced this week to further increase the security, dependability, and resiliency of the water system. 

Did you hear a helicopter flying overhead last Saturday, April 27, 2024? Your ears weren’t tricking you! 

As part of the Fire Department’s ongoing and continuous training program to better serve the community, members of the Durham Fire Department, along with mutual aid partners from the Lee and Madbury Fire Departments, and McGregor Memorial EMS, recently experienced a unique training opportunity to work alongside Boston MedFlight crews to learn more about what they do and how they do it.

Boston MedFlight is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide emergency care services and expedited transport to a Level 1 Trauma Center for critically ill and injured patients. 

Over the last few weeks, members of the Boston MedFlight crew were at the fire station to conduct classroom sessions with each of the duty shifts and mutual aid partners. On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the classroom training sessions culminated in an onsite visit from the MedFlight crew with one of their helicopters to familiarize first responders with their landing zone requirements and procedures, as well as a tour of the helicopter resources.

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 and guardians 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 #18

Well Kids, Smokey has been giving good tips to you for the last few weeks. This week Smokey is going to help Mom and Dad with a tip. Since it's spring-cleaning time, click HERE for some helpful household cleaning tips for smoke detectors. 

NEWS FROM THE OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

ORCSD Spring Concerts and Events

• May 9, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 5-12th Grade Spring Orchestra Concert, Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall
• May 21, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. High School Band/Guitar Ensemble, Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall
• May 29, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Band-a-Palooza, Oyster River Middle School Athletic Field
• May 30, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Mast Way School Annual Art Show, Mast Way School
• June 3, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Middle and High School Chorus Concert, Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall

Celebrating Superintendent Morse

Join ORCSD at the Oyster River Middle School Learning Commons (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824) on May 16 to celebrate Superintendent Morse's coming retirement and 12 years of dedicated service to the Oyster River community. Reception starts at 4:00 p.m. and the ceremony runs 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. No RSVP required. Light refreshments will be served. View the poster HERE.

Parking Restrictions at the ORCSD District Office

Parking at the SAU and Service Building during business hours is by permit only (36 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Student drop-off is not permitted during business hours.

UNH ROTC ANNUAL EXERCISE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY IN DURHAM

On Monday, May 6, the UNH ROTC program will begin their annual exercise to march to the Durham Irving station, get icy drinks, and march back to their HQ. This march will entail approximately 18 cadets walking from their HQ on the UNH Campus, up Mill Road, through Faculty Road, and onto Mill Pond Road where they will gather at the town hall parking lot and send their recon units across the street to the Irving in pairs. Upon completion of obtaining their ice-cold drinks they will march back the way they came. 

This march will start at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Monday, May 6 and is expected to arrive at their objective by 4:30 p.m. The cadets will be wearing appropriate reflective gear and will use road guards as appropriate.