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Friday, November 15, 2019
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Sunrise at Adams Point. Courtesy Bill Doucet
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An Editorial Comment from Administrator Selig: Durham is a very special community. Every community has difficult issues with which it grapples, and we certainly have our share here in town: Planning a downtown holiday celebration, whether Pay-as-You-Throw is a good fit locally, the future of the Mill Pond Dam, an application before the Planning Board to redevelop the Mill Plaza, the need for a new Middle School, etc. The list goes on.
While everyone will and should have opinions on each topic that arises today and into the future, a critical (and sustainable) component of successfully addressing these issues as a community is that we act in a civil manner with one another. Residents are therefore encouraged to be thoughtful in their feedback, to treat one another with respect, to try to listen as well as to convey, and to be willing at times to accept some measure of compromise to meet the collective needs of the community.
This is not Washington, D.C. We are Durham, NH.
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PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED FY 2020 BUDGET - View the proposed FY 2020 budget on line HERE
The Durham Town Council will hold a public hearing on the Administrator’s proposed FY 2020 Operating, Capital, and Special Fund Budgets on Monday, November 18, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at the Town Hall located at 8 Newmarket Road.
Copies of the proposed FY 2020 Budget, as well as the proposed 2020-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), are available for viewing in the lobby on the first floor of the Durham Town Hall located at 8 Newmarket Road, and at the Durham Public Library located at 49 Madbury Road. Questions regarding these documents may be addressed to Business Manager Gail Jablonski at 603-868-8043, mailto:gjablonski@ci.durham.nh.us.
Interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing and express their views. Written comments may be mailed to the Administrator’s Office at 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824 or sent by electronic mail to mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
This year’s budget cycle has resulted in a proposed 2020 General Fund budget totaling $16,635,510 -- a spending increase of $514,200 or 3.2% compared to FY 2019. Increases are due to required wages and benefits as a result of collective bargaining contracts, a 2% COLA for non-union personnel, insurance increases, debt service costs, and other miscellaneous requests that will be discussed as part of the upcoming process. Non-property tax revenues are expected to decrease in FY 2020 by approx. $66,000 or .09% to $7,159,875.
In total, this year’s budgetary proposal is projected to increase the 2020 local municipal portion of the tax rate by 4.19% from $ 7.60 to $7.92, an increase of 32 cents. The tax rate had remained at $7.37 (formerly $8.48 but adjusted due to 2018 statistical revaluation update) for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The proposed increase would cost the average Durham property taxpayer with a home valued at $350,000 an additional $112.00 in taxes for 2020.
The proposed Sewer (Wastewater) Fund budget reflects a 2.92% increase in user fees in 2020 (a rate of $8.97 per hundred cubic feet), while the proposed Water Fund budget carries an anticipated 3.8% increase in user fees (a rate of $7.35 per hundred cubic feet) for FY 2020.
Budget highlights include the following, which in addition to the voluminous budget and CIP documents, Mr. Selig is hopeful the Council and the community will carefully review, to ensure their satisfaction with this proposal and the many hard choices made within.
- This proposal includes $404,120 in fixed compensation increases for full time wages.
- A sum of $7,500 is included within the Public Works budget for part-time 9 hr./wk. enhanced facility maintenance at the Durham Public Library.
- $50,000 was cut from the Town’s Contingency line, bringing this item to a proposed budget of just $100,000 or .6% of the Town’s General Fund budget. Historically we have targeted 1%.
- $82,000 requested by the Fire Department to enhance training capabilities has been cut due to funding constraints. The Council may have an interest in exploring further.
- $6,000 has been budgeted to contract the services of NH Listens per the recommendation of the Durham Winter Celebration Committee to engage the community in a conversation about holiday celebration/displays in the downtown core.
- $10,000 has been included to purchase new TBD festive lighting decorations for Main Street to replace the existing holiday wreaths per the request of the Council.
- While Durham is more resilient than many communities across NH, more can and should be done locally to make the town more resilient in the face of a changing climate. In this endeavor, there is a great deal of opportunity and benefit in continuing to do so in collaboration with UNH. While the opportunities are numerous, the resilience assessment undertaken this summer suggests some immediate actions: a) Work with the UNH Sustainability Institute to complete municipal and community greenhouse gas emissions inventories; b) Adopt new procurement standards; c) Hire a sustainability coordinator; d) Consider additional strategies to raise money to address stormwater concerns; e) and Join the Global Covenant of Mayors, a coalition of cities that are working to cut GHG emissions and adapt to climate change. To this end, the FY 2020 proposed budget will include approximately $13,000 in funding to work with the UNH Sustainability Fellowship Office to bring on a Graduate Student for the summer/fall 2020 semesters (with the intent of expanding to the full academic year in 2021) to continue/drive forward our sustainability efforts in Durham.
- $4,000 is included to support the cost of either a dynamic speed sign or a LED crosswalk sign package for a TBD location.
- Because we do not have the results of the facility assessments for either the Wagon Hill Farm farmhouse or the Old Town Hall/Courthouse, funds are not included to make significant improvements to either facility in 2020. Once such reports are received, we will have to plan for the future. Limited funding is included for minor improvements/repairs in both facilities to carry us through to 2021 as necessary.
- Operating under the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Churchill Rink is currently cared for by a seasonal manager with all operating expenses funded by revenues generated at the facility. To remain self-sufficient requiring no taxpayer dollars (beyond ancillary DPW support as is the case with all Town facilities) to sustain the operation, the rink “rents ice” to many different user groups on an hourly basis and also offers “open to the public” fee-based sessions throughout the season. Long-discussed plans for upgrades to the facility to ensure its viability for the future, eliminate operational and safety challenges, and make dry-floor, off-season use feasible after years of very limited activity during spring, summer, and fall due to unfavorable building conditions are included as part of this proposal. The plan also includes establishing a full-time manager position on a trial basis to plan for and oversee improvements and then to operate the facility year-round once the work is complete with dry-floor programming during the off-season. The ability to use the facility for recreational and other programming when not being utilized for ice-based activities would be a tremendous benefit to the community. CIP Projects have been proposed in 2020 for $875,000, 2021 for $300,000 and 2021 for $400,000 with funding for all to come from revenues generated at the rink covering debt service.
- Consistent with the Council’s decision to move forward with a GIS initiative as part of the approved FY 2019 budget, a full time GIS Manager position is budgeted to begin 7/1/20. As you recall, $170,000 was included ($100,000 – IT, $70,000 – Assessing) to develop an accurate GIS base layer for Durham and associated tax map layer in GIS over a three-year period.
- This budget continues to include $12,000 to cover the cost of an historical 15% discount for Durham residents off the cost of a UNH pool pass.
- This budget includes a $28,000 tax funded subsidy for the Oyster River Youth Association for a second year in a row to offset the cost of participation for Durham, Lee, and Madbury youth. The Town had supported $42,745 in 2018 and ORYA has requested $72,900 in 2020.
- $45,000 has been included to cover the cost of a replacement police vehicle in 2020, cut from the two vehicles that were requested. In 2021, two to three vehicles will be necessary.
- $445,000 is included for roadway resurfacing in 2020 with cash to include shimming and a 1” overlay for the following roadways: Carriage Way, Maple Street, Meadow Road, Riverview Road, Riverview Court, Sandy Brook Drive, Strout Lane, and Surrey Lane.
- Sidewalk work recommended for 2020 has been deferred to see what happens with Mill Plaza, etc.
- $15,000 has been added to the Administrator’s budget consultant line for bike/pedestrian/traffic safety analysis/enhancements on an as needed basis with offsetting revenue coming from the $35,227 in the reserve account from the Municipal Transportation and Improvement Fund.
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Holiday tree and lighted wreaths in downtown Durham - Dec. 2018. Courtesy Todd Selig
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DURHAM DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY WREATHS REVISITED - To be hung in downtown Durham as in the past & Information about Frost Fest Event
With the benefit of public comment received by the Town over the last week, Admin. Selig believed it appropriate to revisit the decision made in June not to install the wreaths downtown this holiday season on Durham’s ornamental light posts. Despite the recommendations of the Durham Winter Celebration Committee that the wreaths not be hung for a variety of reasons ranging from perceived Christmas/religious overtones to the fact that the wreaths are nearing end of life and are not in the best of condition, Mr. Selig believes we should continue to hang them until the Council budgets funds and we purchase some kind of downtown replacement holiday lighting or until the wreaths themselves wear out and reach end of life.
One member of the committee conveyed to Mr. Selig today this individual's recollection that the Winter Celebration Committee did not in fact recommend that the wreaths not be displayed, but rather that WHEN the wreaths needed to be replaced (they have not weathered well over just two years), that the Town think about replacing them with decorations that add more light to Main Street such as stars or snowflakes because it would extend the season of use.
Two or three years ago, Durham Public Works replaced the holiday wreath (and downtown evergreen holiday tree) lighting with LED technology to be more sustainable and cost effective. In June when the Council opted not to proceed with hanging the traditional wreaths, it relied upon guidance from the committee it had established to evaluate the traditional holiday downtown celebration as follows:
“We would like to string lights up on various items in the downtown area so that there will not be specific emphasis on the evergreen tree in Memorial Park. We are also thinking about hanging lighted stars or snowflakes on the light posts, taking the place of the wreaths.”
Due to budgetary constraints, the Town was not able to move forward with the acquisition of replacement holiday lighting in 2019 and given that the working group envisioned new lighting replacing the old, Admin. Selig believes it appropriate to revisit the Council’s earlier guidance and install the wreaths on our decorative light posts downtown as we have for many years. This is a dark and cold time of year and the wreaths add additional festive lighting, general illumination, and warmth to our downtown core, making it both more festive and welcoming for the benefit of our residents, visitors, and downtown businesses alike.
Based on this analysis, Admin. Selig has directed the Public Works Department to move forward with hanging our traditional holiday wreaths, which annually go up just after Thanksgiving, weather/schedule permitting. If the Council would like to discuss further, it can certainly do so on Monday evening! I want to emphasize that we have lost no wreath time this year. The wreaths are traditionally hung just after Thanksgiving.
$10,000 has been included in the proposed FY 2020 budget to purchase new TBD festive lighting decorations for Main Street to replace the existing holiday wreaths per the request of the Council and the working committee. An additional $6,000 has been proposed for FY 2020 to contract the services of NH Listens per the recommendation of the Durham Winter Celebration Committee to engage the community in a conversation about holiday celebration/displays in the downtown core.
Santa Claus will still be present at the Frost Fest (scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 6-8 PM on downtown Main Street), the evergreen holiday tree lighting will be energized at dusk along with the wreaths, and a variety of holiday activities are scheduled for the entire community to include bonfire and s'mores, music, cookie decorating, an ice sculpting demonstration, crafts and activities, Ruby the Photo Bus, raffles, and more. All are welcome to this free, family friendly event.
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DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL LIGHT UP DURHAM!
The Durham Business Association (DBA) is encouraging all businesses and Fraternity and Sorority Life ( FSL) houses to light their businesses and houses and share in spreading the joy of the season. It’s razzle-dazzle time! Harness your artistic, creative, innovative genes to start planning a lighted holiday display for your Greek House. The DBA is going for greater participation to make this year’s contest “bigger and better”.
The Annual Light Up Durham Annual Lighting Contest, sponsored by the DBA, is intended to benefit the entire Durham community, which includes Durham residents and businesses, as well as UNH faculty, staff, and students. This is an opportunity for everyone to get involved.
Please Note:
Last December, people came forward to the Town to express that some of the activities and symbols of the Town’s annual tree lighting are oriented towards the Christmas holiday tradition, leaving some feeling excluded. With that in mind the Town has redefined this celebration and renamed it Frost Fest, scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 6-8 PM.
All participants in the annual celebration are being encouraged to think about how their particular activity can be inclusive.
Santa Claus will still be present at the Frost Fest, the evergreen holiday tree lighting will be energized at dusk along with the wreaths, and a variety of holiday activities are scheduled for the entire community.
Although these proposed changes seem minor in the grand scheme of things, the Town hopes that it conveys a willingness to be conscious of others.
With that in mind the DBA hopes that all participating businesses will consider these changes in their displays.
Judging will take place Wednesday, December 4, 2019 beginning at 5:30 PM.
2019 Information & Guidelines
Contest is open to all businesses and recognized Greek fraternities and sororities. The guidelines for judging include:
- The effectiveness of lights creating the display.
- The placement and uniformity of the lights.
- The use of design and color to create the decorations.
- The use of special lighted displays.
- The ingenuity, originality, and creativity exercised in the decorations.
Holiday Lights are available for sale at Rite Aid.
For more information please contact the Durham Business Association at http://durhambusinessassociation@gmail.com / 603.969.9273
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TOWN COUNCIL CONTINUES DISCUSSION REGARDING CONCEPT OF PAY AS YOU THROW PROGRAM
At the Town Council meeting on November 4th, the Council held a public hearing with respect to the concept of a Pay As You Throw (PAYT) program in Durham.
A PAYT Frequently Asked Questions sheet, prepared by members of the Integrated Waste Management Committee, was available for attendees. Please know the members of the committee are working very hard to address a challenging topic for the community - trash and recycling. View the FAQs sheet HERE.
The November 4 Town Council meeting is also available for viewing on DCAT On Demand and would be very informative for any residents who have questions about PAYT programs in general and what such a program, if implemented, would potentially mean for Durham.
The Town Council will continue its discussion and deliberation on this matter at its meeting scheduled for Monday, November 18, 2019.
View an article in today’s Foster’s titled, Is Pay as You Throw Trash Worth Cost? Durham to Decide HERE.
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TOWN COUNCIL HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS - MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND – Items to potentially appear on March 10, 2020 Town Election Warrant to include increasing bond threshold from $1 million to $2.3 million to account for inflation since originally recommended in 1987
The Durham Town Council will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting on Monday, December 2, 2019, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at the Durham Town Hall, 8 Newmarket Road, relative to various proposed amendments to the Durham Town Charter for placement on the March 10, 2020 Town Election ballot.
All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing and express their views. Questions concerning the proposed Charter amendments should be directed to Administrator Todd Selig at 603-868-5571, tselig@ci.durham.nh.us. Written comments may be mailed to the Administrator’s office at 8 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824 or sent by electronic mail to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
As part of the approved Town Council goals for 2019-2020, the Council included:
“Staff and Legal Counsel conduct a review of the Town Charter and bring forward recommendations, as needed, for alignment with current state laws and adjustments to address identified deficiencies over time and recommendations relative to borrowing threshold limitations to account for inflation over the last 30-year timeframe.”
For the past several years, the Administrator’s Office has been accumulating various Charter amendments that have been identified as needing to be made. Amendments to the Town Charter were last made in March 2009. In addition, the town’s attorney, Laura Spector-Morgan, has also reviewed the Charter and has identified other areas within the Charter she felt could also be amended.
Some examples of topics being included in the recommended update are: adding the ability to include alternates on several boards (HDC, Trustees of Trust Funds, and Parks & Recreation ), increasing the $1 million bond threshold triggering the need for a referendum vote to reflect the rate of inflation since the Charter was adopted in the late-1980’s to $2.3 million, conflict of interest, institutionalizing the current procedure for determining the order of names on the local election ballot via drawing names from a hat, annual board/committee presentations to the Council, requirement for annual meeting between Administrator and board chairpersons, etc.
Below is a link to the draft language and format of amendments that are being recommended for placement on the Town Election ballot for March 10, 2020. Explanations for each of the recommended changes are provided here for the Council’s information but cannot legally be placed on the election ballot itself.
View the recommended Charter changes HERE.
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It's time to prepare the yard for winter. Courtesy Todd Selig
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DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS
The Cornucopia Food Pantry is seeking donations for the Thanksgiving food baskets that will be given to local families in need. Last year over 200 baskets were distributed and the demand has been growing each year. You can make a difference by donating food items, money, or time.
Suggested items to donate:
Thanksgiving staples such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy
Bags of potatoes, carrots, onions or other fresh veggies
Fresh fruit
Eggs, milk, cheese
Herbs & spices
Flour, sugar, baking powder, extracts, etc.
Muffin, corn bread, cake, brownie, or cookie mix
Pancake mix & syrup
Hot & cold cereal
Soups or other canned goods
Coffee/tea
Toiletries, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, tissues, etc.
Roasting pans
Monetary donations or store gift certificates for food are always needed and gratefully accepted.
Donations may be dropped off at The Waysmeet Center, 15 Mill Rd., on Tuesdays from 2:00 - 6:00 pm, Fridays from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, or other hours as arranged. Fresh items should be delivered on Monday, November 25th. Donations may also be picked up if needed. Please call 603-862-1165 for more details.
Volunteers are welcome to help organize food baskets on Monday, November 25th and distribute them on Tuesday, November 26th. Please sign up HERE.
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DURHAM TOWN OFFICES HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE
Below is the Holiday closing schedule for the Durham Town Offices for the remainder of 2019 and beginning of 2020.
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Mill Pond Dam. Courtesy Todd Selig
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PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON DRAWDOWN OF MILL POND - Tuesday, November 26, 2019
On Tuesday, November 26, 2019 beginning at 7 PM, a public informational meeting will be held in the Council chambers at Town Hall relative to the Oyster River Dam/Mill Pond located on Route 108/Newmarket Road. The Department of Public Works plans to partially lower the Mill Pond by approximately 6 inches during the third week of December (on or around December 16, 2019) to perform subsurface geotechnical work with a floating barge in the pond as part of the Feasibility Study being completed by the Town’s consultant.
The first public informational meeting for the Dam Feasibility Study will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020 in Town Council chambers at 7pm. The goal of the meeting will be to introduce the members of the project team, present the scope and projected timeline of the study and to take questions and comments. More information will be shared in the next few months.
Questions and comments should be directed to Town Engineer April Talon at (603) 868-5578, or mailto:atalon@ci.durham.nh.us
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MILL POND DAM FEASIBILITY CONSULTANT TO MEET WITH HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION ON DEC. 5
VHB is working with the Town of Durham on the Mill Pond Dam Feasibility Study and plans to attend the December 5, 2019 HDC meeting to introduce the commission to the study project the process that the company is undertaking on behalf of the Town. VHB anticipates they will only need to take up about a half hour of the HDC’s time for this initial contact as part of the process.
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CELEBRATE DURHAM IS PLANNING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held during the Saturday following Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
They have applied with American Express as neighborhood champions which will get them a big box of promotional materials and 100 reusable shopping bags. Several individual businesses have also applied. This year they are also partnering with Newmarket Business Association. They are excited to grow this effort and include more people as it has been a great success in past years.
They invite businesses and organizations to place promotional materials in each bag. This includes flyers, coupons and/or swag. Now here comes the fun part, they also encourage anyone that wants to participate to also include 10 gift cards in small denominations to be distributed amongst the bags. For example, Main Street Makery put in 10-$10 gift certificates. Last year they had over $1500!!!!! in combined gift certificates loaded into the bags! Customers were so excited and appreciative and they report record numbers turning up for the event.
Bags are distributed in businesses participating on that day. It makes the most sense to hand them out at brick and mortar locations. Last year they had about 15 spots.
Their minimum estimate for numbers for promotional materials are 150 for Durham and 100 for Newmarket.
They will be stuffing the bags on Wednesday, November 20th at 9am at Durham Town Hall. People are also welcome to come that morning to help stuff bags. It’s always a fun time and many hands make light of work.
Materials can be dropped off at Main Street Makery or Amy’s Frame Shop any time before Wednesday, November 20th.
The town of Durham will be officially making a proclamation in support of this day and our small business community. All good stuff!
Please contact Sarah Grandy if you have any questions at 603-397-5317.
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UPDATE ON EVERSOURCE ROADSIDE DISTRIBUTION UPGRADES
Lauren Cote of Eversource provided the following update on the status of the roadside distribution upgrades for a dozen roads in town, including Durham Point Road:
- 166 of 167 poles have been set. The last pole requires additional matting and will be completed later.
- 3 Phase Hendrix on Durham Point Road is energized.
- 87% of the single phase conductor installation has been completed.
Eversource said, “Our goal is to finish our work by the end of this year. The contractor, JCR, is also working on the Seacoast Reliability Project, so the schedule does fluctuate based on that project, as well as weather. The existing poles will be removed when Consolidated Communications and Comcast make their transfers [to the new lines].”
View the PowerPoint that Eversource presented to the Planning Board in June HERE.
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CHIEF KURZ CONTRIBUTES TO A PUBLICATION FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ)
Chief Dave Kurz was a contributing author for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) publication Law Enforcement Best Practices-Lessons from the Field that was just released. Chief Kurz is considered a Subject Matter Expert by the DOJ and was asked to contribute commentary as it related to smaller police agencies. After each chapter’s topic, Chief Kurz contributed to discussing “Special Considerations for Smaller Agencies”.
View the publication HERE.
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HELP SUPPORT THE DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY - Please contribute to the 2020 Annual Appeal. Click HERE to Donate.
Your gift to the 2020 Annual Appeal will help meet the demand for multiple copies of popular books, DVDs and CDs. The library also relies on your support to replace aging computers and invest in new technology. The Library would also like to offer patrons two new digital services: Mango Languages and Universal Class. Mango Languages gives patrons access to learning more than 72 languages, while Universal Class brings more than 500 courses in 30 subject areas to the Library
In addition, Children’s Services is eager to offer more workshops in robotics, coding and animation in response to increasing demand. We’d like to add new creative learning robots (such as Dot & Dash, Sphere and Botley the Coding Robot), as well as more non-fiction juvenile books, and arts programming to our offerings. Helping children master their literacy and STEAM skills is one of the greatest gifts we can provide to them as they prepare for a technologically advanced and rapidly changing world.
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Making good use of rotting pumpkins in the garden. Courtesy Todd Selig
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REMEMBER, MILL PLAZA IS A PRIVATE PARKING LOT!
The Mill Plaza parking lot is not a public parking lot and if you are not shopping, dining or visiting one of the businesses in the Mill Plaza, your vehicle can be “booted” by employees of Colonial Durham, the management company that oversees Mill Plaza. The Durham Police have been advised by Colonial Durham management that parking lot attendants will be using a mechanical boot on cars that are parked illegally. As this is private property, the use of the mechanical boot is allowed under New Hampshire law, as is the towing of a vehicle from this privately owned lot. New signs have been placed prominently throughout the parking area advising persons of the booting and towing for those not legitimately using the parking lot to conduct business within the plaza. While the Durham Police have had several complaints from persons having their vehicle booted, it is uniquely a civil matter and cannot involve the Durham Police who do not intervene in this private/civil matter.
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SWAP SHOP NEWS
The Swap Shop remains busy as the season changes and so must the guidelines. Beginning on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 large items will NO LONGER be accepted at the Swap Shop. This seasonal rule change is due to winter weather, the necessity to remove snow, and the lack of space to store items. Large items include, but are not limited to, donations that are unable to fit safely on the shelving inside the Swap Shop. Large items cannot be stored on the floor in the aisles. Some of the items that will no longer be accepted at the Swap Shop until next spring include, ALL furniture, golf clubs, gardening tools/supplies, building/construction supplies, sporting equipment larger than a grocery bag, baby equipment, and suitcases.
As always, the Transfer Center Attendants are available to educate residents about what is permissible given winter weather and space considerations. Residents can also call the Durham Town during normal business hours, M-F, 8:00-4:30, at 868-5578 for information.
Special thanks to the regular Swap Shop volunteers who continue to sign-up and give back to Durham residents through this helpful, convenient, and sustainable service. Click the link below to learn and sign-up to volunteer! It’s neighborly, fun, and rewarding! Look for the “Shadow-New volunteers” option.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b49a5a828aaf49-swap
You can also call or text 603-969-4732 or mailto:foggdrive@yahoo.com
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THOMPSON FOREST NATURE WALK: Nov. 16th 10 AM - Noon
Join Ellen Snyder, Durham Land Stewardship Coordinator, and Dick Lord, long-time Lamprey River Advisory Committee (LRAC) representative, on Saturday, November 16th from 10 a.m. to noon for a nature walk on Durham’s Thompson Forest off Wednesday Hill Road. Our walk will begin at the information kiosk to highlight LRAC’s role in helping protect this property and in funding the kiosk and interpretive panel. From there, Ellen will lead a walk on the 1.2-mile loop trail, that leads through a meadow and forest and down to the Wild & Scenic Lamprey River. You will learn about wildlife habitat, invasive plants, the historical setting, and the importance of the Lamprey River to this region. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. For more information mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com
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TRAIL WORK DAY AT JACKSON LANDING: Sunday, Nov. 17th 9 AM - Noon
Another exciting trail-building volunteer opportunity is set for this weekend. Join the Town of Durham and Oyster River Cycle and Sport on Sunday, November 17th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon to re-establish and add features to a multi-use trail on a portion of the town's Jackson Landing property. We will re-open a trail that has become overgrown on land between Old Piscataqua Road (site of the ice rink) and Route 4. This trail will wind through an oak-hickory forest and around interesting topography, with a nice view of the Oyster River. The trail will be open to walking and mountain biking, snowshoeing and x-country skiing. For the work day, please wear weather appropriate clothing and bring work gloves. Tools and snacks will be provided. Please sign up on Nature Groupie. Any questions, contact mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com
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SEE SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT? PLEASE CONTACT THE DURHAM POLICE
The very essence of community policing is that the community and the police work together to confront crime and the fear of crime. The vast majority of Durham residents understand that the police cannot be everywhere simultaneously to observe criminal or suspicious activity as it occurs and the department finds it difficult to patrol residential areas with the frequency residents, businesses and the police prefer. So Chief Kurz urges you to contact the police at 868-2324 or 911 if you see, hear or sense something is not quite right. An officer will respond quickly and resolve what may or may not be a criminal activity. When law enforcement works directly with residents and businesses we collectively are going a long way toward reducing crime, improving quality of life, and enhancing public safety.
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WINTER PARKING BAN
The Durham Winter Parking ban commences Friday November 1st and will be in effect through April 1, 2020. As many know, parking on Main Street, Jenkins Court and any Town owned parking lot is prohibited between 1:00AM and 6:00AM throughout the year. But the Winter Parking ban prohibits parking ON ANY STREET from November 1st to April 1st between 1:00AM and 6:00AM. As the ordinance states,
“Any vehicle so parked during the prohibited hours and dates shall be subject to being towed away at the owner’s risk. The owner or owners shall be required to pay all towing costs and a fine before the vehicle is released.”
For the first few weeks, the Durham Police will endeavor to issue warnings designed to remind everyone of the Winter ban but were a surprise snowstorm to occur during this period, there should be an awareness that vehicles may be towed to allow for Durham Public Works to more effectively plow the streets and roadways of Durham.
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TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS
Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
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Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.
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DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, November 18th, 6:30 pm- 7:30 pm - Young Adult Compassion Project, Ages 10 and older
Please join us for a program connecting the library with the community.
We will be making cards and pictures for our senior friends in assisted living,
with the hopes of spreading some love and kindness as we move into the holiday season.
Pizza will be served and volunteer hours may be earned.
Mondays in November, 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm - NaNoWriMo - Come Write In! - Drop-In Writing Space
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a nonprofit event that encourages adults and kids to tackle the challenge of writing a novel in November. Every November, thousands of writers around the world congregate at "Come Write In" spaces to pursue their creative dreams and write the first draft of their novel.Drop-In, open writing space will be available in the Durham Public Library Heritage Room on Mondays in November from 3:30-7:30 pm. All ages are welcome to come on in and WRITE your story!
Tuesday, December 3rd, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Snowflake Social
The unveiling of Trudy Brown's Gingerbread house, music by Jeff snow, pop up performance by Not Too Sharp, door prizes, snacks & beverages, adult and youth crafts.
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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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1946 - Mrs. O.V. Henderson formed a Durham Historical Society, with proper bylaws. Incorporation was sought in 1949 and the 1851 enactment was discovered by Rep. Bill Stearns. The acts of the forebears were adopted, though the $3,000 limitation was removed. The membership is currently 228.
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Have a very nice weekend.
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Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham, NH
a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA
t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us
He/him/his pronouns
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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