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Friday, September 11, 2020
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Durham Town Seal Photography Project survey winner! Courtesy Lee Alexander and Todd Selig
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And the winner of last week's Durham Town Seal Scenic Photography survey is...Example #3 shown above. Compare it to the actual Town Seal at the top of the page! Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. View the survey results HERE.
Lee and Todd will try to recreate the seal again next May when the sun is more aligned with the center of the channel from this perspective. Until then, enjoy!
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INFORMAL CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONY IN MEMORY OF KENNY ROTNER PLANNED FOR WAGON HILL FARM ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 13TH – 3 PM
An informal Celebration of Life ceremony has been planned in memory of the late Dr. Kenny Rotner at Wagon Hill Farm this Sunday, Sept. 13th, at 3 PM, down by the water. Parking will be in the orchard. Masks and physical distancing will be adhered to and those stopping by should feel free to bring their own chairs and dress informally as Kenny would have wanted it.
Rev. Larry Brickner-Wood will facilitate the ceremony, with comments from several members of the family, as well as friends/colleagues from the Town/School.
A rain date has been identified if needed on Sept. 20th at the same time/same place. Members of the public are welcome.
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Candidates in the election hearing zone outside of the polling place in Durham on Tuesday. Courtesy Todd Selig
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RECORD TURNOUT IN DURHAM’S STATE PRIMARY ELECTION
In a record turnout, voters both went to the polls and mailed their absentee ballots for the count in the state’s primary election this past Tuesday. Durham experienced a historic turnout of over 2672 individual votes cast on the Sept. 8 primary. Democrats cast 2233 ballots and Republicans cast 439 total ballots.
In contrast, on Sept. 11, 2018 primary, Durham residents cast 2358 votes over the course of a day.
That number exceeds the voting averages between 2008 and 2016, with an average of only 1,137 ballots cast during the primaries.
To read a more complete account of Tuesday’s election in Durham, read an article in this week’s The New Hampshire (TNH )by clicking HERE.
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DURHAM TOWN COUNCIL MEETING DATES IN SEPTEMBER
The Durham Town Council will be meeting on the following dates in September:
Monday, September 14, 2020
Monday, September 21, 2020
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KENNY ROTNER’S PASSING LEAVES VACANCY ON TOWN COUNCIL - Two Individuals put forward their names for consideration.
We are again very sorry to report that Town Councilor and Chair Pro Tem Kenny Rotner recently passed away leaving a vacancy on the Town Council.
Per Town Charter, when there is a vacancy on the Council, the remaining Councilors appoint a replacement who serves until the next regular election, at which time someone may run for the remaining years left on the term.
Former Town Councilor Carden Welsh has offered to step forward to fill the vacancy until the next election. In addition, resident Guy Johnson has also submitted his name for consideration.
The Council will discuss and take action concerning how it desires to fill the vacancy at its next meeting on September 14th.
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LATEST NEWS ON THE OYSTER RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT
We are nearing completion of The Oyster River Bridge Project, a two-year effort lead by Durham residents. When it is finished the three-phase project will link the center of Durham with a trail network extending across more than 2000 acres of undeveloped land south to the recreational facilities at Doe Farm. It will also permit much easier and safer walking and biking among Durham neighborhoods.
The project’s first phase was to acquire and protect for Durham a 25 acre parcel of undeveloped land at the end of Orchard Drive just south of the Oyster River. That was accomplished last year. The second phase was to construct trails on the newly acquired land, connecting with Orchard Drive and with the existing trail network on UNH and state lands. That is nearly done. The third phase is to build a pedestrian bridge from the end of Thompson Lane across the Oyster River to the new trails.
In phase three The Town of Durham’s Patron’s Trust has received over 100 donations totaling about $85,000, half of what the town was required to raise in order to qualify for the $80,000 grant offered by the NH Recreational Trails Program to support construction of the bridge. To comply with the September 17 deadline imposed by the state to qualify for its grant, a Durham resident has provided the town with a zero interest, non-recourse loan large enough to ensure the state grant will be available. With Town Council authorization at its September 14 meeting we plan next week to sign the final construction contract. That should let us complete the project before 2021. Now we can concentrate on raising the money necessary to repay the loan before the final project invoices are received later this year.
All required permits, studies, and engineering designs have been completed and paid for. Every contribution will therefore be used solely to finance the construction work. Every gift will be effectively doubled by a matching fund provided for that purpose. Please help us complete the project through a donation by check or by credit card. We plan to complete the bridge before the end of this winter.
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TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERS AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE THOMPSON LANE BRIDGE PROJECT TO HANSEN BRIDGE, LLC OF SPRINGFIELD, NH - $238,396
Approval will be sought Monday evening from the Town Council to award a Construction Contract for the Thompson Lane Bridge Project to Hansen Bridge, LLC of Springfield, NH in the amount of $238,396.
Bids for this project were opened on September 4. Four bids were received from contractors: Hansen Bridge - $238,396; T. Buck Construction - $540,000; Evroks Corp. - $302,387; and CPM Constructors - $449,749.
The project is to:
- subcontract to Gator Bridge for the manufacture of a 100’ aluminum pedestrian bridge according to Durham’s specifications,
- construct one concrete abutment on each shore of the Oyster River, and
- receive, assemble, and install the bridge on the abutments.
The project will greatly improve the connection of the Foss Farm neighborhood with the center of Durham and will allow easy, quick, and safe pedestrian access from the center of Durham and the UNH campus to 2000 acres of undeveloped land south of town and to the extensive trail network linking Stevens Woods with the Doe Farm. The work should require less than 2 months later this year, and we expect that residents will be minimally impacted during this project.
Hansen Bridge satisfactorily completed the Crommet Creek Bridge restoration for Durham.
The NH Recreational Trails Program has offered to reimburse $80,000 of the town’s expenses on this project. Thus Durham will pay $158,396 for Hansen’s work. In addition to the Hansen contract Durham must budget for up to $20,000 of expenses associated with technical supervision and up to $20,000 for currently unforeseen contract contingencies.
None of the money will come from Durham tax funds. A sub account within the Durham Land Stewardship Trust has been established to hold the funds received from donations and grants made in support of the project. Fund-raising is on-going. Already approximately $35,000 has been received with an additional $50,000 pledged from almost 100 donors. A Durham resident has deposited in Durham's Land Stewardship Trust account an escrow deposit sufficient to pay all bridge-related invoices in excess of the funds provided by the fund-raising program.
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TOWN COUNCIL ASKED TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND UNANTICIPATED GRANT FUNDS TOTALING $80,000 TO BE USED TOWARD THE ORCHARD DRIVE / THOMPSON LANE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE PROJECT
The 2020 Capital Improvement Program includes a Pedestrian Bridge over Oyster River Project to be partially funded with private donations and grants. The proposed Pedestrian Bridge will connect the Faculty Road neighborhood with the Orchard Drive neighborhood and will also span the Oyster River and open several miles of woodland trails.
Durham resident Dennis Meadows has been actively pursuing grants and fund-raising for the bridge and trail project. He prepared and Town officials signed an application for a Recreational Trails Program Grant from the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources which has been approved for $80,000 to be matched with $20,000 of local funding. Fund-raising efforts organized by Dennis Meadows have exceeded the amount needed for this grant and are ongoing for the project goal.
At this time, it is recommended that the Town Council schedule a Public Hearing for October 5, 2020 to accept and authorize the expenditure of the RTP grant of $80,000. The Council will take up the issue Monday evening, Sept. 14th.
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DURHAM TO RECEIVE $35,000 IN CORONAVIRUS AID RELIEF FOR ELECTION-RELATED ISSUES
Town of Durham received notice dated August 10, 2020, from the State of New Hampshire Secretary of State Office announcing that $3 million of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds would be used for municipal grants to defray the costs incurred in processing absentee ballots calculated based on the number of absentee ballots sent out this election season over the 2016 levels.
In that letter, Durham was informed that it had been allocated up to $34,921.86. These federal funds can cover eligible expenses incurred in the increased costs of processing absentee voting in 2020 resulting from COVID-19.
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DURHAM TAX MAP ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY/PLANIMETRIC BASE MAP PROJECT UPDATE – Your Assistance May be Required!
CAI Technologies of Littleton, New Hampshire has completed the Base Map and Preliminary Record Research phases of the tax map project. The Base Map phase of the project consisted of an aerial “flyover” of Durham which provided orthophotography for the development of a planimetric base map. The Preliminary Record Research phase of the project included initial deed review and gathering available survey plans from the Strafford County Registry of Deeds and from the Town’s archives. All plans gathered during this phase have been inventoried, scanned and indexed.
CAI staff are now moving into the Digital Compilation Phase of the project. This phase includes compiling the information gathered during the Preliminary Research phase onto the planimetric base map. During this phase, CAI may have questions regarding specific property boundary lines. If your property was one of those, you may be able to help.
Over the next several months, CAI Technologies will be mailing letters to those property owners asking for information such as a survey, sketch or written physical description of the physical evidence indicating your property lines. Your assistance and cooperation will assure the Town of the most accurate and meaningful maps possible. Also, it is to your advantage that your property is correctly delineated on the revised tax maps.
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DID YOU KNOW? Can we make money from selling aluminum cans? Yes, we can!
The Town of Durham can make money from selling aluminum cans. There are separate blue bins at the co-mingle drop off at the Durham Transfer Station strictly for aluminum cans. The last load the town sold (on 8/10) was 1020 lbs at $.28/lb which resulted in a rebate of $285.60! (Rates do fluctuate monthly).
PLEASE NOTE: If you put your aluminum cans (uncrushed is better!) out in the mixed plastics recycling pickup, they will be recycled but we lose the $$ opportunity to make some money!
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UNH CREATES UPDATED COVID-19 TESTING DASHBOARD WITH ENHANCED ANALYTICS
Community members who have an interest in viewing the statistical data surrounding Covid-19 testing on campus for students, faculty, staff, and contractors may now view updated analytics on line now HERE.
Town and UNH officials hope an aggressive plan of twice-weekly testing of all University of New Hampshire students will prevent more cases of COVID-19.
A cluster of 11 cases, almost 40% of the total reported in Durham by the state Department of Health and Human Services, has been traced to a party at the Theta Chi fraternity on Strafford Avenue on Aug. 29. More than 100 unmasked people attended the gathering.
Members of the fraternity are in a 14-day quarantine.
UNH is testing students for the coronavirus using self-swabbing kits in a campus lab equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and robotics. Technicians working two shifts six days a week are screening at least 4,000 samples a day and generating test results in less than 48 hours.
Read a more complete article in The Union Leader about this issue HERE.
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Even the UNH Wildcat knows it's important to wear a mask because doing so is an effective strategy in preventing the spread of Covid-19. Courtesy Todd Selig
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HOW EFFECTIVE ARE MASKS IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF GERMS? – KHQ Investigates
The Spokane, Washington NBC affiliate television station, KHQ , has produced a very interesting story on the effectiveness of masks dating to June 29th of this year. It can be viewed HERE.
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UNH OFFERS “HOT LINE” TO REPORT CONCERNS AROUND PANDEMIC – Available for use by community members as well.
The University is very concerned about student behavior that may affect the health, safety and welfare of the Durham and UNH community, specifically as it relates to COVID-19. An on-line reporting form is where UNH students, staff, and faculty, as well as members of the Durham community, can report the following concerns:
Students not wearing masks.
Students not properly social distancing.
Parties or large gatherings where students are not wearing masks and/or social distancing.
Students who refuse to put on mask or properly social distance after being asked.
This form is not for reporting emergencies or reporting incidents to the police. If there is an emergency or you want to report an incident/issue to the police, please call 911 or Durham Police at 603-868-2324.
Access the form HERE.
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BUDGET AND CIP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS UNDER WAY FOR FY 2021 – Review of requests begins and CIP to be discussed with Planning Board on Sept. 23.
Over the course of the summer, Durham’s department heads, as well as the Town’s various boards, committees, and commissions (as well as external organizations to which the Town makes payments for services such dispatch, ambulance, social service agencies, etc.) have been preparing their proposed budgets and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) requests for FY 2021 for consideration by the Administrator as Mr. Selig works to prepare a formal FY 2021 budget proposal for the Town Council as part of the annual budget development process.
This month Business Manager Gail Jablonski and Mr. Selig have begun to meet with each of the Town’s department heads to them to meet with departments and better understand budget requests, as well as departmental CIP requests. Members of the Town Council have also been invited to each of these meetings if they have an interest in doing so.
One of the Town’s Council’s approved goals for FY 2020-2021 states: “Task the administrator with meeting the following budget goals for 2021: Hold the municipal tax rate at the 2020 level or less. For the medium and long-term, the Town will continue to make an effort to control its spending and explore innovative ways to reduce the municipal tax rate."
Per Town Charter, the Administrator is charged with the development of the annual budget and CIP program. The proposed annual budget must be submitted to the Town Council by the last business day in October. The Town Council by Charter then has until the last business day in December to adopt a budget or the Administrator’s budget becomes the budget of the Town by default.
The requested CIP projects will be presented to and discussed with the Planning Board on Sept. 23rd .
It goes without saying that the financial impacts of the pandemic will weigh heavily upon the budget season this summer/fall.
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PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY EVENING ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING HORSES FROM TRAVERSING TRAILS DESIGNED FOR PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY WITHIN THE TOWN OF DURHAM
The issue of horses on Town trails was discussed at the June 22, 2020, Conservation Commission meeting and at the July 9, 2020 Land Stewardship Subcommittee meeting. The issue was raised because visitors to Doe Farm were noting a truck and horse trailer parked at the Doe Farm trailhead on Bennett Road and that horse riders were using the trail system, including out to Moat Island.
There are several issues related to horses on Town trails that are different from other trail users:
- The parking areas at Durham conservation area trailheads were not designed to handle large vehicles that include trailers. We recently expanded the Doe Farm parking area to handle the popularity of this property – space is suited for individual vehicles. The same is true for most other conservation areas.
- During the past two years we have built eight trail bridges on Doe Farm, to allow visitors to walk, ski, bike, or run across wet or muddy sections of trails. These bridges were not designed to handle horses. The possibility of a horse breaking through or horse riders walking around the bridge is a concern. Similar bridges have been or will be built at other conservation areas.
- Horses leave behind large piles of waste in the trail. This is a detraction for other trail users. A Town ordinance requires dog walkers to pick up and remove their dog’s waste.
On August 3, 2020, the Town Council reviewed and discussed the attached proposed ordinance, moved it on First Reading, and scheduled a Public Hearing on the ordinance for September 14, 2020. A Public Hearing notice was published in the Foster’s/Seacoast Online for Thursday, August 7, 2020. The notice was also posted on the outside bulletin board at Town Hall, as well as at the Durham Public Library and Department of Public Works.
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DURHAM PLANNING BOARD UPDATES - Amended ATO application approved, agricultural zoning changes recommended to Town Council, and draft CIP requests heading to Planning Board for discussion on 9/23.
The Planning Board approved an amended site plan for a new building for the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at 18 Garrison Avenue on Wednesday. The original plan called for rehabilitating the existing Elizabeth DeMeritt House but unexpectedly high construction bids necessitated a different approach. ATO will demolish the existing structure but the proposed building should be very attractive. Laying out the project on the site was highly constrained due to the extensive wetlands and buffer requirements.
The Planning Board also voted to initiate a new zoning amendment about agriculture. The Agricultural Commission had worked for many months to develop a new ordinance to promote agriculture throughout the community in keeping with several state statutes which provide strong support for farming The Planning Board made a number of revisions to the commission’s draft following a public hearing. The proposal will be presented to the Town Council soon.
The Planning Board has a busy agenda on September 23. Town Administrator Todd Selig and Business Manager Gail Jablonski will present the draft 2021 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), Mill Plaza will be discussed, and proposed amendments pertaining to the Central Business District and drive-through facilities will be presented for another public hearing.
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ZOOM SESSION WITH COLONIAL DURHAM ARCHITECTUAL TEAM FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON MILL PLAZA REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL (Color Palettes) – September 12 @ 2 PM
The owners of the Mill Plaza, Colonial Durham Associates (CDA), invite interested members of the public to a follow-up discussion with Sharon Ames, a Senior Architect at Harriman, and Emily Innes, Dir. of Planning at Harriman, on September 12, from 10am-12pm. Note that this conversation is not part of the Durham Planning Board’s formal public hearing process and is being organized by the developer, not the Town of Durham. Colonial Durham would like an opportunity to discuss color palettes with interested community members, and that will be the focus of the discussion on the 12th. The Zoom format will allow Colonial Durham to present options for discussion.
If interested, please join Colonial Durham on Saturday, September 12 from 10am-12pm by registering HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If unable to make the meeting, interested community members may submit comments to the Planning Board (mailto:kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us) for their review and/or attend their hearing on the 23rd. Note that all questions outside the conversation on the 12th must be directed to the Planning Board to be part of the public hearing process. Colonial Durham will also record the discussion on September 12 to send to the Planning Board.
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SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD SIGN UP MONTH
All ORCSD staff, UNH staff, Town of Durham employees, and Durham business employees are eligible for library cards at the Durham Public Library.
SIGN UP TODAY!
Bring your picture ID and proof of employment to the circulation desk.
Durham Public Library
49 Madbury Rd, Durham NH - 603.868.6699
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USPS OFFERS SERVICE TO LET DURHAM-AREA RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT MAIL IS HEADING LATER IN THE DAY TO YOUR MAILBOX
Durham resident Wes Smith let me know at the polls this week that the USPS offers a service “USPS Information Delivery,” where an image of each piece of mail and packages being delivered daily is digitally scanned and emailed to subscribers in the AM. Check the USPS Website for additional information. Thank you, Wes Smith!
Learn more about this very helpful program HERE.
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2020 CURBSIDE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The Holiday Season is approaching quickly. Below is the 2020 Curbside Holiday Schedule for your convenience.
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DURHAM RESIDENT A LIKELY VICTIM OF HARD SELL TECHNIQUE BY PRIVATE WATER COMPANY
This week we received a concerned phone call from a resident who was likely the victim of a common, yet ethically questionable, hard sell technique some private water companies employ to take advantage of unknowing water customers.
As you know, as a public water system, Durham/UNH water quality undergoes intense regulatory scrutiny and we are held to high standards as a municipality and public university. The quality of Durham's water can be researched by reviewing our Consumer Confidence Report issued annually.
The resident in question received a solicitation from a private water company offering to come out and test household water (in this case connected to the Town’s municipal water system). The company representative explains that they put a dye tab into the water and if it turns yellow, there is a problem! This technique of putting droplets or tablets in water to identify some "contaminant" is misleading and meant to cause alarm in an effort to sell what often amounts to an unnecessary treatment system. This practice is so common some states have developed materials to warn customers of this misleading sales technique.
If residents are on the municipal water system, please don’t hesitate to contact Durham Public Works with any questions/concerns at (603) 868-5578. Residents with private wells should consider having their well water periodically tested to ensure quality levels are safe for consumption. In fact, the NH Dept. of Environmental Services (NHDES) has a great program to provide guidance and testing for NH residents. Learn more about the NHDES program HERE.
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3RD CYCLE POLICE CALEA COMPLIANCE REVIEW COMPLETED AS PART OF NATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The Durham Police Department is a Nationally Accredited Police Department under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Every four years, assessors from CALEA will come to the Durham Police Department and ensure the department is in compliance with over 400 National Standards. The standards are reflected in the department’s policies and procedures, and the department is required to provide proof of every standard for all four years of the cycle.
During years one, two and three of the four year cycle, the department undergoes a remote review conducted by a CALEA Compliance Service Member (CSM). CSM’s are not actual assessors; rather they are trained to review a selected portion of the standards to ensure the department is on track to meet all fourth year requirements.
Between August 21st and August 29th, the Durham Police Department underwent the third year review conducted by (Ret) Chief and current CSM Brian Childress from Gainesville, VA. CSM Childress reviewed 109 of the almost 480 standards with which the department currently complies.
CSM Childress will provide Chief Kelley with a report of his findings upon completion. Preliminary feedback is that the review was very positive.
In 2021, the department will be up for re-accreditation for their 8th Award.
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PREP’S CRITICAL ADVANCES FOR OUR ESTUARIES (CArE) PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PROGRESS IN IMPROVING HEALTH OF GREAT BAY ESTUARY
In an effort to keep you abreast of efforts within the Great Bay Estuary, we wanted to share this information from the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) concerning the new CArE program, made possible through the funding collaboration between Eversource and Durham (with $525,000 in SRP settlement funds targeted toward to the Estuary).
Overview: PREP partnered with the Town of Durham to design CArE: a three-year initiative to focus new resources on areas of critical need identified by PREP, its partners, and the 52 communities of the Piscataqua Region watershed. A four-part plan outlines high-level guidance that PREP and our Management, Executive, and Technical Advisory committees can use to develop detailed project plans and budgets to support the initiative.
CArE is focused on four critical areas of need that will greatly strengthen the ability of PREP, our partners, and our communities to protect the health of our estuaries:
Part A – develop a holistic approach to the research and monitoring initiatives currently managed by diverse partners;
Part B – enhance capacity to manage, synthesize, and share monitoring data;
Part C – develop and promote science-based metrics to calculate regulatory credit for nonstructural best management practices (BMPs); and
Part D – support and facilitate a coordinated communication strategy to ignite the growing sense of stewardship among the region’s communities.
Learn more about the program HERE.
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RECOMMENDATION TO SUSPEND HOUSING STANDARDS ORDINANCE'S INSPECTION PROGRAM THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020
Due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fire Department suspended non-essential inspections in March 2020 and has continued to take a conservative approach to date regarding conducting interior inspections in order to protect both our customers and personnel.
The Fire Prevention Bureau has also been challenged with staffing changes in 2020 as Inspector Wilder transferred back to operations in January, Deputy Powers left the department in March, and Inspector Plante accepted a position in Newington in August. The Fire Prevention Bureau and is currently being staffed by Firefighter Brendan O' Sullivan who is acting in a temporary service out of rank capacity of Fire Marshal. The department is actively working to advertise and hire a fire inspector, but cannot adequately address all of the code review, inspection activities, and fire prevention workload with its current staff at this time.
In light of these current circumstances, Fire Chief David Emanuel recommended to Administrator Selig that the Town suspend the Housing Standards Ordinance's inspection program through December 31, 2020. Administrator Selig concurred with this recommendation.
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CONTINUED DISCUSSION REGARDING THE USE OF FIREWORKS WITHIN THE TOWN OF DURHAM PLANNED BY TOWN COUNCIL ON SEPT. 14TH
The State of New Hampshire gives wide latitude to municipalities to allow or restrict permissible fireworks displays. Currently, Durham allows permissible kinds of fireworks with a permit so that the Fire Department may provide information on their safe use. I did not know how many residents actually apply for a permit (Live Free or Die seems to be a state of mind for some) and therefore some might be more likely to disregard things like drought conditions or personal/neighborhood safety.
Todd provided feedback from Fire Chief Dave Emmanuel which states that he will support whichever direction the Council chooses. The current $25 permit is not obtained by too many citizens. Chief Rene Kelley states that there has been relatively little complaint about personal fireworks.
The Council held a discussion regarding this subject at its meeting on August 3, 2020. At that time it was decided that the Administrator would meet with both Fire and Police and determine whether they can add some nuance restrictions to the existing language pertaining to fireworks to see what that might look like and then bring this matter back to the Council for further discussion.
On August 27, 2020, Administrator Selig, Councilors Kitty Marple and Al Howland, Police Chief Rene Kelley, and Fire Chief David Emanuel met. Administrator Selig and Councilors Marple and Howland will report on their results at Monday night’s meeting. Consensus of the group was that the Town should maintain the status quo, although Councilor Marple favors prohibiting fireworks in Durham.
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COMMUNITY CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK AVAILABLE TO RESIDENT COURTESY OF DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT
Proper use of child safety seats can help keep our children safe but, how do you know whether your children’s car seats have been properly installed?
Firefighter Warren Kadden of the Durham Fire Department will be attending a Certified Car Seat Installer course.
There will be free upcoming community Child Seat Safety Check event as follows:
Thursday, September 17, 2020
2:00-4:00pm
Dover Municipal Parking Garage
Orchard Street, Dover, NH.
All are welcome. Covid-19 protocols will be followed. Masks and Social Distancing.
When our daughters were infants, we went to the Fire Department for this session and found it extremely helpful and informative!
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“DRUG TAKE BACK" PROGRAM AT DURHAM POLICE
Just a friendly reminder that Durham residents can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions at the Durham Police Station Monday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM for no cost and it’s all anonymous. Doing so prevents prescription drug abuse as six out of ten teenagers who have taken prescription narcotics state that they get them from their parents or relative’s medicine cabinets. Additionally, using this service keeps trace drugs out of our lakes, streams and estuaries as wastewater treatment plants cannot remove many of the compounds found in medications; so when flushed or put in a landfill, drugs are discharged into our surface and ground water and consumed by fish and wildlife. If you have a question about this service that is provided to Durham residents only, please call the Durham Police during business hours Monday through Friday at 603-868-2324.
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REMINDER- Household Hazardous Waste Day- Morning of Saturday October 24, 2020
Household Hazardous Waste Day will be conducted this year with restrictions due to Covid- Masks will be required, residents are asked to stay in cars and all Covid safe social distancing and safety protocols will be in place. The 2020 Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held at the Department of Public Works facility located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive. As in the past, all hazardous waste will be collected by appointment only, between 8-11:30AM. To register, you must call the Department of Public Works at 868-5578 or e-mail mailto:publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us. Remember - The MAXIMUM COLLECTED PER HOUSEHOLD IS FIVE GALLONS.
NO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS, RADIOACTIVE WASTE, ASBESTOS,
SILVEX OR INFECTIOUS/BIOLOGICAL WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Consider reducing your purchase of products with hazardous ingredients; read labels thoroughly. Use and store products containing hazardous substances carefully to prevent any accidents at home. Never store hazardous products in anything other than their original containers and never remove labels. Never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become un-recyclable. Remember to follow any instructions for use and disposal provided on product labels.
NOT ACCEPTED AT HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY- LATEX AND OIL BASED PAINTS , MOTOR OIL, AND ANTI-FREEZE. These items can be brought up to the Transfer Station with your permit throughout the year. Latex paints must be dried out first, motor oil, antifreeze, and oil based paints can go up as is. Typically, hazardous waste is categorized as toxic, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous. Please check the manufacturer’s label.
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OYSTER RIVER END 68 HOURS OF HUNGER PROGRAM
The Oyster River End 68 Hours of Hunger program provides children with food
to fill the 68 hour weekend gap between the weekday school meal program.
Each Friday, we send bags of easy to prepare food home with Oyster River children who would otherwise be hungry over the weekend.
If this is a service that your children need, please contact:
Doris Demers by email at: mailto:ddemers@orcsd.org or phone (603)389-3310
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DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET - Each Monday Afternoon in the Sammy's Downtown Lot off Pettee Brook Lane
The Durham Farmers' Market is now open again this season on Monday afternoons through Monday, October 5, 2020 from 2:15- 5:30, closing 1/2 hour earlier than previous years. Vendors will adhere to predetermined sanitation and Covid 19 prevention standards.
Customers are requested to wear masks, maintain 6’ distance from others, and send only one person per household to shop if possible.
The market has several new vendors participating this year and they are pleased to have prepared food, maple products (including ice cream!), garden plants, and assorted vegetables available.
One positive aspect is that folks can walk downtown to access the market and while they are there, shop/eat in other downtown establishments.
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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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September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
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DPL’s CURRENT LIBRARY SERVICES
The Library is open for 20-minute visits to the Library for quick browsing and checkouts and the use of computers, printer, and copy machine. Notary services are available by appointment only. Meeting rooms and the Cafe will remain closed until further notice.
During this phase of reopening, we are limiting the number of patrons in the building to no more than 50% of our normal comfortable browsing capacity on the main floor. We also request that anyone using the Library do so wearing a cloth mask or face covering. Masks will be available to patrons who request them. Currently, we ask that patrons not gather or congregate in the Library. Our contactless “Library to-go” services continue. Find our Library Director's most recent update HERE.
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Adult Programs Registration Has Begun For Fall!
Registration has begun for some of our adult programs. Visit the Upcoming Events page on our website for fall virtual programming and registration information for introduction to guitar lessons with EarCraft's Scott Sutherland, NH Legends & Ghosts, Thanksgiving cooking course, and using your library resources! There are also many great resources to be discovered on the DPL website at any time! Stream movies and music, check out ebooks and audiobooks, take professional development and language courses, get live device help each week, attend guided meditation, research with EBSCO and explore Novelist, Consumer Reports, Explora, and more! Questions? Contact us at 603-868-6699. We are happy to help!
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Youth Services Fall Virtual Programs have begun!
Youth Services September Calendar
Youth Services October Calendar
Programs include Zoom Storytimes, Baby Lap-sit, STEAM crafts to go, Young Adult Compassion Project, Crafts, Raccoon Readers (2nd-4th grade) book group, Patch club and more. Don't miss our Joint library program with the Durham, Lee and Madbury Libraries, "Creatures of the Night" an on-line visit from Squam Lake Science Center on Saturday, October 17th at 10:30 am.
Check out our Storywalk book, Waking Dragons by Jane Yolen in the rain garden behind the library. There will be a new, Fall Storywalk book starting the week of Sept. 21st.
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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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1649 - The Moat is a 2-acre island in the Lamprey River, and has long been a deed landmark. Included in the 6-acre farm owned by the Doe family since 1706, it was willed to the Town in 1909 by Olinthus Doe. The farm is now managed as a forest.
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If you know of others who might find Durham's weekly "Friday Updates" of interest, please pass them along. It's possible to sign up for them HERE.
Have a very nice weekend.
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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