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Friday, September 13, 2019
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Eversource barge and equipment mobilization last Sunday in preparation Monday’s jet plow trial run for the Seacoast Reliability Project in Little Bay. Judge Joseph Laplante denied CLF’s motion for preliminary injunction to stop Eversource from holding Monday’s trial run, but indicated the ruling was limited to the jet plow portion of the motion, adding he expects the parties will return in the coming weeks to argue the whole project. Learn more HERE. Courtesy Jen Sanders
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The NH Department of Public Health contacted the Town this week to notify us that Durham’s public risk level for mosquito borne viruses has gone from “no risk” to “low risk.” Residents are encouraged to take appropriate precautions when mosquitoes are active outdoors.
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Chief Kurz will join other panelists to participate in the UNH Saul Sidore lecture series in the MUB Theatre to discuss “What is a Criminal”. The UNH Center for the Humanities is hosting the roundtable discussion on Tuesday September 17th at 5PM to 7PM. The public is invited to attend the lecture series and additional information can be found HERE.
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The Durham Fire Department will hold an OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, October 20th from 9 AM - 12:00 Noon at the fire station, 51 College Road, in recognition of Fire Prevention Week. This event is FREE and open to the public.
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ACTIVE SHOOTER EXERCISE AT DURHAM TOWN HALL - Town Hall to CLOSE From 3 - 5PM on Monday, October 7, 2019.
On Monday, October 7, 2019, the Town Hall will be closed from 3 - 5PM to conduct an active shooter exercise developed by the Durham Police Department in which scenarios are set up to give employees and emergency responders alike important training in this area.
All Town Hall offices will reopen for regular business on Tuesday, October 8th at 8AM.
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SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING IN DURHAM - 2019 AND BEYOND - If you care about how we recycle in Durham, you should attend this forum next Tuesday, September 17
Please join representatives of the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee, Durham Public Works Department, and Durham Town Council on September 17, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Durham Town Hall Council chambers, 8 Newmarket Road, for a presentation about Durham’s solid waste program and how and what we recycle.
This will be the last of the community meetings the IWMAC is holding regarding trash and recycling locally. Pay As You Throw (PAYT) will be the focus of this meeting.
Interested residents are encouraged to attend the meeting on September 17th at the Town Hall Council chambers.
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DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET - Each Monday afternoon in the Sammy's downtown lot off Pettee Brook Lane
Be sure to stop by the Durham Farmers' Market being held on Monday afternoons at the Sammy's/Store 24 Parking Lot. A variety of locally produced farm products, prepared foods, and fine crafts will be available Mondays 2:15 - 6:00 PM.
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“DRUG TAKE BACK’ PROGRAM AT DURHAM POLICE
This initiative of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been a national success with previous events occurring in New Hampshire taking in an astounding 276 tons of unwanted or expired medications! So resounding was the success to fill this void that Chief Kurz decided to provide the program on a continuous basis to the residents of Durham. Residents can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions at the Durham Police facility 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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Durham Fire Inspector Matt Wilder assists a student on how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Courtesy DFD
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SEPTEMBER IS CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH!
We recently welcomed back UNH students to campus and many of those students have not received fire safety education since elementary school. Campus Fire Safety Month has been established in order to increase awareness of how quickly fires can occur and what precautions should be taken to increase safety. Durham Firefighters demonstrated proper use of fire extinguishers for University Day on Tuesday, September 10th. The National Fire Protection Association has a safety checklist and a tip sheet to help guide students on how to be safe whether they live on or off campus. More information can be found HERE.
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TOWN COUNCIL-INITIATED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REGARDING AIR B&B ESTABLISHMENTS
The Town Council initiated an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to address the advent of the Air Bed and Breakfast-type of establishment and sent it to the Planning Board for review. The Planning Board is holding a public hearing on September 25 on the proposal, which can be viewed HERE.
A bed and breakfast operation provides homeowners with some extra income but it can also have significant adverse impacts upon a neighborhood in terms of traffic, parking, trash, noise, unruly guests, and partying, if it is not carefully managed. Feel free to email comments to the Town Planner at mailto:mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us. The hearing was originally scheduled for September 11 but we had to push it back because the newspaper forgot to run the ad!
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PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE REGARDING PARKING
The Planning Board is holding a public hearing on September 25 on numerous proposed changes to the zoning ordinance regarding parking. Most, but not all, of the parking standards in the zoning ordinance, including those that are covered by the proposed changes, deal with single family use, as parking for commercial and multifamily sites is addressed in the site plan regulations as part of site plan review. The purpose of these amendments is to better manage the locations, amount, and form of parking that is allowed on a parcel of land. You can view the proposal HERE.
Please feel free to contact Town Planner Michael Behrendt with any questions or to submit comments in advance of the public hearing at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.
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One of several trail bridges built by volunteers at Doe Farm. Courtesy Ellen Snyder
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VOLUNTEER WORK DAY AT DOE FARM: SATURDAY, SEPT 28TH
Please join us on Saturday, September 28th from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm for a volunteer work at Doe Farm. We will be working on the following:
- build two foot bridges on the Lower Loop.
- Trailbrush out the new trail on Moat Island.
- Install trail juncture sign posts
Hope you can join us….sign up HERE. We will have all the tools. Just bring work gloves and a water bottle and meet at the clearing. This will also be a great opportunity to enjoy one of Durham’s crown jewel conservation areas that includes wonderful trail loops along the Wild & Scenic Lamprey River, picnic areas, beautiful forests, historic features, and more. For more information contact Ellen Snyder, mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com, Durham Land Stewardship Coordinator)
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MORE SCAMS PLAGUE DURHAM RESIDENTS!
While Chief Kurz prefers to have more positive news, discussing scams in Friday Updates that are routinely occurring in Durham hopefully provides residents with the knowledge to recognize a scam immediately and not fall prey to the scare tactics. This was a busy week for Durham residents receiving calls very similar, if not exact, to this version below provided to the Durham Police by a resident
“Notification regarding tax filings from Headquarters which get expired in the next 24 hours. Call 915-314-0508 or you will be taken into custody by local cops. Request you to get back to us so we can discuss serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. We would request you to get back to us so that we can discuss about this case before taking any legal action against you."
It is important that when we receive these scam calls that we take note of the unusual use of language, such as the underlined words or phrases which are very much out of place in our vernacular. Durham Police do not take people “under” custody as they place persons “in custody” nor would a reference to the “local cops” be used. “Pressed” charges are not a phrase used in American law enforcement and the very fact that the incident involves a telephone call to warn of a person being arrested is just not at all how the Durham Police, or any other New Hampshire police agency deal with criminal charges.
Another area to pay particular attention is the email itself. When you look closely at the email address (mailto:faxx@m8p.org), there are issues with the spelling of “fax” and the “m8p” is what organization? Once again, if it seems wrong . . . it is! If you are in doubt, call the Durham Police at 603-868-2324.
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Captain Holmstock enjoying lunch and visit with Sprucewood residents.
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DURHAM POLICE VISIT BROOKDALE SPRUCE WOOD RESIDENTS
Each year on the anniversary of 911, the Durham Police are invited to have lunch with residents at Brookdale Spruce Woods. While a number of officers have an opportunity to interact with an important segment of our community, Captain Dave Holmstock is shown here enjoying company with three lovely ladies!
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IT’S BUDGET SEASON, SO PLEASE EXCUSE THE DELAY IN MR. SELIG FOLLOWING UP ON EMAILS, VOICEMAILS, LETTERS, ETC.
Budget season is upon us in Durham and as such, Administrator Selig is actively working with the Business Office and our various department, boards, committees, and commissions in formulating a proposed budget for consideration by the Town Council. By Town Charter, Mr. Selig has until the last business day in October to propose a budget to the Council. The Council then has until the last business day in December to adopt a budget of its own, or the Administrator’s proposed budget becomes the FY 2020 budget by default.
At this time of year, Mr. Selig is in constant budget meetings, in additional to normal responsibilities, and as such responding to correspondence is typically delayed. Urgent matters should be sent to the attention of Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry, mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
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REMINDER! HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY - Morning of Saturday, October 26, 2019
The 2019 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 - 11:30 AM. To register, you must call DPW at 603-868-5571 or 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.
NOT ACCEPTED AT HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY - LATEX AND OLD-BASED PAINTS, MOTOR OIL, AND ANTI-FREEZE. These items can be brought up to the Transfer Station with a permit throughout the year. Latex paints must be dried out first, motor oil, anti-freeze 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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September 11th Tribute Truck featured at the Durham Fire Department's September 11th remembrance ceremony. Courtesy DFD
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DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT HOSTS SEPTEMBER 11TH REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY
On Wednesday, September 11, 2019 the Durham Fire Department hosted a September 11th Remembrance Ceremony outside of the Fire Station at 51 College Road, Durham, NH.
Several other agencies also participated in the ceremony including the Durham Police Department, University of NH Police Department, Madbury Fire Department, McGregor Memorial EMS, and UNH ROTC. A September 11th Tribute Truck was also featured at the ceremony. The attendees also included Durham Town Officials as well as several community members.
During the ceremony, UNH ROTC members lowered the flag and Fire Chief Dave Emanuel, Firefighter Steven Jautaikis, and local resident Vivian Harmon offered brief remarks to the crowd attending the event.
The ceremony marked a way to remember and honor the memory of all those that were lost on September 11, 2001.
Firefighter Steven Jautaikis was instrumental in organizing this annual event with the assistance of other members of the Durham Fire Department as well as other several agencies.
The Durham Fire Department appreciates the support of the local community in participating in this annual event.
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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
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Join us on Tuesday, September 17th, at 6:00 pm for The Real Eastern Coyote, with Project Coyote's Chris Schadler
Learn the true story of the eastern coyote – how and when it arrived in New England, how it lives among us but is rarely seen and how it contributes to keep our forests and fields healthy. Learn why it is a creature of our own making! It is smart, beneficial and by its presence, gives “wild” back to our wild lands.
Chris Schadler, M.S., Conservation Biology, will discuss coexistence strategies, whether you farm, hike or garden. According to Chris, "Understanding the mind and ecology of the coyote can keep us one step ahead of problems." Schadler brings to her work and this talk, 30 years of wolf and coyote research, sheep farming, and teaching, and will demonstrate that "knowledge is power" when it comes to living with coyotes. No registration. All are Welcome.
Join us Wednesday, September 18th, at 10:30 am for Baby Lap-sitAges 2 & under with care-giver
There will be songs, stories, movement, rhymes and a chance to socialize at the end.
All are welcome!
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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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1934 - We have the distinction of having the fire station burn. Two students rescued one of the engines and started for Massachusetts to visit a girl, but were stopped by state police. Damaged was the Daniel Webster plough, but now restored and safe at his birthplace in Salisbury.
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Have a very good weekend.
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