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Friday, September 25, 2020
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Wagon Hill Farm shoreline. Courtesy Seth Fiermonti
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Fall has officially arrived yet fortunately for us the warmer weather has returned if only for the time being. It should be in the low 80’s this weekend! Good for apple picking.
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Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It extends from Sunday evening, 9/27 through Monday evening, 9/28.
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The country mourns the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
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REMINDER- NO BRUSH ACCEPTED AT THE TRANSFER STATION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
As residents know, it has not rained in quite some time. As of the 16th of September, the State of New Hampshire has posted a high fire danger condition and the Durham FD has stopped issuing burn permits. BRUSH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED at the Town Transfer Station until there is a change in the fire conditions. Although currently we are not allowed to burn or collect the material at the Transfer Station, DPW still plans on conducting Fall Cleanup of brush and leaves in November, more details to follow on those dates in the coming weeks.
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WHAT’S THE STATUS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN DURHAM IN ADVANCE OF THE NOV. 3RD GENERAL ELECTION?
On Monday, the Town Clerk’s Office is tentatively planning to get all the absentee ballots ready. Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt has reserved the Council Chambers for preparing the 2400 absentee ballots (!) that have been requested thus far.
Voters can come in as of Tuesday, to get a ballot in person.
If you have already requested an absentee ballot, it will be mailed out on Tuesday, September 29.
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NHPR’S 2020 ELECTIONS GUIDE: How to Vote Absentee or at the Polls in N.H. During COVID-19
Whether you plan to cast an absentee ballot or plan to head to your local polling place on Election Day, or even if you haven’t yet finalized your voting plan and need more information to help make up your mind, NHPR can help. Check out their recent story HERE.
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VOTER REGISTRATION: One Covid election down, one to go!
Voter registration is now open again at Durham Town Hall, Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30 PM. There will also be periodic sessions of the Supervisors of the Checklist during which you may register to vote. The next one is:
Wednesday September 30
6:45 PM – 8:00 PM
Durham Town Hall
If you register in person you will be asked to show Proof of Identification, Age (18 by the November 3 election), Citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers), and Domicile within Durham. Affidavits may be signed in the absence of proofs. If necessary, you may request an absentee registration packet from the town clerk’s office. Read instructions carefully before returning the necessary pages with proofs.
You may now change your party at any time at the town hall. You may check your standing at https://app.sos.nh.gov/Public/Partyinfo.aspx. You can also check your absentee ballot status at this website. It may take a few days to show up.
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Bart McDonough Courtesy Michael Behrendt
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PROFILE OF BART MCDONOUGH
Bart McDonough, who just stepped down as Chair of the Durham Conservation
Commission, is a man in motion and one looking to make a difference.
In March, Bart took a position as the Town Planner in Kittery, Maine where he assists the Planning Board in analyzing development applications, zoning amendments, and other initiatives, including affordable housing programs. The latter is of particular concern to Bart who serves on the board of the Seacoast Workforce Housing Coalition.
He and his wife Bree now plan to purchase land and build a net-zero house near Kittery. They look forward to living in a home where the energy generated on site is at least equal to the energy that is used, through use of solar panels, a geothermal system, or other sustainable methods.
View the complete profile on Bart HERE.
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WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH COVID-19 NUMBERS ACROSS NH?
If you’ve been following New Hampshire’s COVID-19 numbers closely, like we have, you might have noticed something that looks a little troubling. The state used to be averaging about 20 new cases a day, well below the 100 cases or more the state was seeing back in May. But now, we’re closer to 35 new cases a day. Does this represent a new surge in COVID-19?
According to WMUR, state health officials say no, it’s not. What the state is seeing is a surge in its testing capacity. As students returned to schools and, especially, colleges (such as UNH), they have been tested, often multiple times, for COVID-19. Colleges and universities were particularly interested in catching cases in students as they returned to campus.
And a big driver of the new testing has been the University of New Hampshire, which has conducted more than 86,000 tests since July.
View the latest COVID-19 numbers throughout the state HERE.
View the latest COVID-19 testing results from the University of New Hampshire HERE.
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Wagon Hill Farm Living Shoreline Courtesy Town of Durham
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WAGON HILL FARM LIVING SHORELINE!
In 2019, the Town of Durham, in partnership with the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), University of New Hampshire (UNH), and the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, finalized a design and installed a living shoreline along the tidal portion of the Oyster River at Wagon Hill Farm; the first of its kind in the state of New Hampshire. This innovative restoration project was designed specifically to reduce erosion, replace salt marsh habitat that had been lost or damaged, improve shoreline appearance, and accommodate salt marsh migration resulting from sea-level rise. Slated for spring 2020, a tour-style event to publicize the project was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in its place a virtual walk-through is currently being prepared. This outreach is intended to engage neighboring coastal municipalities interested in implementing a similar design in their community. To learn more generally about the project, members of the public are encouraged to visit Wagon Hill Farm’s shoreline and view the educational kiosk design HERE, which was created by partners at Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC).
An article published in the Foster's Daily Democrat can also be viewed HERE.
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Wagon Hill Farm is open to the public between dusk and dawn, with dogs allowed off leash between dawn and 10 a.m. Allowed uses include hiking, running, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, bicycling, and dog-walking. Photo courtesy Seth Fiermonti
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READY RIDES: Are you looking for a way to help those in need during this Crisis? Or are you someone in need?
Ready Rides is a non-profit organization providing rides for Seniors and physically challenged neighbors in Strafford, Barrington, Northwood, Nottingham, Durham, Lee, Madbury, Newfields and Newmarket who need transportation to medical, physical therapy and dental appointments. The program depends on volunteer drivers and we are always looking for more drivers. We provide training programs for new drivers and mileage reimbursement. Ready Rides makes sure all PPP are taken and every driver and rider wears a mask. To request information about registering as a rider or volunteering as a driver, please email us at http://info@readyrides.org or call 603-244-8719. You can also register online to be a driver or passenger at http://readyrides.org/.
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REDUCING INVASIVE PLANTS AND RECOVERING A HEALTHY PLANT COMMUNITY ON DURHAM TOWN LANDS – A very interesting article by Land Stewardship Coordinator Ellen Snyder
In southeastern New Hampshire, where Ellen Snyder works with landowners and communities on land stewardship, managing invasive plants is a constant struggle. As the Land Stewardship Coordinator for the Town of Durham, she has been guiding three restoration projects on town conservation land. It was hard not to be overwhelmed by the pervasiveness of invasive plants on all three properties. To avoid invasive paralysis, she keeps her focus on the goal: restoration of a place to a mostly self-sustaining, healthy plant community. The reward is a restored landscape brimming with native plants and native beneficial insects. Read the full article HERE.
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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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DID YOU KNOW?
You can fight climate change by composting. Over 51% of the trash that goes to landfills (including food scraps, paper, yard trimmings and wood) is compostable. Globally we throw away roughly 1.3 billion tons of food each year, an amount worth nearly $1 trillion.
Unfortunately, by throwing food in the trash, we’re also inadvertently contributing to climate change. Once food reaches the landfills, the scraps begin to decompose, releasing methane gas. Methane gas has a warming potential of roughly 21 times that of CO2, having an even larger impact on the global climate.
By composting we can actually help the environment.
--Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment
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UNH NAMED TO GREEN COLLEGE HONOR ROLL - Great work UNH!
Once again UNH has shown its true color — green — by being named one of the most sustainable schools in the country. Read more about this honor in an article published in UNH Today HERE.
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SOME INITIAL SUGGESTIONS FROM THE CDC ABOUT HALLOWEEN AND TRICK-OR-TREATING BY WAY OF NHPR
In a year that's been plenty scary, this much is clear: Pandemic Halloween will be different than regular Halloween. Many traditional ways of celebrating are now considerably more frightful than usual, because now they bring the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Accordingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines on how to celebrate Halloween safely. No big surprise: Classic door-to-door trick-or-treating and crowded, boozy costume parties are not recommended.
The CDC's guidelines group Halloween activities into lower-risk, moderate-risk and higher-risk buckets.
The higher-risk category includes both door-to-door trick-or-treating and events where kids get treats from the trunks of cars in a big parking lot.
Also no-nos: indoor haunted houses where people will be crowded and screaming, which could send infectious particles flying. Going on hayrides with people who aren't in your household or fall festivals in rural areas also carry a risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. And using alcohol and drugs "can cloud [judgment] and increase risky behaviors," the CDC warns — though that's equally true in any season.
To read more information about trick-or-treating and other Halloween issues during the pandemic, check out the NHPR article HERE.
Durham Parks & Rec. is working to plan some safe Halloween activities at the present time. More details to follow in early October.
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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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PAVEMENT MARKING PROGRAM (TOWN ROADS)
The pavement marking program reestablishing center and edge lines was completed on all Town of Durham scheduled roads.
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2020 ROAD PROGRAM
Final paving of Bagdad Road, Strout Lane and Cedar Point Road is scheduled to take place the week of September 28th , weather permitting.
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PROGRESS REPORT ON THE OYSTER RIVER BRIDGE
The Oyster River pedestrian bridge will not be ready for use before the end of the year. However, it is already possible to use the trails from Orchard Drive south to Durham’s Doe Farm recreational area. Ellen Snyder, John Nachilly, Steve Eisenhauer, and many volunteers have created new trails, improved existing paths, and rebuilt the foot bridges. New blaze marks have been installed. They are color-coordinated with a new trail map on the town’s website.
After the bridge is completed to allow easy access from the center of town guided trail walks will be scheduled to introduce this unique resource. Until then please download the new trail map, start at the Orchard Drive trailhead, and experience the beautiful, quiet forest environment on Durham’s southern doorstep.
Todd Selig won’t sign the final construction contracts until the necessary funds are in the town’s accounts. Thus to keep the project on schedule for completion by the end of 2020, a large bridge loan has been provided. (The pun was not deliberate)
An informal committee of local residents is now seeking donations to repay the loan. The Town of Durham’s Patron’s Trust has received more than 170 contributions totaling $103,000. We need $87,000 more to finish the work. Please help. Donor names will be listed on a plaque next to the bridge, which will enhance the quality of life for the people of Durham over the rest of this century.
Every contribution will 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.
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WAGON HILL FARM MOWING - Scheduled to begin Oct. 13
The mowing of the Wagon Hill Farm fields is scheduled to begin October 13th. The mowing will take approximately 2 weeks to complete. Mowing is scheduled at this time of year to promote a favorable setting for pollinators, nesting birds and other “residents” of Wagon Hill Farm.
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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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BENNETT ROAD CULVERT REPLACED THIS WEEK AT BEAUDETTE BROOK
Durham Public Works staff were successful in obtaining an emergency authorization from the NHDES Wetlands Bureau to undertake the emergency replacement of a 22” Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) culvert carrying Beaudette Brook under Bennett Road. The portion of roadway adjacent to the culvert was closed to traffic at 6:00 AM on Thursday September 24th at which time Public Works crews mobilized to begin excavation, with erosion control measures having been previously installed. Durham Public Works crews did an exceptional job removing the damaged culvert and replacing with a new 24” HDPE culvert and headwalls. Remarkably, the roadway was re-opened to through traffic by 12:15 PM that same day. Permitting through NHDES Wetlands Bureau for permanent repairs will continue, however this emergency repair eliminates any immediate urgency or culvert or roadway failure while saving the Town substantial funds.
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RESIDENTS URGED TO REMAIN VIGILANT AGAINST PHISHING SCAMS
Chief Kelley would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant against Phishing Scams when using their computers. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Phishing is a type of online scam that targets consumers by sending them an e-mail that appears to be from a well-known source – an internet provider, a bank, or a mortgage company for example. It asks the consumer to provide personal identifying information. The scammer uses the information to open new accounts or invade the consumer’s existing accounts.
What to know:
- Look out for misspelled words and incorrect grammar – this is often an indicator of a phishing email.
- Pay attention to the sender’s email address and verify that it is indeed from a trusted sender – check the sender email address and see if the one that pops up matches.
- If it contains an offer that sounds too good to be true, it most likely is! Delete it.
- Verify links and attachments BEFORE opening them – they may contain malware such as credential hacking or account hijacking software.
- An email requiring personal information is often a tip-off. Always verify before sending any personal information by email.
- Remember YOU are the first line of defense.
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RIVERWOODS SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION PLANING EFFORTS UNDER WAY
Riverwoods is finalizing the plans for this sidewalk extension and intends to have Severino Construction perform this work this fall. The specific schedule will be reviewed by Public Works to ensure work can reasonably be completed prior to adverse weather conditions. Durham Public Works is reviewing the sidewalk agreement with NHDOT.
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Nicole Tocco Cardwell. Courtesy The New Hampshire
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DURHAM’S LOAF-LY BACKSHOP: GRIT AND GRAINS - A great article from TNH.
According to this week’s The New Hampshire, Nicole Tocco Cardwell, the owner and baker of Grit and Grains views her bakeshop as a modern version of her grandparents’ dream. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States from Italy and owned and operated their own bakery in the North End of Boston for over 50 years.
Grit and Grains bakeshop is a licensed Homestead Food Operation through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and is run out of Tocco Cardwell’s home kitchen. She bakes everything from scratch, in small batches with responsibly sourced ingredients based on her customer’s orders. Customers order in advance from the Grit and Grains website and during checkout choose which day to pick-up their breads and sweet treats from Tocco Cardwell’s front porch. The pick-up process is contact free.
After Tocco Cardwell lost her job due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), for the first time in 15 years she had a lot of free time on her hands. With a passion for baking and extensive knowledge on how to make our food system environmentally and socially sustainable, she decided to create her own bakeshop.
Read a more complete article in TNH by Caitlin Staffanson HERE.
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GOVERNOR SIGNS PROCLAMATION WITH OPEN BURNING RESTRICTIONS DUE TO FIRE DANGER
Due to fire danger, it shall be unlawful for any person in the State to:
- Kindle an open fire, including fires built for camping, the burning of debris, or warming, on all public trails or other public property, excluding public campgrounds
- Smoke a pipe, cigar and/or cigarette outdoors in or near public woodlands or on public trails
- Kindle a category 3 “fire;” a fire greater than 4 feet in diameter or a fire not contained within a ring of fire resistive material
What this means is:
- All fires are prohibited on public lands, except in a campground
- Category 3 fires “brush piles” are banned everywhere, public and private lands
- Category 1 and 2 fires are allowed on private property with a fire permit
- No smoking is allowed in or near public woodlands or on public trails
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ROUTE 4/MADBURY ROAD INTERSECTION-NHDOT PROJECT
NHDOT will be contacting the Town to propose a kickoff presentation of the intersection upgrade project to Town's administrative Traffic Safety Committee for some time in October.
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MILL POND DAM FEASIBILITY STUDY
A draft report from VHB Engineers is scheduled to be provided to Durham on Monday Sept 28th. A public meeting will be planned to present the study in the October/November timeframe with specific date to be announced.
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ROUTE108/ROUTE 4 EXIT RAMP NHDOT PROJECT
Durham Public Works is reviewing the pavement marking maintenance agreement which would allow Durham to maintain sharrows and bike lane markings through the corridor from Route 108/Main St. north to the Durham/Madbury town line.
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AMTRAK DOWNEASTER - Strategies to promote physical distancing on the train.
Amtrak is implementing a new step to ensure customers can easily distance themselves from each other on the Downeaster (and all trains on the Amtrak network). Effective Sept. 14,
customers who purchase multi-ride tickets (including Downeaster Six-Tix)
must confirm their travel on a specific train on a specific date using the new Amtrak RideReserve TM tool on the Amtrak app or Amtrak.com before departure. RideReserve confirmations will allow Amtrak to properly manage the seating inventory and limit sales to provide sufficient distancing for the safety of our Along with requiring face covering use, the Downeaster currently limits seat sales to 50% of seating capacity to ensure required distancing. The Downeaster operates four daily roundtrips between
Boston(North station and Brunswick Maine.
It is finally a reality!! As of today, passengers are able to travel with their bicycle between ANY Downeaster station!! You want to board with a bike in Durham and go to Freeport to ride around downtown – you can! Want to get on in Exeter with a bike and go to Wells to ride the Eastern Greenway- you can!
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AMTRAK DOWNEASTER – To-From any station with a bike!
Amtrak and a coalition of States have worked together over the last 3+ years to develop and fund the necessary equipment modifications to allow for the safe transportation of bikes within the passenger coaches. Utilizing newly installed luggage racks that convert to bike racks, the expanded bike program will allow the Amtrak Downeaster to provide storage space for up to four bikes per departure. Standard full-size bicycles may be carried onboard, as long as the front wheel is removed, and stored in bicycle racks. Passengers must add on the bike reservation to their ticket to make use of this expanded service.
Few specific notes:
- When booking a ticket on Amtrak.com or via the Amtrak App, an icon with the number of spaces available will display if bike space is available.
- Proceed to ‘Add Ons’ step to add a bike to the reservation.
- A bike reservation can be added to an existing reservation by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
- Bike reservations are not available through the Quik Trak machines.
- All panniers and bags attached to the bicycle need removed and consolidated before boarding.
Currently, the bike reservation is a flat $8 across the Downeaster route but the Northern NE Passenger Rail Authority asked Amtrak to make modifications to this fare based on the city pair combination. This is still in the works.
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Beautiful giant sunflowers grow alongside the UNH Dairy Bar as masked diners wait for their orders on Friday afternoon in Durham. Courtesy Todd Selig
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UNH-DURHAM RAIL STATION ENHANCEMENT UPDATE
Rail Station Enhancements deferred until 2021: $974,000 for platform, site and structure improvements. UNH hopes to release a design & engineering RFP mid-winter following FTA award execution. Construction to begin spring 2022 with completion goal of late fall 2022 - the 112th birthday of the relocation and construction of the station at this site.
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TOWN OF DURHAM (AND OTHER SEACOAST TOWNS) TAKE CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS TO TASK AT NH PUC
The Town of Durham participated in a joint municipal complaint, filed with the Public Utilities Commission, against Consolidated Communications regarding an excessive amount of double-poles. The Town of Durham joined the municipal complaint due to frustration of multiple double-poles being left and unaddressed within the Town. Below is notification of the PUC’s Order of Notice. Details of the complaint are provided along with an upcoming remote hearing session. Members of the public are encouraged to review the complaint. If anyone wishes to provide testimony in relation to the complaint, information is provided on how to participate in the hearing.
View the PUC Order of Notice: Town of Durham Public Works et al v. Consolidated HERE.
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VEHICLE BREAK-INS AT WAGON HILL FARM
The Durham Police Department has recently responded to several vehicle break-ins at Wagon Hill Farm. Chief Kelley would like to remind citizens to take their personal items out of the vehicle or hide them prior to leaving the vehicle unattended in a public place. Be aware of any suspicious activity when walking to and from your vehicle. If you feel something is suspicious, you can reach the department at 868-2324. If you feel what you are observing is an emergency, please call 911.
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DOVER ROAD PUMP STATION
The “muffin” monster grinder which is an inline sewage grinder designed to protect pumps and other equipment at the Dover Road Pump Station by grinding down the difficult to process wastewater solids, ,including “disposable” wipes is awarded to JWC Environmental Inc., as approved at 9/21 Town Council Meeting.
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WISWALL DAM IMPROVEMENTS
Durham Public Works (DPW) continues to discuss findings with dam structural engineers, Pare Corporation, about outstanding dam stability review at Wiswall Dam. DPW is reviewing the draft report which suggests that cores be taken to verify adhesion numbers assumed from previous studies. It may be necessary to install shear pins into the dam bedrock interface to anchor the dam to the bedrock below in lieu of rock anchors that were originally anticipated. Funding has been tentatively included within the 2023 Water Capital Improvement Plan.
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Zipcar at Madbury Commons
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ZIPCAR UPDATE FOR UNH/DURHAM
UNH has extended the ZipCar contract through July 2021. Current fleet on campus and in Durham is two-three cars depending on service week/days. Cars are located at the Dairy Bar/train station and Garrison Avenue at Paul College. UNH is working with Zipcar to restore the Madbury Road pod. Student memberships are available for $25/year. Staff and community memberships are available thru monthly and annual membership. Memberships allow use of Zipcars worldwide at varying hourly rates that include fuel and basic insurance.
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NO CALL IS TOO SMALL – Just a friendly reminder that if you see something wrong, odd, or not quite right, please call the Durham Police.
With the beginning of the UNH academic year it is a great time to remind all that the very essence of community policing is that our 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. The department finds it difficult to patrol residential areas with the frequency residents, businesses and the police prefer. Chief Kelley 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 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. While we are all concerned about a person’s privacy, if you see something, say something, the Durham Police want you to know that no call is too small.
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WWTP FACILITIES PLAN
An update of the Durham Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) plan by Wright Pierce is ongoing – An estimate of future growth and its impacts on wastewater flow is included which will allow for cost and timing projections for system and plant upgrades. A draft report is expected in late October.
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SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD SIGN UP MONTH - If you don't yet have a card, now's the time to get one! Come one, come all...
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 Administrator Selig know at the polls last 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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Last of the season rose. Courtesy Carol Birch
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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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“DRUG TAKE BACK" PROGRAM AT DURHAM POLICE UNDER WAY - A great way to safely dispose of old drugs/medicine.
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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STORMWATER MS4 NPDES PERMIT – Year 2 Annual Report is due Monday September 28th.
Durham Public Works is coordinating engineering services to perform dry and wet weather outfall monitoring and enhanced system mapping as required in the Year 3 permit, which began on July 1, 2020. The public is encouraged to review the Town’s stormwater management plan and associated documents HERE. Comments about Durham’s stormwater program can be sent to mailto:ATalon@ci.durham.nh.us.
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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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Guitarist on the steps of the Waysmeet Center. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF STRAFFORD COUNTY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE DURHAM, LEE, MADBURY RESIDENTS
Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC) would like the Durham community to be award of several programs they offer that may be helpful, especially as the weather gets colder and days shorter.
Housing Relief
Governor Sununu's office created the NH Housing Relief Program which opened on July 1st to assist any New Hampshire resident having trouble paying their rent, mortgage or other housing expenses, due to COVID-19. This program is open to ALL NH residents with no income limitations. Residents can access the application at http://www.capnh.org/, find CAPSC's link, and apply. If someone does not have access to the web (the application also works on smart phones and tablets), they can request a paper application or an application over the phone by contacting our COVID Response Team at mailto:COVID19@straffordcap.org or (603) 435-2448.
Since July 1st, CAPSC has helped over 130 households in Strafford County with over $413,000 in housing assistance. The agency strongly encourages anyone with a COVID-related income loss who is at risk of housing instability, to contact their office before it is too late.
Fuel Assistance
CAPSC's Fuel Assistance program is open, but the process looks a little different this year due to COVID. It will now be moving most of its program applications from paper to electronic forms using the DocuSign program. The early application window is NOW OPEN for people over 60, those with children under six, or those who are disabled.
To access online forms, clients take the following steps:
- Visit the CAPSC website at http://www.straffordcap.org/.
- On the home page, click on the link for fuel assistance to request an application.
- Once a request is received, clients will be sent a secure link with their application and document upload.
This process allows clients and staff to enroll participants while limiting exposure to COVID-19 for high risk groups. Clients may still schedule an appointment which we will conduct on the phone, via Zoom or Google Teams. For fuel emergencies, CAPSC will schedule an in-person appointment, with PPE for both clients and staff to wear. Please contact Fuel & Electric Assistance Manager, Heidi Clough at http://hclough@straffordcap.org or 435-2500 ext. 8152 with any questions.
Nutrition
CAPSC's nutrition program was incredibly busy beginning in March as schools closed and the Governor's stay-at-home order was implemented. With the switch to remote learning, CAPSC partnered with five school districts to use our Summer Meals program model to ensure meals continued to be delivered to families with children learning remotely. The program began seven weeks earlier than usual and ended two weeks later with the change in district schedules this summer. Now that school is back in session, CAPSC will be augmenting the school lunch programs in the county with a dinner and snack program starting October 5th at Amazon Park (Rochester), First Church Congregational (Rochester) and North Dover/Strafford Farms parking lot. Menu and times are being finalizing but these will be available in the late afternoon/early evening for families to pick up. CAPSC is working on additional sites in other communities but these are the state approved sites at this time.
Please note: this program is only available until December 31st or when the money runs out, whichever one comes sooner. CAPSC hopes to have this program in place until December but it has been advised by the NH Department of Education that they must end when the program funding is gone.
Senior Transportation
The suspension of CAPSC's senior shopping bus and pivot to emergency deliveries was one of the hardest decisions the agency had to make. For many, the bus was not only the way to purchase food and other necessities, but it is what helped them remain independent and aging in place, as well as a social time for seniors that would have otherwise been alone all day. CAPSC is happy to announce that it will be resuming its senior transportation services in October, in a brand new bus they received, thanks to NH DOT. Their bus puts on over 10,000 miles a year with riders from all over the area. Bus routes will be revised to ensure the best coverage as well as implementing strict hand sanitizing and mask requirements for riders and drivers. CAPSC is also working with COAST to clean and sterilize the bus for rider safety.
CAPSC continues to offer Weatherization, Housing Support, Head Start, Home Visiting, two Food Pantries and Homeless Outreach services, in addition to the programs outlined above. CAPSC knows residents who were able to get by over the summer are now impacted by the challenges of remote learning and/or continued loss of income due to COVID. They do not want these residents to be left in the cold. If any Durham resident has a concern, chances are CAPSC has a program that can help or they can connect them with the right person in a partner agency or municipality.
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WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FLOWS
The wastewater treatment plant now has all its treatment tankage online. The daily flows are up to an average of 0.73 Million Gallons per Day (MGD). It is noted that with the wastewater flows still slightly less than the typical flows with UNH in session, the loadings appear to be even lower. It is speculated that this may be due to less dining options on the UNH campus and in the downtown area.
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ODOR CONTROL SYSTEM AT THE WWTP SLUDGE GARAGE
Durham Public Works will begin a Qualifications based selection process for a consultant to design the odor control system for the sludge garage at the wastewater treatment plant. This will be funded using existing wastewater capital funding targeted for fiscal year 2020. A Request for Qualifications advertisement is planned for week of Oct 6th.
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WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SCADA COMPUTER REPLACEMENT
This project includes replacing four computers and software for the SCADA system at the WWTP. This project has been awarded to Wilson Controls, LLC. In the amount of $39,700. This will be funded from existing wastewater Capital account.
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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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Come participate in Durham Days throughout the month of October featuring a number of activities that can be viewed HERE.
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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.
ILL is now available! The State Library has been able to resume ILL delivery service and our patrons are once again able to make requests, either through the ILL page on our website or directly through the NHAIS ILL System.
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October is almost here! Stop by or visit our website to see what you can discover at the Library!
Visit the Upcoming Events page on our website for fall virtual programming and register fall programs. Join us next week for NH Legends & Ghosts with Jeff Belanger Monday evening and the final installment of Unlimiting Access: Streaming Services with Hoopla and Kanopy on Tuesday, both programs are at 6PM.
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, research with EBSCO and explore Novelist, Consumer Reports, Explora, and more! Questions? Contact us at 603-868-6699. We are happy to help!
***Coming up: Keep an eye out for more resource tutorials, meditative yoga, adult crafts and holiday fun!
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Youth Services Fall Virtual Programs have begun!
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.
Youth Services October Calendar
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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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1654 - A grant made to Francis Matthews for "all the marsh in Great Creek on the norwest side of Great Bay, being the first creek, and 100 acres of upland". This was called Matthew Creek until Joshua Crommett settled and built a grist mill on the west side. It is now called Crommett Creek.
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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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