Friday Updates - September 27, 2024

Friday, September 27, 2024

Fall at Wagon Hill Farm 2022 Courtesy, Todd Selig

Due to a scheduling conflict with Yom Kippur (a thank you is extended to the residents who pointed this out), the annual Household Hazardous Waste Day Event has been rescheduled from October 12 to December 7. Please call Durham Public Works at 603-868-5578 for additional details. Pre-registration is required! Registrations for those previously signed up for the October 12 event will be transferred to the new date and you will be contacted for confirmation.

Oct. 3 marks the beginning of Navratri. This ten-day Hindu festival celebrates the Goddess Durga and is a major crop season event. Each day a new goddess is worshiped and changing of Hindu scriptures occurs as well as a period of fasting.

The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah marking the start of the Jewish New Year begins this coming Wednesday at sundown, Oct. 2nd through sunset on Oct. 4th.

The Town of Durham is currently seeking volunteers to work at the polls on election day, November 5, 2024. All volunteers must be registered to vote in Durham, New Hampshire. Volunteer shifts typically run for (4) four hours between the hours of 7:00am-7:00pm.

Training will be provided. Please contact the Durham Town Clerk by email at rdeane@ci.durham.nh.us to inquire.  No phone calls please.

Current Openings

• New Voter-Same Day Registration
• Filing/Administrative Work
• Absentee Ballot Processing
• Ballot Clerks
• Counting and Assistance after the polls close at 7pm.

COME TO THE "DURHAM ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW" AND SEE WHAT THAT OLD ITEM IS REALLY WORTH!

Do you have questions about an item you found at the Durham Swap Shop? What is the value of a family heirloom or mid-century modern item? Do you have a coin collection or jewelry or an old photograph you’d like to know more about? Ask our expert antiques dealers!

Join the Durham Historic Association for an antiques and vintage appraisal event on Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing Park, 10 Old Piscataqua Road, Durham. Rain or Shine!

The DHA is thrilled to be joined by Phelps Fullerton and Jamie Marston who will be offering appraisals. Phelps and Jamie have been actively involved as antique collectors, dealers and auction house consultants for over 30 years in the Seacoast NH area. The cost is $5 per item with a limit of five items per person (cash or check). Bring photos of large furniture or other large items. Please note, no guns or other weapons.

PUBLIC HEARING ON REVISED WORKFORCE HOUSING OVERLAY DISTRICT ON OCTOBER 9

The Planning Board is holding a public hearing at their meeting of Wednesday, October 9, on a revised version of the proposed Workforce Housing Overlay District. You can see the draft proposal HERE.

Anyone may speak at the public hearing or send an email with any comments or questions to the Town Planner at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us

Turkeys in a local field Courtesy, Diane McCann

PERSONAL MOBILITY DEVICES BECOMING MORE PREVALENT ON CAMPUS - UNH working on regulating these devices

The use of motorized personal mobility devices has increased dramatically in recent years. The Durham Police Department and UNH Police Department are working hard to promote the safe use of these devices. (Durham’s ordinance was reviewed in the September 6 Friday Updates.)

Devices on the UNH campus are subject to regulation by the University, which adopted a policy earlier this year that is consistent with the Town’s ordinance. There was coordination between UNH and Durham on both documents.

UNH is reaching out to students with social media, and they are working with a student organization to create an educational campaign. 

Paul Dean, UNH Chief of Police, has stated that the University is committed to supporting the Durham Police Department to improve the responsible use of these devices. You can see the UNH policy HERE. 

Several Town officials serve on the University’s Transportation Policy Committee and Steve Pesci, University Transportation Planner, represents UNH on the Town’s Traffic Safety Committee. 

We all coordinate closely on this issue and other transportation matters

IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO IF YOU WANT TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Now is the time to consider registering to vote in Durham if you have not already done so. The lines will be quite long on November 5. You do NOT want to be stuck in the registration line! You may register at the Town Hall any time the Clerk’s office is open (8:00 – 4:30 M-F with a few exceptions). 

You may also change party any time between now and the next primary (2026). If you are not sure how you are registered, check HERE in about a week. All of those changes should be made by then. A person’s party is not important EXCEPT at a primary. 

There will be 3 registration events at UNH:

Tuesday, October 1         Philbrook Dining Hall         11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Thursday, October 10      Holloway Commons           11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Tuesday, October 15       Holloway Commons           11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Driver’s license and passport are helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if other proofs are lacking.  

Planning Board is holding a public hearing on the revised Workforce Housing Ordinance and Miscellaneous Zoning Amendments on October 9. The board finished another review of changes affecting Definitions (a far larger task than one might expect) and should be posting the changes for another public hearing soon. The board will start reviewing a proposed Planned Unit Development ordinance drafted to accommodate a potential large project, to be called “The Edge,” at UNH’s property located to the west of the Main Street/Mast Road intersection.  

Historic District Commission members are excited about a historical plaque (see draft example above) that they have developed for placement on the beautiful Old Brick Town Hall. We will be ordering the plaque soon. The commission is also working on some minor amendments to the ordinance clarifying the HDC’s purview.

Conservation Commission expects to complete an entire rewrite of the current Wetland and Shoreland ordinances soon. It will then be presented to the Planning Board for consideration.

Housing Task Force originated the proposed Workforce Housing Ordinance many months ago and has been exploring numerous strategies to expand housing opportunities in Durham. Their next significant project focuses on the downtown and core areas with the goal of creating more housing and supporting downtown businesses.

THE SWITCH IS ON - to All Electric Landscaping!

Did you know many lawn/landscaping companies are going all electric? Ask your provider about 100% electric service–it's much quieter, saves workers from inhaling dangerous fumes, and makes a significant dent in our carbon footprint! Each year, gas-powered lawn equipment in the US produces the same amount of ozone-damaging pollution as 30 MILLION CARS. 

Side note: Administrator Selig's old gas powered lawn mower died this spring and he replaced it with an all-electric mower to mow the grass at home on Nobel K. Peterson Drive. The new mower works well, is much quieter, and produces far fewer emissions -- win-win-win.

Questions? Email dec@ci.durham.nh.us  

Composting is one of the simplest climate solutions, and everyone can do it, no matter where you live.

Every year, each of us sends an average of 124 pounds of food waste to the landfill.

Landfills are an anaerobic environment (lacking oxygen) and when food is sent to the landfill for disposal, it lacks the oxygen it needs to break down naturally. Instead, because food is trapped in an anaerobic environment, its eventual breakdown causes the formation of the powerful greenhouse gas, methane. Over a 20-year period, methane gas traps 80 percent more heat than carbon dioxide, thus, impacting our atmosphere in a powerful way.  

Landfills are the third biggest source of methane emissions in the world, mostly due to food waste.

Composting is how we ensure our valuable food waste resource turns into nutrient rich organic matter instead of landfill waste and methane gas.   

If you are interested in giving composting a try, join us for the Compost Challenge! It is open to all Durham residents, whether you own or rent, are single, have a partner and/or family - all are welcome! IWMAC will offer support and guidance throughout the Challenge, including a full list of acceptable compostable items.

A basket of sustainable items will be awarded to the participant who decreases their solid waste by the greatest percentage.

The Challenge begins on October 5 and runs six weeks until November 16. The deadline to register is next Tuesday, October 1.

Please see the flyer below for all the details.

Source: Second Nature

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

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

Check the IWMAC Committee out on Instagram: sustainable.durham.nh

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

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

SAVE OUR SHORES 50TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE HIGHLIGHTED ON NH PBS PROGRAM "WINDOWS TO THE WILD"

NH PBS will be airing an episode of "Windows to the Wild" highlighting the 50th anniversary of "Save Our Shores". It will be broadcast several times between October 3 and October 10 and is also available on PBS Passport.  Below is a list of broadcast dates & times:

• Thu, Oct 3, 8:00 P.M.
• Sat, Oct 5, 10:30 A.M.
• Sat, Oct 5, 5:30 P.M.
• Sun, Oct 6, 10:00 A.M.
• Sun, Oct 6, 5:30 P.M.
• Mon, Oct 7, 5:30 A.M.
• Mon, Oct 7, 2:30 P.M.
• Wed, Oct 9, 7:30 P.M.
• Thu, Oct 10, 2:30 P.M.

FESTIVAL IN THE FIELD - A Fall Benefit Concert Fundraiser to Fight Human Trafficking

Make a big impact while having a great time with family and friends! Festival In The Field is being held at Tuckaway Farm in Lee on Saturday, October 5, from noon - 6:00 p.m. as an awareness and fundraising event to support The Freedom Cafe’s nonprofit work to end trafficking.

Enjoy live music, local artisans, activity stations, raffle, and cork & cap pull. Food and beverages available for purchase. Proceeds from the event, including sales of food, beverage and 10% of outside vendor sales will benefit The Freedom Cafe volunteer advocacy training and community education programs for the coming year.

Tickets must be purchased to attend the event and 20% of the ticket sales support Tuckaway Farms Farm Fire Recovery. Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Roadway and Drainage Improvements – Phase 1

Durham Public Works and its contractor, G.W. Brooks & Son, Inc. continue to progress on the Phase 1 Roadway, Streetscape and Drainage Improvements portion of the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project. Utility relocations were ongoing this week in addition to stone masonry retaining wall construction, sidewalk removal and subgrade preparation, and drainage work at the Pettee Brook Lane intersection.

Granite curbing installation is scheduled for next week, weather permitting, along with the completion of the stone masonry walls at #26 and #28. Parking impacts should be expected corridor-wide during the curbing construction later in the week. 

Durham Public Works greatly appreciates the patience of the residents and other stakeholders within the project limits as they work to complete these necessary infrastructure improvements and beautify Madbury Road.

The Durham Public Works Department’s contractor for its Crack Sealing Program, Indus, Inc. of Braintree, MA completed the 2024 Crack Sealing Program this week. Indus applied 1,950 gallons of polymer crumb-rubber modified (PCRM) crack sealant to Shearwater Road, Razorbill Circle, Cormorant Circle, Oyster River Road, Schoolhouse Lane, Old Landing Road, sections of Main Street, and a section of Mill Pond Road.

PCRM is a high-performance crack sealant that consists of a performance-graded asphalt binder cross-linked with an SBS polymer and a proprietary adhesion promoter to produce an asphalt that has the ability to resist deforming at high temperatures while also being able to stretch and flex at lower temperatures. This high-performance asphalt is then blended with a finely ground crumb-rubber. During this blending process, the rubber particles absorb the polymer-modified asphalt and swell, increasing in volume and further enhancing the same properties afforded by the SBS polymer. The result is a material that has unmatched adhesion, elasticity, and load bearing capacity across a wide range of temperatures.

Several of Durham Public Works team members responded to a water main break on Coe Drive near the Oyster River High School (ORHS) at 1:30 pm on Tuesday. The team worked until 10:30 pm to repair a failed gasket seated between a service isolation valve and a tapping sleeve, ensuring that water service was restored to the High School in advance of school the following day.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS CONTINUES TO SEEK PART-TIME EQUIPMENT MECHANIC

The Department is seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Regular Part-Time Equipment Mechanic.

The successful candidate will assist the Fleet Services Supervisor in the maintenance, repair, and installation of a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment within the Public Works Fleet. Responsibilities include diagnosing and troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, performing regular preventative maintenance on equipment, ensuring equipment is operating safely and efficiently, and keeping accurate and detailed maintenance records. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Fleet Services Supervisor and Operations Manager.

The salary for this position is $23.00 - $25.00/hr, depending upon qualifications. Flexible scheduling is available for this 24 hour per week position, with normal work hours from 7:00am – 3:30pm Monday – Friday.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of (1) year of experience or formal training in the maintenance of fleet vehicles and heavy equipment. Possession of a Class B Commercial Driver’s License and State Inspection Certification desired.

Please send resume and cover letter to Durham Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us.

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly, so Parents and guardians can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates. These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent/Guardian to teach your kids about Fire Safety. The more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #39

Ok kids, it’s almost Fire Prevention Week, so we need to make sure of 3 more things.

1.   Do we have a meeting place when we come out of our house during an emergency.

2.   Are all the smoke detectors in the house working and do we know what they sound like.

3.   Have we done a family fire drill?

1ST ANNUAL OYSTER RIVER COMMUNITY CLOTHING SWAP IS COMING!

Love clothes? Need clothes? The 1st Annual Oyster River Community Clothing Swap will be held on November 2nd from 10am-2pm at Oyster River Middle School, organized by local families and modeled after Portsmouth's PortSwap. Bring a bag or two of good clothing that you can no longer use--no rips, stains, or "scents", please. Volunteers will take the clothes and with your now empty bags you can find new-to-you clothing that other community members or used clothing stores have donated to the event.

The event is entirely free to everyone, and you do not need to be a resident of Oyster River to attend. After noon, you don't need to bring clothes to come and shop. Men's, women's, and children's clothing of all sizes and seasons are welcome, as well as shoes and accessories.

Find details, sign up to volunteer, and RSVP HERE or you can email Amy Sterndale at asterndale@gmail.com with questions.

The organizers are grateful for the donations from used clothing retailers New Moon and Hello Again, as well as the support of Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers, Sustainable Durham, and the Durham Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

No School October 11 and 14

All Oyster River schools will be closed for a teacher workshop day Friday, October 11. All Oyster River schools and the SAU office will be closed Monday, October 14, in observance of Columbus Day. 

October 10 Community Dinner

The Oyster River Wellness Committee invites you to a community dinner celebration on Thursday, October 10, 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824) to enjoy a delicious, locally and sustainably sourced fall harvest chicken breast dinner (with roasted root vegetables - each meal also includes a side salad, soup, beverage, and dessert). Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available, and over 15 agencies and community partners will be on-site to offer and share information about local health and wellness community resources. Kindly RSVP by Tuesday, October 8 by clicking HERE.

October 16 Alumni Community Conversations

Community Conversations is a series of focus groups designed to foster open dialogue and explore a range of educational topics that will help Superintendent Shaps identify important themes. We warmly invite all OR alumni to join us for a virtual Teams meeting on October 16, 8:00-9:00 pm ET. Kindly RSVP no later than October 14, 2024, by contacting ORCSD Director of Communications Genevieve Brown at gebrown@orcsd.org or at 603-590-0052.

October 28 Internet and Digital Safety Presentation

This ORCSD free admission program is presented by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) at the Morse Recital Hall (Oyster River Middle School). This program is for adults only and not suitable for students. The program includes an introduction to ICAC, how predators use social media, digital safety for cell phone, personal devices and gaming systems, and a demonstration with K-9 Niko who is New Hampshire's first Electronic Storage Detection K-9. No registration required. To learn more, click HERE.

Inclusive Connections: Support Spaces for Families and Community Members

The ORCSD offers two new event series to offer support spaces for the parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ and multicultural youth and community members. These support spaces are dedicated to offering a welcoming environment to share challenges and resources, celebrate successes, ask questions, and build a network of support. Additional information may be found HERE.

Inclusive Connections: Parents/Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Youth Support Space

• October 21, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library
• December 9, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library

Inclusive Connections: Parents/Caregivers of Multicultural Youth Support Space

• October 22, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library
• December 11, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library

UNH HOSTING A CITIZENSHIP SUMMIT ON OCTOBER 16

UNH, under the auspices of the Responsible Governance and Sustainable Citizenship Project, is hosting a day-long Citizenship Summit on October 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on topics ranging from polling and election security to climate change and international conflicts, as well as sessions on local government (featuring our own Todd Selig!) and NH politics.

This event is open to the public and no registration is required. All events, including the keynote speaker about political change, will take place in the Memorial Union Building. 

There will also be the Summit HQ in the Strafford Room (10–4 pm) with interactive spaces, visuals and more! See the website HERE, with a full list of speakers and bios!