“FRIDAY UPDATES”
August
22, 2008
rainbow
over the
Courtesy Shannon
Marthouse
Today at lunch a great crowd turned
out to enjoy the beautiful weather and free barbecue provided by the Durham
Marketplace which offered sirloin tips, hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, potato
chips, and beverages.
Labor
Day
The Durham Town Offices will be
closed on Monday, September 1, 2008 in observance of Labor Day. All offices will
reopen for business on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. Although this is a holiday
weekend, there will be no change to the
refuse or curbside collection schedule. The Durham Transfer Station
and
Where Can
ONE FIND Hardware Items In
At this week's Durham Business
Association (DBA) meeting, I learned something new ... that Town and Campus
located downtown on
UNH TRAIN STATION/DAIRY
BAR REOPENS
The UNH Train Station and Dairy Bar
has reopened with a completely refurbished interior, enclosed train passenger
waiting area, and a revamped food service operation. While retaining its
historical look and ambiance, the facility actually now feels like a
modern intermodal train/bus facility. For
CHURCH HILL ZONING
EVALUATION – AN UPDATE
Following the recent discussion at
the Town Council level regarding the idea of extending the Central Business
Zoning District into the Church Hill District, the Council killed the proposal
on first reading in favor of evaluating instead whether there might be other
ways to stimulate thoughtful economic development initiatives that would be in
keeping with the interests of the surrounding neighborhoods and the Town as a
whole. As a follow up to this discussion, the Administrator has enlisted
the help of Patricia Sherman from the NHAIA150/Mill Plaza effort to
work with the Town in finding win/win approaches for this
matter. Patricia spent some time with Director of Planning
& Economic Development Jim Campbell on Tuesday of this week to
verify information regarding the existing zoning in this
area. Jim shared that the Council had changed the lot size per
dwelling unit from 1200 sf to 900 sf Monday
night. Patricia is thinking through potential ways to possibly
allow somewhat higher densities and still protect the abutting
residential neighborhoods by varying building heights and other
restrictions. At this time, no one is pitching any particular
plan. We will simply be coming up with ideas to discuss more widely at
a later date. Patricia is now off on vacation for a period of
time but when she returns, Jim, Patricia, and I will
get together to talk through ways we can test
possible ideas/scenarios with the
neighborhood.
EVALUATION OF
Town Treasurer Dick Lilly is in
the process of revisiting the payment schedule we utilize in meeting the School
District's annual appropriation obligation from the Town of
INFORMATION REGARDING
TAX CAP INITIATIVES
With increased discussion across the
state focusing on the topic of establishing tax caps in municipalities,
today's Community Commentary in Foster's is of general interest in
better understanding this issue. The author is John Andrews, Executive
Director of the Local Government Center/New Hampshire Municipal
Association. To view the Community Commentary, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/GJOPINION_01/963/-1/FOSOPINION.
ANNUAL
MUNICIPAL LAW LECTURE SERIES
Beginning in September, the
33rd Annual Municipal Law Lecture Series, sponsored by the
PUBLIC
INFORMATIONAL MEETING –
On Tuesday, August 26, 20008
beginning at 6:30 PM, a public informational meeting will be held in the Council
chambers at Town Hall relative to the Oyster River Dam located on Route
108/Newmarket Road. The Department of Public Works plans to temporarily drain
the Mill Pond upstream of the Oyster River Dam near Route 108 during the third
week of September (on or around September 18, 2008) to perform a dewatered
inspection of the dam which is being required by the State of New Hampshire. The
plan includes a slow controlled release of the water, monitoring of upstream
habitat, maintaining adequate downstream flows for the duration of the event,
and refilling the Mill Pond on or before September 26, 2008. Anyone
interested in learning about the drawdown or volunteering to help conduct
observations during the event is encouraged to attend the August 26th
meeting. Questions and comments should be directed to Town Engineer
TRANSITION
OF DISPATCHING SERVICES TO
As many citizens are aware, the
public safety organizations that serve the community were dispatched via the UNH
communication center. In June of this year the Town transferred its public
safety communications to
Beginning
of 2008/09 UNH Academic Year
As UNH students return for the fall
semester, the Durham Police Department is implementing a strategy that will
ensure it can respond to emergencies, provide a safe environment , and prevent
widespread misbehavior, particularly in the late evening/early morning
hours. In essence the police department is challenged with creating a safe
environment where the UNH students and friends who visit them have some
flexibility to gain life experiences while ensuring that the peace and
tranquility demanded by
FROM
THE
August is here already. In a
few short weeks, many who graduated from high school in June will be heading off
for college. Now is a good time to talk with them about voting. Not
who they will vote for this fall, but where they will vote. College
students have the right to vote in the town where they are attending college or
in the town they call “home,” where their parents still reside. Some
states and some individual towns make this process easier than others. It
might be a good idea to find out about the process of registering and voting in
the state/town where your son or daughter will be this fall. UNH gives out
information on how to vote at freshman orientation. Other schools probably do,
too. Your student should at least be aware that
PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE
The following public meetings are
scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town
Office and will begin at 7:00 PM unless otherwise indicated
below.
Planning Board – Wednesday, August
27, 2008
To view an agenda for the meetings
listed above, please click HERE.
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library
for checkout and viewing.
THEY’RE
BACK 
The State of
What can residents do around their
homes to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes?
- Make sure that doors
and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens in
your home that have tears or holes.
- Remove all discarded
tires from your property. The used tire has become the most important
domestic mosquito-breeding habitat in the
- Do not allow
water-holding containers. Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers,
ceramic pots, or similar water-holding containers. Do not overlook
containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
- Drill holes in the
bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Drainage
holes that are located on the sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to
breed in.
- Make sure roof
gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
- Tightly screen “rain
barrels” to ensure mosquitoes cannot deposit eggs in or on water.
- Clean and chlorinate
swimming pools and outdoor hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and
covered.
- Drain water from pool
covers.
- Aerate ornamental
pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become
major mosquito breeding grounds if they are allowed to stagnate.
- Turn over
wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly. Both
provide breeding habitat for domestic mosquitoes. Eliminate any standing water
that collects on your property. Use landscaping as needed.
Mosquitoes will develop in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days.
Mosquito larvae look like tiny shrimp and are not recognized for what they
really are by most people.
- Remind or help
neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.
- Ensure that tarps
covering fire wood piles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc. are not holding pools
of water.
What can residents do to reduce
their risk of becoming infected with WNV or EEE? When mosquitoes are active,
take the following precautions:
- Wear protective
clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks if outside during
evening, nighttime, and dawn hours, the time when mosquitoes are most active,
and at other times when mosquitoes are biting.
- If outside during
evening, nighttime, and dawn hours, or whenever mosquitoes are biting,
consider the use of an effective insect repellant.
- Vitamin B, ultrasonic
devices, incense, and bug zappers have
not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.
- Use repellants
according to manufacturer’s directions.
Ø
Repellents containing DEET have been
proven effective. No more than 30% DEET should be used on adults or
children.
Ø
The
Ø
Repellents containing Picaridin
(KBR3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (a plant based repellent) provide
protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET. Oil of
lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. Do
not allow young children to apply repellent
themselves.
Ø
Do not apply repellent directly to
children. Apply repellent to your own hands and then put it on the child’s
exposed skin.
Ø
Avoid putting repellent on the hands
of children or near their eyes or mouth.
Ø
Do not spray directly on the face,
spray into the hands first and then apply to the
face.
Ø
Do not apply to cuts, wounds, or
irritated skin.
Ø
Do not use under
clothing.
Ø
Do not spray repellent containing
products in enclosed areas.
Ø
Avoid prolonged or excessive use of
repellents. Use sparingly to cover exposed skin and
clothing.
Ø
Wash all treated skin and clothing
after returning indoors.
Ø
Store repellents out of reach of
children.
Ø
Research has shown that repellents
based on natural oils or herbs are less effective than products based on
Picaridin or DEET.
Durham Day 2008 has been set for
Sunday, September 14, 2008 from 12:30-4:30 PM at Wagon Hill Farm.
Residents interested in assisting with this annual event should contact Durham
Day Coordinator, Nicole Moore, at 868-6775 or e-mail durhamday3@yahoo.com.
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED TO HELP
No heavy lifting involved! Smile and
hand out maps and apples to incoming first-years and their families on Move-in
Day. Meet at the
MCGREGOR
MEMORIAL EMS WORKS WITH
McGregor EMS participated in a
recent stroke program with Wentworth Douglas Hospital (WDH). WDH
has partnered with
BIKE
HELMET SAFETY
McGregor Memorial EMS is leading a
coalition of
EVENTS
AT THE
Date
Time
Event
Cost
|
Sat, Aug
23, 2008 |
4:00
PM |
NH Folk
Festival-rain or shine |
Adults:
$30 in advance, $40 at gate Seniors
& Students: $20 in advance, $30 at gate
Family
(up to 5 people): $100 in advance and day of
show |
|
Sat, Sep
6, 2008 |
1:00
PM |
NH Blues
& Jazz Festival-rain or
shine |
Adults:
$30 in advance, $40 at gate Seniors
& Students: $20 in advance, $30 at gate
Family
(up to 5 people): $100 in advance and day of
show |
Tickets are
available by calling the Mill Pond at 603-868-8999, or by visiting the Durham
Marketplace (Customer Service Desk), RiverRun Book Store in
FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976
“1806-1890- Benjamin Thompson was
the son of Benjamin and Mary Pickering, never married, taught school, farmed the
ancestral acres, invested his money wisely, and willed his entire fortune of
about $400,000 to the State of New Hampshire for a school of
agriculture.”
Have a nice
weekend.
Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham
15 Newmarket Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
Tel
(603) 868-5571
Fax (603) 868-5572
tselig@ci.durham.nh.us
www.ci.durham.nh.us
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