“FRIDAY UPATES”

August 29, 2008

 

 

Oyster River Dam at Mill Pond

Courtesy Andrea Bodo

 

After a stormy and wet start to the summer, the prediction for the Labor Day weekend holiday is for mild and sunny weather. 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 Recycling Center will also be open on Saturday from 7:30 AM to 3:15 PM, as regularly scheduled.

 

 

CONFINED SPACE TRAINING

This week the Durham Fire Department participated in a department-wide refresher course in confined space training.  This presented the opportunity to evaluate the current equipment and procedures in place for preparation of emergency situations involving workers confined in locations underground.  Below, members of the fire department pull "rescuers" up from the confined space at the Water Treatment facility. The department wishes to thank the Water Treatment Facility and the Grant House for allowing the use of their facilities to complete the training exercise.

 

 

 

Tree City USA

The Town of Durham has been named a Tree City USA town for the 30^th consecutive year. We are proud to hold the record for the longest running recipient of the Tree City Award in the State of New Hampshire.  The Tree City USA award is a national awards program that recognizes towns and cities across the United States with a documented commitment to an outstanding, comprehensive urban forestry program. The awards program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the US Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters. There are over 3000 Tree City USA communities in the United States. A small celebration and formal presentation of the award is being planned with the participation of Governor John Lynch. More information on the event will be published in a future “Friday Update”.

 

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, the annual Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held at the Department of Public Works facility located at 100 Stone Quarry.  As in the past, all hazardous waste will be collected by appointment only.  There are still appointment times available.  To register, you must call the Department of Public Works at 868-5578.  Remember, the maximum collected per resident is five gallons. 

 

HANDICAP PARKING AWARENESS MONTH

The Durham Traffic Safety Committee would like to inform residents that the State of New Hampshire has declared October as Handicap Parking Awareness Month.  We believe the community does a good job of identifying and locating accessible parking areas throughout Town, as well as meeting all State and Federal guidelines. 

 

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 Durham’s permanent residents remains the primary goal.  In past years the strategy for the 19-member department involved placing a number of additional officers on patrol to create this environment.  This summer, with the resignation of two officers and three other officers excused due to illness and injuries, the department is attempting to fill the void of 25% of the agency being unavailable for work.  While the police are actively recruiting to fill the two vacant patrol officer positions, the selection process is long and arduous ensuring that the right persons are selected to serve the Durham community.  In the interim, Chief Kurz has moved key personnel to fill the voids by shuffling detectives and administrative personnel to patrol duties. As an example, for the short-term, Sergeant Ed Levesque the School Resource Officer will be reassigned to supervise a midnight patrol shift.  Durham residents should be assured that emergency personnel will always be ready to respond to any emergency even during this period of depreciated staffing.

 

FROM THE DURHAM SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST

September is almost upon us, and many students 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 New Hampshire is one of only a very few states that allows registration at the polls.  If he or she decides it would be easier to register in Durham and then vote absentee, encourage him/her to register before heading off.  Registering in person at the Town Hall during normal business hours is much easier than registering by mail.  A driver’s license or piece of mail with the home address and a birth certificate or a passport makes the process even easier.

 

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meeting is 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.

 

Historic District Commission – Thursday, September 4, 2008

 

To view an agenda for the meeting listed above, please click HERE.  All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing.

 

DURHAM CHURCHES HOLD ANNUAL 700-FAMILY YARD SALE

On Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the Durham churches of St. George Episcopal Church, Durham Community Church, and St. Thomas More Church will hold the annual 700-family yard sale. Come search for possible treasures in electronics, toys, furniture, house wares, books, and more. Enjoy baked goods and coffee or a delicious BBQ on the lawn. Bring a friend and shop, Rain or Shine

 

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

ü      You’ll save on electricity spent on lighting AND A/C, and your house will stay cooler if you turn off unnecessary lighting and use task or desktop lamps with CFLs instead of overhead lights. 

ü      Cleaning or replacing room air conditioner filters monthly will save fan motor energy. Dirty filters reduce the efficiency of air conditioners.

 

DURHAM DAY 2008

It’s getting close! Durham Day 2008 will be held on 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.

 

UPCOMING EVENT AT THE MILL POND CENTER FOR THE ARTS

 

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 Portsmouth, NH, and The Big Bean Cafe at 118 Main Street in Newmarket, NH.  (Hours for the Big Bean are Mon-Fri 6 am - 2pm, Sat & Sun 7am - 2pm (603-659-8600).

 

FROM HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1809 – A vendue at the house of Joshua Ballard to let out to build a Stone Pound; said Pound to be 30 feet square inside, 3 feet think at bottom and 6-1/2 feet high and handsomely faced, to be built on or near site of old Pound. Struck off to Joseph Chesley 3^rd for $94.50.” Receipt on Dec. 8, 1810.

 

Have a safe and nice Labor Day 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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