“FRIDAY UPDATES”

March 27, 2009

 

 

With the arrival of warm weather and melting snow, crocus are coming up--a sure sign of spring.

Courtesy Jean McPeak

 

Residents should expect to receive the spring edition of the Down to Earth newsletter by mid-April.  Among many interesting articles, the newsletter provides details regarding the annual bulky waste collection, which will be held on May 11^th this year. For more information regarding the bulky waste collection, please click HERE.

 

Economic Stimulus Update – Wastewater and Water

In last week’s “Friday Updates” the Department of Public Works provided a list of wastewater and water projects that were eligible for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Package) for the Clean Water Fund. This week, the Town was notified that some of these projects were included in the states draft list of recommended projects to fund. To view an updated status of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan and the Town’s economic stimulus package request, click HERE.

 

DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT APPLIES FOR STIMULUS GRANT FUNDS

The police department has applied for grant funds that are part of President Obama’s stimulus initiative.  Under the direction of the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing, a program entitled the COPS Hiring Recovery Program will reimburse communities who have lost police positions due to the economy allowing for the rehiring of those positions.  During last years’ budget deliberations, one officer was eliminated in the operating budget through attrition due to the retirement of an officer.  If Durham’s grant application to the COPS office is successful, the Federal government will reimburse Durham for the total cost (salary and benefits) of one officer for three years.

 

ORIENTATION FOR CHAIRS & VICE CHAIRS OF TOWN BOARDS

In an effort to provide chairs, vice chairs, and other committee members with information on the proper structure of meetings, the role of the committee chair, vice chair, secretary, alternates, and Council representatives, as well as outlining the basics of the Right-to-Know Law including agenda preparation and posting, minutes of meetings, and e-mail correspondence, Town Administrator Todd Selig will hold an orientation session for chairs and vice chairs of the various Town boards, commissions, and committees on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Council chambers at Town Hall. At the conclusion of the orientation, the administrator will open the floor for a question and answer session. All board and committee members are welcome to attend this important and informative orientation.

 

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.

 

Rental Housing Commission – Monday, March 30, 2009 (4:00 PM)

Historic District Commission – Thursday, March 2, 2009  

 

To view the 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. 

To view the Oyster River School Board meeting schedule, click HERE. 

To view the Durham Public Library Board of Trustees meeting schedule, click HERE.

 

DURHAM CABLE ACCESS TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

To view a listing of the DCAT programming schedule, click HERE 

 

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

The annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Durham Parks and Recreation Committee and Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers, will be held on Saturday morning, April 11, 2009, at 10:00 AM, at the Old Town Landing.  Children will hunt for eggs, meet the bunny, check out a fire engine, and meet members of Durham’s Fire Department. There will be prizes and refreshments. Bring your basket and arrive early, as the hunt will start promptly at 10:00 AM. Please contact Sara Wilson at badgernh@comcast.net with any questions regarding this event.

 

BABY BRAGGING

Jenna Roberts (Director of Oyster River Parents & Preschools and Parks & Recreation Committee member), husband Tom Bebbington, and big brother Miles welcomed Eva Ann Roberts Bebbington on March 13, 2009. Congratulations to Jenna and her family.

 

HICKORY POND INN

Hickory Pond Inn is pleased to announce NEW hours for public dining Thursday – Saturday 5:00 to 8:00 PM and Sunday Brunch 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. This Saturday evening dine to the Piano Stylings of Richard Cummings from 6-8pm.  Reservations are welcome, but not necessary. Mention this announcement and receive a $10.00 discount. Visit the Hickory Pond Inn’s website at www.hickorypondinn.com.

 

Moharimet School Annual Pancake Breakfast

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, the Moharimet School will host its tenth annual Pancake Breakfast from 8:00 to 11:00 AM. There will be music, maple syrup, and mingling and merriment with friends and neighbors, plus a performance by the Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band from 9:45 to 10:30 AM. Cost: $2 per child, $3 per adult, $10 family maximum. For more information on this event, please contact Kate MacGregor at kmacgregor712@yahoo.com

 

ST. BALDRICK’S FOUNDATION FUND-RAISER

On Sunday, March 29, 2009, a local St. Baldrick’s Foundation (http://www.stbaldricks.org/) fund-raising event, organized by Durham resident Scott Righini, will be held to raise money for children’s cancer research.  Scott, along with resident Craig Haskell, UNH Professor Tuck Pescosolido, and a team from Durham’s Wildcat Fitness will completely shave their heads to show solidarity to those children afflicted with cancer.  The event begins at 3:00 PM at Libby’s Bar and Grill.  Please go to: http://wildcatfitness.wordpress.com/st-baldricks/ for more information.

 

FUND-RAISER FOR ORHS SENIOR CLASS

Parents of Oyster River High School's 2009 seniors are selling raffle tickets to raise funds for Project Graduation. Project Graduation is a parent-supervised event that provides seniors with a fun-filled, safe evening of activities to celebrate their high school graduation. Drawings for all three raffle winners will be held in the very near future, so for those who have been meaning to purchase any raffle tickets, now is the time.

Raffle tickets can be obtained through committee co-chairs, Diane Gallant (coyotemesa@yahoo.com) and Sheila Harding (smdh@comcast.net). Raffle tickets for sale are:

 

·        4 Red Sox Field Box tickets to a home game.  Winner will select date based on availability. $5 for 1 chance, $10 for 3 chance.    

·        Chances to win a jewel-tone, handmade twin-size quilt made by a senior mom. $5 for 1 chance, $10 for 3 chances.

·        March Raffle Calendar for $10 per calendar. Drawing date is 4/1.

 

Earth Hour

At precisely 8:30 PM on Saturday, March 28^th, the diesel generators will be switched off on the Chatham Islands, a small archipelago off the east coast of New Zealand, heralding the start of a worldwide event - Earth Hour 2009.  Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House, and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.  In 2009, Earth Hour has a goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights.  For more information, go to http://www.earthhour.org/about/. 

 

Weekly Police Arrest Report

Week – 12                                                          1 UNH (08%)        11 Other (92%)

*2008/09 Academic Year – 636                     404 UNH (64%)   232 Other (36%)

Calendar Year –159                                         98 UNH (62%)     61 Other (38%)

*Commenced September 1, 2008 

 

Historical data for the same week

Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Week	24	19	31	6	12
Academic Year	713	850	707	592	636
Calendar Year	176	188	204	151	159

 

FROM HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1903 – Goat Island, owned by Newington, was the home of a squatter, Jim Murtaugh, for 22 years. Everyone left him alone, because of his fierce dogs and excellent aim. He did hunt, fish and lobster. He was friend of the Dunlaps, Emersons, Jones, Langleys and Watsons, especially at mealtimes.”

 

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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