“FRIDAY UPDATES”

Friday, April 23, 2010

 

 

Town Landing – Fall 2009

Courtesy Noelle Khlef

 

The Census challenge between the Town of Durham and the City of Dover and Town of Newmarket ended last Friday afternoon with results as follows:  Newmarket: 71%; Dover:  68%; Durham: 67%. This means that Administrator Selig needs to decide which shorts he will be wearing to wash Newmarket’s fire engines!  Census training was held this week in the Council chambers for workers to begin going door-to-door prior to the departure of UNH students in May.

 

 

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ANNUAL RECOGNITION RECEPTION FOR VOLUNTEER BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

On Tuesday of this week, the Town hosted an appreciation evening to honor members of boards and committees whose terms expired in April and those who have stepped down from various committees over the past year. The event was held at the Three Chimneys Inn and included thank you comments from Town Council chair Diana Carroll. Committee chairs were also present to say a few words about each resident being honored.

 

Above, DCAT chair Dianne Thompson presents 24-year resident Ed Valena with a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing him for his many years of service on a variety of boards as well as the Durham Town Council.

 

We would like to once again add our sincere thanks to all of the citizens who have given their time and energy in service to the town. Volunteer efforts are what make small town government tick. Thanks to you all!

 

Right-to-Know Law Educational Session Scheduled for Board Members & Community

The members of the Town of Durham’s boards, committees, commissions, town council, and library board of trustees serve as members of public boards and are therefore responsible to act in accordance with the Right-to-Know law in the State of New Hampshire. The Preamble of the Right-to-Know law reads:  “Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people.”  In order to ensure that the members of Durham’s public boards are given the resources they need to act in accord with RSA 91-A, a Right-to-Know law educational session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, 2010 beginning at 7:00 PM in the Town Council chambers.  Attorney Christine Fillmore from the Local Government Center will be present to provide an overview of the law and to answer any questions that board members may have. The general public and Town department heads are invited and encouraged to attend the session, or to view it on Durham Community Access Television (Channel 22).  Oyster River School Board members are also invited to attend, as well as board members from the communities of Lee and Madbury.

 

From the Supervisors of the Checklist 

On September 14, 2010, there will be a State Primary Election.  All registered voters may vote at this election whether Republican, Democrat, or Undeclared, unlike in some states.  However, if you are registered as a Republican or a Democrat, you must vote within that party at the Primary.  If you are registered Undeclared, you may choose which ballot you want at the Election.  June 1 is the LAST day you can change your party affiliation before the Primary.  There are currently two checklists available to check your status – one in the Durham Post Office on a table near the mailboxes and one at the Town Hall (kept behind the desk).  An updated checklist will be available in those same places on or about May 21. You may change your party affiliation up through June 1 at the Durham Town Hall during regular business hours or on the evening of June 1 between 7:00 and 7:30.  New voters may register (and choose their party) any time up through September 7. New registrations will also be accepted at the polls on Election Day, but no changes to party can be made on that day.

 

HOME HEATING SYSTEM REBATE PROGRAM

New Hampshire’s Electric Utilities (PSNH, Unitil, National Grid, and the NH Electric Co-op) and the NH Office of Energy & Planning (OEP) announce the immediate availability of the Home Heating System Rebate Program, which offers incentives for the purchase and installation of high efficiency home heating systems and/or domestic water heaters. To learn more about the program, please click HERE.

 

RAY F. MACDONALD INSURANCE HAS MOVED

MacDonald Insurance of Durham has merged with Gorman Insurance of Somersworth and Gowen & Wainwright of Dover, and have consolidated to become CROSS INSURANCE. They have all moved to a new location at 475 High Street, Unit C, on the Dover/Somersworth line across from the Market Basket/TJ Maxx plaza.  For the convenience of their local clients, telephone, fax numbers and email addresses will stay the same, as they continue to remain an integral part of the Oyster River community.

 

Main Street West

The Main Street West project began this week and will continue throughout the summer.  This project entails the reconstruction of the road from the Field House out to Route 155A.  The project will include resurfacing the road, improving lighting, and adding sidewalks and bike lanes.  

 

FEMA

The FEMA project manager for the February wind storm contacted Public Works this week to set up a time to talk about Durham and the damages the Town experienced during the storm.  They will be coming next Friday to begin to review the Town’s claim.

 

Compost Bins and Rain Barrels

Those residents who ordered a compost bin and/or rain barrel last month probably received a message yesterday letting them know that these items have arrived. To reiterate, residents who placed orders may pick them up at the Department of Public Works between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, M-F. The office closes for lunch from 12:00-12:30.  Please check in at the front office and you will be helped with your order. 

 

Hydrant Flushing and Gate Valve Exercising

Beginning on Monday, April 19^th, the Town of Durham and the University of New Hampshire began exercising gate valves. This will continue through Friday, April 30^th from 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM. In addition, water mains will be flushed beginning on Monday, May 3, 2010 and ending on or before Friday, May 14, 2010. Flushing will be done at night between the hours of 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM.  These procedures are necessary to eliminate the buildup of sediment in the water mains and to allow for easy isolation of water shut off during any leaks or breaks.  Flushing of the mains and gate valve exercising may cause temporary discoloration of the water, however, the water remains safe for drinking.  This discoloration will disappear with normal household use.  It is suggested that sensitive laundry not be washed if the water is obviously discolored. Try not to draw water if you observe flushing in your area. Please call the UNH Water Supply at 862-1390 or the Department of Public Works at 868-5578 with questions and/or concerns.

 

Spring Cleanup

A reminder that residents should have received a flyer a few weeks ago regarding Spring Cleanup.  This year the cleanup will be held on May 3rd.  Remember that all items should be out no earlier than Saturday, May 1^st and no later than 7:00 AM on Monday, May 3^rd. All electronics that require a sticker will also need them for the cleanup.  The flyer has details regarding this collection. 

 

Economic Development Committee (EDC) – DRAFT RFP FOR DOWNTOWN MARKET ANALYSIS

The EDC will be meeting on Monday, April 26, 2010 at 7:00 PM and will be discussing, among other things, current and proposed developments in town; a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for a town-wide market analysis; and will receive and discuss updates from their subcommittees. To view the draft RFP, please click HERE.

 

Planning Board

The Planning Board will be meeting on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:00 PM and the following will be on the agenda:  A public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Table of Uses to allow single-family and duplex dwellings in the ORLI District and to allow single-family dwellings in the MUDOR District (duplexes are currently allowed in the MUDOR); An acceptance consideration for a minor two-lot subdivision for the Brown Living Trust at 34 Edgewood Road; An acceptance consideration of a site plan review and conditional use application for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new mixed use building with commercial on the first floor and 16 apartments on the second and third floor (8 apartments on each floor) for CWC Properties at 9-11 Madbury Road; Deliberations on the Findings of Fact and Conditions of Approval for the site plan and conditional use application for the Seacoast Repertory Theater at 50 Newmarket Road (formerly the Mill Pond Center for the Arts); A conceptual consultation on conceptual plan for the possible amendment to a previously approved Conditional Use Permit to add a small addition to a building and organize parking for Pine Ledge Holdings at 20 Strafford Avenue; and will continue discussions on amending the Site Plan and Subdivision Regulations relating to stormwater drainage.

 

PUBLIC HEARING ON DRAWDOWN OF DURHAM RESERVOIR – CHANGE OF LOCATION

The location for the Public Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:00 PM relative to a special drawdown of the Durham Reservoir Dam owned by the University of New Hampshire has been moved to the Durham Police Department Community Room. The dam is in need of repairs which will be done by the Department of Environmental Services, Water Division, Dam Bureau’s Engineering and Construction section. The drawdown will be started on/or shortly after May 3, 2010 and will continue for several weeks to allow for a slow release of water and the migration of mud burrowing aquatic life.

 

CELEBRATION AND BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE WAYSMEET CENTER OF UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY

In late December, Waysmeet, the home of United Campus Ministry, was closed due to an anthrax event. On Friday, April 16, after intensive and costly remediation, the State of New Hampshire handed back Waysmeet to the Campus Ministry to be re-opened. The 8 displaced students are back home and next week the food pantry, Cornucopia, will be opened to the community.

 

On Friday, April 30, 2010 from 6:30 – 9:00 PM at The Community Church of Durham, 17 Main Street, there will be a Celebration and Benefit Concert to raise needed funds for the Waysmeet Center of United Campus Ministry to UNH. Music starts at 7:00 PM and will headline Craig Werth, award-winning Seacoast musical artist, joined by his son Ben Werth, and UNH alum Lucia Nazzaro.

 

Requested donations are $10 with $5 for students and elders. Donations can be made at the door. Checks can be made payable to the Waysmeet Center or the United Campus Ministry to UNH. All are welcome and please bring your friends.

 

2010 MEMORIAL DAY PARADE – MONDAY, MAY 31^ST

The Durham Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 31^st.  This year there will be a slight modification to the parade route.  In past years, the parade has originated from Laurel Lane.  This year the parade will begin at Old Landing Road. 

At 10:00 AM on the 31^st, the Oyster River wreath-dropping ceremony will take place on the footbridge at the Durham Town Landing.  Immediately following the ceremony, the parade will depart Old Landing Road and turn left onto Route 108.  At the 108 intersection the parade will proceed towards downtown for the second ceremony at Memorial Park.  A third ceremony will take place up at the Memorial Union Building Chapel following the events at Memorial Park.  Parade participants are asked to park at the Durham Town Landing parking area or at the Town Hall and must report to Old Landing Road by 9:30 AM. Parade spectators are asked not to enter Old Landing Road prior to the start of the parade.

For a map of the new parade route, please click HERE.  Please contact Parks & Recreation Director Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us with questions.

 

ORPP USE OF SPACE WITHIN DURHAM HISTORIC BUILDING

The Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers (ORPP) has been in conversations with Parks and Recreation Director Michael Mengers regarding the possibility of utilizing the small sitting area within the foyer of the Durham historic building/Parks and Recreation building as its mailing address and to utilize as work space. The Town Administrator will be reviewing this request over the next few weeks to evaluate how such an arrangement might work effectively in support of the Parks and Recreation Department as well as residents who are members of this community-based non profit organization.

 

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town Office. All meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at the Town Hall unless otherwise indicated below. To view the agenda for the meetings listed below, please click HERE.  All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing. 

 

Economic Development Committee – Monday, April 26, 2010

Planning Board – Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Public Hearing on Durham Reservoir drawdown – Wednesday, April 28, 2010 (Durham PD Community Room)

 

Oyster River School Board meeting schedule, please click HERE. 

Durham Public Library Board of Trustees meeting schedule, please click HERE.

DCAT Programming Schedule, please click HERE

 

DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Stay current with all Durham P&R programs by viewing the April Recreation Reminder, please click HERE.  Also, visit our website at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/recreation.html or on Facebook - search ‘Town of Durham Parks.’ 

 

To register for any of the classes below, please contact Durham P&R Director Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, or visit the Town Clerk’s Office.

 

§         Monday, April 19, 6:00 PM, Durham Town Landing:  HIIT Walks Begin

§         Saturday, April 24, 10:00 AM – Noon, UNH’s Great Lawn:  World Tai Chi Day

§         Wednesday, April 28, 4:00 PM, Durham P&R:  Broadway Bound Begins

§         Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 PM, Durham P&R:  Tuesday Yoga Begins

§         Thursday, May 6, 10:30 AM, Durham P&R:  Tai Chi.  9-week session. Preregistration required.

§         Saturday, May 8, 9:30 AM, Durham P&R:  Introduction to Digital Photography

§         Wednesday, May 19, 6:00 PM, Durham P&R: Women’s Self-Defense Course.  FREE, but space is limited.

§         For updated Zumba, Pilates, and Circuit Training class times, click HERE.

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

§         Saturday, April 24, 10:00 AM – Noon, Great Bay Wildlife Management Area at Crommet Creek: Celebrate the Sweet Trail for Earth Day hosted by the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership. Come join us for field trips and the official trail opening in honor of Earth Day. Free Parking at the intersection of Route 108-Dame Road in Newmarket in the Espresso Coffee / Bowl-A-Mania parking lot with free Shuttle Services provided by Bill Dube Ford Toyota Scion to and from the event site. For more details www.greatbaypartnership.org.

§         Saturday, May 1, 5:00 – 9:00 PM, C-lot off of Mill Road: May Day Carnival. Come join UNH's Campus Activities Board in the first UNH May Day Carnival. The night will offer rides, games, and free vitamin water and honest tea. There will be musical performances, caricature artists, balloon artists, food from IHOP, an ice cream truck, and everyone's favorite Kurt's Lunchbox. Free to all UNH ID holders and $3 for everyone else. Entering the carnival you will receive a wristband that gives you free, unlimited access to all rides and games. Game prizes will be raffle tickets that will be placed in for drawing throughout the night for prizes including a I-Touch and GPS. At 9:00 PM there will be a FREE outdoor movie, AVATAR, on the Great Lawn in front of Thompson Hall. 

§         Saturday, May 1, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Great Bay Trout Unlimited Cleanup on the Durham portion of the Lamprey River below Wiswall Dam. A cookout for participants will follow. Details are available at our website at www.greatbaytu.org.

§         May 6, 7, & 8, 7:00 PM, Oyster River High School:   Bye Bye Birdie. Tickets: $8 students/Seniors $5

§         Saturday, May 8, 12:00 noon, Town Landing: Oyster River Quackfest sponsored by Oyster River Womenade – a rubber duck race down the Oyster River. Ducks will launch at 1:30 PM. To learn more about Oyster River Womenade and the Quackfest, visit: www.orwomenade.org.

§         Saturday, May 15, 8:00 AM, Oyster River High School:  Bobcat Bolt 5K/10K Race and Oyster River Festival. Proceeds from the races go directly to The Oyster River Alumni Association. This non-profit organization will donate the proceeds to The Durham Teen Initiative for the construction of a youth center in Durham in the names of Josh and Nate Hardy. Registration can be completed online at www.bobcatbolt.com. Following the race, the Oyster River Festival will commence with live music, art exhibitions, and food vendors on-site. For more information, contact Race Director Christopher Jerard at cj@bobcatbolt.com or Festival Director Anita Mathur at orhs92@yahoo.com (or anita@bobcatbolt.com). Residents should expect traffic delays; especially in the area of the Oyster River High School.

 

Durham Public Library Programs and Events

Visit our website at www.durhampubliclibrary.org for more information.

 

§         Weds., April 28 – 7:00-8:00 p.m. – Award winning Mystery Writer Julia Spencer-Fleming

§         Weds., April 28 – 2:45-4:00 p.m. – Middle School Book Club, Bookeaters

§         Tues.& Thurs. April 27 & 29 – 10:30 a.m. – Storytime, this week Superheroes

§         Fri., April 30 – 10:30 a.m. – Baby Lap-Sit

§         Thu., May 6, 6-8:30 AM; May 7, 10 AM-5 PM; May 8, 10 AM-2 PM, Durham Public Library: Durham Library Spring Spectacular Book Sale. For more information, contact Beth Newkirk at bnewkirk@comcast.net

§         Mon., May 31 – Annual Library Trustees Treasure Hunt & Picnic immediately following the parade and ceremonies. Further details will be in May 7^th updates.

 

National Volunteer Week:  McGregor Recognizes its 60 Volunteers

In recognition of National Volunteer week McGregor EMS will acknowledge its 60 volunteers who are on track to donate over 25,000 hours of service in 2010.  These volunteers include Durham Town residents and University of New Hampshire students, faculty, and staff.  We are proud to serve your community.  To receive periodic information about community services offered by McGregor and its volunteers please fill out the contact form at:  http://www.mcgregorems.org/contact.html

 

Better Things to Do Than Drugs

The local Civil Air Patrol squadron, Seacoast Composite Squadron, which has a Cadet Program with currently 40 cadets (male and female) ranging from 12-18, provides opportunities to have better things to do than drugs. All aspects of the program emphasize that cadets remain drug free. On Thursday, April 29, 2010, from 7:00-9:00 PM there will be a public open house at 222 International Drive, Suite 175 (Department of Environmental Services) on the Pease Trade Port .The normal meeting place is Bldg. 252 on Pease ANGB on Thursdays from 6:30-9:00 PM. For more information, visit http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/html/index.htm. 

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE TRIVIA & TIDBITS

“Along Route 125 in Barrington (pop. 7,475), a state plaque commemorates “The Two-Mile Streak,” a two-mile-wide strip of land set aside in 1719 to provide home sites for laborers at the Lamprey Ironworks. Descendants of those first settlers still reside in the area.” AmericanProfile Magazine – First appeared: 7/15/2007

 

Have a good 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

 

The Town of Durham has developed a list server. The server provides interested individuals with updates and announcements concerning the community. Individuals interested in subscribing should send an email to Town_of_Durham@ci.durham.nh.us and type the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.