Friday, March 4, 2011

A freight train rolls through Durham earlier today at the UNH-Durham Train Station.

Courtesy Todd Selig

As a general rule, we put snow tires on the car at Thanksgiving and remove them after Town Meeting day on the second Tuesday of March.  With the winter experienced thus far, it may be prudent for this year to be an exception. 

CAMPUS EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO BE TESTED FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011

Regular testing of UNHs outdoor notification system will occur Friday, March 11, 2011, between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. The test will include the siren, a canned message and a recording signaling the end of the test. The entire exercise will take less than 10 minutes.

The system is designed to not only alert the campus community when there is imminent danger but also follows up with voice instructions. This two-step approach, called Alert and Inform, helps reduce confusion and restore order.
Sirens are located on the roof of the MUB, the roof of Morse Hall, A-Lot and the dirt parking lot near the equestrian facility. The system reaches a distance of nearly a mile in all directions.
 

In addition, the university will also simultaneously send test messages through its alert system to registered cell phones, pagers, BlackBerrys, PDAs and/or e-mail accounts, and a directed communication to all UNH faculty, staff, and students.

Contact Paul Dean, UNH's director of emergency management, 603-862-1427 for more information or with any questions.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE!

The Durham Public Library recently launched its new website. More informative, more interactive, more educational, more entertaining, more of just about everything. The new site is easy to navigate, interactive, and contains great new features with something for everyone, young, old, and in-between. New features include:

Easy access to your library account login.
Direct links to health and business information, genealogical resources, newspapers and magazines, weather, and more.
Separate sections for kids and teens full of exciting, entertaining, and educational links, resources, book recommendations, homework help, YouTube displays, and games.
Library building project news, designs, and documents to keep you informed
Facebook and Twitter accounts for the librarys fans and followers with updates and announcements.
Online calendar with program and event descriptions.

Visit us at www.durhampubliclibrary.org and let us know what you think!

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE AVAILABLE FROM OYSTER RIVER TEACHEERS' GUILD

 A questionnaire was sent to all candidates for the Oyster River School Board by the Oyster River Teachers' Guild. Candidates were asked by the Guild to respond to a number of questions pertaining to education in the Oyster River School District. The information provided by candidates was then compiled by the Guild into a Voters Guide.  The information is not intended to be an endorsement of any one candidate, but rather a source of information prepared by the Teachers' Guild to assist district residents in making an informed choice when voting on Tuesday March 8th.  To view the questionnaire and candidate responses, click HERE.  

TEA WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES ORGANIZED BY ORPP

A Tea with School Board Candidates sponsored by Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers (ORPP) is scheduled for Saturday, March 5th 2-4pm at the Parks & Recreation Building, 2 Dover Rd. Durham, NH.  Meet & Greet with the 6 School Board Candidates currently running for the 1 Madbury open seat and the 2 At Large seats.  Open to both the members of ORPP and the residents of Lee, Madbury, & Durham, NH.

UNH Women's Crew Rowers on the Oyster River

Courtesy UNH Crew

JUNIOR ROWERS SOUGHT

GREAT BAY ROWING JUNIOR ROWER INFORMATION SESSION

(GRADES 8-12)

Join Great Bay Rowing on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. in the Oyster River High School Cafeteria for the annual Registration Night and Season Kickoff. There will be pizza and drinks, presentations, the opportunity to talk with current Junior members and to try out an ergometer (rowing machine). There will be pizza and refreshments served after the presentation.  No experience is necessary.

Residents may not know that rowing is one of the original sports in the modern Olympic Games.

Physiologically, rowers are superb examples of physical conditioning. Cross-country skiers and long distance speed skaters are comparable in terms of the physical demands the sport places on the athletes. The sport demands endurance, strength, balance, mental discipline, and an ability to continue on when your body is demanding that you stop.

Great Bay rowing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community-based organization developed to foster interest in the sport of rowing and is open to all Durham and seacoast residents. 

For more information about Great Bay Rowing and to obtain registration materials, go to http://www.greatbayrowing.org/Home.html. 

Residents may also want to view the U.S. Rowing web site at http://www.usrowing.org/index.aspx. 

UNH GRADUATION PREPARATION UNDERWAY 

One sure sign of Springs arrival is that the preparations for UNH graduation ceremony have begun in earnest. This years celebration will be held in Memorial Field immediately outside the Whittemore Center on the morning of Saturday May 21st.  Historically the Town of Durham works closely with UNH officials to enable the Depot Road parking lot to be used as a staging area for the graduates to march into the ceremony. Traffic control, parking overflow and other nuances are being discussed so that the ceremonies will be the celebration everyone looks forward too! This years speaker will be Honeywell CEO David Cote, a 1976 UNH graduate of WSBE.  Mr. Cote has a long history with executive and high leadership positions with a variety of companies, including General Electric, and has demonstrated his commitment to philanthropy and his impact on global affairs by working with several other CEOs from major corporations to join in a relief effort mission for the Sichuan Province of China after earthquakes terrorized the land in May 2008.   Additionally, Mr. Cote serves on the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Policy Association, a position he was appointed to by President Obama.

Snow Covered Jackson's Landing Boat Ramp on 3.4.11

Courtesy Todd Selig

OVERVIEW, PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND COUNCIL DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7 COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING BOAT LAUNCH RAMP AT JACKSON'S LANDING

The Jacksons Landing Master Plan Committee and Department of Public Works developed a master plan for repairs and renovations to the Jacksons Landing Recreational Area. The plan was presented to the Town Council in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and funded by the Town Council in 2007 and 2008. This plan called for:

o Creating of a park-like setting (picnic tables & shade trees).
o Paving the access roadway and boat launch area.
o Designating handicapped parking.
o Controlling all storm water run-off & erosion at the site.
o Creating a new parking lot across the street from the Churchill Rink with   

   additional trailer parking in that area as well.
o Constructing a walking trail system with a footbridge.
o Removing an invasive plant species called Phragmites.
o Replacing the deteriorated boat launch.

Unfortunately, there have been differences of opinion to date regarding whether the improvements at the boat launch area adequately meet the needs of boat users who desire to utilize the ramp to launch their boats along the Oyster River.   A Council discussion has therefore been scheduled to address the issue and with the intent of resolving the matter.

The Town Councils approval of funding was based on the successful application and approval of available grant funds. The Town was awarded a $20,000 State of New Hampshire, Department of Resources and Economic Development Trails Grant, A $250 donation from the Cadmus Group, and a $257,672 United States Department of Agriculture grant administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) located in Durham. The $257,672 grant was part of the NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program, which is available to homeowners and branches of municipal government for protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands which was the primary objective of the Jacksons Landing project. The grant was a 75% reimbursement for all eligible components of the improvements to Jacksons Landing. Several improvements that were not eligible for reimbursement were lighting, engineering, permitting, and picnic tables. The Towns match was in the form of volunteer labor, conservation funds, and a small amount of public works labor, equipment, and supplies.

The project was constructed in 2008 and was discussed with University of New Hampshire officials, the Durham Conservation Commission, and the Durham Parks & Recreation Committee. The project had required a wetlands permit from the Department of Environmental Services Wetlands Bureau. The boat launch ramp component of this project included an improvement made to the slope of the ramp and installation of a new Fish and Game-approved concrete log system ramp to replace a crumbling asphalt ramp which needed replacement. This boat launching ramp measured 60 feet in length and was not intended to extend into the mud flats.

After completion of the project at Jacksons Landing, some Durham residents were disappointed in the length of the boat launching ramp and the depth of the launch area. In late December 2010 the Durham Public Works applied for an addendum to the Wetlands Permit, which allowed for the extension of the boat launching ramp by an additional 23 feet.

A number of residents still have concerns with the boat launching ramp and specifically the short time period in which the ramp is usable within the tidal area of the Oyster River.

At Monday evenings Council meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. on March 7, 2011, the Town Council will receive a presentation by Michael Sievert, P.E. of MJS Engineering and David Cedarholm, P.E. Town Engineer for Durham. The presentation will provide a look back at the old boat ramp and a review of the permitting for Jacksons Landing improvements and how the new design of the boat launching ramp altered what was there before. 

In addition, residents who desire to express perspectives regarding the boat ramp, either positive or negative, will have an opportunity to express these at the meeting. 

Following presentations and public feedback, the Council will discuss whether it is prudent for the community to devote additional resources to further enhance the Jacksons Landing Boat ramp given limitations of the present ramp, the sensitive wetland area, and wetland regulation constraints at the site.

Feedback may be sent in advance of Monday's meeting to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. 

New advertising panels in place at UNH-Durham Train Station Platform for Downtown Businesses and UNH

ADVERTISING PANELS IN PLACE AT UNH-DURHAM TRAIN STATION -- MORE PANELS AVAILABLE

The Public Works Department has installed the first set of advertising panels under the RR Trestle at the UNH-Durham Train Station platform.  As you may recall, this had been a problematic site for graffiti for many years.  The new program endeavors to both dissuade future graffiti and promote downtown Durham businesses and UNH.  If downtown Durham businesses are interested in purchasing a space on any of the remaining vacant panels for the next twelve month period, contact the Public Works Department for details at (603) 868-5578 or email  jhoglund@ci.durham.nh.us.

PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION ON A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $12,703.16 IN ASSET FORFEITURES FROM THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE

At Mondays Council meeting, the Town Council will address a resolution on the receipt of revenue by the Durham Police Department from the United States Marshal in the form of asset forfeitures.  The origin of the assets is articulated below.  The resolution will authorize the Town to accept and expend these funds, all of which have restrictions as to how they can be spent:

Asset Sharing Program  $12,703.16

The Durham Police Department was involved in an investigation whereby $16,000 in cash was being mailed to an out-of-state address from Durham.  During one of the attempts to mail these funds, investigators of the Durham Police seized the funds as a violation of The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 that requires banks and money services business to report any cash transaction involving $10,000 or more.

Once seized the funds were transferred to the Federal Courts where a review was launched.  During this review the person who claims ownership of the funds is required to demonstrate the origin of the monies.  In this case, that requirement was not met and the Federal Court determined them to illicit gains and thereby transferred 79% of the funds to the Town of Durham retaining 21% as fees for their services. 

Federal forfeiture funds come to the Town with certain rules and restrictions. The funds can only be used by and for law enforcement to support the police mission.  The funds must be used to supplement funding previously appropriated for law enforcement and may not be used to offset the cost of any other governmental function. Proper documentation must also be kept for federal reporting purposes, which is accomplished on an annual basis. Any interest earned on these funds must be tracked and expended in the same manner as the forfeiture funds received.

At the present time the Durham Police Department is prioritizing its needs and, prior to expending these funds we will consult with the Administrator.

 The Belowski's, formerly of Durham, Sigted in Florida last Saturday

FRIENDS OF DURHAM SIGHTED IN FLORIDA

While on vacation last week with family in Amelia Island, FL, we decided to visit the local Farmer's Market and amazingly came across Cynthia and Peter Belowski, formerly of Durham!  Cynthia had served for many years as the Chair of the Durham Conservation Commission and has taken up similar interests on Amelia Island. 

TOWN AND SCHOOL ELECTIONS - MARCH 8, 2011

The 2011 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at the Oyster River High School.  Polling hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Voters will park in reserved spaces along the front of the school and use the Multipurpose Room entrance.

The following is a list of citizens that have filed for the Durham elected offices:

Town Council, 3 positions (3-year terms):    

Julian Smith

James Lawson

Katherine "Kitty" Marple

Library Board of Trustees, 2 positions (3-year terms): 

Richard Belshaw

Meridith Davidson

Arthur P. Young

Town Clerk/Tax Collector, 1 position (3-year term):         

Lorrie Pitt

Town Treasurer, 1 position (3-year term):                         

Karl Van Asselt

Trustees of the Trust Funds, 1 position (3-year term):     

Bruce Bragdon

The following is a list of citizens that have filed for the ORCSD School Board and Moderator:

Madbury (1 position):    James Kach and Susan Willer 

At-large (2 positions):   John Collins, Chandler Hull, Ann Lane, and Megan Turnbull

Moderator (1 position): Richard Laughton

CANDIDATE PROFILES FOR DURHAM ELECTED OFFICES

Citizens interested in learning more about the prospective candidates who have signed up to run for various Town elected offices in March may now view candidate profiles of each candidate. To view this information, click HERE.

ORCSD WARRANT ARTICLE #7

Warrant Article #7 on the school district warrant, brought by 33 petitioners, asks voters to support the establishment of a study committee to examine and make recommendations regarding best practices involved in making ORCSD a sustainable school district. 

Sustainability promotes a balance between the way people meet their daily needs and the needs of the Earth's ecological systems and would involve a review of all aspects of the school district including curriculum, food service, energy, transportation, procurement, and finances. 

The full text of Article #7 along with links to other education sustainability initiatives can be found in the announcement section of the ORCSD website:  http://www.orcsd.org/

ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS OF CITIZENS TO FILL VACANCIES ON VARIOUS TOWN BOARDS

On April 30, 2011, terms on various Town boards, commissions, and committees will expire. In mid-April, the Town Council will begin the process for making its annual appointments/reappointments to Town boards, with appointments to take effect May 1, 2011. The Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to fill these vacancies. Citizens interested in board appointments should contact the Town Administrator's office at 868-5571 and ask for a board application form, or stop in at the Town Clerk's office located on the first floor of the Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road, and complete an application.  Applications are also available on the Town's web site at: www.ci.durham.nh.us on the right-hand side in blue. Completed applications may be mailed to the Town Administrator's office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. Deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday, March 18, 2011.

Conservation Commission - (2 regular vacancies)
Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT) Governance Committee - (3 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)
Durham Energy Committee (2 vacancies)
Economic Development Committee - (1 regular vacancy; 1 alternate vacancy)
Historic District Commission - (2 vacancies)
Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee - (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)
Parks and Recreation - (3 regular vacancies)
Planning Board - (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)
Strafford Regional Planning Commission & MPO Policy Committee - (2 vacancies)   
Zoning Board of Adjustment - (3 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are scheduled for the coming week  All meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at the Durham 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.

Town Council - Monday, March 7, 2011 (To view the complete Council packet for this meeting, click HERE)

Zoning Board of Adjustment - Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Planning Board - Wednesday, March 9, 2011

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.

NEW PROGRAMS ADDED TO DCAT PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Three programs have been recently added to the DCAT schedule for rebroadcast:

Durham Planning Visioning Session
Durham Business Association Candidates Forum
Idea Greenhouse: Farmerpreneurs

Please check the programming schedule above for times when these programs will be aired.

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Yoga for Children (ages 10 - 12). Wednesdays beginning March 9th, 5:00-6:00 PM, Durham Parks & Recreation Building. Cost is $40 for 8 weeks.
For more information contact Parks & Recreation Director Sandy Devins at 603-817-4074 or sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Read Across America, Celebrate Dr. Seuss and the Patch Club with the UNH Women's Hockey Players, Sat. March 5th 10:30-11:30 a.m. Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday,Read Across America and the Patch Club for this fun children's/family event. There will be guest readers (UNH Women's Hockey Players), games, craft and a birthday cake.

Special Preschool Storytime with UNH Storytelling Theater Students ,Tue., March 8th, 10:30 am.  Join us this Tuesday for a special Farm and Farm Animal Storytime with UNH Storytelling Students.They will read stories, do a feltboard and a craft. Don't miss this fun time.

Preschool Storytime, Thu., March 10th, 10:30 a.m. - This week:  Pancakes and Breakfast. All are welcome to enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, feltboard, and a craft.

Join the Patch Program, the library's reading incentive program for children aged 2-12 years. Children earn patches for minutes read or being read to as well as a Durham Library book bag. If new to the program, stop by and register.
Registration for Tales for Tails. Have a young reader who could use some non-judgmental encouragement for reading aloud? A Delta Therapy dog is waiting for your child. Sign up now at the library for a 6-week session in March and April.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Arizona Pastor to Tour NH for Talks on Immigrants' Rights. An Arizona clergywoman, Rev. Liana Rowe, active in the movement for humane immigration policies, will tour New Hamshire churches for a week in March to help New Hampshire residents understand what is at stake in the immigration debate. For more information, click HERE.

Daisey Troop 10087 will be selling cookies on Sat., Mar 5, 2011 beginning at 11:00 AM at the Durham Marketplace at a cost of $3.50.

Tea with the School Board Candidates, Sat., Mar 5, 2011, 2-4:00 PM, Parks & Recreation Building, 2 Dover Road. Sponsored by Oyster River Parents & Preschoolers. Meet and greet with six School Board candidates currently running for the 1 Madbury open seat and the 2 At Large seats. Open to both the members of ORPP and the residents of Lee, Madbury, and Durham.

Slide Lecture by Maine Printmaker and Landscaper James Mullen, presented by the Museum of Art, UNH, Wed., Mar 9, 2011, 12:00 noon, Room A219, Paul Creative Arts Center. The exhibition and lecture are open to the public free of charge. For more informaiton contact Catherine A. Mazur, 603-862-3713, catherine.mazur@unh.edu.

Museum of Art, UNH, One-day Trip to Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, Fri., Mar 25, 2011. Advance reservations must be received by March 11, 2011. Please visit www.unh.edu/moa/events to complete the form and pay by credit card or e-check, or call 603-862-3713 to register by phone or to obtain more information.

ORMS Jazz Band Presents A Music Celebration, featuring the ORMS Jazz Band, Tri City Almighty and Fling, Sat., Mar 26, 2011, 5:00-10:00 PM, Huddleston Ballroom, Durham. Live and silent auction. Lite fare, dancing, and fun. $20/person-a benefit for the 2010/11 ORMS Jazz Band. For tickets, email: kayajewelers@comcast.net.

Strafford County Republican Committee Lincoln/Reagan Fundraiser Dinner, Fri., Mar 11, 2011, 7:00 PM, Three Chimneys Inn. For more information, click HERE.

8th Annual Todd's Trot 5K Road Race/Walk, Sat., Apr 2, 2011, Oyster River High School. Registration begins at 8:30 AM with a 10:00 AM start time. For more information, visit http://www.toddstrot.org/.

Conservation Options Workshop, sponsored by Strafford Rivers Conservancy and UNH Cooperative Extension, Mon., Apr 11, 2011, 6:30-8:15 PM, Dover Public Library, 73 Locust Street, Dover, NH. Preregistration required. Deadline: Fri., Apr 8th. Call Deb at UNH Cooperative Extension, 603-679-5616, deb.stevens@unh.edu.

WEEKLY POLICE REPORT

WEEK:  11                                        7 UNH (64%)        4 Other (36%)

*2010/11 ACADEMIC YEAR:  592    334 UNH (56%)    258 Other (44%)

CALENDAR YEAR: 100                    60 UNH (60%)        40 Other (40%)

*This data represents the 2010/11 academic year report which began August 27th when UNH dormitories officially opened and students begin arriving in Durham.

Historical Data for the Same Week

FROM DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY  1900-1985

The Oyster River. Gundalows - the end of the gundalow era was forseen by their captains, who resisted the change. In 1888, for example, a newspaper maintained that 'The gondola business has not yet died out from the river. Yesterday, the Fannie M went down from Durham to Portsmouth with 26,000 bricks.' The Fannie M belonged to Capt. Edward Adams of Durham, who fought the hardest. He is known as the last of the gundalow captains, and carried cargo on Great Bay well into the 1900s. 'The last gundalow out of Durham River,' said Captain Adams, 'was in 1889 with a load of bricks for Portsmouth Navy Yard.' After that many of the old hulls were converted into barges, which were pulled upriver by tugboats. A longtime Durham resident, who was born in 1911, recalled, 'When I was very young, I remember seeing a barge loaded with coal at what is now Jackson's Landing." Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

Have a good weekend.

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator

Town of Durham, New Hampshire

T:  603-868-5571    F:  603-868-5572

tselig@ci.durham.nh.us    http://www.ci.durham.nh.us

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