2011 UNH OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL VOUCHERS - THEY'RE HERE!

Pool pass vouchers are now available at the Town Hall, Town Clerk’s Office, 15 Newmarket Road. The Town Clerk’s Office is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

A limited number of pool vouchers, issued on a first come first served basis, are available only for Durham youths ages 2-17 and senior citizens 62 years and older to receive a $45.00 discount off the full price of a season pass. Vouchers must be picked up BEFORE purchasing a pool pass. Pool passes are sold at the Front Service Desk at the Hamel Student Recreation Center, located next to the Whittemore Center on the UNH campus. When purchasing pool passes be sure to ask about the great value you can receive on a family membership package. The rates are listed below.

For additional information regarding when pool passes will go on sale, when the outdoor pool is scheduled to open, hours of operation for the Hamel Recreation Center, rental rates, group rates, policies and regulations, pool programs, Mendum’s Pond programs, or the Hamel Recreation Center facility and programs, please call the UNH Campus Recreation Department at 862-2031 or visit their website at http://campusrec.unh.edu/.

ABSENTEE DURHAM LANDLORD PAYS CIVIL PENALTY AND COURT COSTS
As a university community, the increasing prevalence of college students living within and amongst Durham’s traditional residential neighborhoods has caused concern for the community revolving around quality of life issues including noise, trash, parking, late night parties, and the condition of single-family, non-owner occupied properties. As residents know, to address this challenge, the Town has intensified enforcement of its zoning regulations and moved forward with the review, and in some cases enactment, of new ordinances.

In the December 10, 2010 "Friday Updates", residents were informed about the case of a rental property located at 14 Valentine Hill Road with zoning violations that resulted in a district court judge on November 24, 2010 issuing an arrest warrant.

In this land use citation action against absentee property owner Katherine Bolster, the Town sought a civil penalty in the amount of $2,475.00 as a result of the defendant’s violations of the Durham Zoning Ordinance. The defendant pleaded nolo contendere to the violations, and asked that the Court allow her to pay the penalty periodically, in the amount of $100 per month. The Town agreed to these periodic payments. By order dated June 3, 2010, the Dover-Somersworth-Durham District Court imposed a civil penalty in the amount of $2,475.00, and ordered the defendant to make payments of $100.00 per month beginning June 3, 2010 and due by the 3rd of each subsequent month. The defendant made only one payment of $100 in June 2010.

This week, the Town received a check from the defendant in the amount of $2,375.00 paying the remainder of the civil penalty. The Town also received a check from the defendant in the amount of $442.54 which represents one-half of the court costs.

Durham’s zoning regulations permit no more than 3 unrelated people to occupy a single-family residence. Fines include $275 for the first offense and $550 for subsequent offenses, per day per offense. If you are currently renting your property, or intend to rent at anytime in the future, we encourage you to become familiar with our zoning regulations by viewing a copy of our “Information Booklet for Owners of Property Rentals” located on our web site at

http://ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/Commissions/rental/Booklet/information%20booklet.htm. You may also obtain a copy of this document by contacting the Planning, Zoning, and Code Enforcement Office, 868-8064.

DON'T BE SHY...CALL THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STUDENT RENTAL PROPERTIES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD...AND KEEP CALLING

The Durham Police Department is poised to respond to any concerns raised by the residents of the community. Upon reviewing the number of calls for service that police are asked to respond to in residential neighborhoods, it is clear that residents are often hesitant to contact the police for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, “bothering the police” or concern over potential retaliation issues. Regardless of the factors, when the Council or Rental Housing Committee is provided with statistical data of police responses to specific locations that appear to be minimal at best, one can only rest on those statistical facts.

In past Friday Updates, Chief Kurz has encouraged residents to call the police even if they only have a “sense that something is not quite right”. The police are patrolling Durham 24/7 and would much rather investigate a concern rather than respond in the aftermath. So please call. Even if notification is done anonymously, the police will respond; although hampered by their inability to contact you in the aftermath of their investigation, they will always respond.

If there is a lot of noise next door...call the Durham Police Department.

If there is a loud party occurring...call the Durham Police Department.

If noise continues, even after the Police have come...call the Durham Police Department AGAIN, as many times as needed.

Please...don't be shy...call the Durham Police Department at 868-2324 if you are having problems with student rental properties in your neighborhood...and KEEP CALLING.

CELL PHONES WANTED!

Police officers Steve Misek and Michelle Montville visited with residents of Bagdad Woods this week to discuss safety issues within and around the complex. One item that surfaced was the inability of some residents to contact emergency services if they happened to be away from their apartment telephones.

One easy solution to address this issue is for the Police Department to seek the donation of unused older cell phones. As you may know, by agreement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) all cell phones, even those without a service plan and not activated, must be able to reach emergency services through 911. What the police need are cell phones WITH chargers so that the elderly or disabled can maintain assurances that they have access at all times to emergency services.

PLANNING BOARD

The Planning Board will meet on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 and will be deliberating on two (2) Conditional Use Permit Applications. The first application is for a conditional use permit submitted by Van Rich Properties LLC, located at 277 Mast Road, to construct a two-bedroom apartment that will be attached to an existing duplex, therefore making it a multi-unit dwelling. The second application was submitted by Raymond Holmes, Greenland, New Hampshire on behalf of David Ieni, to construct a 12’ x 39’ deck and a 24’ x 28’ attached garage. The property is located at 20 Cedar Point Road.

The Board will also hear a presentation and will hold a discussion on possible zoning amendments for workforce housing in the Town of Durham. The presentation will be given by Jack Mettee, a consultant hired by the Town of Durham through the Inclusionary Zoning Implementation Program (IZIP) and paid for by a grant from the NH Housing Finance Authority. For more information on this topic, please stop by the Planning and Community Development Office.

PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PATHWAY REOPENED IN NEWINGTON-DOVER
The General Sullivan Bridge is now open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, although there has been a temporary fence placed on the link between Dover and Newington to steer people clear of the larger work site at the location.

The reopened pedestrian/bicycle pathway is within an active construction area for the Little Bay Bridge project. Public trespassing within the work area is prohibited and poses a major safety risk. Pedestrians and bicyclists should stay within the Hilton Park area on the eastern and western sides of the Spaulding Turnpike, or on the pedestrian pathway. Do not enter the project work areas.

Public passage under the Little Bay Bridge will be closed until 2013. ["News from Strafford Regional Planning Commission," May 8, 2011].

Firefighters Katie Everts and Dick Stevens practice a "wall-breaching" escape/rescue technique

Courtesy Cpt David Emanuel

DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING

Recently the Durham Fire Department was afforded the opportunity to conduct some realistic hands-on training at a local building in town that is slated for demolition. Thanks to the generosity of the building’s owner, Matt Crape, the Fire Department was offered the structure at 9-11 Madbury Road (formerly Stats Place and the hair salon) to conduct several different types of destructive and non-destructive training evolutions.

Opportunities such as this are very valuable to today’s firefighters as there is no substitute for conducting real training in real buildings that they are likely to encounter in the field. It can be even more valuable than training on pre-fabricated “burn” buildings at the fire academy or participating in simulations.

The firefighters were able to practice advancing charged hose lines, throwing ground ladders, cutting ventilation holes in the roof, pulling down ceilings and opening up wall spaces (as if to check for hidden fire), working on search and rescue procedures, and conducting firefighter “bail-out” drills.

UNH CELEBRATES WALKNH WEEK 2011

On Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 12:00 PM the University of New Hampshire will celebrate WalkNH Week 2011 with three walking routs varying in distance/time on the UNH Durham campus. The UNH, Durham and Manchester communities will join other groups from throughout New Hampshire in recognizing WalkNH Week 2011 by holding a community walk during the first week of June. Runners are welcome to join as well. This event is sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, Healthy UNH and UNH Campus Recreation.

Governor John Lynch has proclaimed June 1-7 WalkNH Week as a way to promote walking and help keep New Hampshire residents on a healthy path. WalkNH Week is an event designed to encourage people of all ages to get out, get moving and participate in a one-to-three mile community walk. The goal of WalkNH Week is to inspire participants to continue walking as part of a healthy lifestyle long after the June events end.

Registration and route information for the Durham event is now available at http://www.unh.edu/hr/walkNH2011.htm

PUBLIC MEETINGS: SCHEDULE AND VIDEO ON DEMAND

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.

VIDEO ON DEMAND: Meetings can also be viewed via Video on Demand. Interested viewers can access the streaming site from the Town’s website at http://ci.durham.nh.us/ or directly by clicking the DCAT on demand logo, http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.

Economic Development Committee - Monday, May 23, 2011

Oyster River Taxpayers Meeting - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Planning Board - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Parks & Recreation Committee - Thursday, May 26, 2011 (at P&R Building)

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.

VOTER CHECKLIST VERIFICATION PROCESS BEGINS - AN UPDATE FROM THE SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST

Every 10 years in the year ending with the number 1, the Supervisors of the Checklist in every community in New Hampshire are required by RSA 654:39 to verify their checklists. Any person on the checklist who has not voted in the last four years (unless they have registered since November 2, 2010) will be sent a letter informing them that their name will be removed from the checklist. Those removal letters will be mailed out soon.

In order to stay on the checklist, persons receiving a removal notification letter may re-register at the Town Hall until June 29, 2011. After that date, the remaining names will be removed permanently from the checklist. At that point, anyone wishing to vote in Durham must re-register either at the Town Hall or at any election, just as if they are first-time voters in Durham. When re-registering, prospective voters should bring proof of identity and domicile.

Most of the people who have not voted in four or more years are UNH students who have moved on. Since the implementation of the statewide voter checklist, the removal of such students has become much more thorough. If a person moves to another town and registers to vote within the State of New Hampshire, that person is automatically removed from Durham’s checklist. However, other states are not as good as New Hampshire about informing previous domiciles about a change in voter status. If your household receives a letter from the town addressed to an adult child who has moved away and registered to vote elsewhere, or addressed to the previous occupant of your home, please do not forward the letter. Those persons whom the supervisors have not heard from by June 29 will automatically be removed from the checklist.

DURHAM SEEKING INTERESTED CITIZENS TO SERVE ON A LOCAL RIVER MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Recently, House Bill 44 was passed by both the State of New Hampshire House and Senate designating segments of the Oyster River as a protected river and exempting certain portions of the Oyster River from the provisions of the comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will soon begin the process of obtaining lists of nominees, submitted by local governing bodies, to serve on a Local River Management Advisory Committee. Each member will serve a term of three (3) years.

The Town of Durham is seeking interested residents who have the ability, desire, and time needed to serve on a Local River Management Advisory Committee. The duties for this committee are:

To advise the commissioner, the advisory committee, the municipalities through which the designated river or segment flows, and municipalities within tributary drainage areas on matters pertaining to the management of the river or segment and tributary drainage areas. Municipal officials, boards, and agencies shall inform such committees of actions which they are considering in managing and regulating activities within designated river corridors.
To consider and comment on any federal, state, or local governmental plans to approve, license, fund or construct facilities that would alter the resource values and characteristics for which the river or segment is designated.
To develop or assist in the development and adoption of local river corridor management plans under RSA 483:10. The local planning board, or, in the absence of a planning board, the local governing body, may adopt such plans pursuant to RSA 675:6 as an adjunct to the local master plan adopted under RSA 674:4. No such plan shall have any regulatory effect unless implemented through properly adopted ordinances.
To report biennially to the advisory committee and the commissioner, and annually to municipalities on the status of compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, local ordinances, and plans relevant to the designated river or segment, its corridor, and tributary drainage areas.

Citizens interested in appointment to this committee should complete and submit a board appointment form which can be found on the Town of Durham web site at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/ in the blue box located at the right, 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.

Completed applications may be mailed to the Town Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

FORMER DURHAM RESIDENT MARYANNA HATCH TO BE HONORED BY THE SELF MADE IN NH ORGANIZATION

In yesterday's edition of Foster's Daily Democrat, there was a small article reporting an upcoming honor for Maryanna Hatch, a former well loved Durham resident now residing at RiverWoods in Exeter. She is to be honored by the Self Made in New Hampshire organization for her efforts to bring RiverWoods at Exeter to fruition. Beyond her work to bring better retirement living to the area, Maryanna and her husband John both worked hard at many aspects of the Town of Durham. Many residents may remember Maryanna and John. To read the Foster's article, click HERE.

ORCSD SUMMER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The ORCSD offers summer enrichment opportunities for children, and there are still plenty of camps available. A new YOGA camp has been added for students in grades 1 through 5 for the first week of August. For more information about Yoga, click HERE. The deadline for registration is is June 3, 2011.

Updated camp listings can be found on the district website at http://www.orcsd.org/.

Please contact the district office at 868-5100, extension 11 for more information.

GROWING PLACES SUMMER CAMPS
Growing Places, a non profit early education and youth recreation agency, offers two different camp programs for children:

Camp Cowabunga for children ages 5-7. This camp offers arts and crafts, games, swimming at the Durham Pool, and a field trip every Wednesday.

Bridge Camp for children ages 8-12. This camp offers many of the same opportunities as Camp Cowabunga. Different themes, age appropriate arts and crafts, and sports and games will keep the children engaged and having fun. Bridge Campers attend the Durham Pool three to four days a week, and go on weekly Wednesday field trips with Camp Cowabunga, including SEE Science Center, and York Wild Kingdom.

Both camps are housed at Moharimet Elementary School in Madbury. Camp Directors are professional full-time teacher/directors at Growing Places. There is a 10% discount for full-time siblings. Pay 50% of summer tuition by May 2, and you will receive a 5% discount for the entire summer. Camp Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended care available until 6 p.m. Part or full-time schedules available. Tuition assistance is available for eligible families. Please contact 868-1335 for more information, or email Director Jen Hayward at moharimet@growingplacesnh.org.

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Annual Memorial Day Parade. Every Durham resident who ever served in the military is invited to participate in the annual Memorial Day Parade, Monday May 30, 2011. Preparations are underway by the Memorial Day committee, who encourage as many groups as possible to march or ride in the parade. Groups are encouraged to show support for all who served in the military services. If you or someone you know would like to take part in the parade, please email sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us or call Sandy Devins at (603) 817-4074.

Music by the Bay. The Parks & Rec Department is very excited to kickoff the summer on June 22nd featuring “Bliss” from 5-7pm at Wagon Hill Farm. Bring the whole family while taking in the view of the bay. Friends and families are encouraged to bring picnic dinners, lawn chairs, and blankets. “Bliss” is an all female local four-piece string band that plays folk music, blues, a little country, and some original songs. Event is free. Check out their web site at http://www.bliss4.net/.

For more information please contact P&R Director Sandy Devins at 603-817-4074 or sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us Also check out our new Facebook account on “Durham Rec”

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Special Preschool Storytimes - Durham Police Visit with their Police car - Tues., May 24th and Thurs., May 26th, 10:30 a.m. - This week: Police. All are welcome to enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, feltboard, and a craft. This is the last regularly scheduled storytimes until the summer reading program.
The Pontine Theater Presents: The Story of a Bad Boy, Tues. May 24th, 6:30-8:00 p.m. A richly historical view into 1850s Portsmouth with The Story of a Bad Boy. Thomas Bailey Aldrich immortalized Portsmouth as Rivermouth and his grandfather’s house as the Nutter House, when he wrote of the years he lived with his Grandfather Bailey on Court Street. More than a fictionalized account of his own boyhood, The Story of a Bad Boy was hailed as a literary breakthrough.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book Group, Weds. May 25th, 2:45 - 4:00 p.m. This month’s book is Sold by Patricia McCormick. Books are available at the library. Walk from the Middle School and enjoy a great book discussion and pizza is served. Please note, this is the last meeting of the Bookeaters until the fall. Stay tuned for our fun 5 week summer reading program.
The Writing Life, Author of Hunter Huntress Speaks on the Ups and Downs of Producing a Novel, Weds., May 25th 7:00-8:00 p.m. Debut novelist Darcy Scott will use readings from her novel, Hunter Huntress, as an entree into the world of the writer and her process. She will discuss how initial generative ideas become incorporated in narrative, the importance of dreams to the creative process, and the responsibility of the writer to conduct thorough research and manuscript vetting to ensure accuracy and authenticity.
NHHC Book Discussion: The Cherry Orchard, Friday, May 27th, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Read it, See it Part II: Friday May 27th please join the discussion of Chekhov's, The Cherry Orchard led by Jennifer Lee and see the play June 30 through live streaming from the London Theater at The Music Hall. The discussion is part of the N.H. Humanities Book Programs and is sponsored by The Friends of the Library. Your book awaits you.
March with the Durham Library in the Durham Memorial Day Parade, Monday, May 30th, 9:30 a.m. Come march with us. We will provide kazoos, flags, and candy to throw. All are welcome and don’t forget to wear red, white, and blue! Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Landing.
Register for our fun 5 week summer reading program starting June 14th. The theme this year is “One World, Many Stories”. Our program runs from June 26th through July 29th. More fun details coming soon.
Join the Patch Program, our 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. The patch program ends May 31st for this year, but will start again Sept. 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Meeting of Oyster River Taxpayers, Tue., May 24, 2011, 7:00 PM, Durham Town Hall, Council Chambers, 15 Newmarket Road.

Chicken Curry Dinner, Sun., Jun 5, 2011, 5:00/6:00/7:00 PM seating, Multipurpose Room at Moharimet Elementary School. Proceeds go towards building a school in Rajastan, India through an organization called Free the Children. Please contact Mamoon Herz-Khan, 868-1341, mamoonherzkhan@yahoo.com for ticket and other information.

Annual Plant Sale, Strafford County Master Gardeners' Association, Sun., Jun 5, 2011, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, United Peoples Bank parking lot in Durham. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions.

Summer Art Camp Classes for Children, Teens, and Adults. The Museum of Art, UNH, is offering week-long summer art classes during the weeks of Aug 1-5 and Aug 8-12, 2011. For a complete description of the classes or to register on line, visit the Museum of Art's website at http://www.unh.edu/moa/ or contact Catherine A. Mazur at catherine.mazur@unh.edu, 603-862-3713.

FREE MAC Computer Users Group - Second Tuesdays of the month, Rye Junior High, 501 Washington Road, Rye, NH. Mentors at 6:15 PM (ask any questions).Main topics are 7:00-8:30 PM. Open to all levels.

WEEKLY POLICE ARREST REPORT

Week - 20 16 UNH (80%) 4 Other (20%)

*2010/11 Academic Year - 811 458 UNH (56%) 353 Other (44%)

Calendar Year –319 184 UNH (58%) 135 Other (42%)

*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”

Business: The college built a dormitory "located at the northwest corner of Main Street and what is now Jenkins Court, built in 1897 by George Whitcher and sold to Dean Pettee in 1900. Known as the Pettee Block from then on, it combined rooms and 'eating clubs' (a tradition carried over from the time New Hampshire College had been located in Hanover with Dartmouth) on the two top floors, with commercial space at the street and basement levels. Most of the main floor contained a grocery store, with smaller spaces for a cobbler and a barber. The basement housed a 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurant in front and a feed-and-grain store in back. Walter S. Edgerly owned and operated the store on the main floor and advertised that he was a 'Dealer in general merchandise, paints, oils, varnishes, dry goods, notions and fancy goods.' Edgerly also offered 'first-class groceries at reasonable prices' and hand-colored (penny postcard) photographs of Durham, and had the first ice-cream parlor in town." Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.