This photo of the USAF Thunderbirds was taken from Langley Farm on the shoreline of Little Bay during the air show at Pease AFB last weekend. Courtesy Brian Turnbull

Last week, a staff member at the Paso Robles, CA wastewater treatment facility spotted a 100+ pound rodent as it emerged from a nearby pond. It disappeared into the Salinas River channel.  The creature was a capybara, the world’s largest rodent. 

Reading this incident reminded me of a terrific children’s book by author Bill Peet titled Capyboppy, http://www.billpeet.net/PAGES/capy.htm, in which the young author’s family adopts a capybara and has a number of fun adventures.  

Fortunately, the capybara in question was not spotted emerging from the Oyster River at the Durham wastewater treatment facility!

UNH FIRST YEAR MOVE - FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH

The following roadway closures and traffic pattern changes will occur during the University of New Hampshire's first year move in on Friday, August 26, 2011:

Roadways Closed: Commons Way, Quad Way, South Drive
 
Roadways with Traffic pattern Changes: Academic Way from the Intersection with Quad Way northwest to McDaniel Drive, Library Way from College Road to Colovus Road, Waterworks Road from Colovus Road to South Drive.
 
These lots and roadways will all re-open after 3:00 PM to standard Friday parking rules.

Members of Durham's Fire Department hosted the NH Fire Academy Drive Operator-Aerial Fire Apparatus Program - Courtesy DFD

DFD HOSTS NH FIRE ACADEMY DRIVER OPERATOR-AERIAL FIRE APPARATUS PROGRAM

On August 4th, 5th, 11th, & 12th, 2011 the Durham Fire Department hosted the New Hampshire Fire Academy Driver Operator-Aerial Fire Apparatus program on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. The 32-hour course was attended by twenty firefighters from the Durham, Dover, Newmarket, and Newington Fire Departments.

Durham Fire Department members have received approximately 300 hours of ladder operator training from this program of which +/- 100 hours  were conducted on duty, and 200 hours were voluntary and on the firefighter’s days off.  The willingness of the firefighters at the Durham Fire Department to undertake this training on their own time so as to reduce departmental costs for the benefit of residents is specifically acknowledged during this difficult economic period.  

This regional training allowed each of the department’s members to compare equipment, operator techniques, and department resource capabilities as well as familiarization with building and community infrastructure, as mutual aid responses are integrated for emergencies requiring more than each community’s duty staffing. 

The Driver Operator Aerial Apparatus course provides firefighters with the basic knowledge and skills to safely operate fire department aerial devices. 

Practical skills and demonstrations provide the firefighters an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom through hands-on drills and demonstrations. The practical skills portion of the class also focused on the specifics of the aerial devices utilized by participating students in their departments. The practical hands-on evolutions included:

• Driving & Stabilization
• Stabilization on a Grade
• Aerial Device Inspection Emergency Hydraulic Pump Operation
• Introduction to Operating the Aerial Device (The Cone Drill)
• Placing the Aerial Device for Rescue
• Placing the Aerial Device for Roof Access/Ventilation
• Aerial Master Stream Operation.

The Durham Fire Department had six firefighters and one captain certified as Aerial Operators, with captain David Emanuel being credentialed as a NH Fire Academy Instructor for the Aerial Operator Program.

Fore more information about the event and some terrific photographs from this week's UNH Campus Journal, go to www.unh.edu/news/campusjournal/2011/Aug/17fire.cfm. 

DURHAM RESIDENT PUBLISHES SECOND BOOK

Durham resident Toby Ball has a new novel coming out on August 30.  It is titled Scorch City and is a sequel to his first book, The Vaults.

The book is a crime novel set in 1950 that follows the conflict over a fictional community in which the protagonist has to negotiate political, racial, and religious violence as he and others try to save the community from the forces that would destroy it. 

Toby has assured me that if his novel is ever made into a major motion picture, Durham will be prominently mentioned!

A meet the author and book reading will be held at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH on Tuesday, August 30th at 7:00 PM.

To contact the author, go to toby@tobyball.com or go to his web page at http://tobyball.com/.

DURHAM ADMINISTRATOR SPEAKER AT 2011 N.E. LEAN SYSTEMS SUMMIT ON KAIZEN EFFORTS

Last Friday, August 12, 2011, Administrator Selig spoke at the 2011 Lean Systems Summit in Portland, ME to discuss the efforts the Town of Durham is undertaking to implement Lean/Kaizen (continuous improvement) within its operations.  A program of Summit courses may be viewed at http://www.cvent.com/events/2011-lean-systems-summit/custom-20-0357967dfd724c389ab9c3ca0078579a.aspx. Durham was actually a sponsor of the event along with the State of Maine Lean Lab and others. 

Based upon the presentation, Mr. Selig has been invited to speak at the Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership’s (GBMP) “Made Lean in America” conference on October 6th in Springfield, MA. 

FOREST LAND CURRENT USE VALUE CHANGES

The Durham Assessing Office has updated value ranges for managed and unmanaged forest lands that are enrolled in the Current Use program.  This change is a result of new statewide values that have been adopted by New Hampshire.

WATER CONSERVATION STAGE 1 ALERT - CANCELLED

Due to the recent rains and increased water levels, the Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert is cancelled. The UNH/Durham Water System is now at the Normal Stage. Water conservation is always important to protect our natural resources and we ask the community to continue with normal water conservation activities.  Thank you for your cooperation during the recent Stage 1 Water Conservation Alert.

OYSTER RIVER COOPERATIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT - BUS ROUTES The Oyster River Cooperative School District has published its bus routes for the 2011/12 school year at : http://www.orcsd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:transportation&catid=9:departments&Itemid=51.  Once at the site, click the link titled "Bus Routes for 2011".

ANNUAL MUNICIPAL LAW LECTURE SERIES

Beginning in September, the 36th Annual Municipal Law Lecture Series, sponsored by the New Hampshire Local Government Center and the Regional Planning Commission, will be holding lectures in communities throughout the state.

These lectures are intended for municipal officials with an interest in, or responsibility for, any aspect of municipal land use to include members of planning boards, zoning boards, conservation commissions, and councils/board of selectmen, as well as planners, building inspectors, and code officers. All lectures are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 PM.

The schedule of lectures is as follows: 

Lecture 1:  Sign Regulations and Home Occupations: Accessory Uses, Difficult Issues

Lecture 2:  Preemption of Local Regulation: Ejected from Your Own Game!

Lecture 3:  Land Use Law Update

A registration form has been placed in the mailboxes for Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Historic District Commission, and Conservation Commission members. The registration form may also be obtained through the LGC website at:  http://www.nhlgc.org/trainingevents/lawlectureseries.asp.

Board and committee members interested in attending any or all of these lectures are encouraged to do so. Please complete the registration form and return it to Jennie Berry as soon as possible as space is limited. The Town will cover the cost for all registration fees.

PLANNING BOARD

The Planning Board will be meeting on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 7 PM and will be taking the following actions:

• Hold a Public Hearing on an application for a Site Plan Review application submitted by Metro PCS, LLC on behalf of Raymond Laroche, to install a personal wireless service facility located at 37-41 Bennett Road.
• Hold a Public Hearing on an application for a Site Plan Review application submitted by MJS Engineering, PC on behalf of Great Bay Kennel to replace a canine daycare building with a new building that includes an indoor and outdoor play area, an office, and a one-bedroom apartment on the second floor located at 27 & 35 Newmarket Road.
• Hold a Design Review for an eight-lot conservation subdivision submitted by Jack Farrell/County Line Holdings LLC, on behalf of Martha Garland and Joyce Melanson, located at 110 Mill Road.
• Hold a discussion and set a public hearing for a proposed Town Council Initiated zoning amendment to allow Single Family Residences as a permitted use within the Professional Office District.
• Hold a brief discussion regarding the Master Plan update and survey results.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) will be meeting on Monday, August 22, 2011 at 7 PM and will be reviewing and discussing a proposed Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District for downtown Durham that includes the Central Business District and the Church Hill District. The committee has developed a draft TIF Boundary Map as well as a draft Development Program and Financing Plan. 

The EDC will also be reviewing and discussing the Master Plan survey results relevant to economic development.  In addition, the EDC will discuss the proposal for an increase in the parking fee for those projects exempted from providing the number of parking space required by the Zoning Ordinance. 

Lastly, the EDC will be discussing the proposed draft zoning amendments to the Commercial Core zoning districts that were discussed in the Commercial Core Strategic Plan that was the result of the Charrette held in November 2009.

AUTOMATED PARKING KIOSKS ON PETTEE BROOK LANE TO BE INSTALLED WITHIN NEXT FEW WEEKS

The Town is moving forward with the installation of three new automated parking kiosks along Pettee Brook Lane to meter parking in this area.  These will be "Pay and Display" type kiosks similar to those in place in the City of Portsmouth. 

MASTER PLAN UPDATE PROCESS TO BEGIN SOON

The Town of Durham is preparing to update its 2000 Master Plan and will be holding a series of meetings over the next several months to begin amending the Master Plan.  Portions of the plan to be updated include: Commercial Core, Environmental and Cultural Resources, Economic Development (Tax Stabilization), and Land Use Chapters. In addition, a new Energy Chapter will be added to the Master Plan. 

The Town will be looking for volunteers to serve on a Master Plan Steering Committee.  This Committee will lead the Master Plan Update, work with a consultant that will help write the amendments, and will report to the Planning Board. 

For more information please contact Jim Campbell, Director of Planning & Community Development at 868-8064, jcampbell@ci.durham.nh.us.  We look forward to working with you on these important updates to the Master Plan.

UNH ANNUAL PICNIC – ROAD CLOSURE SEPTEMBER 13TH

The annual UNH Picnic will be held on Tuesday, September 13th. A portion of Main Street will be closed from Garrison Avenue to Edgewood Road between the hours of 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  There will be detours provided for motorists to go around the event.

BABY BRAGGING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Assistant Town Engineer April Talon and her husband Jeff welcomed the birth of their first child on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 7:28 PM. Evan Brian Talon weighed in at 8 pounds, 21 inches long. Mom and baby are home and doing well. Congratulations to the Talon family.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER

Due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the Town Council meetings in September will be held on Monday, September 12 and Monday, September 26.

Council meetings in October will be the normal first and third Monday schedule with meetings to be held on Monday, October 3 and Monday October 17.

LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

Monday, September 5th is Labor Day.  All Town offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday. However, there will be NO CHANGE to the refuse and recycling collection routes during the holiday week. As always, please have all items out by 7:00 AM. 

DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ASKING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF DURHAM WINTER SCENES

The Durham Business Association is seeking photographs of winter scenes to be used on the 2011 Annual Holiday ornament. If you have a photograph of a Durham landmark or scenic area that was taken during the winter that you believe might be "ornament-worthy", please submit photographs to Lori at lori.roy@peoples.com.

CIVIL FORFEITURES FOR UNLICENSED DOGS

Civil Forfeitures (a fine and summons to court), will be issued September 1st to owners or keepers of dogs that remain unlicensed per RSA 466:1. 

There are still a number of residents who have not responded to attempts by the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office urging compliance with this state law. Residents who have received notification from the Clerk's office but no longer own a dog or have moved from town must notify the office at 868-5577 so that records can be updated. 

GREAT BAY NATURAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE WILDLIFE GARDEN

The Great Bay Natural Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR), NH Fish and Game Department, invites individuals to help create and care for an educational community garden on the shores of Great Bay. The GBNERR is in the early stages of developing a backyard wildlife gardening demonstration area and plans to share ideas about how to enjoy a low maintenance beautiful backyard while providing shelter, food, and water for wildlife. Other green tips such as using a rain barrel and creating “no mow lawns” will also be part of this new community backyard.

This fun and high profile project is located in Stratham next to Chapman’s Landing boat launch on the Squamscott River. The property already hosts a wildlife viewing platform that overlooks salt marsh and an osprey nest that has raised young each year since1993.

For more information, click HERE. To sign up, please contact Shannon O'Brien at 603-778-0015, shannon.obrien@wildlife.nh.gov. For questions about this project, please contact Rachel Stevens at rachel.stevens@wildlife.nh.gov.

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT CAR WASH FUND-RAISER - SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH (10:00 AM-2:00 PM)

On Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Durham Marketplace, ORHS Senior Alex Harling will be holding a car wash fund-raiser for his Eagle Scout project. Donations will go towards material for his project that consists of a 72-foot walkway and bridge at Wagon Hill Farm. When completed, this project will allow for a safe passageway through a portion of the hiking trails that are swampy.

OYSTER RIVER PARENTS AND PRESCHOOLERS (ORPP) HOSTS KINDERGARTEN MEET AND GREET AT SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS

This is a great way to meet your new class mates and visit the playground to get ready for the big day. Meet and greets are broken down by class times (morning or afternoon, not by teacher), and are FREE and open to all Oyster River families who are entering Kindergarten. You do not need to be a member.  Questions should be directed to Beth Pescosolido at mailto:bethfightmaster@gmail.com.

If going to Mast Way in the morning, meet on Mast Way playground on Thursday Aug 25, 10:00 AM and/or Saturday Aug 27 10:00 AM.

If going to Mast Way in the afternoon, meet on Mast Way playground on Monday Aug 22, 5:00 PM, Wednesday, Aug 24, 11:00 AM, and/or Sunday Aug 28, 11:00 AM.

If going to Moharimet in the morning, meet on Moharimet playground on Wednesday, Aug 24, 9:30 AM and/or Thursday Aug 25, 10:00 AM.

If going to Moharimet in the afternoon, meet on Moharimet playground on Sunday Aug 21, 1:00 PM and/or Saturday Aug 27, 10:00 AM.

UNH OUTDOOR POOL

Pool hours change on Monday, August 15-September 5* to Noon-6:00 PM.

*Aug 29-Sep 5 may very depending on weather and staff availability.  Please check http://campusrec.unh.edu/index.cfm?id=8E88BA09-AAA9-8007-83A788A29033951E for latest updates.

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, August 22, 2011.

Planning Board - Wednesday, August 24, 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.

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Music by the Bay features Rhythm, Roots & Dub on August 19th from 6-8pm 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. Rhythm Roots & Dub returns again this year by demand. Music includes fusion jazz, reggae, soft rock, and some original songs. Event is free. Check out their website: http://www.myspace.com/rootsrhythmdub

Durham Day - Saturday, Sep 17, 2011 (Rain Date: Sunday, Sep 18, 2011), 12:30 - 4:00 PM, Wagon Hill Farm.

Check out our New Recreation Classes for the Fall:

BALListic - This class uses the stability ball to sculpt and strengthen your entire body with emphasis on the deep core abdominal muscles. A combination of cardio, weights, flexibility and balance challenges will get you feeling and looking great. It's lively, fun and always challenging.  Why wait?
Get on the ball! Tuesdays 6pm $50/8 weeks. Class session begins September 13th.

IMPROV – Learn to build confidence, tell stories, and meet friends. Looking for a better way to express yourself? This class teaches you how while having fun with improv. Class meets Wed. 3:30 – 4:30pm. Cost is $40/8wks.
LEARN TO RUN – Go from walking and learn to run. This class begins with walking for exercise and will build your stamina to prepare you to run a 3 mile race by October.  Come check it out on Thursdays at 6pm. Also a great way to kick off a weight  loss program!
WELLNESS FOR SENIORS – Emphasis is on flexibility, balance and fun!
Class meets Tuesdays 10AM. Cost is $40/8 weeks.
For a list of all Classes Scheduled for the Fall, click HERE.

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

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Preschool Storytimes Begin - Tues., Sept. 6th and Thurs., Sept. 8th, 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, feltboard, and a craft.
Join the Patch Program beginning Sept. 1st. This is a 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. Thanks to the Friends of the Durham Public Library for their continued support of this program.  We have new patches!
Registration for Tales for Tails will begin Sept. 1st. 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 in September for a session.
Loving Hannah: Childhood Cancer Treatment from the Other Side of the Bed - Tuesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. Carol Glover speaks about her book Loving Hannah. In the author's words: "Just the word cancer evokes fear. When that word is applied to someone you love, fear turns to terror.” This book is a memoir of months of chemotherapy, complications, and hospitalization at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, as seen from the patient/family view by a health care provider. This book is available at the library for checkout. A portion of the proceeds from the book, sold at the program, will be donated to cancer programs.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book Club begins on Weds. Sept. 21st at 2:45-4:00 p.m. Come and discuss this month’s book Hide and Seek by Katy Grant with other Middle Schoolers.  Copies of the selected book are available at the library. Pizza is served.
Humanities Book Discussion - Friday, September 23, 10:00 AM. Funded by the NH Council for the Humanities. Discussion Leader: Jennifer Lee.  The short stories of Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)  "Much is in the details". We will focus on the following stories: "The Lady with the Pet/Little/Lap Dog", "Gooseberries", and "The Kiss and The Darling". Your copy awaits you.
Pajama Storytime begins on Tues., Sept. 27th, 6:30 p.m.   Join ORPP and the library for our pajama storytime. All are welcome. The theme this month is Superheroes/Heroes. We will read stories about superheroes and heroes and make a superhero craft. 
Raccoon Readers (2nd-4th grade Book Club) will begin on Tues. Oct. 4th, 6:00-7:00 p.m. This month’s book is Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater. We will discuss the book(s), author(s), play games, and make a craft.  Books are available at the library. 
Seacoast Reads (UNH Reading Buddies) and a possible Lego club in October. More information to come. Check out the Durham Public Library website for more information at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/durham/.
Summer Readers!  You can still pick up your reading certificates, Bagelry and book prize in the Children’s Room during the month of August.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS 

Yoga classes - Thursdays, 12:00 noon at Wagon Hill Farm with Hannelore Moebius. Classes are FREE. Please contact Hannelore Moebius at yoga@moebiusyoga.com with any questions.

Annual Church Yard Sale - Saturday, Sep 10, 2011, 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Sponsored by and located at Community Church of Durham, St. George Episcopal Church, and St. Thomas More Church. For more information, contact Audrey Drogseth, 603-868-1230, office@durhamcommunitychurch.org.

Great Bay Academy of Dance Fall Ballet Classes - Wednesdays starting Sep 14-Dec 14, 2011. Pre-ballet: 4:30-5:15 PM (Ages 4 & 5) Ballet I:  5:15-6:15 PM (Ages 6-8). For more information, call 603-433-4200, http://www.gbadance.com/

FROM “DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY – 1900-1985”

Business (1900-1930): "There were significant changes in the business district in the early 1920s. New Hampshire College became the University of New Hampshire in 1923, and in response to expected growth in the student body, two new buildings were erected on Main Street after Frank Morrison's house and livery stable were moved to the north along the west side of Madbury Road. The Hardy-Philbrick Block, completed in 1923, was a brick-faced structure that provided three commercial spaces at street level, a basement, and second-story apartments. The first business tenants were The College Shop, backed by the Farnhams of Dover and managed by John W. McIntire, a tailor, and father of 'Brad' McIntire, who assumed ownership of the shop some years later; The Durham Drug, advertised by owner, Ben Hill, as 'more than a store, a N.H. institution'; and the Durham post office, by then in need of more space to accommodate the demands of the community."   Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

Have a nice 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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