Friday, December 2, 2011

Courtesy Joan Drapeau

As of today, the fall cleanup of brush and leaves is completed.  The Department of Public Works staff extend their thanks to all residents for their cooperation and patience as it took two additional weeks this year  to complete the cleanup due to the increased amounts of brush from the Halloween snow storm. 

NO LIGHT UP DURHAM THIS YEAR

There is no Light Up Durham celebration scheduled for this year.  

The event had been graciously organized by the Durham Business Association (DBA) for many, many years.  In 2010, the DBA opted to step aside to allow other interested community-based organizations to take up the mantle.  The DBA did, however, continue to organize the holiday ligting competition portion of the event.  

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre stepped forward to organize a scaled back celebration last year.  In 2011, however, the Seacoast Repertory Theatre was not able commit to organizing the event and no other organization stepped forward.  

The Parks and Recreation Committee discussed the event and realized that with only one already over-committed 20 hr/wk part-time employee and equally committeed committee members, the Town could not take on the event itself.

Consequently, there is no Light Up Durham celebration planned for 2012.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE

All Town offices will be closed on Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th for the Christmas Holiday. 

Friday, December 23, 2011:  There will be no commercial recycling.

Monday, December 26, 2011:  There will be NO CHANGE to the regularly scheduled refuse and recycling collection. 

Saturday, December 24, 2011:  The TRANSFER STATION will be CLOSED.

NOTE:    Residents should receive the 2011-2012 annual newsletter within the next two weeks with the 2012 recycling and Holiday calendar. 

DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

The Durham Business Association still has a number of ornaments for sale from past years. Anyone interested in purchasing one of these ornaments may do so at the locations listed below. Available ornaments include:

2011 Wagon Hill Farm, $20.00

2011 Special edition 100th Anniversary of the Durham Fire Department, $5.00

2010 Smith Chapel, $10.00

2009 Houghton Hardware, $10.00

2007 Town of Durham 275th Anniversary, $5.00

Locations to purchase ornaments:

People's United Bank, Main Street

People's United Bank, Newmarket Road

Durham Marketplace

Durham Town Hall

Towle-Emery Farms

Town & Campus

Federal Savings Bank

Three Chimney's Inn

For more information, contact Lori Roy at People's Bank, 603-868-1022.

NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE

All Town offices will be closed on Monday, January 22, 2012 for New Year’s Day. 

Monday, January 2, 2012:  There will be NO COLLECTION of refuse and recycling. All refuse and recycling will be pushed forward one day (Example:  Monday’s route will be on Tuesday, Tuesday’s will be on Wednesday, etc.).  All items need to be out by 7am as always. 

Friday, January 6, 2012: There will be no collection of commercial recycling. 

REMINDERS FROM THE TOWN CLERK/TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE

• Water/Sewer bills are due December 2, 2011.
• Property Tax bills are due December 19, 2011.

ADVANCE PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS

Residents may not be aware that there is another option for paying property taxes in July and December. State law allows property owners to make prepayments toward their anticipated bill.  After January 1st, property owners can make payments in any denomination, at any interval on any property they own.  These payments will be applied to their next property tax bill. Upon receipt of the actual tax bill due in July or December *prepayments will be deducted from the total bill and any remaining balance will show as amount due. 

If making payments would help your family budget, you can start making prepayments January 1st, in any amount, at anytime you want.  Simply make sure you identify yourself as the owner and the specific property you want the payment applied to.  It’s that easy.  If you have any questions, please contact the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's office at 603-868-5577 or email lpitt@ci.durham.nh.us. 

*Interest is not paid on prepayments.

                UNH Flow Physics Facility (AKA the Wind Tunnel) on Waterworks Rd.

WIND TUNNEL OPEN HOUSE FOR INTERESTED RESIDENTS ON SATURDAY, 12/3 @ 3PM

On October 27, 2011, representatives from the Town of Durham and the University of New Hampshire met to discuss the new UNH Flow Physics Facility (a.k.a., the UNH wind tunnel). Participants included Town Council Chair Diana Carroll, Town Councilor Julian Smith, and Administrator Todd Selig; Jan Nisbet, UNH Vice Provost and Durham resident; Joe Klewicki, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and former Dean of Engineering, also a Durham resident; and Paul Chamberlin, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Energy.

Following that discussion, Todd Selig and Joe Klewicki developed a Q&A covering in some detail the concerns addressed in that meeting. To read that Q&A ("A Conversation between Engineering Professor Joe Klewicki and Administrator Selig") click HERE.

According to UNH officials, operating the facility at full power over a long duration, such as occurred over the Columbus Day Weekend, is atypical. To the contrary, the facility typically will operate within the lower spectrum of power operation which, according to UNH, generates a sound that is barely discernible beyond campus.

Plans include limiting operating hours to weekdays during the day, when fewer residents might notice. In addition, the facility cannot be operated during cold weather, in essence itself going into hibernation for a few months over the winter.

Professor Klewicki notes that from the outset a very large structure was planned to completely contain the wind tunnel and the noise generated by it, but the significant federal funding anticipated did not come through. The result was a smaller structure that does not completely enclose the wind tunnel. The University emphasizes that it is actively working with federal agencies and congressional staff to obtain additional funding. In the meantime, UNH is pursuing funding for a device to baffle and attenuate operational sound.

Residents are invited to attend an Open House scheduled for tomorrow—Saturday, December 3, 2011—beginning at 3 PM. The wind tunnel is located on Waterworks Road just west of the railroad tracks and north of the Oyster River. Take McDaniel Drive throug the new RR underpass and take your first left.  You'll see signage for the Flow Physics Facility.  The facility is on the right hand side of the road.

FIRE PREVENTION INFORMATION FROM DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT

As we fast approach the holiday season, the Durham Fire Department would like to share some fire prevention information. To view this informaiton, click HERE.

DOMINO'S PIZZA - THIS WEEK'S FEATURED DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
This week's featured business is DOMINO'S PIZZA. Domino's is located in the Mill Plaza next to Wildcat Fitness and is managed by Roy Fletcher. Domino's may be contacted by telephone at 603-868-6230 or email DP3210@hotmail.com. Web site: www.dominos.com. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 4:00 PM to 3:00 AM and Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 to 3:00 AM.

Durham Dominos Pizza is commited not only to top quality pizza at a great price, but also strives to give back to the community as much as possible. Besides multiple donations to UNH student organizations, Dominos Pizza also supports events for local Durham schools, sporting events, and other Durham businesses, and is proud to be able to give back whenever possible.

_______________________

Businesses interested in participating in the weekly feature should send their information, including location, contact information, web site, hours of operation, and a brief description of the business, to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. Photographs of the business would also be welcomed.

PUBLIC MEETINGS: SCHEDULE AND VIDEO ON DEMAND

The public meetings listed below 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 these meetings, 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://www.ci.durham.nh.us/ by clicking the DCAT on demand logo, or directly at http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.

Town Council - Monday, December 5, 2011. To view the complete packet for this meeting, click HERE.

Rental Housing Commission - Wednesday, December 7, 2011 (4:00 PM)

Economic Development Committee - Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Conservation Commission - Thursday, December 8, 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

FREE Parents & Preschoolers Exercise Class for Infants to 5 year olds along with a parent. Class begins soon and will be held on Thursdays 9am – 10am at the Durham Parks & Recreation Building.

Kid’s Yoga has a new session beginning  for ages 9 – 12. Class meets Wed. 4:30 – 5:30pm at the Durham Parks & Recreation Building. Cost is $40 for 8 weeks.

Think Snow! There is a new Snowshoe Group being formed. This group will meet on Wed. mid-morning (time to be announced) for an hour to have fun in the snow.

New Sessions beginning soon for Thursday Yoga classes.  Both classes will be held at the Durham Recreation Building. The cost for each class is $40 for 8 weeks. The "Early Bird" class will be held at 6am, the evening class will be held at 5pm. The Instructor for both classes is Sarah White who comes with great experience as a certified Yoga Instructor.
 

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 Facebook account on “Durham Rec”.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

New Library Campaign
The New Library Campaign has raised $808,227 of the $900,000 we’re committed to raising! But we still need your help to reach our goal. To find out how you can help, visit our campaign website, http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/durham/.

Storytimes, Tues.  Dec. 6th and Thurs. Dec. 8th at 10:30 a.m. – This week:  Mittens. Join us for stories, fingerplays, feltboard, songs and a craft.

Kenya: A Journey- Photos and Memories from an "Experience of a Lifetime", Tues., Dec 6th at 7 p.m.  For Ed and Sharon Dalton, their recent trip to Kenya was the "experience of a lifetime." Join us as the Daltons share their stunning photographs and stories from their trip to Kenya's beautiful wilds with their friend Damaris Crayton.
Raccoon Readers (2nd -4th grade Book Club), Tues., Dec. 6th. 6:00-7:00 p.m. - This month’s book is still your Mystery choice.  Read either “The Sherlock Files (#2): The Beast of Blackslope”, “The Sherlock Files (#3):  The Case That Time Forgot” by Tracy Barrett or a Mystery book of your choosing.  
Young Adult Writing/Blog Group, Tues., Dec 6th, 7:00-7:45 p.m.  Like to write?  Join us for this Young Adult writing/blogging group that meets once a month.
Classical Guitar Performance, Weds. Dec. 7th, 7:00 p.m. Local musician Dan Miner will perform classical guitar works by Villa-Lobos, Bach, Sor, Ponce and others in a relaxing musical evening!
Personal computer questions?  Come ask Kyle on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.
Gardner Museum Closed for Restoration from Nov. 15th through Jan. 19th.  Library passes will be available again once the renovation is complete.
Registration for Tales for Tails continues. 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 at the library.
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.  Thanks to the Friends of the Durham Public Library for their continued support of this program.  We have new patches!

Check out the library's website, www.durhampubliclibrary.org, for more information.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Boy Scout Troop 154 Holiday Tree Sale, Saturdays and Sundays, Dec 3 & 4; Dec 10 & 11; Dec 17 & 18. 9AM - 4 PM on all dates at the Mill Road Plaza in front of Baglery and Durham Marketplace. Trees are locally grown and freshly cut. For more information, call Sam Pollard at 603-944-1153.

Durham Church's Annual Christmas Fair, Saturday, Dec 3, 2011, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The tradition of the Christmas Fair at The Community Church of Durham, The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, St. Thomas More and St. George Episcopal Church is a long one. For years, our Fair traditions have taken root and grown.

A Folk Christmas Concert with Susie Burke and David Surrette, Saturday, Dec 3, 2011, 7:00 PM, Durham Unitarian Fellowship, 20 Madbury Road, Durham. All are welcome. Tickets available at the door starting at 6:30 PM. For more information contact Malcolm at 603-397-5781.

3rd Annual Caution: Gingerbread House Construction Event, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, UNH MUB at the food court. Come join other families and enter your gingerbread house in the contest to win fun prizes. All money raised goes to On Belay a non-profit providing unique adventure based programs for young people who have or have had a family member with cancer. For more information, click HERE.

Launching the New Gundalow, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011, Portsmouth, NH, Pierce Island. 10:30 AM: Official remarks; 11:00 AM: Naming Ceremony and launching from Pierce Island. For more information visit http://www.gundalow.org/.

Annual UNH Holiday Skate Party for the Durham Community, Monday, Dec 12, 2011, 3:30-7:00 PM, UNH Whittemore Center Arena. The theme for this event is "International Holidays". For more information, contact Emily Hobson at 603-969-2716 or visit http://www.unh.edu/holidayparty/.

MCGREGOR EMS HOSTED ANNUAL FOCUS EMS CONFERENCE
EMTs from McGregor EMS, as well as EMTs and nurses from sixty other departments from throughout New England, attended McGregor’s 3rd annual Focus EMS conference held recently. This year's conference topics dealt primarily with pediatric and cardiac emergencies with keynote speakers Dr. John Freese, Medical Director of FDNY, and Dr. Aisha Frazier from John Hopkins University. 

MCGREGOR EMS VOLUNTEERS HAVE BUSY WEEKEND
During the weekend of November 18-20, volunteers at McGregor EMS were very busy between attending the Focus EMS conference and staffing additional crews for the projected increase in call volume due to the Avicii concert at the Whittemore Center. There were 16 ambulance calls during the Avicii concert, 12 of which were handled by volunteers on McGregor's three ambulances.  McGregor did a total of 28 ambulance calls  from Friday and Sunday, and volunteers contributed over 350 hours between Friday night and Monday morning. 

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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