Friday, March 16, 2012

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

The clock has moved ahead.  Spring peepers are singing.  Spring has sprung! 

TOWN MODERATOR ANNOUNCES ELECTION RESULTS AND PASSAGE OF LIBRARY BOND REFERENDUM

At Tuesday's Town Election, the library bond referendum passed by 74% allowing for the construction and equipping of a new Town library. To view the Town Moderator announcing the election results for Town officials and the library referendum, click HERE.

One step remains before final construction of the library can occur. On April 2, 2012, an item will be placed on the Town Council agenda to schedule a public hearing for April 16, 2012 in accordance with Section 5.12(A) of the Durham Town Charter on a resolution authorizing the borrowing of money and the incurrence of debt in the amount of up to two million six hundred thousand dollars ($2,600,000.00), approved by voters on March 13, 2012, for the purpose of funding the cost of constructing and equipping a new library. A 2/3 vote by roll call of the Council is required for the passage of the resolution.

MYSTERY OF THE CANADA GEESE FLYING BACK AND FORTH OVER DURHAM UNVEILED!

Thanks are extended to the many individuals who submitted information about Canada geese migration patterns, particularly Eric Sawtelle and Duane Hyde.

Because of the warm weather, geese that would normally fly farther south have not had the need to do so because their food source has remained available here.  Also over the past couple of decades, there have been increasing numbers of what are called "resident " geese that typically do not migrate. These are usually the ones that show up on golf courses, etc. With the warmer weather pattern this winter, many species that would migrate farther south have not. We have had large flocks of overwintering Robins and Bluebirds here, and Red winged Blackbirds have already returned four weeks ago when normally they would start showing up between the first and 10th of March. Turkey Vultures have also remained here all winter.
 
This fall, UNH left about five or six acres of standing silage corn that could not be harvested due to a major equipment breakdown and a loss of a weather window (including the Halloween Nor’easter) to harvest the corn at the correct time. As a result, the grain was still intact and slowly matured to become dry grain. After the New Year and just before the first snow, Farm Service rotary mowed the remaining standing corn, which essentially spread the grain all over the frozen surface of the ground. Instant buffet for geese!

The typical behavior pattern of the geese would be to fly inland to find existing food sources during the day and then retreat to open water during the night (mainly a predator response) but also because the water is warmer than the air.

Mr. Sawtelle’s estimate in driving back and forth this winter is that initially there may have been as many as 1500 to up to 2000 geese on the Moore Fields at the height just after the corn was rotary mowed.

RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM DURHAM
The Town of Durham has strived to be a leader in promoting education and compliance around the NH Right-to-Know Law, RSA 91-A.  To this end, all newly elected town and school officials, as well as seasoned board/committee members, are encouraged to take advantage of viewing the Right-to-Know Law information session that was provided on October 31, 2011 at the Durham Town Office.  To view the session on DCAT On Demand, go to http://dcat.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=29242d9b0a5287280c7dd277f4a90f3e.

RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW INFORMATION REGARDING EMAIL & OTHER MATTERS

Public Meetings
RSA 91-A requires that all public meetings are open to the public with very few exceptions. A public meeting, even those that are non-public, must be posted in advance so that the public is aware that the public's board is planning to meet, where it will be meeting, and a general sense of what will be discussed. This allows members of the public to attend the meeting if they desire to listen to or observe the proceedings.

What is a Meeting?
It is the convening of a quorum (or in the case of the Durham Town Council a majority for the purpose of the Right-to-Know law) of a public body, “whether in person, by means of telephone or electronic communication, or in any other manner such that all participating members are able to communicate contemporaneously,” for the purpose of discussing or acting upon any public business. RSA 91A:2, I.  This includes work sessions.

What is NOT a Meeting?
The law makes it clear that certain gatherings of public officials are not meetings subject to the Right to Know law (see RSA 91-A:2, I). They include:

• Chance, social, or other encounters “not convened for the purpose of discussing or acting upon . . . matters [relating to official business] if no decisions are made regarding such matters”
• Strategy or negotiations relating to collective bargaining
• Consultation with legal counsel

EMAIL/Electronic Communications
In Durham we have adopted a very open policy with respect to public access to communications. To this end, it is important for residents to know that emails that Councilors send to the Town Office will be made available for public inspection upon public request. In addition, ALL emails that the Administrator sends to one member of the Council, unless they are of a purely personal nature with no local government significance whatever (such as illness, family matters, etc.), are copied to all other members of the Council. This keeps everyone on the same page with the same information.

In addition, ALL email communication that Administrator Selig sends to the Council is also copied to Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry and placed into an electronic folder (we used to print emails in hard copy but in our effort to be sustainable, we switched this past year to an electronic format) for public and media inspection.

Informational emails that Councilors send to Mr. Selig (without also copying the full Council) are not placed in the public binder unless the Administrator specifically responds to them – though they could be requested by a member of the public at any time. 

To fully comply with changes to the Right to Know law made in 2008, any emails sent to Administrator Selig in which all or a majority of Councilors are also copied will be placed in our public folder.  If for some reason an email circulates among a majority or the full Council in which the Administrator is not copied, Councilors are asked to take it upon themselves to ensure we receive a copy of that transmittal for placement in the public folder.

In this day and age of lightning-speed email, Facebook, and other on-line communication -- great concern has existed as to whether ongoing and deliberate two-way communication between a majority of members of the Council does in fact constitute a public meeting -- and an illegal one that has not been posted at that. In Durham, we have long taken the position that such electronic communication does constitute a public meeting. Changes to the Right to Know law in 2008, many of which were initiated at Durham's request, are consistent with Durham’s historical interpretation.

Communications Outside a Meeting
RSA 91-A:2-a, limits the use of communications outside a public meeting held in compliance with the law. 

• No deliberations outside a public meeting.  Public bodies may deliberate on matters of official business “only in meetings held pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of RSA 91-A:2, II or III” – i.e., only in properly noticed public meetings.  This does not mean that any mention of a matter of official business outside a public meeting is illegal; however, it is illegal for the body to deliberate on such a matter outside a meeting - i.e., to discuss the matter with a view toward making a decision.  This includes discussions by email and other electronic means!  The intent of the law is that such matters should be deliberated in public.
• No circumvention of the spirit or purpose of the law.  Communications outside a meeting, “including, but not limited to, sequential communications among members of a public body,” shall not be used “to circumvent the spirit and purpose of this chapter.”  This is intended primarily to prevent public bodies from skirting the “meeting” definition by deliberating or deciding matters via a series of communications, none of which alone involves a quorum of the public body, but which in aggregate include a quorum.

To ensure that the Council does not inadvertently have any illegal meetings, we have opted over the last few years to keep two-way email and electronic communication between all Councilors to a minimum.

A few concrete examples are provided below to illustrate improper and proper electronic communication more clearly.

Example #1: Examples of Problematic Email Communication between Councilors:
Councilor 1: Is there consensus that the Town should purchase land parcel XYZ for a price of $1,000,000?
Councilor 2: Absolutely.
Councilor 3: Yes.
Councilor 4: Full speed ahead!
Councilor 5: Go.
Councilor 6: Buy it now while the getting is good!
Councilor 7: I vote yes.
Councilor 8: I vote yes.
Clearly, a trend is evolving in which a majority of members of the Council are one by one lending support to a decision -- but without the public's knowledge that a discussion is taking place. This type of email interaction would be a violation of state law.

Example #2. Examples of Problematic Email Communication between Administrator and Council:
Administrator: What does everyone think about developing an ordinance that prohibits pink colored houses in Durham?
Councilor 1: Great Idea.
Councilor 2: I hate pink. Good going. Long overdue.
Councilor 3: As long as my house is grandfathered!
Councilor 4: Super.
Councilor 5: As soon as possible this reform is needed.
Again, public business is being conducted and "discussed" without the public's knowledge. This would be a problem. The topic would be more appropriately discussed at a public meeting of the Council.

Example 3: Example of Appropriate Communication between Administrator and Council:
Administrator: I am planning to take action XYZ that is within the Administrator's authority per Charter and wanted to let the Council know of the pending action so that if there are any concerns, these can be brought to my attention in a timely way.
Councilor 1: I have a concern.
Administrator: Thank you for expressing your concern. We will schedule this for discussion at the next public meeting of the Council.

Example 4: Example of Appropriate Communication between Councilors:
Councilor 1 to All Councilors: Madam Chairman. I want to schedule a discussion for the next meeting dealing with topic Y because it is very important for a variety of reasons impacting our community.
Chairman: We will put topic Y on the agenda for the next meeting so that all Councilors may weigh in on the subject and so that the public will be informed of the issue. Thank you for the suggestion.

As always, board members should not hesitate to touch base if they have further questions in regard to Right-to-Know law issues.

DURHAM PREVAILS IN LONG AWAITED VARSITY DURHAM ABATEMENT APPEAL FOR $28.4 MILLION STUDENT HOUSING PORTFOLIO
Last week the NH Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA) issued two separate rulings in Varsity Durham, LLC v. Town of Durham AND Varsity Durham II, LLC v. Town of Durham, the long awaited appeals of $28,439,700.00 in assessed valuation by Varsity Durham on an extensive multi-unit student housing portfolio which set the benchmark for assessments of Durham student housing as part of the 2008 revaluation.  The taxpayer had advocated long and hard for a settlement but the Town believed it unwarranted and held firm, thus the case proceeded to the BTLA.

In both cases, the BTLA ruled:  “On the facts presented, the board finds the sale price is a good indicator of the Property’s value.  The Taxpayer [Varsity] is a sophisticated investor and there is no evidence the investor paid any premium over the market value.  In fact, there is nothing to suggest the Property was not adequately exposed to the market or that either the buyer or seller was atypically motivated.  Additionally, it is evident the Taxpayer performed extensive due diligence prior to the purchase and obtained financing based on appraisals prepared by qualified and independent appraisers that supported the purchase price.” 

“The board also considered the additional evidence presented by the Town regarding the 2008 revaluation.  This evidence included an “Appraisal Review” performed by Stephen G. Traub, ASA, CNHA, of Property Valuation Advisors.  Mr. Traub conducted an independent review of the revaluation performed by the Town’s assessor (Robert Dix, CNHA).  Mr. Traub concluded “the new assessments of student housing overall are at approximately 100% of market value, right on target, and overall the quality is considered good.”  The Taxpayer presented no reliable evidence to rebut this conclusion.”

To view the full BTLA decisions, click HERE and HERE.

Front and back cover of book written by Durham resident Michael Behrendt

DURHAM RESIDENT MICHAEL BEHRENDT PUBLISHES BOOK

Durham resident Michael Behrendt has written a book, Comme D'Or: The First Fifty Years of Holy Rosary Credit Union, which was published in December 2011. Michael was commissioned by the HRCU to chronicle the history of the institution and to explore the broader Franco-American community and the credit union movement. His book is available for sale at any HRCU or on Amazon.com. 

NH DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IDENTIFIES DEFICIENCIES AT DURHAM TOWN OFFICES & ORDERS CHANGES
The Department of Labor for the State of New Hampshire has ordered safety enhancements at the Durham Town Office due to identified deficiencies following a recent inspection of town facilities.   

Three areas in particular have been identified for required changes at the Town Hall:

• The Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office must be enclosed with protective glass to ensure the employees there are in a safe environment; door locking mechanism upgrades are required for the office.
• The Planning/Zoning/Assessing Office Administrative Assistant’s work area must be upgraded such that more protection is in place buffering the assigned staff member from the general public due to the fact that money is received there for permit fees.
• The Business Manager’s Office must be reorganized to provide additional security for staff because Welfare applicants are completing applications in this location.
• Durham staff will endeavor to address deficiencies in the coming weeks.

DURHAM EVALUATES CHANGING HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO REDUCE COSTS FOR BOTH EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE
As part of our Kaizen efforts to ensure quality as well as efficiency/competitive pricing, Town has been reviewing various Health Insurance options. It appears that SchoolCare has a very comparable plan to what is currently offered at a savings to the Town. To explore this possibility further, we have set up a meeting for all non-union employees to come and listen to a presentation from SchoolCare, which offers the Cigna plan.  Presently, a line of Anthem products is offered to qualifying employees through the Local Government Center.   The presentation has been scheduled for Friday, April 6th at 2:00 PM in the Town Office Council Chambers.  Employee input will be important as we evaluate this possible change.

Members of Durham's staff attending website training at UNH's Hewitt Hall.

Courtesy Luke Vincent

TOWN STAFF AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS ATTEND WEB SITE TRAINING FOR NEW DURHAM WEB SITE (Presently in Development)

On Monday March 5, 2012 twenty staff, board, committee, and commission members attended training as a first step toward the Town’s project to replace its website with a modern, municipality-focused content management system. 

Mary Joy Gasdia and Brian Gilday of Aha! Consulting did an excellent job explaining the innner workings of the platform and everyone walked away with the ability to post new content in the form of internal pages and calendar events. The new website is still months from launching, but by training everyone on the site’s tools early in the process and granting access to the preliminary version of the site, trainees have an opportunity to control their own content before the site’s official launch. 

A big thank you is extended to everyone who took a few hours out of their busy work day to learn about  the new technology.

SWEARING IN OF NEW COUNCILORS
Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt will be in attendance at Monday evening's Council meeting to swear in new members of the Town Council. We welcome newly elected member Dave Howland, and congratulate Diana Carroll and Robin Mower upon their re-election to the Town Council. A great deal of gratitude and appreciation is also extended to outgoing Councilor Neil Niman who served for for six years, for his devoted service to the community. The newly elected Councilor will officially assume his duties after being sworn in by the Town Clerk on Monday evening.
 

ORIENTATION SCHEDULED FOR NEWLY ELECTED TOWN COUNCILORS
An orientation session has been scheduled for newly elected members of the Town Council beginning at 6:00 PM on Monday, March 19, 2012, in the Town Council chambers.  To view the agenda for the session, click HERE.

HOW DOES LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN DURHAM FUNCTION?
The Town Charter defines how local government functions here in Durham. Unlike other New Hampshire towns that operate under a Board of Selectmen/Town Meeting form of government, there is no longer a Town Meeting in Durham nor is there a Board of Selectmen. Instead, all of the powers of the town are vested in a Town Council consisting of nine (9) Councilors. The Councilors are elected from the town at large for three-year terms of office. Terms are staggered so that three (3) Councilors are elected at each town election. The Town Council has both budgetary and legislative authority. In other words, it can adopt a budget and make laws without further action of the Town. An Administrator is then selected and appointed by the Town Council to serve as the chief administrative officer of the town. S/He hires/fires staff, supervises, and is responsible for the administrative and financial affairs of the town and carries out the policies enacted by the Council. The Administrator is charged with the preservation of the health, safety and welfare of persons and property and sees to the enforcement of the ordinances of the town, the Town Charter, and the laws of the State of New Hampshire. For more information concerning the Durham Town Charter or to view the document in its entirety, click HERE.
 

DURHAM/UNH WATER SYSTEM CHALLENGES NHDES REQUESTING RECESSION OF “401 CERTIFICATE”
The Durham/UNH Water System remains intensely concerned about the continuation of a §401 Certification that was of questionable authority when it was issued in 2001, and that has been the subject of a significant debate in Durham about the System being unfairly subject to §401 requirements on top of the efforts being required under the State’s ongoing Instream Flow Pilot Program for the Lamprey River.  For the reasons that are addressed in a letter dated 3/2/12 (see link below) to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), the Durham/UNH Water System has renewed its request that NHDES rescind altogether the §401 Certification.  If NHDES is unwilling or unable to do so, the Durham/UNH Water System further asks that NHDES request both the Army Corps of Engineers and the Attorney General’s Office to provide a written explanation of thei r positions on this issue.
 
For residents who periodically hear mention of “the 401 Certificate” during Durham Town Council discussions, the following history may be of use. 
 
NHDES issued the §401 Certification to the Town of Durham and the University of New Hampshire in association with a wetlands permit application from the year 2000 for installation of new force main piping extending the then existing transfer water main in the Lamprey River near the Wiswall Bridge so as to connect directly to the Arthur Rollins Water Treatment Plant rather than to a surface discharge above the Oyster River impoundment. This provided a far more efficient transfer of water from the Lamprey River at the Wiswall Dam impoundment to the UNH Water Treatment Plant on campus along the Oyster River.
 
This “hardpipe” project -- a voluntary water conservation project jointly funded by the University and Town-- traversed a portion of open forested wetlands within the Oyster River watershed that did require state and federal wetlands approval.  It was the proposed construction activity within these wetlands that necessitated a federal permit -- wetlands impacts that obviously had nothing whatsoever to do physically with the withdrawal of water from the Lamprey River.
 
Section 401 of the Clean Water Act does require the State to certify that a discharge associated with the construction of facilities that require a federal permit will comply with water quality standards.  The discharge in this case was simply the placement of some fill during construction of the “hardpipe” project. The conditions that were attached to the Certification had nothing at all to do with the wetlands impacts that were the subject of the federal permit.
 
To view the recent correspondence dated 3/2/12 from Attorney Dana Bisbee on behalf of the Durham/UNH Water System to NHDES, click HERE.

US SENATOR KELLY AYOTTE OFFICE HOURS IN DURHAM

A representative from Senator Kelly Ayotte's office will hold office hours at the Durham Town Hall on Friday, March 23, 2012 from 12:30 - 1:30 PM to afford members of the community the opportunity to ask questions and provide concerns relative to matters dealing with the federal government. Senator's Ayotte's contact information is:

Local Address:    

1200 Elm Street, Suite 2, Manchester, NH 03101

Phone:  603-622-7979

Web site: www.ayotte.senate.gov

Washington Address:

144 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-3324

Web site:  www.ayotte.senate.gov

MASTER PLAN UPDATE

The process for updating the Master Plan is underway and we encourage the citizens of Durham to attend any and all meetings and to participate as much as they can.  The Energy Committee met on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 and continued to discuss the new Energy Chapter.  The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, March 8, 2012 and is the initial discussion phase of updating the Environments Resources Chapter.  The Planning Board will be discussing the draft Commercial Core Chapter on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 and the Economic Development Committee (EDC) will also be discussing the Commercial Core Chapter on March 26, 2012.  The EDC may also begin discussions on the update for the Economic Development Chapter (formerly the Tax Stabilization Chapter).  Each Board/Committee/Commission posts its meetings on the Town’s website at http://ci.durham.nh.us/.  We are working toward having more information about the Master Plan update on our website.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Director of Planning & Community Development. Jim Campbell, at jcampbell@ci.durham.nh.us or 868-8084.

HEAVY HAULING ORDINANCE

The Town of Durham's ordinance regulating heavy hauling will be in effect from Tuesday, March 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM, until Saturday, April 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM. 

The Durham Town Council has given the Director of Public Works authority to impose the load limit regulations before or after these dates if deemed necessary.  Please be on the lookout for posted signs indicating the beginning of the restricted area(s). The Ordinance restricts hauling over six (6) tons on specific Class V roads within the Town of Durham. 

The roads affected, exempted hauling, and other information is contained in the Town of Durham Code, Chapter 153, section B, and is available at the Durham Public Works Department, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham or by calling (603) 868-5578.

ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS OF CITIZENS TO FILL VACANCIES ON VARIOUS TOWN BOARDS

On April 30, 2012, terms on various Town boards, commissions, and committees will expire. In April, the Town Council will begin the process for making its annual appointments/reappointments to Town boards, with appointments to take effect May 1, 2012. 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 home page of the Town’s web site: www.ci.durham.nh.us in the blue box located at the right.

Completed applications may be mailed to the Town Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday, March 23, 2012.

Conservation Commission (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

DCAT Governance Committee (5 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Durham Agricultural Commission (3 regular vacancies; 2 alternate vacancies)

Economic Development Committee (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Historic District /Heritage Commission (2 regular vacancies)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee (1 regular vacancy; 1 alternate vacancy)

Library Board of Trustees (3 alternate vacancies)

Parks and Recreation (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)
Pease Airport Noise Compatibility Study Committee (1 vacancy)
Planning Board  (2 regular vacancies; 3 alternate vacancies)
Strafford Regional Planning Commission MPO Policy Committee (2 vacancies)
Zoning Board of Adjustment (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

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.

Town Council - Monday, March 19, 2012. To view the complete packet of information for this meeting, click HERE.

Durham Agricultural Commission - Thursday, March 22, 2012 

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/  by clicking the DCAT on demand logo, or directly at http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.

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.

BOY SCOUT TROOP 154 PARENTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING

On Wednesday evening, March 21, 2012, 7:00 PM, at the Community Church of Durham, the adult leaders of Durham's Boy Scout Troop 154 will hold a parents informational meeting to introduce the parents of several new scouts to the troop and its ethics, goals, procedures, and activities. Parents that may be considering scouting for their sons, at either the Cub Scout or Boy Scout level, are encouraged to attend.  The troop is also seriously considering the establishment of a co-ed Venture Crew. Venturing is the Boy Scouts of America program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20 who would like to take part in scouting-type activities.  Many Venture Crews are predominately female and function closely with a Boy Scout Troop and participate in regional and national scouting activities. Potential new Scouts and Venturer's are also encouraged to attend, observe, and participate in the weekly Troop 154 meeting (same time & location).  For additional information please contact Tom Richardson at 603-799-7610.

SELLING EGGS AT THE ANNUAL EGG HUNT

The Durham Agricultural Commission is seeking residents interested in selling eggs from their chickens at the upcoming Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7th at 11am at Town Landing. Residents who would like to sell eggs and/or have their name and contact information on a list of sources for local eggs, please contact Theresa Walker at theresawalker@comcast.net or 659-7226.

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

An opportunity awaits for many to become involved in the Durham community! For more information, click HERE.

On Saturday, April 7th the Durham Parks & Recreation Committee and Oyster River Parents of Preschoolers will hold the 18th annual Easter Egg Hunt at the picturesque Durham Town Landing on Old Landing Road at 11:00 AM. For more information, click HERE.

Learn to run with trainer Sheila Harding on Thursdays from 9:30 - 10:30 AM beginning in April. For more information, click HERE.

For more information contact Parks & Recreation Director Sandy Devins at recreation@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Museum of Art, UNH Exhibitions Through April 4, 2012 (closed March 9 – 18)

Chris Jordan: Running the Numbers features 14 large-scale digital images that explore contemporary mass culture from a variety of photographic and conceptual perspectives. Free. Paul Creative Arts Center, UNH.

What's New: Recent Additions to the Collection showcases 20 recently acquired drawings, paintings, prints, and sculpture by renowned regional and national artists. Free. Paul Creative Arts Center, UNH.

For more information call (603)862-3712, or visit http://www.unh.edu/moa/.

The Power of Forgiveness, Sunday, March 18, 2012, 11:30 AM-2:00 PM, Community Church of Durham Library, filmed in locations including New York, Tennessee, Lebanon, and Northern Ireland. For more information, click HERE.

Oyster River Taxpayers Meeting, Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 7:00 PM, Durham Town Hall Council Chambers.

Community Gardens at Wagon Hill Farm Informational Meeting, Sunday, March 25, 2012, 3:00-5:00 PM,Board Room immediately inside the front door on the first floor of Thompson Hall on the UNH campus. For more information, contact Dennis Meadows at LATAILLEDE@AOL.COM

2nd Annual Durham Police Officers Union Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, March 31, 2010, 8:00 - 11:00 AM, Durham Evangelical Church. Proceeds to benefit the Chief Ray Burrows Scholarship Fund.

9th Annual Todd's Trot 5K Road Race/Walk, Saturday, April 7, 2012, 10:00 AM, Oyster River High School. Race day registration begins at 8:30 AM at the ORHS. For more information, http://toddstrot.org/.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

THANK YOU, DURHAM!! Durham voters approved the construction of a new library facility by passing a $2.6M bond for on March 13th. A 2/3 majority was required but the bond passed by 74%. The Library Board of Trustees and Library Staff would like to thank the scores of people who generously supported this project. This outcome is the culmination of years of effort and dedication on the part of Trustees (both past and present), Friends of the Library, and residents from throughout the community.

The Library Trustee's timetable calls for the library to be complete by the summer of 2013. There is much work to be done on design and construction. The new library will serve as a community resource for generations, providing books and other materials in multiples formats; collection, storytime and craft areas for children; a room for teens; spaces for meetings, programs, and events; areas for Durham residents to gather or for individuals to enjoy quiet time reading; and so much more. There is something in the new library for everyone.

________________________________

Storytimes Tues. March 20th and Thurs. March 22nd at 10:30 a.m. – This week:  Spring! Join us for stories, fingerplays, feltboard, songs and a craft.  All are welcome.
Lego Club meets this Thursday March 22nd from 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Dr. Sherlock Holmes, Tues. March 20th 7:00 pm - Medicine and Mystery Fans of the popular television show "House" know that it is based on Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. By examining Sherlock Holmes's detective in the context of Doyle's medical writings, this talk offers insights into the relationship between doctors and detectives.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book Group, Weds. March 21st, 2:45-4:00 pm - Ruth Wharton McDonald is the facilitator. This month's book is "Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick. Copies of the book available at the library. Pizza is served!
Celebrate the Patch Club and Meet UNH Women’s Ice Hockey Team Members, Sat. March 24th at 10:30 a.m. Members of the UNH Women's Hockey team will read stories as well as meet and greet all of you. We will also make a craft and have a cake.

New High School Book Group will meet on Weds. April 11th from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the library.  This month’s book is “Poison Study” by Maria Snyder and is available now at the library.  Ruth Wharton-MacDonald will be the facilitator.

Wishing you were at Pemberley with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy? Please join The Friends of the Durham Public Library for a twofer book discussion on Jane Austen's most famous couple in April and May. April 23: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice;
May 23: Continue the story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy with P.D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley. Jennifer Lee will lead the discussions. Both novels are available at the library.
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 at the library.

Need a reading buddy?  UNH tutors are available through Seacoast Reads at the library for your child in 1st through 3rd grade.  Sign up for the second semester.
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. 

Check out the library's website at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/durham/ for more information.

FROM "DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY - 1900-1985"

Business (1960-1985):  "The 1980s have seen some musical chairs activity among the business community. The Red Carpet relocated at the old College Corner Restaurant site, and what had been the Down Under Bar, in the basement of the Gorman Block, became first an Italian and then a Chinese restaurant. Around the corner, on Jenkins Court, Durham Copy does a brisk business in instant reproduction of graphic materials. The Franklin Theater, under Bill Davison's management since 1957, gave up on showing movies after sixty years of dedication to bringing the best films to Durham at reasonable prices. The building has been a ballroom-bar called the Franklin Ballroom since then, but in 1985 it is being converted into a multipurpose fitness club and nonalcoholic bar and lunch room by the Clark brothers. A Sub Sandwich Shop is doing business where the Leavitts once had a restaurant, and Dick Houghton's Hardware still carries paper-whites and bird food along with hardware and garden supplies. Weeks Restaurant became Arby's (a fast-food chain); then, since 1984, but a variety food store remains at that location. Convenience items and beer are also available in the shop to the west that used to be the post office. Campus Copy, across the street, is able to reproduce or print a variety of signs, programs, theses, or T-shirts. The Care Pharmacy, which had provided Durham with prescription drugs since 1973, vacated its store on Main Street, and an enlarged Brooks Drug facility in the shopping center offers that service in 1985." Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

Keep an eye out for Leprechauns this weekend and have a happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow!

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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