Friday, April 13, 2012

Durham considers acquisition of former People's Bank site for use as future Town Office. More information is provided in the article below. Courtesy Todd Selig

Our hearts and minds go out this day to all of those impacted by last evening's terrible events in Greenland, NH in which five police officers were shot, one of whom was mortally wounded.  Flags across the state have been lowered to half-staff.

DURHAM CONSIDERS ACQUISITION OF FORMER PEOPLE'S BANK SITE FOR USE AS FUTURE TOWN OFFICE

The former Durham branch of People’s United Bank, located at 8 Newmarket Road, has been put up for sale with a listing price of $769,000. Administrator Selig has conducted due diligence with regard to the site as a future Town Office location and has concluded that the 8 Newmarket Road location with renovations and an addition would indeed meet the space needs and functional requirements for the Town Office that were outlined in the Space Needs Assessment prepared by Sumner Davis Architects, Inc. in July 2006. To view this document, click HERE.

The bank site is a handsome colonial-style building in the midst of Durham's historic district, is in excellent condition, and is equipped with two safes that would ideally meet the Town's needs in preserving historical records.

The current Town Office has long been recognized as being deficient in a number of critical areas such as:

• Noncompliance with ADA (handicap accessibility).
• Lack of short-term and long-term temperature controlled storage space for day to day and critical historical records.
• Inadequate filing and workspace.
• Inadequate meeting space.
• Lack of security for staff and very inefficient mechanical and HVAC systems.
• Inadequate stair widths, riser and tread dimensions, and myriad other building and life safety code violations.

In order to secure the bank site to ensure the Town Council has the option of moving forward with a purchase of the property, Mr. Selig initiated negotiations with the bank. Two other parties also have placed offers for the parcel.

At this time, Mr. Selig has signed a Letter of Intent to Purchase and is awaiting approval from the seller. Per the terms of this agreement, the Town Council will have thirty (30) working days to execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement and would therefore need to act on the Purchase and Sale Agreement at its meeting on May 7, 2012. At that time, a formal proposal will be presented.

Staff is working with architect Kelly Davis to develop a conceptual buildout of the bank site and estimated pricing as part of the May 7th meeting.  You may recall that Mr. Davis was engaged in 2006 to conduct the Space Needs Assessment for the Town Office faciilty.

The acquisition of the bank site is entirely predicated from the perspective of Administrator Selig on the outright sale of the existing 15 Newmarket Road Town Office location for development purposes. To this end, Mr. Selig has again initiated conversations with the owner of the Irving Station to discuss price and timing. The Irving Station owner has in the past offered the Town a premium price for the Town Office location in that it would be assimilated in with his other adjacent holdings.  We expect the receipt of a proposal shortly.

In 2008, Durham had the Town Office site appraised and at that time the most probable "as is" market value of the property, in fee simple, was $650,000 as a stand alone parcel.  At that time, the Irving Station owner had discussed paying upwards of $2,000,000 if the Town Office parcel could be integrated with his ajacent parcels and developed as a pharmacy.  That offer was just prior to the onset of the recession and the pharmacy market has changed significantly.  Today, this price would more likely be in the $1 - $1.5 million range for a pharmacy assuming all permits/approvals are granted.  For a non-pharmacy use, the value of the parcel would be significantly less. 

At the Town Council meeting on Monday, April 16, 2012, the Town Council will receive a report from Administrator Selig regarding the potential acquisition of the former People's United Bank site for use as a future Town Office location. Should the bank accept the Town's offer, the Council will be asked to act on a formal Purchase and Sale Agreement at its meeting on May 7th. A site walk of the property would be scheduled prior to May 7th.

Long-time Durham resident and Rochester Chief 

Planner appointed Dir. Planning & Community

Development for Durham

ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Director of Planning and Community Development Jim Campbell will be leaving the Town of Durham effective the end of August 2012. Because of an unprecedented level of development interest occurring in Durham, as well as an outstanding local candidate having been identified, the Administrator has opted to move forward with a direct recruitment rather than an open search in order to ensure there is no lapse in coverage for the Planning Office and that the department will be well positioned to deal with the complex issues currently facing the community.

At the Town Council meeting on Monday, April 16, 2012, the Council will be asked to provide its "advise and consent" in accordance with Section 4.6 of the Durham Town Charter of the Administrator's appointment of Mr. Michael Behrendt as the Director of Planning and Community Development.

The Charter states:  “The Administrator shall have the power to appoint and remove, subject to the provisions of this Charter, all town department heads.  Such appointments shall be on merit and fitness alone and with the advice and consent of the Council.” 

Mr. Behrendt, a long-time Durham resident, is viewed as one of the most accomplished planners in the Seacoast with 17 years of experience in Rochester, NH as that community’s Chief Planner.  Prior to his employment with Rochester, Mr. Behrendt served as the Planner for Beaufort, SC. In his early years, Mr. Behrendt worked as a real estate broker and as a preservation coordinator.  

He is considered a leader in the area of new urbanist development--a primary recommendation contained in the B. Dennis Commercial Core Strategic Plan prepared for the Town. He has a deep appreciation for aesthetics and how a structure will blend into its surrounding environment. He is also an excellent Planner.

Mr. Behrendt has authored two books: The Architectural Jewels of Rochester, New Hampshire: A History of the Built Environment published in 2009, and Comme D'Or: The First Fifty Years of Holy Rosary Credit Union, published in 2011. He was  commissioned by the Holy Rosary Credit Union to chronicle the history of the institution and to explore the broader Franco-American community and the credit union movement. 

His personal interests include basketball, ballroom dancing (winner-2008 Seacost Dancing with the Stars), ice skating, juggling, music, and travel.

Mr. Behrendt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University with coursework in psychology, political science, philosophy, and economics, and a Master of City Planning degree from Boston University.

COUNCIL BEGINS PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING 2012/13 GOALS

At the April 2, 2012 Town Council meeting, Councilors began discussing suggested goals for the upcoming three to five years.  Councilors and Administrator Selig each provided suggestions, which have been consolidated into a single document.  This will be discussed at the upcoming Council meeting on April 16th.  To view the draft-consolidated list, click HERE.

FINAL PUBLIC FORUMS FOR THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN UPDATE - APRIL 17
The community is invited to attend either of two open forums on the update of the campus master plan.  The forums are scheduled for 12:40-2:00 pm in New Hampshire Hall, Room 208 and 4:00-5:30 pm in MUB Theater II.

Doug Bencks, University Architect and Director of Campus Planning:  “I hope that everyone who has an interest in the physical development of campus will join us as we look for final thoughts and comments on this update to our comprehensive Campus Master Plan.”
 

Each session will begin with the identical presentation that focuses on the key aspects of the draft plan that has been in progress since last October.  There will be an opportunity during each forum to discuss the advantages and impacts of all elements of the draft plan including:

• The final preferred location for a new Center for the Arts and the steps for building it.
• Opportunities for Public-Private Ventures on campus lands that might include a hotel/conference center, retail and office/research space along with related relocations of campus land needs.
• The site selection of graduate student and family housing in the context of overall campus development.
• Uses of McConnell Hall, Nesmith Hall, Conant Hall, and Huddleston Hall, as these facilities are renovated over time.
• Review of all space needs as programs evolve and expectations shift over time.

A team consisting of Campus Planning staff along with consultants Architerra Inc. of Boston and JBA Inc. of Fort Collins, Colo. have met with various committees, working groups, and departments in the process of developing this draft plan with the intent of delivering an updated Campus Master Plan to President Huddleston over the summer with Trustee approval in the fall 2012. 

For those who cannot attend either of these forums detailed information will be posted at http://www.unh.edu/cmp/ and on social media outlets. Comments and suggestions can also be shared at cmp.ideas@unh.edu.

Mr. Bencks will also provide a presentation regarding elements of the draft UNH Master Plan to the Durham Economic Development Committee on April 23rd and to the Durham Planning Board on April 25th.  Both of these meetings betin at 7 PM.

25 MPH SPEED LIMIT ADJUSTMENT PROPOSED FOR DOWNTOWN CORE

At the February meeting of the Traffic Safety Committee, there was general consensus that the speed limits of roadways within the downtown area and commercial core should be designated 25 MPH due to traffic demands combined with pedestrian and bicycle activity.  Additionally, the committee was informed that the University of New Hampshire is adjusting its speed limits within interior UNH campus roads.  Consequently, the committee has recommended that it is an appropriate time to coordinate and stabilize speed limits throughout the downtown and campus core. 

The Durham Town Code (the technical name for all ordinances adopted by Durham) assigns all roadways to be 30 MPH unless otherwise specified.  In other words, if the Code is silent regarding speed a speed limit on a roadway, by default it is 30 MPH.

The Traffic Safety Committee is an administrative committee organized by the Town Administrator to advise him regarding traffic safety matters.  Members include the police chief, fire chief, public works director, planner, and code enforcement officer.  A Planning Board representative also attends, as do some members of the Town Council regarding topics of interest to them. 

At this time, an amendment to the Code is scheduled for presentation and first reading before the Council on June 4th.

To view the collection of roadways impacted by this change, click HERE.

DURHAM PREVAILS IN SUPREME COURT APPEAL OF ZBA DECISION || BARRETT v. TOWN OF DURHAM
The NH Supreme Court issued a decision this week in the Barrett v. Town of Durham ZBA appeal.  In the case, the NH Supreme Court affirmed the trial court, which had affirmed the Durham Zoning Board of Adjustment, which had affirmed the decision of the Durham Zoning Official, that certain "tents" on the Barrett's property located on Colony Cove Road were "structures" under the Town’s Zoning Ordinance.  On appeal, Barrett’s attorney argued that the trial court erred by not ruling that the tents were “accessory sheds” rather than structures, and by not distinguishing between the terms “minor installation” and “accessory shed” within the definition of “structure.”  In light of this decision, the Town will instruct the property owner to remove the tents.  The matter was initially brought to the attention of the Town based on expressed concern from a neighbor.  To view the full case, click HERE.

COMPARISON OF POLICE 1ST QUARTER RESPONSES TO RENTAL PROPERTIES
In order to track police responses to rental properties in Durham, the Police Department quarterly pulls together a report illustrating same. 

The first quarter data from 2012 shows stabilization in calls when compared to last year’s review of the same period.  However, calls are still up substantially from 2010 and there has been a noticeable spike in the violent nature associated with calls for assistance.  In 2010 there were 43 calls during the 1st Quarter.  In 2011 there were 64 calls for service during this period.  In 2012 there were 65 calls for service.

The Police Department has highlighted three locations in RED within the report where police response has increased since last year and GREEN for areas where significant improvement has been identified.

To view the report, click HERE.

DURHAM AND UNH POLICE HOST DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DIALOGUE

Durham Police Chief David Kurz and Chief Paul Dean of UNH Police invited the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service to co-host a community dialog this week at Huddleston Hall.  With the assistance of the United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, they invited a number of local police chiefs and representatives from the NAACP, leaders from the Latino, Muslim, Arab, and Sikh communities as well as other ethnic groups in New Hampshire to engage in conversation with the goal to create an environment of mutual respect among the parties so that everyone is able to identify issues/concerns, propose workable solutions/resolutions, and create an "Action Plan" to address any potential challenges.

It is believed that the establishment of these partnerships and personal relationships enables everyone to work collaboratively in the best interest of our mutual community before a challenge or crisis occurs!   By taking time to meet and discuss openly shared concerns develops the personal relationships and trust that will ensure success during any challenge.

DPW SPOT WELDS MANHOLE COVERS TO PREVENT LATE NIGHT VANDALISM
Due to a recurring problem of storm drain grates that have been removed along Madbury Road during late nights/early mornings on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings creating significant safety hazards, the Police Department requested the Public Works Department to evaluate whether anything can be done.  DPW will spot weld grates in identified areas to eliminate the issue.

Recently a grate was removed at the Tedeschi Lot, two were removed from Madbury Road at Bagdad Woods, and one was removed from Bagdad Road just off Madbury Road.

Scottish Highlander cows, Courtesy Miles Smith Farm, Loudon, NH

COME MEET THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER COW ON APRIL 17TH AT YOUNG'S RESTAURANT

Come meet a Scottish Highlander cow from Miles Smith Farm, Loudon, NH, on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at 5:30 PM behind Young's Restaurant as part of Young's celebration of local food, including Miles Smith Farm beef, in the restaurant, and in celebration of the fact that a herd of these Scottish Highlander cows will arrive shortly at Emery Farm for grazing there - Durham Beef!  Come one, come all.  The red headed cows are very cute.

CONSERVATION COMMISSION SITE WALK FOR PROPOSED AMBER ACRES CONSERVATION PROJECT ALONG THE OYSTER RIVER ALONG MAST ROAD

On Wednesday, April 18, the Durham Conservation Commission will hold a site walk on the property known as Amber Acres. The property is located along Mast  Road (Route 155A) and is shown as Map 13, Lots 14-1 and 14-100 on the Durham tax maps. Members of the public are welcome. Those who wish to attend should meet at 8:00 A.M. on the tree-lined long driveway at 224 Mast Road (opposite the Moore Fields).
 
This site walk is part of the Conservation Commission’s deliberations on a request made by the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, working on behalf of Amber Acres, LLC, for Town Conservation Funding in the amount of $250,000 for a conservation easement on 39 acres. A public hearing will follow at the next regular meeting of the Conservation Commission, May 10, which starts at 7:00 P.M. and will be held in the Council Chambers at  Town Hall.

Should the Commission decide to move forward with the project, it would subsequently request from the Town Council authorization to accept an executory interest in the easement. The Council would then hold a public hearing as part of its own deliberation on that request.
 
The property’s most significant conservation values include approximately 27 acres recognized as important productive farm soils and more than 3,000 feet of frontage on the Oyster River, a public water supply shared by Durham and UNH. In addition, the property is identified by the NH Wildlife Action Plan in its highest rank for wildlife habitat and is across the river from the proposed Sprucewood Forest conservation project.
 
The Southeast Land Trust would hold the easement and seek to put the land into active food production by either selling or leasing the land to a farmer. The Town of Durham would hold executory interest (become the backup easement holder, with enforcement authority).

DURHAM LAND STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE UPDATE

What do conservation, agriculture, and parks and recreation have in common? A great deal. Durham's new Land Stewardship Committee includes members of the Parks & Recreation Committee and the Agriculture and Conservation commissions. On Tuesday, they met with Town Public Works Director Mike Lynch to discuss a set of common goals and ways they could coordinate and communicate about their efforts on town lands in the years to come. The discussion focused on a few important initiatives:

1. Assembling an online land inventory: Work is underway on taking stock of all town properties and lands where the town holds an interest. A file on each property could include permitted uses, scans of site maps, histories, studies, and other pertinent documents.
2. Promoting responsible use of our town lands: Land Use Committee members will be leading a series of public walks on town lands in the coming year. We are also looking for volunteers to help. For more information, please contact Land Use Committee Chair Malin Cylde at malinelyclyde@gmail.com.
3. Focusing on Wagon Hill Farm: the Agricultural Commission is exploring ways to promote local agriculture and to put sections of the farm back to work (as seen in our community gardens); the Parks & Recreation Committee is working to expand public access, including parking and bathroom facilities; and the Conservation Commission is studying opportunities for ecological restoration and habitat protection.

NO BRUSH WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TRANSFER STATION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

After consulting with the Fire Department, the Town has decided to temporarily hold off on accepting brush at the Transfer Station and Recycling Center until further notice due to dry conditions and an increase for fire hazard. 

There is a large amount of brush currently at the facility that has not been able to be burned due to the dry conditions. The Town is now at red flag for fire hazard and two days of heavy consistent rain is needed in order to lift the ban.  Residents will be informed once they may begin bringing brush to the Transfer Station. 

SPRING CLEANUP

The annual bulky waste pickup BEGINS MONDAY, APRIL 3O, 2012.  Please place materials curbside NO EARLIER than April 28th and NO LATER than 7AM on April 30th.  Remember that items that require an electronics sticker still do during curbside collection, they can be purchased at the Public Works office for $10.  This is not the time of year that we collect brush and leaves, that is during Fall pick up.  If you put out brush and leaves, they WILL NOT BE PICKED UP.  The newsletter that should have been received by all residents this week with details on the collection. To view the newsletter, click HERE.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

The 2012 Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held at the Department of Public Works facility located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive on Saturday, September 22, 2012.  As in the past, all hazardous waste will be collected by appointment only.  To register, you must call the Department of Public Works at 868-5578 or e-mail publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us. 

Remember, the maximum collected per household is five gallons.  LATEX AND OIL BASED PAINTS , MOTOR OIL, AND ANTI-FREEZE ARE NOT ACCEPTED AT HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY!  These items can be brought up to the Transfer Station with your permit throughout the year.  Latex paints must be dried out first, motor oil, anti-freeze and oil based paints can go up as is.  Typically, hazardous waste is categorized as toxic, ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or otherwise hazardous. Please check the manufacturer’s label.  Please see Spring Newsletter for details. 

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 

The Transfer Station and Recycling Center will be closed on Saturday, May 26th, for the Memorial Day Holiday. The regular Town offices will be closed on Monday, May 28th for the holiday. There will be NO COLLECTION OF TRASH AND RECYCLABLES ON MONDAY, MAY 28TH.  All routes will be pushed ahead one day for example if you are normally collected on Monday, you will put your items out by 7am on Tuesday, if you normally are on Tuesday, you will put out on Wednesday, etc.  There will be no commercial collection on Friday, June 1st. 

FISH COUNT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
The Department of Public Works is preparing to open the newly constructed Wiswall Fish Ladder on the Lamprey River TODAY and is looking for volunteers to help the Town and NH Fish & Game conduct its first EVER fish count at the Wiswall Dam.  With the new fish ladder in place, this will be the first time in almost 250 years that anadromous fish such as River Herring, Alewife, and American Shad will be able to migrate beyond the Wiswall Dam and access more than 30 miles of river.  Anadromous fish live most of their lives in saltwater, but migrate up freshwater rivers to spawn.  Please call DPW at 868-5578 or email publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us if you are interested helping out with this historic and fishy event. It doesn't take a huge commitment--we will be glad to have your help, even if you can only spare 30 minutes here or there.

BOOST DURHAM'S ENERGY PROFILE: REGISTER YOUR PV PROJECT

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a handsome, easy-to-use online tool to develop a comprehensive registry of all solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in the United States. Called the Open PV Project, the website has over 130,000 PV systems in its database.

To date, Durham residents have registered 10 systems. New Hampshire ranks below Vermont and Maine on both the total number of installs registered and the power produced. However, we believe that many more systems were commissioned in New Hampshire—including in Durham—during the recent rebate period.

Help to improve the rankings of our state and region by registering on the site and entering your own data (a two-minute process). To learn more, go to the Energy Committee’s blog at http://www.sustainable-durham.info. Also check out http://openpv.nrel.gov/.

VACANCY ON TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUNDS

With the recent passing of the late George Frick, the Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to fill a vacancy on the Trustees of the Trust Funds. This is an elected position and the Town Council will make the appointment to be filled until the March 2013 Town Election. The position will then be placed on the election ballot to be filled until the end of the term (March 2015). 

The Trustees of the Trust Funds manage funds left in trust to the Town and the School District for identified purposes.  The Trustees also manage the Town's cemetery and work in partnership with the Department of Public Works in caring for abandoned trusted graveyards, as well as the Smith Chapel.

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: http://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. 

DURHAM TREE INVENTORY ALONG MADBURY RD. CORRIDOR 

The Town of Durham will be working with the U.S. Forest Service and the New Hampshire Division of Forests & Lands to conduct a pilot project to inventory trees  along  Madbury Road. This is being done as a trial project to test new techniques and equipment for conducting community tree inventories. Foresters will be working from the road sides or sidewalks and will not go on private property. The inventory will collect information on tree species, size, condition and other factors, and tree locations will be mapped using specialized GPS equipment.  The tree inventory information and maps will be used by the Town to help make decisions about maintaining and planting trees and doing clearance/cutting for utility lines. The work on Madbury Road will be completed over the next two weeks.
 

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 agendas for the meetings listed below, please click HERE.

Town Council - Monday, April 16, 2012 . To view the entire packet of information for this meeting, click HERE.

Oyster River Taxpayers - Tuesday, April 17, 2012 

Rental Housing Commission - Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (4:00 PM)

Conservation Commission Site Walk at Amber Acres (along Mast Road, Route 155A) - Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 8:00 AM (Note: Those desiring to attend should meet on the tree-lined long driveway at 224 Mast Rd. opposite the Moore Field.

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.

BROTHER OF DURHAM RESIDENT IN THE TOP 10 OF WALMART'S "GET ON THE SHELF" COMPETITION

TJ Foltz, brother of Durham resident Kim Schmidt, is participating in Walmart's national contest, "Get on the Shelf", a competition similar to American Idol but for products, not singers. TJ's product, Humankind Water, has made it into the top 10 out of over 4000 entrants thus securing him a spot in the finals.  His product gives 100% of the net profit to help support people who do not have clean drinking water. If TJ's product wins it will be stocked in Walmarts nationwide potentially raising millions of dollars for those without clean drinking water and saving thousands of lives. 

People can vote twice daily by texting and on facebook. Voting began yesterday, April 11th, and runs through Tuesday, April 24th.  For more information, visit http://humankindwater.org/\.

2011 UNH May Day Carnival, Courtesy UNH

UNH MAY DAY CARNIVAL - APRIL 28TH

The University of New Hampshire is hosting its third annual May Day Carnival on  Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 1:00 - 9:00 PM in UNH's C-lot. The carnival is an event sponsored by UNH students, and is a day and evening full of rides, games, live music, and carnival food. Family hours are 1:00 to 3:00 PM. There will be kid-friendly rides and games!  This event is $5 per person for an entry fee; all rides and games are free.  Free parking is available in B-lot.  Hope to see you there!

Children lined up waiting for the signal for them to begin searching for eggs at

the Durham Landing during this year's annual Egg Hunt. Courtesy Todd Selig

PARKS AND RECREATION ANNUAL EGG HUNT WELL ATTENDED

Durham Parks and Recreation Department hosted its 18th annual Town Egg Hunt this past Saturday at the Town Landing. It was a nice event that provided an opportunity for residents to come together and enjoy the Town Landing (also called the Old Landing) as a park.

The event also provided an opportunity for community organizations to work together. A special Thank You to ORPP for helping run the event with Durham Parks and Recreation Committee and to the Durham Fire and Police Departments for keeping a watchful eye on safety by the water. Thank you to DPW for there support with this event and all our events! New this year, Stonyfield Farm donated yogurt for consumption as a wonderful energy snack after hunting for eggs, Thank You Stonyfield! 

Another new addition to this community event was Turning Point Farm selling eggs at the event. Nothing like fresh local eggs! Maritza Bagnall and former Oyster River girl scouts held a coffee (coffee was donated by the Bagelry)and bake sale to raise funds for Coins for Cures, benefiting Boston Children's Hospital. Two members of Boy Scout Troop #154 (Jacob Whisnat and Forrest Mitchell) jumped in and helped with candy wrapper/trash clean up when the event was over, Thank You Troop#154!  ORMS students Ben Owens, Caroline Wilson, Sam Howland and Owen and Ian Moore helped set up and clean up for the event. What a great representation of community service from many Durham residents!

To see the article written about the event in Fosters, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120408/GJNEWS_01/704089894.

Put this event on your calendar for next year -- Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 10am.  It is a blast to see the little residents of Durham enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood and a great way to shake off Winter and celebrate the coming of Spring connecting with your community!

(If you would like to be involved with this event next year, please contact the Director of Durham Parks and Recreation, Sandy Devins, via email at sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us or by phone at 603-817-4074.

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

2012 Memorial Day Parade Announced  

The 2012 Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 28th at 10:00am, beginning at the Town Landing on Old Landing Road.  Town committees, commissions and civic organizations, as well as all service men and women, past and present, are encouraged to march.  Those groups interested in marching should contact Parks & Recreation Committee member Michael Mengers at michaelwmengers@yahoo.com, 969-8973.

New Recreation Activities are forming! Spring has sprung with new energy and fun social activities planned. If you are interested in joining a Tennis Ladder, Pick-Up Volleyball, Tai Chi for Balance, or Learn to Run please contact Sandy Devins, Parks & Recreation Director at recreation@ci.durham.nh.us or call (603) 817-4074.

Learn to Run beginning Thursdays April 26th from 9:30-10:30AM at the Durham Town Hall Lot. Cost is $40/8wks. Learn to run with Instructor Sheila Harding. This class begins with walking for exercise and will build your stamina to prepare you to run a 3 mile race.  Also a great way to kick off a weight loss program and socialize!
Learn to Meditate In just a few weeks, you can experience the benefits of meditation in your life—inner peace, health, and spiritual awakening. Classes start April 5th, Thursdays 7-7:30pm at Durham Recreation Bldg. Cost is $25/5wks.
New Beginners Tai Chi for Seniors – Moving for Better Balance – Recommended by Geriatric Society and promoted by the Center for Disease Control this Tai Chi program is aimed to improve flexibility, balance and strength. It is highly recommended that participants take this class twice a week so they may feel the benefits and develop a daily routine. Classes begin April 10th, Tues and Thurs from 11:30am - 12:30 at the Durham Recreation Building. The cost is $100 for 8 weeks of classes meeting twice a week, which works out to be $6.25 per class. For those who may only attend once a week the cost is $50/8 wks.For more information about any of our Recreation Programs or to register please contact Sandy Devins, Parks & Recreation Director at sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us or 817-4074.

Samuel Bak, Young Vilne, 2002, oil on canvas, 24" x 18".

Exhibited at the Museum of Art in 2006.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Parents' Night Out Fund-Raiser for the New Hampshire Notables, Friday, April 13, 2012, 6:30-9:00 PM, UNH Memorial Union Building, Room 334. For more information, click HERE.

13th Annual Moharimet Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, April 14, 8:00-11:00 AM. To volunteer as a pancake-flipper or sausage-server, go to http://www.mohpto.org/volunteer-form.html (18 years or older only, please). For more information, go to http://www.mohpto.org/. All the fixin's are included for $2.00 per Child, $3.00 per Adult – $10.00 Family Maximum.

Paintings by Holocaust Survivor Samuel Bak will be on display at President Mark Huddleston's residence, Thursday, April 19, 2012, 3:30-5:30 PM during an open house.

Newcomers Unlimited Meeting, Durham Community Church, Friday, April 20, 2012 - "Dissent Among the Puritans" featuring Linda Palmer in the role of Ann Vassall, wife of William Vassall of Essex, England - one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Coffee hour: 9:00 AM; Meeting: 10:00 AM; Program: 10:15 AM. For further information about Newcomers Unlimited or about this specific meeting, contact D. Ramey, President, at 868-1219 during normal business hours.

QuackFest, Saturday April 28, 2012, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM, Durham Landing. Ducks will be launched at 12:00. Proceeds from the event will benefit Growing Places and the Durham-Great Bay Rotary.

Criterium Bike Race, Sunday, April 29, 2012, for children age 4-6 and 6-9, UNH Campus in the B Lot area. Registration is 9am – 11 am, race will begin about 11:45 depending on other races. This event is hosted by the UNH Cycling team for the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference. For more information, click HERE or visit http://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2012/02/unh-cycling-brings-championship-durham.

Oyster River High School Presents Chicago, May 10, 11, 12 (Thu, Fri, Sat), 7:00 PM. Box Office hours: 12-5 PM; open May 2,3,4,7,8,9,10. Tickets: $9; students and seniors, $6. For more information contact Armida Geiger, 603-868-7156, armidageiger@comcast.net.

Bobcat Bolt, Saturday, May 12, 2012, 9:00 AM, Oyster River High School. The Bobcat Bolt will once again be featuring a Kids Fun Run right after the 5k and 10k, which will again lead right into the festivities at the Oyster River Festival.  Details are up on the Bobcat Bolt web page, so if you haven’t signed up already, hop on-line and sign-up now at http://bobcatbolt.com/wp/?page_id=63.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Storytime Tues. April 17th and Thurs. April 19th at 10:30 a.m. – This week:  The Circus!  Join us for stories, fingerplays, feltboard, songs and a craft.  All are welcome!
Pajama Storytime, Tues. April 17th at 6:30 p.m. - This month:  The Circus!  Join ORPP - the Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers group - for the library's monthly night-time storytime. Come wearing your pajamas!  This month we invite you to come and learn about the circus!  We will read stories about the circus and make a circus craft.  This is a fun time for kids and for networking parents and all are welcome.  Snacks provided by ORPP.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book Group, Weds. April 18th at 2:45-4:00 p.m. - Join us for this Middle School Book Group.  This month’s book is “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins.  Ruth Wharton McDonald is the facilitator.  Pizza is served!
ORHS Poetry Night, Weds. April 18th, 7:00 p.m. - Join us for this ORHS Poetry night.  Come and hear the ORHS Poet Laureate and Poetry Out Loud winner read their poems as well as other ORHS students.  Refreshments will be served.
Fly Fishing in Argentina, Weds. April 25th, 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Imagine fly fishing in the rugged landscape of Argentina. In 1999, Mark Foley did just that, hiking and fishing with the backdrop of the stunning Andes mountain range. If you're interested in fly fishing, or even just want to learn more about this beautiful South American country, don't miss this presentation, which helps people understand how to travel/fish Argentina, both on a dime or in high-end lodges.

The Friends Book Discussion Series, Weds. April 25th at 10:30 a.m. - This month’s book is Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”.  Books are available at the library.  The Friend’s Book Group will meet again on Weds. May 23rd at 10:30 a.m. to discuss “Death Comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James.  All are welcome.
Scott Jameson, Magician Performance, Thurs. April 26th, 10:30 a.m. at the ORHS Multi-purpose room - Join the Durham, Lee and Madbury Libraries for this Magical performance by Scott Jameson.  Scott is known for captivating his audiences with his talent and innovation.  Don't miss this fun performance!  All ages are welcome!
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.
 

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

WEEKLY ARREST REPORT

*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.

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

Communications-Durham's Post office: “Rural free delivery was authorized by the U.S. Post Office Department on December 1, 1902, and Harrie A. Rand became Durham’s first rural carrier, a position he held for forty-one years. His route covered Durham Point, Newmarket, and Bennett Roads, Wednesday Hill Road, and Mast Road. He was very punctual and often resorted to snow shoes or ‘shanks’s mare’ when roads or weather were unfit for his horse. He was followed as rural carrier by Henry Fisher.” Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

Have a very 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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