“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

April
3, 2009

Humpty Dumpty sat on a…dam? Well, he
certainly did on Wednesday this week (April Fools
Day).

Courtesy Tom
Bebbington & Tom Richardson

The spring sweeping program is
moving along slowly but nicely.  DPW crews will continue to sweep until all
roads and sidewalks are completed. 

Cowell
Area Residents Association & Student Housing
Concerns

Residents within the Cowell Drive,
Glassford Lane, Park Court, and Sauer Terrace neighborhood have come together to
form the Cowell Area Residents Association with the goal of addressing non-owner
occupied student rentals within their neighborhood in order to more effectively
address problematic issues associated with disruptive social gatherings,
neighborhood trash, street parking, parking on tenant lots, and property
maintenance concerns.  Representatives from the Association had addressed
the Durham Rental Housing Commission (DRHA) at its last meeting and on Monday of
this week, March 30, 2009, DRHA Chairperson Paul Berton organized a forum at the
Town Office intended to continue the discussion by including the owners of
rental properties within the neighborhood.  Three of five absentee
landlords attended.   For a copy of the handout distributed by the
Association, click HERE.
 

Mr. Berton outlined a toolkit of
measures that, together, have proven to be effective in managing the impact of
student housing within traditional residential neighborhoods.  Some
suggestions included having the tenants' parents as a cosignatory on leases,
establishing "social occupancy" rules within individual leases, active
management of parking by landlords, and having a private security service help
to control problematic behavior within such rental units, particularly on
Thursday through Saturday nights.  Mr. Berton emphasized the importance of
follow up by the landlords.

Police Chief David Kurz, Deputy Chief Rene Kelley, Assistant Fire Chief Jason Cleary, Dir. of Planning & Community
Development Jim Campbell, three Town Councilors, and the Town Administrator were
in attendance, as was a representative from the University of New Hampshire. To view an article on this
subject in today’s The New Hampshire, go to http://media.www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2009/04/03/News/Residents.And.Renters.Look.To.Find.Common.Ground-3695772.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition. 

Kaleida-Scoop
Reopens for the Spring Season

In a clear sign of spring, The
Kaleida-Scoop ice cream/refreshment area in front of the Durham MarketPlace has
reopened Thursdays thru Sundays for the month of April.  On May
1^st, it will resume daily operation.

Downtown
Durham Hotel/Conference Center Project

A meeting organized by Administrator
Selig took place on March 18, 2009, involving representatives from Pro Con
Construction, The Kane Companies, the Town of Durham, and the University of New
Hampshire to continue discussing the possibility of Pro Con and
Kane developing a hotel/conference center facility in the vicinity of
Pettee Brook
Lane and Main Street in downtown Durham.  There remains
continued interest on the part of both companies in evaluating this idea. 
A subsequent meeting has been scheduled for
mid-April.

Mill
Plaza

On Monday of this week,
Administrator Selig organized a telephone conference with the owner of the
Mill Plaza (Colonial Durham Associates) from New York and Council
Chairman Neil Niman.  The meeting was intended to update the owner on
ongoing development activity in Durham within the downtown core and to
ascertain whether there was still interest on the part of the owner in moving
forward with a redevelopment of the Plaza in light of the existing recessionary
environment and tightening within the credit markets.  The discussion was
productive.  Mr. Selig will meet with the Plaza owner next week when he
(the owner) visits Durham.

Durham
Police Department Community Survey – Under Development, Coming
Soon

The Durham Police Department is once
again working with Dr. Andrew Smith of the UNH Survey Center to administer a
community survey designed to help the department better understand the
perceptions and wishes of residents in order to enhance and refine the policing
services provided in Durham.  The community survey is utilized
approximately every three years.  This will be the fifth time we have
utilized it in Durham.  Residents will learn more about
the upcoming survey in the near future.

Evaluation
of Health Insurance Opportunities for Non-Unionized
Staff

In an effort to stay abreast of
changes within the health care industry and potential opportunities that may be
available to our non-unionized personnel and the Town as a whole to
either save money or possibly modify/enhance existing services offered to better
meet staff/Town needs, the Administrator has invited a representative from
Primex to talk with our non-unionized personnel next Tuesday, April 7,
2009, in the Town Council chambers beginning at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the
Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan’s offerings.  The Town presently offers BC/BS
Anthem health plans to its employees.  In November 2008 MSN Money and U.S.
News &World Report ranked "America's 20 Best Health Plans" and
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England was ranked as #1. 

It is important to note that no
decision has been made to make a change in the health care offerings available
to Durham's
non-unionized personnel.  At the same time, it is important that Durham remains competitive
within the marketplace, offers benefits which meet the needs of our
staff, and that the community continues to focus upon the bottom
line.  

RSA
79-E, Community Revitalization Tax Relief
Incentive

On Monday evening, April 6, 2009,
the Town Council will receive a presentation on RSA 79-E, the Community
Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive.  This is a program that provides
short-term property assessment tax relief and a related covenant to protect the
public benefit that is being created.  The purpose is to encourage
reinvestment in existing buildings/structures within the downtown area. 
This would not include the demolition and subsequent rebuilding of a structure,
but rather the rehabilitation of the existing structure. 

To qualify, the building must be a
“qualifying structure”, which means it is a building located in a district
officially designated in a municipality’s master plan, or by zoning ordinance,
as a downtown, town center, central business district, or village center. 
For Durham’s
purposes, we believe this would include the area identified as the “Community
Core” in the 2000 Master Plan.  In addition, the value of the
rehabilitation must be equal to at least 15% of a buildings pre-rehab assessed
value or $75,000, whichever is less.  Finally, the proposed substantial
rehabilitation must provide a public benefit.  In order to be considered a
public benefit the substantial rehabilitation must provide at least one of the
following:  It enhances the economic vitality of the downtown; it enhances
and improves a structure that is culturally or historically important; it
promotes development of municipal centers, providing for efficiency, safety, and
a greater sense of community; and it increases residential housing in urban or
town centers.

The tax relief would be for a finite
period of time during which time the property tax on the structure would not
increase.  When the finite tax relief has expired, the structure would be
taxed at its full market value.  The Town Council may grant such tax
assessment relief for a period of up to five (5) years, beginning with the
completion of the substantial rehabilitation.  The Town Council would also
be enabled to, at its discretion, add up to an additional two (2) years of tax
relief for a project that results in new residential units and up to four (4)
years of tax relief for a project that includes affordable housing. 
Finally, the Town Council may, at its own discretion, add up to an additional
four (4) years of tax relief for the substantial rehabilitation of a qualifying
structure that is listed on or determined to be eligible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places, state register of historic places, or
located within and important to the Durham historic
District.

This use of this program has been
endorsed by the Economic Development Committee, the Historic District
Commission, and the Planning Board.  In addition, the adoption of RSA 79-E
is one of the listed programs the Economic Development Committee would like to
move forward as part of their effort to encourage economic development in the
Town of Durham.  The Town Council will need to
hold a public hearing on the adoption of RSA 79-E and may consider and act upon
the question at the same meeting. 

Update
on Main
Street (west) Enhancement
Project

On Monday, April 6, 2009, the Town
Council will receive an update and be asked to endorse the Main Street West
Enhancement Project.  In 2003 the Town of Durham and University of New Hampshire (UNH)
jointly applied for and received from the New Hampshire Department of
Transportation (NHDOT) a Traffic Enhancement (TE) Grant. The TE Grant’s
criteria, which is based on a competitive scoring system, includes Transit
System improvements for public transportation, improvements to promote bicycle
use, improved pedestrian safety and movement as the priority components of the
grant process. Other criteria include lighting improvements, pedestrian
amenities, traffic calming, and landscaping. In 2008 a working group was formed
to select an engineering firm through a qualification basis process and see the
project through completion. The group included three members from the
University; Doug Bencks, Campus Planner and Architect, Stephen Pesci, Special
Projects Manager, and Paul Henry, Construction and Design Project Manager. The
group’s Town members included, James Campbell, Director of Planning and
Community Development, Public Works Director Michael
Lynch, and former Town Councilor Henry Smith. The working group
reviewed over 14 proposals and chose the Maguire Group of Portsmouth, New
Hampshire as its project
engineers.

The approved grant is $776,000 for
transportation and pavement improvements along the Main Street corridor
from Railroad
Bridge west to Rte
155A/Mast Road. This funding currently does not presently include the
construction of a round-a-bout at North Drive (old Loop Rd), yet we are
pursuing Federal stimulus funding for that portion of the
project.

The Town’s contribution to this
project is $49,000 and the UNH contribution to this project is $106,200 in cash
and UNH will administer the grant. The project carries a contingency of $77,600.

The Maguire Group is now in the
final stages of the design process. The Town and UNH held a public hearing on
February 20, 2009 at the Durham Town
Hall to solicit input from the general public. 7
people attended the 90 minute session and all attendees approved of the project
with a couple of minor suggestions. The Traffic Safety Committee has discussed
this project several times and endorses the plan as presented. Jim Campbell
reviewed the project with the Planning Board.

Major Project
Components:

New east and west bound
bus stops near Mast
Road

Possible round-a-bout
at North drive

Stormwater/drainage
improvements at North
Drive

• 4 foot
  wide marked bike lanes throughout the corridor
  
• 7ft
  sidewalk/multi-use path and handicap ramp
  improvements
  
• Traditional painted
  crosswalks
  
• Current
  UNH decorative lighting installed on both sides of the
  corridor
  
• Enhanced
  lighting at all crosswalks and pathways
  
• New
  pavement treatment including full depth reclamation
  
• Multi-use
  path to Channel 11 and new Bryant Property
  Development
  
• Increased
  landscaping throughout the corridor
  
• 11 foot
  travel lanes to calm traffic

Annual
Evaluation of Department Heads

Each March/April, the Town
Administrator conducts annual performance evaluations for the heads of the
Town’s various departments, reviews work accomplished, and begins to
collaboratively set goals for the next year.  This cycle allows the
Administrator and department heads to tie departmental goals in with the Town
Council goals which typically are established in April/May. The Administrator
will next be meeting with each department head individually over the next two to
three weeks to discuss evaluation results in more detail and to jointly outline
strategies for moving forward.

Durham Business
Association (DBA) Downtown Focus Forum
Report

On March 6, 2009, the Durham
Business Association (DBA) worked with the Town Administrator to organize a
forum focusing upon ways in which the Town could help promote expansion of
downtown businesses and the broadening of our tax base with members of the
DBA.  Town Council Chair Neil Niman and Planning & Community
Development Director Jim Campbell also participated as part of the forum. 
Zoning topics were discussed, as well as an overview of development discussions
that are presently ongoing at a number of locations within the
downtown area (new mixed use structures at the former Houghton's Hardware and
former Don Thompson Real Estate sites, the possibility of constructing a new
hotel/conference center in the vicinity of Pettee Brook and Main Street, an
update on the Mill Plaza project, the new River's Edge student housing
development at the west end of Old Concord Road, the Bryant "green" student
housing project proposed for Mast Road, as well as other student housing and
general development project ideas throughout the community). 

An additional focused thread of
discussion generated by those in attendance at the forum was the
perceived negative impact on-campus UNH businesses have on downtown
Durham. 
One DBA member had walked campus with a measuring wheel and estimated that there
are 42,000 sq. ft. of retail space on campus exclusive of the dining
halls. To this end, the DBA will be working with UNH to plan a subsequent
forum focusing on the general topic of UNH on campus retail operations and their
impact upon downtown Durham. 

Joint
DBA/Town Forum on Code/Zoning
Enforcement

The Administrator has worked with
the Durham Business Association to organize an opportunity for DBA members to
sit down with Mr. Selig and Code Enforcement Officer Tom Johnson on May 1, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to
10:00 a.m., to discuss the experiences of members in dealing with Durham's permit
process.  Rather than envisioning the overarching purpose of the code
review process as solely one of “Code/Zoning Enforcement,” in essence forcing applicants to comply with
applicable regulations whether they like it or not, Mr. Selig is working to
identify strategies to begin rethinking the Town's charge as
being one of “Code Assistance” or “guidance,” in other words assisting or guiding applicants to complete projects successfully in accordance with
the rules and regulations in place.  While the end result
remains the same, adherence to applicable codes per state law and local zoning,
this subtle, yet important shift in conscious approach may help to make the
process more user friendly for applicants while also meeting our statutory
obligation to impartially administer the code/zoning requirements in
place.  The Administrator will also be extending an invitation to the
Durham Landlords Association to participate in the
discussion.

TOWN
RECEIVES FEMA GRANT FUNDS FOR DECEMBER 11-23, 2008 STORM
EVENT

The Town has received notification
from the State
of New Hampshire Department of Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Division that it has received grant funding totaling $38,092.29 of which
Durham’s costs
are eligible for reimbursement at a 75% Federal share totaling $28,569.22. These
costs were incurred between the dates of December 11 and 23, 2008 revolving
around severe winter storms that caused power outages, down trees, and icy
conditions throughout the Town of Durham. The Town of Durham expended $9,818.13
in labor costs, $24,205.75 in equipment costs, $3,968.41 in materials costs, and
$100 in direct administrative costs for a total of $38,092.29.

December
2008 Ice Storm Brush Pick-up – SPECIAL BRUSH COLLECTION SCHEDULED 

As the snow melts, residents are
finding brush left behind from the December ice storm.  There will be a
special brush collection on Monday, April 27, 2009, to help residents dispose of
extra debris.  Two contracted crews will be hired to do the town-wide
collection as part of the FEMA reimbursement for the December 2008 ice storm
disaster.  All brush and limbs must be neatly stacked and out by 7:00 AM,
Monday, April 27^th--no exceptions.  Please take caution to not
block sidewalks.  If items are put out after the date and the collection is
missed, crews will not be able to return to pick them up.  Limbs
must be less than 10 inches in diameter to be collected since they will be
chipped.  If collection is missed, or if residents want to bring items to
the Transfer Station instead, they must abide by the 5 inch by 5 foot maximum
and bring them on Tuesdays or Saturdays between 7:30 AM and 3:15 PM. 
 

Oyster
River DAM at Mill Pond

At the March 16, 2009 Town Council
meeting, the Council held a discussion relative to the Oyster River dam at Mill
Pond and subsequently voted to schedule a Public Hearing regarding this matter
for its May 4th meeting. A memorandum dated December 12, 2008, describing the
problems and comparing preliminary costs of rehabilitating or decommissioning
the dam, was prepared by the engineering firm that inspected the dam. To view
this document, click HERE.
To view the final Dam Evaluation Report dated March 17, 2009, submitted by the
same firm, click HERE. 
Additional information about the Oyster River Dam can also be obtained on the
Town web site at http://ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/Commissions/historic/OR%20Dam/historic_dam.html. 

GREAT
BAY WATERSHED

Town Engineer Dave Cedarholm gave
testimony at a public hearing for Senate Bill 168 held by the Energy,
Environment and Economic Development Committee at the Legislative Office Building in Concord this past Tuesday.  The bill is
intended repeal existing RSA 485-E which provided the enabling legislation to
establish the Estuary Alliance for Sewage Treatment (EAST) and enable the
establishment of the Coastal Watershed Alliance.  The Coastal Watershed
Alliance would be a watershed-wide organization, much like EAST would have been,
but it is intended to focus on a more broad range of issues affecting the water
quality of the Great Bay estuary such as land use planning and stormwater
management.  The bill introduces a scoring system to leverage active
participation by the 44 communities in the Great Bay
watershed to encourage land planning solutions to solve the water quality issues
in the Great
Bay estuary.  Each of
the 44 communities would be required to maintain a Coastal Watershed Protection
Planning Score of at least 75 to maintain eligibility for state funding of
projects relating to water, sewer, stormwater, housing, conservation planning,
transportation, congestion mitigation and air quality, and community development
assistance. Mr. Cedarholm spoke in favor of an effort to develop a
watershed-wide approach to solving the water quality issues of the Great Bay estuary, but he argued that the
proposed bill would establish an unfair funding approval system that could
preferentially favor individual communities and disproportionately assign the
majority of financial responsibility to the communities with wastewater
treatment facilities.  To learn more about Senate Bill 168 visit the New
Hampshire Senate’s website http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/.

IDENTITY
SCAMS/THEFT

Identity theft is so common in the
modern age of computers that even the police chief on a Town computer is not
immune.  Last week a friend of Police Chief Dave Kurz sent an email asking
for him to send $3,500 immediately as he was stranded in Amsterdam after he had been
robbed in a cab.  What made this possible is that the chief’s friend is an
airline pilot who very well could have been in such a scenario.  The tip
off to the chief was that several of the words were misspelled, not common for
this acquaintance. As it turned out, a quick telephone call confirmed the
suspicions that an identity scam/theft was in actually progress. Unfortunately,
distance and technology nuances make the prosecution of these crimes extremely
problematic even for the Secret Service who would have oversight.  Many of
these scams originate through several African countries, most notably Nigeria.  Durham citizens should be
aware of such spelling nuances and other oddities in their emails.  Chief
Kurz advises that if it appears wrong and/or odd, it should be “deleted”
immediately.

“Greenup
Durham”

Durham: It’s Where U Live, UNH, and the
Department of Public Works will hold a spring cleanup of the downtown area of
Durham on
Saturday, May 9, 2009. This year, it will be in partnered up with the Oyster
River Festival/Bobcat Bolt. More information to follow regarding who interested
participants can contact.

Bagdad
Road Bridge
Painting

Durham Public Works personnel met
with New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials to finalize plans for
the Bagdad
Road bridge painting.  NHDOT is scheduled to
repaint the Bagdad Road Bridge over Route 4 from approximately
June 22 through August 21, 2009.  The work will be done between 7:00 AM and
7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Traffic is expected to be slowed through
the work corridor for safety reasons, but there are no anticipated detours or
closures.  If you have any general questions, you can call the Department
of Public Works at 868-5578. 

2009
Road
Program

Today at 2:00 PM, the Department of
Public Works opened bids for the 2009 Road Program.  Residents may recall
that this is the second bidding on this project as the Town declined all bids
submitted in January due to cost.  The final bid results for this program
will be reported in next week’s Friday Updates.  Stay
tuned.

TOWN
REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLE

Recently, Department of Public Works
personnel and the Town Administrator met with a representative of Navistar
International Corporation in regards to the poor performance of the Town’s 2005
refuse collection vehicle.  The truck has experienced multiple breakdowns
above and beyond what would be expected from such a vehicle.  Because of
this, Public Works has requested that Navistar replace the entire cab and
chassis of this truck.  To date, the Town has not received an official
response resulting from the meeting. 

SPRING
WATER METER READING

The Durham Water Department
concluded its semi-annual spring water meter reading this week. 
Water/sewer bills should follow in approximately one month. 

WATER
MAIN FLUSHING

The Town of Durham and the University of New
Hampshire will be exercising gate valves starting
Tuesday, April 28 through Friday, May 8, 2009 from approximately 7:00 AM to 4:30
PM.  In addition, water mains will be flushed beginning on Monday, May 11,
2009, and ending on or before Friday, May 22, 2009.  Flushing will be done at night between the hours of 9:00
PM and 7:00 AM.  These procedures are necessary to eliminate the buildup of
sediment in the water mains. Gate valve exercising and flushing of the
mains may cause temporary discoloration of the water; however, the water remains
safe for drinking. This discoloration will disappear with normal household
use. It is suggested that sensitive laundry not be washed if the water is
obviously discolored. Try not to draw water if you observe flushing in your
area.  Please call the UNH Water Supply at 862-1390 or the Department of
Public Works at 868-5578 with questions and/or
concerns.

ROOF
REPLACEMENT AT THE DURHAM POLICE
STATION

The Department of Public Works will
begin replacing the roof at the Police Station next week. 

ORIENTATION
FOR CHAIRS & VICE CHAIRS OF TOWN BOARDS

In an effort to provide chairs, vice
chairs, and other committee members with information on the proper structure of
meetings, the role of the committee chair, vice chair, secretary, alternates,
and Council representatives, as well as outlining the basics of the
Right-to-Know Law including agenda preparation and posting, minutes of meetings,
and e-mail correspondence, Town Administrator Todd
Selig will hold an orientation session for chairs and vice
chairs of the various Town boards, commissions, and committees on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 from 7:00-8:30 PM in the
Council chambers at Town Hall. At the conclusion of the orientation,
the administrator will open the floor for a question and answer session. All
board and committee members are welcome to attend this important and informative
orientation.

PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meeting is
scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town
Office and will begin at 7:00 PM unless otherwise indicated
below.

Durham Energy Committee – Monday, April 6,
2009 (4:30
PM)

Durham Town Council – Monday, April 6,
2009

Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee – Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (7:30
AM)  

DCAT Governance Committee – Tuesday,
April 7, 2009

Durham Conservation Commission – Thursday,
April 9, 2009

To view the agenda for the meeting
listed above, please click HERE. 
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library
for checkout and viewing. 

To view the Oyster River School Board meeting schedule,
click HERE. 

To view the Durham Public Library Board of Trustees
meeting schedule, click HERE.

DURHAM CABLE ACCESS
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

To view a listing of the DCAT
programming schedule, click HERE 

Passover
Storytime AT THE DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY

On Wednesday, April 8, 2009,
beginning at 10:15 AM, please join the Durham Public Library for a
toddler-friendly participatory story about Passover, eat some Matzoh, and make a
craft. Please RSVP so enough supplies can be ready. This event is sponsored by
the Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers (ORPP). Members should RSVP through
the Big Tent website; non- members can email RSVPs to Beth Pescosolido at bethfightmaster@comcast.net.

DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Durham Business Association
(DBA) will hold its annual meeting at Libby’s Bar & Grill on Thursday, April
16, 2009, from 7:30 to 9:00 AM. The DBA will report on 2008 accomplishments, as
well as provide the opportunity for Town officials to present an update. A
question and answer period will follow the updates. Refreshments will be
provided by The Bagelry, Durham Marketplace, The Hickory Pond Inn, and Libby’s
Bar & Grill. Council members interested in attending the annual meeting are
asked to please R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 9^th to d.b.a@myfairpoint.net.

Annual
Easter Egg Hunt

The annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted
by the Durham
Parks and Recreation
Committee and Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers, will be held on Saturday
morning, April 11, 2009, at 10:00 AM, at the Old Town Landing.  Volunteers
are needed. Children will hunt for eggs, meet the bunny, check out a fire
engine, and meet members of Durham’s Fire Department. There will be prizes
and refreshments. Bring your basket and arrive early, as the hunt will start
promptly at 10:00 AM. Please contact Sara Wilson at badgernh@comcast.net or call 659-3016
with any questions or for further information regarding this
event.

Oyster
River
Water Quality Monitoring Program – Volunteer Water Monitors
Needed

The Oyster River Water Quality
Monitoring Program, sponsored by the Durham/UNH Water Supply, Oyster River
Watershed Association, and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services,
is seeking volunteer water monitors. Working in teams, volunteers collect water
quality data on the Oyster River using state-of-the-art instruments.
Field sites are
easily accessible and sampling trips last just several hours. 

Volunteers
can be involved at different levels, depending on interest and time available.
For more information, contact Tom Lee, 659-2269, tom.lee@unh.edu or Brian Gallagher, 862-1390,
brian.gallagher@unh.edu

THIS
WEEK AT THE MUSEUM OF ART - UNIVERSITY OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE

NEW –
Sunday, April 5, 2 p.m. pre-concert discussion, 3
p.m. concert
Museum of
Art, Paul Creative Arts
Center

Spring
Concert:
Irish Imagery The University of New Hampshire
Chamber Orchestra performs under the direction of Christopher Hill. The Chamber
celebrates the Mendelssohn bicentennial with a performance of his Octet for
string orchestra, and performs a Celtic-inspired work by contemporary American
composer Evan Chambers, as well as the Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F-major by
Johann Sebastian Bach. Offered in conjunction with the exhibition Renewal: Printmakers from the
New Northern Ireland. Museum of Art, Paul Creative
Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham,
NH 03824 www.unh.edu/moa

New
Hampshire
Humanities Council Book Discussion: Yankee Crime
Series

On Friday, April 24, 2009, beginning
at 10:30 AM, the
Yankee Crime Series begins at the Durham Public Library with Stranger in the
Kingdom (April 24), continues with Flashpoint (May 22), and will end
with Primary Storm sometime in June. This selection of murder mysteries,
set in New England and written by contemporary New
England authors, looks through a local lens at questions such as:
What is justice? What role should mercy play? Is crime ever justified? What can
ordinary citizens do to uphold social order? Please pick up your copy of
Stranger in the Kingdom at the Circulation desk. Sponsored by the Friends
of the Library.

PANCAKE
BREAKFAST AT BALLARDS RESTAURANT

On Saturday, April 11, 2009, from
9:00-11:00 AM, a Pancake Breakfast with the Easter Bunny will be held at
Ballards Restaurant in downtown Durham. Breakfast will include juice, pancakes,
choice of bacon or sausage, and beverage. Prices are $3.79 for children under 12
and $4.99 for adults (tax and tip not included). The Easter Bunny will greet
customers and will have a gift egg for each child which can be redeemed at
Easter Bunny Central (Tastes of New England, 7 Jenkins Court) after breakfast for a
special little surprise. The event has been organized by Ballards Restaurant,
along with the following local merchants: Hair Dimensions, Hazel'z Inkwell,
Tastes of New England, and Bindy's Boutique. Staff from each of the merchants
involved will be waiting on customers and tips from the breakfast will go
towards producing other events for the residents of Durham.

BAKE
SALE – POWER OF
ONE PROJECT

On Sunday, April 5, 2009, at 11:00
AM, the Power of One project will hold a bake sale at the Durham Marketplace to
raise money for the Somaly Mam Foundation. This foundation helps pay for the
freedom of girls who have been sold into prostitution. The foundation provides
shelter and educates the girls so they will be able to have a career and start a
new life. The bake sale will be put on by Emma Rotner.

ORMS
Jazz Band Upcoming
Performances

The
Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band will be performing throughout the month of
April into the first of May at the events listed below. For more information, go
to the Jazz Band web site at www.debbiehodge.typepad.com/orms_jazz_band

ORCSD
HOSTS SCREENING OF FILM INCLUDING
SAMUEL

On Monday, April 13, 2009, at 6:30
PM, the Oyster
River School
District will host a screening of the film Including Samuel to be held in the Oyster
River High School Auditorium. This nationally
acclaimed film chronicles the Habib family’s efforts to include their son
Samuel, an individual with cerebral palsy, in school and every facet of their
lives. Parents, please take an hour to see this warm and sensitive film. Learn
the important role friends and community play in the life of families with
disabilities. Free to the public.
This film is made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable
Foundation. View a film clip and learn more about Samuel: http://iod.unh.edu/includingsamuel.html

Extreme
Air to Host Regional Tournament

New
Hampshire’s Competition Jump Rope Team, Extreme Air, will host
the USA Jump Rope Region 10 Tournament on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the
Oyster River High
School gymnasium at 55 Coe Drive in Durham, New
Hampshire.  Members of Extreme Air will face teams
from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, and New York as they vie
for the opportunity to compete at the USA Jump Rope National Championships which
will be held in Galveston,
Texas in
June.

This will be the first time that a
Regional Tournament has been held in the Granite State and, therefore, presents a unique
and exciting opportunity for area residents to experience live competitive jump
rope. The event is open to the general public.  The day will begin at
8:00 AM with an Opening Ceremony, followed by single rope individual, relay and
double dutch speed events, single rope individual and pairs freestyle, double
dutch freestyle and double dutch pairs freestyle.  The competition will
conclude late afternoon with group team show and an awards ceremony. 
Continental breakfast and lunch, jump ropes and t-shirts will be available for
purchase.  Visitors may also purchase a chance to win several exciting
raffle prizes.  For additional information visit www.extremeairnh.com.

FAMILY
BOATBUILDING WORKSHOP - APPLY BY APRIL 15

The tenth annual UNH Marine Docent
Family Boatbuilding Workshop will be held at Kingman Farm in Madbury, May 15, 16
and 17. Each participating family will build their own 12 ft. Oyster River Cat
sailboat over the three-day weekend. It is a chance for families to work
together on a project they will enjoy for years to come. No experience is
needed; only a strong desire and rudimentary skills. Single moms, all thumbs
dads, and extended families are invited to apply. Each family must include a
youth 12 years or older. The boat is a sprightly sailing vessel with a 5 ft.
beam that can carry a family of three for a day of sailing on quiet water. It
can double as a row boat if there is no wind.  It is light enough to
car-top or transport in a pickup, van, or small trailer. The total cost of $950
includes all materials, rigging, and sail. An experienced Docent will work with
each family to guarantee success. For complete details and application forms
visit our website at www.unh.edu/marine-education.
Please call UNH Sea Grant, Mark Wiley or Dari Ward at 749-1565, or Project
Director Ray Belles at 868-7180 with questions.

BOBCAT
BOLT 5K/10K AND OYSTER RIVER FESTIVAL

On Saturday, May 9,
2009, the inaugural Bobcat Bolt 5K/10K and Oyster River Festival, presented by
Gault Builders, will be held at the Oyster River
High school where the race
will begin. The Bobcat Bolt and the Oyster River Festival are part of the larger
goal to bring the Seacoast together to celebrate with sport, live music, art,
and a positive community building effort. Proceeds from the races will benefit
youth initiatives in the surrounding community in honor of Durham, NH brothers Joshua and Nathan Hardy. A
Youth
Center, with music, art,
and a skatepark in the school district is the immediate focus. Registration is
$35 and can be completed online at www.bobcatbolt.com. Following the race,
the inaugural Oyster River Festival will commence with live music, art
exhibitions, and food vendors on-site. For more information, contact Race
Director Christopher Jerard at CJ@bobcatbolt.com or Festival Director Anita
Mathur at Anita@bobcatbolt.com

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week -
24                                         
17 UNH (71%)           7 Other
(29%)

*2008/09 Academic Year -660
      421 UNH (64%)  
      239 Other (36%)

Calendar Year
–183                        
115 UNH (63%)         68 Other
(37%)

*Commenced September 1, 2008 

Historical data
for the same week

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1905 – The first auto was
inventoried at $400. Early owners of cars were President Gibbs, Deans Taylor and
Pettee, Dr. Grant, Dad Henderson, Stone, Curry, Kendall. Gasoline was sold at
Edgerly’s Store in Pettee Block, 5 gallons for $1, and strained through
chamois-skin into tank.”

Have a nice
weekend.

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator

Town of Durham
15 Newmarket Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
Tel
(603) 868-5571
Fax (603) 868-5572
tselig@ci.durham.nh.us
www.ci.durham.nh.us

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