“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

April
24, 2009

 

 

 

Members of the Bourgoin-Reardon
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 94 (date unknown)

Front Row (l-r):  Beverly Burrows, Lorraine
Chase, Pearl Libby, Myra Jennison, Deborah Moore, Barbara
Langley

Back Row (l-r):  Betty
Robinson, Alma Tirrell, Marjorie Moore

Courtesy
Beverly
Burrows

 

The Town of Durham has received notification that it has been awarded
the New Hampshire Beautification Award for excellence in a landscaping project,
which was attributed to the Jackson’s Landing rehabilitation. 
Governor John Lynch will present the award  to Town representatives in his
office in Concord next Friday, May 1^st, at
3:30 PM. The Town would like to thank the many volunteers who worked on the
Jackson’s
Landing project for their efforts. This award is certainly a credit to and in
honor of the many helpful hands and minds involved in the rehabilitation.
Besides the landscaping work that was done last fall, additional landscaping has
begun at Jackson’s Landing, continuing the
project.

 

2009
Memorial Day Parade 

On Monday, May 25, 2009, all
veterans are invited to join in the 62^nd annual Durham Memorial Day
Parade. Colonel Richard “Dick” Dewing, United States Air Force, retired, will be
our Parade Marshall.

 

This year, the Auxiliary Unit 94 of
the Bourgoin-Reardon American Legion has requested that the Town assume primary
responsibility for planning and organizing the Memorial Day Parade.  To
this end, the Town and the Parks and Recreation Committee will take on and
continue this traditional Durham activity. The Bourgoin-Reardon Unit 94
Auxiliary has faithfully organized the Memorial Day Parade for many years in
Durham and we
extend a warm thank you to the members for their considerable
efforts.

 

Prior to the parade, a ceremony
honoring New Hampshire veterans who served in
the US Armed Forces will be held at 9:00 AM in front of the UNH Memorial Union Building.  For those residents who
have not seen the Memorial Room in the MUB for which the building was named, the
visit is well worth the trip. The room in the MUB is decorated with beautiful
stained glass windows developed by the late Durham artist/resident John Hatch, and the
names of those who died in the service of our country. At the conclusion of this
ceremony, limited transportation—mainly car-pooling—will transport marching
persons to Laurel
Lane.

 

The parade will step off from Laurel
Lane at 10:00 AM with transportation provided for those who elect not to march,
proceed down Route 108/Newmarket Road to the Oyster River Bridge for a brief
ceremony, and continue up Churchill to Memorial Park opposite Young’s Restaurant
for a third and final ceremony. Town Councilors are invited to march in the
parade and Councilors interested in participating should plan to be at
Laurel
Lane at 9:45 AM.

 

The parade has grown from the
original World War I and II veterans to include all veterans from that time
forward as well as many of our civic organizations. Please join us in showing
our respect and gratitude for those who have served our country and our Town. We
hope for a strong turnout at the parade. All are welcome to join with us to
honor those who have defended our nation from colonial days until the
present.

 

PARKS
AND RECREATION DIRECTOR POSITION (PART-TIME)

The Town of Durham is seeking a
part-time, year-round (20+ hours/week) Parks and Recreation Director responsible
for planning, organizing, and coordinating parks and recreation programs and
services for the community.

 

Ideal candidate will possess
excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work closely with volunteers,
strong planning, organizational, and writing skills, independence &
initiative, and a general knowledge of parks and recreation issues, funding
sources, and budget development and oversight.

 

This is a newly created position
which will work closely with a volunteer Parks & Recreation Committee, town
staff, and other community groups.  The position reports directly to the
Town Administrator. 

 

Minimum qualifications are a
Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management or related field preferred, and at
least one year working with the public in a parks and recreation position or
related area.  An acceptable combination of experience may be combined to
fulfill the formal educational requirement.  Hourly Pay Range: $19.46 to $23.79. 

 

Durham is a dynamic community located in
New Hampshire’s Seacoast region with a
population of approximately 13,626, and is home to the University of New Hampshire.

 

Interested persons should reply with
cover letter and resume by May 31, 2009 to Town
Administrator’s Office, 15 Newmarket
Road, Durham, NH 03824 or email information to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. To view the detailed
job description for this position, click HERE. 

 

The Town of Durham is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.

 

Black
Bear Research Continues in Durham

The Town of Durham will be the focus of a continuing black bear research
project at UNH, funded by the NH Fish and Game Department and USDA-Wildlife
Services in Concord.  The major goal of this research
is to learn more about the behavior and ecology of suburban bears in southeastern
New Hampshire.
As many residents know, sightings and interactions with black bears in Durham have become relatively common place in
recent years.  Last year, many residents contributed valuable information
about bear locations and behavior in Durham, and at least 3 different bears were photographed
at bait sites in town.  A 2.5 year old male bear was eventually captured
on the Durham-Lee town line in September and fitted with ear tags and a radio-collar.
Surprisingly, this bear roamed a 124 square mile range and was located as
far west as Candia.  To read more about
this important research project and to access the survey, click HERE.

 

 

REINCARNATE
A TOMATO!

Composting kitchen and yard waste
is a key component to sustainable living. In the process of creating a great
additive to our soil we can divert upwards to 25% of our waste going to landfills.
Spring is a great time to begin composting and get on the garden path to becoming
a soil magician. Check out the composting display in the Town Hall lobby to
review different approaches. If we divert just 10 % of the 1774 tons of household
waste disposed of in 2008, Durham could save $ 11,823.77 in 2009. 
If you’re not composting already, please consider one of the many methods
to compost your kitchen waste. Either learn how to make a simple compost bin
yourself (go to http://extension.missouri.edu
and search for “compost bin”) or consider a composting container such as those
shown on display in the Town Hall. Our Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee (IWMAC) and Public Works are promoting this composting campaign. 
If interested in participating in the bulk purchase of “The Earth Machine”
for $40.00 each, email the IWMAC at iwmac@ci.durham.nh.us or call Public Works
at 868-5578 by May 29, 2009. Provide us with your contact information
and we’ll get back with you on arrangements. The other composters in our display
are available through dealers and their manufacturers.

 

 

SPECIAL
BRUSH COLLECTION SCHEDULED

There will be a special brush
collection on Monday, April 27. 2009, concluding by May 8, 2009, to help
residents dispose of the surplus debris from the December ice storm.  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. 
Federal FEMA grant funds are largely offsetting the cost of this
collection.

 

Spring
Cleanup

The annual bulky waste collection
will be held starting Monday, May 11^th, all items out by 7:00
AM.  This is the Spring Cleanup where residents may put out their bulky
waste for collection instead of bringing it up to the Transfer Station with a
coupon.  Remember that electronics will still need to have their stickers
attached in order to be collected.  The details for the collection are in
the Spring Newsletter which residents should have received. 

 

GATE
VALVE EXERCISING AND FLUSHING OF WATER
MAINS

The Town of Durham and the University of New
Hampshire will be exercising gate valves starting
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 through Friday, May 8, 2009, from approximately 7:00 AM
to 4:30 PM.  In addition, water mains will be flushed beginning 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. Residents are cautioned to not draw water if they 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.

 

2009
ROAD PROGRAM BID AWARD

On Monday, April 20, 009, the 2009
Road Program bid was awarded by the Town Council to Libby Scott, Inc. of Wells,
ME.  This year’s program consists of the application of a 1/2” shim, 1”
overlay, and shoulder gravel back-up along Madbury Road. 

 

LIQUID
ASSETS DOCUMENTARY TO AIR ON DCAT, CHANNEL 22

On Sunday, April 26, 2009, beginning
at 8:00 PM, DCAT Channel 22 will feature the 90-minute documentary Liquid Assets which tells the story of essential
municipal infrastructure systems: water, wastewater, and stormwater. These
systems — some in the ground for more than 100 years — provide a critical
public health function and are essential for economic development and growth.
Largely out of sight and out of mind, these aging systems have been marginally
maintained, and some estimates suggest this is the single largest public works
endeavor in our nation’s history.  To learn more about Liquid Assets,
view this webpage: http://liquidassets.psu.edu/the_film/index.html

 

2009
UNH Outdoor Swimming Pool Vouchers

The Town is assisting the University
once again with the cleaning of the outdoor pool in preparation for the 2009
summer season. 

Pool pass vouchers will be available
at the Town Hall, Town Clerk’s Office, 15 Newmarket Road on Monday, May 25,
2009. The
Town Clerk’s Office is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. This year
there will be 447 pool vouchers available only for Durham youths ages 2-17 and
senior citizens 62 years and older to receive a $45.00 discount off the full
price of a season pass. This is an additional $10.00 discount over last year.
Vouchers are issued on a first come, first served basis. Pool pass vouchers must
be picked up BEFORE purchasing a pool pass, and are sold at the Front
Service Desk at the Hamel
Student Recreation Center, located next to the Whittemore Center on the UNH campus.

 

More information as to when pool passes
will go on sale and when the UNH outdoor pool will open for the season will
be published in a future Friday Update. More information may also be obtained
by calling the UNH Campus Recreation Department at 862-2031 or visiting their
website at http://campusrec.unh.edu.

 

Road
Sweeping

The spring sweeping operation is
moving along nicely.  The Department of Public Works has completed
approximately 80% of the Town’s sweeping thus far and will continue until all
Town roads have been swept. 

 

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.

 

Informational Meeting on Senate Bill
168 – Tuesday, April 28, 2009 (5:00 - 6:30
PM)

Planning Board – Wednesday, April
29, 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 

 

PUBLIC
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON SENATE BILL 168

On Tuesday, April 28, 2009, a legislative
informational meeting on Senate Bill SB 168 will be held in the Council chambers
at the Durham Town Hall
from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. The informational meeting will be conducted by Representative
Judith Spang, Chair of the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee,
and Ted Diers, Program Director of the New Hampshire Coastal Program. This
bill proposes to replace the Estuary Alliance for Sewage Treatment (EAST)
enabled by RSA 485E with another more broad organization called the Coastal
Watershed Alliance, and public input will be used to make major revisions
to SB 168. For more information about the SB 168 visit the NH Senate Website
at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/
and do a “quick bill search” for SB 168.

 

NEW
HAMPSHIRE WATER RESOURCE
PLAN

On Tuesday, April 28, 7:00-9:00 PM, at
the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department Conference Room (225 Main Street,
at Mast Road) a meeting will be held relative to New Hampshire’s Water Resources
Plan. New Hampshire’s
economic well-being, public health, and quality of life depend on the sustainable
management of water resources. Consequently, the state is developing a plan
to better manage and protect this significant resource. The meeting, which
will include New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services staff, New
Hampshire Representative Judith Spang, and Michelle Daley, Associate Director
of the New Hampshire Water Resources Research Center, provides an opportunity to learn
more about the state’s water resources and to provide input into the plan.
This meeting is sponsored by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, a nonprofit
land trust dedicated to the conservation of the natural resources, beauty,
and character of land throughout Strafford County. For more information, visit <http://www.straffordriversconservancy.org/>
or call 516-0772.

 

Oyster
River
Dam Public Hearing

On Monday, May 4, 2009, the Durham
Town Council will hold a Public Hearing to receive input regarding options for
repairing, replacing, or removing the Oyster River Dam at the Mill Pond located
along Route 108/Newmarket Road in Durham. Following the public hearing on this
matter, the Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting (if time allows).
Since a large number of residents is expected to speak to this specific issue,
the agenda will not include the usual Public Comments
period.

 

The Public Hearing will begin at 7:00
PM and will be held at the Oyster River High School Multipurpose Room, Coe
Drive. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend
the public hearing and express their views.  Written comments will be
accepted until 5:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2009, at the Town Administrator’s
office. Comments may also be sent by electronic mail to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us A copy of the
final report relative to the cost comparison for rehabilitation versus decommissioning
of the Oyster River Dam may be viewed at the Town Administrator’s Office located
on the second floor of Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road, or on the Town’s web
site at www.ci.durham.nh.us.

 

OYSTER RIVER DAM eligibility for listing in the New Hampshire State
Register of Historic Places

The Town of Durham has been notified by
the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources of the Oyster River Dam’s
eligibility for listing in the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places.
The Durham Historic District Commission/Heritage Commission recently submitted
the structure for consideration by the state. Because the Town is presently
considering the future of the dam, the Administrator will follow up with the
Division of Historical Resources regarding its designation once the Town has
completed its local discussions and dialogue relative to the
dam.

 

ADOPT-A-TRAIL
PROGRAM

Parks
& Recreation Committee is looking for people interested in taking part in
the "Adopt-a-Trail" program to begin in late May.  Details will follow, but
basically the committee is looking for people who enjoy Durham's trails and would
like to help ensure that the trails remain in good condition.  Citizens
interested in having their names added to the information list are asked to
please send an email to durhamtrails@yahoo.com and someone from
the Parks & Recreation Committee will be in contact with more
information.

 

DURHAM PUBLIC
LIBRARY

Pajama Storytime at the Durham Public
Library, Tuesday April 28, 2009, 6:30 PM. Come to this special evening storytime
in your pajamas. Stories are followed by a craft and a snack. Sponsored
by the Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers (ORPP). For
a list of all of our events, please see our website at http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org
and click on Calendar.

 

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, contact Emma Bricker at
862-2355, or go to the
Jazz Band web site at www.debbiehodge.typepad.com/orms_jazz_band

 

Sun, 4/26, 3:00
PM - Jazz
Through the Miles 5K Fund Run/Walk. Begins and ends at the UNH Thompson School and Applied
Science

Sat, 5/9, 9:30-11:00 AM
– Oyster
River Festival at the OR High School behind the library.

 

United
Campus Ministry Benefit Concert

On Thursday, April 30, 2009, from
6:00-9:00 PM, the United Campus Ministry (UCM) to the University of New
Hampshire (UNH) will have an evening of local acoustic music at the Community
Church of Durham, 17 Main
Street. UCM’s inclusive outreach provides support to
UNH Students and the Durham Community. The doors open at 6:00 PM for dessert,
coffee, and socializing. Silent auction items to benefit UCM will be open for
bidding throughout the evening. The musical performances begin at 7:00 PM.
Tickets are $10 each and are available at the door.

 

OYSTER RIVER WOMENADE ANNUAL
QUACKFEST

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 12:30
AM (rain date: May 17, 2009—no activities), Oyster River Womenade will hold
its first Oyster River QuackFest – A Rubber Duck Race down the Oyster River
at the Durham Landing. This is a fun family event with a BBQ, Kaleide-scoop
Ice Cream, activities for kids and of course, the excitement of cheering the
ducks down the river. Oyster River Womenade is a nonprofit group that provides immediate
assistance to people in times of hardship. A barbeque lunch will be available
for participants. For additional information go to www.orwomenade.org or via
e-mail at orwomenade@comcast.net. 

 

LEE
CHURCH CONGREGATIONAL 18^TH ANNUAL PLANT SALE

On
Friday, May 15, 2009 from 4:00-7:00 PM, and on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 9:00
AM to 12:00 noon, the Lee Church Congregational, located in the center of Lee on
Route 155, will hold its 18^th Annual Plant Sale.  Over 2,000
perennials, trees, shrubs, and shade plants--many of them field grown--will be
offered.  Vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, and herbs will be
offered. Fresh plants for Saturday sales. Featured this year are 4 year-old
kousa dogwood trees, hardy deep gold forsythia shrubs, and dwarf lupines. 
A beef stew, macaroni and cheese, salad bar supper will be held concurrently
with the Friday evening sale from 5:00-7:00 PM.  Breakfast will be
available on Saturday morning.  Strafford County Master Gardeners will be
on hand to answer gardening questions. For additional information, please
contact Barb Wauchope at 659-8857.

 

UNH
ART AND ART HISTORY NEEDS TABLES FOR PUBLIC ART
PROJECT
Monday, April 27 through Thursday,
April 30, 2009, the UNH Art and Art History department will hold a public art
project, Green Art and the Growing Divide, on the UNH campus from the Murkland
Hall courtyard to the back of Dimond Library. The department is seeking wooden
tables of any size for this event. Wooden tables and chairs can be nicked, have
stains, even be fake wood. Someone from
UNH can pick up the tables, or
they can be dropped off. Please call Amy at 862-0309 or email discovery.program@unh.edu with any
questions. 

 

UNH
CAMP
WILDCAT BEGINS JUNE
29

Registration is open for UNH Camp
Wildcat for the summer 2009. Camp Wildcat is a 7-week summer camp for youth
that takes place on the UNH Campus and is sponsored by Campus Recreation. 
It has been in existence for over 20 years.  Camp Wildcat
currently offers one free session of camp to all Forest
Park residents, as well as a scholarship program that offers one
free registration for Mast Way Elementary, Moharimet Elementary, and Oyster River Middle School. 
The scholarship is coordinated by the nurse’s office at each school. 
For more information regarding this program and to register, visit http://campusrec.unh.edu/index.cfm?ID=A7CD2551-96B0-C712-0A368ACAC28CE6D1
or contact Erika Cooper at 862-0845, erika.cooper@unh.edu.

 

ON
BELAY – UNIQUE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAM

On Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 9:00
AM to 4:00 PM, the University of New Hampshire Browne Center will hold its
spring On Belay program. On Belay is an organization committed to helping
young people (ages 10-18) discover their own power to face the extraordinary
challenge of living with a loved ones’ diagnosis of cancer or other life-changing
illness. To register for the spring program, visit www.on-belay.org. For more
information, please contact Executive Director, Sasha Eisele, at 1-914-643-3345,
sasha@on-belay.org.

 

ORWA
Riverwalk
“Quest”

On Saturday, April 25, 2009 beginning
at 9:00 AM, the Oyster River Watershed Association (ORWA) will sponsor a Quest
at Tuckaway Farm in Lee. Tuckaway Farm is located off of Route 155, ½ mile
north of Five Corners. The driveway, which is approximately ½ mile long, is
located directly across from Demerritt Hill Orchard (past The Caretaker’s
Cottage). A Quest is an event in which participants, singly or in groups,
follow a map to locate various points of interest, where descriptions are
found to tell stories about those locations. In this Quest, the stories will
be about the Oyster
River, Tuckaway Farm,
and the associated natural resources. Field clothing, appropriate for the
weather, is suggested. All are welcome. For more details, please contact Dick
Weyrick, 868-2962, dweyrick@comcast.net.

 

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week –
44                                        
28 UNH (64%)           16 Other
(36%)

*2008/09 Academic Year –
733     471 UNH (64%)  
      262 Other (36%)

Calendar Year
–256                        
165 UNH (64%)         91 Other
(36%)

*Commenced September 1, 2008 

 

Historical data
for the same week

Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Week	30	34	31	39	44
Academic Year	878	960	805	730	733
Calendar Year	341	298	302	289	256

 

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1909 – The Boston
Post newspaper gave a gold-headed cane to each New England Town to be transmitted to the oldest
resident. True Lovering was our first recipient, then J. Smith, E. Griffiths, C. Scott, S. Runlett, Jr., C. Pettee, A.
Clough, A. Craig, F. York, H. Hatch, W. Dean, and E.
Hitchcock.”

 

In 1909, Edwin A. Grozier, publisher
of the Boston Post newspaper, came up with a scheme to promote his
newspaper.  He ordered 700 canes to be made by New York Manufacturer J.F.
Fradley and Co. which he then forwarded to the Boards of Selectmen of 700 of the
smaller New England towns, requesting that each town present its cane to the
oldest male resident of the town, and that it be passed on to each succeeding
eldest male citizen.  Around 1930, women were also allowed to become
recipients.  No expense was spared in the creation of these canes, with the
shaft being made from African ebony, topped by a 14-carat gold plated head which
was engraved with each town's name.

 

Throughout the cane’s history, not
all those who were eligible were willing to accept the honor.  Some
potential recipients felt that the cane was the unlucky precursor to their
passing from this world. The last recorded recipient of Durham’s Boston Post Cane
was Leopold von Kanicky. Mr. Kanicky died on March 25, 1992 at 99 years of
age.

 

Of the original 700 canes, more than
400 are still known to exist.  Most of the remaining canes are no longer in
circulation, having been placed with the towns' historic associations or in town
vaults.

 

On March 1, 1993, the Durham Town
Council voted to retire its Boston Post Cane and have it entrusted to the Durham
Historic Association, where it is currently being preserved and in excellent
condition.

 

Have a good
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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