Friday Update August 14, 2009


“FRIDAY
UPDATES”


August
14, 2009


 



 


A beautiful rainbow, captured by
Craig Seymour, appeared over the Town Landing after Tuesday’s torrential
rains.


 


 


The final top coat of paving was
completed this week on Madbury
Road.  Painting and striping is planned for
sometime next week. 


 


REMEMBER
TO VOTE ON TUESDAY - DOVER
ROAD PUMP STATION BOND REFERENDUM


On Tuesday, August 18,
2009, the Town will hold a bond referendum from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM at
the Oyster River High School located on Coe Drive in
Durham to request authorization for borrowing a low interest loan
through the NH State Revolving Loan Fund for the rehabilitation of the Dover
Road Wastewater Pump Station in the amount of $1,231,055. The Town has received
a Federal stimulus grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
covering half the $1,231,055 project cost or approximately
$615,000.  The residual $615,528 will be funded through the Sewer Fund
which is shared 1/3 Durham, 2/3 UNH.  The Town Charter
currently requires a referendum vote for any bond or loan exceeding $1,000,000.
To view the information sheet explaining what
a “Yes” or “No” vote would mean relative to this project, please
click HERE.


 


LABOR
DAY HOLIDAY


Monday, September 7th is
Labor Day.  All Town offices will be closed for the Labor Day holiday,
however, there will be NO CHANGE
to the refuse and recycling collection that normally occurs on Monday’s. 
As always, please have all items out by 7:00 AM. 


 


NH
RANKED NUMBER TEN IN THE “TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS
CLIMATE”


Congratulations to the
Granite
State once again! The 2009
Business Facilities Ranking Report has just been announced and New Hampshire ranked
number ten in the "Top States for Business Climate." You may view the latest
post at http://blog.nheconomy.com/?p=338


 



ANNUAL
MUNICIPAL LAW LECTURE SERIES


Beginning in September, the
34th Annual Municipal Law Lecture Series, sponsored by the New Hampshire Local Government Center and the Regional Planning
Commission, will be holding lectures in communities throughout the state. These
lectures are intended for municipal officials with an interest in, or
responsibility for, any aspect of municipal land use to include members of
planning boards, zoning boards, conservation commissions, and councils/board of
selectmen, as well as planners, building inspectors, and code officers. All
lectures are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 PM.


 


The schedule of lectures is as
follows:  Lecture 1: Constitutional Issues in Land Use Regulation; Lecture
2: The Five Variance Criteria in the 21st Century; and Lecture 3:
What Do You Do When They Stop Building? A registration form has been placed in
the mailboxes for Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Historic District
Commission, and Conservation Commission members. The registration form may also
be obtained through the LGC website at: http://www.nhlgc.org/LGCWebSite//PDFDocuments/Flyers/MLLS_flyer.pdf.
Board and committee members interested in attending any or all of these lectures
are encouraged to do so. Please complete the registration form and return it to
Jennie Berry as soon as possible as space is limited. The Town will cover the
cost for all registration fees.


 


DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT
RESPONSE TO RENTAL PROPERTIES


For the past several years, the
Durham Police Department, in cooperation with the Durham Landlords Association,
has been collecting data relative to the number of responses made by the police
to various rental properties within the community relating to noise complaints,
disorderly actions or any other incident requiring police intervention. Although
the work involved to compile this data is quite time-consuming, the police
believe it is a worthwhile and useful tool that enhances the department’s
ability to form conclusions about problematic property, as well as recognizing
those that have undertaken initiatives that will improve and negate the need for
police response. To view the matrix reflecting police responses to addresses
that are rental properties between the dates of April 1-June 30, 2009, please
click HERE.


 


Household
Hazardous Waste Day - September 12th


This year’s annual Household
Hazardous Waste Day will once again be held at the Department of Public Works
facility located at 100 Stone
Quarry Drive.  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.  Remember, the maximum
collected per resident is five gallons. For more information regarding the
Household Hazardous Waste Day, please click HERE.


 


DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION “BUSINESS AFTER HOURS” QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP
MEETING


On Thursday, August 20,
2009, from 5:30-7:00 PM, the Holiday Inn Express, 2 Main Street, will host an
August DBA Business After Hours Quarterly Membership Meeting. Come enjoy wine
and cheeses while Durham Town Council Chair Neil Niman discusses economic
development initiatives that are underway in Durham. The evening will include a showing of
the recently created promotional film of Durham featuring several members of Durham's business
community. Members of the DBA, their guests, and any businesses seeking
information about the DBA are welcome to attend. Admission is free.


 


LIBRARIES
MIX IT UP


In many cases, libraries provide
valuable services for residents of all ages, incomes, and ethnic backgrounds,
but they can also inject a healthy dose of vitality into downtowns, main
streets, and neighborhood centers. To learn more about the positive aspects of
libraries, visit the Libraries Resource Page of the Planning Commissioners
Journal website at: http://pcj.typepad.com/planning_commissioners_jo/libraries.html


 


DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
EVENTS


Durham Energy Committee: Speaker Ken
Baldwin, Date TBA  - The presenter has requested that the date of
this program be moved to September. The DPL apologizes for any inconvenience
this may cause.


 


Check out a Museum Pass! Looking for something fun to do
before the summer ends?  The Durham Public Library has passes to area
museums that offer library patrons discounted admission. Visit the
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Strawbery Banke, The Children’s Museum of New
Hampshire, The Currier Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine
Arts in Boston, the Boston
Children’s Museum, and the Museum of
Science in Boston.  You can
reserve your pass through the DPL website at: http://durhampubliclibrary.org/museums.html
or call the library for more information.  


 


PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE


The following public meetings are
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, August
17, 2009


Parks and Recreation Committee –
Thursday, August 20, 2009


 


To view the agenda for the meetings
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,
please click HERE. 


 


The Durham Public Library Board of Trustees
meet every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Durham Public
Library.  All are welcome to attend. To view the Trustees meeting schedule,
please click HERE.


 


DURHAM CABLE ACCESS
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE


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


 


LISTING
OF CURRENT RECREATION PROGRAMS IN DURHAM


On August 3, 2009, Parks and
Recreation Director, Michael Mengers, began employment with the Town. As a first
step, Michael compiled information on the various recreational opportunities and
organizations currently available to the Durham community. To view this information,
please visit the Recreation section of the Town web site at http://ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/recreation.html


 



free
ice cream at the parks and Recreation committee’s last ‘picnic in the park’ for
the 2009 season
On Thursday, August 20, 2009, at 5:00 PM, please join
members of the Durham Parks and Recreation Committee for the fifth and final
Thursday night ‘Picnic in the Park’ at Jackson’s Landing. To commemorate a fabulous
season of picnics the Committee is hiring an ice cream truck and all townspeople
in attendance will receive a free ice cream treat of their choice.  While
at Jackson’s
Landing enjoy the expansive playground, maintained walking trails, and beautiful
waterfront views. Additional games will be provided by the Committee. This is a
casual event focused on bringing Durham community members together.  Come
alone or in a group and bring along a picnic and any games you might want to
share with others. Please contact the Parks & Recreation Committee
with any questions you may have. Given the venue, consider the event canceled if
it is raining.  Hope to see you there!


 


Parks
and Recreation department website updated
Please check out the updated Parks and Recreation
Department website. The page now contains listings of recreation programs
and cultural events that are all happening right here in Durham.  If you see
any programs, events or organizations missing please contact Director Michael Mengers so the listings can
be updated. Keep checking back to the Parks and Recreation Department webpage
because many more additions will be made soon!


 


Parks
and Recreation department looking for adults interested in playing flag football
or dodge ball this fall
The Parks and Recreation Department
is organizing a coed flag football and dodge ball team to compete this fall in
the New Hampshire Sports & Social Club. The flag football season runs from
October through November.  Games will be played on Saturday mornings at The
Commons in New
Castle.  Individual registration will cost $40 for
the season. The dodge ball season runs from October through December. 
Games will be played on Tuesday nights in Portsmouth. Individual registration will cost
$50 for the season. All ages and skill levels are welcome.  Encourage your
friends and neighbors to come out and play!  Please contact Parks and
Recreation Director Michael Mengers with any questions you
may have.  Also check out the New Hampshire
Sports & Social Club website.


 



DURHAM
DAY 2009


Durham Day 2009 has been set for
Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 12:30-4:30 PM at Wagon Hill Farm.
Residents interested in assisting with this annual event should contact Durham
Day Coordinator, Nicole Moore, at 868-6775 or e-mail durhamday3@yahoo.com.


 


ORYA
FALL PROGRAMS


Register today for your ORYA fall
programs. Registrations can be done online at www.oryarec.org. Programs offered include:
Rec soccer, Preschool-8th grade; Tennis, Grades 4-8; Track and Field,
Grades 1-6; Football, Grades 1-6; and Hip Hop Dance, Grades
1-8.


 


NH
DIVISION OF FORESTS AND LANDS WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT


On August 28, 2006, the Durham Town
Council passed a motion to “approve the contribution of $200,000 to the Nature
Conservancy and authorize the Town Administrator to enter into an agreement with
the Nature Conservancy for the protection of 140 acres of the Beaudette property
located off of Bennett Road, and that the Town retain legal interest in the
property by placing a conservation restriction on the land at the time of
transfer to the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game.
“


 


The Town has been notified by the
New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands of its plans for a
wildlife habitat
improvement project on the “Beaudette Tract” with a primary focus on creating
suitable habitat conditions for numerous species requiring early-successional
habitats, especially New England Cottontail, a state endangered species and a
candidate for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act. This project
will be a whole tree harvest removing all overstory stems within an abandoned
pasture area. An estimated 294 tons of mixed chips will be removed. The project
is being planned during the winter of 2009/10.


 


CHINA
PALACE RESTAURANT TEMPORARILY CLOSING


Beginning Monday, August 17, 2009,
the China Palace Restaurant, located in the Mill Plaza, will be closed for several weeks to
begin major interior renovations. Upon reopening, the restaurant will have a new
name: Mei Wei.


 


DURHAM
CHURCHES HOLD ANNUAL 700-FAMILY YARD SALE


On Saturday, September 12, 2009 from
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the Durham churches of St.
George Episcopal Church, Durham
Community Church, and St. Thomas More Church will hold the annual 700-family
yard sale. Come search for possible treasures in electronics, toys, furniture,
house wares, books, and more. Enjoy baked goods and coffee or a delicious
BBQ on the lawn. Bring a friend and shop, rain or shine.


 



McGregor EMS Places a New
Ambulance in Service
The McGregor EMS (formerly Durham Ambulance) has
purchased a new, state-of-the-art ambulance. This ambulance replaces McGregor’s
oldest ambulance, which served the community for over 150,000 miles and 13
years. The new ambulance was paid for in part by donations from the community
and imposes no additional costs on taxpayers. This ambulance ensures that
McGregor EMS continues to have two frontline and one ready-reserve emergency
response vehicles.
 
The new ambulance has a different exterior
design, intended to enhance safety by making it more visible while on emergency
calls.  Additional features on the interior provide for greater
patient comfort, safety and care.  Members of the public are invited
to stop in at the station at 47 College Road for a tour. If you
have any questions please feel free to contact Nathan at nduclos@mcgregorems.org.


 


GREAT BAY
ROWING OFFERS YOUTH ROWING CAMP


Great
Bay Rowing will
be hosting its second youth rowing camp from August 17-21 from 11:00am to
3:00pm.  There are still spots available. 


 


GREAT
BAY ROWING OFFERS ADULT ROWING CLINIC


Great
Bay Rowing is
also pleased to announce an Adult Rowing Clinic.  This week long workshop
is for adults interested in experiencing the sport of rowing. No experience is
necessary. The adult workshop week will end with an evening BBQ with the
GBR Master’s (adult rowers) as a meet and greet social
event.


Workshop:  August 24 - 28; from 5 to
7pm.  Meet & Greet BBQ: Friday,
August 28 at 7pm for master’s and
workshop attendees.  More information can be
found online at www.greatbayrowing.org or
emailing greatbayrowing@comcast.net.


 


FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976


“1930 – For many years the annual
freshmen-sophomore rope pulls across the mouth of Beard’s Creek just below the
highway bridge were the stellar events of the fall. When the freshmen won, there
was no hazing that year. They never won. The pulls were especially spectacular
when the tide was out.”


 


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


 


The Town of Durham has developed a list
server. The server provides interested individuals with updates and
announcements concerning the community. Individuals interested in subscribing
should send an email to Town_of_Durham@ci.durham.nh.us
and type the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line


 


 

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