“FRIDAY UPDATES”

Friday,
December 3, 2010

 

 

John Wilson shows off
the “turkey” feathers he collected during the Parks & Recreation annual
Turkey Trot at Wagon Hill Farm held on Thanksgiving morning. Photo courtesy
Diane B. Moore

 

 

TOWN HIRES NEW PART-TIME
PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR

In August, the Town began advertising for the position of
part-time Director of Parks and Recreation. A total of 33 applications were
received. A core selection group, comprised of P&R Committee Chair Sara
Badger Wilson, P&R Committee member Amy Cunningham, former P&R Director
Michael Mengers, and Town
Administrator Todd Selig carefully
reviewed the application materials and narrowed down the number of applicants
to be interviewed to five.

 

Upon completing interviews of the five finalists, the
selection group narrowed the field and Administrator Selig chose Ms. Sandra
Devins for the position. Ms. Devins is a longtime Durham resident.  She holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Sports and Fitness from Salem State College.

 

Based upon the selection committee’s
recommendation and the positive feedback received when speaking with personal
references and prior employers about her job performance, the Administrator is
moving forward with the appointment of Ms. Devins to the position of Director
of Parks and Recreation at this time pursuant to the “advice and consent” of
the Town Council in accordance with the Town Charter.

 

   Photo courtesy Diane
B. Moore

 

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION 4^TH
ANNUAL CHILDREN’S TURKEY TROT AT WAGON HILL FARM

Durham Parks and Recreation hosted its
4th Annual Children's Turkey Trot at Wagon Hill on Thanksgiving Day at 10:00
AM. With over 75 attendees the event was a great way to start Thanksgiving
Day. A children's story about Thanksgiving was read before the children
and parents ventured down the trail to the water collecting the feathers
that Tom the Turkey
left behind. Everyone enjoyed hot chocolate and donuts, played a little
football, hiked some of the trails at Wagon Hill, and spent some time chatting
with friends before heading home. Thank you to all who attended and we hope to
see you there again next year.

 

LIGHT UP DURHAM – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5^th

Durham’s annual Light Up Durham holiday
celebration, presented by the Seacoast Repertory Theatre and the Town of Durham, will be held on
Sunday, December 5^th at 6:00 PM on Main Street across from Young’s
Restaurant. Performances by the Repertory’s A Christmas Carol and Madeline’s
Christmas casts plus performances by the Repertory’s Black Box Theatre
Company. The celebration will conclude with the arrival of Santa and the
lighting of the holiday tree in Memorial Park. Baked goods are available from
the Friends of the Durham Public Library.

 

Smith Chapel by Nick
Isaak

 

2010 DURHAM
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY ORNAMENT

Beautifully rendered by Durham resident and
architect Nick Isaak, these limited-edition ceramic ornaments depict Smith
Chapel.

Available now at Town Hall, Durham
Marketplace, Hayden Sports, Federal Savings Bank, Town & Campus, Emery
Farm,
and                  
People’s United Bank (Newmarket Road & Main Street branches); $20.00 each,
$5.00 of which goes toward chapel restoration.

 

Energy news: Tax credits! Rebates! Resources!

On Monday,
December 6, the Durham Town Council will set the wheels in motion on a proposal
submitted by the Energy Committee to allow property tax credits for both
wind-powered energy systems and central wood-heating systems. To view the
Council communication and ordinance regarding this item, click HERE.

 

The
Public Utility Commission (PUC) of New Hampshire has
recently revised its rebate policies, resulting in significant improvements for
both residential and commercial property owners. It will offer commercial
rebates for solar thermal and solar electric projects, thus making it possible
for more businesses, schools, municipalities, and apartment buildings to fund
energy-efficiency initiatives.

 

Residential
rebates from the PUC currently cover Small Renewable Electrical Generation
Systems; Solar Water Heating Systems; and Bulk-Fed Wood-Pellet Central Boilers
and Furnaces. As the PUC website notes, “Due to a recent increase to the
federal portion (Step 1B) of the state’s rebate program, you can now get up to
$2,900 for installing a new solar water heating or space heating system in your
home!”

 

For
more information and applications for state and federal Solar Water Heating
Rebates, go to the PUC website on renewable energy rebates at http://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/RenewableEnergyRebates.html.

 

Finally,
check out www.myenergyplan.net to
find a great set of tools that can help you reduce your energy usage and plan
energy-efficient improvements.

 

CAPSTONE DEVELOPMENT
CORPORTATION

Capstone Development
Corporation is interested in property in Durham located on Main
Street/Technology Drive to create a
neighborhood-style housing development with various size three, four, and
five-bedroom cottages and multi-unit buildings for a total of approximately 630
bedrooms.  Capstone went before the Planning Board on October 27^th
with a conceptual consultation on a site plan review for this property and will
be coming back before the Planning Board in the near future.

 

Police Chief Kurz was asked to contact other communities where Capstone
Development Corporation has housing developments and gather information
regarding their interaction with this corporation.  To view Chief Kurz’s
findings, click HERE.

 

RENTAL HOUSING COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT TO TOWN COUNCIL

At the Town Council meeting on Monday,
December 6, 2010, Rental Housing Commission (RHC) Chair Sam Flanders will
provide the Council with the RHC’s annual report relative to significant
actions taken by the Commission over the past year, as well as projects
currently under discussion, and anticipated activities for the coming year. To
view Mr. Flanders’ written report and white paper discussing rental housing
issues in Durham,
click HERE.

 

Calling the Police

Recently a
young man was pounding loudly on several doors in a residential neighborhood
and no one called the police department to have an officer investigate the matter,
but rather reported the incident the next day.  Although Police Chief Kurz
was discouraged that no one called to report this activity when it was
occurring, he understands that residents are often concerned about “bothering
the police”.  

 

While in the
aftermath of this event an assumption can be made that although this unusual
activity was not overtly dangerous, Chief Kurz does not like assumptions and
strongly urges residents to call the Durham Police with any concerns.
The police department would rather come to neighborhoods 100 times for issues
that are readily resolved than to not respond in the aftermath of the one time
when possibly something was awry and residents were concerned about bothering
the police.

 

Officers are
poised to respond immediately and can quickly clarify what is going on. 
Much of this premise is related to the concept of community policing that the
Durham Police Department has instituted. The strategy is based upon the
notion that community interaction and support can help control crime and reduce
fear, with community members bringing problems to the attention of the police.
The definitive objective of community policing is to sustain a police
organization that is proactive and designed to prevent crime rather than a more
traditional law enforcement practice that is ultimately reactive. By citizens
calling the police, they can more proactively solve community problems and
address the factors that contribute to crime rather than how police respond to
crime. 

 

So don’t be concerned that you are bothering the
police…simply call them!

 

Garrison
Road Culvert

During recent
inspection of culverts, Department of Public Works staff noticed that the
bottom of the Garrison Road
culvert had been rotted out.  At that point they also found excess water
in the drainage swale that ultimately led them to identify a water leak in the
old Pettee System which still serviced 2 buildings on Madbury Road.  Town crews assisted
property owners in updating their services to hook in to new lines eliminating
use of the old Pettee System in that area therefore stopping the leak. 
Two days later Town crews replaced the culvert with new plastic culvert
piping. 

 

FEMA

The Town is
expecting to see the third and final portion of FEMA funds from the Winter 2010
wind storm to come any day now.  The amount the Town is expecting to
receive is $26,367.27 which will bring the total funding to $90,012.27. 
This represents 75% of reportable costs due to the storm. 
 $35,710.97 of it is attributed to Category B-which is emergency work
during the storm and following few days declared by FEMA for Public Works,
Police, and Fire, and $54,301.30 for Category A-debris cleanup.  On
Monday, December 6^th, the Town Council will schedule a Public
Hearing for December 20^th on a resolution authorizing the acceptance
and expenditure of these funds for the purpose of contracting debris removal
and overtime usage by the Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments.

 

WISWALL
FISH LADDER PROJECT – HISTORIC RESOURCES MEETING

On Wednesday,
December 8, 2010 at 1:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Durham Town
Hall, the Department of Public Works and the USDA
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold a Wiswall Fish Ladder
Project historic resources meeting. The Wiswall Fish Ladder Project
construction plans are nearing completion and because the project location is a
sensitive historic site the project team is holding this meeting to address the
concerns of interested consulting parties and the general public regarding the
impact of the project on the historic elements of the site.  Construction
of a fish passage at the Wiswall Dam has been in the works now for more than
2 decades (yes, 20+ years) and is moving forward thanks to a $1,000,000
grant from the NRCS.  The Wiswall Dam is critical to maintaining the
Wiswall Reservoir for the UNH/Durham Water Supply and in addition to
constructing the fish ladder, the project includes a number of necessary
repairs and modifications to the dam which will allow for more
efficient operation of the reservoir.     

 

AFSCME Collective Bargaining
Negotiations – Tentative Agreement Reached

In November
2009 the Town began the contract negotiation process with the Durham American
Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) representing the nine employees
covered by the AFSCME contract.  The existing contract extended from
January 1, 2007-December 31, 2009. The Town and the AFSCME have reached a
tentative agreement for a new contract extending from January 1, 2010 to
December 31, 2013. Formal action to ratify this agreement has been placed on
the December 6, 2010 Town Council agenda.  

 

CARBON MONOXIDE
INFORMATION

As we enter the heating and winter
storm season, the Durham Fire Department would like to warn all residents about
the dangers of Carbon Monoxide in and around the home.  CO (carbon
monoxide) is an invisible, odorless, and colorless gas that is produced by
fuel-burning appliances.  Please take a minute to read the information
provided by clicking HERE.
Please contact the Durham Fire Department at 868-5531 with any questions or
concerns. 

 

TOWN OFFICES HOLIDAY
CLOSING SCHEDULE

Friday, Dec 24^th, Christmas
Eve                
-           Closed

Monday, Dec 27^th, Christmas
Day             
-           Closed

Friday, Dec 31^st, New Years
Eve               
-           Closed

 

All Town offices will reopen for
regular business on Monday, January 3, 2010.

 

Christmas
Holiday Recycling and Refuse Collection

Friday, Dec 24^th
      
-           No COMMERCIAL
recycling collection

Saturday, Dec 25^th
   -          
Transfer Station and Recycling Center CLOSED

Monday, Dec
27^th    
-           No change to the
regular schedule for collection

 

ORMS
SKI AND SNOWBOARD CLUB FLEA MARKET

On
Saturday, December 11^th from 9:00 AM to noon, the Oyster River
Middle School Ski & Snowboard Club is holding its first Ski & Snowboard
Flea Market in the parking lot behind the Middle School. (The event may be
moved to the Middle School cafeteria if weather dictates.)  Anyone with
lightly-used and unwanted skis, snowboards, boots, poles, winter garments,
sporting equipment, and accessories for sale or trade may show up a little
early and find a parking spot to display their items out of the back of their
vehicle or set up a folding table.  NO commission will be charged.
Everyone is responsible for their items and must be present to make the
exchange. There will also be an opportunity to donate slightly-used winter
sporting equipment and accessories for the “free for the taking” table as long
as they are no more than 4 years old and in nice condition.

 

DURHAM PROFESSIONAL
FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION – TOY
BANK DRIVE

Durham’s firefighters would like to help the
children in the Town of Durham
this holiday season by holding a Toy Bank drive. Durham residents can help, and it’s very
easy. If residents have a new and unwrapped toy they would like to donate, they
can simply drop it off at one of the collection locations listed below.
Firefighters will collect the boxes of toys to wrap and distribute before the
Christmas holiday.  The last day to drop off toys is December 17^th. 
Please contact the Durham Fire Department at 862-1426 with questions regarding
donations.

 

Collection Locations: Durham Fire Department, Durham
Market Place, Durham Public Library, Durham Town Hall, People's United Bank
(formally Ocean National-at either the Newmarket or Main Street branches).

 

WILDCAT FITNESS – “TOYS
FOR TOTS” AND NH FOOD BANK DRIVE

Wildcat
Fitness will be hosting a “Toys for Tots” NH and NH Food Bank drive from
November 20^th –December 27^th, 2010. Wildcat Fitness is a registered drop off location for
both of these organizations and is hoping to spread the cheer and community
support around the state. Last year, Wildcat
Fitness collected over 400 toys and 18 bags of food and the staff is hoping to
break that record this year.

 

On Saturday,
December 4^th,  from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Wildcat Fitness will be having “Photos with Santa”. All
photos will be done by donation, and all donations will go to benefit Toys for
Tots NH.

 

Oyster River Cooperative
School District Advisory
Budget Committee (ABC) Update

The Advisory
Budget Committee (ABC), comprised of Robert McEwan-Madbury: Jay Hilyard-Lee;
Bill Bryon-Lee; Anne Knight-Durham; Jenna Roberts-Durham; David Proulx-Durham;
David Taylor-Durham, and Tom Merrick-Durham, has met frequently since October
26^th  and attended School Board meetings and budget workshops
in order to become educated about the ORCSD budget.  In addition,
committee members have taken guided tours of the four schools to see the
facilities, to meet the administrators and some teachers, and to learn more
about the educational programs. 

 

Citizens in
the Oyster River School District
are invited to contact the ABC using the email address abc@sau5.org about school district budget
matters.  An ABC member will respond to such emails. Meeting minutes and
any supporting published documents are placed on the ORCSD website www.orcsd.org under School
Board/Subcommittees/Advisory Budget Committee http://www.orcsd.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=103&Itemid=203
soon after they are approved.

 

All ABC
meetings are open to the public.  Future public meetings (usually 7 PM at
ORHS) that will include school budget discussion are:

12/6
        School Board Mtg with budget
discussion about SpEd, Technology, Prof Devel, District

12/8        
School Board workshop with budget discussion about Facilities, Transportation,
Food Serv

12/9
        ABC meeting 7 PM C123

12/13
      ABC meeting 7 PM C120

12/15
      School Board Mtg with budget discussion – ABC
preliminary recommendations

1/3          
ABC meeting 7 PM C120

1/5
          School Board Mtg with
budget discussion – ABC report

1/12
         Public Hearing on School
Budget – ABC presentation included

 

BOX TOPS AND LABELS FOR
EDUCATION

Moharimet, Mast Way and the Middle School earn
points for each Label for Education submitted. The points are then used to
“buy” school materials out of their catalog. There is currently a little black
collection box in the Durham Library’s Children’s Area to collect Box Tops and
Labels for Education from community members.  All Box Tops and Labels for
Education collected in the library collection box will be split equally between
the 3 schools.  For more information, click HERE or
contact Kristin Carpenter at Kristin.carpenter@unh.edu.

 

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE SALE by Boy scout Troop 154

The Durham Boy Scout Troop 154 will
once again be selling locally cut Christmas trees at the Durham Marketplace
parking lot for the next three weekends.  Sales run from 9:00 AM to 4:00
PM on Saturdays & Sundays until they sell out.  The trees are cut in Farmington and transported to Durham by the Scouts.  Christmas tree
sales represent the Scout's major fund-raiser for the year. 

 

 

McGregor
Volunteers Achieve 25,000 Hours of Service in 2010

McGregor Memorial EMS volunteers have
exceeded 25,000 hours of time volunteered so far this year and expect to set a
record for the organization in 2010 by exceeding 27,000 hours.  The
organization will recognize this milestone by honoring its volunteers during
its annual holiday dinner on Monday, December 6^th. McGregor has
steadily seen the number of hours given by volunteers increase since 2005 when
just over 9,000 hours were volunteered.  To learn more about McGregor
Memorial EMS including how to volunteer please visit www.McGregorEMS.org.

 

CHARETTE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT Site
Feasibility Study

On
Thursday, December 16, 2010 beginning at 7:00 PM, the Town of Durham
will hold a Charette in the Council chambers at the Durham Town Hall.
The Charette will be on a Site Feasibility Study on the UNH-owned parking lot
currently known as ‘C Lot’, located at Mill Road across from Mill Road Plaza. Discussion will center on
developing the parcel with a new Fire Department building and parking garage.
This meeting is open to the public and the Town is looking for input from all
interested parties.

 

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are
scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town
Office. All meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at
the Town Hall unless otherwise indicated below. To view the agenda for the
meetings listed below, please click HERE. 
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library
for checkout and viewing. 

 

Town Council – Monday, December 1,
2010. To view the complete Council packet for this meeting, please click HERE. 

Wiswall Fish Ladder Project Historic
Resources Meeting – Wednesday, December 8, 2010 (1:00 PM)

Planning Board – Wednesday, December
8, 2010

Conservation Commission – Thursday,
December 9, 2010

 

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

 

Durham Public
Library Programs and Events

Donate a
new  toy for the Durham Firefighters Toy Drive (box in the library) from
now until Dec. 17^th and the library will erase your late fees.

Preschool
Storytime Tues. Dec. 7th and Thurs. Dec. 9^th at 10:30 a.m. - This week: Penguins.  Join
us for stories, fingerplays, songs, feltboard and a craft. 

Raccoon
Readers Book Club (2^nd-4^th Graders), Tues. Dec. 7^th,
6:00-7:00 p.m. - Join
the Raccoon Readers Book Club for 2nd-4th graders. This month you can read
either "The Name of this Book is Secret" by Pseudonymous Bosch or
"The Calder Game" by Blue Balliett.  Your choice.  Join us
to talk about the books, authors, play some games and make a craft.

Granite Earth Book
Discussion: Voluntary Simplicity, Tues. Dec. 7^th, 7:30-9:00 p.m. - Another
section of the Granite Earth series, Voluntary Simplicity is a 5 week
discussion group on Tues eves beginning Dec. 7th and ending Jan. 11th, with no
meeting on Dec 28th. Please register and get your book at the library.

Bookeaters, Middle School Book Group, Weds. Dec. 8^th,
2:45-4:00 p.m. - Join Middle Schoolers for this book
group. This month's book is "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.
Copies of this book will be available at the library. Pizza is served.

Living Berry
Christmas Ornament Workshop, Weds. Dec. 8^th, 6:30-7:30 p.m. -Call
us (868-6699) to reserve a spot in this Free Workshop.  Materials and
instruction provided by Ruth Moore. Go home with a glass ornament filled with
partridge berries, that will live for many months.

Russian Nesting Doll Painting Workshop and Storytelling
with Marina Forbes, Sat. Dec. 11^th, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Join us
for this fun family event. Families with Children and Adults can register to
paint Russian Nesting Dolls. At 10:30 Marina
will tell us the Russian Folklore of Nesting Dolls (all are welcome),
then interested Families can stay and purchase and paint Nesting Dolls
ranging in price from $10.00 to $55.00.Marina demonstrates step by step how to
paint the dolls and provides paints and brushes. Registration recommended but
walk-ins are also welcome.

The
patch program, our reading incentive program for children aged 2-12 years has
started. Children
earn patches for minutes read or being read to as well as a Durham Library book
bag. If new to the program, stop by and register.

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 now at the
library for a 3 week session starting in December, there is still a slot with a
dog open.  New sign-ups for a 6 week session in January will start in
December.

 

COMMUNITY
EVENTS

§  Saturday,
December 4^th, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, St. George’s Church
– Christmas Fair. Featuring felt birds, the original cookie walk, used and
handmade jewelry and crafts, homemade baked goods, and annual raffle.

§  Sunday,
December 5^th, 6:00 PM, Main
Street across from Young’s Restaurant – Annual Light
Up Durham Holiday Celebration, presented by the Seacoast Repertory
Theatre and the Town of Durham.

§  Tuesday,
December 7^th, 3:30 – 7:00 PM, Whittemore Center Arena – Annual
Holiday Skating Party for Families of the Greater Durham Community,
sponsored by the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s
Bureau. Join in a fun night of free food, skating, cookie decorating, photos
with Santa and more. For more information, visit www.unh.edu/holidayparty.

§  Saturday, December 11^th,
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, UNH MUB Food
Court – Second Annual Gingerbread House Event
sponsored by On Belay. Supplies will be provided; however, all are welcome to
bring their own candy, etc. for decorating. Entry cost is $10 per team. For
more information on the organization visit www.on-belay.org, or contact Ruth
Abelmann, ruth.abelmann@unh.edu., with
questions.

§  Thursday, January 13^th,
2011, 4:45 PM, Community Church
of Durham – Winter
Ballet Classes. For more information contact the Great Bay Academy of Dance
at 603-433-4200 or visit www.gbadance.com.

 

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week
–
2                                        
  1 UNH
(50%)            
1
Other (50%)

*2010/11 Academic Year –
447     251 UNH
(55%)         196 Other (44%)

Calendar
Year –
873                       
500 UNH (57%)         373 Other
(43%)

*This data represents the 2010/11
Academic year report which began August 27th when UNH dormitories officially
opened and students begin arriving in Durham.

 

Historical data for the same week

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Week	8	7	14	2	1	2
Academic Year	620	441	402	430	508	447
Calendar Year	1179	944	973	945	1054	873

 

FROM “DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE
A HISTORY – 1900-1985”

“Durham
residents have been fortunate that through the century a doctor has always been
available in town, starting with Dr. Albert E. Grant, who came to Durham in March 1897 and
practiced here until his death in 1933. After Dr. Grant’s death, a town
committee interviewed doctors to take his place. The one the committee chose
from a group of five who applied was George G. McGregor. People remembered Dr.
McGregor as a fine physician, but they especially recalled the character of the
man. And he was a character! Everyone had his own Dr. McGregor story. The
doctor was famous for his Sunday morning walks to Jack Grant’s for the paper.
His usual attire was pajamas, a bathrobe, a hat, and a cigar. He often stopped
to play the piano at the Gerry Smiths’ on his way home. Dr. McGregor died on
March 13, 1967.” Published
in 1985 by the Durham
Historic Association.

 

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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