Friday Update June 12, 2009

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

JUNE
12, 2009

Durham Patrol Officers Jennifer
Kelly and Stephen Misek, Sergeant Kathryn Mone, and Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Johnson participated in
today’s Law Enforcement Torch Run
for Special Olympics. Police officers from across New Hampshire have been
working all year to raise funds that support the Special Olympians. They will
compete in a variety of venues at the UNH athletic facilities this weekend.
Police officers perform a number of chores to raise funds that will support the
Olympians. One of those events occurred last Sunday as Durham police officers pumped gasoline at the Irving station on
Dover
Road. The year-long fund-raising is culminated by
police officers running into Durham from all areas of the state, joining
together to light one torch from numerous torches as they run into Cowell Field
cheered on by the Olympians. At the conclusion of the Torch Run, the Durham
Police provide showers and host a cookout for all the officers, family, and
friends before the cruiser parade and fireworks that occur at dark surrounded by
hundreds of cheering Special Olympians.  

Administrator's
Plan for Reducing the Risk to Durham Residents of
West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine
Encephalitis

The State of New Hampshire saw a
growth in activity in both West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis
(EEE) during the 2005 mosquito season.  Despite an aggressive state-wide
education campaign, seven New
Hampshire residents developed serious illness following
infection with EEE, two of whom died. Once present in an environment, both
viruses will likely continue to surface to some extent every year.  In
response to this situation, the Town Administrator has provided information
concerning WNV and EEE, prevention and control strategies, and his planned
response in 2009. To view the Administrator's plan in detail, please click HERE. 
Some helpful suggestions also follow in terms of reducing the risk of exposure
to mosquitoes around one's home.

What can residents do around their
homes to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes?

·       
Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting
screens.  Repair or replace all screens in your home that have tears or
holes.

·       
Remove all discarded tires from your property. 
The used tire has become the most important domestic mosquito-breeding habitat
in the United
States.

·       
Do not allow water-holding containers.  Dispose
of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water-holding
containers.  Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by
aquatic vegetation. 

·       
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers
that are left out of doors.  Drainage holes that are located on the sides
collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.

·       
Make sure roof gutters drain properly.  Clean
clogged gutters in the spring and fall.

·       
Tightly screen “rain barrels” to ensure mosquitoes
cannot deposit eggs in or on water.

·       
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and outdoor hot
tubs.  If not in use, keep empty and covered.

·       
Drain water from pool
covers.

·       
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with
fish.  Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito breeding
grounds if they are allowed to stagnate.

·       
Turn over wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths
at least twice weekly.  Both provide breeding habitat for domestic
mosquitoes.

·       
Eliminate any standing water that collects on your
property.  Use landscaping as needed.  Mosquitoes will develop in any
puddle that lasts more than 4 days.  Mosquito larvae look like tiny shrimp
and are not recognized for what they really are by most
people.

·       
Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites
on their properties.

What can residents do to reduce
their risk of becoming infected with WNV or EEE? When mosquitoes are active,
take the following precautions:

·       
Wear protective clothing such as long pants,
long-sleeved shirts, and socks if outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn
hours, the time when mosquitoes are most active, and at other times when
mosquitoes are biting.

·       
If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours,
or whenever mosquitoes are biting, consider the use of an effective insect
repellant.

·       
Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug
zappers have not been shown
to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.

·       
Use repellants according to manufacturer’s
directions.

v    
Repellents containing DEET have been proven
effective.  No more than 30% DEET should be used on adults or
children.

v    
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated
recommendations for use of DEET products on children, citing:  “Insect
repellents containing DEET with a concentration of 10% appear to be as safe as
products with a concentration of 30% when used according to the directions on
the product labels.”  AAP recommends that repellants with DEET should not
be used on infants less than 2 months old.

v    
Repellents containing Picaridin (KBR3023) or oil of
lemon eucalyptus (a plant based repellent) provide protection similar to
repellents with low concentrations of DEET.  Oil of lemon eucalyptus should
not be used on children under the age of three years. Do not allow young
children to apply repellent themselves.

v    
Do not apply repellent directly to children. 
Apply repellent to your own hands and then put it on the child’s exposed
skin.

v    
Avoid putting repellent on the hands of children or
near their eyes or mouth.

v    
Do not spray directly on the face, spray into the
hands first and then apply to the face.

v    
Do not apply to cuts, wounds, or irritated,
skin.

v    
Do not use under clothing.

v    
Do not spray repellent containing products in
enclosed areas.

v    
Avoid prolonged or excessive use of repellents. 
Use sparingly to cover exposed skin and clothing.

v    
Wash all treated skin and clothing after returning
indoors.

v    
Store repellents out of reach of
children.

v    
Research has shown that repellents based on natural
oils or herbs are less effective than products based on Picaridin or
DEET.

v    
Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug
zappers have not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito
bites.

Lyme Disease
Prevention

In addition to WNV and EEE, summer
also brings the increased threat of the tick-borne infectious disease known as
Lyme disease. Citizens are urged to take precautions to prevent the potential
for becoming infected with tick-borne diseases by performing frequent, thorough
tick checks, wearing light-colored clothes, tucking pants into socks, and
placing clothes in the dryer for 30 minutes to kill ticks.  More
information may be obtained by contacting the Lyme Disease Association, Inc.,
PO Box 1438, Jackson, NH
08527, or calling
Toll-free (888) 366-6611, or by E-mail: Lymeliter@aol.com. You may
also visit their website at: www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org. 

Natural
Protocols for Treating Lyme Disease

Wendy Snow Fogg, Sr. Herbalist at
Misty
Meadows Herbal Center located on Wednesday Hill Road
in Lee, offers alternative treatment for people with Lyme disease, ranging from
early to late chronic stage.  Misty Meadows is open Wed-Sat, 10:00 AM-5:00
PM, Sun, 12:00 noon-5:00 PM. For more information, please contact Wendy Snow
Fogg at 659-7211 during business hours. 

World Health Organization DECLARES A PHASE 6 INFLUENZA PANDEMIC
ALERT

The World Health
Organization (WHO) has raised the Influenza Pandemic Alert from Phase 5 to Phase
6. To view this organization’s official statement concerning this matter, please
visit http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2009/h1n1_pandemic_phase6_20090611/en/index.html

EDC
Seeks Public Input

As part of the Economic Development
Committee’s (EDC) efforts to support the Town Council's goals of strategic
planning and revisiting a long-term vision for Durham, the EDC is seeking input from the community
regarding other towns that may provide a community planning model for Durham. In identifying
other communities that share a similar vision as Durham, the EDC hopes to
identify the strategies and tactics that have made that community successful. If
you know of a town that we may want to investigate, please contact Town Planner
Jim Campbell at jcampbell@ci.durham.nh.us. For further information about the
Town Council vision and goals, click HERE.

Seacoast
Repertory Theatre INTEREST IN MILL POND
CENTER

The Seacoast
Repertory Theatre is seeking to acquire the former Mill Pond Center property which will allow the
organization to expand programming.  The organization believes this
venue would be ideal for expansion of its youth theater workshops, classes,
and summer day camps.  In addition, it would enable the organization to
perform smaller black box style productions, to temporarily
house performers, and construct production sets. The Repertory Theatre
desires to work with the Town of Durham to
preserve the Mill
Pond Center property and ensure it will
continue to serve the greater Seacoast community. Representatives from the
Seacoast Repertory Theatre are scheduled to make a brief presentation to the
Durham Town Council on Monday evening, June 15^th, regarding their
plans for the property.

2008
Revaluation Review by NH Department of Revenue Administration

The New Hampshire Department of
Revenue Administration (DRA) has completed its final review of the Town of
Durham's 2008
Revaluation Update. The DRA reports that Durham has met all of the required guidelines
as recommended by the N.H. Assessing Standards Board.  The report is very
complimentary with respect to the work conducted in Durham in the final three
paragraphs of the May 7, 2009 letter.  To view the letter from DRA, click
HERE

RFP
For the Productive Reuse of The Grange (H.A. Davis
Building)

The Town of Durham, New Hampshire is
soliciting proposals for the productive reuse/redevelopment of the parcel and
structure known as The Grange (H.A.
Davis Building) located at 37 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824 (Tax Map 5, Lot 1-5).  Proposals must be received by Todd I.
Selig, Town Administrator, at 15
Newmarket Road, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, no later than 4:00 PM on June 30,
2009.  To view the RFP, click HERE.

HOME
ENERGY ALTERNATIVE TOUR

On Saturday, June 27, 2009, from
9-10:00 AM, the Durham Energy Committee will host a home energy alternative tour
to visit four examples of local solutions to energy conservation and alternative
home energy. Meet at 9:00 AM in the Durham Public Library parking lot for
carpooling, or pickup a map at the library and go on your own power, at your own
pace. For more information call or email Nat Balch, natster3413@comcast.net, 868-6355.
More information about the tour will be provided in next week’s “Friday
Updates”.

THURSDAY NIGHT PARK
PICNIC HOSTED BY DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION
COMMITTEE

The Parks & Recreation Committee
will host a “Thursday Night Park Picnic” for townspeople throughout the
summer.  Every other Thursday, a location will be selected where people can
bring a picnic and any games, etc., they would like to play or share. The first
location will be along the waterfront at Wagon Hill on June 25^th.
Games will be set up in advance, but feel free to bring your favorites along as
well.  It is intended to be a very casual event, with no specified times or
requirements beyond getting together after 5:00 PM and meeting more of the
members of our great community.  You are encouraged to come individually or
in groups and join in the fun. Please contact the Parks & Recreation
Committee at durhamparksandrec@yahoo.com with
any questions or suggestions for other locations you would like to see utilized
for these gatherings. Given the venue, consider the event canceled if it is
raining.  Hope to see you there!

PAVING
AT JACKSON’S
LANDING

Paving has been completed at
Jackson’s
Landing.  Additionally, the rain garden has been installed and
planted.  We encourage people to check out the new changes. 

FACULTY
ROAD/THOMPSON
LANE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT

As a continuation of Faculty Road/
Thompson
Lane drainage improvements project, the Town Engineer
will be meeting with residents of Valentine Hill Road and McGrath Road this
afternoon to discuss permitting and future improvements. 

A
Campaign to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle at Oyster River
High
School

The Durham Students for a Democratic
Society (SDS), a local student-led organization with over 80 student members,
has been very active within Oyster River
High School this past year
with a campaign they created called the Campaign to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
They helped their school switch over to a new recycling program, worked with
their cafeteria to switch from individually wrapped plastic silverware to
reusable metal silverware, and they promoted environmental awareness
through posters and displays. Since the start of the school year, they have
saved $3,500 and reduced their school's waste by half!

The Durham SDS got together and
created a display in the ORHS cafeteria in February to show students
that ORHS goes through on average 475 bottled drinks everyday. The display
consists of a 6-foot tall tower, in the shape of a bottle, made entirely from
bottled drinks, and a sign that says "ORHS goes through 475 bottled drinks every
day". There are also three 5-gallon buckets that say "OIL" on them, and two
signs that say, "It takes 15 gallons of oil to make 475 bottles", and "ORHS uses
75 gallons of oil a week, and 2700 gallons a year on Bottles Alone."

This display is now in the Durham
Town Office foyer for all who would like to come and see it.

One of Durham SDS's goals
for next year is to get their cafeteria to switch to drink dispensers and
reusable cups, and to stop selling individual, bottled drinks. For more
information, please contact Durham SDS at durhamsds@gmail.com.

A
Bicycle-Friendly Community: Could Durham be next?

Town Engineer David Cedarholm
reports that Durham has been approved for Part 1 of an
application to gain status as a Bicycle-Friendly Community. He is beginning to
work on Part 2 and could use the help of volunteers. Here’s a link to learn
more:  <http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/bfc_five-Es.php>
If you can help out with information gathering and documentation, please contact
David at the Department of Public Works, 868-5578, or email him at dcedarholm@ci.durham.nh.us.

Its’
Bicycle Season

With warmer weather, more bicycles
will be encountered on Durham roadways. The Durham Police want to
remind everyone that New
Hampshire law now requires drivers of motor vehicles to
provide at least three feet of clearance when passing bicyclists.  The law
also requires motor vehicle operators to provide an extra foot of clearance for
every 10 MPH over 30 MPH. Ultimately, the goal is to have drivers slow down
around vulnerable road uses such as bicyclists and pedestrians, thereby allowing
for more reasonable sharing of our town roads. As the Town of Durham desires to be known
as a bicycle-friendly community, the Durham Police will be closely monitoring
this new law.

Police
Chief Telephone Solicitation

Several residents have received
telephone solicitations from persons identifying themselves as representing the
New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association (NHCPA). Chief Kurz is an active
member of this association, and while he believes the NHCPA to be an outstanding
advocate for a variety of issues related to providing professional law
enforcement services throughout the state, he does not support this method of
solicitation.  Although the soliciting is legitimate, none of their
contributions go directly to the Durham Police Department.  Additionally,
Chief Kurz wants to assure residents that when funding is needed for the Durham
Police; he will justify those needs through the budgetary process and not via a
telephone solicitation.  

Residents should feel no pressure
whatsoever to contribute to any telephone solicitations, and when in doubt about
whether the caller is from a bona fide group rather than a scam, they should not
hesitate to contact the Durham Police Department at 868-2324 to report the
solicitation.

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.

Conservation Commission – Monday,
June 15, 2009 (site walk at 196
Piscataqua Rd) (12:00
noon)

Durham Energy Committee – Monday, June 15,
2009 (4:30
PM)

Town Council – Monday, June 15,
2009

Parks and Recreation Committee –
Thursday, June 18, 2009

To view the agendas 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,
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,
click HERE.

The Friends of the Durham
Public Library is a non-profit group of volunteers from the
community who are passionate about the Library and all it has to offer our town.
 Friends meet every third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 PM at the Durham
Public Library. The next Friend's Meeting will be held on June
17.

DURHAM CABLE ACCESS
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

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

Oyster
River
Youth Association (ORYA) Golf Tournament

The ORYA Annual Golf Tournament
fundraising event is scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2009, beginning at 7:30
AM at Wentworth by the Sea. This represents an opportunity to be
a part of ORYA's major fund-raiser of the year. Contact family or
friends and play on one of the more prestigious and difficult to get onto
courses in the area. Register through the ORYA office at 868-5150, or
Click here
to register.

Music
for Youth at UNH

During the mornings from July 6-July
10, 2009 the Paul
Creative Arts Center at UNH will feature a “Music for
Youth” summer band program for students going in to grades 5 and 6 in the fall.
This week-long camp offers students daily group lessons on their band
instrument, ear training and musicianship classes, two band rehearsals, as well
as a snack and recess break. Instruction will be provided by Dr. Mark DeTurk,
Sarah DeTurk, and experienced UNH Music Education students. The $100 tuition
includes sheet music, instruction, t-shirt, snack. For questions or registration
information email Sarah DeTurk at sarah.deturk@gmail.com.

New
Hampshire
Humanities Council Book Discussion: Yankee Crime Series, Primary Storm, facilitated by the author,
Brendan Dubois 

On Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 7:00
PM, award winning author Brendan DuBois will lead a discussion of his mystery
novel, Primary Storm. The discussion is the last in the Humanities'
mystery series and the only one led by the author. You can visit Mr. DuBois’
website at www.brendandubois.com. The discussion is
sponsored by The Friends of the Library and will be their last book event before
September. Please come and discuss the book with the author. Your copy of
Primary Storm awaits you.

Public
Invited to Report Stands of Invasive Japanese Knotweed

The Lamprey River Watershed
Association (LRWA) and the Lamprey River Advisory Committee (LRAC) are asking
for assistance with identifying places in the Lamprey River watershed where the highly invasive
plant, Japanese knotweed (Polygonum
cuspidatum), is spreading.  The two groups have recently
developed an online map that can be used by the public to report knotweed. 
Go to www.lampreyriver.org and follow
the simple instructions for making your report on the map and in words. Your
information will greatly enhance the efforts to eradicate this noxious
weed. 

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1916 – Search began for property
suitable for a town cemetery. Committees appointed, money voted but nothing
accomplished until 1925 when 6 acres were bought from Karl Woodward for $1,200.
Under the supervision of 3 trustees, area as cleared, graded, surveyed and 20’
by 20’ lots laid 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