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 NEWS AND
HAPPENINGS ...
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A
freight train rolls through Durham earlier
today at the UNH-Durham Train
Station.
Courtesy Todd Selig
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As a general rule, we put
snow tires on the car at Thanksgiving
and remove them after Town Meeting day on the
second Tuesday of March. With the winter
experienced thus far, it may be prudent for
this year to be an
exception.
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CAMPUS
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO BE TESTED
FRIDAY, MARCH 11,
2011
Regular
testing of UNHs outdoor notification system
will occur Friday, March 11, 2011, between
9:00 and 11:00 AM. The test will include the
siren, a canned message and a recording
signaling the end of the test. The entire
exercise will take less than 10
minutes.
The
system is designed to not only alert the
campus community when there is imminent
danger but also follows up with voice
instructions. This two-step approach, called
Alert and Inform, helps reduce confusion and
restore order.
Sirens are located on the roof of the MUB,
the roof of Morse Hall, A-Lot and the dirt
parking lot near the equestrian facility. The
system reaches a distance of nearly a mile in
all directions.
In
addition, the university will also
simultaneously send test messages through its
alert system to registered cell phones,
pagers, BlackBerrys, PDAs and/or e-mail
accounts, and a directed communication to all
UNH faculty, staff, and
students.
Contact
Paul Dean, UNH's director of emergency
management, 603-862-1427 for more information
or with any questions.
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DURHAM
PUBLIC LIBRARY LAUNCHES NEW
WEBSITE!
The
Durham Public Library recently launched its
new website. More informative, more
interactive, more educational, more
entertaining, more of just about everything.
The new site is easy to navigate,
interactive, and contains great new features
with something for everyone, young, old, and
in-between. New features
include:
Easy access to your library account
login.
Direct links to health and
business information, genealogical resources,
newspapers and magazines, weather, and
more.
Separate sections for kids
and teens full of exciting, entertaining, and
educational links, resources, book
recommendations, homework help, YouTube
displays, and games.
Library building project
news, designs, and documents to keep you
informed
Facebook and Twitter
accounts for the librarys fans and followers
with updates and announcements.
Online calendar with program
and event descriptions.
Visit
us at www.durhampubliclibrary.org
and let us know what you
think!
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OYSTER
RIVER SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
AVAILABLE FROM OYSTER RIVER TEACHEERS'
GUILD
A
questionnaire was sent to all candidates for
the Oyster River School Board by the Oyster
River Teachers' Guild. Candidates were asked
by the Guild to respond to a number of
questions pertaining to education in the
Oyster River School District. The information
provided by candidates was then compiled by
the Guild into a Voters Guide. The
information is not intended to be an
endorsement of any one candidate, but rather
a source of information prepared by the
Teachers' Guild to assist district residents
in making an informed choice when voting on
Tuesday March 8th. To view the questionnaire
and candidate responses, click HERE.
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TEA WITH THE
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES ORGANIZED BY
ORPP
A Tea with School Board Candidates sponsored
by Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers
(ORPP) is scheduled for Saturday, March 5th
2-4pm at the Parks & Recreation Building,
2 Dover Rd. Durham, NH. Meet & Greet
with the 6 School Board Candidates currently
running for the 1 Madbury open seat and the 2
At Large seats. Open to both the members of
ORPP and the residents of Lee, Madbury, &
Durham, NH.
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UNH
Women's Crew Rowers on the Oyster
River
Courtesy UNH
Crew
JUNIOR
ROWERS
SOUGHT
GREAT
BAY ROWING JUNIOR ROWER INFORMATION
SESSION
(GRADES
8-12)
Join
Great Bay Rowing on Wednesday, March 9, 2011,
at 6:30 p.m. in the Oyster River High School
Cafeteria for the annual Registration Night
and Season Kickoff. There will be pizza and
drinks, presentations, the opportunity to
talk with current Junior members and to try
out an ergometer (rowing machine). There will
be pizza and refreshments served after the
presentation. No experience is
necessary.
Residents
may not know that rowing is one of the
original sports in the modern Olympic
Games.
Physiologically,
rowers are superb examples of physical
conditioning. Cross-country skiers and long
distance speed skaters are comparable in
terms of the physical demands the sport
places on the athletes. The sport demands
endurance, strength, balance, mental
discipline, and an ability to continue on
when your body is demanding that you
stop.
Great
Bay rowing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit,
community-based organization developed to
foster interest in the sport of rowing and is
open to all Durham and seacoast
residents.
For
more information about Great Bay Rowing and
to obtain registration materials, go to
http://www.greatbayrowing.org/Home.html.
Residents
may also want to view the U.S. Rowing web
site at http://www.usrowing.org/index.aspx.
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UNH
GRADUATION PREPARATION
UNDERWAY
One
sure sign of Springs arrival is that the
preparations for UNH graduation ceremony have
begun in earnest. This years celebration
will be held in Memorial Field immediately
outside the Whittemore Center on the morning
of Saturday May 21st. Historically the Town
of Durham works closely with UNH officials to
enable the Depot Road parking lot to be used
as a staging area for the graduates to march
into the ceremony. Traffic control, parking
overflow and other nuances are being
discussed so that the ceremonies will be the
celebration everyone looks forward too! This
years speaker will be Honeywell CEO David
Cote, a 1976 UNH graduate of WSBE. Mr. Cote
has a long history with executive and high
leadership positions with a variety of
companies, including General Electric, and
has demonstrated his commitment to
philanthropy and his impact on global affairs
by working with several other CEOs from major
corporations to join in a relief effort
mission for the Sichuan Province of China
after earthquakes terrorized the land in May
2008. Additionally, Mr. Cote serves on the
bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal
Policy Association, a position he was
appointed to by President
Obama.
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Snow Covered Jackson's
Landing Boat Ramp on
3.4.11
Courtesy Todd Selig
OVERVIEW,
PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND COUNCIL DISCUSSION
SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 7 COUNCIL MEETING
REGARDING BOAT LAUNCH RAMP AT JACKSON'S
LANDING
The Jacksons Landing Master Plan Committee
and Department of Public Works developed a
master plan for repairs and renovations to
the Jacksons Landing Recreational Area. The
plan was presented to the Town Council in
2006, 2007, and 2008 and funded by the Town
Council in 2007 and 2008. This plan called
for:
o Creating of a park-like setting (picnic
tables & shade trees).
o Paving the access roadway and boat launch
area.
o Designating handicapped parking.
o Controlling all storm water run-off &
erosion at the site.
o Creating a new parking lot across the
street from the Churchill Rink
with
additional trailer parking in that area as
well.
o Constructing a walking trail system with a
footbridge.
o Removing an invasive plant species called
Phragmites.
o Replacing the deteriorated boat
launch.
Unfortunately, there have been differences of
opinion to date regarding whether the
improvements at the boat launch
area adequately meet the needs of boat users
who desire to utilize the ramp to launch
their boats along the Oyster River. A
Council discussion has therefore been
scheduled to address the issue and with the
intent of resolving the
matter.
The Town Councils approval of funding was
based on the successful application and
approval of available grant funds. The Town
was awarded a $20,000 State of New Hampshire,
Department of Resources and Economic
Development Trails Grant, A $250 donation
from the Cadmus Group, and a $257,672 United
States Department of Agriculture grant
administered by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) located in
Durham. The $257,672 grant was part of the
NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program, which is
available to homeowners and branches of
municipal government for protection,
restoration, and enhancement of wetlands
which was the primary objective of the
Jacksons Landing project. The grant was a
75% reimbursement for all eligible components
of the improvements to Jacksons Landing.
Several improvements that were not eligible
for reimbursement were lighting, engineering,
permitting, and picnic tables. The Towns
match was in the form of volunteer labor,
conservation funds, and a small amount of
public works labor, equipment, and
supplies.
The project was constructed in 2008 and was
discussed with University of New Hampshire
officials, the Durham Conservation
Commission, and the Durham Parks &
Recreation Committee. The project had
required a wetlands permit from the
Department of Environmental Services Wetlands
Bureau. The boat launch ramp component of
this project included an improvement made to
the slope of the ramp and installation of a
new Fish and Game-approved concrete log
system ramp to replace a crumbling asphalt
ramp which needed replacement. This boat
launching ramp measured 60 feet in length and
was not intended to extend into the mud
flats.
After completion of the project at Jacksons
Landing, some Durham residents were
disappointed in the length of the boat
launching ramp and the depth of the launch
area. In late December 2010 the Durham Public
Works applied for an addendum to the Wetlands
Permit, which allowed for the extension of
the boat launching ramp by an additional 23
feet.
A number of residents still have concerns
with the boat launching ramp and specifically
the short time period in which the ramp is
usable within the tidal area of the Oyster
River.
At Monday evenings Council meeting beginning
at 7:00 p.m. on March 7, 2011, the Town
Council will receive a presentation by
Michael Sievert, P.E. of MJS Engineering and
David Cedarholm, P.E. Town Engineer for
Durham. The presentation will provide a look
back at the old boat ramp and a review of the
permitting for Jacksons Landing improvements
and how the new design of the boat launching
ramp altered what was there
before.
In addition, residents who desire to express
perspectives regarding the boat ramp, either
positive or negative, will have an
opportunity to express these at the
meeting.
Following presentations and public feedback,
the Council will discuss whether it is
prudent for the community to devote
additional resources to further enhance the
Jacksons Landing Boat ramp given limitations
of the present ramp, the sensitive wetland
area, and wetland regulation constraints at
the site.
Feedback may be sent in advance of Monday's
meeting to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
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New advertising panels in
place at UNH-Durham Train Station Platform
for Downtown Businesses and
UNH
ADVERTISING
PANELS IN PLACE AT UNH-DURHAM TRAIN STATION
-- MORE PANELS
AVAILABLE
The Public Works Department has installed the
first set of advertising panels under the RR
Trestle at the UNH-Durham Train Station
platform. As you may recall, this had been a
problematic site for graffiti for many
years. The new program endeavors to both
dissuade future graffiti and promote downtown
Durham businesses and UNH. If downtown
Durham businesses are interested in
purchasing a space on any of the remaining
vacant panels for the next twelve month
period, contact the Public Works Department
for details at (603) 868-5578 or email
jhoglund@ci.durham.nh.us.
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PUBLIC
HEARING AND ACTION ON A RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $12,703.16 IN
ASSET FORFEITURES FROM THE U.S. MARSHALS
SERVICE
At
Mondays Council meeting, the Town Council
will address a resolution on the receipt of
revenue by the Durham Police Department from
the United States Marshal in the form of
asset forfeitures. The origin of the assets
is articulated below. The resolution will
authorize the Town to accept and expend these
funds, all of which have restrictions as to
how they can be spent:
Asset
Sharing Program $12,703.16
The
Durham Police Department was involved in an
investigation whereby $16,000 in cash was
being mailed to an out-of-state address from
Durham. During one of the attempts to mail
these funds, investigators of the Durham
Police seized the funds as a violation of The
Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 that requires banks
and money services business to report any
cash transaction involving $10,000 or
more.
Once
seized the funds were transferred to the
Federal Courts where a review was launched.
During this review the person who claims
ownership of the funds is required to
demonstrate the origin of the monies. In
this case, that requirement was not met and
the Federal Court determined them to illicit
gains and thereby transferred 79% of the
funds to the Town of Durham retaining 21% as
fees for their services.
Federal
forfeiture funds come to the Town with
certain rules and restrictions. The funds can
only be used by and for law enforcement to
support the police mission. The funds must
be used to supplement funding previously
appropriated for law enforcement and may not
be used to offset the cost of any other
governmental function. Proper documentation
must also be kept for federal reporting
purposes, which is accomplished on an annual
basis. Any interest earned on these funds
must be tracked and expended in the same
manner as the forfeiture funds
received.
At
the present time the Durham Police Department
is prioritizing its needs and, prior to
expending these funds we will consult with
the Administrator.
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The
Belowski's, formerly of Durham, Sigted in
Florida last Saturday
FRIENDS OF
DURHAM SIGHTED IN
FLORIDA
While
on vacation last week with family in Amelia
Island, FL, we decided to visit the local
Farmer's Market and amazingly came across
Cynthia and Peter Belowski, formerly of
Durham! Cynthia had served for many years as
the Chair of the Durham Conservation
Commission and has taken up similar interests
on Amelia Island.
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TOWN AND SCHOOL ELECTIONS - MARCH 8,
2011
The
2011 Town Election will be held on Tuesday,
March 8, 2011 at the Oyster River High
School. Polling hours are from 7:00 AM to
7:00 PM. Voters will park in reserved spaces
along the front of the school and use the
Multipurpose Room entrance.
The
following is a list of citizens that have
filed for the Durham
elected
offices:
Town
Council, 3 positions (3-year
terms):
Julian
Smith
James
Lawson
Katherine
"Kitty" Marple
Library
Board of Trustees, 2 positions (3-year
terms):
Richard
Belshaw
Meridith
Davidson
Arthur
P. Young
Town
Clerk/Tax Collector, 1 position (3-year
term):
Lorrie
Pitt
Town
Treasurer, 1 position (3-year
term):
Karl
Van Asselt
Trustees
of the Trust Funds, 1 position (3-year
term):
Bruce
Bragdon
The
following is a list of citizens that have
filed for the ORCSD School Board
and Moderator:
Madbury
(1 position): James Kach and Susan
Willer
At-large
(2 positions): John
Collins, Chandler Hull, Ann Lane, and Megan
Turnbull
Moderator
(1 position): Richard
Laughton
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CANDIDATE PROFILES FOR DURHAM ELECTED
OFFICES
Citizens
interested in learning more about the
prospective candidates who have signed up to
run for various Town elected offices
in March may now view candidate profiles of
each candidate. To view this information,
click HERE.
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ORCSD
WARRANT ARTICLE
#7
Warrant
Article #7 on the school district warrant,
brought by 33 petitioners, asks voters to
support the establishment of a study
committee to examine and make recommendations
regarding best practices involved in making
ORCSD a sustainable school
district.
Sustainability
promotes a balance between the way people
meet their daily needs and the needs of the
Earth's ecological systems and would involve
a review of all aspects of the school
district including curriculum, food service,
energy, transportation, procurement, and
finances.
The
full text of Article #7 along with links to
other education sustainability initiatives
can be found in the announcement section of
the ORCSD website:
http://www.orcsd.org/
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ANNUAL
APPOINTMENTS OF CITIZENS TO FILL VACANCIES ON
VARIOUS TOWN
BOARDS
On
April 30, 2011, terms on various Town boards,
commissions, and committees will expire. In
mid-April, the Town Council will begin the
process for making its annual
appointments/reappointments to Town boards,
with appointments to take effect May 1, 2011.
The Durham Town Council is seeking interested
residents of the Town of Durham who have the
ability, desire, and time needed to fill
these vacancies. Citizens interested in board
appointments should contact the Town
Administrator's office at 868-5571 and ask
for a board application form, or stop in at
the Town Clerk's office located on the first
floor of the Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road,
and complete an application. Applications
are also available on the Town's web site at:
www.ci.durham.nh.us
on the right-hand side in blue. Completed
applications may be mailed to the Town
Administrator's office, or submitted via
email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
Deadline for receipt of completed
applications is Friday, March 18,
2011.
Conservation
Commission - (2 regular vacancies)
Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT)
Governance Committee - (3 regular vacancies;
1 alternate vacancy)
Durham Energy Committee (2 vacancies)
Economic Development Committee - (1 regular
vacancy; 1 alternate vacancy)
Historic District Commission - (2
vacancies)
Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee - (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate
vacancy)
Parks and Recreation - (3 regular
vacancies)
Planning Board - (2 regular vacancies; 1
alternate vacancy)
Strafford Regional Planning Commission &
MPO Policy Committee - (2 vacancies)
Zoning Board of Adjustment - (3 regular
vacancies; 1 alternate
vacancy)
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PUBLIC
MEETING
SCHEDULE
The
following public meetings are scheduled for
the coming week All meetings begin at 7:00
PM and are held in the Council chambers at
the Durham 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, March 7, 2011 (To
view the complete Council packet for this
meeting, click HERE)
Zoning
Board of Adjustment - Tuesday, March 8,
2011
Planning
Board - Wednesday, March 9,
2011
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.
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NEW
PROGRAMS ADDED TO DCAT PROGRAM
SCHEDULE
Three
programs have been recently added to the DCAT
schedule for rebroadcast:
Durham
Planning Visioning Session
Durham Business Association Candidates
Forum
Idea Greenhouse:
Farmerpreneurs
Please
check the programming schedule above for
times when these programs will be
aired.
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DURHAM
PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
Yoga for Children (ages 10 -
12). Wednesdays beginning March 9th,
5:00-6:00 PM, Durham Parks & Recreation
Building. Cost is $40 for 8
weeks.
For more information contact Parks &
Recreation Director Sandy Devins at
603-817-4074 or sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us.
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DURHAM
PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
Read Across America, Celebrate Dr.
Seuss and the Patch Club with the UNH Women's
Hockey Players, Sat. March 5th 10:30-11:30
a.m. Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday,Read
Across America and the Patch Club for this
fun children's/family event. There will be
guest readers (UNH Women's Hockey Players),
games, craft and a birthday
cake.
Special Preschool Storytime with UNH
Storytelling Theater Students ,Tue.,
March 8th, 10:30 am. Join us this Tuesday
for a special Farm and Farm Animal Storytime
with UNH Storytelling Students.They will read
stories, do a feltboard and a craft. Don't
miss this fun time.
Preschool Storytime, Thu., March
10th, 10:30 a.m. - This week: Pancakes and
Breakfast. All are welcome to enjoy stories,
songs, fingerplays, feltboard, and a
craft.
Join the Patch Program, the
library's reading incentive program for
children aged 2-12 years. 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 6-week session in March and
April.
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COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
Arizona Pastor to Tour NH for Talks on
Immigrants' Rights. An Arizona
clergywoman, Rev. Liana Rowe, active in the
movement for humane immigration policies,
will tour New Hamshire churches for a week in
March to help New Hampshire residents
understand what is at stake in the
immigration debate. For more information,
click HERE.
Daisey Troop 10087 will be selling
cookies on Sat., Mar 5, 2011
beginning at 11:00 AM at the Durham
Marketplace at a cost of
$3.50.
Tea
with the School Board Candidates,
Sat., Mar 5, 2011, 2-4:00 PM, Parks &
Recreation Building, 2 Dover Road. Sponsored
by Oyster River Parents & Preschoolers.
Meet and greet with six School Board
candidates currently running for the 1
Madbury open seat and the 2 At Large seats.
Open to both the members of ORPP and the
residents of Lee, Madbury, and
Durham.
Slide
Lecture by Maine Printmaker and Landscaper
James Mullen, presented by
the Museum of Art, UNH, Wed., Mar 9, 2011,
12:00 noon, Room A219, Paul Creative Arts
Center. The exhibition and lecture are open
to the public free of charge. For more
informaiton contact Catherine A. Mazur,
603-862-3713, catherine.mazur@unh.edu.
Museum
of Art, UNH, One-day Trip to Peabody Essex
Museum, Salem, MA, Fri., Mar 25,
2011. Advance reservations must be received
by March 11, 2011. Please visit www.unh.edu/moa/events
to complete the form and pay by credit card
or e-check, or call 603-862-3713 to register
by phone or to obtain more
information.
ORMS Jazz Band
Presents A Music Celebration,
featuring the ORMS Jazz Band, Tri City
Almighty and Fling, Sat., Mar 26, 2011,
5:00-10:00 PM, Huddleston Ballroom, Durham.
Live and silent auction. Lite fare, dancing,
and fun. $20/person-a benefit for the 2010/11
ORMS Jazz Band. For tickets, email: kayajewelers@comcast.net.
Strafford County Republican Committee
Lincoln/Reagan Fundraiser Dinner,
Fri., Mar 11, 2011, 7:00 PM, Three Chimneys
Inn. For more information, click HERE.
8th Annual Todd's Trot 5K Road
Race/Walk, Sat., Apr 2, 2011, Oyster
River High School. Registration begins at
8:30 AM with a 10:00 AM start time. For more
information, visit http://www.toddstrot.org/.
Conservation Options
Workshop, sponsored by Strafford
Rivers Conservancy and UNH Cooperative
Extension, Mon., Apr 11, 2011, 6:30-8:15 PM,
Dover Public Library, 73 Locust Street,
Dover, NH. Preregistration required.
Deadline: Fri., Apr 8th. Call Deb at
UNH Cooperative Extension, 603-679-5616,
deb.stevens@unh.edu.
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WEEKLY
POLICE
REPORT
WEEK: 11 7
UNH (64%) 4 Other
(36%)
*2010/11
ACADEMIC YEAR: 592 334 UNH (56%) 258
Other (44%)
CALENDAR
YEAR: 100 60 UNH
(60%) 40 Other
(40%)
*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
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FROM DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY
1900-1985
The
Oyster River. Gundalows - the end of the
gundalow era was forseen by their captains,
who resisted the change. In 1888, for
example, a newspaper maintained that 'The
gondola business has not yet died out from
the river. Yesterday, the Fannie M
went down from Durham to Portsmouth with
26,000 bricks.' The Fannie M
belonged to Capt. Edward Adams of Durham, who
fought the hardest. He is known as the last
of the gundalow captains, and carried cargo
on Great Bay well into the 1900s. 'The last
gundalow out of Durham River,' said Captain
Adams, 'was in 1889 with a load of bricks for
Portsmouth Navy Yard.' After that many of the
old hulls were converted into barges, which
were pulled upriver by tugboats. A longtime
Durham resident, who was born in 1911,
recalled, 'When I was very young, I remember
seeing a barge loaded with coal at what is
now Jackson's Landing." Published in 1985 by
the Durham Historic
Association.
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Have
a good weekend.
Todd
Todd
I. Selig, Administrator
Town
of Durham, New Hampshire
T:
603-868-5571 F:
603-868-5572
tselig@ci.durham.nh.us http://www.ci.durham.nh.us
Everyone can
tackle climate change. How can you reduce
your carbon
footprint?
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