“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

May
15, 2009

 

Taken at the UNH horticultural
research farm
Courtesy Matt
Carter

 

Town brush collection was completed
last Friday.  The chipping of all brush yielded 1,223 cubic yards of
chips—a substantial amount—some of which will be offered to residents for
landscaping purposes and the rest will be sold to energy plants for
revenue. 

 

DURHAM DISTRICT COURT

As you are aware, the Town of
Durham has a
two-year lease agreement ($31,173 per year) with the New Hampshire Department of
Administrative Services for use of the old Town Office building located at the
corner of Newmarket Road/Dover
Road of the Durham District Court. The New Hampshire
District Court system has long desired to consolidate the Durham District Court
into the new Dover District Court facility.  The Durham District Court is
structured so that there are designated days/times for Durham, Lee, Madbury, and
UNH cases.

 

Over the last two months, a series
of meetings have taken place with the intent of finding a way of reaching middle
ground with the State of New Hampshire to
accommodate the Durham, Lee, Madbury, and UNH
caseload, while at the same time consolidating the Durham District Court into
the Dover
facility. I am pleased to report we were able to work through an arrangement
whereby Durham, Lee, Madbury, and UNH cases will
continue to be afforded appropriately designated dates and times to meet our
needs at the Dover facility. Working in conjunction with the
Town, Representative Janet Wall introduced legislation this week to facilitate
the change. While we are still working through the logistics, it is likely that
the Durham District Court will move all operations to Dover at the end of
June.

 

OLD
TOWN OFFICE/HISTORIC BUILDING – WHAT TO DO IF THE COURT MOVES
OUT

The old Town Office building,
located at the corner of Newmarket
Road/Dover Road, is currently being utilized by the
Durham District Court on the first floor and by the Durham Historic Association
(DHA) on the second floor. Many residents may not be aware of the fact that
numerous artifacts relating to the Town’s history are housed by the DHA,
including Durham’s historic hearse. With the likely
departure of the Durham District Court from the first floor of this facility,
the Administrator is looking to find an appropriate tenant for the structure’s
first floor. At the present time, the Administrator has had conversations with
the Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) to determine whether or not
there would be any interest by SRPC in moving to this site. The SRPC coordinates
regional planning for Strafford
County, and as such the Administrator
believes there would be many synergies associated with the location of the SRPC
here in Durham.
The SRPC is also, evaluating potential facilities offered by the City of
Rochester and the City of Dover—yet few other sites afford the history and dignity of
Durham’s
historic building.

 

The
Grange

The Town of Durham owns the H.A. Davis
Grange building located at the corner of Main Street and Madbury across from the
Post Office. For many years, the Grange housed the Growing Places child care
infant facility. Both our Master Plan and the recent Mill Plaza Study Committee
planning process identified the Grange building as a potential second egress to
the Mill Plaza should that area ever be developed. The Grange is in need of
substantive repair, including a new boiler, which has failed and was not
replaced once Growing Places left the building. The facility is currently
unoccupied. While it is important to preserve the community’s options with
respect to utilizing the general area of the Grange for a second egress to the
Plaza location, the Administrator is interested in finding a productive use for
the property in the near-term. A number of interested parties have contacted the
Town in recent months; one of which has an interest in entering into a long-term
lease with the Town and possibly purchasing the land and building, or just the
building, for use as a restaurant to serve the broader community. The
Administrator has also been contacted with regard to the concept of exploring
use of the building as a possible youth center. In an effort to move forward
with direction regarding the future of the facility, the Administrator is
planning to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) for entities interested in
utilizing the site.  The RFP should be forthcoming within the next few
weeks.

 

SPRUCE
HOLE BOG

The National Parks Service (NPS) is
interested in recognizing the Spruce Hole bog. Over the last several weeks, the
Town has been contacted by the NPS to follow up with communications it had with
the Town approximately eight years ago in regard to having the NPS officially
recognize the Spruce Hole bog as a unique geological occurrence. The bog is a
kettle hole, which by definition is a  depression left by the melting of an
ice block lodged in a deposit of till or drift. Kettles are often found embedded
in moraines and on outwash plains. The NPS has offered to provide the Town with
an official US Government bronze plaque that the Town can install at the site.
The Durham Conservation Commission discussed this item at its meeting on May
14^th and last evening scheduled a site visit at 8:00 AM on May
28^th to identify an appropriate location for placement of the plaque.
Once a location has been selected, a resolution will be crafted for the Council
to accept the bronze plaque on behalf the community. A thank you is extended to
Conservation Commission members George
Thomas and Peter Smith for meeting the representative from the
NPS and providing her with a tour of the site on very short
notice.

 

Oyster
River Dam

On Monday evening, May 18, 2009, the
Durham Town Council will hold its regular meeting beginning at 7:00 PM in the
Council chambers at the Town Hall. At that meeting, the Council will continue
its discussion relative to the Oyster River dam. To view the May 18^th
Council communication containing more information on this topic, click HERE.

 

HOME
INVASION – SCOTLAND
ROAD

As much of the Durham community is aware,
on May 11^th, the Durham Police responded to a residence on
Scotland
Road after a reported armed home invasion. 

 

Investigating officers have
determined that five young white males entered the residence and accosted the
residents.  While the intruders were armed with handguns and ordered the
residents onto the floor, the resulting criminal acts have been determined not
to be a chance incident. Subsequent investigation has concluded that the
incident was perpetrated by people familiar with the residents. 

 

As is normal in investigations of
this magnitude, the police are conflicted with wanting to assure the Durham community that they
live in a safe community yet restrained by the ongoing complexities of the
investigation.  While it is now obvious that we are not immune from such
horrific acts in Durham, this incident was not random but was
very deliberately targeted to this residence and its occupants. 

 

The community should be aware that
the Durham police have committed significant
resources towards successfully resolving this investigation and as of Thursday
evening have arrested Jonathan P. Cassili, 20, of Ham Street in
Dover and
charged him with participating in this incident.  The investigation
concerning this case is continuing in earnest and further arrests are
anticipated.

 

If residents or neighborhood
associations would be interested in meeting with representatives of the
department to discuss their concerns about the incident, please contact Police
Chief David Kurz at
868-2324.

 

ORIENTATION
FOR CHAIRS & VICE CHAIRS OF TOWN BOARDS

In an effort to provide chairs, vice
chairs, and other committee members with information on the proper structure of
meetings, the role of the committee chair, vice chair, secretary, alternates,
and Council representatives, as well as outlining the basics of the
Right-to-Know Law including agenda preparation and posting, minutes of meetings,
and e-mail correspondence, Town Administrator Todd Selig will hold an
orientation session for chairs and vice chairs of the various Town boards,
commissions, and committees on Wednesday,
June 3, 2009 from 7:00-8:30 PM in the Council chambers at Town Hall.
At the conclusion of the orientation, the administrator will open the floor for
a question and answer session. All board and committee members are welcome to
attend this important and informative orientation.

 

ORCSD
STRATEGIC PLAN OVERSIGHT GROUP

The Oyster River School Board has
committed to the development of a District Strategic Plan by June 2010.  An
important next step will be to form a representative group of interested people
to help shape and oversee this exciting work.  If you are interested in
representing the school community at large, and would like to be considered as a
candidate for this committee, please click HERE
to view details and contact information.

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.

 

DURHAM
DAY 2009

MARK YOUR
CALENDARS -
Durham Day 2009 has been set for Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 12:30-4:30
PM at Wagon Hill Farm. More information will be forthcoming in the weeks
ahead.

 

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.

 

WISWALL BRIDGE HISTORIC
INTERPRETATION COMMITTEE

The Department of Public Works is
coordinating the establishment of an advisory committee to help plan a historic
interpretive exhibit for the Wiswall Bridge project. This interpretive exhibit
is required for the historic mitigation for replacing the existing stone masonry
abutments, which were deemed historic, with new concrete abutments. It is likely
this committee would also become involved with developing a more comprehensive
historic exhibit for the Wiswall Mill site.

 

The preliminary list of members
includes a representative each from the Town Council, Historic District
Commission and/or Durham Historic Association, Conservation Commission, Lamprey
River Advisory Committee, and a few residents from the Wiswall Bridge neighborhood. Anyone interested in
participating on the advisory committee should contact Town Engineer
David Cedarholm at 868-5578 or email
dcedarholm@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

PROPERTY
TAX BILLS – FIRST HALF 2009

At the Town Council meeting on
Monday evening, May 18, 2009, the Town Council will be asked to approve a
Warrant directing the Town Clerk-Tax Collector to collect partial payment of
property taxes assessed for April 1, 2009.  As part of an ongoing effort to
enhance efficiencies within our departments, property tax bills have been
outsourced and will be processed and mailed, and residents can expect to receive
their bills by the end of May. Payments will
be due on July 1, 2009.  

 

SPRING
WATER AND SEWER BILLS

A reminder that the 2009 spring
water and sewer bills are due on Monday, June 1, 2009.

 

DOG
LICENSES

A reminder that dog license renewals
are due to the Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s office every April with the month of
May as a grace period.  Late fees of $1.00/month will be charged beginning
June 1^st until the dog(s) license is renewed.  Civil Forfeitures
will be issued in July for any dogs that remain unlicensed.  Civil
Forfeitures carry a $25 fine and a summons to court if dog(s) are not licensed
by the specified date. 

 

ORPP
DONATES NEW PICNIC TABLE FOR JACKSON’S
LANDING

We’d like to thank the Oyster River
Parents of Preschoolers (ORPP) for their donation of a new metal, handicap
accessible picnic table to Jackson’s Landing.  The heavy duty, high
quality table should endure many visitors, and we hope it is enjoyed for many
years to come.  Thank you ORPP.

 

Possible
driveway paving scam

Residents should beware that there
may be a driveway paving scam occurring. Remember that the Town does
require a driveway permit for work done to your driveway, even if it is just an
overlay.  Recently, a resident had a paving contractor come to their door
saying they had extra asphalt and offered to repave the resident’s driveway
right then for one price. Upon completing the job, not only did the contractor
double the price that was originally quoted, but did not match the driveway in
properly with the road leaving the resident with an additional problem. 
The resident has no phone number or contact for this contractor at this
point. Please be sure to obtain a driveway permit for any work done to be
done on your driveway so the Town is aware of the contractor doing the work and
to ensure that the contractor is aware of any Town requirements. 

 

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.

 

Town Council – Monday, May 18,
2009

Parks and Recreation Committee –
Thursday, May 21, 2009

Economic Development Committee –
Friday, May 22, 2009 (7:30
AM)

 

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 

 

2009
UNH OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL VOUCHERS

Pool pass vouchers will be available
at the Town Hall, Town Clerk’s Office, 15 Newmarket Road beginning Tuesday, May
26, 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
may also be obtained by calling the UNH Campus Recreation Department at 862-2031
or visiting their website at http://campusrec.unh.edu.

 

FREE
PARKING FOR THE UNH OUTDOOR POOL AVAILABLE

A reminder to residents utilizing
the UNH Outdoor Pool this summer that free parking is available.  UNH
annually makes its Woodside Lot available to Durham residents.  A parking permit is
required and may be picked up free of charge to Durham residents at the UNH Transportation
Services located at 295 Mast
Road.  (From Route 4 West take the exit for
Route 155A. At the bottom of the ramp take a left. Follow Main Street
approximately 3/4 mile. Take the second left on to North Drive. At the
first intersection along North
Drive take a right onto Mast Road. The
Visitor
Information Center is the second building on your left
(white with green trim), 295 Mast
Road.)  Residents can also park for free during
the summer months at the Town-owned
Depot Road Lot
located behind/next to the UNH Dairy Bar.  

 

BOY
SCOUT TROOP 154 OF DURHAM

This past weekend, 21 members of Boy
Scout Troop 154 of Durham and several adult leaders and parents camped out at
the Doe Farm on Bennett
Road.  This annual event is intended to
introduce the newest Boy Scouts, usually those that have recently transitioned
from Cub Scouts, to basic camping and outdoor skills. Older scouts act as
mentors and instructors. Skills practiced included: setting up a camp, safe
knife, hatchet & axe use, poisonous plants, map & compass skills, knot
tying, fire building, and outdoor cooking. Another quickly learned skill was the
sharing of limited tent space when one of the eleven tents flooded during the
Saturday evening rain. Scouts and adult leaders also repaired foot bridges,
cleared brush from the Doe cellar hole and picked up trash. The members of Troop
154 would like to thank the Doe family, the Trustees of the Trust Fund, and the
Town of Durham
for the use of the Doe Farm property.

 

Also, this coming Saturday, in
preparation for Memorial Day, the members of Boy Scout Troop 154 will be placing
American Flags on the graves of all known war veterans in Durham.  This includes
all war veterans back through the Revolutionary War.  If you are aware of
the Durham grave
of a war veteran that has not received a flag in the past please contact Tom
Richardson at 868-7382 with the name and location of the war
veteran.

 

 

Com
Post-it Note

Get outside more
* Grow some vegetables * Compost kitchen waste *
Repeat

The Integrated Waste Management
Advisory Committee (IWMAC) has a compost display in Durham’s Town Hall lobby
with information and samples of compost bins designed to suit your situation.
Included is a model that can be conveniently placed under your sink and works
almost as easily as throwing trash in the waste basket. You can also build your
own (see http://extension.missouri.edu) or take
advantage of a discount on buying one during this compost campaign. May 29, 2009
is the last day to place your order for one of the Earth Machine compost bins
for only $40.00. So check out the possibilities and either e-mail the IWMAC at
iwmac@ci.durham.nh.us or call the
Department of Public Works at 868-5578 by May 29, 2009 to place an
order.

 

EVENTS
AT THE DURHAM
PUBLIC LIBRARY

·     
Resume Writing Workshop, Tuesday,
May 9, 6:45 PM.  If you’ve been in the job
market a while or just graduating from college, you’ll need a resume that gets
you noticed. Join presenter Shawn Finnegan as she helps you revamp your resume
or write a new one.  Please pre-register at the Circulation Desk or by
calling the Library at 868-6699.

 

·     
Librarian’s Bookclub, Wednesday,
May 20, 7:00 PM.  This month we will be
reading “There is Room for You,” a novel by Charlotte Bacon, UNH Professor of
English.  Copies of this month’s selection are available at the Circulation
Desk.

 

·     
Bike Decorating Workshop,
Saturday, May 23, 10:30-12:00 PM.  Have wheels?  Want to march
with the staff of the Durham Public Library in the Memorial Day Parade? 
Then join us for our Bike Decorating Event and show off your patriotic
bike.  (By “bikes” we don’t just  mean bikes—we also would love to see
decorated strollers, trikes, wheelchairs, scooters, roller skates…surprise us
with your wheels).  We’ll supply the streamers and flags; you bring your
wheels and your imagination.  For more information, and to pre-register for
the decorating workshop, call the Library at 868-6699 and speak to Yvette. 

 

·     
We’ll see you at the Memorial Day
Parade, Monday, May 25. 
If you will be marching in the parade with the
Library or riding your decorated wheels, meet up with the DPL staff at
Laurel
Lane by 9:45.  The parade will step off at 10:00
am at Laurel
Lane.  The parade will continue 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. 

 

·     
First Annual Durham Treasure Hunt,
Monday May 25. Beginning immediately after the Memorial Day Parade
and Ceremony, let’s continue the family fun and meet on Main Street in front
of Young's Restaurant to seek out clues among Durham's local treasures.  The hunt will
take approximately 90 minutes to complete on foot or by bike.  Strollers
are recommended for the youngest treasure hunters.  Prizes will be awarded
to the teams that complete the course. Pre-register your team by calling the
library at 868-6699 or at the Circulation Desk.  For more information,
contact Ann Windsor at annwindsor@myfairpoint.net.

 

·     
Trustee News -
The Trustees
of the Durham Public Library meet every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM
at the Durham Public Library. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 21.
All are welcome to attend.

 

·     
Friends' Corner
- 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.   Next
Friend's Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 20.

 

COMPUTER
TOURING ON TUESDAYS WITH THE EMILY’S

The Durham Public Library is
fortunate to have two volunteers, Emily and Emily, who will be available on
Tuesdays from 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm to assist patrons with their computer
questions.  Need help with E-mail?  the Internet?  Word
processing…? No question is “wrong”.  Patrons are gently reminded that
Emily and Emily will not be able to offer advice regarding finances, health,
legal issues or other such matters that you are researching on the Internet;
please abide by the Library’s computer and Internet usage policy, which can be
found in full on the Library’s website at  http://durhampubliclibrary.org/internetuse.html. 

 

DURHAM
TRAIL MONITORING PROGRAM

The Parks & Recreation Committee
is looking for people interested in taking part in a trail monitoring 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.

 

ORYA
8^TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Oyster River Youth Association
will be holding its 8^th Annual Golf tournament on Monday, June 22,
2009 beginning at 7:30 AM at Wentworth By the Sea Country Club. Space is
limited. Click here
to register.

 

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. 

 

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 or email sasha@on-belay.org.

 

BICYCLE
HELMETS

McGregor Memorial EMS is pleased to
be leading a coalition of Oyster River community members in an effort to
promote the wearing of helmets.  Working with Safe Kids NH McGregor is able
to offer brand new Bell helmets to the public for $7.50 through
bulk purchasing.  Through McGregor's partnership with the Brain Injury
Association of NH we are able to offer free helmets to those who can not afford
them.  Please contact McGregor EMS via e-mail at nduclos@mcgregorems.org
to find out how to obtain a helmet.

 

WALK
NH 2009 EVENT

On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, the
University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Durham will
celebrate Walk NH Week 2009 with a 3-mile walk around the UNH campus and the
Town of Durham.
New Hampshire Governor John Lynch has proclaimed June 1-7 Walk NH Week as a way
to promote walking and help keep New
Hampshire residents on a healthy path. The goal of Walk
NH Week is to inspire participants to continue walking as part of a healthy
lifestyle long after the June events end. For more information and to register
online, visit  http://www.unh.edu/hr/walkNH2009.html.
Questions regarding the walk can be addressed to Christina VanHorn at 862-0519,
Chris.VanHorn@unh.edu.

 

GROWING
PLACES SUMMER CAMPS

Growing Places, a non profit early
education and youth recreation agency, offers three different camp programs for
children!  Camp Cowabunga is for children ages
5-7 and offers arts and crafts, games, swimming, and a field trip every week.
Bridge Camp, for children ages
7-9, offers a more active day with team building games, sports, and enrichment
activities, daily swimming and field trips.  At Adventure Camp, for ages 10-14, children
are involved in more challenging activities, including outdoor adventures,
service projects, water sports, and camping trips. All programs are licensed by
the state of New
Hampshire and have low staff to camper ratios. 
Programs run for 8 weeks starting on June 29.  Part time, full time and
extended care is available.  Tuition assistance is available for eligible
families.  Please contact 868-1335 for more information and a registration
packet. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

Precautionary
Public Health Guidance Regarding the Swine Flu
(H1N1)

In a continuing effort to keep
residents and visitors to Durham appraised regarding the Swine Flu (H1N1)
virus, the information to follow should be helpful in better understanding it
and the precautions one can take to remain healthy. 

 

H1N1 is transmitted mainly through
coughing and sneezing through the spread of respiratory droplets. Therefore,
while the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is not
advising people against going about their regular business, it is advising
people to take some common sense precautions when going out in public during
this outbreak.

 

H1N1 (and any flu for that matter)
can be spread from one person to another when droplets from a cough or sneeze of
an infected person are sprayed through the air and land on the mouth or nose of
people nearby. Influenza viruses may also be spread when a person touches cough
or sneeze droplets on another person or object and then touches their own mouth
or nose (or someone else’s) before washing their
hands.

 

Routine actions are an important way
of keeping yourself healthy; these include:

 

·     
Wash your hands frequently (15-20 seconds with soap
and warm water) or use 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizing gels;

·     
Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
you cough or sneeze, and always throw away used tissues into the trash, or cough
into your elbow/shoulder;

·     
If you have not washed your hands, avoid touching
your eyes, nose or mouth;

·     
Do not share drinking/eating containers or utensils;

·     
Avoid contact with ill persons if possible;

·     
Monitor your own health;

·     
If you do become ill, stay home from work and school;

·     
Keep surfaces at home and work clean (such as
keyboards, door knobs, computer mice, telephones, light switches, faucets) by
wiping them down with a disinfectant according to directions on the product
label.

 

The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar
to seasonal influenza, including fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills,
headache and muscle aches, and fatigue. Some patients have also reported
diarrhea and vomiting and severe illness, including pneumonia, and sometimes
death occurs.

 

For questions about H1N1, possible
symptoms, travel information, or other issues related to this illness residents
can call 1-888-330-6764 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. For more
information on H1N1, visit www.dhhs.nh.gov or the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu.

 

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week –
35                                        
22 UNH (63%)           13
Other (37%)

*2008/09 Academic Year –
890     567 UNH
(64%)         323 Other
(36%)

Calendar Year –
413                       
261 UNH (63%)         152 Other
(37%)

*Commenced September 1, 2008 

 

Historical data
for the same week

Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Week	31	42	31	29	35
Academic Year	985	1047	1001	870	890
Calendar Year	448	385	498	429	413

 

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1911 – The railroad tracks were
moved west to eliminate a curve. The station at Lynn, Massachusetts was dismantled and reconstructed
here, serving the town and campus until 1964. Bamboo poles, used to convey
messages to the passing trail engineers are still in
existence.”

 

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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