Friday Update October 15, 2010

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

Friday,
October 15, 2010

 

 

Courtesy Andrea
Bodo

 

A flood watch is in effect for
sections of New Hampshire, including Strafford County, until tomorrow. A flood “watch”
means there is a potential for flooding based on current
forecasts.

 

PLACEMENT
OF POLITICAL SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

The Town has received reports from
some residents that the political signs they have allowed to be placed on their
property are being removed. Residents are asked to be respectful of other
property owners who choose to allow political signs to be placed on their
property.

 

Political signs are allowed on
private property as long as they meet the requirements of Section 175-133 of the
Durham Zoning Ordinance noted below:

 

175-133.  Permitted Signs, by
District.

A.  Total Sign
Area.  Each business establishment will be allowed a total
of forty-eight (48) square feet of signage.  This can be composed of any
combination of signs in accordance with this ordinance. Each business
establishment in the Central Business District is permitted one additional
Sandwich Board sign or Reader Board sign.

 

B.  Snipe Signs. The
use of snipe signs is permitted on private property only for non‑commercial
events and elections.  Such signs are limited to a period of 45 days
preceding and seven (7) days after the relevant event,
provided:

 

1.   The size of any snipe
sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet; nor be more than five (5) feet
above the adjacent finished ground level.

2.   The number of such
signs is limited to one per lot in Residence A and B Districts and to two per
lot in other districts; provided that this provision does not apply to signs
that express political speech such as an endorsement of a candidate for office
or an issue on an election ballot.

3.   Such signs are not
permitted on public property.

4.   Signs within a public
right-of-way must be within the NHDOT or Durham DPW approved twenty-two (22)
foot area for a private driveway, and extend no more than two (2) feet above the
ground surface so as not to restrict vehicle
sightlines.

 

   

 

                                               
Photos courtesy
Wiswall House Antiques

 

Wiswall
House Antiques Celebrates 35 years in Durham This Weekend

It was 35 years ago, on October
15^th, when Joan and Frank Carter opened their antique shop in
Durham after their shop in Portsmouth outgrew its
space.  They had been searching for a home and barn in the country when
they fell in love with the old Wiswall House at 28 Wiswall
Road.   Taking the name for the historical
significance, their new shop became Wiswall House Antiques.  The house and
property are especially breathtaking in autumn.

 

Frank has a knack for furniture and
lighting restoration. There is a large selection of dressers, dining room
tables, chairs, country end tables, and accessory pieces filling their
shop.  There are also hundreds of lighting fixtures that include
chandeliers from all eras, floor lamps, wall sconces, and table
lamps.

 

Joan has a passion for fine
needlework and linens, and displays a wide variety of linens from formal
tablecloths to casual runners.  There are also teapots, fine china,
depression glass, and everything in between.

 

Wiswall House Antiques was recently
featured in The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles.  Joan also
contributed to Country Home Magazine’s recent “What’s Hot Now” feature about
antique Motto Samplers that included pictures from her collection. 

 

The shop hours are Wednesday through
Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, and most Sunday afternoons.  They are having a sale
this weekend to commemorate their 35 years in Durham. Mulled cider is offered on cool autumn
and early winter days to keep the chill away. Some of their stock may also be
viewed at www.wiswallhouseantiques.com.

 

RESCHEDULED
-
MAIN STREET
WEST
RECREATION PATH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

The ribbon cutting ceremony of the
new UNH and Town of Durham Main Street
West Path, originally planned for Friday, October 15,
2010 has been rescheduled to Monday, October
18^th at 12:15 PM due to heavy rainfall that is being
predicted for Friday. The ceremony will be held at the entrance to the new path
located in the West Edge-Lot S parking lot. Please join representatives from UNH
Energy & Campus Development, Healthy UNH, Busby Construction, NHDOT, and
Town of Durham in celebrating the completion of
his new gateway path from UNH West Edge to downtown Durham. For more
information, click HERE.

 

DURHAM DIALOGUE – WE
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Durham: It’s Where U Live and UNH
Community Leadership students invite members of the community to contribute
their thoughts about ways to strengthen our shared community. We all share
a common goal of increased respect and understanding between University of New Hampshire students and their
surrounding community, and this collaborative project will get people talking.
Everyone is invited -- Durham residents, businesses owners, town
officials, UNH students, university administrators, faculty and staff – to
identify what we all appreciate about our lives together and how we can build on
positive experiences to improve our community.

 

We want to hear from you! To
join the dialogue, please register at www.diwul.org. On the registration form, let us
know if you would prefer to participate in person through a focus group or
interview. 

 

OYSTER RIVER HIGH
SCHOOL
FIRST^TM ROBOTICS
COMPETITION TEAM #3499

Local parents, students, and school
administrators at the Oyster River
High School have started
a FIRST^TM Robotics
Competition Team. Students work in teams with adult mentors to design, build,
and program robots from a standard set of parts, in a specific period of time,
to meet a common challenge. They then compete in a regional tournament with
winners advancing to the World Championship.

 

Because of budgetary constraints, it
was determined that the FIRST
team would be set up as a Booster Club and that the majority of funds for the
team would be raised by parents and students. The goal is to raise $10,000 by
December. Those interested in making a contribution to the team may do so by
sending a check payable to:  Oyster River
High School with “FIRST
team” on the memo line, 55 Coe
Drive, Durham, NH 03824.

 

The team has mentors from the
Space Science Center, UNH; the Lunabots, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, UNH; and Turbocam in Barrington.  You can also volunteer as a
mentor – even if you don’t have engineering skills.  The team is also
looking for mentors who have marketing, public relations, and web-site
development experience and other volunteers who are willing to help with the
team. For more information about the Oyster River
High School FIRST Team, call Carolyn Singer (603)
868-3859.

 

ABSENTEE
BALLOTS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION

The New Hampshire General Election
will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at the Oyster River High
School located on Coe Drive. Polling hours will be from 7:00
AM to 7:00 PM.

 

Residents who plan to be absent from
town on election day, are not physically able to go to the polls, or will be
observing a religious holiday on November 2^nd, may obtain absentee
ballots at the Town Clerk’s office.  Residents must request absentee
ballots in writing via letter stating that they are registered voters, the
reason they are requesting the ballot, the address to mail the ballot to, and a
signature. Request forms are also available at the Town Clerk’s Office

 

ELECTION
VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are a vital part of any
election.  Residents interested in volunteering should contact
Lorrie Pitt, Town Clerk, 868-5577, lpitt@ci.durham.nh.us or Chris Regan,
Town Moderator, 868-2414.

 

Master
Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC)

There are still opportunities for
citizens to be part of the MPAC.  If you would like to join the Committee,
or have any questions, please contact  Jim Campbell, Director of Planning
& Community Development, 868-8064 or email jcampbell@ci.durham.nh.us.  The
full MPAC has set the following as their upcoming meeting dates: November 16 and
December 14, and January 18, 2011. 

 

The MPAC members will also be on one
of two subcommittees.  The first is the Forum Subcommittee and the second
is the Public Survey Subcommittee.  The Forum Subcommittee is charged with
organizing the Public Visioning Forum that is tentatively set for Friday,
December 10, 2010 from 6-9 PM either at the ORMS or ORHS.  The first Forum
Subcommittee meeting will be held at Town Hall on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at
1 PM.  The Public Survey Subcommittee is charged with the creation of a
web-based survey (hardcopies will also be made available).  They are
working on setting the date for their first meeting.  Please come help us
as we undertake this exciting process.

 

Planning
Board

Stephen Roberts, a long-time
Planning Board member, has resigned from the Board to pursue a project that will
not afford him the time to spend on Planning Board matters. A hearty “thank
you” is extended to Stephen for his many dedicated years of service to the Town
of Durham. 
He will be missed. 

 

It is anticipated that Peter Wolfe,
currently an alternate on the Planning Board, will be appointed by the Town
Council to fill the remainder of Stephen Robert’s term as a regular
member.  This will leave two alternate positions available on the Planning
Board.  If you are interested in being an alternate on the Board please
contact Jim Campbell, Director of Planning & Community Development,
868-8064, or email jcampbell@ci.durham.nh.us for more
information. 

 

Board application forms may be
obtained by:

 

Ø     
Going to the Town web site, www.ci.durham.nh.us, under the heading “I
WANT TO” on the right-hand side in the blue box.

Ø     
Emailing Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us and requesting
an application form.

Ø     
Stopping in at the Town Clerk’s office located on the
first floor of the Town Hall, 15
Newmarket Road and completing an application
form.

 

Completed applications may be mailed
to the Town Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

      

           
T-shirt front
                              
   T-shirt back

 

100
YEARS OF DURHAM
FIRE – PROGRESS REPORT

The committee is firming up the
celebration of the 100 years of Durham, NH
Fire Department which will occur near March.  The celebration will feature
a plaque ceremony at the site of the first fire station which was located in the
“Pettee Block”, and now houses the Red Carpet flower shop.  Sometime in
late July the second daylong part of the celebration will occur and consist of a
fire truck parade, a fire department muster, activities for children, food, and
displays.

 

The fire department has designed a
special patch that department personnel will wear for the 100^th year.
A T-shirt has been designed for interested parties to purchase (see above). All
sizes are available, including children. The cost will be $20 for adult sizes
and $15 for children.  To preorder the shirt, please call/email Melissa at
862-1426 or email fire@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

Durham
Police Arrest Procedures

The uniqueness of the Durham community with such a large young population
attending the University of New
Hampshire creates some unusual challenges for the
Durham Police.  In most communities where the population is relatively
stable, police can interact with the younger generation and their parents as
they progress through adolescence.  With a dynamic population that
literally changes by 25% each year as freshmen arrive and seniors graduate, the
Durham Police do not have opportunities to interact with parents of young people
who may be engaging in risky behavior.  Consequently the Durham Police must
engage in a number of tactics that are relatively unusual for most
municipalities as they attempt to work collaboratively with parents proactively
preventing disorderly behavior in the community. 

 

One of those initiatives involves
sending a letter to the home address of anyone arrested who is under the age of
21advising of the arrest.  While the demographic information of persons
over the age of 17 who have been arrested is considered public information,
sending letters is extremely uncommon in law enforcement but necessary for
Durham police
due to the out-of-town addresses of parents.  Almost every letter sent
prompts a telephone call from a parent thanking us, or in one interesting
example, ultimately defining why this extra step is necessary.  In a
telephone call to the Durham police, a father
having received one of the letters expressed concern that his daughter had never
been in Durham as she is a student attending the
University of
Massachusetts. Sending a
booking photograph to the father via a fax, the father quickly called back
thanking the police for this information assuring the department that he would
be addressing this issue immediately and his daughter would never be a problem
in Durham
again.

 

Each week, a list of all persons
arrested in Durham is sent to the University of New Hampshire where it is determined which
persons are registered students, what college they are entered into, and their
year of education.  That list is distributed to each Dean of the colleges
within the UNH system who then schedule a personal meeting with their respective
students. Additionally, if the matter involved alcohol in any way, the student
is required to attend an alcohol counseling course to maintain their status at
UNH. 

 

Collectively, each of these
initiatives is designed to instill responsibility for the students’ individual
actions and reinforce that while attending the University of New
Hampshire they are guests in Durham and are encouraged to act like
responsible guests.

 

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. 

 

Durham Town Council – Monday, October 18,
2010. To view the complete Council packet for this meeting, please click HERE

 

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

 

The
Coyote Club is coming to Durham
Parks
& Rec

The Coyote Club is a youth
recreation program focused on “instilling a sense of wonder, responsibility and
stewardship for the natural world through ecological studies and primitive
skills exploration.”  The Coyote Club already programs established in
Stratham, Exeter, Newington, North Hampton and Greenland.  Program content focuses on naturalist
studies, survival skills and environmental education.  This 6-week program
will meet on Monday afternoons at Wagon Hill Farm from 3:45pm to 4:45pm,
starting November 15^th.  The program is open to children in
grades 1sth through 5^th.  The cost is $55 per participant. 
For more
information, click HERE.  Contact P&R Director Michael Mengers at
mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074 with questions or to
register.

 

6-Week
Yoga Session Starts Thursday, October
28^th, 5:30pm

A new 6-week Yoga session with Abby
Gaul is being offered by Parks & Rec.  Class will take place on
Thursday nights from 5:30 to 6:30pm at the Durham Parks &
Rec Building.  Class begins on October
28^th and will meet on 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9.The class is
$30.  Contact P&R Director Michael Mengers at mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074 to register. 
.

 

The
Parks & Recreation Nature Note – East Foss
Farm

East
Foss Farm is a 164 acre recreation area managed by the UNH Office of Woodlands
& Natural Areas.  The property was donated to the University
in 1923 by George H. Amazeen, but it was an active farm used for cattle grazing
up until the 1960’s.  East Foss Farm now has an extensive trail system
perfect for hiking, jogging, mountain biking, snow shoeing and cross country
skiing.  The area offers three loop trails.  The shortest loop heads
to the west and runs past an impressive graveyard.  The loop to the south
is the longest and most strenuous trail.  The loop to the east is very well
maintained and travelled frequently by hikers.  This eastern trail also
connects with the MacDonald Lot, a Town owned natural area.   
For a look at the East Foss Farm trail map CLICK HERE. http://durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/recreation/eastfossfarm.pdf. 
East Foss Farm is located off of Foss Farm Road.  The trails begin on a
gravel road on the right hand side of the road, just past Ryan
Way.

 

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY –
FABULOUS FALL BOOK SALE

The Fabulous Fall Book Sale will
take place at the Durham Public Library in the Mill Road Plaza, Durham, on
Thursday, November 4, 7-8:30pm; Friday, November 5, 10-5pm; and Saturday,
November 6, 10-2pm.  Early bird shoppers may come to the sale on Thursday,
November 4, 6-7pm, for a $10.00 admission.  About 1500 gently-used books,
DVD’s and videos will be available at the book sale sponsored by the Friends of
the Durham Public Library.  All proceeds benefit the Library.  For
more information, contact the Library at 868-6699.

 

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

§        
Preschool Storytime Tues. Oct. 19th and Thurs. Oct.
21st at 10:30 a.m. - This week: Owls and Bats! Join us for stories, fingerplays,
songs, feltboard and a craft.

§        
An Aspiring Author Revisits Spies
in Time, Tues. Oct. 19^th 7-8 pm - Given the massive size and
diversity of the literature of spy history and mythology, how does an author who
aspires to write a cogent history of this form of 'international intrigue'
organize a book on this topic for the general public? What format makes sense?
Lecture will include illustrations. Douglas Wheeler has taught the history of
espionage since 1969 and has been associated with the History Dept. of UNH,
Durham for 45
years. He has authored, co-authored or co-edited nine books on specialized
historical topics and has published a dozen articles in periodicals on the
history of international spying. This program is made possible by a grant from
the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

§        
Oyster River High
School Poetry Night, Weds. Oct.
20^th, 7:00-8:00 pm - Join
Oyster River High School Students for a night of creative poetry readings as
well as the announcement of the new Oyster River High School Poet
Laureate.

§        
Granite Earth “Healthy Child, Healthy Planet” 7 week
series meets again on Tues. Oct. 19th, 7:45-9:15 pm.

§        
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 4 week sessions beginning in October. There will be a new
session in November and another one in December.

§        
Young adults interested in writing
a review of a book, play, movie, event?  Email the children’s librarian at ekleinmann@ci.durham.nh.us  or
stop by the circulation desk and we’ll put you in contact with our partner, YA
author Megan Frazer, who is helping us with this blog. Visit our website at www.durhampubliclibrary.org for
more information. 

 

COMMUNITY
EVENTS

§        
Saturday, Oct 16th, 6:00 – 10:00 PM, The Barn at
Winecellar Farm, 21 Winecellar
Road, Durham –
ORYA Live and Silent Auction. This
adult only event will raise much needed money for programming, coach’s training,
equipment, and scholarships. For more information, contact Nick or Mike at ORYA,
868-5150.

§        
Friday, October 22^nd, 8:00 – 11:00 PM,
Jessie Doe Hall, UNH Campus – Haunted
House. Admission is $3, or 3 canned goods, or some combination
thereof. Monetary proceeds and canned goods will go to Cornucopia Food Pantry at
Waysmeet
Center and towards the
holiday food baskets.

§        
Tuesday, October 26^th, 7:00 PM,
Durham Community Church – A lecture by author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich,
“What Seamen or Fishermen Called a Chowder:
A Mormon Diarist in Maine”. This event is free and open to the
public

§        
Saturday, October 30^th, 5:00 – 7:30 PM -
Durham Trick-or-Treating

§        
Saturday, October 30^th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
and Oct 31^st, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Durham Community Church – Fair Trade
Products Sale.
You can make a difference in the lives of families in
developing countries that under extremely harsh conditions make high quality,
distinctive arts and crafts in order to support their families.  By
purchasing these handmade items, one can support micro-economic businesses which
provide income to families who have no other means of support. Unique items will
be for sale from Afghanistan,
Guatemala,
Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, Niger, Panama, and Uganda. 
Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate will also be available. 
 

§        
Saturday, October 30^th, 9:00 – 11:00 AM,
Oyster
River Middle
School – Annual
Greek Life Pancake Breakfast. Admission is $5 with all proceeds going
to the Durham Public Library.

§        
Friday, November 5^th, 7:00 PM, Fellowship
Hall, Lee Church Congregational – Dr. P.T. Vasadevan will present “Energy-the-not-so-Bottomless Oil Well and the
Alternatives”. Free and open to the public. Questions and discussion
are welcome. For more information contact Sid White,
659-2883.

 

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week – 82    
                                   
38 UNH (46%)           44
Other (54%)

*2010/11 Academic Year –
298     169 UNH
(57%)         129 Other
(43%)

Calendar Year
–724                        
418 UNH (57%)         129 Other
(43%)

 

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

“Responding to citizen interest,
Durham’s
Historic District was recognized formally by vote at the 1974 town meeting, and
the historic district commission was formed. Voters were concerned with
floodplains and insurance ramifications in 1975, and a special town meeting was
held to discuss them. A recycling committee was formed in 1976. Another sign of
the time was that some of the town employees were unionized in 1977.”
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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Town of Durham
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