“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

Friday,
September 10, 2010

 

 

Jackson Hornbeck of Annapolis, MD views donkeys at Emery Farm --- or is it
vice versa?

Courtesy Jim
Hornbeck

 

 

The Jewish High Holidays began at
sundown on Wednesday of this week with Rosh Hashanah. We wish you a sweet New
Year.

 

PRIMARY
ELECTION – SEPTEMBER 14^th 

A final reminder that the New
Hampshire State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at
the Oyster
River High
School located on Coe Drive. Polling hours will be from 7:00
AM to 7:00 PM.

 

Absentee ballots for the September
14^th Primary Election are available at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Residents who will be out-of-town during the Primary or who are physically
disabled or observing a religious holiday, may request an absentee ballot.
Ballot requests may be made in person at the Town Clerk’s Office between the
hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or with a written request
by mail. Written requests must contain your name, residence address, address to
mail the ballot (if different from the residence address), and a
signature. 

 

This is a Primary, so you will receive a ballot for
the party of which you are currently
registered. If you are undeclared (a.k.a., independent), you will
need to specify a Democratic or Republican ballot.  No party changes can be accepted until after the election. To view
a copy of the Republican absentee ballot, click HERE.
To view a copy of the Democratic absentee ballot, click HERE.

 

UNH
ANNUAL PICNIC, SEPTEMBER 14^th – ROAD CLOSURE

The annual UNH Picnic will be held
on Tuesday, September 14^th. A portion of Main Street will be
closed from Garrison
Avenue to Edgewood Road between the hours of 10:00 AM
to 7:30 PM.  There will be detours provided for motorists to go around the
event.

 

NOTE:    
As this event is being held the same day as the Primary Election, residents may
want to consider taking an alternate route to the Oyster River High
School for voting.

 

“DISORDERLY
HOUSE” ORDINANCE – PUBLIC HEARING

For more than a year the impact of
UNH students renting properties
located within neighborhoods has again become a focus for various Town
departments, the Rental Housing Commission, and residents living within affected
neighborhoods. Also included as part of this ongoing challenge are the matters
of parking, noise, vandalism, and crime in general. The Rental Housing
Commission has been working diligently to develop potential ways in which to
address these various issues, including the creation of a rental registry, a
property maintenance code, a large gathering permit, amending the Town’s current
Noise Ordinance, and crafting a Disorderly House
Ordinance.

 

On June 21, 2010, the Town Council
held a First Reading on a draft Disorderly House Ordinance (Ordinance #2010-08)
modeled from other ordinances across the country. This ordinance focuses not on
the tenant, but on the property owner with the idea that ultimately the owner
needs to be responsible for the behavior occurring on his/her property.  It
is to ensure that property owners actively have a stake in and take
responsibility for activities at their properties that affect quality of life for the broader
community. After a first event the owner will be notified. After a second event
the owner will be fined $500 unless he/she meets with the Police Chief to
develop a strategy to avoid future disorderly events. After a third event the
owner will be fined $1,000 and meet with the Police Chief and 3 representatives
of the Durham Rental Housing Commission to discuss ways to alleviate the
problems and show that they have taken steps to eliminate future disorderly
events.  The owner and the Police Chief will then sign a document outlining
the steps that need to be taken to resolve these disturbances.  After a
third and all subsequent events there will be a fine of
$1000.

 

At the Town Council meeting
scheduled for Monday evening, September 13, 2010, the Council will hold a Public
Hearing to receive input from members of the public relative to this issue.
 The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM and will be held in the Council chambers
at Town Hall.

 

To view the draft ordinance, click
HERE.

 

Durham
Public Forum on Workforce Housing

Did you know that the average home
price in Durham
was $221,500 in 2000 and increased almost 60% to $352,171 in 2009-2010? 
Could you afford to buy a house at this price? And did you know that the State
of New
Hampshire requires all communities to provide
opportunity for workforce housing (RSA 674: 58-61)? The Durham Town Council and
Workforce Housing Committee invite all residents to an exciting Public Forum to
learn what we can do to encourage affordable housing for local people making
average incomes in the area.  Please join us at the Town Hall on September
28th at 7 PM to share your ideas, issues, and concerns, and to learn about
possible solutions.  We want to learn how you feel about Durham’s housing
needs.  The Workforce Housing Committee is beginning the process to update
the Zoning Ordinance to include greater opportunities for workforce housing—for
those people who can’t afford to live where they grew up or where they may want
to work.  Now is the time to share your thoughts.  See you at the
forum!

 

 

IDEA
GREENHOUSE

Can Durham become a hub of creative and
entrepreneurial energy? That's the question the Idea Greenhouse is trying to
answer by September 20th.

 

Formed in June, the Idea Greenhouse
is the creation of Tom Elliott, a Durham resident and "work from home"
entrepreneur. After many conversations with town leaders and residents about the
opportunities for revitalizing Durham's downtown through attracting new
startup businesses, Elliott launched the Idea Greenhouse as "an experiment to
grow a creative culture by providing a space to connect
people."

 

With Revolution Energy, a local
company and winner of the Green Launching Pad business contest last May (see www.greenlaunchingpad.com), as an "anchor
tenant,"  Idea Greenhouse rented a space in the historic 13 Jenkins Court
building owned by the very supportive Kostis
family.

 

Two events this summer brought
together a wide range of creative, entrepreneurial, and downtown supporters, to
discuss the opportunities for creating a "creative cultural center" and
coworking space. Demand for meetings, business mentoring, talks, and other
programming is strong and growing.

 

After just three months in a small
month-to-month space, the Idea Greenhouse is now poised to open a bigger,
permanent location. Elliott is working with Matthew Crape of CF Ventures to
lease over 1,700 square feet of the fourth floor of Mr. Crape's new 8 Jenkins Court
building.

 

Elliott and Crape have agreed to
explore interest in the use of the space as shared offices, cubes, desks, and
"drop in" memberships for laptop workers looking to get out of the house and
work in a collaborative, creative, and entrepreneurial community. The center
will sponsor many day time and evening events, to bring together the town and
region's business and nonprofit leaders.

 

The deadline for joining the Idea
Greenhouse as an early member or tenant is September 20th. Anyone interested in
working in this new space is encouraged to visit www.ideagreenhouse.biz to see a video tour of
the space, learn more about membership prices, and register for next Tuesday's
major event.

 

Next week's event is a combination
social gathering, tour of the new potential home, and talk by UNH graduate and
local entrepreneur Peter Getman of MicroArts. The event is free and begins at
6pm. Details and registration at www.ideagreenhouse.biz

 

2010
Surplus VehicleS BID

The Department of Public Works will
be placing its annual surplus vehicles bid advertisement in the newspaper next
week. This year, the following items are up for
bid:

 

#1 1995 GMC Sierra 3500                              
VIN# 1GDHC34KXSE539296

#2 1997 Crown Victoria                                   
VIN # 2FALP71W3VX165981

#3 2001 Crown Victoria                                   
VIN # 2FAFP71W91X158   

#4 Ranger Pick-up Cap – dark blue

 

Interested parties must submit a
sealed bid to the Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, no later
than 2:00 PM, Wednesday, September 29, 2010.  The envelope must be clearly
marked “SURPLUS VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT BID, VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT #” indicating the
corresponding number, above, for each bid.  Use only one envelope for each
vehicle/equipment item and each corresponding bid.  All items can be viewed
at the Department of Public Works, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, M-F 8AM- 3:30PM.  Vehicle Bids
must be at least $100 to be considered.  The Town of Durham reserves the right
to reject any and all bids, to investigate the qualifications of any bidder, and
to waive or not waive any and all informalities in any bid when making an
award.

 

West
End PROJECT

Town and UNH representatives did a
walk-through of the West End project to create
a punch list of smaller repairs and cleanup work that needs to be done prior to
the end of the project.  Representatives are pleased with the work that has
been done. 

 

WATER
CONSERVATION STATUS

The Town and University continue to
monitor the river flows closely. Although there has been no significant rain and
conditions remain very dry, flow in the Oyster River, combined with increased withdrawal
from the Lee Well, has been adequate to meet demand. With the cooler weather,
rivers are losing less water to evaporation which has helped slow the decline in
flow.

 

Town and UNH representatives will
conduct another review next week at which time it is likely they will begin
drawing from the Lamprey River impoundment. The drought warning
level may need to be increased from level 1 to level 2 at that
time.

 

Although the drought warning level
does not currently need to be increased from the present level 1,
representatives will work with UNH Residential Life to circulate flyers in the
dorms asking for voluntary conservation measures. 

 

HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

Household Hazardous Waste Day will
be held on Saturday, October 9^th at the Public Works Facility. 
Remember that this is for residential household hazardous waste products
only.  In order to participate in the event, you must call the Public Works
Department, 868-5578, and set an appointment time.  Appointments will be
set between 8:30 and 11:30 AM. There is a five gallon maximum per
household.  Remember that latex and oil based paints DO NOT come to
Household Hazardous Waste Day since they can be brought to the Transfer Station
throughout the year, latex dried out first to bring up, oil based paints can be
brought up to the Transfer Station as is.  Please call with any questions
and to set an appointment.  To view details/instructions, please click HERE.

 

Cable
Franchise Agreement Renewal Process – PUBLIC
HEARING

The Town of Durham is currently in the
process of negotiating a renewal of its cable franchise agreement with Comcast,
the incumbent cable operator. The renewal process is an opportunity for the Town
to ascertain the future cable-related needs and interests of the community and
to negotiate with Comcast to meet these needs in the renewal franchise
agreement.

 

As part of the process, the Town
will be holding a public hearing a public hearing to ascertain the future
cable-related needs and interests of the community on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 beginning at
7:00 P.M. The hearing will be held
in the Town Council Chambers at the Durham Town
Hall located at 15 Newmarket Road. Residents are encouraged
to attend the hearing and provide input relative to this important process.
Written comments may also be submitted to Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry
at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

In order to provide information to
the Town Cable Franchise Review Committee, a list of questions was provided and
sent to various Town organizations and departments to answer and submit for
consideration by the committee. To view these questions, please click HERE.

 

PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE

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

 

Town Council – Monday, September 13,
2010

Zoning Board of Adjustment –
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Rental Housing Commission –
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 (4:00 PM)

Planning Board – Wednesday,
September 15, 2010

 

Oyster
River School
Board meeting
schedule, please click HERE. 

Durham Public Library
Board of Trustees meeting schedule, please click HERE.

DCAT
Programming Schedule, please click HERE

 

Sound
Beginnings – Youth music program offered at Parks &
Rec

Sound Beginnings is a unique and
affordable music and movement enrichment program for parents and their children
between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.  Instructor Maria Isaak will
focus on nurturing the joys of early childhood musical development. Using
traditional children's folk songs, nursery rhymes and games, parents and their
children build a repertoire of joyful musical experiences.  The 8 week
program is $75.  Class will meet on Wednesdays from September
29^th through November 17^th.  There are two time
sessions to choose from, 5:00pm to 5:45pm or 6:00pm to 6:45pm.  All classes
are held at the Durham Parks & Recreation Department.  To register
contact P&R Director Michael Mengers at mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074 or
visit the Clerk’s Desk.  For more information, click HERE. 

 

Durham
Day – Sunday, September 26th

Make sure to come out to Durham Day
on September 26^th from 12:30pm to 4:00pm.  Enjoy a free
community barbeque, boat tours of the Little Bay, live musical performances and
plenty of activities and games for the whole family.  Just added to the
entertainment lineup are the antique cars of the Northeastern Region of the Nash
Car Club of America.  Check out the 1910 Rambler owned by Durham resident Roland
Pelletier.  It is one of two still known in existences.  Contact
P&R Director Michael Mengers with any questions (817-4074,
mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us.)

 

The
Parks & Recreation Nature Note – Stolworthy Wildlife
Sanctuary

The
Stolworthy Wildlife Sanctuary is a 3.5 acre, Town owned parcel of land located
directly behind the Oyster River
Middle School.  A
trail system begins at the newly constructed ORMS Outdoor Classroom and travels
northeast, eventually meeting up with Bagdad Road.  Off of the main trail
numerous other paths head east eventually meeting up with a tributary of the
Littlehale Creek and the Oyster River
High School athletic
fields.  Another brief path heading west is an old Class 6 Road and
connects with Bagdad Road Extension.  Now is a great time to visit the
Stolworthy Sanctuary.  Thanks to Gubby Noronha’s Eagle Scout project all of
the trails have been cleared and widened.  Please only use the ORMS parking
lot to access Stolworthy after school hours and on
weekends.

 

Durham
Public Library Programs and Events

§        
Preschool Storytime this week,
Tue, Sep 14^th and Thu, Sep 16^th at 10:30 AM -
Stories,
fingerplays, feltboard, songs, and a craft.  This week - Chickens and
Farms.

§        
The patch program 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 UNH Reading
Buddies through Seacoast Reads has started.  Would your child in grades
1^st through 3^rd benefit from a UNH Reading Buddy? Then
sign up at the library for your child to be partnered with a student trained by
the UNH Education Department’s Seacoast Reads
program.

§        
Registration for Tales for tails
has started.  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.

§        
Parenting Book Group “Why Fathers Count” begins Tue,
Sep 14^th at 10:30 AM.  Call the library at 868-6699 for more
information and how to register.

§        
Lyme Disease Support Group, Tue, Sep 14^th,
6:30 – 8:00 PM.

§        
Family Preparedness Workshop, Wed,
Sep 15^th, 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Learn how to keep your family safe.  Sponsored
by the Safety Council of Strafford County.

§        
Granite Earth “Healthy Child, Healthy Planet” 7-week
series begins Tue, Sep 21^st, 7:45 – 9:15 PM. To Register and for more
information call the library.

§        
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 the library website
at www.durhampubliclibrary.org
for more information.

 

COMMUNITY
EVENTS

§        
Saturday, Sep 11^th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM –
Durham Churches Hold Annual Family Yard
Sale. The Durham churches of
Durham Community Church and St. Thomas More Church will hold the annual family yard
sale. Come search for possible treasures in including clothing, ketch ware,
furniture, sporting goods, books, vintage items, linens, tools, and toys. Enjoy
barbecue foods. Bring a friend and shop, rain or shine.

§        
Tuesday, Sep 14^th, 1:30 PM, Durham Evangelical Church - Active Retirement Association General
Meeting. Dr. Mark Huddleston, President of UNH, will speak about the
state of the University of New
Hampshire.  For more information, visit our
website at www.unh.edu/ara/ or call Carol Caldwell, our
Membership Chairman at (603) 343-1004.

§        
Wednesday, Sep 15^th, 4:00 PM, Durham
Community Church - UNH Professor, Ellen
Fitzpatrick, will speak about her book, Letters to Jackie,
which examines the condolence letters, archived in the John F. Kennedy Library,
that were written to Jacqueline Kennedy after her husband’s assassination
devastated the nation.  This event is hosted by the Active Retirement
Association and is FREE. All are welcome and books will be
available.

§        
Friday, Sep 10^th, 5:00 – 7:00 PM,- Museum
of Art, UNH – Preview reception of a new
exhibition, The Artists Revealed: 2010 Studio
Faculty Exhibition, featuring 97 recent works created by 13 art
studio faculty members of the Department of Art & Art History at the
University of New Hampshire (UNH). This multi-media exhibition features drawing,
ceramics, furniture design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
It will remain on view from September 11 through October 17, 2010. The preview
reception, exhibitions, and accompanying educational programs are all open to
the public FREE of charge.

 

DURHAM GARDEN CLUB SEEKING
NEW MEMBERS

The Durham Garden Club is looking
for new members to attend its first monthly meeting on Tuesday, September
21, 2010. The topic for this meeting will be CREATING BEAUTY WITH PLANTS AND
STONE BY THOMAS BERGER, STONE SCULPTOR. He will give some ideas for
incorporating art into your garden settings.  The Garden Club invites
residents for socializing and refreshments at 6:30 PM at St. George's Episcopal
Church, Main Street,
Durham. The meeting begins at 7:00
p.m.   We look forward to seeing some new faces.  Please call
Joanne Young at 659-8055 if you have any questions.

 

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week –
54                                        
34 UNH (63%)           20 Other
(37%)

*2010/11 Academic Year – 77
       49 UNH (64%)  
        28 Other
(36%)

Calendar Year –
503                       
298 UNH (59%)         205 Other
(41%)

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

 

Historical data
for the same week

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Week	118	72	45	43	92	54
Academic Year	158	98	65	59	117	77
Calendar Year	717	601	636	574	663	503

 

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

“The water system has expanded as
the university and the town have grown. More water became available when the
university acquired a much larger reservoir on the Oyster River west of the town. The water
treatment and pumping facility, which is owned by the university, has also been
able to keep pace with the growth of the student body and development of the
town north of the river.” 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

 

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.