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 NEWS AND HAPPENINGS ...
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Friday, December 20, 2013
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The artwork above was on a holiday card sent to Administrator Selig from the Weisman family. It's artist, Emma Weisman, is a ORHS graduate. After high school, Emma attended and graduated from UMass-Amherst with a BFA in Painting, and is now a Boston-based freelance illustrator and artist, specializing in children’s illustration.
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An interesting article about Durham's Fire Captain James Brown is featured in the December issue of Speedway Illustrated. Captain Brown serves as Incident Commander at the Lee USA Speedway. To read the article, click HERE.
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PROPERTY TAX BILLS - DUE DATES
Property Taxes: Due Monday, December 23, 2013
Please contact the Tax Collector's office at 868-5577 with an questions.
NOTE: If residents disagree with their new assessment, they may apply for an abatement using the application on the Town website, https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/assessing/abatements. The application is due on March 3, 2014 (Normally due on March 1, but this date falls on a Saturday in 2014.)
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TOWN OFFICES CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
All Town Offices will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 24th and 25th, for the Christmas holiday.
The Town Hall will close at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, December 31st for New Year's Eve. All Town Offices are closed on New Year's Day, January 1st.
Refuse and Recycling Schedule During Christmas:
Normal collection on Tuesday, Dec 24th.
NO COLLECTION on Wednesday, Dec 25th, pushed ahead one day for rest of week (i.e., Wed. route will be picked up on Thu; Thu. route will be picked up on Fri., etc.). All items out by 7AM as always. No commercial collection on Friday.
TRANSFER STATION CLOSED on Tuesday, Dec 24th.
NO COLLECTION OF REFUSE AND RECYCLING on Wed., January 1st. Pushed ahead one day for rest of week. No commercial collection on Friday, January 3rd.
DPW Annual Newsletter for 2014 should be received by residents in the next week or so. To view the 2013 and 2014 Holiday Schedule, click HERE.
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Approximately 100 people attended Town Planner Michael Behrendt's presentation on December 19th, "The Architecture of Durham: Iconic Buildings, Recent Projects, and Current Proposals" at the Durham Public Library. The slide show and discussion explored Durham’s building legacy and how newer buildings fit into its landscape. Courtesy Craig Stevens
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WHEN BRINGING CARDBOARD BOXES TO THE TRANSFER STATION...
Please remove all packaging inside, Styrofoam, plastics, packing peanuts, formed foam, etc. Transfer Station employees have been spending an extensive amount of extra time taking packaging out of cardboard so they can prepare the cardboard for recycling. Anything inside the box needs to be removed, most likely it’s not recyclable and cannot be intermingled with our cardboard. This will be especially important to remember with all the gifting happening this season. Please be proactive to save time and money!
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NO "FRIDAY UPDATES" ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2013
There will be no "Friday Updates" publication on Friday, December 27th. The next publication will occur on Friday January 3, 2014.
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LETTER FROM UNH TO DURHAM REGARDING OUTDOOR POOL
The Town received a letter from UNH this week in regard to the Outdoor Pool and more specifically, the Outdoor Pool Use Agreement between Durham and the University. To read the letter, click HERE.
In addition, there was an editorial in an issue of this week's Foster's regarding the pool that may be of interest to residents. To read the editorial, click HERE.
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FILING PERIOD FOR LOCAL ELECTIVE OFFICES
The filing period for local Durham elective offices opens on January 22, 2014 and closes on January 31, 2014 at 5 PM. Positions that are up for election in 2014 include:
3 Councilors (3 yr. term)
2 Durham Library Board of Trustees (3 yr. term)
1 Supervisor of the Checklist (6 yr. term)
1 Town Clerk-Tax Collector (3 yr. term)
1 Town Treasurer (3 yr. term)
1 Trustee of Trust Funds (3 yr. term)
Residents interested in learning more about any of these positions are invited contact the Administrator's Office at (603) 868-5571 or write to tselig@ci.durham.nh.us. The 2014 Town elections will take place on March 11, 2014.
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At the Town Council meeting on Monday, December 16, 2013, PSNH representatives Catalina Celentano and Mark Toussaint presented the Town of Durham with a $9,580 PSNH Smart Start grant for installation of energy efficient HVAC and lighting components at the new public library. Courtesy Mike Lynch
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DURHAM COMPOSTING PILOT PROGRAM
The Town’s Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee, the Department of Public Works, and Mr. Fox Composting will conduct a composting pilot program beginning on February 1, 2014. This program seeks to remove organic waste from our land fill disposal stream and, through composting, convert this organic waste into usable soil. While the amount of organic waste generated by a household is quite variable, it is frequently estimated that 40% or more of the material disposed of in land fills is organic waste. Durham’s annual land fill disposal exceeds 1600 tons at a cost of more than $112,500. If we could remove just 20% of the annual disposal tonnage Durham could save more than $22,500 annually. And help extend the life of existing land fills, produce useful soil, and reduce the production of methane gas, one of the most destructive air pollutants produced by human activity.
How will the program work? Participants in the pilot program will receive organic waste disposal liners (bags) at the beginning of the program. These liners will be placed by participants in a waste disposal container (trash can) with a tight lid. Then, as organic waste is produced it will be collected in the liner, in the container. When it is time to empty the collected material (once a week?), participants will take the container to the transfer station and place it in a marked composting dumpster. Care should be exercised in handling the filled liners as they are made of compostable material and may soften when wet. It is best to tie off the liner and then dump it from your disposal container into the dumpster. Mr. Fox Composting will transport the waste to a composting site.
What do you mean by organic waste? Compostable materials are: food scraps from the table; eggshells; bread; seafood (not clam or oyster shells); fruits and vegetables (including pits and nuts); coffee grounds and filters; tea and tea bags; pizza boxes; wood stirrers; sugar packets; paper napkins, plates and towels; waxed paper linings; flowers and floral trimmings; corn based cups and utensils; and corks. Items not on this list are not currently compostable.
How do I participate? If you are interested in participating in the pilot program call Durham Public Works at 868-5578 and ask to be place on the pilot program list. You will be asked for your name, address and telephone number so we can contact you with updates and additional coordination. We are planning to conduct the pilot program with 50-100 residences. If the program proves successful, we hope to expand it to as many residences as possible.
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Durham's Town Council adopted the FY 2014 budget at its meeting on Monday evening, December 16th. Courtesy Stefanie Frazee
TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTS FY 2014 BUDGET KEEPING LOCAL PORTION OF TAX RATE FLAT IN 2014
On December 16, 2013, the Council continued its discussion of the proposed budget. The Council and staff working in concert were ultimately able to arrive at a budget that is projected to keep the 2013 municipal tax rate of $8.34 unchanged in 2014. In other words, there is no projected increase to the local (municipal) tax rate next year.
This budget process has driven home the importance of broadening the tax base in order to continue to afford the local services that residents/taxpayers demand of the Town of Durham.
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PSNH TO CONSTRUCT NEW TRANSMISSION POWER LINE FROM MADBURY TO PORTSMOUTH
Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) is in the preliminary stages of a project to construct a new transmission power line from Madbury to Portsmouth, mainly within existing power line corridors. The construction of this new power line is the result of ISO-New England’s assessment, in the NH Seacoast region, which identified the need for additional resources to address forecasted electric demand. A portion of the new line will come through Durham along already established PSNH rights of way.
Because PSNH is in the preliminary stages of this project, detailed project information is not available at this time but as field data collection and engineering progress, PSNH will have a more defined understanding of the line design as well as the local, state, and federal approvals necessary for this project.
Representatives from PSNH met with DPW Director Mike Lynch, Director of Planning & Community Development Michael Behrendt, and Administrator Todd Selig recently about the project. Residents who live along the affected rights of way can expect a postcard from PSNH in the next few days informing them that PSNH engineering staff will be evaluating PSNH infrastructure in the coming weeks. When we have more information, we will make this available.
This project represents a significant investment for PSNH that is taxable so it should have a positive impact on Durham's tax base.
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Hutter Construction Superintendent Roger Davis and Art Guadano from AG Architects review the construction plan set at the new Town Hall Project. Courtesy DPW
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CHURCHILL RINK AT JACKSON'S LANDING SKATE SCHEDULE
For details on the schedule, please go to https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/churchillrink or call the rink at 868-3907.
Public Skate Schedule:
Sundays: 12:00 - 1:45pm
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 2:00 - 3:20pm
Tuesdays:12:00 - 4:20pm
Thursdays: 12:00 - 1:50pm
Saturday: 2:00 - 3:45pm
Open Stick & Puck (unstructured hockey)
Sunday thru Friday: 11:00 - 11:50am
Adult Drop In
Sundays: 9:30 - 10:50am
Monday & Wednesday: 12:00 - 1:20 pm
Fridays: 12:00 - 1:20pm AND 8:00 - 9:20pm
Family Pond Hockey (Helmet required)
Saturday nights, 7:00 - 8:30 pm (except for Dec 28th)
For more information, contact Gary at Rink Services Group, 603-868-3907, gary@rinkservicesgroup.com.
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THE LATEST PRODUCTIONS FROM DCAT STUDIOS
Durham Day 2013 - Sunday’s @ 1:30 & 7:00 PM - Total run time: 11:09
Join your friends from the Town of Durham at their annual picnic. Hop on a boat and learn a wee bit about local oysters. Hear music from Bliss as you take a tour of the festivities. Do the Town Councilors actually cook your burgers & hot dogs….maybe? This video from DCAT 22 Studios is also available on the Town’s On Demand site.
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The Architecture of Durham with Michael Behrendt - Sunday’s @ 4:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Join Durham Town Planner Michael Behrendt for “The Architecture of Durham, New Hampshire: Iconic structures, recent projects, and current proposals.” A special highlight will be photos of Dorothy and Murray Straus’ extraordinary organic-style house. Michael is the author of The Architectural Jewels of Rochester, New Hampshire: A History of the Built Environment.
This video from DCAT 22 Studios is also available on the Town’s On Demand site.
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MEETINGS: SCHEDULE AND VIDEO ON DEMAND
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.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 23-27, 2013.
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing.
VIDEO ON DEMAND: Meetings can also be viewed via Video on Demand. Interested viewers can access the streaming site from the Town’s website at http://ci.durham.nh.us/ by clicking the DCAT on demand logo, or directly at http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.
Durham Public Library Board of Trustees meeting schedule, please click HERE.
DCAT Programming Schedule, please click HERE.
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PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.
New Program Dates Released (Pre-Registration Required)!
Coyote Club (Starts Jan 6th) – Registration deadline is December 31st. Find out more HERE.
Yoga for Seniors (Starts Jan 6th) - Registration deadline is December 31st. Find out more HERE.
HoopFIT (Starts Jan 7th) - Registration deadline is December 31st. Find out more HERE.
Tai Chi - Beginners (Starts Jan 7th) - Registration deadline is December 31st. Find out more HERE.
Volunteer With DPR - Do you like being outdoors? Do you have a group looking for ways to be more involved and give back to the community? Contact: sfrazee@ci.durham.nh.us to learn about local volunteer opportunities. Find out more HERE.
Stay Fit This Winter! - Pick a class that fits your schedule: http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/calendar?departments=283
Durham Parks & Recreation sends out a special THANK YOU to all of the volunteers, businesses, groups, organizations, committees, departments, and commissions who helped to make 2013 a successful year. Happy Holidays!
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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Durham Community Church Family Service and Children's Pageant, Tuesday, Dec 24th, 4PM; Cocoa, cookies, cards, conversation in the Fellowship Hall at 8PM; Service of Lessons and Carols, 9PM. For more information, call 603-868-1230.
Boy Scout Troop 154 Christmas Tree Sale, weekends 9AM - 4PM, Durham Marketplace parking lot. The tree sale has been the troop's sole fund-raising effort for approximately 50 years.
Christmas Trees for Sale at Albright Tree Farm, 172 Packers Falls Road, weekends 9AM to dark; weekdays by appointment. Call 603-502-9208.
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DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Questions about the Affordable Health Care Act? If you need help enrolling or have questions, the library is still setting up appointments with a Certified Enrollment Specialist. Just call the library and we will set up a meeting for you. December 23 is the last day for enroll for coverage on January 1, 2013.
Family Movie Afternoon, “The Polar Express”, Sat. Dec. 21st 2:00 p.m. – Join us upstairs for this month’s movie “The Polar Express”! Get your train ticket at the door for this fun movie afternoon. Popcorn and special treats will be served and all are welcome!
Holiday Hours at the Library. We are closed on December 24th & 25th. We will be closing early - 5 PM on December 31st and we will be closed on New Year’s Day. Happy Holidays!
Make-It-Take-It Craft all week in the Children’s room during Oyster River School Vacation week, 12/23-12/31 – Stop by the children’s room to make a fun craft. (No Storytimes during this week).
Young Adult Writing/Blogging Group, Meets Monday, January 6th from 7:00-7:45 pm (will meet monthly the first Monday of the month). Interested in writing? Join our writing group (ages 10 & up). We will do writing exercises and have you post your writings to our blog "Write Away". Post a book review, poem, movie review, fiction story, travel logs, song lyrics on our blog
Oyster River High School Poetry Out Loud Contest, Weds, January 8th at 6:30 (Snow Date Thurs, Jan 9th at 6:30) - Join us for the ORHS Poetry Out Loud contest and also for the naming of the new ORHS Poet Laureate! Refreshments will be served.
Pre-school Storytimes will begin again on: Tues. Jan. 7th and Thurs. Dec. 9th at 10:30 a.m. – The theme is: Birthdays!
Raccoon Readers (2nd-4th Grade Book Club), Tues. January 7th, 6:00 p.m. This month's book is"Stranded" by Jeff Probst. We talk about the book, do some puzzles, play some games and make a craft. Books are available at the library.
Baby Lap-sit, Chess club, Lego Club and Homeschoolers group has ended for the year. We will start again on the week of Jan. 11th. Check our calendar and library newsletter for details.
Lincoln Peirce, Author of the "Big Nate" Series Visits, Sat. Jan. 11th at 1 p.m.!!- Mark your Calendar! Lincoln Peirce, author of the "Big Nate" books will visit the library on Sat. Jan. 11th at 1:00 p.m. He will talk about his books, demonstrate how he illustrates and sign any books of his that you bring. Don't miss it! Snow date is Sat. Jan. 25th at 1:00 p.m.
DHA Presents: New England's Colonial Meetinghouses and Their Impact on American Society - Tuesday, Jan. 14th at 6:30 p.m. - The Durham Historical Association presents "New England's Colonial Meetinghouses and Their Impact on American Society," an interactive discussion led by photographer Paul Wainwright. In colonial New England, there was little distinction between faith and community. Meetinghouses were built, usually but not always through taxation, and these were used for both worship and business. They were the central focus of the community. These buildings offer a fascinating glimpse into our history. Paul will present his study of these meetinghouses, which date back to the 1700s. He explores their emptiness, as well as their wonderful sense of space and light. This project is made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book Group! Weds. Jan 22, 2:45-4:00 p.m. - Join us for this middle school book group. Walk from the Middle School! That month's book is "Epic" by Connor Kostick. Ruth Wharton-MacDonald is the facilitator. Books are available at the library. Pizza is served and all are welcome!
Patch Club! Earn patches and a library bag for your reading time. Register at the children’s desk.
Visit the DPL website www.durhampubliclibrary.org for more information.
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FROM "HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A BRIEF HISTORY OF DURHAM, NH, 1600 - 1976 written by Philip A. Wilcox and members of the Durham Historic Association.
1732 - The Justice at Dover September ye 5 do give our Consent that Mr. Samuel Smith may keep a Public House at the Place Called the Oyster Reaver Falls [signed] Francis Mathes, Thomas Drew, Jonathan Chesley, Jonathan Thompson - Selectmen." Now home of James Chamberlin.
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Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year!
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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