Friday Updates - May 24, 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

A beautiful sunrise on the Oyster River. Courtesy Bernie Casey

Monday, May 27th is Memorial Day. The origins of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, lie in the Civil War.  Southern women laid claim to the custom of a day set aside to decorate the graves of the war dead.  Union veterans laid claim to a specific date, May 30th, but it wasn't until after World War II that North and South were willing to observe Memorial Day on the same date.  If you are observing the weekend as most Americans do as the semi-official start of the summer vacation season, please pause occasionally to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day.

 

(See more on Durham's planned Memorial Day ceremonies under the Parks & Recreation section below)

 

TOWN OFFICES CLOSED MEMORIAL DAY - MONDAY, MAY 27TH

A final reminder that the Durham Town Offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2013 in observance of Memorial Day. All Town Offices will reopen for regular business on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 8:00 AM.

The Transfer Station and Recycling Center will be closed on Saturday, May 25th. Hours of operation will return to normal (Tue & Sat, 7:30 AM-3:00 PM) on Tuesday, May 28th.

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There will be NO COLLECTION OF TRASH AND RECYCLABLES ON MONDAY, MAY 27TH. All routes will be pushed ahead one day (Example: residents who collection day is normally Monday will need to have their items out by 7AM on Tuesday. Residents whose collection day is normally Tuesday will need to have their items out by 7AM on Wednesday, etc.). There will be no commercial collection on Friday, May 31st. Click HERE to view the holiday schedule.

COUNCIL-INITIATED ZONING CHANGE ON DENSITY OF STUDENT HOUSING WITHIN NEW DEVELOMENT

On Monday evening, Council Chair Jay Gooze and Chair Pro-tem Jim Lawson brought forward for Council consideration a Council-initiated zoning change to reduce the maximum number of occupants in unrelated households per 300 sq. ft. of habitable floor area from 1.5 to 1. The change would be applicable to all zoning districts, and will have the greatest impact in the Central Business District (CBD). The purpose of the change is to:

1. Better align zoning with the 2000 Master Plan,
   
    
2. Reduce the occupants density in downtown redevelopment projects,
   
    
3. Encourage redevelopments with apartments appealing to housing markets beyond student needs, and
   
    
4. Better align the occupant density with the current Dwelling Unit density in the CBD such that developers are not incentivized to design apartments with a high numbers of occupants (exceeding 6).

The current CBD zoning requires 900 square feet of lot area for each Dwelling Unit, which when coupled with two floors of mixed-use residential space and an occupant density of 200 square feet per occupant encourages large apartments with many small bedrooms – often exceeding six. This apartment characteristic is not desirable or economically attractive in most markets; however, local developers can lease these apartments to students due the CBD’s close proximity to the University. Simply stated, the occupant density of 1.5 occupants per 300 square feet (200 square feet per occupant) encourages apartments designed only for students with small bedrooms and six or more occupants per apartment.  

The intent of this zoning change is to align our zoning with the Master Plan and address community concerns about occupant density in new mixed-use redevelopments.  The intent is not to eliminate the opportunity for mixed-use redevelopment, but rather to encourage mixed-use redevelopment with apartments attractive to the broader housing markets that may develop as the characteristics of Durham’s downtown evolve.  The change will also reduce occupant density in redevelopments. 

The Council voted to refer the Council-initiated zoning change to the Planning Board for its "review and study" in accordance with Section 175-14 of the Durham Zoning Ordinance. It is likely the Planning Board will take up this matter on June 12th with a possible public hearing at the board’s meeting on June 26, 2013.

ADMINISTRATOR SELIG TO RECOMMEND COUNCIL-INITIATED ZONING CHANGE AT JUNE 3, 2013 COUNCIL MEETING

At the June 3, 2013, Town Council meeting, Administrator Selig plans to recommend that the Council consider a proposal he has been developing with assistance from Durham resident Beth Olshansky and Dir. of Planning & Community Development Michael Behrendt to institute additional height and setback protections along the Madbury Road corridor. 

At the present time, the setback for new development in the Central Business District (CBD) along Madbury Road between Main Street and Garrison Avenue (the left side of Madbury Road heading out of town (traveling from Main Street toward Bagdad Road))is 0’. Mr. Selig recommends that the setback along Madbury Road in the CBD between Main Street and Pettee Brook Lane be increased to between 15’ (min) 20’(max), and that the setback along Madbury Road in the CBD be increased to between 20’ (min) and 30’ (max). 

At the present time, Durham’s zoning ordinance allows for four story buildings in the CBD and in the Professional Office (PO) district along the Madbury Road corridor.  Mr. Selig recommends that the height of new construction along Madbury Road in the CBD be capped at 3 stories. The proposal also caps the height of new construction in all of the PO district to 3 stories.   The PO District is essentially the transition zone between the more intense CBD and the neighborhoods beyond in the RA districts (Woodman Road, Strafford Avenue, Madbury Road beyond Bagdad, etc.).  Heights exceeding 3 stories seem inconsistent with the intent of such a transition zone. 

BILL COTE SELECTED AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MCGREGOR MEMORIAL (formerly Durham Ambulance Corps)

McGregor Memorial EMS, formerly the Durham Ambulance Corps, has been involved in a nationwide search orchestrated by Municipal Resources Inc. (MRI) for a new Executive Director. 

The McGregor Board of Directors invited a dozen candidates to respond to six essay questions regarding leadership, organization management, and present/future challenges for the EMS industry and EMS education. From there, six candidates were selected to interview.

Durham Fire Department's Assistant Chief Jason Cleary participated as part of the initial interview process.The Board of Directors conducted a second round of interview with the top two finalists. After an extensive reference and background check process, the Board appointed Durham resident Bill Cote as the Executive Director.  Bill is a longtime resident of Durham, having served as both a member of the Durham Planning Board and the Durham Town Council.

Bill is also a former Durham Fire Captain and Deputy Chief. He has over 25 years of experience working in EMS, the fire service, and risk management field. 

Bill will soon be able to be reached at bcote@mcgregorems.org.

DOGS ALLOWED OFF LEASH AT WAGON HILL FARM FROM OPENING UNTIL 10 AM, DAILY

A request was received by Administrator Selig last year from the Durham Parks & Recreation Committee to allow dogs off leash at Wagon Hill Farm from the opening of the park until 10 AM, daily. This change was recommended by the Committee in order to create a limited time period when the park is not heavily utilized to accommodate users of the Wagon Hill Farm facility who desire to allow their dogs to run off leash, while at the same time clearly informing the public so that members of the community may make informed choices pertaining to when they might want to utilize the property (i.e., before 10 AM when dogs may be off leash or after 10AM when dogs will be required to be on a leash per Chapter 49 of the Durham Town Code). 

The request from the Parks & Recreation Committee was both logical and reasonable, and responded thoughtfully to the concerns we have received regarding renewed enforcement of the leash regulations at the property by the Durham Police Department.  Administrator Selig therefore granted the request, as provided by local ordinance. 

Concerns regarding dogs off leash can be directed to the Durham Police Department at dkurz@ci.durham.nh.us or the Parks and Recreation Department at sfrazee@ci.durham.nh.us. 

RABIES PRECAUTION - RABID RACCOON FOUND IN DURHAM DESTROYED

Recently, while working in his garden not far from the center of Town, Durham resident and Town Councilor Julian Smith encountered a raccoon in the middle of the day. The raccoon displayed symptoms typical of rabies: a stumbling gait, an aggressive and confrontational demeanor, and distressed vocalization.  Keeping his distance, he put the animal out of its misery and disposed of it properly. Mr. Smith does not recommend others follow his example, only that they do not allow their pets to roam freely.

The threat of rabies has always been taken seriously because rabies in humans is virtually always fatal.  No cure exists once the disease symptoms appear. 

Rabies has always been present in wild animal populations around the world. Certain “high risk” animals are more likely to have the disease (i.e., raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes) than others. The best protection against the spread of rabies is animal vaccination.

The Durham Police Department should be contacted if residents have concerns about animals that appear signs of being rabid.  Don’t hesitate to call them at (603) 868-2324.

COMPOST BIN, TURNER, AND RAIN BARREL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

The compost bin, turner, and rain barrel pictured above are on display in the foyer of the Durham Town Hall. Individuals interested in ordering these items may do so by contacting Fred Pearson at 603-659-3296 or cell # 603-674-9212. Composter:  $47.00; Turner: $18.00; Rain Barrel: $62.00. To view more information on these items, click HERE.

TUITION STUDENTS AT OYSTER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

Are you wondering what the current status of tuition students is for Oyster River High School?  Then join the District on Thursday, May 30th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the auditorium of the high school for a public discussion on tuition students. To view the newsletter regarding this public discussion, click HERE.

LOW AND MODERATE INCOME TAX RELIEF PROGRAM

The State of New Hampshire Low & Moderate Income Tax Relief Program has begun with applications being accepted until June 30, 2013.  To access the application form, click HERE. Applications may also be obtained from the Town Assessor's office. Once completed, they must be mailed to:

New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration

Document Processing Division

PO Box 299

Concord, NH 03302-0299

 

RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW EDUCATIONAL SESSION SCHEDULED FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY - TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013

The members of the Town of Durham’s boards, committees, commissions, Town Council, and Library Board of Trustees serve as members of public boards and are therefore responsible to act in accordance with the Right-to-Know law in the State of New Hampshire. The Preamble of the Right-to-Know law reads:  “Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people.”

 

In order to ensure that the members of Durham’s public boards are given the resources they need to act in accord with RSA 91-A, a Right-to-Know law educational session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, 2013, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Town Council chambers.

 

Attorney Christine Fillmore from the Local Government Center will be present to provide an overview of the Right-to-Know law and to answer any questions that board members may have. The general public and Town department heads are invited and encouraged to attend the session, or to view it on Durham Community Access Television (Channel 22).

 

Oyster River School Board members are also invited to attend, as well as the Selectmen and board members from the communities of Lee and Madbury.

 

DURHAM FARMER'S MARKET OPENS MONDAY, JUNE 3!

It's a new, exciting season for the Durham Farmers' Market, opening on Monday, June 3. The Seacoast Growers' Association, organizer of the Durham Farmers' Market, is pleased to announce that the farmers' market is expanding this year with new vendors and longer hours.

Located once again in the parking lot behind the Town Hall, the market will run every Monday from 2:15-6pm, rain or shine, until October 7. By adding an extra half-hour to the market, the SGA invites commuting residents who may be returning after 5:30pm. The farmers' market can now be an easy stop on the way home from work each Monday to pick up fresh, local products to start the week.

This season the Durham Market raises the total number of vendors possible at market each week to 24. This will create even more diversity in product at the market, and is the response to an exciting increase in vendors requesting a presence at the market. New vendors in Durham include Coppal House Farm, Saddleback Mountain Farm, Etta's Soaps and Jessica Seaton Pottery.

Also new this year at the Durham Market: visit the SGA information booth and "Ask a Master Gardener" - where local master gardeners will be on hand to answer you gardening questions all season long.

Find out what's in season, information about special events and vendor details, by signing up for weekly market emails at www.seacoastgrowers.org.

See you at market!

Oyster River Forest. Courtesy of Jerry and Marcy Monkman, EcoPhotography.

THE OYSTER RIVER INITIATIVE IS COMPLETE!

With the successful campaign to protect the Oyster River (formerly "Sprucewood") Forest and Amber Acres Farm, 210 acres are now permanently conserved for clean drinking water, critical wildlife habitat, productive farmland, and outdoor recreation. Join The Trust for Public Land, the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, the Town of Durham, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to celebrate with a walk in the woods.

 
Thursday, June 6, 2013

4 p.m.–5 p.m.: Site walk of the Oyster River (formerly known as Sprucewood) Forest

5 p.m.–6 p.m.: Light refreshments and presentation

 

RSVP by end of day Friday, May 31, to Sarah Erb at 802.223.1373, ext. 10, or sarah.erb@tpl.org. 

Directions: From downtown Durham, take Mill Road all the way to the end (approximately 2.5 miles). Turn right onto Packers Falls Road. Almost immediately you will see a dirt road with a gate on your right. Please park along Mill Road and Packers Falls Road per instructions from the police detail the day of the event. If you see a trailer park or Jenkins Road on your left, you have gone too far. Bicycles and carpools are encouraged.

 

Want to know more about these two properties? Check them out via links from the website for the Durham Conservation Commission.

Lamprey River - Feedback is requested from Durham residents regarding the draft Lamprey River Management Plan.

DRAFT LAMPREY RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN - COMMENTS REQUESTED

The Lamprey River Advisory Committee has updated its Management Plan and is soliciting comments from Town government and community members.

Comments are requested by June 15th and can be emailed to Suzanne Petersen at spetersen.lrac@comcast.net, submitted by phone to Sharon Meeker at 603-659-5441, or mailed in using the review of draft/comment pages provided with a copy of the draft Management Plan located in the lobby at the Durham Town Hall.

To view the draft Management Plan and complete a comment form for submission, click HERE.

DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL PICNIC

Pack your picnic supper basket and join the Durham Historic Association for its Annual Picnic on Tuesday, June 25th from 5PM-7PM at the home of David and Catherine Hills at 135 Piscataqua Road, the driveway on the left before the Emery Farm stand when heading toward Portsmouth from Durham. Following the picnic David will talk on the history of the family home. Parking is on the premises and carpooling is encouraged.  Be sure to bring your chairs and blankets. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a lovely summer evening in a pastoral setting at one of New Hampshire's oldest farms. It is also a fine time to become a member of the Durham Historic Association Inc., the oldest, continuously operating historical society in NH.  Individual membership $25, family membership $40.

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION WORKSHOPS

INTERESTED IN RAISING CHICKENS?  The Agricultural Commission is offering a free workshop on Thursday, May 30th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Town Council Chambers of the Durham Town Office.  "Chickens 101: Care and Maintenance of a Healthy Layer Flock" will be led by Dot Perkins of UNH Cooperative Extension.

 
"SAFE OPTIONS FOR PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN HOME GARDENS", a free workshop on Wednesday, June 19th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Town Council Chambers of the Durham Town Office.  The workshop will be led by Dr. Cheryl Smith, UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist for Plant Health.

 
For more information and to register for the workshops, please contact Agricultural Commission Chair Theresa Walker at theresawalker@comcast.net, 603-659-7226. Information is also available on the Agricultural Commission website at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/bcc.

Hanging lights along the "pathway". Courtesy Walter Rous

 

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION UPDATE   

Bright and cheery weather was is short supply this week.  Although the temperatures were mild, most days were overcast, drizzly, humid or rainy.  The minimal exterior work included carpentry work on trim, installing the column bases and caps in the arcade.  The painters worked on the exterior trim and the bike storage breezeway, when possible. 

On the interior, the carpenters installed casework and shelving in the Staff Work Area and installed more baseboard and window trim.  The south-facing bow window trim is looking great.  Because of the bow, each length of trim necessitates a 4 degree bevel to meet up with the adjacent piece of trim.  Careful craftsmanship required. The boiler system was fired up on Wednesday, the radiant floor heating system was run and tested and HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) control work is nearing completion.  In addition to the bit of exterior painting, the painters worked on the stair tower and the Café walls and trim. Ceramic tile has been installed at the toilet room floors and walls and grouting has started.

One of the very nice design elements in the library is a “pathway” that leads from the lobby entry along the south window wall of the library to the Storytime and Craft Room. This path is delineated on the floor by carpet with cork accents.  At the ceiling, the path is delineated by shaped 5/4” by 8” fir boards hung from the ceiling. The width of the carpet path varies in a serpentine manner and the fir boards above mirror this line.  The lights hung between and below every fourth board complete a very nice and unique design feature.

Painting the trim on the South Arcade. Courtesy Walter Rous

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.

Right-to-Know Law Presentation - Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Agricultural Commission - Thursday, May 30, 2013 (6:30-8:30 PM) Raising Chickens 101 Workshop.

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.

Boy Scout parent Armida Geiger assists scouts with serving up some fish that were caught in the Lamprey River during Troop 154's annual camp weekend at the Doe Farm in Durham. Courtesy Armida Geiger

BOY SCOUT TROOP 154
Last weekend while downtown was hustle and bustle with UNH Commencement, Boy Scouts from Troop 154, Durham, were enjoying the wilderness at Doe Farm. The Troop held their Annual Camp weekend, working on trail maintenance and cleans up.  The weather was fantastic.  The Scouts fished the Lamprey River and caught sunfish and black crappie. The fish were cut into fillets, breaded with Pepperidge Farm gold fish crackers, a bit of seasoning from a Ramen Noodle packet, then sautéed in butter. Yummy!  They are learning about the Fishing Merit Badge.

 

Scouts Sam Geiger and Sam Newton were selected to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society. They attended a weekend ordeal at Camp Carpenter in Manchester, last weekend.

 

On June 15th five Scouts will earn their Eagle, the highest rank in Boy Scouts: Thomas Caulfield, Ben Patton, Seamus McKenna, Tommy Daigle and Sean O’Rourke. The ceremony begins at 2:00  in the Durham Community Church followed by a reception.  All are welcome to attend.  

 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF WEEKLY "FRIDAY UPDATES"
The deadline for submissions of items for the weekly "Friday Updates" is Thursday each week. It is requested that submissions for upcoming events be provided closer to the actual event date. Please send information for inclusion in the "Friday Updates" to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

Durham Parks & Recreation is proud to introduce its new logo, designed by Durham resident Megan Sievert!

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.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE 2013: Every Durham resident, veteran, and family member is invited to participate in the Annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27th.  Join us as we celebrate and honor the men and women who have, and are currently serving our country. Town committees, commissions and civic organizations are also encouraged to march.  

The parade will begin at Durham Town Landing (Old Landing Road).  Please arrive at the site no later than 9:30AM if you would like to march!

Immediately following the welcoming announcement and wreath-dropping ceremony, the parade will proceed down Old Landing Road, and turn left onto Dover Rd. /Main St.  Once it passes the 108 intersection, it will continue to Memorial Park downtown for the second ceremony.  All vehicles and floats near the end will turn left onto Mill Rd, and remain parked there for families to enjoy during the ceremony.

An additional ceremony will take place at the Memorial Union Building, but will not be included within the parade.  All are welcome to attend the ceremonies.

Parade participants are asked to park at the Durham Town Landing parking area or Town Hall.  We look forward to seeing you as we celebrate the 66th Annual Memorial Day Parade! 

Join us after the downtown celebration for live music at the park, and a BBQ offered at Durham Marketplace. 

If you would like to march with us, please arrive @ Durham Town Landing by 9:30AM.  At approximately 10:15AM, the parade will progress down Main St. and Memorial Park.

 

DPR CLIMBING CLUB: Durham Parks & Recreation and the UNH Outdoor Education Department are proud to offer another round of the youth Rock Climbing Club!  Learn to climb, or practice your skills!  Who: Ages 12-18, When:  Middle School – 3:15-4:45 & High School – 5:00-6:30, Where: New Hampshire Hall (UNH), Cost: $65, $75 w/T-shirt.  Four Sessions:  Session #1 - 6/4; Session #2 - 6/5; Session #3 - 6/11; Session #4 - 6/12

 

To sign up: please email: ci.durham.nh.us/recreation. Registration deadline is May 31st.

COYOTE'S INKWELL: An evening of Storytelling with Michael Lang - storyteller and owner of The Coyote’s Inkwell: sharing folktales, fables, music, and original stories. Program designed for 1st through 5th grade ages, but all are welcome @ Parks & Rec Building. No registration required; just show up!

MAD SCIENCE SUMMER CAMP: Durham Parks & Rec and Mad Science have teamed up to offer:

Rockin' Rockets & Fantastic Flight - Jul 29-Aug 2, 2013; 9AM - 3PM, $250, for ages 7 to 12 years. Fantastic Flight will allow campers to build many different flying devices from balloon copter and kites to rockets. Learn about navigation tools and see how Newton's Laws of Motion help explain how things move and how rockets fly!

Secret Agent Lab - Aug 5-Aug 9, 2013, 9AM - 3:30 PM, $250, for ages 7 to 12 years. Look out 007. The Mad Science Secret Agent Lab is in session! From decoding messages to metal detectors and night vision, you will get a chance to check out cool spy equipment and even create your own edible message in a hands-on look at the science that spies use! For more information and to register, click HERE.

ADVENTURE PADDLE CAMP: Parks & Recreation is teaming up with Seven Rivers Paddling to offer kids kayaking camps this summer! We are offering a series of week-long sessions for kids ages 6-8 and 9-13. Each session will guide the participants through basic paddling techniques; balance; self rescue skills; wildlife exploration; and conservation topics. For more information, please visit Seven Rivers Paddling on FB, or email: sevenriverspaddling@gmail.com

TAKE A TOUR ON THE RIVER: Join us tomorrow afternoon at Jackson's Landing for a beautiful paddle along the Oyster River (3PM rain or shine). Call 817-4074 to reserve your spot. Seven Rivers Paddling Days:

• Saturday, May 18th @ 3PM – Jackson’s Landing
• Saturday, May 25th @ 10AM – Jackson’s Landing

Both beginner and advanced paddlers welcome on our 3-hour tours. All tours are $50/person, (ages 9+) and include full instruction, gear, river history, and boats too!

Registrations accepted on site, but please CALL to reserve your spot!

JOIN ANY CLASS, ANYTIME! For more information regarding any of the classes or events offered by Parks and Recreation, visit the P&R web site at https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/boc_parksrec.

YOGA: Mondays: 5:45AM and 5PM; Tuesdays: 7:15PM; Thursdays: 6:00AM. What to expect: Yoga is a series of physical poses which promote good posture, alleviate health problems, reduce stress, and make the spine supple. Yoga is often used as both an exercise and a form of physical therapy. Cost is only $40 for 8 sessions! Couples Yoga coming soon! Find out more HERE.

BOOT CAMP, Wed/Fri, 7AM

PILATES, Mon 9AM, Wed 6:30 PM (ORMS Multipurpose Room), Sat 10AM (ORMS Multipurpose Room)

ZUMBA - Mon/Wed 5:30 PM, Sat 9AM (All held at ORMS Multipurpose Room)

STRENGTH & STRETCH - Wed/Fri 8AM

TAI CHI (Beginner/Advanced) - Fri 4-5:30 PM. Find out more HERE.

TAI CHI (Moving for Better Balance) - Tue/Thu 9-10AM

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

• Memorial Day Parade - Monday, May 27, 2013 @ 10AM
• Music By the Bay Summer Concert Series - June, July, August 2013 at Wagon Hill Farm. (Join us for the series kickoff on June 27th from 6-8 PM with BLISS!)
• Durham Day - Saturday, September 21, 2013 at Wagon Hill Farm (Rain Date: Sunday, September 22nd)

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Legally Blonde The Musical - Fri, May 24, and Sat, May 25 (7PM), Sun, May 26 matinee (2PM), ORHS Auditorium, Coe Drive. Tickets: $7/students, $10/adults can be purchased at the ORHS box office. For more information, click HERE.

Strafford County Master Gardener Plant Sale, Sunday, May 26, 2013, 10:00am–2:00pm, Newmarket and Mill Pond Road (former People’s Bank parking lot), Durham. Sponsored by Strafford County Master Gardeners to raise funds to benefit educational gardening projects in Strafford County.

Perennials, annuals, small trees and unique plants locally dug by Master Gardeners. Rain or shine.

Durham Garden Club presents “How Sweet It Is:  The Buzz on Honeybees”, Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 6:30 PM, Madbury Town Hall, 13 Town Hall Rd., Madbury. Local beekeeper Wendy Booth will give a presentation on the fascinating life of the honeybee and the sweet rewards of keeping bees. Social time and refreshments. A non-member is welcome to attend one meeting as a guest.

Oyster River Festival: Seeking arts & crafts and business exhibitors for the Festival to be held Saturday June 22, 2013, 11am-1:30pm, Oyster River High School field. Festival follows the Bobcat Bolt 5K/10K run/walk. Exhibit table space is $20. Proceeds benefit Oyster River student initiatives. Complete and return exhibitor application by June 15th. Event is hosted by ORHS and the Oyster River Alumni Association. For more information contact Anita Mathur at orhs92@yahoo.com.

St. George's Episcopal Church in Durham community garden plots available. The raised beds are located in a sunny area behind the church. $20 for 4'x8' beds for the growing season and $10 for 4'x4' beds. Only a handful of beds remain. Please contact georgesgardens@comcast.net or call the Church office, 868-2785 to obtain further information and to complete a garden contract.

Oyster River Summer Camps 2013, July 9-August 9. Click HERE for registration information and form. 

ORHS List of Athletic Events for the Spring - To view the schedule, click HERE.  *** Weather could postpone or cancel some of these events ***. For daily updates, contact ORHS at 603-868-2375, extension 2.

Three year old Finn O'Shea waits for his mom Leighsa at the Durham Town Clerk's office. Can anyone else relate to this???

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

March with the Library at the Durham Memorial Day Parade, Mon. May 27th, 9:30 a.m. – Come March with the library.  We will meet at the town landing at 9:30 a.m.  Parade starts at 10:00 a.m.  We will have flags, necklaces and candy to throw.  Wear Red, White and Blue!  All are welcome!
Special Storytimes, Tues. May 28th and Thurs. May 30th at 10:30 a.m. -  Durham Police Department Visit! Community Workers/Police! The Durham Police Department will visit storytime with their police car.  Join us for stories, feltboard, fingerplays, songs and a craft.  All are welcome!
Special Pajama Storytime with the Durham Police, Tues. May 28th, 6:30 p.m. - Join ORPP and the Durham Library for our monthly Pajama Storytime.  This month Community Workers and Police! Come and hear stories about Community Workers and police and make a police craft.  The Durham Police Department will visit with their police car!  Come wearing your pajamas.  We read stories, do fingerplays, songs, feltboard and make a craft.  ORPP supplies a snack.  All are welcome.
Friends of the Library Book Discussion, Friday, May 31st, 10:30 a.m. - Last Ever Friends' Book discussion in the 'OL'*, Friday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m., facilitated by Jennifer Lee.  Please don't miss Manley Pointer, he of the yellow sucked down socks, and the remaining cast of Flannery O'Connor characters in the author's short stories: "Good Country People, Revelation" and  "Everything That Rises Must Converge." Your copy awaits...*Old Library
McGregor Memorial EMS Babysitting Course, Sat. June 1st, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. - This course is designed to certify kids 12 & up who are looking to, or already babysit.  They will get a CPR and First Aid certification, learn about safety, how to handle emergencies, care and feeding of infants and children, the business aspects of being a babysitter, and more.  All students will receive a Babysitting certification. The Community Babysitting Classes cost $35 and payment is due upon registration. To register visit www.mcgregorems.org or call 603-862-3674.
McGregor Memorial EMS First Aid Course, Tues. June 4th, 6:00-8:00 p.m. - McGregor Memorial EMS is proud to offer a First Aid Course at the library. The cost for the First Aid Class is $20, and payment is due the night of the class. Please register at www.mcgregorems.org
Join the Patch Program, our reading incentive program for children aged 2-12 years. Children earn patches for minutes read or being read to as well as a Durham Library book bag. If new to the program, stop by and register.  Thanks to the Friends of the Durham Public Library for their continued support of this program. The program will end on May 31st, 2013 so come in to collect your patches.  We will begin again Sept. 1st, 2013.
Summer Reading Registration, “Dig Into Reading!” begins Tues. June 11th.  Our 5 week program will run from June 25th through July 26th.  Prizes, performers, animals, storytimes, wii night, children’s museum, games…  Don’t miss it.  More details coming soon!  Ages 12 & under and all are welcome! 

 

Check out our website www.durhampubliclibrary.org for more info.

WEEKLY ARREST REPORT

* Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.

END OF ACADEMIC YEAR STATISTICS

The Durham Police keep a variety of data so that predictions of workload and activity can be projected and thoroughly considered to address appropriately in future years.  One important calculation is the measurement of arrest data which often defines when the department has most of its challenges!   The chart above depicts the UNH academic year from September through graduation in May for the past nine (9) years with an average depiction. 

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Each year for Memorial Day I like to close with the following poem written in 1915 by John McCrae, a Canadian physician, poet, and solider who died in France in 1918.

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In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high,

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Have a very nice Memorial Day weekend.

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator

Town of Durham, New Hampshire

T:  603-868-5571    F:  603-868-5572

tselig@ci.durham.nh.us    http://www.ci.durham.nh.us

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