QUALIFIED ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN / HISTORIAN

The Town of Durham NH is seeking a qualified Architectural Historian to prepare a nomination application to the National Register of a historic chapel owned by the Town.

Applicants must demonstrate strong research, recordation, evaluation, and writing capabilities for the preparation of a National Register nomination and be a qualified architectural historian. Applicants must be listed with the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources/State Historic Preservation Office.

Resume and references addressed to Todd I. Selig, Town Administrator, Town of Durham, 15 Newmarket Road, Durham, NH 03824, are due by Friday, March 4, 2011.

TOWN AND SCHOOL ELECTIONS - MARCH 8, 2011

The 2011 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at the Oyster River High School. Polling hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Voters will park in reserved spaces along the front of the school and use the Multipurpose Room entrance.

The following is a list of citizens that have filed for the Durham elected offices:

Town Council, 3 positions (3-year terms):

Julian Smith

James Lawson

Katherine "Kitty" Marple

Library Board of Trustees, 2 positions (3-year terms):

Richard Belshaw

Meridith Davidson

Arthur P. Young

Town Clerk/Tax Collector, 1 position (3-year term):

Lorrie Pitt

Town Treasurer, 1 position (3-year term):

Karl Van Asselt

Trustees of the Trust Funds, 1 position (3-year term):

Bruce Bragdon

The following is a list of citizens that have filed for the ORCSD School Board and Moderator:

Madbury (1 position): James Kach and Susan Willer

At-large (2 positions): John Collins, Chandler Hull, Ann Lane, and Megan Turnbull

Moderator (1 position): Richard Laughton

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CLASS TO BE OFFERED IN DURHAM

The Strafford County Citizen Corps is excited to be teaming up with the Town of Durham to offer the Community Emergency Preparedness Class (CEP Class) this March at the Durham Police Department. The CEP Class is a comprehensive preparedness training developed by FEMA and used in all 50 States, 3 territories and 6 foreign countries. It is designed to help residents take care of themselves, their families and neighbors during an emergency. Topics include: Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety, Disaster Psychology, Safety Strategies involved in a Terror Attack, Light Search and Rescue, Incident Command Systems, CPR and First Aid. Those who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from the NH Fire Academy, and CPR and First Aid certification from the American Heart Association.

This class completes the core training requirements for the Strafford County Citizen Corps (SCCC), a team of medical and non-medical volunteers who train to support and assist local first responders during emergencies. No commitment to the SCCC is required from those who enroll in the class. Following the completion of Community Emergency Response, participants can continue to attend trainings through the SCCC (such as Traffic Control, Search & Rescue, Basic Disaster Life Support, Fire Rehabilitation, etc.), which are offered every other month.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Class will meet Wednesdays March 23rd – April 27th from 6:30-8:30pm (there will be no class April 13th) AND Saturday, April 2nd from 8:30am-4pm at the Durham Police Department. For more information, or to register, contact Samantha Brann at sbrann@hscstrafford.org or 603-335-0168.

POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTS "MOCK ASSESSORS"

As the Durham Police prepare for their inspection on April 30th by certified assessors representing the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, (CALEA), they hosted a "mock" assessment on Friday last week. The mock assessment is a comprehensive "dry-run" review of the accreditation files by knowledgeable accreditation practitioners. While this exercise is not a required component of the accreditation process, Chief Kurz views this as an effective quality control measure to ensure a smooth CALEA on-site assessment by gaining objective feedback from persons outside of the agency.

Police officials from the University of Vermont, Lewiston, Maine, Rhode Island State Police, as well as other accredited agencies in New Hampshire such as Manchester, Dover, UNH and Nashua reviewed documents, procedures, logistics, adequacy of facilities, and provided the Durham Police with serious dialogue regarding their findings. This feedback allows the staff to make appropriate adjustments and ensure that the Durham Police remain in compliance with the industry standards as the accreditation review date approaches.

DURHAM POLICE TO PARTICIPATE IN "PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY"

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM the Durham Police will host the second “Prescription Drug Take Back” event designed to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our community’s homes. This is the second opportunity for this national initiative designed to provide an occasion for the public to surrender pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction. Expired, unused, or unwanted controlled substances that linger in our homes are a potential source that may result in accidental overdoses or provide an unwitting supply for our children and grandchildren. The lobby at the Durham Police facility will have a collection box for residents to deposit any unwanted medications. At the end of the day, the Durham Police will transport the unwanted pharmaceuticals to a location point where the New Hampshire National Guard and the DEA will destroy the items. Residents may recall that during our first event, over 50 lbs. of unwanted pharmaceuticals were collected and destroyed. As the event draws near, another announcement will be posted in the Friday Updates.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT POSITION TO CHANGE

Later in the month, Parking Enforcement Officer Ed Cilley is leaving the Town of Durham to accept a pastoral position at his church. For the last six years as a non-sworn, civilian member of the police department, Ed has been a real asset to the Town as he has walked throughout the downtown district monitoring parking issues, interacting with residents and visitors alike while performing a most difficult job. While Ed’s presence as part of the team will be sorely missed an opportunity arose when Ed Levesque, our most recently retired police officer, expressed an interest in assuming the role of the Parking Enforcement Officer. As a sworn police officer, the role of the parking enforcement officer can now offer a much wider diversity of services to the downtown community. Ed Levesque will begin his new duties on February 28th working with Ed Cilley for a week sharing the nuances of the Parking Enforcement role. Ed Cilley’s last day will be Friday March 4th and he is hoping to see all his friends in the downtown during this period of transition.

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

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. 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.

Economic Development Committee - Monday, February 28, 2011

Rental Housing Commission - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 (3:30-5:00 PM)

Fire Department Charette - Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Conservation Commission - Thursday, March 3, 2011

Historic District Commission - Thursday, March 3, 2011 (PD Community Room)

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.

NEW PROGRAMS ADDED TO DCAT PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Three programs have been recently added to the DCAT schedule for rebroadcast:

Durham Planning Visioning Session
Durham Business Association Candidate’s Forum
Idea Greenhouse: Farmerpreneurs

Please check the programming schedule above for times when these programs will be aired.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Preschool Storytimes, Tues., March 1st and Thurs., March 3rd, 10:30 a.m. This week: sheep. All are welcome to enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, feltboard, and a craft.
Raccoon Readers, 2nd-4th grade Book Club, Tues. March 1st, 6:00 pm. Join us for this book club for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. This month will be your choice. You can read "Once Upon a Marigold" by Jean Ferris or "A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver" by E.L. Konigsburg. Come discuss the book(s), authors, play some games, and make a craft. Copies of these books will be available at the circulation desk.
Read Across America, Celebrate Dr. Seuss and the Patch Club with the UNH Women's Hockey Players, Sat., March 5th 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday,Read Across America and the Patch Club for this fun children's/family event. There will be guest readers (UNH Women's Hockey Players), games, and a birthday cake.

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.
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 a 6-week session in March and April.

UNH WHITTEMORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS OFFERING TAX PREPARATION HELP FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS

The University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics is offering tax preparation help to low-income residents.

Eighteen students, all accounting majors, have become certified tax preparers with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a collaboration among the university, Internal Revenue Service, Northeast Credit Union and the Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) Coalition of Southeastern New Hampshire.

UNH volunteers will be available:

Friday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Building, Room 233
Friday, March 4, from noon to 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union Building, Room 233

The VITA program offers free tax help to low-income residents who need help preparing their own tax returns. The UNH students providing the help are graduates and undergraduates who are IRS VITA-certified to help prepare basic tax returns. This is the seventh year UNH students have volunteered for the program and over the years have helped hundreds of Granite Staters.

Total household incomes below $52,000 qualify.

ORCSD WARRANT ARTICLE #7

Warrant Article #7 on the school district warrant, brought by 33 petitioners, asks voters to support the establishment of a study committee to examine and make recommendations regarding best practices involved in making ORCSD a sustainable school district.

Sustainability promotes a balance between the way people meet their daily needs and the needs of the Earth's ecological systems and would involve a review of all aspects of the school district including curriculum, food service, energy, transportation, procurement, and finances.

The full text of Article #7 along with links to other education sustainability initiatives can be found in the announcement section of the ORCSD website: http://www.orcsd.org/

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Slide lecture by exhibiting artist and UNH alum Trisha Coates, presented by the Museum of Art, UNH, Wed., Mar 2, 2011, 12:00 noon, Room A219, Paul Creative Arts Center. The exhibition and lecture are open to the public free of charge.

Tea with the School Board Candidates, Sat., Mar 5, 2011, 2-4:00 PM, Parks & Recreation Building, 2 Dover Road. Sponsored by Oyster River Parents & Preschoolers. Meet and greet with six School Board candidates currently running for the 1 Madbury open seat and the 2 At Large seats. Open to both the members of ORPP and the residents of Lee, Madbury, and Durham.

Strafford County Republican Committee Lincoln/Reagan Fundraiser Dinner, Fri., Mar 11, 2011, 7:00 PM, Three Chimneys Inn. For more information, click HERE.

8th Annual Todd's Trot 5K Road Race/Walk, Sat., Apr 2, 2011, Oyster River High School. Registration begins at 8:30 AM with a 10:00 AM start time. For more information, visit http://www.toddstrot.org/.

WEEKLY POLICE REPORT

WEEK: 23 15 UNH (65%) 8 Other (35%)

*2010/11 ACADEMIC YEAR: 581 327 UNH (56%) 254 Other (44%)

CALENDAR YEAR: 89 53 UNH (60%) 36 Other (40%)

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

Historical Data for the Same Week

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

“The Oyster River. Gundalows - flat-bottomed cargo boats with pivoting masts - plied the river for 250 years, carrying most of Durham's trade down the Oyster River to Little and Great bays to the neighboring towns. Countless bricks and cords of wood made their way downriver on the gundalow's open decks, but with the boats' disappearance around the turn of the century, much of Durham's commerce also disappeared." Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

Have a good 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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