New office hours

The new town office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; closed Wednesday. The town office will be open through lunch hour. For more information 353-2561.

Upcoming meetings

Durham selectmen will meet Tuesdays, May 7 and 21, at 6:30 p.m., in the town office.

The codes enforcement officer is available on Wednesdays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, from 5-7 p.m., at the town office.

The Planning Board meets Wednesday, May 1, at 7 p.m., in the town office.

Community garden topic of presentation

The Durham Friends Meeting will host a presentation on community gardening, with Laura and Eric Evans of Camden, Saturday May 4, at the Durham Friends Meetinghouse, 534 Quaker Meeting House Road (corner of Route 125 and Durham Road). At 5:30 p.m., there is a potluck supper and tour of Durham Friends communal garden, and at 6:45 is the presentation on community gardening and growing organically.

Eric Evans is a retired chemist and compost consultant, and Laura Evans is a former board member of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Eric is also with the American Chestnut Tree Foundation and will have seedlings available for people interested in helping to plant and revive the American chestnut tree. For more information, call 353-6354.

Street sweeping

next week

Street sweeping will take place the week of May 6. The goal is to minimize dust, but residents, especially on dead-end subdivision streets, are urged to close their windows when they leave for work in the morning. For more information, contact Shawn M. Bennett, road commissioner, 207-688-4407, publicworks@pownalmaine.org.

Land need

A centrally located land parcel is needed by the town for its new public works facility. Provide details to the Durham Town Office c/o Selectmen at 630 Hallowell Road, Durham ME 04222.

Selectmen are also looking for interested persons to help with the planning for the new department. Applications for appointment are available at the Durham Town Office during business hours. The application form can be downloaded from the Durham website at Durhamme.com. For more information, call 353-2561.

Masons hosting

bean supper

A bean supper will be held Saturday, May 11, from 4:30-6 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge, Route 136 across from the River Park. On the menu are baked beans, chop suey, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, bread, pickles, homemade pies. Adults are $7.50, children 5-12 $3, children under 5 free.

Special bags for roadside cleanup

Roadside cleanup runs through May 15. Clear, 55-gallon trash bags are available at the Durham Town Office during business hours. The clear trash bags are the only trash bags that Pine Tree Waste will recognize as roadside cleanup. When you have cleaned up a road, leave the bag on the side of the road and Pine Tree Waste will pick up.

For more information, call 353-2561.

Bulky waste day May 18

Bulky waste cleanup is Saturday, May 18 – the only bulky waste day of the year. More information will be available the first of May.

Fair set for May 18

A spring church fair has been scheduled for Saturday May 18, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at the First Congregational Church. 773 Royalsborough Road, Durham. It will feature local crafters, vendors, farmers, musicians, cheese sale, pie sale, silent auction, raffles and more. Coffee and muffins will be available early, and grilled cheese will be available for lunch. There will be music by Jeff Chipman and Larissa Smith from 1-3.

Crafters and vendors are invited to rent space at the fair. For more information, call Betty Kettell at 353-2464 or email bdkettell@aol.com.

Church grilling chicken

First Congregational Church of Durham UCC, 773 Royalsborough Road, is hosting a chicken barbecue on Saturday, June 1, from 4:30-6 p.m. On the menu are barbecue chicken, green salad, potato salad, rolls, beverage, homemade pies. Adults pay $9, children 6-12 years $3, and children under 5 free. Proceeds benefit the church.

Road-Ride-Riddle

to benefit food pantry

Lisbon Area Christian Outreach Food Pantry and Clothing Bank is holding benefit Road-Ride-Riddle, Saturday, June 1, with registration from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational Church UCC, 773 Royalsborough Road (corner routes 9 and 136), Durham. Registration fee is $10 or 10 non-perishable food items; half price for those under age 12. Any street-legal vehicle is eligible. Surprises are scheduled at each stop, and lunch will be provided at the finish. A prize drawing will also be held. For more information, call Priscilla, 353-2552.

Historical society seeking local artists

The Durham Historical Society is seeking local artists interested in displaying their work at the group’s art show to be held in May. If interested, contact Margaret Wentworth, 725-6935, or Rita Merrill, 319-5866.

Participants sought

for parade, 5K

The Durham Memorial Day Parade Committee is now accepting float and participation registration forms for the 2013 Memorial Day Parade. The committee is also accepting registration forms for the 2013 Amvet’s 5K. Sponsors are being sought for both events. For registration forms and more information, see http://durhamme.com/durham-life/memorial-day-parade-and-festivities/, or contact Joe Howe at 353-9110 or email joetia@hotmail.com.

Food pantry

The Lisbon Area Christian Outreach’s food pantry and clothing bank hours are: Wednesday: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Thursday: 10 a.m. to noon and Saturday: 8 a.m.-10 a.m. LACO serves the communities of Bowdoin, Durham and Lisbon. The website is www.lacopantry.org.

The physical address for food and clothing is the Marion T. Morse Community Center, enter from the Berry Avenue side behind the Lisbon United Methodist Church. The clothing bank cannot accept furniture, appliances, etc., as they do not have the room to store them. For more, call Debbie at 240-1637.

Community center

for rent

Durham Eureka Community Center available to rent for small groups of 50 or less. It’s appropriate for showers, birthday gatherings and meetings. Contact Anita Sellars for more information at 353-6217.

Cow Chip Raffle

coming up

The 10th annual Cow Chip Raffle has been scheduled for Monday, May 27. It is sponsored by the Durham Community School fifth-graders to raise money for their trip to Maine Conservation School next fall. Festivities begin at 11 a.m., rain or shine, and Jenna the cow will arrive at noon. Tickets are $10 each and the grand prize is $1,000. Lunch and dessert will be available for purchase.

Each ticket will be assigned a square in a random drawing. The cow will be placed in the field for one hour. If the cow leaves the first chip in a square, that person wins the $1,000. If the cow leaves the first chip in several squares, the prize money is shared among those who have the squares. If after one hour the cow does not leave a chip in any square or has left a chip in a non-assigned square, a drawing will be held for all those who donated.

To purchase tickets, contact Shawna Hall, 321-1993, or Durham Community School, 353-9333.

Posting town news

John Ricker is responsible for the town channel and website. To reach him with information on an event or meeting for the channel or website, email him at durhampublicinfo@gmail.com, jricker@durhamtown.comcastbiz.net, or call 353-2561, ext 16. The website is durhamme.com.

Local church services

The First Congregational Church of Durham has services at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Services for the Shiloh Church are every Sunday at 10 a.m.

Services for Friends Meeting are every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.