Office hours

Regular Durham Town Office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday closed and Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Meetings

The Board of Selectmen will meet Tuesday, May 6 and 20, at 6:30 p.m., in the Town Office.

The Planning Board will meet Wednesday, May 7, at 7 p.m., in the Town Office.

Town seeks replacement for Dan Feeney

Durham has an experienced codes-enforcement officer working on an interim basis while town officials seek a replacement for Dan Feeney.

Pam Cloutier, Town Office assistant, said that Darren Carey, who is the codes officer in Bowdoinham, is handling those duties until the town replaces Feeney, who had been in the part-time position since 1992. Cloutier said the town has received some applications, and the deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2.

Cloutier said that Carey has been in the Town Office on Wednesdays, as was Feeney’s practice.

The Durham codes officer carries out land use, building, plumbing permitting and inspections, as well as health and sanitation inspections. The officer secures compliance with local code and zoning regulations as well as relevant state and federal regulations. The codes officer position also works as a building inspector, plumbing and electrical inspector, shoreland zoning officer, and E911 addressing officer.

Carey will be at the town office on Wednesdays, April 23 and 30, from 5-7 p.m.

Roadside clean-up is under way

Roadside clean-up in Durham runs through Friday, May 16. Clear 55-gallon trash bags are available at the Durham Town Office.

Participants can fill the bags with roadside waste and leave them on the side of the road for Pine Tree Waste to pick up. These clear bags are the only bags that Pine Tree Waste will recognize as roasdside cleanup. Those who have questions can call the Town Office at 353-2561. Bulky waste clean-up will be on May 17.

Preschool open house

Busy Little Preschoolers, at 254 Swamp Road in Durham, is having an open house on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m.-noon. For more information, email busylittlepreschoolers@gmail.com or call Kristina at 353-9113.

Thrift shop sale

Freeport Community Services Thrift Shop, 53 Depot St., and Estate Annex, 48B West St., are holding their spring cleaning sale, Wednesday through Sunday, April 23-27.

There will be savings on clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as select housewares. There will also be a sidewalk sale on vintage and unique home furnishings at the Annex. For more information, call 865-3985.

Chapel hosting Evening of Praise & Worship

An Evening of Praise & Worship, to benefit the Lisbon Area Christian Outreach Food Pantry, will be held Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m., at Shiloh Chapel, 38 Beulah Lane, Durham. All are invited for an evening of music, Scripture, and testimony praising God. Non-perishable food item(s) and/or money will be accepted as a donation to the pantry. For more information, call 353-2434 or see lacopantry.org.

Historical society plans art show, bake sale

The Durham Historical Society is planning its annual Community Art Show and bake sale on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m.- to 1 p.m. Those interested in displaying art or crafts or donating baked goods should contact Rita Merrill, 317-5866, or Margaret Wentworth, 725-6935. All proceeds benefit the restoration fund. The Durham Historical Society meets the second Tuesday of the month and new members are welcome. The next meeting is Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m., in the Old Town Hall.

RSU 5 Dine and Discuss

Residents are invited to join the directors of Regional School Unit 5 for a hot meal and conversation about the State of the Schools report and the 2014-2015 proposed budget. Conversations will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the following dates: April 30, Durham Community School; and Wednesday, May 7, at Freeport High School.

Durham to celebrate

The town of Durham is celebrating 225 years with a full lineup of festivities on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

Events kick off with the 5K Family Fun Run at 8 a.m. at the Amvets, sponsored by American Kicks, followed by a parade at 10. Other town activities, all running from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., include fire station open house, big trucks and antique car show, cow chip festivities and PTA Fun Fair at school.

For more information and to obtain the Fun Run forms and parade information, visit http://durhamme.com/durham-life/memorial-day-parade-and-festivities.

Grief support group starting

An 11-week Griefshare Support Group, with a video and discussion, will be held at Shiloh Chapel Fellowship Hall, 38 Beulah Lane, starting Monday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m.

The workbook costs $15 (optional). Each participant’s journey through grief will be shared with others who also on a similar road. For more information, see www.griefshare.org or www.shilohchapelmaine.org.

Scholarship applications available

Applications for the Durham Scholarship are now available.

This is the second year the town will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship. The original scholarship was formed in the 1980s through the Durham School Department and was turned over to the town last year. All Durham students entering their freshman year of post-secondary education are eligible, regardless of what school he or she attends. Kendra O’Connell chairs the Durham Scholarship Committee. She can be reached at peaksi1@comcast.net.

Kindergarten registration under way

Durham Community School 2014-2015 kindergarten registration is under way. Children must be 5 years of age on or before Oct. 15, 2014, and be a resident of Durham. To pre-register, see www.dcs.rsu5.org and fill out the form. Later in the spring, parents will receive complete information about screening. For more information, call 353-9333.

Vendors, crafters needed for fair

Vendors and crafters are being sought for fair held in conjunction with Durham Bulky Waste Day, Saturday, May 17. The fair is held rain or shine from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at First Congregational Church, UCC, 773 Royalsborough Road. The fair will feature local crafters, vendors, farmers, musicians, a cheese sale, pie sale, silent auction, raffles and more. Coffee and muffins will be available early, and grilled cheese will be available for lunch. To rent a table, call 353-2464.

AMVETS Post 13 seeks members

Are you a veteran or do you know one? Want to belong to an organization that supports other veterans, families and the local community? You’ve earned to right to join the American Veterans organization. Become a member and tell your story. For membership information about Post 13 in Durham, call Chad Burke, 207-798-0956.

At the Eureka Community Center

The Durham Eureka Community Center, corner of Route 9 and Route 136, hosts cribbage every Tuesday from 9 a.m.-noon at the Eureka Center. For more information call the Town Office at 353-2561.

Couponing for the Community meets every other Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There is no cost. Learn the basics including where/how to find and collect coupons; how to organize them in a way that works best for you; and how to begin using them. Pat Provost heads this community project with the hopes that some of the skills acquired will be used to give back to the community by helping families in need.

Registration forms are available at the Durham Town Office or on www.durhammaine.com, which also lists new events and classes.

Food pantry

Lisbon Area Christian Outreach serves the towns of Bowdoin, Durham and Lisbon Falls.

The hours are Wednesday from 6-8 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-noon and Saturday 8-10 a.m. The Food Pantry is located at the Marion T. Morse School on School Street. The parking lot for the food pantry is behind the Lisbon United Methodist Church off Berry Avenue. In addition to the food pantry there is a free clothing bank. For more information, see www.lacopantry.org.

Durham updates

The town of Durham has a local TV channel and a website.

The town also puts out a weekly bulletin of all posts, events and meetings for the upcoming week in the town/area. To sign up for weekly emails go to durhamme.com and enter your email at bottom of the home page. To get nonprofit information/event or meeting on the website or town channel, e-mail it to durhampublicinfo@gmail.com, or jricker@durhamtown.comcastbiz.net or call 207-353-2561 EXT 16. Durham Website is durhamme.com. See all town meetings on demand at http://durhamtown.pegcentral.com.