The School Committee has given the go-ahead to a Boosters Club memorial project to honor the late Pat Austin and Ginger Bennett, two longtime tireless volunteers for school sports programs.

In a presentation to the the School Committee, Boosters Club members Aline Strout and Linda Morse asked for approval to install two memorial benches at the ball field. The club will sponsor a fund-raiser for the project.

Both Austin and Bennett, although battling cancer for several years, continued their work to support the sports programs until they became too ill to continue.

Lisbon: Seven candidates want positions

Seven residents have filed as candidates for the six, at-large Charter Commission seats that will be filled in a special election Aug. 7.

They are David Bowie, Robert Berube, H. Courtenay Fenn, Warren Greim, David Hale, J. Michael Huston and Kenneth Wills.

There will be a total of nine members on the panel, three of whom have already been appointed by selectmen. They are Connie Moran, William Bauer and E. Charles Smith.

Durham: People added to school group

The School Committee has named representatives from town government and the general public to the new Community School District Committee for the purpose of exploring the feasibility of forming a district with nearby Lisbon to build a jointly owned high school.

The panel will study the issue and make recommendations to the town in the fall. Members include: Tim Asselyn and Wesley Bennett, selectmen; Jane Blais and Amber Snell, School Committee; Allan Purinton, Budget Committee; Gene Brown, Lisa Burch, Jeff Darling, Chris Logan, Laurie Poissonnier, John Snell, Gary Spring and Dan or Lily Sylvester.

Durham: Property tax bills going out soon

Property tax bills totaling $3,349,542 will be mailed out by Tax Collector Pauline Paradis on Monday, July 12. Bills are due within 30 days. Those remaining unpaid after that date will be assessed a 6.5 percent per year delinquent charge, which is down from last year’s 7 per cent.

Lisbon/Durham: Work to start on school change

A tentative timeline for the Lisbon-Durham Community School District Committee meetings has been set. Beginning this month, Superintendent Shannon Welsh will meet with state officials to consider the impact of new legislation (L.D. 1924) regarding changes in the state’s school funding formula.

On July 20, the first full session with committee members from both towns will be held. Other meetings: July 27 and Aug. 3, for possible negotiations; Aug. 17 to finalize recommendations; Sept. 9, report on recommendations to Durham School Committee; Sept. 13, report same to Lisbon School Committee.

During the week of Sept. 13, community mailings are planned to residents in both towns; Sept. 27, Lisbon School Committee public workshop; Sept. 30, Durham School Committee public workshop; and on Oct. 12, the Lisbon School Committee will meet to consider feedback and to consider a vote to join with Durham to form a Community School District. Anyone with suggestions or comments may contact their respective School Committee members or Welsh at 353-6711.

– Connie Footman

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