Opportunistic Durham residents have found a way to combine a day to get rid of bulky waste with events such as a plant sale and a church fair as a way to bring the community togther.

The time of year, when the weather should be cooperative, just makes people want to be out and about, whether they’re getting rid of household items such as old televisions and refrigerators, purchasing hanging plants and perennials, or looking for a bargain at a church fair.

What began as Bulky Waste Day, which this year is Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., begat the Eureka Plant Sale (Saturday and Sunday, 8-2) and, most recently, the First Congregational Church Fair (Saturday, 8-2). All the venues are within a short distance of each other on Royalsborough Road, so there’s a good chance neighbors will run into neighbors, likely more than once.

EUREKA PLANT SALE

Pearl Scribner, a member of the Eureka Community Center Committee, said that the plant sale might have preceded the bulky waste day, but barely. The community center was a work in progress at the time.

“We’ve been doing it for about 10-12 years, when it was being rebuilt by the Building Committee,” Scribner said.

Scribner said the the various events on the weekend of May 21-22 somehow make for a success on the whole.

“It all draws a captive audience,” she said. “If you’re going to come out for one you might as well for all, so everybody benefits.”

The community center members dig up their flowers in the fall and store them in winter bags.

“Then in the spring,” Scribner said, “we divide them up and put them in pots.”

Anita Sellars pots her huge assortment of perennials and is on hand to give people tips on growing them. Sellars said she will have no less than 100 varieties of perennials for sale.

“I have a lot of plants,” she said. “I do enjoy my garden. I’ve been going at this for a long time.”

Other plans at the Eureka Plant Sale are grown by Mid Coast Growers of Bowdoin. There will be an abundance of hearty hanging plants, vegetable flats and annuals.

The Durham Youth Explorers, a fire department youth group, will host the concession stand again this year. They will sell hot dogs, chips, soda, water, coffee and doughnuts at the Eureka Cafe, at around 11 a.m. Capt. Lauren Larrabee, the 2015 Explorer of the Year, Lt. Ryan Merrill, Post Clerk Kendra Thatcher and Merrill’s brother, Nick, are the four Explorers who will work the cafe.

Diana Dimock, office administrator for Durham Fire & Rescue, said that the Explorers, ages 14-21, meet twice monthly.

“They job shadow under fire or (emergency medical services),” Dimock said. “The kids really enjoy helping out where they can. There’s a lot of restrictions on them because of their age. They have some leeway on events, so they cannot only learn, but get to lead. They’re always seeking new membership.”

BULKY WASTE DAY

There are two ways Durham residents can get rid of their bulky waste on Saturday. Most will take their unwanted items to the Public Works Department at 1099 Royalsborough Road, and leave them off, mostly free of charge.

“We’ll have different bins for different items,” said Road Commissioner Calvin Beaumier. “It’s stuff you’ve got in the house that you want to get rid of.”

Bulky Waste Day at public works is from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and, as Beaumier pointed out, it’s a once-a-year opportunity. You must show a driver’s license or a utility bill with a current Durham address. To facilitate offloading, light and small loads will get priority.

Accepted items include refrigerators and air conditioners, which must be red-tagged to show freon has been removed. Public works also will accept appliances, furniture, mattresses and box springs, large metal items, scrap, storm doors, outdoor furniture, large plastic items and toys. Universal waste/electronics items such as televisions, monitors, computers, fluorescent light bulbs and batteries also will be accepted.

Not accepted – commercial waste, garbage or household trash, recyclable items, hazardous wastes and car batteries.

Passenger car and pickup truck tires can be dumped for a fee – $4 each for car tires and $7 for pickup truck tires. No rims, dump truck tires or loader tires will be accepted.

For people unable to get their bulky waste to public works, the Eureka Pick-Up is an option for $25. Volunteers will inspect loads sometime in the week prior to Bulky Waste Day, when they will pick up the items at people’s homes. Those interested should call Nancy at 751-1323 or Pearl at 754-5912.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FAIR

The First Congregational Church, at 773 Royalsborough Road, will have a church fair on Bulky Waste Day for the third year. Music will add flair to the craft and vendor sale, and Pineland Cheese will be available, for $10 a pound.

Visitors can enjoy muffins and coffee will be available in the morning, and lunch is available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be a large variety of crafts, vendor tables, baked goods and a silent auction.

Jeff and Valerie Chipman, along with Larissa Smith, will entertain with music.

For more information or to rent a craft table for the fair, call Linda at 926-4025.

Anita Sellars, outside her home on Swamp Road in Durham, stands next to some of the perennials he has plotted and ready to go for the Eureka Plant Sale, scheduled for May 21-22 at the Eureka Community Center. Sellars hopes to have 100 perennials available at the sale.

Anita Sellars digs up perennials at her home on Swamp Road in Durham. Sellars hopes to have 100 plants for sale at the Eureka Plant Sale, scheduled for May 21-22 at the Eureka Community Center.

Anita Sellars digs up perennials at her home on Swamp Road in Durham. Sellars hopes to have 100 plants for sale at the Eureka Plant Sale, scheduled for May 21-22 at the Eureka Community Center.

Anita Sellars digs up perennials at her home on Swamp Road in Durham. Sellars hopes to have 100 plants for sale at the Eureka Plant Sale, scheduled for May 21-22 at the Eureka Community Center.

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