Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
- Town Offices Closed July 4
- Trash / Recycling Pick Up Delayed on Friday Route Only
- Summerfest - including Cornhole Tournament! July 19
- Emergency Notification System
- Creating Habitat at Stratham Hill Park
- Clerk's Corner
- Stratham Memorial School Board News
- New Rechargeable Battery Disposal Ban - July 1
- Stratham Police Thank Service Federal Credit Union
- Meet Our New DPW Workers!
To sign-up for these updates and other notifications, please visit this section on our website and check the "Select Board" box under News and Announcements.
The Select Board
Michael Houghton, Chair Allison Knab, Vice-Chair Joe Anderson
TOWN OFFICES CLOSED JULY 4
Town offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday!
TRASH / RECYCLING PICK UP DELAYED ON FRIDAY ROUTE ONLY
Next week, due to the 4th of July holiday, only the Friday trash and recycling pick up will be impacted. If your pick up is usually on Friday, your pick up will be on Saturday that week. As always, please place your bins a minimum of 3 feet apart and have them curbside by 7:00 am.
SUMMERFEST - INCLUDING NEW CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT!
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Introducing Genasys: Stay Informed. Stay Safe
We’re excited to announce the launch of Genasys, our new emergency alert system designed to keep residents informed and protected. Whether it’s severe weather, road closures, public safety alerts, or critical town updates, Genasys ensures you receive the right message at the right time.
How It Works:
Genasys delivers real-time alerts via your preferred method of communication—including text messages, emails, voice calls, or through the Genasys Protect mobile app. It’s fast, reliable, and tailored to reach you wherever you are.
What You Need to Do:
To start receiving alerts:
- Click here.
- Select your preferred notification methods.
- Choose the types of alerts you want—weather, emergencies, town notices, and more.
It only takes a minute to sign up, and you'll be better prepared when it matters most.
Already signed up for a previous system? No worries. To continue receiving alerts, you’ll need to register with Genasys—even if you were enrolled in our previous alert system.
Let’s stay connected—sign up for Genasys today and help us build a safer, more resilient community.
CREATING HABITAT AT STRATHAM HILL PARK
Over the past several months, the Stratham Public Works Department has been working on a wildlife habitat enhancement project at Stratham Hill Park. As part of this project, we're implementing a conservation technique known as "soft edging". This involves creating gentle, varied transitions between field and forest which help to establish microhabitats that offer food, cover, and nesting sites for many native species. The large outer field is mowed annually, typically at the end of September, to accommodate ground nesting birds.
The process started with cutting back brush and removing stumps to prepare the area. We then hauled in dirt that was spread out and tapered into the existing landscape. To naturally augment and fertilize the existing dirt, we used raw compost generated from the Stratham Transfer Station. The compost was raked out in place with the assistance of a rented power rake, helping us prepare for the current phase which is applying a conservation seed blend mixed with wildflowers.
This project reflects Stratham’s commitment to thoughtful stewardship of our open spaces and local ecosystems.
CLERK'S CORNER
- Gosh it was a hot one this week! There’s still plenty of summer left to get a State Park plate and you’ll be on your way to cooling off at your favorite location. If you are interested in getting a state park plate, stop by during our regular office hours. For more information, click here.
- If you haven’t registered your dog yet, please do so. Beginning July 1st, a $25.00 civil forfeiture will go into effect with additional late fees.
- Tax bills were mailed on May 18th with a due date of July 1st. If your taxes are escrowed, please check with your lender to ensure payment is made. Click here to pay your property taxes online. As a reminder, we cannot accept credit card/ACH payments for property taxes over the counter.
- The Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s Office will be closing at 12:30 on Thursday, July 3rd.
STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL BOARD NEWS
SMS Board June meeting
The board was briefed about test scores and they are delighted to report that initial reporting of State Testing scores (grades 3-5) jumped in Math from 58% last year to 74% this year! The English scores also rose from 69% to 70%. The board wants to applaud the incredible work of the teachers and admin to achieve outstanding results. They also recognize that the State Test scores are only one metric of measuring success and that the school is excelling at many other measures as well, including culture, social emotional learning and academic achievement in other ways.
The board voted to adopt a 20 year bond for the renovation which will result in a tax impact to an average household cost of approximately $390 per year (prior estimates were based on a 25 year bond which would have been $310/year). Construction is already beginning with the roof and soffits to be replaced this summer with exploratory work internally and for the foundations.
Due to the tax implications to residents, the board voted to uphold policy JFAB which limits admission of out-of-district students. The issue was raised by several Stratham teachers who requested to send their out-of-district children.
For more information, please see the full meeting minutes here.
For questions, email Board Chair Jennifer Scrafford at jscrafford@sau16.org. Our next board meeting will be August 11th at 6pm at the SMS library.
NEW RECHARGEABLE BATTERY DISPOSAL BAN - EFFECTIVE JULY 1
To improve safety and waste management, Governor Sununu has signed a new law into effect (RSA 149-M:27) that bans the disposal of rechargeable batteries in regular waste streams. This law will take effect on July 1, 2025 and aims to prevent fires caused by improper battery disposal, reduce disposal costs, and protect the health and safety of waste management workers. Lithium-ion batteries are used in a variety of products, including electric toys, automotive vehicles, electric bikes and scooters, lawncare equipment, portable electronics such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, wireless headphones, speakers, toothbrushes and other rechargeable electronic devices. More information about this change can be found here.
STRATHAM POLICE THANK SERVICE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
The Police Department recently had the privilege of receiving some heart screening kits from Service Credit Union! Thanks to their 73 Reasons campaign with Boston's star defender Charlie McAvoy, SCU has been hard at work to help get first responders cancer and heart health screenings that are often not covered by insurance. We appreciate their efforts and donation. To learn more about the 73 reasons click here
MEET OUR NEW DPW WORKERS!
