Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
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
There will be a one day delay in your trash / recycling pick-up the week of May 26th. If your pick-up is usually on Tuesday, it will be on Wednesday. Wednesday's pick-up will be on Thursday, etc. If you have any questions, please call DPW at 603-772-5550 x503.
A Memorial Day parade and ceremony will be held on Monday, May 26th at the Veterans Memorial Garden in Stratham Hill Park. The parade will begin at 1:30 pm; the ceremony will begin at approximately 1:45 pm. Stratham residents, sports, civics and extra-curricular groups and antique car owners are invited to participate in the parade. Flyer here
Early this month, Town Administrator David Moore was appointed to serve as the City Manager in Somersworth, New Hampshire; his last day will be on June 6th. The Select Board joins other elected officials, volunteers, town partners and employees in congratulating David and wishing him much continued success as he moves to the next chapter in his career. We are deeply appreciative of his dedication, insight, and leadership which contributed to many accomplishments over the last six and a half years. While his presence will be missed, we are fortunate his efforts have prepared us to move forward confidently along the road ahead.
The Select Board is working with Municipal Resources Inc. to recruit the next Town Administrator. Updates on our progress in filling this position will be shared in this newsletter.
Stratham Police Department’s Second Motor Officer!
Please join us in congratulating Officer Cote on officially becoming Stratham PD’s second certified motor officer! Ofc. Cote came to our department nearly a year ago from the Sheriff’s Office with a clear goal: to join the motor unit and expand her role in community policing. Through determination and hard work, she recently completed the rigorous 40-hour motor officer certification course — a training many call the toughest of their law enforcement careers.
Since joining SPD, Ofc. Cote has already made a lasting impact. She has received two life-saving awards in less than a year and continues to be an incredible asset to both the department and the community she serves.
In addition to her dedication here at SPD, Ofc. Cote has proudly served for the better part of the last 15 years as a Staff Sergeant in the Connecticut Army National Guard. When she’s not in uniform — whether it's SPD blue or Army green — you can probably find her at the gym or cruising on her personal Harley-Davidson.
We’re proud to have Ofc. Cote as part of the team and even prouder to see her reach this career milestone. Ride safe, Officer Cote!
Recently, the Select Board created a Stratham Community Garden Committee and charged it with creating a community garden on Town-owned land adjacent to the Municipal Center. The charge of the committee and its message about its work can be found on the Committee's landing page. Volunteers who successfully researched and advocated for this new community building project are getting organized in order to kick-off for this planting season.
Please read more about their efforts and how you can support this Town Committee here.
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.
What does this mean for you?
Proper Disposal: Rechargeable batteries must not be placed in regular trash. While the Stratham Transfer Station does not accept batteries, you can find a nearby recycling location through Call2Recycle’s Locator Tool.
Use the Call2Recycle Locator Tool to find a convenient battery recycling location near you and spread the word! Residents should contact the NHDES Household Hazardous Waste Program via email at hhw@des.nh.gov or by phone at (603) 271-2047.
The DPW will host it's 2nd Annual Open House on Wednesday, May 21 at the DPW garage, 70 Bunker Hill Ave., from 5 - 7pm. Please join us for a couple of hours of fun at this family friendly event! Refreshments will be available. Details here
In accordance with a longstanding partnership with the Town, the Stratham Historical Society is looking for the oldest citizen of Stratham in order to present them with the famed Boston Post Cane. Rich in tradition, the original Boston Post Cane is on permanent display at the Stratham Historical Society. Its symbolic replica and certificate are given over to Stratham’s oldest citizen to maintain. Read the fascinating history of the Boston Post Cane here. This is a community tradition, and you can help! If you know someone, male or female, who is at least 92 years old and a citizen of Stratham, please email info@strathamhistsoc.org. We promise to gently follow up.
Go Home : An Immigrant's Story with Terry Farish & Lochan Sharma
Tuesday, May 20 @ 6pm in the Library Meeting Room
Join us for a discussion about Go Home, a new book written by local author Terry Farish and Lochan Sharma, an immigrant now studying at Keene State College. Both authors will be in attendance as they present their timely young-adult novel about immigration and belonging. They’ll also show art drawn by Bhutanese-Nepali refugees depicting the homes and farms they lost in Bhutan before living in refugee camps in Nepal. Go Home is a "crossover YA" book, appropriate for teens and adults. The library has copies of the book available through interlibrary loan, so you can read the book in advance. It is also available for instant download with your library card via Hoopla. Register here.
Fueling Focus: A Parent's Guide to Nutrition for Attention and Behavior
Tuesday, May 27 @ 6pm in the Library Meeting Room
Join Sarah Jeffreys, Naturopathic doctor, and Misa Pignataro, of Misa's Clean Kitchen, for a practical and empowering workshop on how to support kids with ADHD, attention, or behavioral challenges through nutrition--plus real-life strategies for navigating picky eating and making implementation doable at home. Register here.
