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
The Town Election will be on Tuesday, March 11 at the Stratham Memorial School, 39 Gifford Farm Road. Polls will be open from 7:00am to 7:00pm. Town Meeting will be on Saturday, March 15 at the Stratham Memorial School. The meeting will begin at 9:00am. Please see the Town Meeting page for important materials to review. The final Town Warrant will be posted prior to Feb 24th. Please plan to attend the School District Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:00pm at the Stratham Memorial School to vote on the Stratham Memorial School FY2026 school budget.
Sign up for agenda alerts here to have the agendas emailed directly to you. Materials for current and recently approved land use applications are available on the Planning Board’s website here. Planning staff are available to answer any questions you have on projects in Town. Contact us at planning@strathamnh.gov or 603-772-7391 ext. 184.
Save the date! Voter Information Night, hosted by the Wiggin Memorial Library, will be held on Thursday, March 6th in the Sewall Room at the Stratham Municipal Center from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Come meet the candidates and learn about the issues to be voted on at the Town Election on March 11 and Town Meeting on March 15.
A professional video recording of the Heritage Commission’s recent public program is now available for free on Exeter’s Public Access TV YouTube channel. “An American Impressionist in Stratham: Childe Hassam’s Pastoral Views” features American art expert Monica Reuss speaking about the arc of Hassam’s career and the importance of his place in early 20th century art; followed by Heritage Commission chair Nathan Merrill, explaining how such a famous artist came to spend time in Stratham. He then shares images of 30 Hassam works that were completed in Stratham between 1900-1918, along with contemporary photos of many of the same viewpoints. Watch it here.
On Friday January 31, 2025, the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) Board of Directors voted to raise default supply rates. The “Granite Basic” rate for residential and small commercial customers will move to 9.7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from the 8.9 cent rate the Board approved on January 2, 2025. The 8.9 cent rate will be in effect for February. The 9.7 cents rate will go into effect March 3rd through July 31, 2025. CPCNH works to provide the lowest rates possible while covering costs and maintaining financial stability. Please read the flyer here for more information. To review FAQ’s on Stratham Community Power and review options, see the website here.
SAU 16 is excited to bring to life the beginning of our Strategic Planning Process. Please join us on March 27 & 28 from 5pm - 8pm and March 29 from 9am-12pm to workshop common themes while collaborating as a community to share ideas that will help the process of developing our Strategic Plan. Light meals and childcare will be provided each day. Please see the information in this flyer for details and how to register. Registration will be open until March 17th.
The Select Board has adopted a Road Naming Policy. This policy reflects best practices in street naming from the State of New Hampshire. Read the policy here.
REMEMBERING FLORENCE WIGGINWe pass along this remembrance of Flossy Wiggin by the Stratham Historical Society:
It is with deep regret that we pass along news of the passing of cherished Stratham Historical Society member and friend Floss Wiggin. Some of us knew her as Florence. Some of us knew her as Flossy. Some of us knew her as Flossie, and some of us knew her as Floss. Most importantly, everyone knew her. Her thoughtfulness and generosity in the community was omnipresent. Her participation was unequaled. In her 92 years, she lived through interesting times in Stratham and could recall every minute. Floss knew all of the legends in Stratham history and was herself legendary.
Floss' obituary recounts her many varied contributions and the wonderful thoughts of her family. The 2021 Town Report was dedicated to this remarkable woman. Read the Florence Wiggin obituary
