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 Stratham Veterans Day ceremony is at Stratham Hill Park on November 11 at 11am and is free and open to the public. Guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Scott Poteet (retd.), Stratham resident and pilot on the recent Polaris Dawn mission. The Stratham FD Auxiliary will also host a lunch for all Stratham Veterans at 12:30 at the Stratham Fire Station. Contact strathamauxiliary@gmail.com for more information.
L4L is promoting awareness of PTSD in First Responders and raising money to help with the cost of training Cocoa, a service dog for a Stratham First Responder. L4L events in October are the Halloween Home Decorating Contest, the "Frights" 4 Lives Haunted House and the Pet Halloween Costume Contest. Visit strathamligths4lives.org for all the information!
The Cemetery Trustees have been meeting with the DPW Director and a certified arborist through the year to create a Master Plan for Maple Lane and Greenwood Cemeteries. Several large branches, from both cemeteries have fallen, and are in need of immediate attention. Breen Landworks Company was hired to access and recommend a plan for much needed tree removal. We have started to implement their suggestions by removing several large trees this Fall, with stump grinding in Maple Lane and Greenwood. Some of these trees will be replaced in the Spring. The plan moving forward for Greenwood is gradual removing of trees lining Portsmouth Avenue and replacing them with flowering fruit trees, which grow quickly, remain smaller, and are more hardy. We will be working with abutters on trees and branches on property lines, which are in danger of falling in the near future.
THANK YOU TO ORGANIZERS OF SCOTT POTEET EVENTThank you to all who organized and took part in celebrating our local hero, retired Lt. Col. Scott "Kidd" Poteet. Welcome home Scott! View the media coverage here, the Seacoast Online article here, and the proclamation of September 15th as a day dedicated to astronaut Poteet here. Special Thanks to Parks & Recreation Director Seth Hickey, Select Board member Allison Knab, and Poteet family friend and community volunteer Marcie Francis.
The newly formed Website Steering Committee is in the process of updating our Town's website. We want your opinion! Please follow this link to fill out the survey. We look forward to receiving your input.
STRATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANTIQUE APPRAISAL DAYSunday, October 20, 2024 1:00-3:00 pm
Appraisal Day, "Stratham's Antiques Road Show" returns to the Morgera Room in the Stratham Firehouse.
Antiquarians Dan Olmstead of Olmstead Antiques in Newfields and Greg Pruitt and Lionel Loveless of Collector's Eye in Stratham and Route 1 Antiques in Hampton Falls are back to appraise a wide range of heirlooms and artifacts. For 33 years, this always fun event helps to fundraise for the Stratham Historical Society. Modest appraisal fees are collected by cash or check at the door: $5 for 1 item, $8 for two items, $12 for three items and four items for $15.
STRATHAM'S TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT - October 31st, 5:00pm to 7:30pm
Please be safe and have fun!
What happens when my competitive energy supply contract ends?
You may have seen that Stratham voted to select Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) to become the electric supplier for those using Unitil for the supply portion only of your electric bill. Stratham Community Power has been supplying residents at a discount compared to the default supply rate since it launched this past Spring. Some residents have been using alternative “third party” suppliers since before that time and may be asking how to join in with your neighbors. If using an alternative supplier, when your contract is coming to an end, sign up at https://www.communitypowernh.gov/stratham to get started on transitioning to Stratham Community Power. Please review your current suppliers’ contract if you are ending before the contract term as some have fees that may be applicable.
Did you know the Stratham Transfer Station accepts leaves and yard waste at no cost? Certain waterbodies in Stratham are impaired for contaminants such as nitrogen which is worsened by improper disposal of yard waste. Your leaves and grass clippings can be a valuable resource OR a source of water pollution. See why here: Rake It or Leave It Flyer. Please do not dispose of leaves or grass clippings in or near wetlands, waterbodies, or in drainage areas. Take your yard waste to the transfer station or compost away from surface waters. For more information on home composting visit the US EPA’s website here: Composting At Home | US EPA
Did you know that 54 Stratham residents are employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard? Overall, the shipyard employs 7,469 people and has a civilian payroll of over $716 million and in calendar year 2023 had an overall economic impact of nearly $1 billion. It is an important employer of those in the trades, with more than 1,000 participants in the shipyard's apprenticeship programs. In addition to the significant impact it has on the seacoast economy, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the Navy's center of excellence for attack submarine overhaul, repair and modernization. Read more about the economic impact of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard here as presented by The Seacoast Shipyard Association, an association dedicated to the continued existence of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and to maximizing opportunities for its growth.
September meeting updates
For more, please see the full meeting minutes here.
