• Select Board Chair Houghton Stepping Down
• Trash/Recycling Impacts due to Christmas & New Years
• Cyber Fraud Alert
• Clerk's Corner
• Cookie Competition Fundraiser
• Building Permit Fees to Increase
• Lights 4 Lives Parade - December 20
• Christmas Tree Pick Up and Community Bonfire - January 3
• Volunteer Opportunities Available
• Stratham Memorial School & Exeter Region Cooperative School District Annual Budget & Voting Information

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

Happy holidays!  We wish you a season filled with peace and happiness.
Please note: Town Offices will be closing at 12:30 on Wednesday, December 24.  We will be closed on Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26 and Thursday, January 1. 

SELECT BOARD CHAIR HOUGHTON STEPPING DOWN
After considerable thought, I have decided that I will not seek re-election to the Stratham Select Board when my current term ends in March.  It has been an honor for me to serve in this capacity, and I will look back with many fond memories.

Stratham is an amazing community led by a talented staff committed to serving and being responsive to the community.  As a Select Board member over the last nine years I have had the privilege to work with staff and to serve alongside past and present Select Board members Bruno Federico, Joe Lovejoy, Bob O’Sullivan, Allison Knab, and Joe Anderson.  I am proud of the work we have done, and the support, collaboration and respect shown to one another.

Thank you to everyone in our community who has chosen to be engaged, provided feedback, volunteered and cared about the direction of our community.  Your involvement is what makes Stratham special.

As I return to being a resident I will remain “Inspired by the past, Committed to the future”!!

With appreciation,
Mike Houghton

TRASH / RECYCLING IMPACTS DUE TO CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS
Because of the Christmas holiday, trash and recycling pick up will be delayed by one day only if your pick up is on Thursday or Friday.  Thursday's pick up will be on Friday, December 26, Friday's pick up will be on Saturday, December 27.  The same schedule will be on the following week because of the new year holiday.  Thursday's pick up will be on Friday, January 2 and Friday's pick up will be on Saturday, January 3.   

CYBER FRAUD ALERT
We would like to alert everyone about an online scam targeting residents and business in Stratham.  Recently, online scammers have been posing as municipal officials seeking payment of various municipal planning and zoning fees.  These emails are originating outside of Stratham, and our network and IT Infrastructure has not been compromised.

To clarify that while the Town does send payment requests via email, there are a few key indicators to help verify their legitimacy:

• No attachments are included in the email.
• All online payments are made electronically through EB2.GOV.
• We never request wire transfers as a form of payment.

Please do not respond to any unexpected or suspicious messages. Instead:

• Do not click on any links or attachments.
• Verify the sender by reviewing  senders email address and googling the organization using official contact information.
• Report any suspicious communication to the Stratham Town Administrators office.

Your safety and privacy are our priority. Thank you for staying alert and helping to keep our community safe.

CLERK'S CORNER

• Property tax bills were mailed on Tuesday, November 25th with a due date of Monday, December 29th. If you have not received your tax bill in the mail yet, you can view it online here.
• Transfer station/resident stickers will be available after the first of the year on the MONTH that your car is due to be renewed.  All 2025 transfer station/resident stickers will be honored taking you up to your current 2026 renewal. 
• Notice About Online Registration Renewals:
  Online registration renewal will be unavailable on Tuesday, December 30th and will resume on January 1st due to a system upgrade.
  If your vehicle registration is due in January or earlier, please be aware that state vehicle fees will increase on January 1st. To avoid paying the higher fees, you should renew in person or online before December 30th.
• January renewal notices will be emailed on December 12th.  After January 1st, the fees listed on those notices will no longer be valid because the new rates will take effect.  Please plan accordingly.
• The Town Clerk’s Office will be closing at 12:30 on Christmas Eve and will reopen on Monday, December 29.  We wish you a warm & happy holiday season!

PARKS & RECREATION
Cookie Competition Fundraiser
Our Second Annual Cookie Competition broke all records this year!  Not only were the cookie entries yummy, but we raised $710.00 to provide grocery and gas gift cards for Seacoast Family Promise.  Our hearts are filled with gratitude for your efforts during this busy time of year, to bring JOY to many local families. THANK YOU!!   Wishing you a happy holiday.   Sincerely, Diane, Seth & Zach 

BUILDING PERMIT FEES TO INCREASE
Attention Stratham Residents and Contractors
This is a friendly reminder that the Town of Stratham's Building Permit Fee Schedule will be updated effective January 1, 2026. Please ensure you review the new fee structure prior to submitting any permit applications after this date.  The updated schedule can be found here and at the Building Department office.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Building Department directly.

SANTA PARADE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20TH AT 5:00pm
Be on the lookout for Stratham's annual Lights 4 Lives holiday parade!  Click here for more information and to view the parade route

CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP
SMS 5th Grade Christmas Tree Pickup Fundraiser - Saturday, January 3
Leave the tree removal to us and help support a good cause!  Your $15 donation for tree pickup will help fund activities for SMS 5th grade students.  Deadline to register is Wednesday, December 31.  SIGN UP HERE.

Stratham Lights4Lives Community Bonfire
The collected trees will be donated to Stratham Parks and Recreation for a bonfire at 6pm on Jan. 3 at Stratham Hill Park.  Join us for a fun, open to all, community event!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
We need you, Stratham Residents!  Volunteer for your community.

• There are currently three vacancies on the Zoning Board of Adjustment: one full member position and two for alternate members.
• There is currently one vacancy on the Planning Board for an Alternate Member.
• There is currently one vacancy on the Conservation Commission for an Alternate Member. 

To apply, fill out an application and submit to krichard@strathamnh.gov

Click here for the Exeter Region Cooperative School district (ERCSD) informational flyer regarding budget & voting.

Click here for the Stratham School District informational flyer regarding budget & voting