April 21st Select Board Newsletter

Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham.  In this edition:

• Great Bay Food Truck Festival
• Covid19 Clinic Coming to Stratham  May 9th
• NHDOT Division 6 - Pavement Improvements to RT 33
• King Arthur Baking Company Trip
• Conservation Commission Sponsors Annual Clean Up Day - May 13
• Community Church Supper Returns
• National Library Week
• Exeter Area Garden Club Indoor Yard Sale
• Transfer Station and Cemetery Information

Please remind your neighbors about this resource for keeping on top of information from the Town.  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, Chairman                    Allison Knab, Vice-Chair                   Joe Anderson

GREAT BAY FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
Once again, the Great Bay Food Truck Festival will be coming to Stratham!  Join us on Saturday, May 6th and enjoy over 25 food trucks, lawn games, live music and family fun.  This event was sold out last year, so get your tickets today!  Click here for details and to register.  

COVID19 VACCINE CLINIC COMING TO STRATHAM
The CDC released new guidance stating that immunity to the COVID19 virus wanes over time and if an individual has not had a COVID19 vaccine since September of 2022, then they are due.  Stratham will be hosting a vaccine clinic on Tuesday, May 9th from 10:00 to 2:00 at the Municipal Center, 10 Bunker Hill Ave.  No registration is necessary; walk-ins are welcome.  Flyer here.  

CLERK'S CORNER

• As a reminder, the Town Clerk/Tax Collector Office is closed Monday -Thursday 12-1230.
• We’re still looking for our Top Dog of Stratham!  Please don’t forget to register your dog(s) by April 30^th for a chance to win!  You can register your dog via our webpage.  You’re automatically entered when you register by April 30th!  Winner to be announced Monday, May 1st!  Good Luck!
• We have the 2023 OHRV Fish and Game decals available for off road registrations.
• The Town Clerk/Tax Collector office will be closed for Town Clerk Regional training on Wednesday, May 3rd.  See you bright and early on Thursday, May 4th when we reopen.

ASSESSING NEWS
The Town of Stratham Assessing contractors will be verifying building permit information throughout the month of April. We thank you in advance for your patience & cooperation.  Please note that the assessors will have photo ID as well as a vehicle clearly marked "Municipal Assessor". 

KING ARTHUR BAKING COMPANY TRIP
King Arthur Flour’s Baking School welcomes all bakers, no matter your skill level.  For this community trip will have a private class with expert instructors who will teach us all about apple crumb pie.  This is a hands-on class.  A luxury bus will depart the Stratham Municipal Center at 9:30AM arriving at King Arthur, Norwich VT around 11:30AM.

After we have arrived at King Arthur Flour, we will have lunch and take some time to visit the factory store.  (You may pack a lunch or visit the café).  The cooking class starts at 1:00PM and will run for three (3) hours. We will board the bus immediately following the class and head back to NH around 6:00PM.  To register, call, stop by the Parks & Rec office or go to RecDesk.

COST:
$75 pp (Stratham residents)
$105 pp (Non-residents)

CONSERVATION COMMISSION SPONSORS STRATHAM ANNUAL CLEAN UP DAY
Please come help pitch in to clean up your community during this fun, family-friendly event!  We will be meeting on Saturday, May 13, at the Scamman Pavilion (located near the playground) at Stratham Hill Park from 9 to 12 pm.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  E-mail planning@strathamnh.gov with questions

CHURCH SUPPER RETURNS FOR STRATHAM COMMUNITY
The Stratham Community Church is inviting the community to gather for food and fellowship at the church supper in the Stratham Community Church Rust Room (lower level of the building) on Saturday, April 29 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.  The menu includes New England clam chowder, a local, mixed green salad, and beef bourguignon.  A variety of desserts will also be served.  Suggested donations at the door..

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
In recognition of the value the Wiggin Memorial Library contributes to our town, the Select Board has issued a proclamation that National Library Week shall be observed in Stratham from April 23 - 29, 2023.  Visit the Wiggin Memorial Library today and discover all it has to offer.  Please view the full proclamation here.   

EXETER AREA GARDEN CLUB INDOOR YARD SALE
The Exeter Area Garden Club is holding an indoor yard sale tomorrow, April 22nd, in the Municipal Center, Room A from  8am until 1pm.  There will be baked goods, plants, garden items and 8 vendors selling assorted goods.  Come on by! 

DPW NEWS
Cemetery Services     
Services for interments have opened, please contact the Department of Public Works directly at (603) 772-5550 when inquiring about cemetery plot purchases or arranging services.  Plots are available in Maple Lane Cemetery located at 4 Emery Lane adjacent to the Stratham Community Church.  Find cemetery regulations here.

NHDOT Division 6 - 2023 Pavement Improvements to RT 33
Work is beginning on this NHDOT-managed project in the coming weeks.  This project is intended to calm traffic and provide a navigational turn lane.  This approach mimics the design of the segment of Portsmouth Avenue from the Stratham Circle to the Exeter Town line.  Currently there are two 12’ wide travel lanes and two 10’ wide paved shoulders.  NHDOT’s objective is to incorporate a fifth turn lane in the center that will be 12’ in width.  There will be 11’ wide travel lanes either side of the center turn lane and left will be a 5’ wide shoulder on either side.  NHDOT will be modifying existing grades, repaving and re-striping the new traffic pattern from the former Great Bay Community College entrance to the easterly side of Pond View Drive in Greenland.  For further concern or questions you may reach the Bureau of Construction of the NHDOT at (603) 271-2571.
 

Transfer Station  
Spring has sprung and yard cleaning up is happening by residents all over the town. Our friends at the DPW have a few reminders for you:

• All payments shall be made payable to the Town of Stratham and in the form of a properly written check.
• No waste generated commercially for commerce is accepted, facility is only for residential use by Stratham residents.
• No root balls or brush larger than 6” in diameter is accepted.  Do not deposit into the residential brush pile any rocks or anything non woody, these items damage chipping equipment.
• Yard clippings and tree limbs less than 6” in diameter can be brought to the transfer station for disposal.

Updated Transfer Station fees, due to rising disposal costs the Select Board has adopted five fee increases at the Transfer Station.  We had previously been expending more for disposal than we were collecting from residents for the following.

If you do not have a permit for transfer station entry, you may purchase one with the gate attendant upon arrival for $5.00.  Proof of Stratham residency shall be provided at time of purchase in form of vehicle registration, motor vehicle license, tax document or utility bill. Permits are good for one calendar year, January 1 through December 31st.