December 2nd Select Board Newsletter

A note to our readers: we apologize if you received multiple copies of this newsletter; we have experienced some technical difficulties we believe we have resolved.  Thank you.

Dear Stratham Residents,

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

• Sgt. John Emerson Retires after 21 years
• Transfer Station - Winter Schedule
• Town Tax Rate Set
• Stratham Memorial School Board Financial Advisory Committee and Budget Meeting
• Lights 4 Lives Fundraiser
• Police Collect Toys for Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank
• Parks & Recreation Programs
• Volunteer Opportunity - Zoning Board of Adjustment
• Winter Parking Ban

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
 

THANK YOU SGT. JOHN EMERSON
Yesterday was Sergeant John Emerson’s last day of full-time service with the Stratham Police Department.  He has served Stratham as a police officer for the past 21 years and has served a total of 22 years in law enforcement.  John puts “community” in community policing and he has been a faithful public servant whether he is riding on a motorcycle, in a cruiser or warmly greeting everyone at Stratham community events.  We congratulate you John on your service and thank you and look forward to having you staying connected to the Police Department and the community in the years ahead.

TRANSFER STATION - WINTER SCHEDULE 
The Transfer Station will begin its winter schedule in December (Dec. 1 - March 31).  It will no longer be open on Thursdays (until, April next year).  The Transfer Station will be open the first and third Saturday of the month from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  As always, please remember, checks only.  The Transfer Station attendant cannot accept cash or credit/debit cards.

TOWN TAX RATE SET
The Town’s portion of the 2022 tax rate has been set at $3.07, a decrease of eight cents (2.6%) from 2021. 

The Town’s tax rate is 16.4% of your overall tax bill.  This portion of your bill funds your Wiggin Memorial Library, all public works functions (including trash and recycling pick-up, transfer station, street clearing operations, and park and playground maintenance), parks and recreation programming and senior services, police services, the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department, land use regulatory services, elections, general town administration as well as capital projects and rolling stock.  For a home valued at $500,000, your annual tax for these services is $1,535.

The overall tax rate is $18.71, an increase of 19 cents over last year.  For a home valued at $500,000 this results in a year over year increase of $95 or a 1% increase.

TAX BILLS
All tax bills were mailed on Monday, November 21 and the due date is December 21.  As a reminder, there are various ways that Stratham property owners can pay their property taxes.  Property taxes can be paid in the office with cash, check or money order or you can also pay your taxes online here, however transaction fees are incurred.

All tax bills are sent directly to the homeowners, not the lenders.  Please feel free to contact us directly should you have any questions, (603) 772-4741 ext. 140.


STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL 
The Stratham Memorial School Board Financial Advisory Committee and Budget Meeting will be held at 39 Gifford Farm Road on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 6 p.m. The Stratham School Board Meeting will follow after.  The agenda will be posted a week prior on the district website at www.sau16.org.  Can't make the meeting in person?  Watch the recording here Blue Hawk Media

LIGHTS 4 LIVES FUNDRAISER
This year, our 9th, we are raising awareness of firefighter-related cancers and raising funds to help purchase extra sets of bunker gear (25 sets) for Stratham firefighters. Here are some of the things that are happening this year to achieve our goals.

• “Extinguish Cancer” t-shirts for sale
• Stratham Firefighter calendars for sale
• Holiday Home Decorating Contest
• Stratham holiday parade on Saturday, Dec. 17 beginning at approximately 5pm.
• Open House at Stratham Hill Park immediately following the parade – Santa, hot chocolate, bonfire, baked goods, and ice skating (weather permitting)
• Amazing raffles including 4 sets of 2 round-trip airline tickets!

We appreciate your past support and hope you will join us again in our efforts! Please click here for more information or visit our website!  Happy Holiday from the Lights 4 Lives crew!
Geri, Jess, Suzie

SEACOAST AREA FIREFIGHTERS TOY BANK
For another year, the Stratham Police Department has partnered with the Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank to collect toys for children in need. These gifts impact the seacoast area directly, going to families in need throughout our area.  The police department is collecting new, unwrapped toys now through December 17th.  You can find a donation box in the lobby of the police department, wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper, as well as throughout town at local area businesses.  On December 17, the police department will host its Toy Drive event, where officers will collect the boxes from the local businesses and send all the collected toys to the Rye Fire Department, where they distribute them to the families in need. If you have any questions, please call the police department directly at 603-778-9691.


Our Parks and Recreation Winter Programming is beginning in earnest with our basketball season starting this Saturday!  Ski programs are also beginning soon. If you are interested in receiving updates directly from Parks and Recreation, please subscribe to our newsletter here. 

MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
The Stratham Recreation Department is very happy to host a trip to Portland Maine on Sunday, December 11th to see the Portland Symphony Orchestra perform the Magic of Christmas.  We still have a few tickets left!  Contact Jamie Schaaf:  jschaaf@stratham.nh.gov or click here for details.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
There are currently vacancies on the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA). The ZBA is empowered to act in four separate and distinct categories: appeals from administrative decision; approval of special exception; grant of variance; and grants of waivers of dimensional requirements. Consider submitting an application to serve on the ZBA. Interested residents are encouraged to contact Jim Marchese, Building Inspector & Code Enforcement Officer at  jmarchese@strathamnh.gov   

WINTER PARKING BAN
A reminder that, in accordance with Stratham Ordinance #2-2011, Chapter 1-10, there is to be no parking on any street or property plowed by the Town or any other place where and when snow removal would be hindered.  This ban is in effect from November 1st to April 30th.  Thank you for your cooperation.  


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