July 29th Select Board Newsletter
Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
- Stratham Adopts Level 1 Water Restrictions
- Assessors in the Field
- PFAS in Town Center Update
- Stratham Police Dept. Offers Training to the Public
- Winfield Foote 2022 Academic Scholarships Awarded, Stratham Historical Society
- Wiggin Memorial Library Hosts Magic Show at Stratham Hill Park!
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 website and check the "Select Board" box under News and Announcements.
The Select Board
Michael Houghton, Chairman Allison Knab, Vice Chair Joe Anderson
STRATHAM ADOPTS LEVEL 1 WATER RESTRICTIONS
As announced in the July 22nd Special Edition Newsletter, the Board agreed to implement level 1 water restrictions in accordance with a request from NH DES.
Until further notice, lawn watering will be limited as part of a statewide strategy for preserving groundwater supplies that serve as critical resources for Stratham households and businesses. All efforts to curb and reduce use of water during this time will benefit water supplies we all rely on. Residents should aware, the Board may advance to Levels 2 and 3 water restrictions as drought conditions persist or worsen.
A Level 1 restriction means:
Lawn watering by odd numbered addresses is allowed on odd numbered days.
Lawn watering by even numbered addresses is allowed on even numbered days.
Lawn watering shall not occur between the hours of 8AM and 7PM.
The RSA water restriction regulation adopted by the Board can be found on the Town’s Drought Resource Page.
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
ASSESSORS IN THE FIELD
The Town of Stratham Assessing Department will be working in the following areas the next few weeks to verify data on all of the homes. Balmoral Drive, Crockett's Way, Baron's Way, Tansy Avenue, Stratham Green, and Brookside Drive. The Data Collectors will be: Christine Murdough, Town Assessor, 2017 Hyundai Sonata (red) License plate # 325-9724 and Jim Joseph, Assessing Assistant, 2020 Nissan Sentra (red) license plate #CLERKS. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Assessing Dept. at 603-772-4741 ext. 141.
PFAS IN TOWN CENTER UPDATE
The Town of Stratham recently received its Groundwater Management Permit from NH DES for the PFAS contamination in Town Center. This permit and more information about the Town Center site can be found at our Town PFAS page. Here are some updates about the various efforts underway to manage this site.
- Point-of-entry filtration systems (granulated activated carbon systems) have been installed at nearly all affected properties. The work in managing this site has turned to preparing the annual reporting under the permit to be done in conjunction with our environmental consulting engineers and the many property owners who work with us to schedule sample collections at frequencies required in the permit. The Town will also incur costs to maintain and service the approximately 18 newly installed systems.
- The Town has secured NH DES PFAS Remediation Grant to recuperate PFAS mitigation costs through a pre-application process and is completing that process in coordination with NHDES. Costs associated with installing the granulated activated carbon systems at the affected properties are eligible for reimbursement under the program (sampling costs and maintenance costs are not eligible).
- The Town is working to plan for the long-term management of this site. Engineering and sampling costs for the various sites and monitoring wells as well as system maintenance costs such as carbon replacements, will represent an ongoing and significant cost to the Town. The Select Board is working with Underwood Engineers to study the various alternatives and their relative cost-effectiveness over the long-term; this engineering work is reimbursable in accordance with another NH DES program.
- The State of NH and the federal government have understood the significant burden and health implications of contaminated water - including PFAS contaminated water - to communities. There are many grant and loan programs in design or available to support building more resilient water systems and respond to contamination (quality) concerns (as well as quantity concerns). Through the study of alternatives we are working to best position the Town to benefit from these programs and arrive at the most cost-effective solution to managing our site in the future.
We want to thank the property owners in the vicinity of Town Center who have been impacted by the this water quality challenge. We appreciate your patience and cooperation with the Town as it continues to follow-up in accordance with permit requirements.
STRATHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFERS TRAINING TO THE PUBLIC
Stratham Police Department offering FREE Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Training to Stratham businesses. Visit our website to learn more and for contact information.
WINFIELD FOOTE 2022 ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED, STRATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Stratham Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Winfield L. Foote Award for Academic Excellence 2022 has been presented this year to nine outstanding applicants. This year’s recipients include eight graduating Stratham high school seniors, and one rising Upper Classman. They are as follows:
Jamie O’Keefe, attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology
E. J. Murphy, III, attending College of the Holy Cross
Catherine Benjamin, attending the University of Vermont
Caitlin Murphy, attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Karina Nicholas, attending Hope College
Clara Gorman, attending Keene State College
Shay Gillis, attending University of New Hampshire
Hannah Hall, attending Bennington College
Each of the above high school graduates will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Maggie Joyce, Rising College Junior/Senior Awardee, is attending The University of New Hampshire. Maggie will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
Congratulations to all nine of these very deserving students. The Stratham Historical Society is particularly gratified to support their academic achievements in 2022 and wish them the very best in their next chapter.
The scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the late Mr. Winfield L. Foote, a long-time resident of Stratham and a strong supporter of The Stratham Historical Society. With this year’s awards, the Society will have distributed nearly $120,000 to local students.
A big thank you to our Stratham Historical Society Scholarship Committee, chaired by Gary Abreu. This devoted Committee has worked safely through the pandemic to assure we have not lost a year of attention to one of Stratham Historical Society’s most gratifying activities.
Each year, two or more $1,000 awards are offered to qualified applicants who meet the criteria set forth by the society. Watch for announcements and/or check with guidance departments to obtain applications. These are available in February of each year for public and private high school seniors who are Stratham residents, and for students from surrounding communities who are enrolled in the SAU16 School District. In addition, generous awards are offered to college/university rising juniors and seniors, and graduate students who qualify. For more info, call: 603-778-0434 or email info@strathamhistsoc.org
MAGIC SHOW WITH MAGIC FRED!
After two long years, we're so excited to be able to bring the families of Stratham another MAGIC SHOW!
Join us at Stratham Hill Park on FRIDAY, AUGUST 5th at 10:30 A.M. for this amazing live performance starring Magic Fred, New Hampshire's favorite magician!
Here's what people are saying about Magic Fred:
"Absolutely the best kids magic show I have ever seen! Magic Fred has it all!" - Google Reviewer
"If you are a library or a school you NEED Fred at one of your events! " - NH Librarian Azra Palo
"The kids absolutely loved him and were sad when it was over! Magic Fred had everything needed to make for the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!!!!!" - Google Reviewer