June 2nd Select Board Newsletter
Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
- Memorial Day Thank You
- Community Power Public Hearing Held
- Stratham Farms
- Plant a Row
- Art Show
- Historical Society Receives Grant
- Volunteer Fair
- Clerk's Corner
- Roadway Paving
- NH Conservation Commissions Photo Contest
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, Chair Allison Knab, Vice-Chair Joe Anderson
MEMORIAL DAY THANK YOU
We want to thank the entire community for honoring our fallen service men and woman on Memorial Day. We also want to extend our appreciation to all of the Memorial Day event participants, performers and organizers and especially recognize and thank Jeff Gallagher and Geri Denton for their coordination once again this year. A special thank you to the Exeter Area Garden Club for maintaining the Veterans Memorial Garden and to the Heritage Commission for their work engraving the bricks for the Veterans Memorial. Thank you to our Department of Public Works for their work to ensure the parks and cemeteries were ready for the wonderful weekend activities and memorials. Thank you all.
COMMUNITY POWER
On May 25th, the Energy Aggregation Committee (EAC) held its first of two public hearings about bringing Community Power to Stratham. The event included information about what Community Power is and its benefits. Over 35 residents were in attendance. Next, the EAC will take the initial feedback and develop a draft plan for further public comment at a public hearing on June 22nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Morgera Room at the Fire Department. To read more about the process and Community Power, please visit the Committee's website for the presentation and much more.
VISIT STRATHAM FARMS
It's that time of year when the warm weather and sunshine turn our thoughts to fresh fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers! Stratham is fortunate to have many farms that sell fresh produce and seedlings. By eating local you are getting the freshest fruits and vegetables and are eliminating the need for long-distance transportation of produce. If you are making preparations to grow your own garden, many of Stratham's farms sell plants and other essential gardening items. Please support Stratham farms! Follow this link to see a list of Stratham farms.
PLANT A ROW PROGRAM REGISTRATION 2023 IS OPEN!
Plant A Row aims to inform Granite Staters about food insecurity in New Hampshire, nurtures a giving mindset and encourages participants to grow an extra row or an extra container with produce that will be donated to a participating food pantry in Strafford or Rockingham County. More information and sign up here.
STRATHAM P&R ART SHOW
The talented artists who have been participating in the Parks & Recreation The talented artists who have been participating in the Parks & Recreation sponsored painting classes are putting on an Art Show on Thursday, June 22 at the Municipal Center from 10:00 - 1:00. Please come by and see their beautiful work!
HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES GRANT
The Stratham Historical Society was recently awarded a $7,500 grant from New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and The 1772 Foundation.
Work will begin a little later this summer to restore and preserve the Stratham Historical Society at 158 Portsmouth Avenue. The building opened as the George A. and Emma B. Wiggin Memorial Library in 1912. It was the first building in Stratham to be entirely dedicated as a public library. When the expanding Wiggin Memorial Library moved to Bunker Hill Avenue in 1990, the Stratham Historical Society happily moved its library, museum and collections into the classic stone structure at the corner of Winnicutt Road. In 1993, the landmark earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
As part of the grant preparation, a restoration plan with prioritized projects was created to guide this work, which will be carried out in phases in the ensuing years. As guardians of a national landmark, the Stratham Historical Society is grateful to have partnership in this important project with the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, The 1772 Foundation and Bedard Preservation & Restoration.
VOLUNTEER FAIR
Wiggin Memorial Library will be hosting a volunteer fair on Tuesday, June 27 from 4:00-6:00pm at the Municipal Center. Check out their website for more information.
CLERK'S CORNER
Tax bills were mailed out to all property owners on Tuesday, May 9th. You can check your property taxes on the NH Tax Kiosk as well. Property taxes can be paid online here and ACH & Credit Card options are available for payment. Credit Cards or ACH payments over the counter for property taxes cannot be accepted. However, you may pay with either check or cash over the counter. Property taxes are due July 3rd.
If you have not registered your dog(s), they are now past due and additional fees have been added per dog. Please register your dog.
We expect a busy election year in 2024. If you are not sure if you are registered to vote in Stratham OR what your party affiliation is you can conveniently check via the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s website. If you find you are not registered to vote OR need to change your party affiliation, please stop by our office. If you are a first time voter in New Hampshire, we will need to see a driver’s license, birth certificate OR passport and proof of residency.
STRATHAM ROADWAY PAVING 2023
The Town of Stratham has awarded Bell & Flynn LLC with our 2023 roadway reclamation and repaving throughout Town. Work has begun and or planned on Oak Lane, Berry Hill Road, Long Hill Road, a portion of Gifford Farm Road as well as Easton Hill Lane, Chestnut Way, Russell Drive and Tidewater Farm Road. As work nears, residents of that area can expect to receive an up to date notice of work in the form of bright green door knob hangers delivered door to door by Public Works staff. For a more detailed description, click here.
Important right-of-way reminder: the Town and sub-contractors of the Town use Dig Safe to locate any public utilities that may lie within the Town’s Right of Way. This service is funded in part by public utility providers, i.e. electrical, gas, cable providers. This service does not locate any private investments installed by residents and not known to exist within the Town’s Right of Way. The Town is not responsible for damages to (but not limited to) the following private investments; irrigation, underground dog fences, landscape lighting, plantings, etc. The Town’s Right of Way typically spans well beyond the edge of asphalt and compacted gravel shoulders approximately two to three wide are installed backing up the asphalt, preventing vegetation from growing under asphalt and helping to wick runoff away from the roadway ensuring longevity of the paved roadway. Residents should not excavate or incorporate any private investments within the gravel shoulder.
NH ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS PHOTO CONTEST
Do you love to take photos while you are out enjoying nature? If you like to capture nature’s beauty, please share your amazing photos with NHACC as part of our Water, Wetlands, and Wildlife in the Natural World photo contest. They are primarily looking for photographs that inspire the preservation of our natural environment. Winners in each category will receive $250, and Honorable Mentions will receive $50. You are encouraged to take photographs on conserved lands in or near your town, but they also may be made in other places such as your own backyard. Rules and how to enter can be found here.
Select Board Chair Mike Houghton and Select Board member Joe Anderson cook on a hot grill for the Fire Department on Memorial Day while Select Board Vice Chair Knab supervises.