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May 20th Select Board Newsletter

Posted on: May 20, 2022 - 3:20pm

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

  • Town offices closed in observance of Memorial Day
  • Memorial Day Ceremony - May 30th
  • News from the Town Clerk's Office
  • Income-eligible Tax Relief
  • Age-Friendly Forum - May 25th
  • Update on SHP Trail Management Advisory Committee (TMAC)
  • Volunteer Opportunity - Recreation Commission

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

MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY - May 30, 2022
Parade and Ceremony: On Monday, May 30, Stratham will honor Memorial Day with a parade at 1:30pm that marches from Jack Rabbit Lane, east onto Portsmouth Ave, to Stratham Hill Park. The parade will be immediately followed by a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Garden at Stratham Hill Park at 1:45pm. The featured speaker at the ceremony will be Stratham Police Department Chief Anthony King and the laying of the wreath will be done by World War II Veteran and Stratham resident, Joe Snyder. The public is invited to attend both events.

Parking Information:  Observers and Parade/Ceremony Participants should park in the field at the end of Jack Rabbit Lane. There will be no parking on Jack Rabbit Lane or on the parade route area on Portsmouth Ave. The Stratham Hill Park entrance lot should be reserved for anyone who would have difficulty traveling from Jack Rabbit Lane to the park.  See the map for more info.

Stratham residents interested in marching in the parade should line up in the field inside the Jack Rabbit entrance to SHP and be in place no later than 1:15pm. Children are welcome to decorate their bikes and ride in the parade.

Antique vehicles interested in driving in the parade should enter the second driveway on the left on Jack Rabbit Lane, bear right at the 4-H barn, and stage in the designated area for Parade Vehicles.  Click here for more Parade/Parent Information.

NEWS FROM THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
The Supervisors of the Checklist will be in session at the Stratham Municipal Center on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm to accept voter registrations and changes to the checklist.  If you are already a registered voter in Stratham, this will be the last day that party affiliation changes will be accepted prior to the primary election.

If you have a dog and have not yet registered them for 2022, please do so.  As of June 1st, late fees and civil forfeitures will be applied.  If you have multiple dogs, these fees are per dog.  Pursuant to New Hampshire RSA-466:1, all dogs must be licensed with the Town Clerk annually beginning April 30th.  Click here to renew online. 

The 2022 1st Half Property Tax Bills were mailed on Wednesday, May 18th with a due date of July 1st.  If you have a mortgage and you are unsure if your taxes are escrowed, we suggest that you contact your lender for confirmation.  There are several options available for payment.  We take checks and cash here in the office.  We are unable to process credit cards over the counter for property taxes.  However, you may do so by going to the Town Clerk's page under Property Taxes. 

LOW TO MODERATE INCOME TAX RELIEF
Low to Moderate Income Tax Relief by the State (Forms available in May and should be sent directly to the State of NH by June 30th each year) If you have a substantive question or need assistance completing a form, please contact Taxpayer Services at (603) 230-5920.

AGE-FRIENDLY FORUM
What makes Stratham a great place to grow up and grow old?  Do you have thoughts on how Stratham can best engage and support older adults?  We want to hear from you!  Please join us Wednesday, May 25th, to talk about what makes Stratham an Age-Friendly community.  Stratham has been working with the Rockingham Planning Commission to understand the needs of older adults in the community, specifically regarding housing, transportation, social engagement, and inclusion.  The purpose of the community forum is to review the feedback from Stratham’s Community Survey and discuss ways in which the town can better support residents as they age.

The Age-Friendly Community Forums will be held May 25 in Room A of the Municipal Center.  There will be two sessions, both of which will cover the same topics.  Session 1 will be held from 9:00 – 10:30am.  Session 2 will be held from 7:00 – 8:30pm.  All residents are welcome to attend!  We encourage you to RSVP at least five days in advance at this site.

Refreshments will be provided for both sessions.  For questions, please contact the Rockingham Planning Commission at 603-778-0885.  We hope to see you May 25th!

UPDATE ON SHP TRAIL MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TMAC)
The TMAC Committee met this week under its new charge following its completion of its report to the Select Board earlier this year.  The group's new charge is to advise the Town on the implementation of  phase I recommendations.  We are grateful that this hard working group who has gained a deep understanding of the Park's activity, user groups, and its nature as an assemblage of Town land, Town Forest, and privately-held eased properties are willing to continue to serve.

One of the phase I implementation pieces relates to trail signage improvements.  In preparation for this work, the Select Board encouraged a broader discussion between the TMAC, the Conservation Commission, Heritage Commission and the Stratham Hill Park Association about the topic of signage in the Park generally.  A summary of that discussion can be found here.

VOLUNTEER BOARD AND COMMISSIONS HIGHLIGHT:  THE RECREATION COMMISSION
Are you looking to get more involved with youth sports and recreation in our Stratham community?  Would you like to help out with Senior Citizen programming?  Do you have ideas on how to make Stratham a more enjoyable place to live?  If so, consider volunteering one evening a month and join the Stratham Recreation Commission!  The Parks & Recreation Department can’t organize these amazing programs without volunteers like YOU! 

Questions about this opportunity, please contact Seth Hickey, Parks and Recreation Director, shickey@strathamnh.gov 

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