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October 20th Select Board Newsletter

Special Town Meeting on Community Power Next Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Posted on: October 20, 2023 - 3:34pm

town seal

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

  • Remembering Joyce Rowe
  • SVFD Pancake Breakfast
  • Invitation To Learn More About The State Of Our Estuaries
  • Fall Yard Waste Drop Off
  • Scammon Farm Historic District Named To National Register of Historic Places
  • Trick or Treat Night Set
  • Drug Take Back Day - Oct. 28
  • Emergency Management Volunteers Needed
  • Paving the Police Station Parking Lot

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

NOTE: A Special Town Meeting will be held on Thursday October 26th at 7:00 p.m. at the Stratham Memorial School at which the Town will have the opportunity to approve the Community Power Plan. Check out our Special Edition Newsletter on Community Power and or watch this five-minute video. 


RoweREMEMBERING JOYCE ROWE
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Joyce Rowe, Stratham Town Clerk/Tax Collector for 31 years, from 1967 to 1998.  While serving in her position, she also held various leadership roles in the NH City and Town Clerks's Association and on the Clerks' Manual Committee.  She is credited with modernizing the Stratham Town Clerk's department by introducing the use of computers.  Joyce volunteered for many Stratham organizations, serving on the Stratham Volunteer Fire Departments Ladies Auxiliary, the Stratham Fair, The Clothes Attic at the Stratham Community Church and Seacoast Family Promise.  Joyce was proud of her service on both the Town’s 250th Anniversary Committee as well as the 300th.  Joyce was respected for her integrity and leadership qualities.  Please read the 1987 Town Report Dedication to her.  Read more about this outstanding woman here.


 

fire dept
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Please join the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department Association on Saturday, October 28th from 8 - 11am at the Stratham Fire Station, 4 Winnicutt Road for a free pancake breakfast, open house and costume contest!  See you there!

ESTUARIES

transfer stationFALL YARD WASTE DROP OFF 
Did you know the Stratham Transfer Station accepts leaves and yard waste at no cost?  Certain waterbodies in Stratham are impaired for contaminants such as nitrogen which is worsened by improper disposal of yard waste.  Your leaves and grass clippings can be a valuable resource OR a source of water pollution - Rake It or Leave It Flyer.  Never dispose of leaves or grass clippings in or near wetlands, waterbodies, or in drainage areas.  Take your yard waste to the transfer station or compost away from surface waters.  For more information on home composting visit the US EPA’s website here: Composting At Home | US EPA


SCAMMON FARM HISTORIC DISTRICT NAMED TO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
We learned this week that Scammon Farm Historic District in Stratham has been listed to the United States Secretary of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places. This achievement is the result of the initiative and work of our Heritage Commission.  Located along River Road between the Squamscott River and Portsmouth Avenue – which was called “the King’s Great Highway” when in was laid out in 1681 – Scammon Farm Historic District includes well-preserved nineteenth and twentieth century houses, outbuildings, farmyards, fields and wooded conservation land.  Farming was the main focus of Stratham’s economy with more than 90 farms operating in the late nineteenth century.  Scammon Farm’s more than 150 acres of tilled fields, hayfields, orchard, pasture for oxen, cows and sheep, and unimproved wetland and woodland made it typical of a prosperous New England farm.  Read about the property here.  Thank you to our Heritage Commission for helping to protect and bring attention to this tremendous space.


trick or treat
TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT DATE SET!  
The Select Board has designated Trick or Treat Night as Tuesday, October 31st from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm.  Be safe and have fun!



pdDRUG TAKE BACK


DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
We have a Drug Take Back Box in the lobby of the Police Station at all times - however National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28 from 10am to 2pm. Dispose of your unused, expired or unwanted prescription medications safely by attending this event at the Stratham Police Station, 76 Portsmouth Ave..


 

 

INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT?
We are looking for volunteers to serve in our emergency management function.  Work side by side with our Emergency Management Director David Barr, our team of department heads and Stratham first responders.

If you have any interest in becoming part of this team, please e-mail David Barr at dbarr@strathamnh.gov.  There are some upcoming opportunities to sit in and see what these responsibilities entail.  Please reach out if you are interested.

pd parking lot pavingPAVING THE POLICE STATION PARKING LOT
The DPW has worked in collaboration with Bell & Flynn for the paving of the Police Department parking lot.  Paving is expected to be completed by the end of next week, then we will finish with line striping soon after.  The DPW would like to thank the Police Department for their flexibility and patience with the relocation of their fleet as well as Bell & Flynn for their excellent work.