News for August 2017

New rules regarding window coverings and holiday decor
The board has passed a new rule regarding window and patio door coverings:

• All window and patio door coverings visible from the exterior of the home must be maintained in good repair. Permitted coverings are: curtains, drapes, shutters, blinds or shades. Sheets, blankets, flags, signs, aluminum foil, newspaper, cardboard, reflective tint, paint, etc. are not permitted to be used as window or door coverings.  No stickers, signs or displays are permitted (Stickers and signs for first responders and security systems are permitted. Holiday lights may be displayed, but must be white in color). Installation or replacement of interior window treatments does not require an Architectural Modification Request Form.  

It also amended the holiday decor rule:

• All Christmas lights on exterior of homes or in windows must be white for conformity. No inflatable decorations are permitted.

If you have any questions about these new rules, please contact Property Manager Robbi Henry or speak to a member of the board.

Pet waste bag stations

Three pet waste bag stations have been installed in common areas on Sloane, Kenilworth and Wellesley. If you’re out with your pooch and are in need of a bag to pick up after him or her, we hope you’ll avail yourself of one of these stations. We want to make it easy to keep Stratford Manor’s common areas clean and enjoyable for all residents. You can help us maintain them by alerting the board if a station needs refilling by emailing stratfordnn@gmail.com. 

New street lights on Kenilworth

Three new street lights were installed and are now lighting up Kenilworth Drive. Year Round Landscaping will put mulched beds and plantings around the poles in the coming weeks. 

Landscaping

Sadly, four of the new shrubs at the corner of Sloane and Kenilworth were killed by our heat wave. They've been removed and will be replaced after the heat of the summer.  These plantings were guaranteed, so the replacement will be at no cost to SMA. 

Addressing drainage problems

On Friday, July 14, engineers, accompanied by our property management's maintenance specialist, visited the sites at which SMA is experiencing drainage issues when there is heavy or frequent rainfall. We have not yet received the report and recommendations, but hope to have those in hand very soon. This is a priority issue for the board and we will keep you updated on our progress. We want to address the drainage problems as quickly as we can, but not at the expense of an inadequate solution. 

Paving

The board is in the process of obtaining proposals for repair and repaving of the parking areas and streets in Stratford Manor.

SMA Board needs you!
An important way you can serve our community and help keep Stratford Manor a great place to live is by serving on the board. Three board seats will be up for election at our Annual Meeting in October. If you would like to know more about serving on the board, please contact Betty Snyder, chair of the Nominating Committee, 757-599-3163 or betty@snydertax.hrcoxmail.com. The nomination form is available for download on the “Board Members” page of our website. 

And the winner is...

This quarter we had TWO winners of the Prettiest Yard contest. That's right - homeowners Rosalie Grogan (112 Sloane) and Linda & Richard Wahlert (120 Sloane) worked together, getting advanced approval from the board, to improve the common area between their homes. They added a lovely stone path, mulch and plantings. It's a wonderful project that illustrates what great neighbors we have here at Stratford Manor! Both winners will receive a $25 gift card from Anderson's. Congratulations!