President’s Corner
Hi! My name is John Gullett, and I am the newly elected president of your Homeowners Association.
My wife, Judith, and I are both retired. Last summer we decided to downsize from our larger home in Maxwell Gardens to a townhouse at 141 Wellesley in your beautiful community—and we were met with warm welcomes by so many of you that we knew we had made the right decision.
Because we care about our new environment, I volunteered to serve on the Association’s Board. In December, the Board elected me president and Linda Wahlert vice president. So we start 2018 with a new slate of officers, supported by a Board made up of several long-time residents. In addition, Satori Gregorakis has joined our Board, and many former Board members, such as Nancy Allen and Ann Turner, have generously continued their involvement.
We know this charming complex—which feels to us like a beautiful oasis in the middle of town—needs plenty of attention if it is to continue to be a comfortable and safe home for all of us. That level of attention was recognized by your Board last year, when it hired Advanced Association Management Group, Inc. (AAMG) to provide professional management for Stratford Manor. AAMG’s Robbi Henry, our property manager, has done a fine job of performing the day-to-day management of our community.
But I want to assure you that we will be a hands-on Board in 2018, providing guidance and oversight of AAMG, communicating regularly with all residents, and seeking your input on suggested improvements. Details on the latter will be forthcoming.
To help in the communications effort, we have decided to restore the printed version of the Stratford Manor Newsletter. And to coincide with the new bi-monthly meeting schedule of the Board, the newsletter will now be published every other month.
I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to help improve our Stratford Manor community. I cannot promise success; I can only promise that I will give it my all. It takes a collective effort, and I hope we can count on your cooperation as we move forward through this new year.
Meanwhile, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Just send us an email at stratfordnn@gmail.com or drop a note to one of our Board members.
-- John Gullett, SMA President
Hi! My name is John Gullett, and I am the newly elected president of your Homeowners Association.
My wife, Judith, and I are both retired. Last summer we decided to downsize from our larger home in Maxwell Gardens to a townhouse at 141 Wellesley in your beautiful community—and we were met with warm welcomes by so many of you that we knew we had made the right decision.
Because we care about our new environment, I volunteered to serve on the Association’s Board. In December, the Board elected me president and Linda Wahlert vice president. So we start 2018 with a new slate of officers, supported by a Board made up of several long-time residents. In addition, Satori Gregorakis has joined our Board, and many former Board members, such as Nancy Allen and Ann Turner, have generously continued their involvement.
We know this charming complex—which feels to us like a beautiful oasis in the middle of town—needs plenty of attention if it is to continue to be a comfortable and safe home for all of us. That level of attention was recognized by your Board last year, when it hired Advanced Association Management Group, Inc. (AAMG) to provide professional management for Stratford Manor. AAMG’s Robbi Henry, our property manager, has done a fine job of performing the day-to-day management of our community.
But I want to assure you that we will be a hands-on Board in 2018, providing guidance and oversight of AAMG, communicating regularly with all residents, and seeking your input on suggested improvements. Details on the latter will be forthcoming.
To help in the communications effort, we have decided to restore the printed version of the Stratford Manor Newsletter. And to coincide with the new bi-monthly meeting schedule of the Board, the newsletter will now be published every other month.
I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to help improve our Stratford Manor community. I cannot promise success; I can only promise that I will give it my all. It takes a collective effort, and I hope we can count on your cooperation as we move forward through this new year.
Meanwhile, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Just send us an email at stratfordnn@gmail.com or drop a note to one of our Board members.
-- John Gullett, SMA President
Sloane lamp lights problem finally solved—we hope!
If you live on Sloane Place, you probably wondered why the four lamp lights in your section seemed to be alternating between “on” and “off” in recent weeks. No, it wasn’t your imagination.
It took awhile—and many trips by our electricians—to find the culprit. Turns out the electrical wiring connecting all four lights was damaged in several places, and shorting out when moisture soaked into the ground. When one damaged wire was found and repaired, the lights worked again only until another short occurred somewhere else. The electrician added individual breakers for three of the lights so he could more quickly isolate the source of the problem.
According to the electrician, the lights’ wiring is buried about one foot under the soil behind the Sloan residences-- less than today’s codes would require. Thus, it is susceptible to damage by utility people and others digging deeper into the ground.
Replacing the wiring would be a major undertaking, so for now we ask that residents call Miss Utility before anyone wants to bury cable or wiring behind their homes. If the problem persists, the Board will look into alternatives.
Snow removal
The major snow storm that hit us in early January was disruptive, to say the least. What made that snowfall more severe than usual was the rapid drop in temperatures that created hazardous icy conditions overnight. Based on the weather forecast earlier that week, the Board had made a request to have Year Round Landscaping (YRL) come in after the storm to clean up. But by the time YRL arrived the day after the storm ended, the ice underneath was rock solid. This made for a very challenging clean-up.
To try to figure out how to avoid this in the future, the Board invited an YRL representative to its regular Feb. 1 meeting. After much discussion, a plan was agreed upon that will allow YRL to begin the clean-up as soon as possible after a bad storm passes.
In addition, the Board voted to continue including common-area sidewalks in any parking-lot snow removal order, to help those residents who are unable to clear the snow and ice themselves.
John Gullett, president of the association, stressed that any snow removal—which is costly-- will be authorized only when it is expected that the combination of heavy snow/ ice and below-freezing temperatures will create extremely hazardous conditions for our residents.
Winter weather delays drainage project
A long-sought solution to flooding conditions behind three sections of townhomes in our community showed some tangible evidence of getting under way recently, but unusually wet and cold weather in January brought the work to an abrupt halt.
E. W. Muller, a local contracting firm, was awarded a $35,000 contract in late December to build concrete swales, or narrow ditches, to manage water runoff on the back lots of the affected homes. Two of the areas are on Wellesley Drive and a third is on Sloane Place.
After locating utility lines in January, Muller began excavating short sections of ground, but postponed further work because of periods of mud or frozen ground. ”The ground is now saturated,” said Leon Joyce of Muller. “I would have to make multiple trips around back with my equipment to both excavate and remove the dirt, as well as to haul the concrete back.” He noted this would tear up the yard from the street all the way to the back. Muller is now waiting for an extended period of dry weather so the firm can resume its work.
Thanks, neighbor!
Mr. Rogers reminded us as children with “Won’t you be my Neighbor?” Perhaps we at Stratford Manor can live that out in a small way by bringing in or taking out our neighbors’ trash cans sometimes. As folks may be out of town, down with the flu, or just too busy to notice trash schedule. Thank you for being my neighbor! -- Linda Wahlert, Vice President
Trash Pickup Schedule
Feb. 13—Trash only
Feb. 21—Wed. pickup due to holiday. Trash, recycling & bulk
Feb. 27—Trash only
Mar. 6— Trash, recycling & bulk
Mar. 13—Trash only
Mar. 20—Trash, recycling & bulk
Mar. 27—Trash only
Apr. 3—Trash, recycling & bulk
Apr. 10—Trash only
Apr. 17—Trash, recycling & bulk
Apr. 24—Trash only
If your container was missed during collection, call 757-933-2311. Remember: Trash receptacles should be curbside for collection no earlier than 3pm on Monday for collection on Tuesday and removed from the street by 6pm on Wednesday.
If you live on Sloane Place, you probably wondered why the four lamp lights in your section seemed to be alternating between “on” and “off” in recent weeks. No, it wasn’t your imagination.
It took awhile—and many trips by our electricians—to find the culprit. Turns out the electrical wiring connecting all four lights was damaged in several places, and shorting out when moisture soaked into the ground. When one damaged wire was found and repaired, the lights worked again only until another short occurred somewhere else. The electrician added individual breakers for three of the lights so he could more quickly isolate the source of the problem.
According to the electrician, the lights’ wiring is buried about one foot under the soil behind the Sloan residences-- less than today’s codes would require. Thus, it is susceptible to damage by utility people and others digging deeper into the ground.
Replacing the wiring would be a major undertaking, so for now we ask that residents call Miss Utility before anyone wants to bury cable or wiring behind their homes. If the problem persists, the Board will look into alternatives.
Snow removal
The major snow storm that hit us in early January was disruptive, to say the least. What made that snowfall more severe than usual was the rapid drop in temperatures that created hazardous icy conditions overnight. Based on the weather forecast earlier that week, the Board had made a request to have Year Round Landscaping (YRL) come in after the storm to clean up. But by the time YRL arrived the day after the storm ended, the ice underneath was rock solid. This made for a very challenging clean-up.
To try to figure out how to avoid this in the future, the Board invited an YRL representative to its regular Feb. 1 meeting. After much discussion, a plan was agreed upon that will allow YRL to begin the clean-up as soon as possible after a bad storm passes.
In addition, the Board voted to continue including common-area sidewalks in any parking-lot snow removal order, to help those residents who are unable to clear the snow and ice themselves.
John Gullett, president of the association, stressed that any snow removal—which is costly-- will be authorized only when it is expected that the combination of heavy snow/ ice and below-freezing temperatures will create extremely hazardous conditions for our residents.
Winter weather delays drainage project
A long-sought solution to flooding conditions behind three sections of townhomes in our community showed some tangible evidence of getting under way recently, but unusually wet and cold weather in January brought the work to an abrupt halt.
E. W. Muller, a local contracting firm, was awarded a $35,000 contract in late December to build concrete swales, or narrow ditches, to manage water runoff on the back lots of the affected homes. Two of the areas are on Wellesley Drive and a third is on Sloane Place.
After locating utility lines in January, Muller began excavating short sections of ground, but postponed further work because of periods of mud or frozen ground. ”The ground is now saturated,” said Leon Joyce of Muller. “I would have to make multiple trips around back with my equipment to both excavate and remove the dirt, as well as to haul the concrete back.” He noted this would tear up the yard from the street all the way to the back. Muller is now waiting for an extended period of dry weather so the firm can resume its work.
Thanks, neighbor!
Mr. Rogers reminded us as children with “Won’t you be my Neighbor?” Perhaps we at Stratford Manor can live that out in a small way by bringing in or taking out our neighbors’ trash cans sometimes. As folks may be out of town, down with the flu, or just too busy to notice trash schedule. Thank you for being my neighbor! -- Linda Wahlert, Vice President
Trash Pickup Schedule
Feb. 13—Trash only
Feb. 21—Wed. pickup due to holiday. Trash, recycling & bulk
Feb. 27—Trash only
Mar. 6— Trash, recycling & bulk
Mar. 13—Trash only
Mar. 20—Trash, recycling & bulk
Mar. 27—Trash only
Apr. 3—Trash, recycling & bulk
Apr. 10—Trash only
Apr. 17—Trash, recycling & bulk
Apr. 24—Trash only
If your container was missed during collection, call 757-933-2311. Remember: Trash receptacles should be curbside for collection no earlier than 3pm on Monday for collection on Tuesday and removed from the street by 6pm on Wednesday.
