Sloane beautification work wins Raves--and help-- from residents
The decision to launch a major beautification project on the Sloane Place median earlier this year turned out to be a good one, based on positive feedback from residents throughout Stratford Manor. The work, featuring two visually connected groups of trees and strategically located decorative grasses, was completed by Year-Round Landscaping in March.
But a lack of rainfall for several days after the planting threatened to scuttle the work—until several residents answered the call by Landscaping Committee Chairwoman Nancy Allen to bring out the water hoses and provide some emergency relief.
“Not having an irrigation system, we designed the work around drought-resident grass,” said Ms. Allen, “but the lack of rainfall put a lot of this new vegetation on life support.”
Several residents pitched in, borrowing hoses and giving permission to use their water to give the median a thorough watering. Leading the effort was owner Neal Shawen, who borrowed hoses from a church and spent two days watering sections of the area that divides the winding two-lane road on Sloane.
Ms. Allen said the volunteers who helped in the effort literally saved the new landscaping. “They truly are our heroes.” Mr. Shawen rejects the hero label. “I was just trying to help out,” he said. “So far, so good,” he added. “It helps the appearance of our neighborhood a lot.”
Sloane owner Rosalie Grogan said “the new green islands of grass and plants truly enhance the neighborhood. A wonderful improvement—great job!”
Former board member Linda Wahlert said the improvements add freshness and curb appeal to our community. “Thank you. Well done!”
Abbitt Management’s annual spring inspections will be conducted in Stratford Manor sometime in May. The inspector, accompanied by a member of the SMA’s Architectural Control Committee, will be looking for peeling paint, broken railings, loose shingles and a host of other exterior issues with your townhouse.
Last year marked the first time that Abbitt conducted these inspections, and they were very comprehensive. A total of 126 units were cited for infractions-- mostly routine maintenance issues.
“We received pushback from some owners last year,” said Architectural Control Committee Chair Satori Gregorakis, “but most just got busy fixing problems like loose gutters or broken screens. It was encouraging to see such a positive attitude on their part. Most owners understand that we are all in this together, and that one home in disrepair can adversely affect the beauty and value of all our homes in Stratford Manor.”
Mr. Gregorakis said there was some confusion last year over the interpretation of the forms sent to homeowners, largely because they had numerous hard-to-read handwritten notes on them. “The Committee took that complaint seriously and improved the form so that there is less reason for the inspector to write notes on it.” He added that last year’s inspections included taking photos and making other notes needed to set up an electronic file on each townhouse. “Now that Abbitt has this detailed historical information, the inspections should go faster and be more accurate.”
He explained that the Board overruled some inspector citations last year due to the lack of historical data and the inspector’s newness to the community. “But we will be expecting the same level of compliance this year.” He could not give an exact date for the inspections, and urged owners to begin preparing for them as soon as possible. Among other things, owners can check the list of annual inspection items on the Architectural Compliance Page on this site.
President’s Corner
Progress continues on the SMA board’s major projects. The Governing Documents Committee received the board’s approval at its April 14 meeting of plans to introduce an amended key legal document for owner approval. This effort should be launched sometime this spring. At the same time, the Infrastructure Maintenance Committee is finalizing its Request for Proposals documents and hopes to seek contractor bids for repaving and other work within the next week or two. Details on both of these projects will be forthcoming.
What a wonderful time of the year! Right on time, spring is giving us beautiful azaleas, dogwoods, roses and green grass, lifting the spirits of all of us in Stratford Manor—especially the dog walkers who had to brave the cold all winter. Thanks to Year Round Landscaping and the watchful eye of Nancy Allen, our common areas are looking great. Adding to that great feeling is the beauty of the median on Sloane Place—spruced up earlier this year and saved from drought conditions by caring residents.
With warm weather arriving, so does the desire to invite family and friends over for a get-together. Many medical experts say it’s too soon to relax the rules we have been living with for the past year or more. But if you do, be considerate of your neighbors. First, make sure you direct your guests to on-street parking and not let them block our roads and parking spots by parking on our curbs. Second, make sure any parties have a reasonable ending time and that your music isn’t loud enough to rattle your neighbors’ windows.
If a neighbor’s loud party keeps you awake late at night, call the Newport News Police Dept.’s non-emergency number, which is 247-2500. Explain the situation and ask them to send out some officers to try to break up the party. According to a police spokeswoman I spoke with, the police will come out as soon as possible. If they are tied up in a true emergency, you may have to wait awhile. But they will eventually respond. Making loud noises that prompt neighbor complaints is a violation of the City’s noise ordinance, if it occurs between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m . If a car is blocking your parking space, you can report it to our towing service, Mid-Atlantic Towing, at 406-9400, and they should respond with a tow truck.
As for those noisy contractors who start their saws and concrete mixing machines early in the morning, you are out of luck. Surprisingly, there is no City ordinance regulating the start time.
--John Gullett, President
Painting this spring? New guide is a must!
If you’re planning to paint your shutters, trim boards or some other exterior part of your home this spring, be sure to read the Association’s newly developed “painting manual”. This guide, created by the Architectural Control Committee, contains valuable information on such things as when you need to seek approval, what colors you can choose from, and where you can get a good deal on your paint.
“The committee devoted numerous hours to researching the history of the Association’s rules about paint colors,” said President John Gullett, “and took an inventory of the colors now on homes in Stratford Manor. They have done a great job in consolidating all relevant information into one concise document and modifying a few rules to make it easier for everyone.”
Among other things, the Committee identified 22 Colonial Williamsburg colors now in use in Stratford Manor and established simple rules for using them.
Mr. Gullett said a printed version of
the guide will be available soon, and an online version has been added to the
Association’s website here.
Trash Pickup Schedule
April 27--Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
May 4— Trash only
May 11—recycling, bulk pickup & trash
May 18— Trash only
May 25— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
June 2— Trash only (Wednesday pickup due to holiday).
June 8— Recycling, bulk pickup & trash
June 15-- Trash only
June 22—recycling, bulk pickup & trash
June 29—Trash only
If your container was missed during collection, call 757-933-2311 within 24 hours.
Trash and recycling receptacles should be curbside no earlier than the evening before scheduled collection day and removed from the street by the morning of the day after collections.
Bulk trash, which is collected on the same schedule as recycling, may be put out the weekend before scheduled collection.