Thursday, July 9, 2026

"NEWS YOU CAN USE - JUNE 2026 NEWSLETTER

 

“News You Can Use”

Stratford Manor Association’s

Newsletter

(June 2026)

HELLO JUNE!  The month of June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, making it a traditional time for weddings and new life.  It is also known for many things, including Pride Month, the start of summer, the end of school for many students, and the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.  It also features important holidays like Father’s Day and Juneteenth.  In addition to these, June is also marked by various awareness months and celebrations like National Safety Month, Men’s Health Month, and African American Music Appreciation Month. The birth flowers of June are roses or honeysuckle.  And what is so rare as a day in June?  Then, if ever, come perfect days.”  John Keats


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A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES TO:  A special thank you goes to our HOA President, Doug Marmon, who takes time his time to store, maintain, and put up the American flags on the three entrance signs. These flags will be flying from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  The flags gently swaying in the wind is a welcome sight as you enter our community and it reminds us of its significance as a symbol of freedom, unity, and national pride.  

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Bookish Bites: Bookish Bites” is a new social event that will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.  On June 9th, they will be meeting at “Sage Kitchen” at Anderson’s Garden Center at 11:30 a.m. for lunch and a book swap. Everyone is responsible for their own meals.  Bring a book or two to “swap”.  Come and grab a book, have a bite to eat, and enjoy the fellowship.  If you have any questions, contact Barb Lucas at barbwlucas@yahoo.com or 757-880-1627.  Hope to see you there!

 

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Please ensure that you lock your cars.  Locking your car doors is a crucial step in vehicle security.  Even briefly leaving your car, like for a quick shop, requires locking.  Locking your car prevents thieves from easily accessing and stealing items left in plain sight.  Remember, if you see anything suspicious, please call the police.

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Summertime Clean Up: With summer approaching, it’s a good time to spruce up your home. Here are a few helpful tips:

1.       Gutters need cleaning front and rear.  By keeping the gutters free of debris helps to prevent any roof damage from happening.

2.      Weeding and mulching flower beds and trim shrubs. 

3.      Ensure trash and debris is removed from behind fence in rear of properties.

4.      Repair / replace house numbers.  House numbers need to be visible so that emergency assistance can readily see it as needed.

5.      Do not use your front yard as storage for items.  Ensure that your front yard is neat and pretty as that is what visitors see when they come into our community.

6.      Please ensure that your back fence and gate are in good condition.

7.      House shutters are fading.  The color of home does not match trim board and porch. (See article below).

8.      Repair any broken windows and window trims. 

9.      Repair/replace broken mullions in windows.  All windows MUST HAVE mullions in them.

10.  Ensure attic vents are in good condition to prevent unwanted “critters” from coming into your attic.

11.  Remove all “old” seasonal décor.  Time to put away the Christmas décor.

12.  Plant pretty flowers for the summer.

13.  Keep your back patio clear of debris that can attract mosquitoes. If you have pets, remove pet waste promptly so outdoor gatherings stay pleasant for everyone. 

As always, the HOA thanks everyone in the community for helping keep our homes well maintained. Together, we can continue making Stratford Manor a beautiful place to live.

 

GOOD TO KNOW!

All exterior structural work must be pre-approved.  All owners must gain approval prior to making exterior structural, color, or other decorative change in appearance.  No owner has the authority to authorize any exterior work to be done in Stratford Manor without prior approval of the Architectural Committee.  An architectural request for can be found on the Stratford Manor Blogspot and a copy is attached for your use. All architectural requests must be submitted to Abbitt Management Company.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

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Painting Your Home?  There are certain requirements for matching colors of two or more elements of your exterior.  They are:

1.        Front door paint color and the color of your shutters must match

2.       Porch color (rails, posts and brow) must match the trim of the house.  The trim is the top trim board just under the roof and trim board on the side of the roof (also known as a rake board).

3.       If your unit has a bay window, it too must match the trim.

4.    The trim color of your unit cannot be changed.

 

Each unit within Stratford Manor has authorized, approved colors.  There is an assigned color for your door and shutters, another for your porch, trim and bay window, and a third one for your siding (if your home has siding).  The assigned colors are available on the Stratford Manor Blogspot.

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PARKING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY:

Please be mindful to allow guests to use your parking space as needed.  If additional spaces are needed, be neighborly and talk with your neighbors to use a vacant space.  There are two visitor spots within the community.  There is public parking on Kenilworth.

 

TRASH PICK UP DATES:

June 2, (Bulk), June 9, June 16, (Bulk), June 23, and June 30 (Bulk).

Remember to leave 3 feet between cans for easy pickup. Per city guidelines, all can lids must remain closed. Please do not place bulk items on the medians, as they damage the grass. Styrofoam does not go in the recycle bin; please place it in your garbage bin. Thank you!


SMA Board for 2026

Doug Marmon, President

Email: President.StratfordManor@gmail.com 

Ryan Hatter, Vice President

Email:  Murphysdad12@gmail.com 

Fran (Dobby) Hodges, Secretary

Email:  Secretary.StratfordManor@gmail.com 

Bob Lucas, Treasurer

Email:  lucasb@att.net 

Sara Hanson

Email: smhanson64@gmail.com

 

 Association’s Website:

stratfordmanornn.blogspot.com

 

Contact the Board via their NEW email:

board@stratfordmanor.net

or through Abbitt.

 

 Property Management:

Abbitt Management 

Ms. Tricia Wells, Manager

Mr. Zachery Wise, Assistant

 Email: associations@abbitt.com

757-874-4900

 

               Board Meeting Dates:

June 10, 2026, August 12, 2026, October 14, 2026, and December 9, 2026

All board meeting will be held at Abbitt Management and will start at 5:30 p.m.

 

                Annual Meeting: 

November 18, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Abbitt Management Company