“News
You Can Use”
Stratford
Manor Association’s
Newsletter
(December 2025)
HELLO DECEMBER!
December is known for its major winter holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, as well as New Year’s Eve, which mark a time for family gatherings and cultural or religious traditions. It also features significant astronomical events like the Winter Solstice and other observances such as International Human Rights Day. Many people focus on giving to charity, spreading peace, and reflecting on the past year while looking toward the future. Also, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is December 7th. A fun fact to know is that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by the retail store Montgomery Ward for a 1939 Christmas promotion. The birthstones for December are turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite. The birth flowers are holly and paperwhite narcissus. “Wishing you the gift of faith, the blessing of hope, and the peace of his love at Christmas and always.”
WELCOME YOUR NEW BOARD FOR
2026! The association’s new board of
directors was elected at the Annual Meeting which was held on November 12, 2025. They are as follows: Doug Marmon (President),
Ryan Hatter (Vice President), Fran (Dobby) Hodges (Secretary), Bob Lucas (Treasurer), Stephen DiPersio, and Sara Hanson. As you will note, there are some “familiar faces” as well as some “new faces”. The members are enthusiastic, eager to help improve communication, and to re-establish homeownership pride within our community.
There are three vacant
positions on the board and if you are willing to donate a few hours of your
time, please contact Doug Marmon (president.stratfordmanor@gmail.com). The
association wishes to thank Donna Groller and Rick Lieb for their hard work and
dedication over the past year(s). As a
reminder, the next board meeting is Wednesday, December 10, 2025, (5:30 p.m.) at
Abbitt Management. All are welcome!
“IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A
LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS” - -
The holiday season is approaching
fast, and the association would like to remind you that:
When setting out items for
bulk trash, please place bulk pickup items on the pavement near the curb and
not on the grass as it kills the grass.
Be sure to break down cardboard boxes for recycling. Styrofoam
does not go into recycling! It will not be picked up and it should
go into your regular trash bin.
If you have large bulk items, please be sure to use the cardboard disposal bin behind the firehouse near Todd Stadium. The recycling bins are behind Fire Station #10 which is located at 12455 Warwick Blvd.
FRONT PORCH / FRONT YARD
STORAGE: Please do not use your front
porch or yard as a storage area. While it may seem inconsequential if we all
stored coolers, tools and bikes on our front porches, Stratford Manor could
pass for a junk yard.
SPEEDING LIMIT WITHIN
STRATFORD MANOR: The speed limit is
15 mph within our community. Please be careful of children playing and riding
bikes.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES NOTED: If you see a crime or any illegal activity being
committed, please call 911!
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
ABOUT THE HOA: If you have any questions and/or concerns
about the association, its vendors, or policies, please contact Abbitt
Management at Associations@abbitt.com. If you are
unclear about a rule or want the board to consider an ideal of yours, please
send an email to board@stratfordmanor.net. In addition,
owners are welcome to attend board meetings, and the next one will be held on December
10, 2025.
When you decided to join the Stratford Manor community
either by ownership or as a resident, you become responsible for maintaining
the property and the yard. You also become a part of our community and play an
important part in keeping it peaceful and a beautiful place in which to live.
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s a time to reflect on
this year’s experiences, both highs and lows, and embrace the potential for
fresh starts and new beginnings that 2026 offers: a chance to set new goals,
pursue aspirations, and write a fresh chapter in our lives, leaving behind any
past challenges and stepping into a year filled with hope and possibility. With that in mind, no one person can do it
all. It takes a village. Please consider
giving your time to support your Association by volunteering on a committee. May
the new year bring you health, happiness, and meaningful connections’’.
DO YOU WANT THE LATEST INFORMATION? The best way to
be kept informed is to receive a copy of the newsletter by email. To provide or update your contact
information, email it to the board at the following email address: board@stratfordmanor.net.
*****************
Parking: Each owner/resident has 2 assigned spaces.
Parking in other people’s space or anywhere else in the community is not
allowed. Parking along the medians within SM is not permitted and vehicles may
be towed at the owners’ expense. Parking
along the medians can be a hazard to others, especially emergency vehicles.
*****************
Be A Good Neighbor – Please be a good neighbor and
promptly pick up dog waste from your pet.
If you are walking your dog, please feel free to use the two dog
stations found within our community. Do
not place dog waste in other people’s trash can. Remember to clean off your patio frequently
as no one enjoys sitting on their patio smelling dog waste.
In addition, dog owners are required to keep their dog under
their immediate control at any time a dog is taken off their property. Dog owners may be held liable for any damages
their dog does to other homeowners’ property and/or the community property. PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR DOG URINATE ON
THE SHRUBS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
As a reminder, the City of Newport News requires that your dog MUST
BE LEASHED when you take them for a walk.
**********************
TRASH PICK UP DATES:
December 2, December 9, December 16, December 23, and December 30.
Please be mindful when placing “bulk” items out for
pickup. Guidelines can be found at the
City’s website: nnva.gov.
SMA BOARD FOR 2026:
Doug Marmon, President
Email: President.StratfordManor@gmail.com)
Ryan Hatter, Vice President
Fran (Dobby) Hodges, Secretary
Email: Secretary.StratfordManor@gmail.com)
Bob Lucas, Treasurer
Stephen DiPersio
Sara Hanson
Association’s
Website:
stratfordmanornn.blogspot.com
Contact the Board via their NEW email:
or through Abbitt.
Property Management:
Abbitt Management
Ms. Tricia Wells, Manager
Email:
associations@abbitt.com
757-874-4900
Board Meeting Dates: Dec. 10, 2025; February 11, 2026, April 8, 2026, June 10, 2026, August 12, 2026, October 14, 2026, a 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. at Abbitt Management Company
