July 2020

Vol. 8, Issue 7

www.stonebridgeranch.com

Let’s pursue what’s possible We know the path to fulﬁllment begins with getting to know the truth of who you are, what matters to you and how you’ve made decisions so far. From there, we guide you toward a personalized strategy that will help you make smart choices and live your life with conﬁdence by addressing: • Annuities • Individual Retirement Accounts • Workplace retirement plans — 403(b), 401(k), 457(b)

Chad NAIL

Financial Consultant chad.nail@equitable.com Tel: (972) 455-9179 Cell: (972) 971-5151 http://www.texas.equitableadvisors.com/

• Permanent life insurance • Term life insurance • Long-term care insurance • Business continuation programs • Employee beneﬁts • Investments and wealth management

12377 Merit Drive Suite 1500 Dallas, TX 75251

We don’t start by asking how much you earn. We start by learning who you are. “Equitable Advisors” is the brand name of AXA Advisors, LLC. Securities offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-554-1234), member FINRA, SIPC. Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network, LLC, which conducts business in CA as AXA Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC; in UT as AXA Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC; and in PR as AXA Network of Puerto Rico, Inc. AXA Advisors and AXA Network do not provide tax or legal advice. © 2020 AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. New York, NY 10104. (212) 554-1234. GE-2911655 (1/20) (Exp. 8/20) | G649861

July 2020

Vol. 8, Issue 7

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS The official publication of the Stonebridge Ranch Community Association, Inc.

Cartoon Ranch

Photo Gallery Summer Concerts on the Circle

Community Calendar

Life-Giving Water

SRCA commitment to smart irrigation helps a community in need

You’re Invited to Join

In Loving Memory

SRCA launches new official Facebook group to keep residents informed

Curb Appeal Corner

Social Scene

Save the Date August 2020 Events

Welcome, Kara Robinson

New Compliance Supervisor joins onsite staff

Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. Published by Community Matters, Inc., this magazine is produced at no cost to the Association and is mailed monthly to all Stonebridge Ranch residences free of charge.

stonebridgeranch.com

With heavy hearts, we say farewell to staff member Jeff Torres

Cover Photo by Erica Lee Who better to say, “Happy July 4th!” than this furry friend of one of our Stonebridge Ranch residents? Our staff photographer captured this pup’s warm brown eyes, sweet doggy smile, and patriotic headband at our 2017 July 4th celebrations.

The Coronavirus is still with us and has certainly changed our lives. I hope all of you are continuing to follow the ever-changing governmental recommendations and staying safe. The Board is paying attention to all recommendations and taking those into consideration in making decisions for Stonebridge Ranch. Guidelines and orders change frequently so I will not be addressing any specific actions in this newsletter. We will remove any restrictions and resume activities and events as soon as we can. Just watch for E-blasts and check the association’s website (www.stonebridgeranch.com) for regular updates and current information. In this month’s issue of the magazine, you will find items about Kara Robinson, our new Compliance Supervisor, our new Facebook Group, and the celebration of the 31st anniversary of Stonebridge Ranch. There is also an interesting article about the installation of a water well in Zambia as a result of a water management project we participated in with Weathermatic (Our Smart Controller vendor) and Smart Outdoor Services (our irrigation contractor). Board Meeting, May 21, 2020 The Board meeting of May 21, 2020 was called to order at 1:00 PM. This was our second Board meeting conducted using video conferencing (we used Zoom). The use of this technology is permitted, and the meeting meets all legal requirements. All Board members were present along with our Director of Operations, CMA’s CFO and Onsite Vice President. The meeting began with a Homeowners Open Forum. One homeowner appeared to discuss above ground pools. Temporary inflatable above ground pools are permitted; permanent above ground pools are not. One other homeowner suggested we contact our insurance broker to see if we had any credits available because of the virus. We followed up and are due some, amount yet to be determined. Another homeowner requested information about when the pools were opening and the safety protocols that would be put in place. Thirteen other homeowners observed the meeting via Zoom. The next item of business was to ratify the minutes of the previous Board meeting and all decisions made since the last Board meeting. Old Business We discussed the Covid-19 virus to decide what actions to take during the next several weeks. Check our web site

regularly and F ROM T HE P RESIDENT watch for E-blasts for the latest information from the Association. These decisions will be updated as conditions change and new governmental orders are issued. In our continuing review of operational guidelines, we reviewed and updated the guidelines for our Common Area Signage Policy, Editorial Guideline Policy, Email Registration Procedure, Communication Committee Guideline, Social Media Guideline, and Official Social Media Channels. New Business We briefly discussed the possibility of the impact of an event center that may be considered by the city at the Southwest corner of Lake Forest and Virginia. There is not enough available information at this time to have a serious discussion. We will review as more information is available. We also reviewed and approved our official Facebook group: Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA) as another way to get information out to our homeowners. Executive Session The Board reviewed and approved the Foreclosure Report. We also reviewed and accepted the Collections Committee Report, the Violations Report, and the Project Expenditures Report. The Winter Haven pond dredging project began on May 11 and is now underway. It is scheduled for completion in about 60 days. We reviewed the status of water usage now that we have changed the way we manage our controllers and work with the irrigation and landscape contractors to reduce our usage of water. Early results are positive. We also reviewed our monthly financial reports. The Director of Operations updated us on pending legal issues. Association Reports We reviewed and approved the Financial Reports including the Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Variance Report, Reserve Budget, Accounts Receivable, Bad Debts and Investments. Board Liaisons presented updates on committee activities reflected in Committee minutes, and updates to our Strategic plan. The meeting adjourned at 5:58 PM. Jon Dell’Antonia President, Board of Directors STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

July 2020

Vol. 8, Issue 7

STONEBRIDGE RANCH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. 6201 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, TX 75071 Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ph: (214) 733-5800 Fax: (214) 778-0595 website: www.stonebridgeranch.com Courtesy Patrol: (214) 794-4945

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Jon Dell’Antonia, Erica Lee, Dave Wiest

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Jon Dell’Antonia

Vice President Norm Counts

Treasurer Michael Kaltenbaugh Secretary Jim Norton

15% OFF All 20 lb. Bags of Seed & Cases of Suet*

*Valid only at the participating store(s) listed. One discount per purchase. Offer not valid on previous purchases or sale items. Offer valid in-store only 7/1/20 thru 7/15/20.

Director Kristen Vartian Director Joe Closs

Director Amanda Batson

STAFF Professional management by RTI/Community Management Associates Inc. (CMA) Director of Operations Greg Herbst

Maintenance Supervisor Michael Cawley

Landscape & Grounds Manager Brock Whetstone Lifestyle Director David Wiest

Executive Assistant Rony Peterson

BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS GARDEN ACCENTS UNIQUE GIFTS

Maintenance Assistant Eric Ortega

Compliance Supervisor Kara Robinson

Compliance Coordinators Gwen Burns, Randy Cain, Pat Liles, Jarred Mercer

Administrative Assistant Melba Siebel

Community Services Coordinator Tamra Collins Communications Specialist Erica Lee

Operations Support Representative Allison Bedgood

PUBLISHER To place an advertisement, please contact: Community Matters, Inc., PO Box 5900, Frisco, TX 75035 Ph: (972) 370-1778

3001 S. Hardin Blvd., Suite 106 McKinney, TX 75070 (in the Tom Thumb shopping center next to Hallmark) (972) 472-2022 www.wbu.com/McKinney 6

stonebridgeranch.com

website: www.communitymattersinc.com

Stonebridge Ranch News is the only authorized publication of the Stonebridge Ranch Community Association, Inc. It is published on behalf of residents for informational purposes only. The Association does not guarantee any work or claims made by advertisers herein and claims no responsibility or liability for statements made in the publication. The Association does not support or take responsibility for services, whether paid or volunteer, mentioned herein, nor for statements published in articles or letters herein which are not endorsed by group decision of the Board of Directors.

SRCA Helps Bring Life-Giving Water to a Community in Need In 2016, the Board of Directors of the Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA) turned to the irrigation water management experts at Smart Outdoor Services (SOS) to analyze new ways our association could save water—and consequently, save money, too. Said Tom George, the Board Vice President and liaison to the Landscape & Grounds Committee at the time: “We know water rates are going to go up each year, and unless we want to increase annual dues every year to pay for this rising cost, we need a focused plan to improve the efficiency of the irrigation system in common areas.” That same year, the Board approved the first recommendation by SOS: the SRCA Top 10 Meters Project. The program aimed to lower water usage at the ten SRCA irrigation meters using the most water. It included updating the irrigation technology, as

well as implementing best practices to help reduce water consumption: pressure regulating each meter (resulting in heavier droplets throughout a zone, less mist, and therefore less evaporation); adding flow meters to allow for quicker leak detection; adding soil moisture sensors to immediately detect when soil is wet enough (signaling sprinkler shut-off ); and upgrading the sprinkler controllers to allow for remote monitoring. In the first year, these upgrades resulted in 29% less water usage at those meters. With proof of the program’s efficacy, the Board approved updates to the next top twenty meters in 2017. The collective result was a 54% reduction in water usage and a 42.5% reduction in water cost in the upgraded areas, showing a payback of the program cost in less than two years (even better than initially projected).

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

protected well was unsafe because residents had to lower containers into the well, thereby introducing contaminants. Due to their water supply, community members often suffered from waterborne diseases. Dysentery was a difficult but normal part of everyday life. Community members contracted malaria because the open wells were a breeding ground for carrier mosquitoes. Such illnesses impacted the community’s quality of life. Children often missed valuable time at school, and the farmers were often unable to work. Local leaders recognized that securing safe water would be a critical step in preventing disease among their population and improving daily life. A fruitful match was made when Weathermatic learned A Promise Made about the opportunity to As part of the support the community. 2018 initiative, the Through the water Weathermatic team made management technology a charitable promise. In investment made by the honor of all the gallons SRCA and the support of water we hoped to of our water management save here in Stonebridge partner Smart Outdoor Ranch, Weathermatic Services, the Weathermatic agreed to ‘give back’ by Foundation was able to providing clean water provide funding as part of to a community in need. its ‘Save Water | Give Life’ In the intervening years, social cause. the company identified The field staff began more than one potential Before installing the new well, the Weathermatic team and local partners tested the original well water quality. They then work on the water source recipient to receive our determined the best place to drill. by drilling and reinforcing water aid, but global the pipes, applying the circumstances (including a pump head, constructing the concrete platform political uprising in South America) thwarted earlier and base, and installing the pump-rod suckers. plans. After building the well, local leaders worked with Today we are happy to report that Weathermatic’s community members to establish a water committee, charitable promise has been fulfilled! The training them to care for their new source of life. Mwalufwekula Community, a small town in the Chibombo region of Zambia, now has access to clean Hygiene Promotion water in part because of Stonebridge Ranch. The Weathermatic local partners led a hygiene and sanitation training attended by 16 key community Community Details members. During the lessons, the staff addressed The Mwalufwekula Community has approximately how to properly transport and store water, maintain 366 residents who work primarily in agriculture and proper care of the pump, and how to make an oral refarming. Up to this point, the community has relied hydration solution. They also explained the basics of on three hand-dug wells for their water needs. Two of disease transmission and prevention, as well as signs these hand-dug wells were open to the surface, which and symptoms of dehydration. They taught interactive made them impossible to protect from contaminants lessons about hand washing by using a tippy tap, a such as dirt, litter, and various insects. Even the The Board then began looking into whether similar updates made sense for our entire common area irrigation system—clearly a much larger project! The accounting team of our professional management company, CMA, performed an audit of SOS reports and confirmed the savings. As a result, in 2018 the Board of Directors and management staff teamed up with SOS and a new partner, Weathermatic (a Texas company which manufacturers smart controllers and monitoring systems), to update all common area irrigation systems throughout Stonebridge Ranch. Using Weathermatic technology and hardware, we installed a total of more than 250 smart controllers connected to many miles of irrigation pipe.

stonebridgeranch.com

Project Stats • Location of Water Point Mwalufwekula Community, Chibombo, Zambia

many years to improving our water irrigation systems, we can add another item to our list of things to be thankful for: today families far away on a different continent have access to a better water source than they did before! ◀

• Coordinates Latitude (-14.686302), Longitude (27.895094)

Construction • Altitude 1,073 m

• Total Depth Drilled 24 m • Pump Type Hand Pump

• Platform Concrete with Reinforcing Steel

Water Quality • PH Level 6.7

• Hardness 200 ppm

• Dissolved Solids 310 ppm

• Bacteria Test Coliform Bacteria Not Detected

16 community leaders, including this farmer, attended hygiene and sanitation training led by Weathermatic local partners.

hand-washing device constructed from convenient local materials. The participatory method of these lessons helped community members discover their own ways to improve hygiene and sanitation choices and implement community-driven solutions. After the local team demonstrated how germs spread, the residents finished their training feeling better equipped to live healthier lives. Said Esau Fumpa, a 45-year old farmer, “We used to drink water from hand-dug wells, and it caused various waterborne diseases. Now, we have safe water to drink, which will reduce our illnesses.” To comply with the community health efforts already taking effect in the community, local leaders aided in constructing pit latrines and tippy taps in homes. With Gratitude As we live, work and play within the boundaries of Stonebridge Ranch, may we reflect with gratitude that we have access to clean and plentiful water—not only to drink, but to fill our pools and keep our 500+ acres of common areas looking lush and green (even during the hot summer months in Texas). In part because the SRCA Board of Directors has committed for STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

Your Invited! SRCA Launches Official Facebook Group The longevity and preservation of our community depends in part on how we share information with our homeowners and the degree to which homeowners pay attention to association communications. A well-informed resident is one who can actively participate in the shared goal of keeping our collective property values high. Residents “in the know” also have a much better chance of taking advantage of all that our community has to offer. Our Communications Committee devotes their volunteer service to optimizing existing strategies and expanding avenues to keep residents up to date on “all things Stonebridge Ranch”. One of their key goals is to provide a variety of official SRCA communication channels so that homeowners can choose their preferred methods to stay informed. We are happy to announce that the Board of Directors has approved the launch of an official Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA) Facebook group, and you’re invited! Read ahead for key details about the group, including how to join.

DIRECT LINK The group is titled “Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA)”. The direct link to locate the group is https://www.facebook. com/groups/250390076027824/. Because there are multiple Facebook pages and groups with ‘Stonebridge Ranch’ in the name, you may not be able to find it on your first try using the Facebook “search” function - if so, use the direct link. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the header photo of our Beach Club as depicted in the image below on this page.

SETTING The group setting is public. Anyone can visit the link above to see posts in our feed, and we will admit anyone who clicks the blue ‘+Join Group’ button. Why? Because one of our key values is to make information readily available to current residents, as well as to Realtors and prospective homeowners. We do our best to make sure folks have accurate information about events, amenities, policies, and regulations—in other words, all things Stonebridge. We believe such transparency contributes to property values and can aid you in maintaining or selling your home. This goal is reflected in other channels such as our website and SRCA E-News blasts. Unlike other homeowner’s associations which post their documents behind a website login “for residents only,” we publicly post our Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, Modif ication Design Guidelines and other association policies at www. stonebridgeranch.com. Similarly, anyone can scroll to the bottom of any one of our webpages and You’ll know you’ve found the official SRCA Facebook group when you see the name use the ‘Stay Connected’ form to “Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA) and a header photo of the Beach subscribe to our email blasts. Club.

stonebridgeranch.com

HELP US HELP YOU When you ask to join the official SRCA Facebook group, you will be asked three optional questions. These are: ‘What is your status in the community (i.e. homeowner, household member, tenant, Realtor, prospective resident/ other’); ‘What’s one question you have about our association or community?’; and ‘What is your favorite thing about Stonebridge Ranch?’ If you choose to answer, we greatly appreciate it! The Communications Committee will utilize the answers to help us understand our audience better and determine possible topics for future communications. WHY JOIN? Since the group is public, you may wonder: why join? If you have a personal Facebook account, please take the extra step of joining if you want our posts to show up in your Notification feed. This ensures our posts will come to you in real time on the platform. You can voluntarily choose to opt out of the group at any time. When you ask to join, you will see a hard-coded message above the optional questions which says: “Your membership is pending approval. Answer these questions from

the group admins to help them review your membership. Only the admins and moderators will see your answers.” You might not receive immediate admittance simply because our group admin will monitor the Facebook group as other daily communication tasks permit. Please be patient. The admin will admit join requests in the order they are received and only during business hours. Note that your answers to the optional questions will have no bearing on your membership. COMMENTS Posts in the official SRCA Facebook group are closed to comments. This policy ensures the protection of homeowner privacy, which is of utmost importance to us. It guarantees that only information endorsed by the SRCA regarding services and related issues will be shared in our feed. It also permits the most efficient use of our staff time and professional resources. In other forums regarding SRCA, posts and comments often contain misinformation which does not reflect SRCA policy, operations, or objectives. Acting on misinformation can lead to frustration, or worse, costly compliance mistakes. As always, for questions

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

related to your private SRCA property or account, please call 214.733.5800; fill out the ‘Submit a Question’ form at www.stonebridgeranch.com; or email srca@ cmamanagement.com. Staff members at the SRCA office (6201 Virginia Parkway) are available to assist you from Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. OTHER CHANNELS Along with the new Facebook group, we provide the following communication channels. Each has unique advantages. Considering what each has to offer, we hope you’ll utilize all that can be of benefit to you. • The Stonebridge Ranch News magazine. We mail this magazine monthly to all addresses in our community—almost 9,500 households! With the support of advertising, it is sent free of charge to our association and to our homeowners. All of our other official channels are voluntary and/or opt-in—you must provide your private contact info to participate. Though no one is forced to read the magazine, of course, we hope you’ll skim it each month. Not only will it help

you stay up-to-date, but here we are able to provide important context and background regarding projects through full-length articles. Due to mail delivery service, on occasion you may not find the monthly magazine in your mailbox. In such a case, please visit https://www stonebridgeranch.com/stonebridge-ranch-news/. We post digital copies every month as a back-up (and again, to share information with Realtors and prospective residents). • The www.stonebridgeranch.com website. We completely overhauled our public website in 2018. It contains our most robust repository of official Stonebridge Ranch documents and information. You can visit it at any time, 24-7, to search for answers to your questions. Please consider it your go-to resource! It contains hubs tailored to different groups, including homeowners, tenants, Realtors and prospective residents. Just scroll down the homepage to find your hub! One suggestion: you may want to peruse the site at your leisure now, whether you have a question or not. Before you find yourself on an urgent hunt for an answer to a specific question, it can help to know how the site is structured. From this site, you are linked directly to the private online account portal provided for home owners by CMA, our professional management company, at https://cma.cincwebaxis.com/. Just click the “Homeowner Account Login” link lo cated at the top right of every page at www. stonebridgeranch.com. • Broadcast Text messages. We announced the release of the Broadcast Text program via an SRCA E-News blast on March 23 and in the May edition of Stonebridge Ranch News. Because the messages must be short and sweet, we will use it to share time-sensitive important community updates. This program is available only to homeowners via their private online accounts with CMA. Homeowners must subscribe their preferred phone number(s) to the program; we will not send text messages without permission. See https://www.stonebridgeranch.com/srca broadcast-text-messages/ for complete details, including how to sign up.

stonebridgeranch.com

• SRCA E-News blasts. Our E-News blasts provide the quickest, easiest way for us to provide detailed information to residents—and to link back to relevant pages, and documents, and forms at our website. As noted above, residents must voluntarily subscribe to receive public E-News blasts from the SRCA. Anyone can sign up at any time–just scroll to the bottom of any webpage at www.stonebridgeranch.com and subscribe via the ‘Stay Connected’ form. You can also choose to unsubscribe at any time—the link to do so is included at the bottom of every email we send. Of course, we hope you won’t opt out, even if some of our e-blasts don’t contain info pertinent to your household. We sincerely do not want you to miss out on updates that could actually be of great importance to you! The value of quickly sharing news via e-blasts was highlighted during the recent phased reopening of our amenities as permitted by state guidelines. This communication channel provided the best avenue for us to swiftly share detailed information regarding our pools per the State-mandated, reduced headcount capacity.

Many residents who had not already subscribed to our e-blasts (or who had chosen to previously unsubscribe) were unable to register for the reduced swim sessions at the pool simply because the slots filled so quickly. Please note: providing your email address in your private online account at https://cma cincwebaxis.com/ does NOT subscribe your email address to receive our public SRCA E-News blasts. You must voluntarily provide your email address in BOTH locations—at https://cma.cincwebaxis.com/ to receive private communications, and at www.stonebridgeranch com to receive community-wide emails. You may provide your email(s) of preference in either location–the addresses do not need to match. Questions? If you have any questions about the new official SRCA Facebook group or any of our other communication channels, please email Erica Lee, Communications Specialist, at elee@cmamanagement. com. ◀

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

Cartoon Ranch

Happy Clients are my Passion. Cal Caylor Realtor®, MCNE

CalCaylor.com • YourMcKinney.com Integrity • Experience • Results Stonebridge Ranch Resident • Over 20 Years Experience

469.667.5657 cell

IncredibleMcKinneyHomes • calcaylor@gmail.com

stonebridgeranch.com

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

July 2020

EVENTS We look forward to seeing you!

stonebridgeranch.com

L & G Meeting, 9:30

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

New Compliance Supervisor Brings Years of Experience to Stonebridge Ranch In the spring of this year, just as the country was issuing shelter in place orders and our professional staff began to work from home as required by state and local guidelines, the Stonebridge Ranch Community Association (SRCA) welcomed Kara Robinson in the role of Compliance Supervisor. Kara oversees four compliance coordinators and an administrative assistant on behalf of our homeowners. Her team performs a vital task by helping our residents maintain premier design standards across more than 70 unique villages. They assist homeowners through the Modification Application process, review all property exteriors in Stonebridge Ranch on a two-week rotating schedule to address curb appeal maintenance, and answer homeowner questions regarding the SRCA governing documents and Modif ication Design Guidelines. Beginning a supervisory role in an unexpectedly

Though she is new to our onsite office, Kara brings years of association management experience to Stonebridge Ranch.

stonebridgeranch.com

remote work environment provided unique challenges for Kara, but luckily, she has significant experience in property management. She also worked at the corporate headquarters for Community Management Associates (CMA), our professional management company, for several years. Though she is new to our onsite Stonebridge Ranch office at 6201 Virginia Parkway, she has already been able to put her knowledge to good use. Stonebridge Ranch News sat down with Kara to learn more about her career and family. How did you get your start in association management? I have been in the association management industry for 11 years, but how I got my start is a rather funny story. I am the kind of person who firmly believes that all things happen for a reason! I was born and raised in Florida, living in Jacksonville. I was working as a temp for a company, and on a Monday, they told me I was going to be laid off that Friday. I had no idea what to do. A friend gave me the Sunday edition of the newspaper to look in the classified ads, something I had never done before. I saw an ad for a receptionist at an association management company, so I applied on Tuesday and went in for an interview that Wednesday. They hired me that Thursday; I was laid off from my temp job that Friday; and then I started my new position the next Monday. I never went a day without a job. From there, I rose through the ranks to become an Administrative Assistant, Association Manager, Marketing Analyst, and then Systems Training Analyst. Years later I told the CEO the story of how I got hired, and it was amazing. She told me the only advertising they had done for my receptionist positionâ€”my start in the industryâ€”was placing that one classified ad in that Sunday newspaper.

How did you get your start at CMA? Back in Jacksonville, I was dating Dustin. (He is now my husband, and we have a son, Mark.) In 2012, I was transferred to Dallas to work in a satellite office, and he followed me to Texas. He landed a job at the same management company, but in a different office. Later, after he switched companies and joined CMA, I followed him to work as the Customer Care manager at CMA headquarters in Plano. Dustin has changed me. I used to be a very anxious person, but he is one of the most even-keeled people I know. We’ve been together for 11 years, married for six. I used to get super stressed, but he is always just very calm. He’s good about asking questions: “What can you do to help this situation?” He’s definitely rubbed off on me. What did you learn as CMA’s Customer Care Manager that you can apply here to Stonebridge Ranch? The CMA Customer Care team provides customer support for hundreds of associations managed by CMA. Some of them are small, with just hundreds of homes. Some are large and have onsite offices which serve thousands of residents. Customer Care is the

nerve center where people who have questions can call and get help. During my time there, I learned that a big part of our job is simply educating people on what they agreed to when they moved into their HOA. Not everyone understands their own governing documents or the operations and processes that a management company puts in place to support their communities. When people call in frustrated, they often simply need information, and we are there to provide it to them. Now that I’m onsite at Stonebridge Ranch, I’m delving deep into the processes and guidelines that are unique to this community and which are determined by your own Board of Directors and committee volunteers. I can tell you—it’s a lot to learn! For me, it’s been really nice to see what Stonebridge Ranch has to offer. One thing I can tell homeowners: staff members are here to absorb a ton of information so they can simplify answers for you when you call with a question. Even if we can’t give someone the answer they want to hear, we can help translate the ‘why’ or ‘how’ behind the answer. ◀

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

In Loving Memory of Jeff “Big Jeff” Torres

Stonebridge Ranch children, many of whom called On Tuesday, June 9th, the staff of the Stonebridge him “Big Jeff.” At our Beach Club pool parties, it was Ranch Community Association (SRCA) unexpectedly always his job to hold the limbo pole and to judge the lost a valuable team member, Jeff Torres. Jeff tug-of-war contests and bouncy ball races hosted on passed away in McKinney, TX from a medical the sand volleyball courts. cause unrelated to COVID-19, and he will be Beyond his focus ensuring summer fun at the greatly missed. He was hired in 2012 by CMA, our pools, Jeff took great joy in making sure every familyprofessional management company, and he faithfully friendly event was as magical as possible. He did served the residents of Stonebridge Ranch for over not grumble at the workload required to decorate eight years. our largest annual In his role events such as Meet as Maintenance the Easter Bunny, Assistant, Jeff ’s skills the Halloween as a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ Spooktacular, or handyman proved the Tree Lighting useful in multiple Ceremony each areas of common December. In fact, he area upkeep. In this was quite happy to regard, we simply apply his mechanical cannot calculate his skills to fix miniscule impact. In one of his broken parts on first years on staff, motorized decorations. he was tasked with He equally enjoyed the immense job of installing largemanually repainting scale ornaments and white wooden stop characters to provide sign poles throughout the greatest visual the community. impact. As part of Though the City of As seen in this photo, Maintenance Assistant Jeff Torres looked on the team which erects McKinney is now with joy as countless Stonebridge Ranch kids made special memories the annual holiday methodically replacing at our pools and SRCA social events. He will be greatly missed. tree in front of the the iconic SBR poles association office, he helped inspire many “oohs” and with safer breakaway metal stop signs, for years Jeff ’s “aahs” from residents young and old when the tree handiwork could be seen on countless street corners was lit each year. throughout our 5,000+ acres. To everyone in our community who benefitted Jeff ’s greatest contributions were felt at our SRCA from knowing Big Jeff personally or from the result pools and at events big and small across our social of all his hard work on our behalf, we express our calendar. When he was hired, he brought over thirty deepest condolences. For many, this summer’s pool years of pool maintenance experience to SRCA. He season just won’t feel “right.” Families who frequent took great pride in maintaining the water and correct the Beach Club or Aquatic Center every year are sure chemicals at the Aquatic Center and Beach Club, to miss his big laugh and seeing him walk barefoot and he worked closely with our lifeguard partners to on the hot cement sidewalks under the Texas sun. keep everyone safe. Each summer, he worked every Goodbye, Big Jeff. We miss you! ◀ weekend and was a regular fixture in the lives of many stonebridgeranch.com

Curb Appeal Corner

Think back to when you first purchased your home in Stonebridge Ranch. One thing that may have attracted you is the look and feel of our villages. A pleasing aesthetic is made possible by widespread adherence to our association’s design and compliance guidelines, for which we are collectively responsibile. Over the next few months here in Curb Appeal Corner, we’ll explore the areas where we most often see curb appeal issues in our community. We’ll provide tips regarding how to protect your own home’s curb appeal and prevent violations on your association account. In this edition, we want to help you better understand how the basic compliance process works.

Inspection Schedules

Violation Notices

• Our professional compliance team members visit all 70+ villages every two weeks on a rotating schedule to conduct exterior property inspections.

If a compliance team member views a curb appeal issue at your property, you will receive a mailed postcard notice and the notice will be posted to your online account at https://cma.cincwebaxis.com/.

• Team members follow the City’s scheduled trash days. They do not inspect your village on your trash day. • Team members follow a number of best practices when conducting a village inspection. They travel in a vehicle marked with the SBR logo during business hours. They do not exit their vehicles to approach your home. They inspect the home exterior as visible from property line to property line from the street view.

If you have any questions or concerns whatsoever regarding the postcard, please do not hesitate to contact the association office at 214.733.5800 or srca@cmamanagement.com. Our compliance team members are here to help you understand SRCA guidelines and your options. If the violation is corrected before the next inspection 14 days later, the violation will be closed at that time and no further action is needed.

For You

We want you to know that the Compliance Team is here to address your concerns Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each staff member trains to become an expert in understanding the community’s guidelines and operational procedures. Please consider the staff your go-to resource to maintain your curb appeal according to your association’s covenants and policies.

#1 Trusted CBD STORE a medical card is not required to purchase cbd products!

for our first time customers

30% OFF

one cbd product

must present premier coupon. valid at this location only. expires 7/31/20

for our returning customers

15% OFF

one cbd product

must present premier coupon. valid at this location only. expires 7/31/20

CURBSIDE PICKUP MCKINNEY: 6091 W. university Dr., Ste. 106 PROSPER: 2111 E. University Dr., Ste. 40 ALLEN: 975 Highway 121, ste. 175 STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

stonebridgeranch.com

July 2020

Social Scene

www.stonebridgeranch.com/events/ DISCLAIMER: To the best of our knowledge at the time this issue went to print, we will be able to host the following outdoor events in July as outlined here. Due to print lead times, circumstances can change. Some events noted here may need to be postponed or cancelled, and/or event details may need to be updated. Further, residents attend SRCA social events at their own risk. On the date of each event listed below, if face mask coverings and social distancing of six feet (6’) are still being recommended by state and health authorities, we will recommend (by not require) such measures for the safety of our crowds. As always, stay tuned to our other official SRCA communication channels for more timely updates regarding SRCA social events. These include the homepage and online event calendar at www.stonebridgeranch.com, SRCA E-News blasts, SRBA Broadcast Texts, and/or our new official Facebook group. (You can find information about each of these communication channels at www.stonebridgeranch. com--your go-to resource to learn about all things Stonebridge Ranch!)

Concert on the Circle Friday, July 3 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Circle Drive 6201 Virginia Parkway

We hope you will be able to join us in celebration of July 4th for the first session of our July 2020 Concert on the Circle series! The Social Committee has planned an exciting event featuring the Mars Hill Band (www. marshillband.com), one of DFW’s top party bands. Due to their great performances and ability to connect with our crowds, they have been our musical guest at Stonebridge Ranch Day three different times. You can expect a great show fit for all ages—they perform a diverse play list of family-friendly songs. Be sure to grab your folding chairs or a blanket, bring a picnic basket and BYOB, and join your family and neighbors for an evening of down-home fun and partyatmosphere excitement! Note that glass containers and smoking are prohibited in the event area.

Concert on the Circle Friday, July 10 8 to 10 p.m., Circle Drive 6201 Virginia Parkway

For the second session of our July 2020 Concert on the Circle series, our host band will be J.D. Monson and the Sundown Band. Whether J.D. is opening a show for George Strait or protecting the community as a sworn STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

Constable in Dallas County, he is always right at home. Over the past 20 years, J.D. Monson has toured the USA and Mexico. You will absolutely love his strong, soulful voice and southern charm. You can preview J.D.’s sound at http://www.carolmarksentertainment.com/sundown. html. Be sure to grab your folding chairs or a blanket and bring a picnic basket and BYOB. Note that glass containers and smoking are prohibited in the event area.

Adult Pool Party Friday, July 17 8:30 to 11 p.m., Aquatic Center 7501 Coronado Parkway

“Honesty, Integrity, Experience” Residential • Commercial • New Construction • Maintenance Agreements

Sales • Service • Installation • All Makes & Models Refrigeration Installation/Service • Duct Work Design for New or Existing Homes

 FREE 2ND OPINIONS  COMPETITIVE PRICING  ALL WORK GUARANTEED

License TACLA67363E

35+ YEARS of Experience

With mention of this ad

Shipping • Packaging • Mailbox Rental • Banners Notary • Passport Renewals • Printing • Faxing

214-592-0855 6710 Virginia Pkwy., Suite 215 • McKinney, TX 75071

stonebridgeranch.com

What a great way to spend a Friday evening socializing with adult neighbors! This evening pool party is for Stonebridge Ranch residents age 21+ only. Come join us for a cool night swim—the pool will be lit. We will also have a DJ on hand so you can request songs. Be sure to bring your valid form of Stonebridge Ranch ID to enter. This event is BOYB, but remember, we do not permit glass containers of any kind. Pack your drinks in shatterproof containers, and feel free to bring a cooler with your favorite pool-side snacks. Smoking is also prohibited.

Concert on the Circle Saturday, July 18 8 to 10 p.m., Circle Drive 6201 Virginia Parkway

For the third session of our July 2020 Concert on the Circle series, put on your cowboy hat and boots for a

night of country music with Breckenridge. Breckenridge was formed in 1988 and plays a wide variety of country songs. We anticipate this will be a fun evening on the circle! You can preview Breckenridge’s sound at http:// www.carolmarksentertainment.com/breckenridge.html. Be sure to grab your folding chairs or a blanket and bring a picnic basket and BYOB. Note that glass containers and smoking are prohibited in the event area.

Coffee, Cars & Cycles Saturday, July 18 8:30 to 10 a.m., Circle Drive 6201 Virginia Parkway

The theme of this outdoor event? “A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent!” We will provide coffee and individually wrapped burritos and sweet treats on the porch of the association office until supplies run out. (If you like hot sauce on your burritos,

Y E DA SAM ICE V SER out by 5 by 9 M-F in 9 out by 4 y Sat in b

DRY CLEAN

SUPER CENTER

ALL Clean Dry in Laun g & dry Done Prem on ises

3601 Eldorado Pkwy. just west of Hardin next to Kwik Kar

972.540.1888 HOURS M-F: 6:30am-7pm Sat: 7am-6pm

Since 1997

EVERY DAY VALUE PRICES!

Men’s Shirts Laundered

(No Restrictions or Minimum # Required)

Regular Comforter (All Sizes)

Most Garments Dry Cleaned

2 Jackets $

(Pants, Blouses, etc.)

DRIVE THRU • 24-HR. DROP OFF BOX

ALTERATIONS • LEATHER • PILLOWS • SMALL RUGS

We Keep It

Top Brands - Grills & Smokers Grilling Accessories | Fire Place Gas Logs Charcoal & Pellets | Rubs & Spices Outdoor Kitchen

All Sizes in Stock

be sure to bring some packets from home in your pocket.) You are welcome regardless of the vehicle you drive, but if you like, feel free to park your classic or fancy car or motorcycle in the circle drive. Because the Community Room will be closed, we will not be hosting the Book, CD & DVD Exchange. This event is for Stonebridge Ranch residents only.

469-919-4745

1411 North Custer, Ste. 1200 | McKinney Located on the corner of Custer and 380

@Charred380

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

Navigating the senior care maze can be overwhelming. Allow our team of local, experienced advisors guide & support you every step of the way. • We have assisted OVER 7000 FAMILIES in DFW • We IDENTIFY the BEST private pay senior living OPTIONS for your family • KNOWLEDGE of local senior living facilities & group home capabilities • WE PROVIDE 2-3 reputable & appropriate senior living OPTIONS based on your budget, individual care & lifestyle needs & location preference • Family SUPPORT & EDUCATION, our team brings well over 150 years of experience in senior care • TWO Licensed Master Social Workers • REFERRALS to reputable professionals in elder law, financial planning, VA Aid & Attendance assistance, Adult Day Stay programs, home health, in-home companion services, hospice care, senior focused moving companies • LOCALLY OWNED - not a franchise! • Founded by PAUL MARKOWITZ in 2008 based on his personal experience with placing his mom

FREE SERVICE - No Obligation! SANDRA JOHNSON, McKinney Resident

Sandra@SeniorLivingSpecialists.com

214-563-4267

mckinneyseniorliving.com www.seniorlivingspecialists.com 26

stonebridgeranch.com

Wine Tasting Monday, July 20 7 to 9 p.m., Beach Club 6201 Virginia Parkway

You may have heard that red wine pairs well with beef and white wine pairs well with seafood. But do we really understand why? While wine selection for most of us is a matter of personal taste, basic wine and food pairing guidelines can complement and enhance your food experience, whether you prefer savory or sweet. Join us for an enjoyable evening with your neighbors. Together we will explore the flavor profiles of basic wine varietals and learn about food matches. Wine samples and light snacks will be provided after a brief presentation. This event has a headcount capacity of 150. It is free and for adult Stonebridge Ranch residents age 21+ only. (Non-resident guests will not be permitted.) Hurry to register online at https://wine-tastingjuly-2020.eventbrite.com. We anticipate that spaces will fill up quickly. To gain entrance to the event, you will need your Eventbrite ticket (print it off from your confirmation email or show it on your smartphone) + your photo ID to show you are age 21+. If you register and realize you cannot attend after all, please cancel your ticket reservation as soon as possible. You can do so through the ticket confirmation email you receive from Eventbrite (click the ‘View and Manage your order online link’ under ‘Order Summary’) or by emailing Dave Wiest at dwiest@cmamanagement.com. If we reach capacity and you are unable to register for tickets here, you can join the waitlist. To do so, email your names (up to 2 people), home address, and phone number to Dave Wiest at dwiest@ cmamanagement.com. If spots become available, we will contact people on the waitlist first-come, firstserve until we reach capacity.

Cardboard Boat Races

POSTPONED TO AUGUST 15TH 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Beach & Tennis Club 6201 Virginia Parkway In the June issue of Stonebridge Ranch News, we noted a July date for our annual Cardboard Boat Races. Please note the revised date above—this event has been tentatively postponed to August 15th.

Grab your refrigerator boxes and your duct tape – cardboard boat races are coming to the Beach Club! We are challenging teams (of 1, 2, or 4 people) to get creative and construct a boat, raft, or floating watercraft entirely of cardboard to race across the Beach Club lagoon. Winners will be called in the following categories: Design/ Creativity, Team Spirit, Speed, and Titanic (for the best of those who do not make it all the way across the finish line). On the day of the event, check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m. and races will begin at 11 a.m.

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Twenty years ago JR & I started Ben Franklin Plumbing. We want to celebrate our 20th Anniversary by giving back to the friends that have supported us over the years. We know YOU are the HEROES in our community. You work hard to provide for your families, help with homework, drive the carpool, coach the sports teams & support the many charities in McKinney. When plumbing problems appear you just want someone you can trust to get in quick, fix the problem and restore your family back to normal. A company that will protect your family and your investment.

20th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL! All Stonebridge Ranch residents get a

FREE Ben Franklin Society membership - a $199 value! PLUS you’ll get a FREE PEST INSPECTION from our newest company Buckaroo Pest Protection BSA BENEFITS:

• 15% Discount Up to $300 PER TASK • Priority Booking & Discounted Trip Fees • Safety Check on Water Heater • Free Inspection of Sewer Line • Cannot Be Applied to Prior Work • Cannot Be Used With Other Discounts or Coupons If you are already a member we’ll credit your account upon renewal. Everyone Wins! Thank you again for your loyalty and support through the past twenty years and may God richly bless you in 2020! Drop me an email if you have any questions.

Keresa Richardson Keresa@benfranklinplumbing.com RULES: The entire boat must be built of cardboard. Decorations are allowed only if they are made of PERMITTED materials and only if they do not impact the structural strength or buoyancy of your watercraft. You may not wrap your entire boat/boat hull in duct tape, but you may use duct or masking tape to securely seal all your boat seams. You may waterproof your boat with varnish, paint, or polyurethane. The crew compartment

CALL (940) 468-1776 and ask for the STONEBRIDGE BSA!* *Offer for current Stonebridge Ranch Residents only.

STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

may not be enclosed. Costumes are encouraged to enhance your theme. NOTE: every crew member must wear a life jacket. We will provide life jackets, but if you have your own, please bring them since our supply is limited. You must provide your own paddles. Paddles may be made of permitted materials, or you may use your hands or plastic/purchased paddles. Boats constructed with non-permitted materials will be disqualified. PERMITTED MATERIALS: Corrugated cardboard and cardboard boxes (i.e. from grocery stores or delivery packages), cardboard “blocks” (i.e. from furniture store packaging), cardboard tubes (i.e. from carpet/linoleum stores), duct or masking tape, liquid nails construction adhesive, latex paint, varnish or polyurethane. NOT PERMITTED Pre-coated or pre-treated cardboard, plastic or plastic sheathing, wood, Styrofoam, metal, Sonotubes (used in construction/concrete forms), silicone, wax, tar, caulking compounds or two-part mixed adhesives, staples, clamps, fiberglass, glass, nails, screws, or sharp objects.

DESIGN TIPS: Set your team goal—are you going for design, speed, or looks? Next, sketch your boat plan. Note that flat-bottom, sit-to-paddle cardboard boats are the easiest to maneuver. Rudders help keep you straight but make turning difficult and add complexity to your design. Long boats go fast but are harder to turn. You may have more difficulty keeping a short boat headed in a straight path. A recommended size for your boat is 8 to 12 feet long and 18 inches high. Only Stonebridge Ranch residents with ID may participate in the race. Teams may consist of 1, 2, or 4 people. Cheering spectators are welcome! (We anticipate we’ll be able to permit guests into the Beach Club per the standard guest policy IF we are back to 100% capacity as permitted by state guidelines.)

stonebridgeranch.com

Select Tennis Academy

Summer 2020 July to August, Beach & Tennis Club 6201 Virginia Parkway 10 & UNDER is an exciting format for learning tennis, designed to bring kids into the game by adapting the equipment, court dimensions and the scoring to the age and size of the children. This special class enables kids to have more enjoyable tennis experiences early in the learning process, which is the number one factor in keeping kids involved. We meet from 10 to 11 a.m. for ages 5 to 8 and from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 9 and 10. FUTURE STAR CAMP is for kids ages 11 and up. It is designed for beginner and intermediate players.

Players are grouped according to ability level, and we cover all aspects of the game. Future Star Camp meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. TENNIS ACADEMY is for players competing in ZAT, Champ and Super Champ tournaments. We study stroke production, tactics and strategy, quickness drills, as well as mental toughness and match play. Players should be at a high level of fitness before attending this camp. The Academy class meets from 8 to 11 a.m. for drills and fitness, followed by match play from noon to 2 p.m. TENNIS CAMP DATES Week 5 (June 29-July 2), Week 6 (July 6-9), Week 7 (July 13-16), Week 8 (July 20-23), Week 9 (July 27–30), Week 10 (August 3-7), Week 11 (August 10-13). Visit www.selectennisacademy.com for camp prices, payment methods, and more details about our coaches.

www.roseknowslaw.com

972-562-0266

2780 Virginia Pkwy., Ste. #401 • McKinney, TX 75071 dale@roseknowslaw.com

LOCAL • EXPERIENCED • RESULTS STONEBRIDGE RANCH NEWS

| July 2020

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STONEBRIDGE RANCH! Did you know? This July is the 31st anniversary of the incorporation of the Stonebridge Ranch

Community Association (SRCA). Hooray! What a milestone! To ensure we can ‘beat the heat,’ the Social

Committee has scheduled our annual Stonebridge Ranch Day celebrations for later this year on Saturday,

Sept. 19. Stay tuned for more details regarding one of our favorite annual parties. For now, what better way to celebrate our community’s birthday than entering a submission in the Spirit of Stonebridge Ranch photo

contest hosted by our Communications Committee? The winning photo will grace the cover of the October issue of Stonebridge Ranch News! For contest details, see www.stonebridgeranch.com/communications-

committee/. We’d love to see your entry! What does the ‘Spirit of Stonebridge’ mean to you?

stonebridgeranch.com