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STONEBRIDGE RANCH HOA NEWS FEBRUARY 2014

Vol. 2, Issue 2

Contents IN EVERY ISSUE 5

From the President by Jon Dell’Antonia

This Month’s Feature by Tricia Scruggs

Compliance Tips

Inside the HOA by Michael Lesku

14 www.stonebridgeranch.com by Lisa Pogacnik 16

Community Calendar

Financial Update by Michael Lesku

In the News by Tricia Scruggs

22 Lifestyle 24

Social Scene

SPECIAL SECTIONS 28

Health & Wellness by Shonnery Petit

Pet Page

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News © 2014 is published by Moonlight Graphics. All rights reserved. It is individually mailed free of charge to all residents of Stonebridge Ranch. Moonlight Graphics, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, 972.727.4569, fax 972.396.0807. Visit www.allenimage.com.

4 www.stonebridgeranch.com

from the presIdent STONEBRIDGE RANCH HOA NEWS

publisher/editor Barbara Peavy

office administrator Carrie McCormick

advertising sales Sue Hardesty

contributing writers Jon Dell’Antonia Michael Lesku Shonnery Petit Lisa Pogacnik Tricia Scruggs

cover photo Kwik Image

The New Year is here! The years seem to be going by quicker than ever; 2014 is already nearly a month old. Our annual meeting will be coming up soon (March 6, 2014) and along with it, the election of two board members. The ice storm that hit the area in December took its toll on the common areas of Stonebridge Ranch. Numerous tree limbs and trees were damaged throughout our association. Clean up began immediately to remove all of the debris from the storm. Fortunately, we suffered no serious damage to any of our facilities. The cleanup crews did a great job of quickly removing downed tree limbs and trees to restore our area. A big thank you goes out to them. Welcome to the newest member of Stonebridge Ranch—Kensington Village became part of our community in late December 2013. It contains 55 lots and is being developed by Pulte homes. Kensington is located on the south side of Highway 380, east of Ridge Road just past the apartment complex. Building is expected to begin early in 2014. We also extend a warm welcome to our newest employee, Sherine George, our new communications coordinator who started in January. Finally, I am sure most of you have noticed that the City of McKinney is installing lights in the medians on Custer Road along the recently expanded section. That will be a nice addition.

Dec 12, 2013 Board Meeting

The board meeting of December 12 was called to order at 1 p.m. The meeting began with a homeowners open forum. One homeowner appeared to voice concern over the property located at the NE corner of Stonebridge Drive and Highway 380. We are working with the city to address getting that abandoned building torn down.

Old Business

The board voted to formally adopt the strategic plan recently developed. Details of the plan can be found in this issue of the magazine. There was no other old business.

New Business

The board discussed the schedule and agenda for the 2014 annual meeting and added a “meet the candidate” event. This year it will be held at the association office. The board also decided to hold a meeting of all prospective board candidates to familiarize them with the requirements of being a board member. One new thing we are going to do this year is add a video of each board candidate’s statement along with their bio on our website. That way all interested homeowners can see and hear the board candidates in the event they are unable to attend the “meet the candidates” event in person. We then reviewed the year-end financial projections. This item was tabled until the January BOD meeting when the costs of the cleanup related to the December ice storm are finalized. The board then held a discussion on adopting paperless board packets. Board binders, which are now produced on paper, would be sent to board members via email using a password-protected document. The board decided to experiment with this process beginning with the January, 2014 board meeting to learn from it and determine if we want to implement the use of this technology.

Executive Session

For information or to place an advertisement, please contact: Moonlight Graphics, P.O. Box 132, Allen, TX 75013, call 972.727.4569 or email sue@allenimage.com.

The board reviewed the management contract with CMA and recommended some changes to the renewal contract. The board also approved a change in the landscaping contractor for Area C (roughly between Highway 380 and Virginia, and Custer and Ridge Road). Precision Landscaping replaced Valley Crest as the landscaping contractor January 1, 2014. The board then reviewed and approved the violations, collections and collections committee report and a denied a request for use of our common area. We also reviewed two serious violations of our CC&R’s and took appropriate action. We also had our usual legal update. The meeting adjourned at 4:43 p.m. Jon Dell’Antonia President Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

Stonebridge Ranch Community Association 6201 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, TX 75071 214.733.5800 • fax 214.778.0595 Courtesy Patrol 214.794.4945

Association Hours Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Association Staff Michael Lesku—Director of Operations Shannon Sheriff—Assistant Manager Candace Rickman—Community Service Coordinator Denise Spain—Senior Compliance Coordinator Courtney Birmingham—Compliance Coordinator Rony Peterson—Compliance Coordinator Joyce Martin—M.A.R.C. Compliance Coordinator Sherine George—Communications Coordinator Michael Cawley—Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Torres—Maintenance Assistant David Wiest—Lifestyle Director Lynette Rowell—Administrative Assistant

Board of Directors Jon Dell’Antonia—President Ron Ferris—Vice-President Lars Rosene—Secretary Richard MacFee—Treasurer Tom George—Director Michael Yon—Director Bill Campbell—Director Stonebridge Ranch Homeowners Association News is the only authorized and official monthly publication for the residents of the Stonebridge Ranch community, with news and calendar of community events endorsed by the Stonebridge Ranch HOA and its members. Stonebridge Ranch HOA News is published for the residents of Stonebridge Ranch for informational purposes only. The Stonebridge Ranch HOA does not guarantee any work or claims made by the advertisers and claims no responsibility or liability for statements made in the publication. Stonebridge Ranch does not in any way endorse or support, nor does it take any credit or responsibility for the services, paid or volunteer, nor statements made in articles or letters published herein not endorsed by the Association or the group decision of the Board of Directors.

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thIs month’ s feature 2014 Association Annual Meeting To Be Held On Thursday, March 6 By Michael Lesku

The 2014 Stonebridge Ranch HOA annual meeting has

been scheduled for Thursday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at

Crosspoint Church, located at 2101 South Stonebridge

as time permits, the association board will take questions from residents.

Drive. This meeting is required to be held by the

Election of directors

(CC&R’s) and allows the association to conduct its

this year ’s annual meeting. The term for a board director

directors.

as it provides residents with the opportunity to influence

association Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions

business for the year, including the election of board

Meeting agenda

The items covered at the annual meeting include the

election of directors, annual reports from the association

Two board director positions will be up for election at

is three years. The election of directors is very important

the leadership of the community. In order to be eligible to

run for the board, each candidate must be an owner in the Stonebridge Ranch community.

In order to help residents “get to know” the board

board, management and committees, along with a “State

director candidates, each candidate will be required, as

Loughmiller. After the meeting has been adjourned, and

questionnaire that includes the following questions:

of the City” presentation by McKinney Mayor Brian

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part of the application process, to complete a

thIs month’ s feature who will be attending the meeting, or complete and submit to the association office an absentee

ballot. With 9,006 homes/lots in the community the association

needs 901 owners to vote online, attend the meeting, complete a proxy or cast their vote via an

absentee ballot. If the 10% quorum requirement is not met, the

meeting cannot take place and will have to be reconvened.

Reconvening the annual meeting is a costly process and one the

association would like to avoid. The cost to the association to

• What do you feel is the primary function of the board

reconvene the annual meeting can be as high as $18,000!

• What areas do you feel need the board of directors’

avoid the expense of reconvening the annual meeting by

of directors of the community association? attention in 2014?

• In what areas do you feel you could make the greatest contribution to the association?

The completed candidate questionnaires will be

included in the March edition of the HOA magazine, on

the association website www.stonebridgeranch.com and

Help the association meet its quorum requirements and

voting online, attending the meeting, completing a proxy or absentee ballot.

Thank you in advance to all Stonebridge Ranch

owners for helping the association reach its quorum requirements. F

in the 2014 annual meeting notice, which will be mailed to owners in mid-February. There will be a Meet the

Candidate night on Monday, February 10 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the association office located at 6201 Virginia Parkway, next to the Beach Club.

Owners will be able to cast their vote online and by

absentee ballot beginning February 11, and at the annual meeting on March 6.

Annual reports

The association board of directors, committees and

management will present reports to the owners on

accomplishments in 2013 and goals set for 2014. The 2013 year-end financial report will be presented along with a review of the 2014 budget. The association’s financial

advisor and auditor will also be on hand to answer owner questions. This portion of the meeting is a great opportunity for owners to learn more about the

association’s operations and financial performance.

Quorum requirements

In order for the meeting to be held, a minimum of

10% of the owners in the association need to either attend the meeting, cast their vote online, assign their vote via proxy to the board of directors or someone they know

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

complIance tI p s Happy Valentine’s Day! Holiday decorations: Thank you for your cooperation in removing all December holiday decorations. Any remaining decorations still installed outside will result in a violation being received. The design guidelines and review procedures for residential modifications were changed in December 2013. Following are the changes that were made, but if you have questions please call the office for clarification or check the website for full details. www.stonebridgeranch. com. All photos were removed from the guidelines to meet city code for filing purposes. New important guideline changes implemented in December 2013: • Fencing—In all villages except Kings Lake an additional location has been added to store trash totes/recycle bins. You can submit for a fence to enclose the receptacles. Please see the fencing guideline (section E) for details and requirements. • Landscaping—River rock in certain colors and sizes has been added to the approvable material for limited mulch areas and beds. Interlocking concrete units have been added as an approved landscape edging material. • Retaining walls—Walls are to match those in common areas of Stonebridge Ranch. When an engineer’s report is required (walls over 4 feet in height) the engineer must be registered in the State of Texas. Interlocking segmental concrete units as a retaining wall are now permitted with committee approval. • Trash totes/Recycle bins—All trash totes must be screened by dense evergreen shrubs if kept at the side of the home. Fencing to screen the totes may be installed as detailed in Section E of the fencing guideline. Please check the guidelines to ascertain if a modification is required for any of the above items. Address changes: Important—If you move, please contact the CMA corporate office to advise the address change, 972.943.2800 or go to cmamanagement.com. This is imperative if you decide to rent or lease your home. All homeowners, renters or persons leasing a home, must abide by the Stonebridge Ranch Guidelines and CC&R’s. You may now look up the guidelines on the website, www. stonebridgeranch.com. The compliance team is here to help and advise you, please call 214.733.5800. CMA Compliance Coordinators—Denise Spain, Rony Peterson, Courtney Birmingham and CMA-MARC Compliance Coordinator—Joyce Martin. F

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At Palmer Family Law Group PLLC, they believe that divorce doesn’t have to be so hard.

battle, with each spouse trying to extract as much money as possible from the other, then no one ‘wins.’

“What we try to do is get people through a divorce in the healthiest way possible so that everyone can move on to the next chapter in their lives, in the best way possible,” says Dana, creator of the Soft Divorce® brand. “We don’t define success by the other party’s failure. Instead, our goal is for our client, their children, and even their soon-to-be-ex-spouse, to be as healthy as possible after the divorce.”

“I’m the type of person who is always looking for a better way to do something—and when I find that better way, I feel compelled to share it with others,” Dana explains. “That’s why I’m now sharing the Soft Divorce® program worldwide.”

A better way to divorce

Dana C. Palmer

It’s a concept that Dana created after focusing his law firm in McKinney on family law in 2011. “I opened the firm in 2006, practicing a wide variety of cases. I soon realized that family law cases provided me with the biggest opportunity to help people and that’s when I decided to narrow my focus,” Dana says. Quickly, he says, he saw that when divorce is approached as a

Soft Divorce® is a concept and framework of the best practices in family law and divorce procedures that aim to keep divorces civil, family-oriented, healthy and as painfree and stress-free as possible. “I believe in Soft Divorce® because it’s better than a ‘hard divorce.’” Dana says. “At the end of the day, former spouses will always be parents together and they need to have the best possible relationship with one another, as well as with their kids. A Soft Divorce® allows for that.”

Happier, healthier results Of course, the firm’s approach doesn’t mean that they’ll simply “lie down” and take whatever the other party’s attorney is offering. “There are times that we have to, and we do, ‘play hard-ball,’” Dana says. “We go into court knowing that we’ve taken the high road, but we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get the healthy result we’re after.” When prospective clients first hear about the firm’s Soft Divorce brand, Dana says, they’re often relieved to discover that there’s a healthier way to go through the divorce process. “You always see on TV and hear about divorces where people end up hating each other and losing so much,” he says. “We show people a different and better way.” For more information, please call or visit our website.

InsId e the hoa Your Vote Counts! Each year owners have the opportunity to influence

the leadership of the association by casting their vote in the annual election of directors, which is held at the

associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual meeting scheduled for Thursday,

March 6. In order for the annual meeting to be held and the election of directors to be conducted, a quorum

requirement of 10% of the homeowners (901 owners) in the

community must attend the meeting, cast their vote online, by absentee ballot or assign their vote to another member attending the annual meeting by completing the proxy form. Failure to meet the annual meeting quorum

requirements will result in the election not being held and the meeting being reconvened. The projected cost to the association to reconvene the annual meeting is

approximately $18,000! Please help the association avoid the cost of reconvening the annual meeting by participating in the annual meeting election.

How do I find out more about the candidates running for the board of directors? Each owner that submits their application for the

board director election is required to submit a candidate

questionnaire that is designed to help educate owners as to the candidateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire and qualifications for serving on the

board of directors. These candidate questionnaires are then made available to owners as part of the annual meeting notice, published in the March issue of the Stonebridge

Ranch HOA Magazine and posted on the association

website, www.stonebridgeranch.com.

How do I cast my vote if I cannot attend the annual meeting?

Owners can cast their vote in the election of directors

by completing and submitting to the association office a

completed absentee ballot or by casting their vote online.

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InsIde the hoa The absentee ballot can be found in the annual meeting

notice or on the association website. The absentee ballot includes the names of each candidate running for the board of directors. Owners need to select the two

candidates they would like to see serve on the board of

directors and then complete the owner information section at the bottom of the ballot. The completed ballots can be

mailed or delivered to the association office located at 6201 Virginia Parkway, by fax to 214.778.0595 or emailed to

lrowell@cmamanagement.com. Online voting instructions can be found in the annual meeting notice or on the association website. Online voting will be available beginning February 11.

Can I assign my vote to another owner attending the annual meeting? Yes, owners can assign their vote to the board of

directors or to another owner attending the annual

meeting by completing the proxy form. The proxy form can be found in the annual meeting notice and on the

association website. Owners need to choose if they want to assign their vote to the board, to another owner attending the meeting or select the â&#x20AC;&#x153;quorum onlyâ&#x20AC;? option by which

the owner elects not to vote but to have their proxy count towards the 10% quorum requirement. Completed proxy

forms can be mailed or delivered to the association office

located at 6201 Virginia Parkway, by fax to 214.778.0595 or emailed to lrowell@cmamanagement.com.

Do I need to complete an absentee ballot or a proxy if I will be attending the annual meeting? No. Owners attending the annual meeting will be

given a board director ballot when they check in at the

annual meeting. During the portion of the meeting when

the election is conducted, the owner will cast their vote for a maximum of two candidates. The ballots will then be

collected and tabulated along with the submitted absentee ballots, proxies and online votes to determine which two candidates have been elected to the Stonebridge Ranch board of directors.

How do I find out which candidates were elected to the board of directors?

Due to the large volume of votes cast in the election,

the ballots and proxies are tabulated the day following the election. Once the vote tabulations have been verified, the

names of the candidates elected to the board will be posted

on the home page of the website. The posting of the elected directors is completed by 3 p.m.

If owners have questions regarding online voting, the

absentee ballot, proxy or the annual meeting, please do not hesitate to contact the association office at 214.733.5800 or email mlesku@cmamanagement.com. F

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

www.stonebrI dgeranch.com Your vote is just a few clicks away! By Lisa Pogacnik Online voting will be open February 11. As a homeowner, you have the opportunity to vote for candidates to fill the two spots on the Stonebridge Ranch Community Association Board of Directors. You can now vote for the candidates of your choice online! Simply visit www.StonebridgeRanch.com, click the “Vote Online Now” button, fill in the short form and cast your vote. It’s that simple! You will need to enter the unique registration code from the annual meeting notice you received in the mail. Once your vote is cast, you’ll even receive a confirmation email. Online voting will be available through March 3 at 5 p.m. All annual meeting documents can be found on the association website at www.StonebridgeRanch.com as they become available. All documents and forms can be downloaded and printed. Documents include: • Annual meeting notice—Important details about the annual meeting. Your registration code to vote online is also included in the annual meeting notice. • Meet the Candidates invitation—Homeowners will have the opportunity to meet all candidates running for a seat on the board of directors at this meeting held Thursday, February 10 at the association office located at 6201 Virginia Parkway, McKinney. • Board candidate bios—A bio for all candidates is available online for your perusal. • Board roles—Description of each of the board positions. • Proxy form—The proxy form is used to assign your vote to another homeowner who will be attending the annual meeting in the event you are unable to attend. • Proxy instructions—Instructions on using the proxy form. • Absentee ballot—The absentee ballot is used to cast your vote if you are unable to attend the annual meeting and choose not to vote online. • Absentee ballot instructions—Instructions for using the absentee ballot. • Questions and answer form—This form should be completed to ask questions you have for the board of directors. The board will attempt to answer all questions at the annual meeting. All questions and answers will be compiled after the annual meeting and posted online at www.StonebridgeRanch.com. • Online voting—Instructions for online voting. The annual meeting will be held on March 6, at Crosspoint Church located at 2101 South Stonebridge Drive. Are you registered to receive our e-news? If not, be sure to visit www.StonebridgeRanch.com to do so. Important updates and news will be delivered directly to your inbox. F

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February 5, 12, 19, 26 coffee talk 8:30 a.m. (CR)

February 11 bingo 7 p.m. (CR)

february 15 stonebridge 1/2 marathon 7:30 a.m. (btc) february 22

adult big bass tournament 9 a.m. (BTC)

Coffee Talk, 8 (CR)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 6-7 pm—Fit4Baby (CR)

Visit www.StonebridgeRanch. com for event details.

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 6-7 pm—Fit4Baby (CR)

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

Modifications Meeting 6 p.m. (BR) Bingo, 7 p.m. (CR) 4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Select Tennis Academ 6-7 pm—Fit4 Baby (CR

Coffee Talk, (CR)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Select Tennis Academ 6-7 pm—Fit4 Baby (CR

Coffee Talk, (CR) Social Comm Meeting, 9 a

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Select Tennis Academ 6-7 pm—Fit 4Baby (CR

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC) 4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC) 6-7 pm—Fit4Baby (CR)

1 6 www.stonebridgeranch.com

Travel Club, 9 a.m. (CR) Modifications Meeting 6 p.m. (BR)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis C Select Tennis Academ

Coffee Talk, 8 (CR)

6-7 pm—Fit4Baby (CR)

8:30 a.m.

r Strides (BTC)

s Classes, my (BTC) R)

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)

Stonebridge 1/2 Marathon, 7:30 a.m. (BTC)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)

Adult Big Bass Tournament, 9 a.m. (BTC)

9:30-10:30 am—Stroller Strides (BTC)

Visit www.StonebridgeRanch. com for event details.

8:30 a.m.

r Strides (BTC)

s Classes, my (BTC) R)

8:30 a.m.

mittee a.m. (BR)

Board of Directors Meeting, 1 p.m. (BR) 4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

r Strides (BTC)

Classes, my (BTC) R)

8:30 a.m. Strides (BTC)

Classes, my (BTC)

4-7 pm—Junior Tennis Classes, Select Tennis Academy (BTC)

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

fInancIal update Inside the HOA Budget by Michael Lesku

In last month’s column, I provided an overview of our association’s budget. I now want to start peeling the budget onion by looking at each of the categories of expense. The first category I will be reviewing is landscape maintenance. In 2014, we will spend approximately $2.2 million for the following purposes: 1. Mowing, edging, fertilizing, controlling insects and disease, installing water management systems, controlling weeds, pruning shrub and ground cover, trimming trees and cleaning up debris throughout 519 acres of common area landscape. 2. Installing seasonal color at all community (5) and village (70) entrances twice per year, in April and October.

Maintaining the Acreage • Stonebridge Ranch has 519 acres of common areas. • There are 70 villages. • City owned medians consist of 49.4 acres.

That’s a whole lot of mowin’, blowin’, and edgin’! 3. Trimming thousands of common area trees. 4. Rejuvenating 30 acres of common area property mulch annually. 5. Repairing all 75 community and village entry monument lighting, as needed.

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The $2.2 million “gross” cost, however, is reduced by about $613,000, so the “net” cost to homeowners is about $1.6 million. Common areas in and around commercial properties are paid for by commercial assessments. The City of McKinney provides about $182,000 in revenue, which would be the cost incurred by the city for standard maintenance of medians. Instead of standard landscaping provided by the city, Stonebridge Ranch has chosen to enhance median landscaping and assumes the additional cost. Standard landscaping maintenance by the city costs about $3,800 per acre annually. Enhanced landscaping maintenance costs about $4,700 per acre annually. Remember that the 49.4 acres of medians are city-owned, not Stonebridge Ranch-owned, property. With this much acreage, we believe that the enhanced medians contribute significantly to the overall attractiveness of our community. As the Director of Operations for Stonebridge Ranch, one of my key responsibilities is to ensure that homeowners derive good value from payment of their annual assessments. One way to accomplish this goal is to ensure that services we purchase, such as landscape maintenance, are periodically put out to bid. The landscape contracts were taken out to bid in late 2012, resulting in improved services at a reduced cost. The landscape maintenance contracts are taken out to bid every three years. As always, I’m available by phone or email if you have comments or questions. Next month, I’ll discuss a very important component of the budget—water and electricity costs. F

around the ranch Meet The Candidates Night February 10 In order that homeowners have an opportunity to meet the candidates, a Meet the Candidates Night has been scheduled for Monday, February 10 at the SRCA Association office located at 6201 Virginia Parkway, next to the Beach Club. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. The Stonebridge Ranch Association management staff will be there at 6:30 p.m. to greet homeowners. Each candidate will be introduced and given up to five minutes to speak about their qualifications and why they would like to serve on the board. After that formal part of the program, the candidates will be available to visit with the homeowners and answer any of their questions. There will be a dedicated area for each candidate to be available to meet with residents.

Staff will have proxies, absentee ballots and biographies available. Your vote may be cast online by visiting www. stonebridgeranch.com beginning February 11; or you may complete and submit the blue absentee ballot or complete and submit the yellow proxy. If you submit a proxy, it will be used to assign your vote to another designated member while your absentee ballot is used to cast your vote for the election of directors. On the night of the annual meeting, each candidate will be introduced, but will not be asked to speak, as this is the purpose for holding the Meet the Candidate Night. If you have any questions regarding the meetings or how the process works, please give the Stonebridge Ranch Association office a call at 214.733.5800. F

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

In the news Adriatica’s evolution continues

Stonebridge’s most unique village closer to completion By Tricia Scruggs

”A community like no other” is more than a slogan for those invested in Adriatica, Stonebridge Ranch’s one-of-a-kind village that aims to provide a beautiful setting for those seeking a live-work-play balance. Frequent visitors, and even passers-by, can easily spot the progress being made at the 45-acre development perched on Kings Lake, just southwest of Stonebridge Drive and Virginia Parkway. Already home to a number of businesses, including restaurants, real estate and financial institutions as well as doctor ’s and law offices, Adriatica’s landscape continues to evolve. According to developers, residential condos in Riva Harbor are nearing the finish line, while 211 lofts at St. Paul’s Square are under construction. Builders soon will break ground on eight “spec” and model

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homes in the Villa District. New to the plans are one-story residences, which developers say have long been in demand by prospective buyers. “We believe we’re somewhere between 3 ½ to 4 years from being complete,” said George Fuller, who began building homes in the village and has since taken on a greater role in Adriatica’s development. Engineering details are in the final stages for construction of small- to mid-sized owner-occupied buildings. The 27,000-square-foot-plot will accommodate buildings ranging from 2,500 to 6,500 square feet. “We’ve got several buildings spoken for and being designed,” Fuller said. “We’re excited about that. It’s not often that you have the ability as a small business to own and occupy versus rent. It can be a more

In the news difficult situation to find. We’re elated that we have the ability to provide that option in Adriatica.” New businesses include Burress Snellings Law Firm, The Guitar Sanctuary and The Sanctuary, which hosts a church service on Sundays and is an event center that also is available for private functions, such as weddings and parties. Featuring heavily clad walls of stone, paved roadways and vibrant, orange tiled rooftops, the Mediterranean-style community—inspired by a Croatian fishing village called Supetar—is more than a pretty face. Fuller said decision makers are very discerning and intentional about the companies and shops that locate within Adriatica, focusing on maintaining the synergy between its inhabitants and the lifestyle needs of the community. “It’s not just the architecture,” Fuller said. “It’s really the whole idea of work, play and live in one area. Unlike a lot of areas that try to do that, here you have the ability to own the space. It’s a place where businesses and shop owners really commit… They live and work here in Adriatica. We placed an emphasis on this from day one.” F

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

lIfestyle McKinney Area Newcomers Club If you are new to the McKinney area, come join us for fun, information and friendship. Every month we have great speakers, nice door prizes, tasty refreshments and lots of good socializing with new friends. We invite you to join us for our monthly Coffee Meeting. For more information on Newcomers, visit www.mckinneynewcomers.com. Ladies, put on your gloves—gardening gloves that is—and join our guest speaker, Nancy Joslin, Master Gardener from The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Collin County’s Master Gardener’s program. Master gardeners are trained volunteers of the local community who contribute their time and expertise in providing horticultural-related information to their communities. Please join McKinney Area Newcomers at its meeting at 10 a.m., Tuesday, February 18 in the Eva Joplin Hall at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5871 Virginia Parkway in McKinney. Social time with refreshments will begin at 9:30 a.m.

McKinney Ladies Association The McKinney Ladies Association (MLA) formally invites you to attend its Spring Fashion Show, which will benefit Meals on Wheels and Senior Services in Collin County. MLA is proud to be a longtime supporter of this wonderful nonprofit organization that helps provide more than 700 meals daily to seniors throughout Collin County, connecting with otherwise isolated seniors.

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lIfestyle Please plan to join MLA for a fun girls’ night out during the Spring Fashion Show fundraiser, set for 6 p.m., Monday, March 3 at Eldorado Country Club in McKinney. Mark your calendars now and invite your friends. Tickets will soon be available for purchase through PayPal on MLA’s website, www. mckinneyladies.org. MLA is raising money to benefit Meals on Wheels in two ways—through ticket sales to attend the fashion show and through a silent auction of unique items contributed by both individuals and corporate sponsors. Many of the funds we’ve successfully raised in the past come from the silent auction, which is why we are working now to secure donations of silent auction items. If you are able to assist us in any way, we would truly appreciate it. Please contact Tammy de Wet, MLA Fashion Show Chair, at 972.824.7116 or by sending an email to mlafashionshow@yahoo.com.

All donors who contribute silent auction items will be able to promote their businesses during the night of the event and through MLA’s website. MLA is also readying for its popular Spring Yard Sale! Mark your calendars for 7 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 26. The yard sale will be held in the parking lot at Stonebridge United Methodist Church, 1800 South Stonebridge Drive, McKinney. Details about the sale and registration information are available on MLA’s website, www.mckinneyladies.org. The McKinney Ladies Association (MLA) is dedicated to supporting the children and families of our community through special events and fundraising efforts organized by MLA. Connect with MLA by visiting the group’s website, www.mckinneyladies. org, where you can sign up for the monthly MLA e-newsletter. Look for MLA on Facebook at “McKinney LadiesAssociation” and on Twitter at @ McKinneyLadies. F

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

socIal scene Adult Big Bass Tournament When:

Saturday, February 22

Where:

Lake Stonebridge only—No other lakes in Stonebridge Ranch are permitted during this tournament.

Entry fee:

$10 per person (cash only). Must be at least 18 years old to enter.

Prizes:

1st Place—100% of all entry fees. In case of a tie, prize money will be split.

Who:

Stonebridge Ranch residents only. SB photo ID or valid drivers license is required. Only paid contestants are allowed to fish during this event. Spectators and children are not allowed to fish during tournament hours.

Registration:

Bring $10 cash to the tournament check-in located at Beach & Tennis Club, 8:30-9 a.m. After check-in, fishermen can proceed to any part of Lake Stonebridge to fish, except through the beach club gates or on private property. No pre-registration required.

Time:

Tournament will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. No casting until 9 a.m.

Rules:

Fishing is permitted from the bank only; wading, tubes and boats are NOT permitted. Fisherman may carry several rods but only fish with one at a time. Only artificial bait is allowed (no live bait). The big bass will be determined by length not weight. The fish will be measured with the jaw closed and the tail pinched to obtain maximum overall length.

Weigh-in:

Final weigh-in will be held at noon although fish may be brought to the judges’ table to be measured at any time during tournament hours. Fish must be brought in alive and breathing at weigh in. Participants will be given a stringer, weigh-in bag and should only bring their ONE biggest fish to the weigh-in. All contestants who are not in line by noon to weigh fish will be disqualified. Tournament judge will give all participants the official time the morning of the event.

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socIal scene Coffee Talk

February 5, 12, 19 & 26—8:30-9:30 a.m.

Coffee Talk is held every Wednesday in the Stonebridge Ranch Community Room and is open to Stonebridge Ranch residents. Coffee Talk is a great way to meet new neighbors and discuss issues that are important to you. And moms, after dropping the kids off at school, be sure to come join us. This activity will be held weekly and when the weather warms up we will move outdoors to the veranda overlooking the Beach Club and Lake Stonebridge. Please RSVP by emailing Dave Wiest, Lifestyle Director, at dwiest@cmamanagement.com.

Stonebridge Ranch Travel Club

All residents interested in travel will decide where and when to explore and see the sights. For example, if camping in a RV is your interest, you can meet residents with a similar interest and make plans to travel together or get recommendations of places to go. Anyone with an idea can make it happen. We are hoping to hear many ideas about interesting and scenic places to visit that are within a day’s trip drive from the DFW area. These could be interesting small towns, state parks, or who knows what adventures are ahead… Some may be interested in learning about interesting B&Bs or cabins in the surrounding areas. Any accommodations, from plain to fancy, are of interest, as long as you think it’s a neat place to stay. There may also be interest in longer trips. We will welcome any and all ideas you might have. Come travel or share with us—thanks! The Stonebridge Ranch Travel Club will meet the last Tuesday of each month in the Community Room, 9-10 a.m. RSVP to David Wiest, Lifestyle Director, at dwiest@ cmamanagement.com. Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

socIal scene Run Your Sweets Off! Enjoy the chocolates on Friday for Valentine’s Day and then join us on Saturday, February 15 at 7:30 a.m. for the Stonebridge Ranch Half Marathon and 5K to run your sweets off! With a 5K and a half marathon, we have a distance for the whole family. Information and registration are available at http://www.playtri.com/ sbrhalf. Late registration and packet pickup dates are: February 11-12; 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Playtri Store, Dallas. February 13-14; 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Playtri Store, McKinney. Looking for your next challenge? Try a tri with Playtri! Join us April 13 for the annual King Tut My First and Sprint Triathlons. Get more information and register at: http:// playtri.com/kingtut. For more information or questions, email info@playtri.com.

Bingo Night It’s a great time to make new friends so please join us on Tuesday night, February 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., for an evening of bingo and prizes in the Community Room located at the Stonebridge Ranch Beach and Tennis Club. Light snacks and dessert will be served. You are also invited to bring your own beverage of choice! Seating is limited to the first 40 who sign up with Dave Wiest, Lifestyle Director, at dwiest@cmamanagement.com. This is an adult only event.

Stonebridge Ranch Beach & Tennis Club

2014 Winter Junior Tennis Program Session dates: January 13-February 6 February 10-March 6 10 & Under Tennis—Mighty Mites (ages 4-6)

This class will get children off to a great start playing tennis using the new 10 & Under format introduced by the

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socIal scene USTA using smaller racquets, larger balls and smaller courts. This class will enhance hand-eye coordination, movement, balance and begin grooving efficient stroke patterns. Days: Tuesday & Thursday Time: 4-5 p.m. Cost: $125 per month

10 & Under Tennisâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Junior Development (ages 7-10)

This class teaches students the skills needed to play and enjoy tennis using the 10 & Under format introduced by the USTA. Players will use low-compression balls and play on smaller courts. Days: Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday Time: 4-5 p.m. Cost: $125 per month

Future Stars (ages 11 & up)

Future Stars is designed for beginner and intermediate tennis players ages 11 and up. Players will learn solid fundamentals so they will continue to improve and enjoy tennis. Days: Monday & Wednesday Time: 5-6 p.m. Cost: $125 per month

Tennis Academy

Academy is for players who are competing monthly in ZAT, Champ and Super Champ tournaments. Topics covered include stroke production, tactics and strategy, quickness drills, mental toughness and point play. Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Time: 5-7 p.m. Cost: $215 for two days per week per month; $290 for three days per week per month; $355 for four days per week per month To register online, please visit www.TennisCoachDave. com or call Dave Wiest at 214.733.5810 or Luis Herrera at 214.733.5811. F

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

health & wellness Ultimate Flat Belly Tips by Shonnery Pettit We’re all looking for ways to shrink our middle.

Although there’s no way to spot reduce a certain area of the body, there are tips to help aid in fat loss, bloat and muscle definition in your abdominals.

Even if your weight is within the normal range, those

with a waist measurement of 40+ inches (men) and 35+ inches (women), have greater health risks such as:

metabolic syndrome, strokes, heart attacks, increased bad cholesterol (LDL) and decreased good cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems.

The following ultimate flat belly tips will help you get

the most out of your workouts, nutrition, and muscle definition.

Avoid alcohol

Alcohol has a special way of metabolizing in the body.

Normally, your body gets its energy from carbs, fats and proteins, which digest slowly. When alcohol is present, your body sees it as a toxin and immediately the liver processes it before other food. So, the body stores the calories as fat!

Avoid anxiety

When you’re anxious, your body automatically

produces more cortisol (hormone that encourages the body to store fat, especially in the abdomen). Extra cortisol suppresses thyroid function, causes blood sugar

imbalances, decreases muscle tissue, raises blood pressure

and causes inflammation. Feeling stressed? Take a walk, do some jumping jacks, give yourself a 5-minute break,

breathe, reach out to a friend, listen to music or journal happy things.

Gain muscle

The more muscle, the faster you’ll metabolize food.

Even at rest, your body will use more fat and calories. Aim

for three total-body strength training sessions a week. Boot camps, personal trainers and strength building DVDs are

all resources to help you lift properly and stay injury-free.

Drink green tea

Green tea has been used as medicine in China for

thousands of years to lower blood pressure and even prevent cancer. The polyphenol found in green tea

intensifies levels of fat oxidation and metabolism. EGCG is

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health & wellness Reduce your sugar intake

The average American consumes twenty teaspoons of

sugar daily! Most of this sugar is hidden in processed

foods, including “healthy” yogurts, frozen dinners, sauces and salad dressings. Insulin production increases with

sugar intake. Insulin slows down your metabolism and

encourages your body to store fat. Twenty teaspoons of

sugar equals 325 empty calories and a weight gain of one pound in 11 days.

Work big muscle groups

Focus on movements that work bigger muscle and

multiple muscle groups (such as squats plus overhead

presses or lunges plus bicep curls). These exercises burn more calories, which will help eliminate more body fat. an antioxidant

found in green tea

and has been proven

to boost metabolism

and may even

specifically target

abdominal fat.

Track your food

Information is power. Even though you think you

know what you eat every day, writing down what you eat

will surprise you. Plus, if you use modern day technology

like the MyFitnessPal app, you’ll get a breakdown of your nutritional intake as well. F

Shonnery Petit is a certified personal trainer.

Get sleep

Lack of sleep will

slow your metabolism,

therefore your body will use less calories while at rest. A 2012 study

showed sleep deprived people had more

subcutaneous (below

the skin) fat cells and

these cells were more

insulin resistant, which directly leads to weight gain.

Reduce bloating

Stomach bloating results from numerous medical

conditions. Most cases are related to digestion or

intolerance to food, however, some are caused by larger

issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, intestinal gas and menstruation in women.

Drink more water!!!!

The more water you drink the more water is flushed

out of your system. Refrain from ingesting sorbitol or

fructose (in carbonated drinks and gum). Keep a food journal and identify food intolerances such as dairy and wheat.

Stonebridge Ranch HOA News x February 2014

Loo-B This is Loo-B. She is an amazing dog that was owner surrendered by no fault of her own. She is now a part of the CCHS program and is in the process of looking for her forever home. Could yours be it? Loo-B is 6 years old, but still has all the spunk and energy of a dog half her age. She currently weighs about 30 pounds, but is a little underweight. She has what is known as EPI or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, which is the inability to properly digest food due to a lack of digestive enzymes made by the pancreas. This is kept under control by medicine. Loo-B lives in a house with cats and dogs and gets along with everyone. Her previous home had small children so we know she does great with them. Although Loo-B is a pure bred English Pointer, she is only a family pet and she is enjoying that life. She is a great bird watcher, though. That is her favorite thing to do. Loo-B loves to constantly be on the move, but is not what most would consider a high-energy dog. She really loves to go to the dog park and enjoys going on walks as well. Loo-B is house and crate trained and is up-to-date on all vaccines. Her adoption fee includes all vaccines, medical expenses or medicine needed while under our care. If you would like to adopt this precious girl then please fill out this adoption application at: http:// www.collincountyhumanesociety.prg/adoption-application.html.

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