NOTICE: This site is under active construction. We’re working with the Stonehouse Board and community committees to bring it fully up to date.

Stonehouse Owners Foundation

Author: mbenitez

  • Wanted: Neighbors to Help Neighbors — Become a SEAT Block Captain!

    An effective neighborhood watch program isn’t about individual vigilance; it’s about collective awareness and mutual support. To ensure every street in Stonehouse has a dedicated connection to our community safety network, Stonehouse SEAT is actively looking for volunteers to serve as Block Captains.

    If you love your street and want an easy, rewarding way to keep your immediate neighbors safe, informed, and connected, this role is perfect for you!

    📋 What Does a Block Captain Actually Do?

    A common misconception is that being a Block Captain requires patrol shifts or massive amounts of personal time. In reality, it is a very low-commitment role focused on hospitality and neighborliness.

    As a Block Captain, your essential responsibilities include:

    1. The Welcome Committee: Introduce yourself to new neighbors as they move into your immediate street or block.
    2. Information Sharing: Relay important safety flyers or localized awareness reminders (like JCC golf cart safety rules or home security guidelines) to your section.
    3. Communication Hub: Act as a reliable point of contact to pass along localized safety concerns from your neighbors to the SEAT committee leadership.
    4. Encourage a Block Party: We love seeing neighbors know one another! Once a year, help encourage or coordinate a simple block get-together or street party. Note: You don’t have to host or fund it yourself—your street neighbors should pitch in and help organize; you are just the spark that encourages the effort.

    🚨 Current Vacancies: Is Your Street Covered?

    While we are looking for volunteers across every single neighborhood section in Stonehouse, we have an immediate and critical need for Block Captain representation in these specific areas:

    • 📍 The Manor
    • 📍 The Ridge
    • 📍 The Glen
    • 📍 Briarhill Way
    • 📍 The Reflections

    If you live on or near these streets, your voice is heavily needed to ensure your corner of the community isn’t left out of the loop!

    🤝 Ready to Learn More? No Obligation!

    If you’re on the fence about volunteering, you don’t have to make an immediate commitment. We invite you to step forward, ask questions, and learn exactly what’s involved.

    • To Indicate Interest: Fill out our quick digital interest form [here] or reach out directly to our SEAT Committee Liaison, Linda Botts, at StonehouseSEAT@gmail.com. Putting your name down simply indicates interest and opens up a line of communication.
    • Come to a Meeting: Stonehouse SEAT meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM at the Laurel Grove Park Clubhouse.
    • Get Trained: We regularly host brief Block Captain orientation and training sessions immediately following our standard meetings at 7:45 PM. Come meet our James City County Police partners and get certified as an “official” Block Captain.

    Strong descriptions and tight-knit blocks make for safer neighborhoods. Thank you for stepping up to watch out for one another!

  • Growing Our Community: Help Us Form the Stonehouse Landscaping Committee!

    From our pristine common areas to the lush entrance corridors, the natural beauty of Stonehouse is what makes our neighborhood such a premier place to live. To help preserve, maintain, and enhance these valuable green spaces, the Stonehouse Owners Foundation is looking to officially establish a brand-new, volunteer-led Landscaping Committee.

    If you have a green thumb, a passion for lawn care, or simply want a voice in how our neighborhood’s parks and common paths are maintained, we need you!

    🌿 Why Do We Need a Landscaping Committee?

    The Stonehouse Owners Foundation oversees significant common area acreage, including localized maintenance like the Townes & Reflections landscaping contracts.

    The proposed mission of this new committee will be to act as a crucial link between the residents and Chesapeake Bay Management (CBM) to:

    • Oversee Neighborhood Schedules: Help monitor and communicate local neighborhood contracts—such as the active Townes & Reflections routines (e.g., ensuring turf applications are seamless and regular Monday/Tuesday mowing schedules run smoothly).
    • Advocate for Common Grounds: Help plan seasonal enhancements for our shared community areas, including the Laurel Grove Clubhouse grounds, neighborhood tennis courts, and local playgrounds.
    • Guide & Assist Neighbors: Act as an educational resource for residents navigating the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) application process for residential tree removal, property grading, and individual landscape redesigns.

    📋 Who We Are Looking For:

    We want to bring together a collaborative group of residents with varied perspectives, including:

    • Townhome & Single-Family Residents to ensure all sections of Stonehouse are represented fairly.
    • Gardening or Lawn Care Enthusiasts who know the difference between aeration seasons or specialized turf care.
    • Organized Neighbors who can help draft friendly seasonal tips (like pet etiquette on common lawns or gate access reminders for service days).

    🤝 How to Get Involved & Sign Up

    If you want to be a founding member of the Landscaping Committee and help shape its goals from the ground up, getting on the list is easy:

    • Put Your Name Down: Reach out directly to our Association Manager, Mary McCarty, at Mmccarty@1cbm.com or email the main office at info@1cbm.com. Let them know you are interested in joining the prospective Landscaping Committee.
    • Join the Next Meeting: Keep an eye out for our upcoming organizational meeting date, which will be posted on the community portal.

    Let’s work together to keep Stonehouse healthy, vibrant, and beautifully maintained. Thank you for volunteering to grow our community!

  • Help Us Form the New Stonehouse Pool Committee!

    As we gear up for the 2026 swim season, the Stonehouse Owners Foundation is looking to the future. Our community amenities are some of our greatest assets, and we want to ensure they continue to be vibrant, safe, and fun spaces for everyone.

    To make that happen, we are looking to officially form a brand-new Stonehouse Pool Committee—and we need your help, ideas, and passion to get it off the ground!

    🏊‍♂️ Why Form a Pool Committee?

    Right now, our pool operations and seasonal events are managed broadly, but as our neighborhood grows, having a dedicated group of resident volunteers will ensure our facilities get the specialized attention they deserve.

    The proposed mission of the Pool Committee will be to partner with Chesapeake Bay Management (CBM) to:

    • Enhance Pool Community Life: Help plan and coordinate fun seasonal events (like the upcoming Summer Kickoff Pool Party on June 10th!).
    • Advocate for Amenities: Serve as a dedicated voice for residents regarding pool rules, guest policies, hours of operation, and facility upgrades.
    • Support Maintenance & Safety: Act as extra eyes and ears to flag maintenance needs (like recent fitness center HVAC tracking) and ensure safety standards are being met.

    📋 Who Are We Looking For?

    You don’t need any special background to join—just a desire to keep our community spaces fantastic! We are looking for a diverse mix of neighbors, including:

    • Parents who utilize the pool frequently with kids.
    • Early morning lap swimmers.
    • Residents passionate about planning neighborhood social gatherings.
    • Anyone with a knack for organization, safety, or facility improvement.

    🤝 How to Get Involved & Sign Up

    If you are interested in being a founding member, helping shape the committee’s bylaws, or even stepping up as a Committee Chair, we want to hear from you!

    • Express Your Interest: Reach out to our Association Manager, Mary McCarty, at Mmccarty@1cbm.com or contact the main office at info@1cbm.com. Let them know you’d like to put your name down for the prospective Pool Committee.
    • Spread the Word: If you have a neighbor who you think would be perfect for this role, share this post with them!

    By building this committee from the ground up, we can ensure the Laurel Grove pool remains the highlight of every Stonehouse summer. Thank you for volunteering to make our neighborhood an even better place to live!

  • One Community United in Remembrance: Stonehouse Honors Memorial Day

    As we gather with family and friends over this holiday weekend, the Stonehouse Owners Foundation stands together to observe Memorial Day.

    This day carries a profound meaning for our community. We pause to extend our deepest gratitude, honor, and respect to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. We remember the heroes who never made it home, and we acknowledge the deep truth that freedom isn’t free.

    🇺🇸 One Community, United in Remembrance

    Stonehouse is a community built on a foundation of service, brotherhood, and neighborly connection. As we enjoy the liberties of our daily lives, let us remain united in honoring the legacy of those who gave everything to protect them.

    “To honor the fallen is to cherish the peace and community they fought to preserve.”

    🗓️ CBM Office & Administrative Holiday Hours

    In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, please take note of the upcoming adjustments to our community management operations:

    • Office Closures: The Chesapeake Bay Management (CBM) administrative offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.
    • Regular Hours Resume: Normal operations and standard business hours will resume promptly on the following business day.
    • Emergency Maintenance: For any urgent community infrastructure emergencies during the holiday weekend, please contact the main CBM emergency line directly at (757) 534-7751.

    May everyone in our neighborhood have a safe, peaceful, and reflective Memorial Day weekend.

  • Introducing Stonehouse SEAT: Elevating Our Community Awareness & Safety

    Welcome to the first official update from Stonehouse SEAT!

    Thanks to everyone who participated in our recent community poll, the results are officially in: our neighborhood watch initiative has rebranded from “Neighborhood Watch” to Stonehouse SEAT (Safety Education, Awareness & Training). This new name perfectly reflects our goal: to move beyond passive observation and focus on providing our residents with the actual skills, education, and training needed to build a prepared, crime-resistant community.

    To kick off our new platform, we are sharing core frameworks provided directly by the James City County (JCC) Police Department during our recent neighborhood training sessions.

    🧠 Mindset First: Focus on Behavior, Not People

    An effective watch program relies on objective awareness. When evaluating an unusual situation, ground your instincts in observable facts and behavior, not assumptions or appearance.

    • What is Suspicious? Activity that is completely out of context for our neighborhood’s normal daily rhythm—such as someone systematically testing multiple car door handles or peering into garage windows at 2:00 AM.
    • What is NOT Automatically Suspicious? Normal daily activities occurring in public spaces, such as someone jogging at night, delivery/service visits, door-to-door sales, or waiting for a rideshare vehicle.

    📝 The Dispatch Checklists: L.O.C.A.T.E. and C.Y.M.B.A.L.

    If you ever need to report an active issue to authorities, having precise details helps officers respond faster and more effectively. Memorize or bookmark these two simple mental checklists:

    1. Describing a Person (L.O.C.A.T.E.)

    • Location: Where exactly are they? (Cross street, direction of travel, etc.)
    • Overall Appearance: Estimated age, height, build, hair style/color, skin tone.
    • Clothing: Top, bottom, shoes, hat, backpack, visible logos.
    • Actions: What specific behavior raised concern? (Be factual and precise) .
    • Time: The exact time or duration you observed them.
    • Extras: Unique indicators like tattoos, scars, facial hair, or specific accents.

    2. Describing a Vehicle (C.Y.M.B.A.L.)

    • Color
    • Year / Generation (Newer vs. older model)
    • Make (e.g., Honda, Ford)
    • Body Style (e.g., SUV, Sedan, Pickup truck)
    • Additional Features (e.g., tinted windows, dents, unique bumper stickers)
    • License Plate Number (Even a partial plate and state is incredibly valuable)

    ⚠️ CRITICAL SAFETY REMINDER: Your safety always comes first. Never confront, approach, challenge, or follow a suspicious individual or vehicle. Observe from a safe distance, document what you see, and let law enforcement handle direct contact.

    📞 Knowing Who to Call

    Make sure you save our local police contact information directly into your phone:

    • Call 911 immediately if: A crime is actively in progress, forced entry is witnessed, or someone is in immediate danger.
    • Call the JCC Non-Emergency Line at (757) 566-0112 if: You want to report suspicious activity that occurred earlier, request extra patrols, or provide follow-up information like security camera footage.

    🤝 Get Involved: Block Captains Needed!

    Stonehouse SEAT is actively recruiting Block Captains to support our safety network, with an immediate need for coverage in the Manor, Ridge, Glen, Briarhill Way, and Reflections sections.

    Block Captains have a fun and simple role: meeting your immediate neighbors on your street, welcoming new move-ins, sharing safety reminders, and helping coordinate a simple, casual block get-together or party once a year so neighbors can get to know one another.

    • Ready to learn more or volunteer? Reach out directly to our SEAT Committee Chair, Linda Botts, at StonehouseSEAT@gmail.com.
    • Mark Your Calendar: Stonehouse SEAT meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM at the Laurel Grove Park Clubhouse. Our upcoming summer session on June 16th will focus on De-escalation safety & security—we hope to see you there!

  • Traffic Alert: Six Mount Zion Road Overpass Closure Extension

    We have an important traffic and infrastructure update for the Stonehouse community regarding the ongoing work at the Interstate 64 overpass.

    The temporary closure of Six Mount Zion Road at the I-64 overpass, which was originally projected to wrap up and reopen in the Spring of 2026, is facing an extension.

    🛑 Why is the Closure Being Extended?

    The extension is necessary due to newly requested gas utility line relocations along the construction corridor. To ensure safety and long-term infrastructure stability, these utility lines must be safely moved before the final phases of the overpass project can be completed.

    📅 What is the New Timeline?

    The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and its project partners are currently collaborating directly with the gas utility company to finalize an updated project schedule.

    • Current Status: The road remains fully closed to through traffic at the overpass.
    • Detours: Please continue utilizing the established detour routes around the I-64 overpass area.
    • Updates: We will post the finalized, official reopening date here as soon as VDOT releases the revised timeline.

    🚗 Driver Tip: Please allow for extra commute time during morning and evening rush hours, and keep an eye out for roadside digital signage reflecting any immediate traffic pattern adjustments.

  • Proposed HOA Declaration Amendment: Your Vote is Needed!

    The Stonehouse Homeowners Association is currently holding an important community vote regarding a proposed amendment to our HOA Declaration.

    This amendment is required to update our local community guidelines in response to recent changes in Virginia law. For the HOA to maintain its authority to enforce community standards effectively, we must officially adopt these updated legislative mandates into our governing documents.

    📝 What is the Proposed Amendment?

    The amendment explicitly outlines the HOA’s authority to assess violation charges or fines for non-compliance with community rules.

    • A Measure of Last Resort: Fines are designed as a final option after warnings have been issued.
    • The Fine Structure: Fees will range from a single one-time fine of up to $50, or a recurring daily fee of up to $10 (capped at a maximum of 90 days per calendar year).

    🗳️ Voting Requirements

    To pass and officially adopt this amendment, our community requires a 2/3 majority vote.

    • Out of the 705 total homes in Stonehouse, we must receive a minimum of 470 “Yes” votes/proxies.
    • Every household’s participation is crucial to help us reach this legal quorum.

    📬 How to Cast Your Vote

    If you cannot attend the upcoming association meeting in person, you can easily submit your vote via proxy. Please complete your proxy form and return it directly to our Association Manager:

    • Contact: Mary McCarty
    • Email: Mmccarty@1cbm.com
    • Subject Line Suggestion: Stonehouse HOA Amendment Proxy – [Your Street Address]

    Please Note: Before submitting, please ensure that your current association assessments and dues are up to date, as only members in good standing are eligible to cast a ballot.

    Thank you for doing your part to keep our neighborhood beautiful, safe, and legally compliant!