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About The Starlight Express

The very First Issue of  Starlight Express Newsletter was created by the Editor and Chief Pat Ifft on February 29, 1992 and since then is maintained and produced monthly by her for 17 years! All Starlighter's owe immense gratitude to Pat in keeping them informed with all happenings good and bad. 

Thank You Pat

Starlight Express

The Starlight Express
December 4, 2007
Editor: Pat Ifft

Telephone: 367-2189
Email: eifft@tampabay.rr.com

Web site: www.starlight-tower.com

Resource Property Management (727)864-0004

In checking today’s date, I realized that three weeks from today is Christmas, and Hanukkah begins this evening. So hopefully you are well along in preparations for the holidays and will have time to read this. The weather today is very December-ish, although the long board surfers are out in force this morning. Temperature means nothing to them…..it’s only the wave action that concerns them. So, on to the news.

The Restoration Project

Board President Marlene Reid writes: “I want to thank all the Starlight shareholders for their patience and cooperation while we are adjusting to the new management company taking over the helm, and while Board members work their way through the process of getting the restoration project off the ground. We had six competitive bids. The general slowdown in construction projects may work to our advantage. Though you may not see signs of it, plans are progressing nicely. We are zeroing in on a final decision and should have definitive news for you very soon!”
 

The Budget Committee personnel were Gina Machado, Lynn Dopp, Bill Wales and Dan Reid. They met with our manager, Carol Shire, and wrote the proposed budget, copies of which were sent to all shareholders. Thanks to these people for their good work. No increase of maintenance fees this year!

The 15-minute parking restriction in front of the building will be enforced, and violators may be towed at their own expense. The parking time may be lengthened to 20 minutes at such time when the parking spaces can be repainted.

For Owners Only …….Here’s the skinny on On-street Parking Permits:
This year you must go over to the Police Department yourself to purchase your permit. You are entitled to one permit per bedroom, so two-bedroom apartments may purchase two. Permits are $15.00 apiece. You must take this year’s tax statement as proof of ownership, and also your driver’s license. Sale of 2008 permits begins Monday, December 17. The Police Department office is open from 8 to 4, Monday-Friday. January 1 – 31, 2008 is a grace period when your 2007 permit will still be valid. You may also purchase a B decal for your car for $15.00, which is good at all parking meters in St. Pete Beach (including Pass-a Grille) except the County Park on Gulf Blvd., across from Dolphin Village.

Our pool has been inspected by the county and Christy was told, “Great job!” Don’t you think we have the best-looking pool on the beach? Thanks, Christy and Tim for your good work. That’s the good news. The bad news is that our seawall cap has been the target of graffiti and trash, and there is a problem with people coming onto our property to the pool and restrooms. Because of legal issues, it was decided to have Carol Shire contact Pinellas County officials to learn what could be done legally to solve the problem. The Board will also begin exploring the possibility of placing a fence inside the west seawall cap.

The Beach
Now here is REALLY good news. Marlene Reid reports: “Nicole Elko, Coastal Coordinator for Pinellas County reports that the study checking into whether or not there is oil sediment in Blind Pass has been completed. NO OIL SEDIMENT was found in the Pass! This means that the process of obtaining permits for renourishing Upham Beach with sand dredged from Blind Pass can commence. This will take time but it moves the renourishment one step closer.”
 

Christy is the person to see to reserve the guest apartment. Rules include: reservations no more than three months in advance, and owners must be in residence when their guests are in 106.

A BIG THANK YOU to our neighbor Bill Bullington (in the little house between us and Envoy Point). Have you noticed the lovely new plantings of palm trees at our exit gate? Christy and Tim removed a couple of scraggly old bushes that were on their last gasp, and Bill replaced them with two beautiful little barrel palms. He has spent many hours and about $400 of his own money to improve that area. So when you see Bill out there working on his house and/or yard, take a minute to thank him for his generous gift to Starlight. He is truly a good neighbor.

Christy and Tim are working on the Christmas decorations. The red and green walkway lights are all in place, and the dynamic duo is now in the process of stringing the lights on our bushes. If anyone would like to decorate the lobby tree, Christy and Tim will get it and all the decorations out of the garage and put them in the lobby. This would be a very nice gift to us all from someone who has the time and willingness to do it. Last year (and for several years) Art and Barbara Walter did the tree, with help from a few others. We miss them very much. Their health didn’t allow them to come down this year – the first time ever that they haven’t spent the winter at Starlight.
 

Nancy McGuigan has been the “Sunshine” chairman for many years and we thank her for all she has done to brighten lives by taking flowers and cards to those who are ill or hospitalized. Now she would like to “retire” and hopes there is someone in the building who would be willing to continue this job. If you are interested, call Nancy at 360-1797.

Congratulations to Mark Bottey (pronounced Bo-tay) and Donna Bray (406) who were married October 12 in St. Petersburg.
Our sympathy is extended to Bill and Sharon Isaacs on the death of Bill’s brother.
And sympathy to Ed and Betty Gibson and Roy and Peggy Gearhart on the death of Annabel McCarty, Betty and Peggy’s stepmother, who lived at Envoy Point. Annabel was 101 and until this last year enjoyed good health.
Guy LePine and Joanne Stewart have left Starlight and moved to Tierra Verde, where they share a townhouse with former Starlighter, Shelby Suggs.
Paul Reardon (1002) hopes to come down after the first of the year…health permitting.
John and Gina Machado are cruisin’ this month…..an “Elvis” cruise out of Tampa.
We’re glad to learn John Somogyi is recovering well after surgery
 

The St. Pete Beach Anniversary party at the Tradewinds was lovely. The Starlight table included
Ross Fansler and Sue Alley, Ed and Betty Gibson, Ed Diedo and Rikki Pearson, Roy and Peggy Gearhart and Ed and Pat Ifft. Over 600 people enjoyed great food, good music and the celebration of our little city’s 50th anniversary. Which reminds me…….Our dear old building will be 50 years old in 2008! Don’t you think we should have some kind of celebration party? After the holidays are over, we could begin plans.
 

New Year Babies Celebrating January Birthdays

Christy Hays -1^st; Richard Dolphin – 6^th; Steve Farst – 9^th; Alexandra Curran – 12^th; Jeff Trull – 15^th; Sara Borland – 17^th; Lea Cavender – 19^th; Janet Farhnow – 30^th; Marcia Thorpe – 30th

Happy Holidays to all the Starlight Falily