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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
February 1, 2008
Editor: Pat Ifft

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

Web site: www.starlight-tower.com

Resource Property Management (727)864-0004

This issue begins with an apology…………for not publishing an Express in January. No excuses, except to thank you for being patient. Several people mentioned that they missed it, and it’s always good to know that this newsletter is read. Although it was a long time ago, I first must mention the excellent party we had the Sunday before Christmas. It was spearheaded by Sophie and Stan Bryk, Gina and John Machado and Sharon and Bill Isaacs. These were the same people who decorated the gorgeous tree and the lobby, and out of that evening came the idea for the Christmas party. About 35 people gathered for great food and lots of camaraderie. As you may know, Starlight has a history of great parties, and this one was doubly appreciated, since we had missed a couple of years of Christmas parties.

Many thanks to the “Committee” and all those who brought food and their holiday spirit to the great evening of fun. While I’m in the Christmas mode, thanks also to Christy and Tim for the outstanding outdoor lighting display. Can you imagine what it will all look like next year when the building is all shiny and new?

President's Corner - Marlene Reid writes:

The shareholders who were in attendance for the January 17th Board Meeting heard the news that all systems are “GO” for the Restoration Project. All shareholders will soon be receiving an official notice from Resource Management that we adopted an assessment, due and payable in two installments. This notice will also tell each shareholder the amount of his/her assessment. In addition, we approved signing of the proposed Contract with Complete Property Services (conditional upon acceptance of the addendum prepared by Attorney Rabin). We do not have to sign a separate Asbestos Contract since that is now all-inclusive with the proposed Complete Property Services contract. If all goes as planned (permits granted, bonds secured, etc.) starting time will be about April 1, 2008. The contract calls for work to be substantially completed within 240 calendar days, then fully completed and ready for final payment within 260 calendar days. We need lots of prayers that the hurricane season passes Upham Beach by without any visits, and that we are spared any other delaying “Acts of God.” If so, Starlight should be ready to shine for the 2009 winter season. We are asking for your cooperation as we reconfigure some of Starlight's parking spaces to make room for the contractors' mobile offices and work/storage areas. Thank you, Starlighters, for your patience since last April as this Board painstakingly worked our way through the complicated process to arrive at this point.

Laundry Facility Use
The complaints that I, as President, hear most frequently are complaints about the abuse of laundry privileges – days (doing laundry on Sunday), hours not designated (late or very early), usurping another resident's time slot, unnecessary noise and over-all inconsideration for residents living near the laundry rooms. If the machines are not being used during a resident's assigned time, please get approval from that resident before assuming that the time is open/free. In an emergency, the machines in the pump room on the ground floor may be used if a time-slot is unassigned and not being used by a 1st floor resident or #106 laundry. I am hereby urging all Starlighters to PLEASE take our laundry Rules and Regulations seriously, and to extend every possible courtesy in this regard to your neighbors. Guests too, need to be apprised of the laundry Regulations, and reminded regularly. No apartment residents should monopolize the open/free time slots. We are fortunate to have non-coin-operated machines and convenient facilities available to us. Let us honor and treasure these privileges. On some floors the posted Rules have disappeared. They will be updated and reinstated soon! If there is not a copy of Starlight's Rules and Regulations in your apartment please ask Christy. We will have some extras printed!
Editor’s Note: Laundry hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (6 to 8 p.m. available to anyone); Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each unit has one five-hour reservation per week, Monday through Saturday, 8 to 1, or 1 to 6. Please clean up machines when finished!
 

Informational Meeting  

– Wednesday, February 6, 7 p.m. in the lobby. At the invitation of Board member Gina Machado, Steve Miker, Branch Manager of First State Bank of St. Petersburg will make a presentation and answer questions regarding his bank’s willingness to loan to co-op owners, and the bank’s terms. Come and have all your questions answered. Also, if you know of another institution eager for Starlight business, please let a board member know.

Building Design Committee

These people have volunteered to serve. If you would like to join them, please let Gina know: Gina Machado – Chair; Lynn Dopp – Vice Chair; Sue Alley, Lois Christman, Jan Fahrnow, Gigi Guthrie and Louisa Simos. This committee will help guide us in our choice of paint color and other details of the restoration process.

Our Anniversary / Shuffleboard Tourney
You’ll hear more of this as time goes on, but this year is the golden anniversary of Starlight Tower, Inc. (The exact date of filing of the corporation is July 26, 1958. ) To help celebrate this wonderful event, the theme of the annual Shuffleboard Tourney is Starlight’s 50th Anniversary. The committee: Denis/Ursula O’Connor; Sophie Bryk, Jim/Verna Murphy; Jack /Joan Carlock; Al Stucko; Don/Edith Schneider; John /Gina Machado; Chuck /Anne Prokop; Mary Quinn; Gail Dolphin and Dan /Marlene Reid. The date is Saturday, March 8. Details will follow in next month’s Express, but save that date!

More Shuffleboard News
Denis O’Connor, Jim Murphy, Don Schneider, Al Stucko and Dan Reid have been researching what is needed to bring our shuffleboard courts and equipment into tip-top shape. They have volunteered to paint the courts, and the only cost will be the template and the unique paint.
If you want to play shuffleboard, want to learn to play shuffleboard, want to try it for the first time…….here’s your chance. Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., starting February 5, Starlighters will gather at the courts to enjoy fun, friendship, sun and laughs. For more info, call Jim/Verna Murphy – 360-6422; or Don/Edith Schneider at 360-3768. Play will be organized so that everyone who comes down will have a chance to play. See you on the courts!
 

• Denis and Ursula O’Connor are spending their 20th winter at Starlight, and especially enjoy their weekly lunches with Sue Alley and Ross Fansler.

• Our inveterate runner, Jack Carlock came in FIRST in his age group (70-74) in the St. Pete Beach Classic Run on MLK weekend – the first anniversary of his heart attack. What a guy!

Entertainment
Michael Lock, the superb organist at Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church, is giving a concert at the church on Monday, February 4 at 12/30. No charge.
The duo of Bob and Pegs plays live music every Thursday night from 7 to 9:30 in the St. Pete Beach Community Center, for dancing and listening. For more information call 363-9245.

Hearts and Flowers to Our Valentines:

Fay Bowers, John Lino and Joe Piplica on the 5th; Sophie Bryk -6th; Betty Gibson & Louisa Simos -15th; Al Stucko – 17th; Frank Montague – 19th; Virginia Machado – 22nd; Coleen Story and Gail Dolphin – 24th; Paul Spencer – 28th.

ANNUAL MEETING – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 – 7 P.M. IN THE LOBBY