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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 

Volume XVIII, No. 4

 
May 15, 2009
Pat Ifft, Editor (eifft@tampabay.rr.com)
Webmaster, Louisa Simos
www.starlight-tower.com

This probably will be the last Starlight Express until September….unless there is a really newsworthy event to report. (Pray not a hurricane). Many of our residents have returned to their northern homes, and by the end of this month, only the year-rounders will remain to enjoy our unending gorgeous weather.

Marlene Reid, Board President,
and Norm Bavis (CPS Foreman)

say goodbye as the building restoration project is almost complete. Air conditioner grills are being re-worked to accommodate the requirements of each air conditioner unit. All laundry rooms and garbage rooms have received a facelift. Doing the wash and taking out the trash has never been more enjoyable!

The building entrances and first floor walkways will receive their new coverings, a flagstone look, beginning Monday, May 18. During this installation, entrance to the building will be through the south gate, using the gulf side lobby door. Other improvements will include the installation of new lights on all floors, and new cigarette receptacles and stainless steel locks and plates on our entrance doors. Bidding for a new roof begins this Monday, also.

A sea of begonias and new palms grace the entrances to Starlight.

A major leak in a pipe under the front south entryway has been repaired, and hopefully will result in a much lower water bill.

This might be a good place to list some of the people who have helped in the operation and upkeep of our building.
Recognized by President Marlene Reid at the May 14 Board meeting were: Arlene & Mike Kuhn for help in organizing office files; Dan Reid and Frank Gulia who cleaned and repaired our no-longer-needed lawn gear and readied it for selling; Ann and Lorne Hiller, who hand-water the newly planted flowers during Pinellas County watering restrictions; Bill Isaacs and his committee for their ongoing work in updating the Association documents; Gigi Guthrie for her work on obtaining new signage on the property; Lois Christman with help in walkway cover selection; Gina Machado for researching products; DD Wales for organizing the parking; Sophie Bryk for looking after the plants; Stan Bryk for monitoring the building lights for outages; Jay Layman for trimming the gardenia bush; Bill Wales and Lynn Dopp for their diligent oversight of the building project and all that entails; and Kevin Hing for his work on the Beach Renourishment project. Incidentally, Kevin has been elected chairman of the Beach Stewardship Committee for the City of St. Pete Beach. And we must add to this list Marlene Reid, who has worked so tirelessly throughout the restoration project, balancing patience with resolve and bringing us through this past year so well.

Thanks to everyone for all you do.

 Upham Beach stakeholder meeting

On June 1, there will be a stakeholder meeting regarding Upham Beach and the status of permanent groins on the beach. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center on Boca Ciega Drive. Nicole Elko, Coastal Coordinator invites us to hear a Summary of the Upham Beach Stabilization Project, a demonstration of the wave model that the engineers have developed since the last meeting, and presentation of the three structural options for the stabilization project. I hope that you will attend to provide input on the structural scenarios and feedback as to whether or not the wave is reproducing former and existing wave conditions. Kevin Hing advises that the surfing community will be there to present their views and opposition to the installation of permanent structures. Please plan to attend.

We have an addition to our maintenance staff –
meet Don Brownsword, who began on May 1.

Don is an expert repairman and we welcome him to Starlight. He and Christy will work staggered hours.

People news:

Denis and Ursula O’Connor reported on May 1 that spring hadn’t quite arrived in southern Ontario. Let’s hope they are warming up now.
Edith and Don Schneider will return to Starlight in late December.

Congratulations to these two exceptional women:

• Carol Stucko (108) has been inducted into the 2009 Chicago Senior Citizens of Fame, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the City of Chicago.
  

• And Marlene Reid has been reappointed to the Minnesota Board of Optometry. 

Happy Summer Birthdays to all these Starlighters:

	June:	W.A.Smith – 6th; Rosela Simpson – 11th; Margarita Montague – 16th; Don Thorpe – 19th; Pat Ifft & Jason Mozo – 27th.
	July:	Bill Isaacs – 3rd; Jay Layman – 8th; Jenifer Latawiec – 11th; Nelda Smith – 28th; John Somogyi – 31st.
	August:	Lee Brand – 4th; Tom Kelley – 6th; Ed Ifft – 10th; Penny Thompson and Marlene Reid – 12th; Ric Garland – 13th; Donnie Tarrell – 14th; Gigi Guthrie – 20th; and Doug Joy – 28th.