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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
October 15, 2007
Editor: Pat Ifft

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

Web site: www.starlight-tower.com

Happy autumn to everyone.

Did you open your windows last night?

What a delight to hear the surf, and realize that the long, hot summer has just about succumbed to nature’s air conditioning.

The main purpose of this issue is to bring you a letter from our Board President, Marlene Reid. She and Lynn Dopp, along with the Board, have worked very hard to guide the Association through this past 10 months of change, and it seems appropriate to take this time and space to say thank you to them.

Here is Marlene’s letter…..

October 15, 2007
Dear Shareholder,

I want to bring you up to date on the restoration project developments at Starlight. Pat Ifft, editor of The Starlight Express, has graciously granted me some space for my message.
A new set of circumstances can cause domino-effect changes and reassessment. This is true at Starlight. When Liberte Management Group terminated our contract the Board did the necessary research to seek out a replacement company, and subsequently went through a very objective interview process. As you already know, we chose Resource Property Management. They’ve been working with us now for over a month and we have been very pleased with the results. Everything is going smoothly! Since rental of the guest apt. #106 wasn’t very conducive to off-site management we made the decision to have Starlight’s staff person, Christy Hays, handle that duty.
When Bob Reinhardt, the CEO of Resource Property Management, heard that Starlight had embarked on a restoration project he asked to review the proposed contracts since he had been deeply involved, with successful outcomes, in the renovation/restoration of many of their other buildings. He was shocked that we had only gotten two bids. Upon review of the documents in hand, Bob asked to make a presentation to the Board regarding: (a) the role Resource could play in getting involved in Starlight’s project; (b) discuss the possibility of seeking recovery from insurance for “hidden collapsed damages”; and also (c) to give the Board “heads up” on a comprehensive insurance plan/proposal that Resource has been working on whereby Starlight’s premiums could be significantly reduced.

This informational meeting was held on Sept. 26th. Vance Poland, V.P. of Resource, was also present. Mr. Reinhardt made the case for reopening the bidding process, and indicated that, if Resource were to be given a leadership role in the project, the first step they would take would be to invite contractors to bid. Preliminary calls had assured them that there was ample interest from other contractors. Reinhardt had also made contact with Karins Engineering Group to let the engineers know what was being proposed, and that Karins would be expected to provide better specifications.

After the Board’s questions had been answered, Mr. Reinhardt and Mr. Vance were excused.
There was further discussion among the Board members. Then the Board passed a resolution engaging Resource Property Management to act in this leadership capacity on behalf of Starlight during the restoration project. The resolution also directed Resource to pursue possible insurance recovery as pertains to a “hidden collapsed damages” claim.
I understand from Mr. Reinhardt’s report that there was no shortage of contractors who showed up at the pre-bid meeting at Starlight on October 8th to receive the documents from Karins and get some background information. The bids are due back by the end of October, so the whole process is being delayed by several weeks! Please pray that the delay is well worth it, and that all of this shakes out to be greatly beneficial to Starlight Tower and Starlight’s shareholders. God Bless!

Marlene Reid, President

The next Board meeting will be held on Thursday night, October 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby. If you are in residence, plan to attend, so that you have first-hand information, and not have to rely on someone else’s opinion as to what took place.

Are you aware that we have free 911 ambulance service for residents of St. Pete Beach? Here’s how it works. First step is to register with the St. Pete Beach Fire Department. They have the form you will need to fill out and return to them. When you receive a bill from Suncoast Ambulance after using their service, send it to your insurance company. After your insurance has paid its share and notifies you of the balance, take your bill over to the Fire Department and they will handle it from there. This is a wonderful perk of living in our little Paradise. Call the SPB Fire Department at 363-9207 for more information.

A few northerners are beginning to wend their way down:
Al and Carol Stucko (108) are here from Chicago.
Frank and Margarita Montague (404) were here from Virginia for about 10 days. They’ll be back later in the year.
Tom Kelley (803) is here from Detroit, and
Doug Joy (407) was here but was called back to Detroit at the death of his 96-year-old grandmother. Doug, our sympathy is extended to you and your family.
Sue Alley (705) and Ross Fansler had a grand summer in Tennessee, near Sue’s family there.
Ross’s son, Steven and family (802) are here for a visit.
Glad to hear Sally Borland (101) is doing much better, after suffering a bad fall earlier this summer.
Barbara and Art Walter, former long-time residents of Starlight have had a very rough summer, both having had surgeries and undergoing treatment and rehab. At this writing they are doing better and send their love to all their friends here.

Sorry we missed these birthdays in October………..
Judi Spencer – 6th; and Ernest Bailey – 7th;

Coming up in October:
Chuck Simpson – 19th; Art Cavender – 26th; Sharon Isaacs – 29th;
Coming up in November:
Edel Quinn – 1st; Lynn Dopp – 3rd; Karen Gulia – 4th; Karen Brown – 11th; Mary Curcio – 15th; Luke Dickinson – 20th; John Machado – 26th

Here’s a “get-ready” note: Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 4 at 2 a.m. in the Eastern Time Zone. This is the first year DST has been in effect until this late……almost 8 full months. We resume DST on March 11, 2008