Holiday Issue 2012
International Tower, 700 East Ocean Boulevard
IMPORTANT
CONTACT
INFORMATION
General Manager
Craig Phillips
562-436-9066 ext. 2
562-437-3356 fax
Email: genmgr@itoalb.org
Assistant Manageer
Tina Crago
562-436-9066 ext. 2
asst@itoalb.org
Security/Concierge
562-436-9066 ext. 1
Website
www.itoalb.org
Long Beach CA 90802
INTERNATIONAL TOWER
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Newsletter
It’s been a wonderful year and we’ve accomplished many great
things. We added an entirely new amenity to the Tower in our
Community Room, and have started a full renovation of our hallways which will be completed early in the new year. The Board
and Management Team would like to thank all residents for
their cooperation and patience when it was necessary throughout this past year, and we wish you a healthy, prosperous 2013!
Long Beach Police Department
Non-Emergency 435-6711
DECK THE HALLS!
Long Beach Fire Department
Non-Emergency 435-7631
by David Schaffner, Board President
Another Christmas holiday is upon us… I can’t believe how time has
flown! This holiday season we’re in the process of decking the halls
with a whole new look and renovation. Painting is ongoing and soon
the carpet layers will start. The pallet of new colors will really come
into focus when Santa delivers our new carpet. His elves are disguised
this year as painters and carpet layers so I’m counting on all of us to be
patient and cooperative while they complete their work.
* BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD ON
THE 2ND WEDNESDAY
OF EVERY MONTH
Board of Directors
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Member
at Large
If you’ve attended our holiday parties you know firsthand what a wonderful celebration they are. This year’s event will be even better with
great food and what’s promising to be a very festive atmosphere… So
mark your calendar for Friday December the 14th. We have even
secured a legendary pianist all the way from unit 1202 to play Christmas
tunes. I hear he is extremely handsome too! …OK, back to reality! So,
if you don’t want a lump of coal in your stocking you’d better come
join the fun!
One last note… I want to thank all of our staff, fellow Board members
and especially my neighbors for making the ITOA such a special place.
The one we call, “home”. Happy holidays and a blessed new year!
David Schaffner
LeRoy Misuraca
Kathie Patton
Clive Williams
Oscar Gallo
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Timely Package
Pick Ups
Critical !
Don’t Forget
The Annual Holiday Party
on December 14th !
As the holidays approach, the Security and
Management staff are expecting to take in a
large number of packages, as we always do
this time of year. Since we have very limited
space to store these packages safely, it is imperative that all residents check the in-house
monitor every day to see if you’ve received
something. The screen on our in-house monitor is also limited with regard to the number
of units that can be listed. With these points
in mind we ask that all residents be diligent
with regard to checking for package delivery
during this and every holiday season.
Look for notices on how to RSVP
to this year’s party. It will be
bigger and better than ever!
Prevent Smoke Alarms
This Holiday Season!
The smoke alarms installed in the Tower are designed
to be very sensitive to ensure they activate in the event
of a fire. However, their positioning and the design of
the building are such that any smoke from a unit,
whether from burnt food or BBQ usage, can set off an
alarm if you try to air out your unit by opening your
front door into the common hallway. Should this happen to you, please prevent a false fire alarm from
sounding by keeping your front door closed and opening your balcony door instead. If you do cause the
alarm to sound please call the Security Office immediately at 562-436-9066 ext. 1.
THANKS IN
ADVANCE !!!
Toys for Tots Program
International Tower is again joining with many
other organizations to take part in the annual Toys
for Tots campaign. By providing a shiny new toy
to a needy youngster, the Foundation hopes to deliver a message of hope and guide these children to
grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens
and community leaders. The Toys for Tots Foundation plays an active role in the development of
our country’s future – the youngsters of today.
Bins to place donated toys (unwrapped) will be
placed in the lobby very soon.
Thank you in advance for considering this worthy
endeavor!
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Hallway Renovation
Project Update
ITOA Emergency/
Disaster Planning
Would You Like
a Present?
The hallway renovation project is
moving along on schedule and
should be completed by early
February.
Preferred Painting
has reached the
24th floor and is
doing necessary
repairs to the bases of the walls as
they go.
In the continuing effort to be prepared for any potential major
disaster, the Management Team
and Board of Directors have been
gathering an extensive array of
emergency supplies. The cost of
these supplies was included in this
year’s budget, and once they
have all been assembled they will
be stored in several locations
throughout the building that can
be accessed when necessary.
As you walk through the garages
you will see a number of bikes
that have expired. This is a sad
thing and we believe they deserve to be laid to rest. This year
the International Tower Owners
Association would like to offer
folks who’ve not been able to
part with their dear departed 2
wheeled friends the service of
helping get them to the other
side. If you have a bike that is
covered in soot, has flat/corroded
tires, and will very likely not be
used again in this lifetime, please
just let us know and we will dispose of their, uh, remains.
We’d like to remind all owners to
please schedule the painting of the
edges of their front doors with
Ricardo from Preferred Painting.
He can be reached at 818818-5355358191.
On Monday, December 10th Spectra Flooring will start laying new
carpet tiles, beginning on the penthouse level. It will likely take
them about a day to complete
each floor. Owners need not take
any special steps for the carpet layers, but please be careful as you
make your way to your unit when
they are working on your floor.
In addition to purchasing these
supplies, our Manager is completing the preparation of a Disaster
Command System that will provide a framework for a system to
engage if a disaster strikes. When
this Command System is finished
we will train various individuals
to help set up a central area and
deal with all facets of the event.
Please look for more on this very
important issue in 2013.
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THE BOARD & ENTIRE STAFF
WANT TO WISH ALL
INTERNATIONAL TOWER RESIDENTS
A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON
& A VERY HAPPY 2013 !!!
Christmas Facts & Trivia
There's no other holiday like Christmas. Many of us celebrate the holidays without knowing how our traditions got started or what they signify. Christmas is much more fun when you know some facts behind the
holiday. There may be a few you were unaware of below!
The word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of Christ's Mass.
The first president to decorate the white house Christmas tree in the United States was Franklin Pierce.
Germany made the first artificial Christmas trees. They were made of goose feathers and dyed green.
Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.
The first Christmas cards were vintage and invented in 1843, the Victorian Era. (You can read more about
the history of Christmas Cards.
"It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than any other holiday movie.
Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion.
The Nutcracker" is the most famous Christmas ballet.
Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.
If you received all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," you would receive 364 gifts.
The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in the early
1800's.Contrary to common belief, poinsettia plants are non-toxic.
Mistletoe was chosen as Oklahoma's state flower in 1893 and later changed to the state floral emblem.
In 1843, "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens in just six weeks.
The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday officially was Alabama.
Christmas became a national holiday in America on June, 26, 1870.
Black Friday is not the busiest shopping day of the year. It varies, but it usually lands sometime in December.
Clearing up a common misconception, in Greek, X means Christ. That is where the word "X-Mas" comes
from. Not because someone took the "Christ" out of Christmas.
More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of the year.
In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is said to bring new love in the upcoming year.
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