I would like to thank Mayor Schwan for an excellent "State Of Our Town" letter. Congratulations to the Mayor, Council and staff for fine fiscal management and accountability. It is great to see Carefree in such good hands. KGDS!!

Ed Morgan---

 

 

 

Carefree Sundial Centennial Time Capsule

 

Carefree residents and business owners are invited to submit items to be placed in a time capsule to be placed near the number 12 on the Sundial’s Plaza on Arizona Statehood Day, Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12 noon.

 

Items for consideration should relate to Carefree and can include written documents, photographs, textiles, non-ferrous metals, glass and pottery, subject to space considerations. Below is the criteria established by the committee, comprising of former mayor Wayne Fulcher (Chair) and former mayors David Dennison and Hugh Stevens along with current mayor David Schwan.

 

OBJECTIVE: To provide the citizens of Carefree in 2059, an engaging snapshot of the daily life of Carefree in 2012 and the aspirations of today’s citizens for the future of Carefree.

IMPLEMENTATION: Engage a wide selection of the Carefree community in developing items to be included in the capsule while focusing on selections that will be both interesting and self explanatory. In this process we will use the iconic Carefree Sundial to generate media interest and citizen participation.

1.) Targeted date of retrieval February 14, 2059 (100th anniversary of the Sundial)

2.) Time Capsule to include:

a.) Pictures of everyday life in Carefree supplied by Carefree citizens.

b.) Letters from the following segments of the community: Citizen, Elected Government, Town Administration, Community Service, First Responders, Business, to outline aspirations and predictions for Carefree.

c.) Representative Items: Carefree Resort, Sky Ranch Airport and Desert Forest Golf Club.

d.) Sun Dial items/history.

 

Deadline for the submission of items for consideration is Thursday, February 3, 2011, and must be delivered to the Town hall located at 8 Sundial Circle, Carefree, AZ. during regular business hours. Items are not returnable.

The committee will review submissions that will be included in the 19” L x 18” W x 10” D composite capsule. The committee will take into consideration originality and potential historical value as well as space considerations.

 

About the Sundial

In 1959, Town founders K T Palmer and Tom Darlington were looking for ways to market their newly acquired land (1955). Their creativity is now legendary. It has been said the future residents of the Town were so special that not even the postman would know where they lived…hence no mail delivery. Other marketing programs included the construction of SkyRanch airpark, the nation’s first airport where prospective homeowners could fly in to preview sites.

 

The current sundial with its 72 ft gnomon is the largest sundial in the western hemisphere was designed by the architectural firm of Joe Wong Associates of Scottsdale. The plaza measures 90 feet in diameter and the tip of the gnomon is 35 feet above grade. A forgotten item of interest is that the original construction included radiation absorbing painted tubes that circulated water heated from the sun’s rays to the Darlington and Palmer Building, designed by solar engineer John Yellot. This building, at that time, was the real estate sales office and included a small café where food was served to prospective clients. The building is now the Carefree Town Hall. Sadly, the solar heated water system was not as efficient as had been hoped and was discontinued.

 

The Carefree Sundial is a ‘working’ sundial. To achieve this recognition, the gnomon must point directly to the North Star with consideration given to latitude and longitude of its location. Hour markers (1 through 12) are equally carefully positioned. On four days of the year, the gnomon’s shadow is accurate with Mountain Standard Time. Depending on the sun’s orbit, adjustments can be made using a plaque fixed at the base.

 

In 1976, the Kiwanis Club of Carefree acquired the Sundial and, along with the Chamber of Commerce and other civic-minded individuals refurbished it at a cost of $10,000 and subsequently donated it to the Town. The Sundial has received periodic levels of maintenance, the most recent in 2011 when it was powder-coated and given new LED lighting, thanks in part to additional donations from the Kiwanis Club and Carefree-based Let There Be Light, LLC.

 

About Carefree

Carefree, Arizona has a population of 3,400 (2010 census) and is located in the northern foothills of the Valley of the Sun. The southern and eastern borders are Scottsdale and its western boundary is the Town of Cave Creek.

 

It was incorporated as a Town in 1984.

 

It is world famous for its street names, especially Ho Road, Hum Road and Ho Hum Road!

 

Sent by Councilman Arthur Gimson

 

 

 

Dear Lyn,

 

I wanted to provide you with information regarding an exciting event to be held at the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek.

The library will be holding a Western Centennial Gala on February 11, 2012 at its location on Schoolhouse Road. We are excited that our Gala has been sanctioned by the Arizona Centennial Commission as an official Centennial Event.

The evening will include cocktails, a delectable dinner by Chef Toni Rea of Creations in Cuisine, music and live entertainment featuring Bob Bose Bell.

 

This enjoyable evening is one of our major fund raisers for the year. As you are aware, Desert Foothills Library is a privately funded non-profit (we receive no funding from federal, state or city taxes). Community support is very important for us to continue providing services to the area seven days a week. We offer internet and wifi service, an extensive calendar of unique special events, diverse adult, teen and children's programs, passport services and meeting rooms. In the coming year we will be adding e-books for our members. Our library is a truly extraordinary facility!

 

The Library is proud to serve Cave Creek, Carefree, North Scottsdale, North Phoenix and surrounding areas. We are thankful for the support we have received from these communities.

Further information can be found on the Library website: www.dfla.org

Reservations can be made by phoning the Library at 480-488-2286.

We are looking forward to a wonderful evening!

 

Greg Gardner, DFL Board President

 

 

 

“Centennial Celebration: Cave Creek-Style” set for

Tues., Feb. 14 at Cave Creek Museum

Cave Creek Museum to open on day off for Arizona’s 100th Birthday – Guests can see Stamp Mill’s primary crusher in action.

(CAVE CREEK) – If there’s one town that knows how to throw a party, it’s Cave Creek. So, it only seems appropriate that Cave Creek Museum host a special “Centennial Celebration: Cave Creek-Style” event in honor of Arizona’s 100th Birthday. To mark the special occasion, the Museum will open its doors to the public from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tues., Feb. 14. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 Skyline Drive, in Cave Creek.

“The Museum is normally closed on Tuesdays, so this is a great opportunity to learn not only about Arizona’s history, but the rich Desert Foothills history right here in our backyard,” said Evelyn Johnson, Cave Creek Museum’s executive director.

In addition to serving Ginger beer and tootsie rolls, which were popular in 1912, the Museum will feature live music throughout the day from that era. Special exhibit panels will be set up throughout the Museum and docents dressed in early 1900s attire will be on hand to answer questions.

Because mining was such an important part of Cave Creek’s history 100 years ago, the Museum will also highlight its historic Stamp Mill which dates back to 1880 and is more than half-way through its restoration process.

“Children, especially, love to see the Stamp Mill’s primary crusher and shaker table in action. Our outside exhibits also include a historic church, one of Arizona’s last TB cabins, a Gazebo, farming and ranching equipment, and we’ll also be featuring an old gas pump,” Johnson said.

For information, call (480) 488-2764, or visit www.cavecreekmuseum.org.

Evelyn Johnson,Executive Director

Cave Creek Museum

480-488-2764 Ofc

480-595-0838 Fax