(Lyn's note: Please feel free to send us any pictures you'd like included.  If your photos are for sale, let us know and we will put them under that category.  We have a special section for that purpose, and have just added some art as well.  If anyone would like to buy a print of any of Herbert's photos, all profits will be donated to one of the local non-profit organizations.)  Here's the link to this week's Pictures of the Week. 

 http://carefreetruth.com/Carefree_Truth/Photos_11-3-14.html  

 

 

 

Desert Foothills Chronicle link:

http://www.desertfoothillschronicle.org/

City Sun Times link:

http://news.citysuntimes.com/

 

 

 

Dearest Lyn,

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

Lots of hugs,

Pam DiPietro

(Lyn's note: listed at the top of CFT Non profit events last Wednesday: Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center seeks donor sponsors for families)

 

 

Carefree Cash Reserves

The 2013-2014 Fiscal Year Audit contains a chart of Town of Carefree Cash Reserves. Below is a portion of that chart showing total cash reserves as of the end of the past ten fiscal years.

I believe that this audited chart shows that the Town Council and Staff have done an excellent job of maintaining Carefree’s cash reserves and, at the same time, making appropriate investments and improvements in Carefree’s assets. I invite any of your readers with questions about this chart to call me on my mobile at 602 722-6930. The Carefree Staff is also available at 480 488-3686 for questions.

The Town Council regards $2,500,000 of the total cash reserves as a “Rainy Day” reserve. For example, as of June 30, 2014, Carefree had $2,500,000 in “Rainy Day” reserves and $3,482,889 in cash reserves available for appropriate uses.

Fiscal Year Ending June 30th

Yearend Reserve

Fund Balance

Extraordinary Expenditures

 

 

 

2013-2014

$5,982,889

Pavement Preventative Maintenance Plan Phase 2  $1,048,262

2012-2013

$6,060,584

Open Space Land Acquisition $281,666 and  Pavement Preventative Maintenance Plan Phase 1 $993,667

2011-2012

$6,606,141

Paid off 8 Sundial Circle Town Hall & Fire Truck

2010-2011

$6,618,368

 

2009-2010

$6,066,456

 

2008-2009

$5,711,961

Fire Station costs paid in 2008-2009

2007-2008

$6,256,790

Fire Station construction completed

2006-2007

$6,940,072

 

2005-2006

$6,751,525

 

2004-2005

$4,995,076

1 million gallon Water Tank Construction completed

David Schwan

Mayor, Town of Carefree

 

 

Dear Arthur,

Thank you for your analysis on John Traynor's comments. You hit the nail on the head! John Traynor, as always, writes or talks with half truths and lies, trying to create a perception that the town is poorly managed by the mayor and town council. John is quick to criticize but, in all the years of his rantings, has never come up with a solution. JOHN TRAYNOR has never supported the town or local merchants.    

Glenn  R.  Miller

 

 

 

 

(Lyn's note: On the Economic Development Forum issues)

Thanks Lyn.  Good summary.

Sara 

 

 

Lyn,

Since I felt your recent “Carefree Truth” blog descriptions of the Open Forum Meeting were rather biased . . . I have a comment and two points to make:  

Rather than build a Town Hall annex 'at this time', it's time for the Town to provide an infrastructure conducive for businesses — and the businesses will take care of providing sales tax revenues that pay for maintenance of our roads, and a public works department that can handle trimming trees and assist in cleaning out plugged up washes, etc. 

Each Council Member was elected to represent the Town (residents AND businesses).  Fortunately for us Carefree’ers, the Town BUSINESSES help pay for HALF of our TOWN SERVICES — roads, public works dept., fire protection, police protections, courts, etc. so that we do NOT have to pay a property tax to Carefree!  

1) No one pointed out where my petition was inaccurate or could dispute the petition was backed by virtually every property/building owner in the Town Center, many merchants, many Carefree residents and REALTORs; and, 

2) Many citizens from this Country have DIED for the FREEDOM to talk to their fellow citizens and argue with their Government if they feel it is going down the wrong path.  I will NOT apologize for feeling that presenting a petition was the ONLY way I was going to be taken seriously by others who were leading us down a path of no return (figuratively and literally).  

Best regards,

Melissa Price

Council Member, Carefree, AZ

Tele:  480-227-1927

God Bless America!

(Lyn's note: There were 5 long parts on the economic development forum in Carefree Truth, complete with the videos of the meeting.  We left everyone in who spoke so that no one would feel their voices weren't heard.  Not one person was cut.  The text was taken from the videos, and again, everyone who spoke was included.  We were not trying to be biased, in fact, quite the opposite.  We strove to include it all so that people who are interested could see it.  We completely agree with you that everyone has a right to openly express their opinion, and there has certainly been no lack of expressed opinions concerning economic development, with a lot of valid viewpoints coming at it from different directions. 

 

Herbert and I do shop local a lot, and I suspect we support Carefree businesses to a far greater extent than most do.  We fully appreciate that those businesses provide slightly more than 1/2 of Carefree's income.  And frankly, we think there are a lot of businesses in Carefree to like!  We have a neat little town.)        

 

 

 

Being the smartest person I know in Carefree, why does anyone think that more stores, etc. will lift up Carefree when El Ped is dying and there are so many closed stores in Carefree? 

Louise S.

(Lyn's note: The main point is to get people living in our pedestrian friendly downtown by building the condos.  I see a definite benefit to that element.  A retail element and a cultural attraction should help build critical mass.  More to do and see.)

 

 

 

 

(Lyn's note: On the Props 488 & 489)

 

You presented your argument well. Got my vote!

KGDS!!

Ed Morgan

 

 

 

SOOOOOO GOOD!

Maria

 

 

 

Thanks...Voted early and Yes!  Hope others see the logic.....

Cheers

Eileen Crowley

 

 

 

Please see your assertion, (#7 ) below. I would be real careful as to whom you paint as negative just because they may not share your opinion.

John Nimsky

President 

Carefree Business Solutions

JDN@JohnNimsky.com

 

7. Those opposing Props 488 & 489 are the same consistently negative people who favored the failed recall attempt against our Mayor that was backed by the Sonoran News. 

 

The opponents, a handful of vocal cohorts, are solely featured in Sonoran News editorials concerning Carefree.

 

(Lyn's note: It is public record fact that the Sonoran News supported the failed recall.  There is an article and a photo of Don Sorchych and the recallers' paid political consultant celebrating their anticipated (but unattained) victory while the votes were being counted.  The consultant was presenting Mr. Sorchych with an award.  All articles and editorials in the SN were pro recall at the time.  Many were written by the same individuals who have been writing into the SN against Props 488 & 489.  When have you last seen an editorial about Carefree, or for that matter anything else, in the Sonoran News that was not negative?

 

I have many friends who have differing opinions on various issues.  However, we are all still friends.  Listening to and respecting different points of view keeps life interesting and fresh.  But what my friends and I have in common is a positive outlook on life.  The Sonoran News is Negative Energy Central.  One can feel the palpable anger and discontent emanating from its pages.  I believe that life is good.) 

 

 

 

 

Time To Say Goodbye...

Dear Jo London customers and friends:

I've had an amazing time with my Jo London store and I'm so proud of the brand and the beautiful place that I was able to create together with my awesome team who I think of as more than just staff but as very dear friends. 

With hard work, passion and determination we created a unique experience for our Jo London customers and showed how a retail space could be transformed into another world.

We've met some fabulous people along the way and hosted some brilliant parties too, many times Jo London felt more like an elite social club than just a shop! 

But now it's time to move on and as the saying goes, all good things eventually come to an end. We will close the doors on the store at the end of this year, and look forward to welcoming a new business to the town of Carefree in 2015.

The English Rose Tea Room (our sister company) will continue to serve its loyal customers as it has done for almost 13 years and still goes from strength to strength pouring tea in the desert. Many more exciting events are planned at the Tea Room throughout the coming months, including a fabulous Royal Baby Shower next March.

In Jo London, we still look forward to seeing you as we wind down and of course, there will be some GREAT bargains to be had as we move our inventory from our space into your homes!

And finally, should you know of a great business looking for a new  home next door to the Tea Room (on the corner of Lucky Lane & Easy Street in Carefree!) give our landlord Bob a call 480.236.9995.  We'd love to welcome another exciting new venture to town.

Thank you everyone for all your support and friendship and please come in and see us soon.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On!

Jo 

Owner 

Jo London

& English Rose Tea Room

Carefree, AZ 85377

 

Click here for page #2