CAREFREE TRUTH
Letters from Readers & Events: 12/9/15
(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. 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 is the link to this week's Pictures of the Week. Enjoy!)
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-week-12715.html
Photo by Tom Baker
The 2016 Carefree Desert Garden calendars are now available at Carefree Town Hall, 8 Sundial Circle, Carefree, and they are gorgeous! If you like to take pictures, visit the Gardens. Our entry period for the Gardens photo contest is January. Your picture could be in the 2017 calendar.
Desert Foothills Chronicle link:
http://www.desertfoothillschronicle.org/
CITYSunTimes link:
(Lyn's note: This is the direct link for making donations to Binka's page on the David's Team "ALS Walk" fundraiser website. Donations will continue to be accepted through January, 2016. http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/Arizona?px=6972161&pg=personal&fr_id=10960#.VezY7HgXzFI. Let's show our appreciation of former Mayor David Schwan, and let's help find a cure for ALS!)
On the night of Thanksgiving, November 26 or early November 27, one of Desert Foothills Land Trust’s most-loved and most-used nature preserves was damaged by vandalism. The culprits used spray paint to deface the Jewel of the Creek Preserve rock outcropping known as the amphitheater, as well as nearby cottonwood trees and trail signs.
The Land Trust’s conservation director, Vicki Preston, filed a report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Vicki and Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Ranger Kevin Smith then went to work with bottles of biodegradable graffiti remover and were able to remove most of the paint from the rocks and trail signs. The cottonwood trees are proving more difficult, and we may need to rely on time to help us with those.
We are certainly angry about the damage, and disheartened that anyone would set foot in this beautiful place and decide this was an appropriate activity.
However, when we shared the information about the incident on our Facebook page, we were floored by the response – although we shouldn’t have been. We know how much people love this preserve and this landscape, and that was on full display on our Facebook post, as well as the many emails, phone calls and visits we have received since. We have had an incredible outpouring of support, encouragement, gratitude and offers of help!
So, while we continue our work to repair the damage and look for the vandals, we want to THANK the community of supporters who alerted us to the damage, offered their help with repair, shared our request for information about the culprits, and otherwise rallied to protect this special place. Thanks in particular to Ranger Kevin for going above and beyond the call of duty to scrub rocks with Vicki.
We are honored to be stewards of this land with all of you, and are truly grateful for your support!
With thanks,
Sonia Perillo
Executive Director, Desert Foothills Land Trust
(If you have information about the vandalism, please contact MCSO at 602-876-1000.)
Lyn - Excellent coverage. I really appreciate your good work and so do the vets who are served by the workshop.
Thank you,
Mike Wold Program Manager
Healing of Memories Workshop
651-687-9767
What a wonderful salute.
Laurie Palace
Vice Mayor John Crane (r) shaking hands with Col. Gobel James
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
