(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's the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.

http://www.carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-2915.html

 

 

 

The 2015 Carefree Gardens calendars are now available at Carefree Town Hall, 8 Sundial Circle, Carefree.  They they cost $17 including tax for 1, or if you buy more than 1, they are $13 including tax.  They are gorgeous!

 

 

 

Desert Foothills Chronicle link:

http://www.desertfoothillschronicle.org/

City Sun Times link:

http://news.citysuntimes.com/

 

Thank you!

We are overwhelmed by the gracious, generous comments of your readers! Their support for us is exactly what we need. We’ve tried to respond to every email and phone call and apologize if we missed anyone.

In a few months we are moving to a home in Alamarte, a new development on Hum Road in “downtown” Carefree - one story, no steps and much reduced outside maintenance. We look forward to seeing everyone as we continue enjoying all that Carefree has to offer.

The comments, offers of help and emails we read and the telephone calls we received have helped us get through a tough week - it is all much appreciated!

 

David and Binka Schwan

 

Hi.

A good friend, neighbor and mayor of our town has been diagnosed with ALS aka Lou Gehrig’s disease. You may have participated in last summer’s “ice bucket challenge”, which was a great success in helping the ALS Association bring more awareness to the issues of ALS.

Just a few days ago the NY Times had an article by a young lady recently diagnosed with ALS. Apparently there is a new drug which potentially can help deal with it. But, like any new drug, you have to deal with the FDA.

Link to the article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/for-a-l-s-patients-a-hopeful-drug-thats-out-of-reach/?_r=0

Please read the article and sign this petition to have the FDA fast track the drug DM6.

https://www.change.org/p/janet-woodcock-m-d-fda-accelerated-approval-of-genervon-s-gm604-for-use-in-als

Many thanks,

Ralph & Faith Pipp

 

Mayor Schwan:

 

I for one want to thank you for your service to our community. You have contributed to making Carefree the wonderful place it is. I know we have a long way to go to develop the town center and it will be more difficult for those left on our council to get it done in our favor. You have helped lay the foundation and I have much confidence in our council.

Personally I will miss being around you. While you embark on the journey before you and your wife Binka, Please Know, You will be in our prayers, on our minds, and in our hearts .

It has been a pleasure for me and know you, and hope to see you once in a while.

Joseph and Laurie Corpora

 

 

Lyn,

You do such a nice job with this information. We were all so shocked and saddened to hear about David. We are thinking of him and Binka.

Catherine

Venues Cafe

 

 

 

Like everyone I was so shocked to hear about the Mayor’s devastating diagnosis. Please know he and his loved ones are in my prayers.

Thank you for including my letter in your news letter.   BTW.  The title of my book is The Parrot’s Perch.

Big hugs (especially to the fur babies)

KK

(Lyn's note: Karen's was the story at the end of the last batch of Letters.  She is the one who is fighting to get the law changed in Brazil so torturers like hers would be prosecuted.)

 

 

 

I saw the article about David resigning due to his ALS diagnosis.  How sad...... Why does stuff like this happen to decent people???

I'm sure you are upset...I know you and Herbert admire and respect him immensely.  I never met him personally, but I have seen him in many of the videos Herbert does of the council meetings.  He always conducted himself as a true gentleman, exhibiting courtesy, patience and respect for everyone in the meetings.

Wish we could all do something to help.

Heidi Coates

 

 

 

Lyn,

I find it not only offensive but also an indication that Mr Lewis is not really in touch with our citizens when he accuses "someone" of soliciting negative comments for Carefree Truth on the proposed Town funded community center. As we all know, Carefree Truth is an open forum for the members of the community to share information, ideas and opinions. Mr Lewis's criticism smells of desperation in that he is getting a strong sense that many members of the community have valid concerns with the Town spending so much money. There is always room for differences of opinions but I do not like that Mr Lewis has chosen to make unfounded accusations because he is not getting his way. Maybe if this development is so wonderful he should just proceed with it and stop waiting for the town to subsidize him. Yes the town core is experiencing some distress but make no mistake, the Town of Carefree will survive without Mr. Lewis. I hope the Town does not fall pray to artificial deadlines imposed by someone else's timeline. Proper due diligence must be done by the town, and all options considered. We should not be bullied into a decision.  If anything, this entire issue screams for a referendum so the true views of the majority of Carefree citizens are heard. 

One last comment, I was in the Town core today for a haircut and then met my wife for lunch at a local restaurant after she and a friend went to a gardening seminar at the council chambers. There were lots of cars, people and activity. I can't imagine how impacted our little town core would be with thousands of additional visitors. There surely is a better way to revitalize out little downtown without selling our souls to a developer and blowing up our little community. 

Tony Geiger

  

 

 

Lyn,

I was at the January 14th meeting early  and wasn't asked to participate in a survey.  Nor did I see anyone conducting one. 

Jim Whitmer

Carefree

(Lyn's note: The survey was handed out during the meeting where the representatives from ASU made their presentation in January.  Gina, Carefree's new marketing director, was standing by the door handing out small yellow slips as people were entering.  Those were the survey.  If you got there early, maybe she wasn't on station yet.  It was conducted by ASU.) 

 

 

 

Lyn,

Truly a harrowing story at the end.  Interesting how overcoming adversity creates character. A kindred spirit.

What a great public service you are providing for Carefree. I love the

open dialogue and the reasonableness of the debate.

A.F.

 

 

 

 

Lyn,

I have been reading the disorganized debacle of the meetings of the Carefree City Council.  What a shame that a few arrogant individuals that are trying to make money off the taxpayers of Carefree are unwilling to ask all the questions necessary to make an informed decision on how Carefree’s future will look.

My family has been here since the 1800’s, 3 generations of ASU graduates, so no bias here. All of the family would travel to Carefree every couple of weeks to get out of the “big” city. The only business/home north of Bell Road was Tom Chauncey’s Arabian Horse Farm. No other buildings whose lights would block out all of the stars. The cactuses had plaques at their bases letting us know what type of cactus we were looking at. The town of Carefree was a sleepy little town and so much different than the big city of Phoenix. We weren’t looking to be entertained, just a cold drink and walk about with the family.

What is Carefree known for in 2015? Everything has been built up from Scottsdale to Carefree, no open spaces anymore, few places you can still see the stars.  Is the shopping so different that I would want to travel all the way to Carefree to show my family and out of state guests? The town is mostly closed on Sundays, some restaurants are open. So many businesses have left due to antagonistic property owners, that selections are thin.

Carefree has no brand.  Cave Creek does, it didn’t years ago, but does now. People drive right past Carefree to go to the events, shops and restaurants. Is that what you had in mind? Why would anyone travel all the way to Carefree to attend an ASU function? As if we don’t have enough locations here in Phoenix, Tempe, Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale?  Doesn’t make sense. The taxpayers of Carefree really want to pay the tab? Where are the financials of everyone that wants to partner with Carefree?

I still visit Carefree because I have friends that live there. I eat at the few restaurants you have, but really miss the Carefree Station and it’s patio. Love eating at the Bistro. I don’t bother to go on Sundays, Carefree rolls up the sidewalks. Cultural Center? How many future participants have you lined up, how much revenue from ticket sales?

I attend all of the art and wine festivals still to this day. I have always loved Carefree, really hate to see its demise with all of the fighting. Someone’s pockets are going to be filled, just not Carefree’s.

Susan Martin

 

 

 

 

Lyn, 

Good morning,

I have been reading and hearing about the Ed Lewis project. I have great interest in the happenings of Care Free as I am considering   moving my gallery to the town.  At present I am looking at a parcel of land and want to build a world class facility that would be second to none in beauty and stature,being educational as well as creating an offering of these bestirs of he earth. You know what I accomplished in Cave Creek with that little building I am in now. I want to give people the opportunity to see first hand the beauty of what Mother Earth has created over the millennium.  

That being said I would love to hear your thoughts on all that is being proposed. I hear the pros and cons and although I see the need to create something for the town core as the merchants there are literally dying on the vine. Commerce in the town core is tough for all those merchants there and as it exists the future seems dim. 

I understand the quaintness and pristine allure of what Carefree offers its citizens. But the finances have to be balanced as well and there is an attrition happening. The reality is commerce needs to flourish, certainly not unchecked or unbridled. However the future would seem bright if the purposed growth was allowed to blossom.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this project. As a perspective owner and merchant I am very interested in the outcome of the events of the town.

At the moment I am traveling  doing what I do in purveying art of the earth and won't be back in full force until after the 15th of this month. Lots of new and wonderful acquisitions. The best yet. So don't be a stranger and stop by and visit soon and lets talk. I would love to see you. 

All the best

Wayne Helfand

(Lyn's note: Wayne is a partner in the Rare Earth Gallery. His gallery would be a very welcome addition to Carefree.  It is amazing.  I agree that our town retail core, being off of arterial streets, needs more draws, and if the Rare Earth Gallery were brought to a large space that included an educational aspect, that would be fabulous!  I'd love to see Carefree become a major art center, and that could be a valuable component.)

 

 

 

Hi Lyn & Herbie,

Didn't get a chance to scream GREAT Retaliation.

Love your Muscle.

Joe DeVito

 

 

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