Jimmy, I've never really had a chance you get to know you outside of your patrols in and around the town. Jo and I have always enjoyed your STOPS in front of the Tea Room and have sensed your concern and loyalty to this great little town. We are advising everyone we know to write you in as a candidate. Good luck...we both support your efforts!

Bob and Jo Gemmill

(Lyn's note: In order for your write-in vote to count, you must write exactly Jim Van Allen, and darken the line between the arrows across from it, like you do for the other candidates.)

 

 

 

 

Today, Tuesday 2/22, starts my fourth week of campaigning.  I will be at the Carefree Post Office, on a split shift.  I hope it is like last week, very calm and peaceful with plenty of time to talk to our Citizens.

 

Interesting question on Saturday:  "Jim, which one of the strong lobbies in Carefree talked you into running?"  I replied:

 

    " My motivation was when I found out there would be only 6

       Candidates for 6 seats on the Council.  I called Town Hall to

       find out if there was still time to register as a Write In.  I was

       told that the deadline was at 4:30 that day "...." I NEVER spoke

       to any group or individual about running.  I picked up the forms

       and went to the Sponsor of the upcoming Candidate Forum, to

       see if I could get an invitation to same, if I filled out the forms.

       I then submitted the forms at 3:45 that day.  While going over

       the forms with the Town Clerk the Vice Mayor walked up and

       asked what I was doing.  I told him.  That was the first anyone

       other than Betsy Wise and the Forum Sponsor knew what I

       was doing."  ( I hadn't even gotten hold of my wife ).

 

Since that day I have gotten a wide spectrum of support...from the "left, right and middle"...all the while maintaining an independent stand on the "hot button" issues that are surfacing.  This is not because I don't have opinions on those issues...but, most of them are quite separate from the job of running for a Town Council seat for the next term.

 

I am beholding to NO GROUP OR LOBBY.  If elected I will vote on the issues after considering FIRST the Citizens of Carefree; the long term implications to our financial status and what I think is the best way to preserve our unique Town as the best place to live and work.

 

Will Lightning Strike, and for the first time ever a Write In Candidate win an election, in Carefree??  We will find out shortly. And, I will continue to work hard to deserve the votes I will get.

 

Respectfully, 

Jim Van Allen  

Write in Candidate, Carefree Council

(Lyn's note: I think what Jim said is true of most of the candidates running this time.  They, including Jim, are good people who have stepped up to the plate as independents and will do the their best for the town.)

 

 

 

 

LYN, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE YOUR FEAR OF REDUNDANCY IN LAWS THAT REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL OF TAXES?

 

LET IT GO, WILL YOU!

 

 

(Lyn's note: This unsigned email addressed Carefree Truth #102 which provided the exact laws that apply to require voter approval of secondary property tax levies.  My response to the writer is that falsehoods and scare tactics are being utilized to garner votes.  I was challenged to produce the applicable laws, and I did so.  I would be happy to let it go.  Others are not happy to do so and have continued the discussion.  Hopefully, this will end it.  Vote for the redundant law if you wish.  There is certainly no harm in it.  Just don't be fooled into voting for certain candidates who promote it with promises that it will change the mechanism for levying property taxes.)

 

 

 

Dear Lyn,

Thank you for taking the time and the bullets to refute the lies told about Carefree in the SN.  The latest desperate smear tactic, is just that, desperate.  If the SN had taken the time to investigate the points in my wife’s letter, rather than looking for something sinister and unethical, their crack team would have found a number of current and retired the SN so quickly printed on the front page of their paper.  Thank you Don, for getting the truth out to your readership.

 My wife and I do not live in Carefree, however a good portion of her "relaxing" time is spent promoting the town of Carefree and the local business owners. We have owned a business in Carefree for ten years.  When the small shop opened there was a dust bowl in the center of town. There were no lights and no signage, to speak of.  In that ten-year period, Carefree has grown under the leadership of Ed Morgan, Wayne Fulcher and David Schwan.  There are lights, there are signs and there is a wonderful desert garden in the town center.  Those are tangible things, but what has also grown are the Carefree partnerships and the energy level in the business district.  All of these efforts take responsible leadership. 

The leadership that Mr. Stavoe demonstrated with the merchant group was anything but responsible.  My wife and Jo Gemmill have been slandered repeatedly.  Lyn, these two women have done more for Carefree, in a volunteer capacity, than Mr. Stavoe has done as an elected official.  I don’t know of any successful business ventures in Carefree or elsewhere that Stavoe has been involved in. To vote for Mr. Stavoe would be a vote to take Carefree back to the dust bowl of ten years ago.

Jeff Bergman

 

 

Dear Holly,

Marc & I just wanted to reinforce our very positive reaction to the practical steps the business community of Carefree are taking to better communicate what Carefree has to offer. As we mentioned, having come to Phoenix for well over 20 years, and now having a second residence in Northern Scottsdale, it's been difficult to discern what Carefree has to offer - except for the establishments that are directly on the main road.

Even the simple signage that the town has put up on the main road denoting what's in the Sundial shops is a welcome addition - as we're never quite certain of when to turn.

We were delighted to see the very noticeable increase in potential shoppers that these changes have brought - even midweek and midday. Our fear was that some of the finer establishments in Carefree would suffer the same fate as what has plagued El Pedregal.

Our hats off to you and the Community.

We hope this type of creative business planning will continue.

Sincerely,

Dr & Mrs. Marc Feldman

 

 

 

Dear Lyn,

 

Thank you for taking the time to refute the SN's sordid smear campaign concerning a well respected member of our merchant community, Holly Bergman. 

 

Perhaps instead of 'shooting the messenger' the SN could have used its 'investigative journalist' to check out the facts of the story instead of pondering the legitimacy of the author's name...a great smokescreen for  diverting attention away from the real issues that were addressed.

 

Holly Bergman is a well respected and successful entrepreneur.  She has volunteered countless hours to help our merchant district raise its profile and has worked tirelessly with the Town of Carefree and local business owners to help us all promote the place that we love. 

 

Her work ethic and loyalty to the town is commendable especially from one who, like many other merchants, is not a resident of Carefree. She should be applauded for her efforts in bringing together the business community, for championing our wonderful town and for challenging false statements made by others in their strive for personal  political advancement.    

Jo Gemmill

 

 

 

DEAR LYN,

 I JOINED THE ORIGIAL MERCHANT GROUP IN THE SECOND YEAR OF ITS EXISTENCE.  WE HAD TWO VERY PRODUCTIVE YEARS BRINGING THE BUSINESSES OF CAREFREE TOGETHER.  WE ADVERTISED IN THE VALLEY GUIDE, AS A GROUP AND WE HAD WINE-TASTING NIGHTS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EVENING CONCERTS. I WILL CONFESS I WAS NOT AS ACTIVE IN THE GROUP AS HOLLY AND JO. I DID HOWEVER, ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS.  I WAS AT THE MEETING WHEN STAVOE RAILROADED THE ORIGINAL SLATE OF OFFICERS AND REPLACED THEM WITH HIS PLANTS, AND PLACED HIMSELF AS PRESIDENT.  HE WAS NOT EVEN VOTED INTO OFFICE.  HE WON WHEN JO GEMMILL AND HOLLIS PAGLIARO BERGMAN, THAN JUST PAGLIARO, DECIDED NOT TO CHALLENGE STAVOE.

 

NOT ONLY IS HOLLY A RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE CAREFREE COMMUNITY, SHE WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND RESPECTED EXECUTIVE IN THE MONTGOMERY WARD/ LECHMERE RETAIL COMMUNITY.   HER WORK ETHIC AND INTEGRITY IS OBVIOUS IN EVERY CHALLENGE SHE PURSUES, THE CAREFREE MERCHANT GROUP, ANIMAL RESCUE AND HER GALLERY.   

 

WHY THE SN DID NOT THOROUHLY INVESTIGATE THE FACTS OF THIS LETTER SENT TO CAREFREE TRUTH BEFORE ATTACKING THE MESSENGER SMACKS OF YELLOW JOURNALISM.  IF THEY HAD DONE THEIR  HOME WORK, THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND THE TRUTHS ABOUT STAVOE, AND HIS LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH REGARDING THE CAREFREE MERCHANT’S GROUP.  I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WAS NOT THEIR GOAL. THEIR GOAL WAS TO EMBARRASS AND PRINT IMFLAMATORY INFORMATION ABOUT A VERY RESPECTED AND SUCESSFUL CAREFREE BUSINESS PERSON WHO OPPOSESS THEIR POLITICAL VIEWPOINT.

JIM

 

 

 

Dear Lyn,

 

Thank you for all your time and efforts to tell the "truth".  I am a member of the Carefree Business Group and am appalled at how one of our business residents has been treated.  Holly Bergman has been instrumental in helping me to maintain a successful business.  Before the CBG started, town traffic and business were minimal for my shop.  The group has managed to bring a great many people into Carefree to shop and "spend" by getting the new signs approved, and the advertising media being used.

 

The hours we have spent as members can't compare to the time and devotion Holly Bergman along with a few others have in committing themselves for the betterment of the community.  I appreciate all that the group and Mayor Schwan and those in agreement on the Town Council have done for us.  Vice Mayor Glenn Miller can "take a bullet" for us anytime by always doing the right thing and what is best for this community.  I don't live in Carefree but am a devoted business owner.  I find it hard to comprehend why it is so difficult for some people in this town to appreciate all the positive and forward-moving decisions that are being made for the betterment of the town.  I give my support to Holly, yourself and all of the other gracious people who do care about Carefree. 

Rose

Carefree Circle Boutique/dba/ Bags & Rags

16 Easy St.,

Carefree, AZ. 85377

480-575-3114

 

 

Thanks to all who contribute to Carefree Truth because it is a superb source of factual news regarding our town.  So many good citizens of Carefree, and the town itself, have been attacked and unfairly criticized in Sorchych's miserable little rag, the Sonoran News.  Sorchych plays fast and loose with the facts, sacrificing accuracy in order to promote his own warped opinions.  Between the speculative writing and over-wrought rants, it reminds me of the "Jeers and Cheers" section of my old all-girls high school newspaper. 

 

Sorchych, a failure as a newsman, primarily attacks and vilifies those individuals who have been most successful in their personal lives and influential through their public service.   Similarly, his hatred for Carefree, a truly lovely and well-managed town, is palpable.   It is often painful and frustrating to read Sorchych's lies and innuendoes.  At the same time, there is a direct correlation between a person's positive influence on Carefree and the intensity of Sorchych's attacks.  So Lyn, I think you should take your headline status in the Sonoran News as an indication that you're really a very successful individual with a powerful positive influence on the town. 

Ann 

 

 

 

 

Lyn Hitchon, I have known Holly Bergman personally and professionally for over two years.   I'm outraged by these malicious attacks on her character. 

Holly is not only a bright, successful entrepreneur, but an honest, most dedicated professional.   Her strong leadership extends beyond business.  She works relentlessly in civic, cultural and non- profit sectors; asking for nothing in return but to add value to Carefree, the state of Arizona and beyond.   Holly should be commended not condemned.

There are far more crucial matters for the narrow minded and mean spirited residents of Carefree/Cave Creek to be focused on, rather than attacking Holly Bergman's character.    Furthermore, to learn of recent Hate Crimes in the form of vandalism of other supporters of the Mayor, against another Carefree merchant is equally appalling.   We can only hope these perpetrators are brought to justice as soon as possible.

-Friend of Holly's

 

 

 

 

I've known Holly for a good number of years.  We are from the same part of the country.  Like people with foreign born parents, myself included, she has and uses a number of names which are all legal and all covered by the same social security number.  She has also recently married, which accounts for another name.

 

As a longstanding personal friend ans as a business person, Holly's manners are beyond reproach.  She is literally honest to a fault.

 

I like your paper very much and felt that you would welcome someone that really knows Holly personally making a position comment on her use of a number of names.

 

Sincerely,

Marcia Villalobos

 

 

 

Lyn,

The "Alpha Dog" is yapping in his kennel again; what's with Sorchych's fascination with Holly's name?  Also, why is he carrying water for a Carefree mayoral candidate (Decimal Doug)?   Last I checked, his little fishing pond is Cave Creek.  

LAW

 

 

So true, Lyn, those sentiments by Joseph Intenzo.   Having felt the lying end of sorechych's (sic) venomous sword of retribution, I know that accuracy and fairness stopped being the top goals for that newspaper. Without either, a newspaper cannot be trusted by the community it serves. Without that trust, a newspaper is unlikely to retain readers and remain in business. 

 

His MY VIEW have errors of fact and errors of omission. Some statements lack proper attribution. He hardly ever attempts to contact the principal subjects of the story for comment.  And when he does, never trust the accuracy of the account.    Most stories published fail to meet journalistic standards  and rarely do the stories and headlines reflect  core values of fairness.  

 

But hold our breath we should not, and can only pray that the hatchet will fall soon, making for a last edition from  sorechych.    I can only wish that the editor of the wonderfully inspiring written paragraphs below could resurface.   Don Sorchych wrote  in 1999:

 

"Sitting on the island that we sit, surrounded by county, state land, Phoenix and Scottsdale, we are only masters of our destiny to a limited degree.

 

Somehow developers and their high priced attorney seldom volunteer to downzone and the impact on small communities like ours can be devastating.  We believe precedent is important and so is our lifestyle.  Here comes Home Depot!  The siren song of tax dollars converted to amenities resonants with some---and there are surprises galore as to who wants this Judas Goat in town.  Big stores are a Bell Road type of creature, and not a desert dweller.  It simply doesn't belong here.  Home Depot? No! Nein! Nada!

 

Cave Creek has serious needs to either get a grip on relaxing its zoning codes or get serious about enforcing them.  Why should there be politically motivated enforcement?  Why shouldn't adjoining property owners be notified of any planned activity on neighboring property?   And why shouldn't they be able to deal with assaults on their peace, tranquility and safety?   They have property rights too.

 

Our Town is a jewel and will be the elite bedroom community of the future if we get our acts together.   We will be surrounded by intense development.  Can we maintain our uniqueness, drive our own wagon?  It all starts in the voting booth.   If you want to maintain Paradise, you had better be sure your candidates are driven by preservation, not growth.  Attendance at government meetings, demanding that rampant growth be slowed and held to high standards is a start.

 

In this Holiday season, bless the activists that give freely of their time and courageously of their very reputations to reach beyond their backyards.  They are your neighbors, friends and strangers, but they number far too few!"

 

Lyn, keep the facts coming.  You may print this if you like.   As you know I spell his name wrong on purpose and I refuse to capitalize his first letter.   

 

Anna Marsolo

 

(Lyn's note:  The (sic) in line 2 was placed there by Ms. Marsolo for emphasis.)