(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 are the links to this week's Pictures of the Week. Enjoy!)

http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-5916.html 

 

Photo by Stephanie Bradley

 

http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/5716-bird--wolfer-pics.html 

 

Photo by Herbert Hitchon

 

 

 

 

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 Carefree Desert Gardens Photo Contest is January.  Your picture could be in the 2017 calendar.

 

 

 

Town of Carefree Newsletter link:

http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=4b736631f153ae846e0670316&id=1c548bde21

 

In The News-Town of Carefree link

http://www.carefree.org/DocumentCenter/View/1250

 

Desert Foothills Chronicle link:

http://www.desertfoothillschronicle.org/

CITYSunTimes link:

http://news.citysuntimes.com/

 

 

Les Peterson Announces He Will Run for  Mayor of the Town of Carefree in 2016 Election

The Next Few Years are Critical for the Future Economic Sustainability of the Town

Carefree mayor and community leader Les Peterson has declared his candidacy to continue as the mayor of the Town. Les assumed the duties of Mayor in the early spring of 2015, when the previous mayor, David Schwan, resigned due to illness.

“We have made great progress in enhancing downtown Carefree for the enjoyment and utilization of our residents and visitors,” Mayor Peterson said. “We can’t stop now, and the next few years are critical to the Town’s future. Much remains to be accomplished.”

Key town priorities that need to be addressed in the near future include:

1. •Continuing the integrity of Carefree as a beautiful residential-friendly town without the heavy traffic and congestion of many nearby towns.
   

2. •Attracting a diverse demographic to the downtown area by continuing strategic marketing efforts with dramatic and high quality popular programs such as the Ray Villafane Enchanted Pumpkin Garden exhibit and the Carefree Christmas Festival.
   

3. •Enhancing and strengthening downtown businesses, including new restaurants and commercial businesses to generate excitement and activity, to fulfill the needs of our residents and visitors.
   

4. •Selectively encouraging the addition of smaller, high-quality residences close to downtown for Carefree residents who want to remain in Carefree, but feel the need to downsize from their current larger homes.
   

5. •Achieving the identified priorities within budget constraints while maintaining Carefree’s strong reserves.
   

“A renewed sense of spirit and momentum is evident throughout Carefree,” Peterson said. “I believe I can continue to effectively lead the town’s efforts to complete the remaining tasks in this revitalization. Our objective is to maintain an enjoyable quality of life for town residents while generating long-term economic sustainability for Carefree.”

“Other Carefree Council members, the town staff and numerous local volunteers and businesses have all worked together during my term to efficiently change the look and feel of the downtown area along Easy Street,” shares the Mayor. “Achieving this is absolutely critical to the long-term economic sustainability of Carefree. The downtown enhancement projects, implemented under my leadership, came from a variety of sources, and the town council worked hard and effectively to maximize the impact of each. Many of our local businesses and civic organizations also made substantial contributions towards implementing these projects, which helped to keep spending below the approved budgets.”

Mayor Peterson attended ASU, receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees.  He and his wife, Mary, have resided in Carefree for 20 years. They have been married since 1965, and have two children.

Les received his initial training in marketing and business management at Procter & Gamble. This was followed by working with leading marketing services firms which specialized in strategic planning and marketing program development. Following this initial experience, Les was one of the founders and served as president of a marketing services firm which grew to be the fifth largest in the country. Les worked with more than 180 client companies identifying their key problem areas, developing strategies and managing programs to address the problems identified. 

In addition to currently serving as mayor, Les is a director emeritus of New Pathways for Youth, an organization which provides mentoring and life-changing training to over 600 youths from dysfunctional families. He serves as a member of the Paradise Valley Community College Advisory Board, and is a guest lecturer in international marketing at ASU. For fourteen years, Les was one of three “judges” of business proposals submitted in the Cornell University MBA entrepreneurship program, evaluating over 4,000 such proposals. Prior to being elected to the Carefree Town Council in 2012, Les served on the Carefree Planning and Zoning Commission and was the president of the Boulders Homeowners Association.

For additional information, please contact Les Peterson at 480 747-0737

 

Lyn and particularly Gina-I thank you both for the press release and kind words. I will always treasure the day of the award-Thanks again to both of you.Harry S. Vardakis

 

 

Congratulations to Harry Vardakis. Bought my lot from Harry in 1993.

He helped me then and was a valued adviser during my term in office. Harry is one of the good guys.

Ed Morgan

 

What a neat fellow!!

Laurie Palace

 

Just had Mothers day brunch at Carefree Bistro, and it was spectacular. "as usual". OH, and Laurie even got a "fresh red rose"

Joe and Laurie Corpora

 

 

Lyn:

A mega-thank you to Gary Neiss and the Town of Carefree for adding a layer of asphalt over the river rock wash at the west end of the Desert Gardens.  For the last 13 years, I would do my best to avoid the “rumble-rock-wash”.  I would drive around the post office to the back of the amphitheater and out to Easy Street to avoid subjecting my vehicle’s suspension to any unneeded stresses and strains.  Now, I can smoothly drive out Wampum Way, stopping at my bank on the way out to Tom Darlington Drive.  While the improvement may pale in comparison to the Gardens, the faux gas-lamps, the amphitheater shade treatment, the new splash park, the new fireplace, and other projects, I will bet that many other Carefree residents are equally happy.

Arthur Gimson

(Lyn's note: I add a mega-AMEN to that!)   

 

Hi Lyn,

A very friendly female pit or pit mix was found by a neighbor in Desert Ridge. Looking for her Owner. If not found, she will need a good home to be placed in.

Please send this email out.

Thank you so much.

Gail

gailmp@cox.net

(480) 352-4948

Lyn, could you possibly share widely specifically for foster? If she goes to the shelter she will most likely not make it out alive. Fosters are harder to come by the closer to summer we get.

Christine

xpucca@cox.net

 

 

 

FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ (KPHO/KTVK) -

A Fountain Hills woman was attacked by javelina as she walked her dogs Saturday night. According to the victim, the herd of javelina came out of a nearby wash, crossed the road, and attacked her and her two leashed dogs unprovoked.

The woman reportedly lost her footing during the incident and fell to the ground as two javelina began biting her. A neighbor in his vehicle and the victim's husband reached the scene at about the same time and were able to free her from the two javelina and take her

back to the house while two to four other javelina continued to chase and attack her dogs.

The woman sustained multiple bites to the upper body and neck area. She underwent surgery for some of her injuries, and is receiving rabies treatment as a precaution.

"We have strong evidence that regular and illegal feeding of wildlife in this neighborhood was a major factor in this incident," says AZGFD spokesperson Amy Burnett.

Wildlife managers interviewed neighbors and discovered two residents in the immediate vicinity were reported to be feeding javelina and coyotes as recently as the last couple of months. One neighbor reported that the feeding at one property was occurring so regularly that the occupants of the residence felt trapped inside their home and car at times. Based on the unacceptable behavior of the javelina inflicting human injury, crossing a road to attack dogs and subsequently a human, and history of feeding in the immediately vicinity, six javelina were lethally removed from the immediate area for public safety.

"We are fortunate that the attack was not worse," says Burnett. "Attacks by javelina on humans are rare, but when they happen, public safety is our main concern."

The javelina will be tested for rabies and other diseases potentially transmissible to humans.

When encountering wildlife it is important to stay a safe distance away and not encourage interactions with them. Don't feed wildlife. It not only may lead to negative human-wildlife interactions, but in Maricopa County it is illegal to feed wild animals other than birds and tree squirrels.

VIDEO: http://www.cbs5az.com/story/31914525/woman-attacked-by-javelina-in-fountain-hills

 

Sent by John Braden

 

HI LYN,

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND ENERGY!

SUE BICKERDYKE

 

Thank you for all you do.

David Court