(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.  Enjoy!

http://www.carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week--6815.html

 

 

 

 

The 2015 Carefree Gardens calendars are now available at Carefree Town Hall, 8 Sundial Circle, Carefree.  They are gorgeous!

 

 

Desert Foothills Chronicle link:

http://www.desertfoothillschronicle.org/

City Sun Times link:

http://news.citysuntimes.com/

 

 

 

Lyn, could you please publish the following:

In March I was honored to be the recipient of the Spirit of Carefree Award which is sponsored by Sanderson Lincoln. This week Vice Mayor John Crane delivered a check to me for that part of the award.

I’d like the Foothills Community to know that I am contributing the entire monetary award to support the Arizona ALS Association “Walk to Defeat ALS”. My wife’s friends organized “David's Carefree “Sole” Mates” in my honor. Binka and I are supporting the team to raise funds for the AZ ALS Association. Information about the October ALS walk is available at url -  http://webaz.alsa.org/site/TR?team_id=332049&fr_id=10960&pg=team .

Thank you to everyone for your support, generous comments, cards and letters! Thank you to Sanderson Lincoln for all that they have done for Carefree and THANK YOU for the Spirit of Carefree Award!!!

 

David Schwan

 

 

Lyn,

I was requested, as the Mayor of Carefree, to offer welcoming comments to the 156 amateur golfers and, in many instances their coaches and families, participating in the 100th Annual Southwest Amateur Golf Tournament at Desert Mountain during their opening luncheon today. Attached, and below, is the outline of my welcoming talk.

By way of background, this Tournament is one of the premiere amateur golf tournaments in the country. A number of the participants go on to become professional golfers. Corey Pavin and Mark O’Meara are numbered among past SW Amateur Golf Tournament participants. Participants come from throughout the Country, with some coming from as far away as Australia. The majority of the competitors in this Tournament are aged 19 - 21, and are currently golfers on college teams. One competitor was one of the five golfers on the recent NCAA Championship team, LSU. Needless to say, some outstanding golf is being played in this Tournament.

Today (Monday, 6/8) and Tuesday are practice rounds, and then the next four days (Wednesday - Saturday) are the actual Tournament competition. Admission is free and encouraged by Desert Mountain, and it is a thrill to watch these outstanding young athletes compete. They play in the mornings. I would recommend going out to Desert Mountain to watch this Tournament to anyone interested in golf.

Best regards, and thank you for all you do for Carefree.

Les Peterson

 

Hi Lyn,  I am copying the Mayor and Gary, and would ask them to share my comments with the council.  With the exception of Glenn Miller, who was heavily involved in this project, the creation of our gas lamp district preceded the current council and I would like to share some of the thinking that went into this when the gas lamps were selected.  In particular, the color of the bulbs.  I hope consideration will be given to this with the conversion to LED.  The existing bulbs are not white and that was done by design.  They have a certain warm tone to them which was done to create a certain ambience in the town center and to also more closely simulate the color of real gas lamps.  Very bright, white, lights will increase the illumination, but do not create the warm feeling and cozy ambience that we wanted to create by adding the gas lamps.  We looked at a possible liability issue at the time with the lower light level, and the consensus was that the light level was adequate and not an issue.  We also tested different colors at night and the current color performed the best against the objectives we had established.  I realize this can be a very subjective area and, as a practical matter, LED lights may not be available in the current color.  The consensus in the town may have also changed.  I only mention it because the gas lamps are a major design element in the center, particularly at night, and the color of the bulbs was a major consideration in maximizing the effect we wanted to achieve.  Bob Gemmill initiated and led the gas lamp project, and I would recommend consulting him as well.  He visited gas lamp districts in other municipalities as part of his research, which was quite extensive, and it would be worth the council’s time to get some input from him.  I’ll certainly support whatever decision you reach, but wanted to share this background.

Lloyd Meyer

(We're replacing bulbs in our house as they burn out with LED bulbs from LTBL.  When I was there picking up some bulbs, Bryan showed me a gas lamp they had already done as a sample.  It looked exactly the same as what is there.  In fact, that sample was installed about 5 months ago, and no one has noticed anything.  Your good work is staying as is, but more energy efficient.  LED technology has improved significantly since the days when the lamps were installed in downtown Carefree.  They are now ready for prime time.)

 

Yes, I really appreciate that "Now they see the Light".   

tobyPAYNE CTS

 

Lyn:

As  always, many thanks for the work that you and Dr. Herbie do to keep Carefree  residents informed of the goings on. Your  Issue #397, of June 1, 2015 was interest and kudos to the Town for having  Council Members give updates on a variety of  matters.

Town  Center Identification/Architectural:  Councilwoman Melissa Price stated she would prefer to  wait. [Response/Comment]  Until  when?

Medians:  Vice  Mayor Crane agreed it is a great deal, and that the medians need work,  adding that the appearance of medians sets the tone for people driving  into town.  With that in mind, he suggested that they start with the  medians on Tom Darlington.  Mr. Miller reiterated that this  includes additional plants at no extra charge.  Ms.  Price asked if this included the areas in front of CVS and Lowe's, as  complaints have been received about those areas. Mr. Neiss once more  explained that the areas in question are private property, and that the  development agreement specified the landscape remain natural desert, rather  than being landscaped "Disney Desert", and that natural desert is not always  pretty.  The Town had talked to the stores in the center, and their  management was not willing to do anything beyond the scope of the  development agreement.  However, the Town will maintain the Right of Way  along Cave Creek Road in front of the center. 

Just a couple of  comments:  When Patti and I first moved to Carefree in April 2003, within  6 months, my consulting work took me to Australia for two-plus years returning  in November 2005.  At that time, our Canyon Creek Estates Homeowners  Association had a vice-president that would describe our location as “the  ghetto side of Carefree”.  Asking for an explanation, he told me that the  Tom Darlington side of Town received higher priority than the Cave Creek side  of town.  At one time he pointed out that the Town had referred to  “lower” Cave Creek Road meaning that 0.9 mile section north of Carefree  Highway.  Did that mean that East Cave Creek Road (east of Town  Darlington Drive) was “upper”? With time, and my  involvement with my HOA, we would continually hear about NAOS (Natural Area  Open Space) and zoning requirements of areas of disturbance, etc.  Nancy Zeno used to state that “even NAOS” needs attention and requires vegetation  and removal of dead grasses and shrubs, if for no other reason that to  minimize wild-fire problems.  I understand that the desert “is not always  pretty”, but mere mortals can help Mother Nature look her best with a little  time, effort and desire. In my days of running  hotels, I would often send my maintenance crew out to the median of a State  Highway to keep it looking it’s best since it was the curbside of my  property.  That would include trash pickup and weed removal.  In  early spring, my hotel’s landscape contractor would cut the grass since both  the City and the State claimed not enough dollars.  Sad that the property  managers of the Lowe’s/CVS site, and the managers of those businesses do not  care enough about curb appeal. 

Arthur Gimson

(Lyn's note: Arthur's submitted his comments in red, and asked that they be published.)    

 

I had a transport yesterday of four dogs to Dr. Deb's home in Cave Creek. I took Koei along for the ride; she really enjoys going places with me. After delivering the dogs I went looking for lunch. I went to the Carefree plaza and noticed a "dog friendly" sign at Venues. However as soon as I parked there was a giant clap of thunder and it gushed rain! We took refuge on their patio dining area, had a wonderful lunch and enjoyed the rain and cool air. There were a couple other women outside also and I enjoyed talking to them and they loved Koei. The waitress was really nice also. Venues is a great place to eat and watch the rain. Koei really seemed to enjoy herself and part of my lunch too. 

John Braden

(Lyn's note: John used to do wolf dog rescue, and now does transporting for rescues in state (he recently transported a pet cow!), as well as pulling dogs from high kill shelters like the Maricopa County pounds and the AZ Humane Society, New Hoping them (foster or boarding), and getting them adopted.  Koei is a 9 year old female Chow that he pulled from a pound in California.  Since he recently had a Chow "failed foster" (meaning he fell in love and kept him), he boarded Koei.  But from the first email, I could tell she would be coming to live with him too.  He was obviously in love with her from the start.  On a personal note, my girl Angel also loves going to Venues.  Cheeseburger!) 

 

 

 

Thanks Lyn! Well done! I loved reading this!

Chrissy

Guido Garcias

Ristorante/Cantina

7212 East Ho Road

Carefree, AZ 85377

phone: 480-488-7000

www.guidogarcias.net

(Lyn's note: Chrissy is responding to the local non profit events & info section.)

 

 

Hi Lyn,

Great summary of the activities.

Curiosity question. T he sun dial predated Kiwanis, what does that mean - Do you know?

Joe DeVito

(Lyn's note: The sundial was originally built and placed by Tom Darlington and KT Palmer, the founders of Carefree, to generate publicity when they were ready to start selling lots in the early '60s.  Kiwanis was not operating here at the time, since there really was no "here".  The building that is now Carefree Town Hall is the original building in Carefree.  It was the one they were using as sales office.  That's why the sun dial is where it is.  It was written up in the New York Times at that time.  Pretty cool idea!)