I found the February 9, 2011 Sonoran News headline, which ran again in the February 16th edition, " 'Carefree Truth’ and letters from the dead", amusing. The SN has a long history of intimidation and retribution against those who do not agree with Sorchych. I find it interesting that the author, rather than the content of the letter, is the focus. After all how can you argue with facts? 

 

 

The letter in question reads: “Doug Stavoe includes his status as president of the merchant's group on his website. Here are the facts:

1. He was not elected. He assumed the role when the then president deferred to a motion.

2. There were two meetings after he took control of the group. Nothing further was accomplished.

3. All events ceased.

4. Wine Night ceased.

5. A vote of no confidence was considered by the merchants but was not acted upon.

6. The group never rebounded from his leadership until the recent formation of the CBA.

7. $1,700 in existing monies remain unaccounted for.

I don't believe this is the quality of leadership that the residents of Carefree expect or deserve.

It was signed Laurette Bouthillier.”

 

 

I take the time to film the meetings to inform the people who are not able to attend, and to help Doug Stavoe remember accurately what he said. Untruthful facts can be hard to keep straight.

 

 

Herbert Hitchon

 

 

 

(Lyn's note:  I would also stress that the article does not dispute the facts contained in the letter, and only attacks the signature.   In this front page article, the Sonoran News printed various names used by Holly Bergman, who authored the Letter from a Reader published in Carefree Truth, and now, in the Sonoran News.  

 

 

 

Here are the facts concerning her use of different names.  Holly was baptized Laurette Guertin Hollis Anne Bouthillier, so the name used on the letter was indeed hers.  Her first husband, who passed away, was Edward Pagilaro.  Many know her by that last name, and it appears that way on some documents.  Pagilalo, also mentioned in Linda Bentley's article, was simply a matter of someone misreading the signature.  It was later corrected.  Her present husband is Jeff Bergman, making her Holly Bergman.  The same Social Security number is used on all the documents she signs.  None of this is sinister, as implied, or even unique. 

 

 

 

This name game seems particularly paradoxical coming from a publication that has used such nom de plumes as Betsy Bittum and Ira Member, and which actively solicits weekly anonymous letters.  This front page news story smacks of the same desperation found all too frequently in the Sonoran News.  These  articles include endless  speculations, always to the detriment of the subject.   As is  the case here, the Sonoran News gathers raw material, presenting it in a misleading fashion to advance their agenda.    

 

 

 

The link below will take you to an article published in the New Times in 2002.  It is a profile on Don Sorchych and is quite revealing.  It's a long read but worth the time if you want to better understand the man and his motives. http://www.carefreetruth.com/Carefree_Truth/Profile__Don_Sorchych.html)

 

 

 

 

 

2/16/2011

 

I AM 69 YEARS OLD AND NEVER IN ALL THOSE YEARS HAVE I WITNESSED AN OWNER OF A PAPER DRIVE COFFIN NAILS INTO HIS OWN PUBLICATION AS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. THIS LAST ISSUE LOOKED LIKE THE FINAL NAIL FOR YOUR PAPER. ALL THE HATE AND DISCONTENT YOU HAVE FOR CAREFREE SHOWS ITSELF IN THIS PUBLICATION. I SAID IT TO YOU BEFORE, AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. YOU ARE A MISERABLE OLD MAN WITH A SELF DESTRUCTIVE  PENCHANT. ALL THAT IS LEFT IS TO BURY THE SONORAN NEWS YOU KILLED WITH YOUR BITTERNESS. SO MANY READERS SEE IT. THAT IS WHY YOUR READERSHIP IS DWINDLING.

   

 

HOPEFULLY,WE CAN GET A PAPER UP HERE WITH A POSITIVE FACTUAL VIEWPOINT ABOUT BOTH TOWNS. SAYONARA DON!

 

JOSEPH INTENZO

CAREFREE RESIDENT