Carefree Truth
Issue #680, August 11, 2018
Issue #680, August 11, 2018
Mayor Les Peterson reported that on Friday night, June 29th, the Town received a call from Civana, suggesting a partnership between the Town of Carefree and Civana Carefree to stage a drone light show on July 4th. This proposed event fulfilled a number of objectives. The western U.S. is in a long term drought, making everything tinderbox dry, causing the cancellation of the traditional local fireworks. A drone light show gave the ability to provide entertainment without the risk of fire.
People came forward to express thanks on behalf of animals. July 4th is the highest day of the year that dogs and horses, frightened by the booming fireworks, run off and are lost. Rural/Metro Chief John Kraetz said fireworks can malfunction and shoot off horizontally instead of going up, causing serious injuries. Veterans organizations also expressed gratitude because the booming fireworks can trigger vets with PTSD.
The event put Carefree and Civana at the forefront of this innovative technology. There was tremendous communications support. Fliers featuring the Town and Civana were circulated locally. Over 440 newspapers and TV stations ran stories that reached over 30 million people in the U.S. and Western Europe. Only 3 towns in the western U.S. had planned drone light shows. Aspen's were cancelled due to an out of control wildfire that came too close, and San Francisco's was cancelled due to high winds, leaving Carefree as the sole drone light show location. It is estimated that 4,000-5,000 people attended the show at Civana. The resort was packed. Drone light shows fit in very well with Civana's theme of sustainability and preservation of the environment.
The next day, July 5th, the Town received a call from the Maricopa County Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Air Quality Department. Normally, when calls come from environmental protection agencies, it's because someone has done something wrong. Instead, the call was to say that Carefree and Civana were getting an award for preserving the air quality.
MDEQ Air Quality Communications Supervisor Bob Huhn thanked everyone for allowing him to say thank you and to recognize the Town and Civana. With all the subjects that had been touched on by Mayor Peterson, Mr. Huhn said there could have been several County and State agencies up here to say thanks including the Veteran's Administration, Animal Care and Control, and the firefighters.
People came forward to express thanks on behalf of animals. July 4th is the highest day of the year that dogs and horses, frightened by the booming fireworks, run off and are lost. Rural/Metro Chief John Kraetz said fireworks can malfunction and shoot off horizontally instead of going up, causing serious injuries. Veterans organizations also expressed gratitude because the booming fireworks can trigger vets with PTSD.
The event put Carefree and Civana at the forefront of this innovative technology. There was tremendous communications support. Fliers featuring the Town and Civana were circulated locally. Over 440 newspapers and TV stations ran stories that reached over 30 million people in the U.S. and Western Europe. Only 3 towns in the western U.S. had planned drone light shows. Aspen's were cancelled due to an out of control wildfire that came too close, and San Francisco's was cancelled due to high winds, leaving Carefree as the sole drone light show location. It is estimated that 4,000-5,000 people attended the show at Civana. The resort was packed. Drone light shows fit in very well with Civana's theme of sustainability and preservation of the environment.
The next day, July 5th, the Town received a call from the Maricopa County Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Air Quality Department. Normally, when calls come from environmental protection agencies, it's because someone has done something wrong. Instead, the call was to say that Carefree and Civana were getting an award for preserving the air quality.
MDEQ Air Quality Communications Supervisor Bob Huhn thanked everyone for allowing him to say thank you and to recognize the Town and Civana. With all the subjects that had been touched on by Mayor Peterson, Mr. Huhn said there could have been several County and State agencies up here to say thanks including the Veteran's Administration, Animal Care and Control, and the firefighters.
Bob Huhn
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
The Spotlight Award is designed to recognize individuals, businesses and government entities that are not only working with MDEQ, but are trying to keep residents safe in terms of air quality. There has been a lot of air pollution recently. There had been a pollution alert for the past 31 days straight. Dust is a big issue, but not much can be done about Mother Nature. Most has been from ozone. Some ozone is transported from California. Some is created by cars in the Valley. Wind currents bring ozone up to the north part of the Valley, creating the highest ozone levels there. Another big issue is smoke from wood burning fire places in the winter. But the highest levels of smoke ever recorded in the County occurred on January 1st of this year, much of it caused by fireworks. There was a huge spike beginning at 11 PM on December 31st. The winds died down and the smoke from the fireworks lingered. The limits were still exceeded at 3 AM.
What Carefree and Civana did was incredible and innovative, especially with how quickly it was turned around and made to come to fruition for the July 4th next generation fireworks. It affected a lot of groups but for air quality issues it really helped. He hoped others would follow Carefree's and Civana's leadership. He presented certificates to Mayor Peterson and to Rianna Riego, who represented Civana and who did much of the work on Civana's behalf to make the drone show a reality. Mr. Hahn thanked both for all their help in fighting the air pollution problem and keeping the residents healthy.
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
The Spotlight Award is designed to recognize individuals, businesses and government entities that are not only working with MDEQ, but are trying to keep residents safe in terms of air quality. There has been a lot of air pollution recently. There had been a pollution alert for the past 31 days straight. Dust is a big issue, but not much can be done about Mother Nature. Most has been from ozone. Some ozone is transported from California. Some is created by cars in the Valley. Wind currents bring ozone up to the north part of the Valley, creating the highest ozone levels there. Another big issue is smoke from wood burning fire places in the winter. But the highest levels of smoke ever recorded in the County occurred on January 1st of this year, much of it caused by fireworks. There was a huge spike beginning at 11 PM on December 31st. The winds died down and the smoke from the fireworks lingered. The limits were still exceeded at 3 AM.
What Carefree and Civana did was incredible and innovative, especially with how quickly it was turned around and made to come to fruition for the July 4th next generation fireworks. It affected a lot of groups but for air quality issues it really helped. He hoped others would follow Carefree's and Civana's leadership. He presented certificates to Mayor Peterson and to Rianna Riego, who represented Civana and who did much of the work on Civana's behalf to make the drone show a reality. Mr. Hahn thanked both for all their help in fighting the air pollution problem and keeping the residents healthy.
lt to rt. Rianna Riego, Bob Huhn, Mayor Les Peterson
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Rianna Riego said Civana is really honored to partner with Carefree in all aspects of their business. When they decided, on the Friday night before July 4th, to get this going, they called Mayor Peterson and he said, "Sure, let's do it!" By Saturday, they had figured that they logistically had enough space to fly the drones and they signed a contract. All of the press was implemented on Sunday and Monday. Desert Forest Golf Club helped with parking, and Maricopa County Sheriff's Department policed the streets. It was a concerted effort.
Ms. Riego said it was wonderful to see the multi-generational convergence. That's what July 4th is all about. It's a celebration of families. In attendance were were 200-300 children, dogs, grandparents. That's what makes Civana, a sustainable/wellness company, very happy. Wellness is all about interconnection. If you live next to a toxic dump, you are not healthy. You are only as happy as your saddest child, only as healthy as your sickest child. The drone show protected the environment, the air, the soil that grows the plants that nourish our bodies. All that is interconnected, It's wellness through oneness. Civana is honored that Carefree was so supportive in all their efforts attached to this show. Carefree and Civana are already in talks to do this again next year.
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Rianna Riego said Civana is really honored to partner with Carefree in all aspects of their business. When they decided, on the Friday night before July 4th, to get this going, they called Mayor Peterson and he said, "Sure, let's do it!" By Saturday, they had figured that they logistically had enough space to fly the drones and they signed a contract. All of the press was implemented on Sunday and Monday. Desert Forest Golf Club helped with parking, and Maricopa County Sheriff's Department policed the streets. It was a concerted effort.
Ms. Riego said it was wonderful to see the multi-generational convergence. That's what July 4th is all about. It's a celebration of families. In attendance were were 200-300 children, dogs, grandparents. That's what makes Civana, a sustainable/wellness company, very happy. Wellness is all about interconnection. If you live next to a toxic dump, you are not healthy. You are only as happy as your saddest child, only as healthy as your sickest child. The drone show protected the environment, the air, the soil that grows the plants that nourish our bodies. All that is interconnected, It's wellness through oneness. Civana is honored that Carefree was so supportive in all their efforts attached to this show. Carefree and Civana are already in talks to do this again next year.
Rianna Riego
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Councilman Mike Farrar thanked Ms. Riego for allowing Carefree to piggyback on the event. Mayor Peterson noted that this is a public/private partnership between two entities with parallel goals. The strength of both can make something bigger than either could have achieved on their own. He thanked Ms. Riego and said we need to do more of these kinds of things. The Mayor thanked Mr. Huhn and said he hoped he would come again.
https://vimeo.com/284271556
The video below shows Kevin Kelly, owner of Civana, talking about working with Mayor Peterson on the drone show. It is a clip from an event at Civana.
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Councilman Mike Farrar thanked Ms. Riego for allowing Carefree to piggyback on the event. Mayor Peterson noted that this is a public/private partnership between two entities with parallel goals. The strength of both can make something bigger than either could have achieved on their own. He thanked Ms. Riego and said we need to do more of these kinds of things. The Mayor thanked Mr. Huhn and said he hoped he would come again.
https://vimeo.com/284271556
The video below shows Kevin Kelly, owner of Civana, talking about working with Mayor Peterson on the drone show. It is a clip from an event at Civana.
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Lyn Hitchon
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