Carefree Truth
Issue #686, September 3, 2018
Issue #686, September 3, 2018
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer has been working with the Town staff and with Centerpoint Events to establish better partnerships with the local businesses and non-profit organizations, and to generate fresh ideas for the Pumpkin Festival, which will be held from October 19th-28th.
The businesses requested that the Festival be brought out beyond the Gardens, so that the whole town would be included. Bruce Raskin, the owner of Spanish Village, wanted a link to their property. Centerpoint and Mr. Raskin have agreed to a closure of Ho Hum Road to place vendors and Kids' Zones within the street to create an event area and attract visitors to nearby businesses. Centerpoint is also working with Spanish Village and the local schools on a haunted house and other complimentary activities. The Kids' Zones have been expanded to include 2 bounce houses for bigger kids and a smaller one for younger kids, as well as the haunted house and either a petting zoo or pony rides. The popular corn maze will be returning. There will be concerts both weekends in the Pavilion or the Harvest Market area.
In previous years, the logistics company that ran the Beer Garden took 75% of the profits from the liquor sales. This year, that 75% will come to the Town. The Town is partnering with the Sonoran Arts League, using SAL's liquor license. Four Peaks Beer will be donating all of their beer in exchange for Ray Villafane building a vignette by their booth. Wine and domestic beer will also be served. SAL will manage the Beer Garden booth. SAL, which is trying to grow its footprint in the Carefree Town Center, is also coordinating a carving competition with local artists.
An estimated 60,000 people attended the Pumpkin Festival last year, providing an opportunity to showcase the businesses. Carefree received local and national TV and digital attention, along with free print editorials, during the month of October. The Town didn't have the expertise to involve the local businesses more actively. Centerpoint does have the expertise needed to put this all together. Ms. Kroyer sent out a note to the Carefree businesses in early July. 10-15 businesses that were interested in participating responded and have been meeting with Centerpoint to discuss these opportunities. Ms. Kroyer sent out another note to all the businesses shortly before the August Council meeting, inviting them to a meeting with Josh from Centerpoint on August 14th in the Council Chambers to explore their opportunities. Vicki Zimmerman and Gary Neiss would also be present, representing the Town.
There will be a greatly expanded area to get people out of the Gardens and walking through the town. The 2 red lines on the slide show the location of the food trucks and the Beer Garden, the Harvest Market (shown in blue) will go down Hum, and the yellow boxes are the Kids' Zones. The haunted house is slated to go where Fearless Art Works had been, in the large space in Spanish Village near the Black Mountain Coffee Shop and Cafe. Ms. Kroyer remembers haunted houses from her childhood, and thought it should be really fun.
She asked Josh to put up some signs reminding people to visit the shops and restaurants. Josh came up with the line, "Keep it Carefree", which Ms. Kroyer thought could work on a lot of levels. It could be used on window signs for businesses, on permanent signs in the Gardens, at the entrances into the downtown, and on the banner poles throughout the downtown. Perhaps a "loyalty program" could be started, where people earn points towards meals and shopping discounts.
The goal of the gateways was to bring people into town. They are kind of cool, but they don't accomplish that goal. The ironwork "butterfly" wing walls on each side of the gateway arches are angled in such a way that they could be used as billboards. Ms. Kroyer contacted Howard Bertram, of Bertram Signs, to design signs for the Council to review. He suggested oval signs. On one side of the gateways the sign on the ironwork would say, "Restaurants, Galleries and Shops". The other butterfly would have a sign saying, "Sundial, Splash pad and Gardens". This way, people could see there is a reason to come into town. She wasn't asking for a decision on the signs that night, but the goal would be to have them ready in time for the Pumpkin Festival. She was only asking for approvals for the street closure and for the Special Event liquor license that were included for consideration in the Council's packets.
Councilman Mike Farrar applauded Ms. Kroyer for her efforts and thought the businesses would embrace this. He was pleased that Easy Street would remain open, and loved utilizing the butterflies for signage. He also loved the planned activities. He congratulated her for her outstanding work. Councilman Stephen Hatcher seconded those comments. Mayor Les Peterson noted that signage discussions have been ongoing for quite some time. The Town needed a theme on which to build a program. He thought the simple phrase "Keep it Carefree" was reminiscent of "I Love New York" and others like that. He said it has meaning to all of them, encouraging everyone to shop and dine locally, and it's something the businesses can get behind.
Mr. Farrar suggested trying to engage all of the businesses in some sort of competition to decorate their storefronts for Halloween, with some kind of recognition or award for the best one/s. Decorate the whole town. Mayor Peterson thought that was a great idea.
Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if the red lines on the slide were liquor barriers. Gary Neiss said they designated a contained liquor area, per the Liquor Department requirements. He explained that there would be an additional traffic barricade at the northern end of Easy Street to protect pedestrians and kids who are walking on the street. Security will be on site to help people crossing the street, similar to what was there last year. Mayor Peterson said this was the collective thinking for the best way to get people out into the town.
The Council unanimously approved the street closure and the Special Event liquor license. The Mayor said he is excited about this year's Pumpkin Festival. The Town is moving towards using an outside company that has experience in collecting monies to help offset the costs.
https://vimeo.com/285035695
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
She asked Josh to put up some signs reminding people to visit the shops and restaurants. Josh came up with the line, "Keep it Carefree", which Ms. Kroyer thought could work on a lot of levels. It could be used on window signs for businesses, on permanent signs in the Gardens, at the entrances into the downtown, and on the banner poles throughout the downtown. Perhaps a "loyalty program" could be started, where people earn points towards meals and shopping discounts.
The goal of the gateways was to bring people into town. They are kind of cool, but they don't accomplish that goal. The ironwork "butterfly" wing walls on each side of the gateway arches are angled in such a way that they could be used as billboards. Ms. Kroyer contacted Howard Bertram, of Bertram Signs, to design signs for the Council to review. He suggested oval signs. On one side of the gateways the sign on the ironwork would say, "Restaurants, Galleries and Shops". The other butterfly would have a sign saying, "Sundial, Splash pad and Gardens". This way, people could see there is a reason to come into town. She wasn't asking for a decision on the signs that night, but the goal would be to have them ready in time for the Pumpkin Festival. She was only asking for approvals for the street closure and for the Special Event liquor license that were included for consideration in the Council's packets.
Councilman Mike Farrar applauded Ms. Kroyer for her efforts and thought the businesses would embrace this. He was pleased that Easy Street would remain open, and loved utilizing the butterflies for signage. He also loved the planned activities. He congratulated her for her outstanding work. Councilman Stephen Hatcher seconded those comments. Mayor Les Peterson noted that signage discussions have been ongoing for quite some time. The Town needed a theme on which to build a program. He thought the simple phrase "Keep it Carefree" was reminiscent of "I Love New York" and others like that. He said it has meaning to all of them, encouraging everyone to shop and dine locally, and it's something the businesses can get behind.
Mr. Farrar suggested trying to engage all of the businesses in some sort of competition to decorate their storefronts for Halloween, with some kind of recognition or award for the best one/s. Decorate the whole town. Mayor Peterson thought that was a great idea.
Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if the red lines on the slide were liquor barriers. Gary Neiss said they designated a contained liquor area, per the Liquor Department requirements. He explained that there would be an additional traffic barricade at the northern end of Easy Street to protect pedestrians and kids who are walking on the street. Security will be on site to help people crossing the street, similar to what was there last year. Mayor Peterson said this was the collective thinking for the best way to get people out into the town.
The Council unanimously approved the street closure and the Special Event liquor license. The Mayor said he is excited about this year's Pumpkin Festival. The Town is moving towards using an outside company that has experience in collecting monies to help offset the costs.
https://vimeo.com/285035695
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.