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 is the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-31218.html
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-31218.html
Photo by Paul Maley
Here is your bonus round from Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/31118-sunset.html
Here is your bonus round from Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/31118-sunset.html
3/11-Late afternoon
3/11-End of sunset
Photos by Herbert Hitchon
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
http://www.carefree.org/336/IN-THE-NEWS
CITYSunTimes link:
http://news.citysuntimes.com/
A Letter from Mayor Peterson – March 13, 2018
“Residences at Sundial Circle” Proposed for Downtown Carefree
Many of you are aware of the Azil Development project which was approved last fall for the property immediately adjacent to the “Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center” located in the Downtown Carefree area. That project was proposed as luxury apartments, but it had to be terminated because of the lack of available financing for luxury apartments and no comparable developments in the nearby area.
Azil Development continued to be interested in doing business in Carefree and has revamped their plans to better meet current market conditions. Azil has now returned to Carefree, and is looking to develop the property on Easy Street between the Sundial and the Post Office building, as a luxury condominium development. Just recently, on March 6, 2018, the Town Council approved Azil’s new proposed development called, “The Residences at Sundial Circle.”
We are delighted to see continuing investment interest in the downtown Carefree area, and that the market remains strong for these type of development projects. Many residents have expressed their desire to “downsize” from their current residences in the Desert Foothills, and this project may fulfill the desires expressed by many of them. The proposal compliments the area, and the developer is committed to a quality project offering architecture which compliments downtown Carefree. People attract people, and we need sustainable activity in the downtown area to continue the revitalization of the entire area, including enhancing the shopping experience and restaurant visitations.
Contingent upon the finalization of the financing in progress, the architectural design for the building is committed to showcasing the Sundial and adding to the ambiance of the downtown area. The luxury building would contain 50 condominium units with high end finishes, offering 2 to 3 bedrooms, at an average size of 3,000 square feet and with each residential unit having its own parking space(s). Prices will range from below $1 million to $1.3 million. The building will focus upon the historic Sundial and feature a “walk under” waterfall at the entrance to the lobby that is similar to the waterfall in the Carefree Desert Gardens. Each unit will feature a spacious covered “outdoor living” area, offering residents privacy and unsurpassed views of either the downtown area or the surrounding mountains. Private parking will be underground, with some additional parking spaces available to residents.
I anticipate the next steps will be review of the architectural plans by the Development Review Board, followed by a review by the Carefree Town Council. If you desire more information visit Carefree.org or contact Town Hall at 480-488-3686 and I’d be happy to schedule a meeting with your respective HOA to discuss the future of our beautiful town.
Lyn, I hope you might be able to really help us with our change in venue. Based on the weather predictions and the outdoor event, we have changed our location for tomorrow’s Taste of the Foothills fund-raiser.
We will hold the event indoors at CIVANA’s of Carefree . Please send this notice out to folks if possible. Attached see the corrected flyer.
Thank you so much.
Debbra Determan, MSW-MPH
Executive Director
Foothills Caring Corps, Inc.
“Residences at Sundial Circle” Proposed for Downtown Carefree
Many of you are aware of the Azil Development project which was approved last fall for the property immediately adjacent to the “Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center” located in the Downtown Carefree area. That project was proposed as luxury apartments, but it had to be terminated because of the lack of available financing for luxury apartments and no comparable developments in the nearby area.
Azil Development continued to be interested in doing business in Carefree and has revamped their plans to better meet current market conditions. Azil has now returned to Carefree, and is looking to develop the property on Easy Street between the Sundial and the Post Office building, as a luxury condominium development. Just recently, on March 6, 2018, the Town Council approved Azil’s new proposed development called, “The Residences at Sundial Circle.”
We are delighted to see continuing investment interest in the downtown Carefree area, and that the market remains strong for these type of development projects. Many residents have expressed their desire to “downsize” from their current residences in the Desert Foothills, and this project may fulfill the desires expressed by many of them. The proposal compliments the area, and the developer is committed to a quality project offering architecture which compliments downtown Carefree. People attract people, and we need sustainable activity in the downtown area to continue the revitalization of the entire area, including enhancing the shopping experience and restaurant visitations.
Contingent upon the finalization of the financing in progress, the architectural design for the building is committed to showcasing the Sundial and adding to the ambiance of the downtown area. The luxury building would contain 50 condominium units with high end finishes, offering 2 to 3 bedrooms, at an average size of 3,000 square feet and with each residential unit having its own parking space(s). Prices will range from below $1 million to $1.3 million. The building will focus upon the historic Sundial and feature a “walk under” waterfall at the entrance to the lobby that is similar to the waterfall in the Carefree Desert Gardens. Each unit will feature a spacious covered “outdoor living” area, offering residents privacy and unsurpassed views of either the downtown area or the surrounding mountains. Private parking will be underground, with some additional parking spaces available to residents.
I anticipate the next steps will be review of the architectural plans by the Development Review Board, followed by a review by the Carefree Town Council. If you desire more information visit Carefree.org or contact Town Hall at 480-488-3686 and I’d be happy to schedule a meeting with your respective HOA to discuss the future of our beautiful town.
Lyn, I hope you might be able to really help us with our change in venue. Based on the weather predictions and the outdoor event, we have changed our location for tomorrow’s Taste of the Foothills fund-raiser.
We will hold the event indoors at CIVANA’s of Carefree . Please send this notice out to folks if possible. Attached see the corrected flyer.
Thank you so much.
Debbra Determan, MSW-MPH
Executive Director
Foothills Caring Corps, Inc.
Wishing the Mayor a Happy Birthday. As you know, this man puts in a lot of countless hours!
Gina Kaegi
Gina Kaegi
(Lyn's note: From l. to r.-Mayor Les Peterson with staff members Vicki Zimmerman, Gina Kaegi, Stacey Bridge-Denzak, Jim Keen and Mike Tibbetts.)
Lyn,
Just want to share that on Sunday March 4th the HOA's of Crossings II, III and IV met with Mayor Les Peterson, Town Manager Gary Neiss, Vice Mayor John Crane and Council member Cheryl Kroyer at the state of the art Council chambers 33 Easy Street.
I don't remember when these HOA/Meet the Mayor gatherings began but I can tell you that everyone in attendance was enlightened by the presentation. A variety of issues central to Carefree were covered followed by a Q and A.
It should be noted that even though the 4th was a Sunday all of these folks came out to share the love of our Town.
Susan Vanik
Saturday’s seminar on desert medicinal plants when very well – good presenter and 75 attendees, not including the speaker, the garden committee members or me. Plus, we did it in the Pavilion.
Best regards,
John Crane
Hi Lyn,
Thank you for the support that you and Herbie have given to us over the years for our Healing of Memories Workshops for Veterans at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.
I wanted to let you know that we are offering our second Healing of Memories for Women Veterans Workshop on April 13-15 at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center. As with all of our veteran workshops, this one is free.
Thank you,
Mike Wold
US Navy Veteran
Regional Coordinator, Arizona
Institute for Healing of Memories - North America
michael_w_wold@msn.com
651-687-9767
http://na.healing-memories.org
Healing of Memories Workshop for Women Veterans
Announcing the our second Healing of Memories Workshop for Women Veterans. It will be held at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ on April 13-15, 2018. The workshop is devoted to women vets only and will provided them with a safe experiential and interactive way to address anger, loss, grief and guilt. The workshop is free of charge to any woman service member or veteran, including all meals and two nights lodging. It begins with dinner at 6pm on Friday, April 7 and ends at 2pm on Sunday, April 9. People who have attended this workshop say that it was a major step in their healing from their psychological and spiritual wounds. Transportation will be provided to those who need it.
The Healing of Memories Workshop was created by Father Michael Lapsley, an Anglican missionary priest, who in 1990 suffered the loss of his hands and the sight in one eye from a letter bomb that was sent to him in Zimbabwe by a supporter of the pro-apartheid government in South Africa. After a long recovery from the bombing, Father Lapsley decided to dedicate his life to helping victims of emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds inflicted by war, human rights abuses and other traumatic circumstances.
Any woman service member or veteran who is interested in the workshop may find out more information or register free for the workshop by contacting Cyndy at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center at 480-488-5218 or Mike Wold, a Navy veteran, at 651-687-9767. Space is limited to the first 20 registrants.
For more information click on https://spiritinthedesert.org/event/healing-memories-workshop-women-veterans/
(Lyn's note: See Carefree Truth-Non profit Events and Info for the Healing of Memories graphic.)
I just got the donation for the YMCA- you are doll and this will help 5 kids get swim lessons this summer!!!! Cool beans.
XOXO
Gina Kaegi
THANK YOU LYN, FOR YOUR EFFORTS---HERBIE TOO.
JOE INTENZO
Once again it appears that the Town Council is insistent on considering residential development that at least on the surface appears to be out of character with the Carefree overall community/culture. A structure 46 feet in height, by any definition is out of character— maybe not for Scottsdale but certainly for Carefree. That aside, a residential apartment complex will forever alter the community feel of the Town Center. Apartment complexes, by definition and by use, attract a transitory population that will have little attachment to the community. Rather than seeking a stable population that wants to call Carefree their long term home, apartment dwellers tend to be short term with little incentive to give back to the community that they are part. Quite frankly for Mr. Gabriele to reference the planned apartment complex as the “Centerpiece" of Carefree is ridiculous. Rather, over time it may become the Town’s folly.
A better economic development approach would be to consider both the north and south parcels for a mix of single and two story Condo’s, with sufficient upgrades/amenities and project community attractions such as an in-house Starbucks, ice cream/yogurt parlor, salon, pool, fitness center, etc. to justify a price range from the low 600’s to the low to mid 800’s.
John D Nimsky
(Lyn's note: This round it's not for apartments, but for condos. The height is allowed in the existing Carefree ordinance in that interior core location. I agree that it would be ideal to see both parcels with lower height condos spread throughout, but no one is presenting that. I suspect it would be a very expensive proposition, although it sure would be nice for the town. )