"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #962, November 5, 2021
Issue #962, November 5, 2021
During the Consent Agenda, Vice Mayor John Crane questioned the $10,171 payment to the Industrial Commission of Arizona, Fiscal Year 2022 Fire Cancer Reimbursement Fund. Gary Neiss explained that all communities are now required by State Statute to pay this fee, based on their per capita population, to offset the liability of the First Responders, who have experienced in increase in cancer. Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if it is a once a year fee. Mr. Neiss confirmed that it is.
https://vimeo.com/642117337
During Current Events, Vice Mayor Crane reminded people that the Carefree Veterans Day celebration will be held on Thursday, November 11th in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion from 3-5 PM. A number of veterans will speak, there will be music, and the students' Veterans Heritage Project will be well represented.
https://vimeo.com/642117337
During Current Events, Vice Mayor Crane reminded people that the Carefree Veterans Day celebration will be held on Thursday, November 11th in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion from 3-5 PM. A number of veterans will speak, there will be music, and the students' Veterans Heritage Project will be well represented.
Town of Carefree Hosts13th Annual Veterans Day Celebration
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Veterans and residents of Carefree attend a Veterans Day event in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion.
Photo courtesy of the Town of Carefree
Photo courtesy of the Town of Carefree
The Town of Carefree is privileged to host its 13th annual Veterans Day celebration to honor our veterans on Thursday, Nov. 11, from 3-5 p.m., in the Carefree Desert Gardens, 101 Easy St., at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion stage.
Speakers will include Col Craig Houk, US Army, retired, an Afghanistan War veteran who will share his wartime experiences and perspective and Lt Mike Wold, US Navy Vietnam War veteran. This year’s event will also feature a mixture of patriotic and military music by Todd Knowles and the Main Event Swing Band as well as “The Last Post” on the bugle, followed by “Taps” performed on dueling bugles.
Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) will be in attendance with VHP chapter students from Cactus Shadows High School and Sonoran Trails Middle School. They will display a student built veteran exhibit. VHP student veteran interviews compiled in books entitled “Since You Asked: Veterans Share Their Memories” will be for sale.
Before or after the program, take a moment at the Veterans Memorial in the Carefree Desert Gardens to pay your respects to all those veterans who have served.
For more information, visit www.VisitCarefree.com or call 480-488-3686.
Speakers will include Col Craig Houk, US Army, retired, an Afghanistan War veteran who will share his wartime experiences and perspective and Lt Mike Wold, US Navy Vietnam War veteran. This year’s event will also feature a mixture of patriotic and military music by Todd Knowles and the Main Event Swing Band as well as “The Last Post” on the bugle, followed by “Taps” performed on dueling bugles.
Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) will be in attendance with VHP chapter students from Cactus Shadows High School and Sonoran Trails Middle School. They will display a student built veteran exhibit. VHP student veteran interviews compiled in books entitled “Since You Asked: Veterans Share Their Memories” will be for sale.
Before or after the program, take a moment at the Veterans Memorial in the Carefree Desert Gardens to pay your respects to all those veterans who have served.
For more information, visit www.VisitCarefree.com or call 480-488-3686.
The following Saturday, November 13th, the 3rd annual "Carefree AT&T Veterans Day Charity Three Miler" race will take place from 9 AM - 11 AM, as part of the Carefree Veterans Day celebration. For more information or to register, visit www.attveterans.org/race/. The race will partner this year with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, which will take place in the Pavilion from 7-11 AM.
2020 Carefree AT&T Veterans Day Charity Three Miler
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
The Vice Mayor reported that the Redistricting process is underway. This takes place every 10 years after the census is completed, when the redistricting boundaries for the State Legislature and Senate are redrawn. The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC), which redraws the boundaries, is very open to public input. Some of the initial drawings were not too friendly to the Town of Carefree and have since been adjusted.
For those who are interested, the website is https://irc.az.gov/ . A Town Hall meeting with the Commissioners will take place on November 6th. Additional meetings, some of which will be live, will be posted through December 4th. A final decision will be made some time later in December. This is a great opportunity for the public to weigh in and be heard. The Commissioners look at population, contiguous areas, what works within the Voters Rights Act, those with common interests, and to create competitive districts. The Vice Mayor attended a meeting and it was clear to him that the Commissioners listen and take input seriously.
Mayor Les Peterson reported that the Hampton Inn, like everyone else, is running into labor scheduling and materials problems. The best guesses for its opening run between the end of November at the most optimistic, to sometime in January or February at worst. "The View" townhouses had pre-sold 17 or 18 units the last time the Mayor checked, so they are selling well.
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer reminded everyone that the Thunderbird Artists show would be taking place in downtown Carefree this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM - 5 PM daily.
For those who are interested, the website is https://irc.az.gov/ . A Town Hall meeting with the Commissioners will take place on November 6th. Additional meetings, some of which will be live, will be posted through December 4th. A final decision will be made some time later in December. This is a great opportunity for the public to weigh in and be heard. The Commissioners look at population, contiguous areas, what works within the Voters Rights Act, those with common interests, and to create competitive districts. The Vice Mayor attended a meeting and it was clear to him that the Commissioners listen and take input seriously.
Mayor Les Peterson reported that the Hampton Inn, like everyone else, is running into labor scheduling and materials problems. The best guesses for its opening run between the end of November at the most optimistic, to sometime in January or February at worst. "The View" townhouses had pre-sold 17 or 18 units the last time the Mayor checked, so they are selling well.
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer reminded everyone that the Thunderbird Artists show would be taking place in downtown Carefree this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM - 5 PM daily.
Ms. Kroyer announced that the Carefree Ambassador Program will be kicking off this weekend in conjunction with the Thunderbird show, and the 15 volunteers will be out in full force. They will be wearing turquoise vests that say "Town of Carefree" on the front and "Ask us about Carefree" on the back. The goal is to be around to answer questions and to help people find restaurants, shops and galleries. This is a nice compliment for the town and will make Carefree seem a lot friendlier and easier to navigate. Although Carefree is a small town, it is not always evident where to go.
Councilman Vince D'Aliesio asked if the Visitors Center in the former Green Room off the Pavilion stage was completed yet and if it would be open this weekend during the art show. He also asked if it would be the headquarters for the Ambassador Program. Ms. Kroyer responded that it will be their headquarters and that the transformation was about 75% complete. They still need brochures from galleries, menus from restaurants, and a big map of the town. It's a work in progress. She will be in there at least part of the time this weekend, with the doors open, and people are encouraged to visit it. Mr. D'Aliesio said he might have some photos of the town that are being donated to him from the Gerry Jones family, if there is room for them to be displayed in the Visitors Center.
Mayor Peterson sadly announced the passing away of Paul Keeler, owner of Keeler's restaurants, approximately 3 weeks ago. There will be a memorial service held for him on Monday at Highland Church on Pinnacle Peak Road at 10:30 AM.
(Lyn's note: The Keeler family will continue to run the restaurants, including Keeler's Neighborhood Steak House in Spanish Village.)
The Mayor also spoke about the looming issue of homelessness in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and south Scottsdale, all of which are experiencing a dramatic increase in homelessness. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is thinking ahead 10 years and has done a study. They don't want to see Arizona become like L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, or Portland. But the chilling fact is that Arizona has the fastest growing homelessness of any state in the country. The needs of the homeless must be addressed. Many of the homeless have lost their jobs or are veterans suffering from PTSD. It is not an easily solvable problem.
https://vimeo.com/642145839
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
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.
Councilman Vince D'Aliesio asked if the Visitors Center in the former Green Room off the Pavilion stage was completed yet and if it would be open this weekend during the art show. He also asked if it would be the headquarters for the Ambassador Program. Ms. Kroyer responded that it will be their headquarters and that the transformation was about 75% complete. They still need brochures from galleries, menus from restaurants, and a big map of the town. It's a work in progress. She will be in there at least part of the time this weekend, with the doors open, and people are encouraged to visit it. Mr. D'Aliesio said he might have some photos of the town that are being donated to him from the Gerry Jones family, if there is room for them to be displayed in the Visitors Center.
Mayor Peterson sadly announced the passing away of Paul Keeler, owner of Keeler's restaurants, approximately 3 weeks ago. There will be a memorial service held for him on Monday at Highland Church on Pinnacle Peak Road at 10:30 AM.
(Lyn's note: The Keeler family will continue to run the restaurants, including Keeler's Neighborhood Steak House in Spanish Village.)
The Mayor also spoke about the looming issue of homelessness in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and south Scottsdale, all of which are experiencing a dramatic increase in homelessness. The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is thinking ahead 10 years and has done a study. They don't want to see Arizona become like L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, or Portland. But the chilling fact is that Arizona has the fastest growing homelessness of any state in the country. The needs of the homeless must be addressed. Many of the homeless have lost their jobs or are veterans suffering from PTSD. It is not an easily solvable problem.
https://vimeo.com/642145839
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
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.