(Lyn's note: Please feel free to send us any pictures you'd like included. Here is the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.)
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-102820.html
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-102820.html
Scenes from "Arsenic and Old Lace", produced by Desert Foothills Theater and performed at the Holland Center. Great play!
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Photos by Herbert Hitchon
Here is the link to the Maricopa County & Rural/Metro emergency
preparedness presentation from 6/27/19. This is good info to keep saved
on your computer.
Emergency Preparedness Presentation by R/M & County: 6/27/19
http://carefreetruth2.com/carefree-truth-763.html
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
https://www.carefree.org/345/Town-Newsletters
Don't forget about the Census!! Its easy and you can do it online. It's important that you report, so we can qualify for $$ and services based on our population. Please pass this info on to any Carefree neighbors that you know. Thanks!
This video shows how to fill out the census online. It's easy to do!
Here is the link to the Maricopa County & Rural/Metro emergency
preparedness presentation from 6/27/19. This is good info to keep saved
on your computer.
Emergency Preparedness Presentation by R/M & County: 6/27/19
http://carefreetruth2.com/carefree-truth-763.html
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
https://www.carefree.org/345/Town-Newsletters
Don't forget about the Census!! Its easy and you can do it online. It's important that you report, so we can qualify for $$ and services based on our population. Please pass this info on to any Carefree neighbors that you know. Thanks!
This video shows how to fill out the census online. It's easy to do!
2020CENSUS.GOV from Herbert Hitchon on Vimeo.
In regards to the town putting resources toward a new visitor center. Doesn't it already know it has a visitors center with local residents as ambassadors located at the downtown Chamber of Commerce? This idea is not new. Has there been any coordination between the town and the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber? There also was a mention of this visitor center helping with security? As a local, I'd like to know why there is a need to heighten security in this small town? Have there been issues and what are they?
On another note, to build out the Pavilion area seems counterproductive when there is so much vacant space in town. A lot of unrented space before the pandemic and even more after the pandemic. Isn't filling vacant space a higher priority and better way to attract more visitors than a visitor center of which we already have?
Can this new town person tell us what other new businesses are in the works and what is happening on that front?
Thanks for reading,
JP
(Lyn's note: I referred this to Steve for a response.)
JP,
Thank you for the questions. I hope the following addresses the concerns you outlined in your letter. Our goal is to create a unique Carefree environment, that allows its residents the opportunity to participate. If, after reading this response, you have further questions, please feel free to direct those to Lyn, or you can email me or call my cell direct (contact info below). I am always open to meet with residents as well.
- The Ambassador Program for Carefree will be unlike what the Chamber offers. Our goal is to have people within the community actively in the gardens and the town center area assisting visitors with information regarding the Desert Gardens, Sundial, local businesses and local events, or perhaps just saying hello to their neighbors as they walk their dogs. It will allow our residents the opportunity to play a larger role in being a part of the community they love, get some exercise and fresh air and provide feedback and input to the Town on how to improve the Carefree experience.
- The Chamber of Commerce is not focused entirely on Carefree. It represents interests in Cave Creek, Scottsdale, Phoenix and Carefree. Not all Carefree businesses are members of the Chamber. Its mission is business advocacy. Our mission is the create a wonderful, one of a kind Carefree.
- The current room at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, known as the “Green Room”, is owned and utilized by the Town as storage. The Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion is an area of congregation whether it’s in use or not. Putting a visitor center where people naturally congregate, makes sense, and makes better productive use of space we own. Additionally, the Green Room, has no commercial viability, so we are not taking any sales tax generating space out of use. As we will only be using a portion of the Green Room for a visitors center, it still will operate as a stage right for the Pavilion, and host the tech needs for sound and lighting.
- To lease commercial space would take sales tax potential off the table, and any lease would be a recurring liability to the town, with any tenant improvements being worthless at the end of any lease. The Town is better off if we work with these private property owners to create a better overall retail experience so these spaces can be leased to private businesses. Consumers these days are either buying online, or are seeing experienced based shopping experiences. Having guides in the area creates a unique experience (personal touch) over the average strip mall.
- In reality, we do not have excessive commercial vacancy, except for Los Portales Mall, which would require extensive improvements to be a viable location for a visitors center. Any improvements made by the Town would become pertinent to the building, and thus belong to the property owner. The Town couldn’t spend money on repairing or upgrading the building outside of any space it leases, as this could be viewed as a gift to a private entity, and our space needs for a visitor center are minimal, while the improvements needed to Los Portales are not.
- As for security. Well, yes, we do have theft of umbrellas, cushions, and chairs. We also do get our fair share of vandalism and illegal dumping. We do have kids playing in the fountains (not suitable for swimming) while their parents watch. Not that we would ask any Ambassador to look for, or enforce any potential deviant act, or engage anyone engaged in any mischief, they simply would have direct access to the Town Marshall to report any activity, but we all know that more eyes will minimize unwanted behavior. Additionally, we find that many people do not pick up after their dogs, and one could hope that maybe they would if they felt someone noticed.
- As for new businesses, we have had several new businesses join the community. Healthy Creek and Sweet Suzan’s successfully opened during the shut-down, and Bilinda’s Vintage Treasures recently opened as well. Sticks Cigar Bar relocated, and is doing well in its new space. We are actively exploring an adaptive reuse for Los Portales, and working with a new tenant for the Warren Building. There is a new owner of the Sundial Café, with a new restaurant to open in December/January. The addition of the Hampton Inn (September 2021), will provide a much needed boost to visitors and room rental tax revenue. We are actively engaged with the State Land Department on addressing the 50 acres they own south of Sky Ranch, and will be exploring general plan amendments to explore future commercial needs. As you may know, no part of our budget is funded directly by property taxes, so it’s crucial we have a long term plan for how commercial retail sales tax funds public services. The Town Council is currently engaged in a strategic work plan, where the Town will identify targeted goals, and implement a tactical plan for achieving these goals.
Thanks,
Steve Prokopek
Economic Development Director
Town of Carefree
623-694-2605
Lyn:
Great program. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has been using ‘ambassadors’ for many years. I think that they now may use a combination of volunteers and paid. They are uniformed, easy to see on the main concourses before the security checks.
Many years ago, when I had more energy and time, and when the Town Hall was still in the post office building, I would hang around the sundial and butt into conversations of visitors to help point out various points of interests. One outcome was that many visitors thought that they were in Cave Creek! This resulted in more signage for downtown Carefree and changing the street signs to Carefree brown with a tab for the name, an idea I borrowed from the beach towns of Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo, all of which had differing street signs. As visitors take pictures of our street signs, especially Hum and Ho Road, they are taking a picture of Carefree. Years ago, that would have been a “Kodak” moment…what’s it called today?
Arthur Gimson
Thank you Lyn.
Wonderful publication you and Herbert put out.
Stay safe,
Maryann Kolb
Great program. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has been using ‘ambassadors’ for many years. I think that they now may use a combination of volunteers and paid. They are uniformed, easy to see on the main concourses before the security checks.
Many years ago, when I had more energy and time, and when the Town Hall was still in the post office building, I would hang around the sundial and butt into conversations of visitors to help point out various points of interests. One outcome was that many visitors thought that they were in Cave Creek! This resulted in more signage for downtown Carefree and changing the street signs to Carefree brown with a tab for the name, an idea I borrowed from the beach towns of Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo, all of which had differing street signs. As visitors take pictures of our street signs, especially Hum and Ho Road, they are taking a picture of Carefree. Years ago, that would have been a “Kodak” moment…what’s it called today?
Arthur Gimson
Thank you Lyn.
Wonderful publication you and Herbert put out.
Stay safe,
Maryann Kolb
Non profit info:
Photo taken by Pamela Slate.
The Carefree Desert Gardens seminar speaker series has been cancelled for the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 risk. As we return to a safer time for gatherings, we plan to resume the program in January 2022.
We are all passionate about gardening and surely you are as disappointed as we all are. Despite the virus situation we are looking forward to growing and maintaining our gardens and learning more about desert gardening. In the coming months, January through April, we will send monthly garden articles to you with the hope of sharing information you will find valuable.
In addition we will post related information on the Town of Carefree website. http//www.carefree.org/210/Desert-Garden-Seminars
Websites for three of our excellent speakers are listed below:
Jacqueline Soule: https://gardeningwithsoule.com/
John Eisenhower: https://www.savatree.com/ and https://itreeservice.com/
Noelle Johnson: https://www.azplantlady.com/
In the meantime, keep well, keep safe and keep gardening!
The Carefree Desert Gardens seminar speaker series has been cancelled for the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 risk. As we return to a safer time for gatherings, we plan to resume the program in January 2022.
We are all passionate about gardening and surely you are as disappointed as we all are. Despite the virus situation we are looking forward to growing and maintaining our gardens and learning more about desert gardening. In the coming months, January through April, we will send monthly garden articles to you with the hope of sharing information you will find valuable.
In addition we will post related information on the Town of Carefree website. http//www.carefree.org/210/Desert-Garden-Seminars
Websites for three of our excellent speakers are listed below:
Jacqueline Soule: https://gardeningwithsoule.com/
John Eisenhower: https://www.savatree.com/ and https://itreeservice.com/
Noelle Johnson: https://www.azplantlady.com/
In the meantime, keep well, keep safe and keep gardening!