(Lyn's note: Please feel free to send us any pictures you'd like included. Here's the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.)
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-103019.html
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-103019.html
(Lyn's note: Nikolay, one of Ray's usual carvers, was unable to be here for the Pumpkin Festival this year because their first born,Timur Torkhov, arrived a few days before the festival began. The link contains pictures of the happy family at home in Moscow. Congratulations to Tanya and Nikolay!)
Photo by Tanya Ivashkova
And here are your bonus rounds from Herbert:
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/102719-ray-am.html
Photo by Tanya Ivashkova
And here are your bonus rounds from Herbert:
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/102719-ray-am.html
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
https://www.carefree.org/345/Town-Newsletters
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
https://www.carefree.org/345/Town-Newsletters
(Phil knows Nikolay and Tanya, so I had sent him the baby pics. Above is his reply, which I passed on to Nikolay.)
I got tired of all the cyber noise about the Pumpkin Festival, especially among the Facebook Creekers….So…
Dear Lyn,
Since the Carefree Pumpkin Festival began last week, I’ve read the cyber-commentary, taken a couple of strolls on Easy Street and spent a few bucks to people watch inside the Carefree Desert Gardens.
Doing so reminded me that there are no bad ideas...there are only ideas that work and those that do not. The only way to tell the difference is to take your idea out for a ride.
Four years ago, the Carefree Pumpkin Festival was an idea worth taking out for a ride.
Since then, the Town of Carefree has invested a substantial sum of tax revenues to create and nurture the festival and learned that attendance alone does not equal success. There are other tangible and intangible measurements to consider.
Certainly, the Festival has had a positive economic development impact on Carefree, Cave Creek and our neighboring communities. I’m not so certain it has generated significant additional sales tax revenue for Carefree to have a positive impact on the Town’s financial investment in the Festival over the last four years.
Ray Villafane is a talented and creative artist. Ray’s reputation and the creative skills of his team are the reason the festival has attracted visitors from all over the world to Carefree in October. My guess is that after the 2018 Festival, Ray and the Town Council reached a consensus that is was time for a change and Ray stepped up with a proposal.
He wanted to reinvent the Festival and run it as a business with all the risks and rewards that accompany doing so. And, since the Town of Carefree wanted to reduce its substantial financial commitment to the event, Ray’s idea was implemented.
This October, after months of planning, Ray took his reinvented idea out for a ride. Decisions were made; some of which, like charging an admission fee, were risky. It’s too early to determine whether or not Ray’s ideas have worked. We will all soon know…
But, such is the nature of ideas. Sometimes they work…and sometimes they don’t. One thing is certain; when the dust settles the future of the Pumpkin Festival will be on the table again.
Meanwhile, let's cut the folks associated with this wonderful festival a break. Instead of focusing on the mistakes “we” think “they” made, let’s: Think Differently.
Let’s respect Ray’s entrepreneurial drive. Let’s be proud of the Town for risking change without knowing if it would be successful or well received by residents and guests alike.
Most importantly, let’s thank Ray and the Town Council for following the sage advice about ideas given to Luke Skywalker by the Jedi Yoda:
“There is no try. There is only do or not do”
Phil Corso
Carefree, Arizona
© October 2019 – All Rights Reserved
Thank you for coming to the pet costume contest I hosted this year and the wonderful pictures Herb always takes!
Alison Ballai
Bosco's Biscuits
Just alittle note to say very disappointed on the look of a locked up fort in town!
I believe residents should be free. If he is not paying for space it’s our tax dollar carrying it! It’s a great display but not fair to the taxpayers of carefree to have to pay him and pay to get in... discount coupons a joke too! Better it was free during week for residents and let out of town people pay on weekends. I’m sorry but it looks horrible with all that fencing! A disappointed resident !! On the set up glad it’s almost over .....
Anonymous
(Lyn's note: I fear you have been misinformed. Here are the facts. Attendees are not paying Ray Villafane to get into the festival. The Town is the promoter. The Town pays for the festival, and admission is part of the cost recovery. Along with the admission fee, the Pumpkin Festival generates revenue from Harvest Market vendors' permit fees, sales tax revenue from vendor sales and food sales, and from Town merchandise sales, as well as bringing people into town to shop and dine. This money goes back into the General Fund to pay for our Town services like police and fire protection, street maintenance, etc.
Carefree does not impose a local property tax; the property taxes we pay are to Maricopa County and the Cave Creek Unified School District. If you question this, just check your property tax bill. I am dismayed that so few of our residents support the local merchants. Unless you do most of your shopping and dining in Carefree, your tax dollars are not being spent on anything done by the Town. Herbert and I do shop and dine in Carefree. Local sales tax revenue is what helps to keep a local property tax at bay. If you lived in an average priced house in Scottsdale, you would pay approximately $3000 more in property tax per year because Scottsdale, like most municipalities, does impose a local property tax.
I am disappointed by those who, instead of saying "Thank you" to the Town and to Villafane Studios for the years the Pumpkin Festival was free, are complaining about an admission charge for a fabulous festival that has put Carefree on the map. People no longer say "Cave Creek" when talking about Carefree. This is a world class event, and both the exhibits and the kiddie attractions were increased this year. The exhibits are dynamic, with constant additions. New pumpkins are carved daily, with more carvers than ever, and the carvers are working where they can be observed.
Once admission is paid, there are no charges other than those for food and merchandise. Other events around the Valley charge at least this much for admission, and then charge more to participate in the features within the event. It costs $10 just to walk into A Taste of Cave Creek, then you pay from there. Good luck getting out of the State Fair for under $300. Most of the Halloween events charge at least $15 to get in, with the same price for children, then you continue to pay to play, and they don't deliver nearly the value of Carefree's festival.
How much does it cost to take the kids to a movie and buy them candy, popcorn and a soft drink? This is clean, interactive fun for the whole family, as opposed to sitting in a dark room staring at a screen without speaking to one another for 2 hours. Yet, people don't complain about paying to get into a movie and paying for vastly overpriced junk food.
The admission price to get into this year's festival is less than the price of a nice lunch with no alcohol for one person. The rancor displayed over paying this small price from some astounds me.
FYI: Ray lost an average of $20,000 each year for the past 3 years doing this festival. Although the Town pays him for his services, he pays for the world class carvers to come, he pays for their board and meals, he pays for the materials, etc. He did this at a personal loss because he loves Carefree and has a passion for this festival.)
Very interesting and informative.
Thank you
Marlys Weber
(Lyn's note: A comment about the ads for Carefree businesses)
I got tired of all the cyber noise about the Pumpkin Festival, especially among the Facebook Creekers….So…
Dear Lyn,
Since the Carefree Pumpkin Festival began last week, I’ve read the cyber-commentary, taken a couple of strolls on Easy Street and spent a few bucks to people watch inside the Carefree Desert Gardens.
Doing so reminded me that there are no bad ideas...there are only ideas that work and those that do not. The only way to tell the difference is to take your idea out for a ride.
Four years ago, the Carefree Pumpkin Festival was an idea worth taking out for a ride.
Since then, the Town of Carefree has invested a substantial sum of tax revenues to create and nurture the festival and learned that attendance alone does not equal success. There are other tangible and intangible measurements to consider.
Certainly, the Festival has had a positive economic development impact on Carefree, Cave Creek and our neighboring communities. I’m not so certain it has generated significant additional sales tax revenue for Carefree to have a positive impact on the Town’s financial investment in the Festival over the last four years.
Ray Villafane is a talented and creative artist. Ray’s reputation and the creative skills of his team are the reason the festival has attracted visitors from all over the world to Carefree in October. My guess is that after the 2018 Festival, Ray and the Town Council reached a consensus that is was time for a change and Ray stepped up with a proposal.
He wanted to reinvent the Festival and run it as a business with all the risks and rewards that accompany doing so. And, since the Town of Carefree wanted to reduce its substantial financial commitment to the event, Ray’s idea was implemented.
This October, after months of planning, Ray took his reinvented idea out for a ride. Decisions were made; some of which, like charging an admission fee, were risky. It’s too early to determine whether or not Ray’s ideas have worked. We will all soon know…
But, such is the nature of ideas. Sometimes they work…and sometimes they don’t. One thing is certain; when the dust settles the future of the Pumpkin Festival will be on the table again.
Meanwhile, let's cut the folks associated with this wonderful festival a break. Instead of focusing on the mistakes “we” think “they” made, let’s: Think Differently.
Let’s respect Ray’s entrepreneurial drive. Let’s be proud of the Town for risking change without knowing if it would be successful or well received by residents and guests alike.
Most importantly, let’s thank Ray and the Town Council for following the sage advice about ideas given to Luke Skywalker by the Jedi Yoda:
“There is no try. There is only do or not do”
Phil Corso
Carefree, Arizona
© October 2019 – All Rights Reserved
Thank you for coming to the pet costume contest I hosted this year and the wonderful pictures Herb always takes!
Alison Ballai
Bosco's Biscuits
Just alittle note to say very disappointed on the look of a locked up fort in town!
I believe residents should be free. If he is not paying for space it’s our tax dollar carrying it! It’s a great display but not fair to the taxpayers of carefree to have to pay him and pay to get in... discount coupons a joke too! Better it was free during week for residents and let out of town people pay on weekends. I’m sorry but it looks horrible with all that fencing! A disappointed resident !! On the set up glad it’s almost over .....
Anonymous
(Lyn's note: I fear you have been misinformed. Here are the facts. Attendees are not paying Ray Villafane to get into the festival. The Town is the promoter. The Town pays for the festival, and admission is part of the cost recovery. Along with the admission fee, the Pumpkin Festival generates revenue from Harvest Market vendors' permit fees, sales tax revenue from vendor sales and food sales, and from Town merchandise sales, as well as bringing people into town to shop and dine. This money goes back into the General Fund to pay for our Town services like police and fire protection, street maintenance, etc.
Carefree does not impose a local property tax; the property taxes we pay are to Maricopa County and the Cave Creek Unified School District. If you question this, just check your property tax bill. I am dismayed that so few of our residents support the local merchants. Unless you do most of your shopping and dining in Carefree, your tax dollars are not being spent on anything done by the Town. Herbert and I do shop and dine in Carefree. Local sales tax revenue is what helps to keep a local property tax at bay. If you lived in an average priced house in Scottsdale, you would pay approximately $3000 more in property tax per year because Scottsdale, like most municipalities, does impose a local property tax.
I am disappointed by those who, instead of saying "Thank you" to the Town and to Villafane Studios for the years the Pumpkin Festival was free, are complaining about an admission charge for a fabulous festival that has put Carefree on the map. People no longer say "Cave Creek" when talking about Carefree. This is a world class event, and both the exhibits and the kiddie attractions were increased this year. The exhibits are dynamic, with constant additions. New pumpkins are carved daily, with more carvers than ever, and the carvers are working where they can be observed.
Once admission is paid, there are no charges other than those for food and merchandise. Other events around the Valley charge at least this much for admission, and then charge more to participate in the features within the event. It costs $10 just to walk into A Taste of Cave Creek, then you pay from there. Good luck getting out of the State Fair for under $300. Most of the Halloween events charge at least $15 to get in, with the same price for children, then you continue to pay to play, and they don't deliver nearly the value of Carefree's festival.
How much does it cost to take the kids to a movie and buy them candy, popcorn and a soft drink? This is clean, interactive fun for the whole family, as opposed to sitting in a dark room staring at a screen without speaking to one another for 2 hours. Yet, people don't complain about paying to get into a movie and paying for vastly overpriced junk food.
The admission price to get into this year's festival is less than the price of a nice lunch with no alcohol for one person. The rancor displayed over paying this small price from some astounds me.
FYI: Ray lost an average of $20,000 each year for the past 3 years doing this festival. Although the Town pays him for his services, he pays for the world class carvers to come, he pays for their board and meals, he pays for the materials, etc. He did this at a personal loss because he loves Carefree and has a passion for this festival.)
Very interesting and informative.
Thank you
Marlys Weber
(Lyn's note: A comment about the ads for Carefree businesses)