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Carefree Connection:
April 2024
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April Overview
What's happening this month?
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SPRING into the April edition of the Carefree Connection! 🪻 This month is packed with exciting events, including the Carefree Earth Day Celebration, the return of Desert Foothills Theater in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, the Pac-12 Men's Golf Championship at Desert Forest Golf Club, and so much more. Stay informed about Town matters with important meetings concerning the General Plan Update and the Town Budget Process. Don't miss out on CPR classes at the Carefree Fire Department, learning about Water Awareness month, and knowing essential stormwater pool practices. Explore some of the events hosted by local establishments and catch up on last month's highlights, featuring Keelers' appearance on PBS's Check Please! and the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. | |
Annual Carefree Earth Day Celebration
Come celebrate our lovely planet! Join us for our FREE Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. 🌎
Explore Arizona's native rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, hawks, owls, and don't miss the chance for a selfie with the iconic Smokey Bear. Engage with local organizations committed to nature conservation and appreciation, enjoy face painting, and treat your family to refreshing snow cones from the Kona Ice truck!
You don't wanna miss this wonderful event perfect for ALL AGES!
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Desert Foothills Land Trust Spring Fling
Join Desert Foothills Land Trust in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion on Thursday, April 4 at 5 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of music, dancing, good food, and friends to celebrate our glorious Sonoran Spring!
Enjoy cocktails, wines, and beer served by the Travelin' Tavern. Enjoy conservation with friends and a delicious dinner from food trucks Re di Roma and Wandering Donkey. Dance to your favorite tunes with The Lucky Devils Band.
Peruse the Silent Auction with exciting trips and unique adventures. Purchase your Mystery Bags before they're sold out! All proceeds benefit Desert Foothills Land Trust. We're excited to see you there! Buy your tickets with the button below.
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Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation Medal of Honor Recipient Welcome
Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, (MC-LEF) will kick off their 18th Annual Arizona Golf Tournament at the Veterans Memorial in the Carefree Desert Gardens. Join us on Thursday, April 25 at 4:45 p.m. to welcome them and honor four Medal of Honor recipients. Bernie Falchook, long-time Carefree resident and World War II veteran will lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance and Audrey Self from Jubilate Conservatory of Music will perform the National Anthem. MC-LEF is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the children of those who have given their lives.
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Pac-12 Men's Golf Championship at Desert Forest Golf Club
Get excited for the Pac-12 Men's Golf Championships taking place at Desert Forest Golf Club hosted by Arizona State University. The tournament will run Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28. Watch as top collegiate golfers tackle this demanding desert course in pursuit of victory.
The event is FREE and open to the public. A free shuttle will run to and from the Carefree Hampton Inn and the Desert Forest Golf Club. It will operate Friday to Sunday 90 minutes prior to tee time and end 60 minutes after the final group tees off.
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Join us for the April Town Council meeting and the first Town Council General Plan Work Session on Tuesday, April 2, starting at 5 p.m. at the Town Council Chambers.
If you want to watch from home join the livestream HERE. View the agenda by clicking the button below.
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Board of Adjustment Hearing | |
Join us for the Board of Adjustment Hearing on Monday, April 8, starting at 5 p.m. at the Town Council Chambers.
If you want to watch from home join the livestream HERE. View the agenda by clicking the button below.
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Development Review Board Meeting | |
Join us for the Development Review Board Hearing on Monday, April 8, starting at 5:15 p.m. at the Town Council Chambers.
If you want to watch from home join the livestream HERE. View the agenda by clicking the button below.
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Economic Development Review Board Meeting | |
Join us for the Economic Development Review Board Meeting on Monday, April 8, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Council Chambers.
If you want to watch from home join the livestream HERE. View the agenda by clicking the button below.
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Town Council General Plan Special Work Session | |
Join us for the second Council Work Session on Tuesday, April 9, starting at 5 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers to discuss the February 2024 draft of the General Plan Update.
If you want to watch from home join the livestream HERE. View the agenda by clicking the button below.
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Community Conversations: Connecting with Carefree | Stop by the Visitor Center on Friday, April 12, between 9 -11 a.m. to bring our community closer together through open and meaningful dialogues with Mayor John Crane, Council Member Clint Miller and Council Member Mike Johnson. | | |
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Town Council Budget Workshop #3 | |
Join us for our third Budget Workshop on Tuesday, April 23, starting at 2:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers.
This meeting will focus on the forecasted FY revenues and planned expenditures. Join the livestream with the button below.
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Town Council Budget Workshop #4 | |
Join us for our fourth and final Budget Workshop on Tuesday, April 30, starting at 2:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers.
This meeting will focus on learning about and reviewing the Draft Program Based Budget. Join the livestream with the button below.
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Celebrate Carefree's 40th Anniversary with Your Own Story | |
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Personal stories about or relating to Carefree are being solicited to be read in a show celebrating Carefree's 40th Anniversary. Stories should be of an actual experience relating to Carefree in some way.... the story may be of an adventure, a funny, historical, or inspiring tale or a poignant one. The stories will go through a selection process and selected stories will be read by their authors in a performance in the fall of 2024. All stories will be considered, no previous writing or performing experience is needed.
Submitted stories should be approximately 6 to 10 min when read aloud, 600-1800 words. Contribute to making our anniversary a personal and fun one! Lend your voice to celebrating Carefree’s 40th! Please submit your story for consideration to Nancy Gutfreund at ngmft@aol.com by May 15th.
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Did you know? It is important to know CPR because it empowers individuals to intervene effectively during cardiac emergencies, significantly increasing the chances of survival until professional medical help arrives. Take advantage of the CPR classes Rural Metro will be offering on April 20, May 19 and 25 at 10 a.m. at the Carefree Fire Station.
Classes are FREE for Carefree residents.
For more information or to register please email CarefreeFD@gmail.com.
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April is Water Awareness Month
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Draining Your Pool Properly | |
As pool season approaches, it's crucial to ensure that when draining your pool, you do so responsibly. Proper stormwater practices are essential for maintaining the well-being of plants and wildlife around us. There are two correct methods: irrigating your landscape or draining into your sanitary sewer. View the brochure below to learn about each option and to aid you in identifying salt-tolerant plants perfect for irrigation.
Learn more about stormwater HERE.
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FY 2024-2025
Budget Workshops
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The budget process for the Town's 2024-2025 fiscal year is underway, with only two more upcoming workshops providing an opportunity for community involvement:
Tuesday, April 23
- Forecasted FY Revenue and Planned Expenditures
Tuesday, April 30
The community is encouraged to participate in these informative sessions. These workshops serve as crucial forums for transparency and citizen engagement in shaping the fiscal priorities of the Town for the upcoming year. Each workshop is livestreamed and uploaded to the Town's YouTube channel.
View the past livestreams with the links below:
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General Plan Schedule & Public Hearing Draft | |
Last month's Planning & Zoning Commission work sessions included a brief recap of the General Plan Update process. These sessions offered a forum for residents to hear the rationale for the proposed language, listen to Commission dialog, and participate in the conversation. The discussions encompassed four main topics as outlined in the Draft, specifically - the Special Planning Area designation at the Northwest Corner of Tom Darlington Drive and Carefree Highway, the State Trust Land 48-acre parcel, mixed use in the Town Center, and the Carefree Water Company.
The process will continue at the next two work sessions scheduled with the Town Council. The first will be held at Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, April 2 starting at 5 p.m. The second will be a Special Work Session held on Tuesday, April 9 starting at 5 p.m.
View the past livestreams and relevant documents with the button below.
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Business Highlight:
Ortega's Turquoise Trails Trading Post
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Ortega's Turquoise Trails Trading Post, nestled in one of Carefree's oldest buildings, is located on the corner of Easy Street and Ho Hum Drive. Their store has been a cherished part of the community for over 27 years, with roots dating back to 1898. It is Native American owned and operated by Max and Dan Ortega, this authentic native American jewelry shop promises to have one of the largest collections of Southwest Native art in the Valley. Ortega's specializes in Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi jewelry, as well as offering southwest gifts and authentic Native art such as kachinas, baskets, rugs, and pottery. It is a must-visit destination in Carefree! Ortega's Trading Post invites visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty and history of Native American craftsmanship. | | |
Street Maintenance Project: Final Stages | |
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Based on favorable weather conditions, the next and final phase of the current street maintenance project is anticipated to be completed within the first two weeks of April.
It's essential to be aware that the curing time for this next surface treatment is approximately 3-4 hours after application. After the application, there will be temporary street restrictions in place. These restrictions are necessary to ensure the integrity of the treatment is not compromised and to prevent the slurry from being damaged or tracked onto unintended surfaces. We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these restrictions.
Additionally, while we aim to adhere to the outlined schedule, please be aware that unforeseen circumstances such as weather changes may require adjustments. In the event of any schedule changes, the Town will promptly send out additional notifications to keep you informed.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to enhance the quality of our streets. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the street maintenance project, please contact the project hotline at 602-245-6270 and identify your specific location and concern.
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Thunderbird Artists Gallery Live Painter | | |
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Renowned oil painter and watercolor artist, Jeanne Bonine, returns to her canvas at Thunderbird Artists Gallery, showcasing her latest unnamed masterpiece as part of the Carefree Friday Nights. Witness Jeanne's artistic brilliance unfold every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. as she adds her masterful strokes to her captivating work in progress. The Thunderbirds Artists Gallery welcomes visitors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays). Don't miss the opportunity to observe Jeanne in action! | | |
Black Mountain Cafe Jam Sessions | |
March Highlights
Fantastic Moments from Last Month
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Kiwanis Carefree Pancake Breakfast
The 50th Annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast 2024 was a huge success despite the
threatening morning weather. In just over 4 hours, as the skies cleared, 750 hungry but happy guests devoured more than 1700 pancakes, 1600 sausages, 30 lbs. of butter, 9 gallons of syrup, 8 gallons of blueberry compote, and 1 gallon of whipped cream, all washed down with 10 gallons of orange juice and over 1000 cups of coffee.
Barb Pearse, Chair of Pancake Breakfast, thanked the local community for their support this and every year, “We’re so pleased with the turn out. The weather wasn’t fully cooperative, with storms and low temps. Despite this obstacle, the community came…with a full appetite.” In addition to fully satisfying pancake-breakfast-eaters, like all Kiwanis Carefree events, the money raised will be put to good use in programs for kids and the community at large.
Photos provided by Kiwanis Club of Carefree.
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Keeler's Steakhouse on PBS "Check, Please! Arizona"
Our very own Keeler's Neighborhood Steakhouse recently received the spotlight on PBS's Check Please! hosted by none other than Chef Mark Tarbell. The show featured three delighted diners who couldn't stop praising the delicious and generously portioned meals that Keelers offers. Not only did they rave about the savory dishes, but they also highlighted the delightfully refreshing cocktails and decadent desserts. Watch the segment with the button below.
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Spirit of Giving Awarded to Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation
Last December, Chanukah in Carefree chose the Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation as their 2023 Spirit of Giving recipient! In March, Karen Acker, joined by Carefree Mayor John Crane, presented a check for over $3,000 to CCUEF President Jessie Spencer alongside CCUSD Superintendent Bill Dolezal. The generosity of our community is what allows them to continue supporting CCUSD teachers and classrooms through grants and donations!
Photos provided by the Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation.
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March Event & Meeting Calendar | |
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Carefree Art Night
Stroll around town and discover our local galleries during Carefree Art Night on Thursday, April 18 from 4 - 7 p.m.!
Take in the sights of the Desert Gardens and visit local art galleries for special artist engagements and live entertainment. Local musicians provide the perfect ambiance for a 'Carefree' evening under the stars!
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Carefree Friday Nights
Join us on Friday evenings starting at 5 p.m. to experience Carefree restaurants and shops after the sun sets! Local restaurants offer live entertainment, and stores in the Town Center stay open later for more shopping. Enjoy a delightful dinner, take a stroll through the Desert Gardens, and discover local treasures—all in one night.
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Town of Carefree | 8 Sundial Cir, Carefree, AZ 85377 | info@carefree.org | | | | |
