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ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
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December art adventures
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This Week
Cave Creek - Carefree Area Edition
BUSINESS ......... 19
FEATURES ........ 20 Artist Sheila Kollasch: ‘Nature is my church’
FEATURES ........ 22 Flamenco guitarist Esteban plays to inspire others
OPINION ................... 10 BUSINESS ................. 19 FEATURES ................ 20 CLASSIFIEDS ............ 26 2
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Thursday, November 25, 2021
Carefree group wants to reform politics BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF
Desert Foothills Leadership Academy accepts applications
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Serving the communities of Cave Creek and Carefree
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eeking relief from politicians and government “run amok,” residents-led Carefree Citizens for Responsible Government has filed hundreds of signatures to qualify two ballot initiatives meant to reform the town and its elected government. The first measure — known as the “Good Government Act” — would protect all private property located within Carefree town limits. The campaign gathered nearly 340 signatures to qualify the measure for the election ballot, likely in November 2022. Based on the
last election cycle, 203 signatures are necessary for qualification. If passed by voters, the Good Government Act would allow the town to exercise eminent domain to seize private property only after a two-thirds vote of town council members and after securing approval by a vote of registered Carefree voters. Carefree residents supported the campaign, which seeks to render null and void the town’s plan to exercise eminent domain to seize land in The Boulders for use as the site of a 300,000-gallon industrial water tank to be built yards from residents’ homes.
“We look forward to Election Day,” said Maureen “Mo” Benedetto, the chair of Carefree Citizens for Responsible Government and a homeowner in The Boulders. “If town leaders won’t listen to us by choice, then we had to do the work necessary to make them listen. Residents all over Carefree have told us over and over that they’re disturbed by what the Town is doing — suing residents to seize their property — and trying to destroy the desert to jam an enormous water tank beside homes where it doesn’t belong.
Christmas Jubilee celebration on Saturday, Nov. 27. During this all-day event, Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion will be filled with holiday cheer for guests of all ages. Steve Prokopek, the economic development director of the town of Carefree, said the Christmas Jubilee is a family-friendly event. Rather than creating a “carnival” out of the events, he said Carefree’s celebrations focus on fostering connections in the community. “There’s a lot to offer within the town center of Carefree,” he said, “and so we
just want people to be able to walk away with a really nice time. There’s something for everybody.” From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Christmas Jubilee will offer activities such as horse carriage rides, photos with Santa, a pet parade and live entertainment. The Kiwanis Club will also hold free raf�les for 50 bicycle giveaways every hour from noon to 4 p.m., right before the annual lighting of the Carefree Christmas Tree at 5 p.m.
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Carefree’s holiday celebrations spread joy BY MIA ANDREA Foothills Focus Staff Writer
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oliday spirit is in the air in Carefree with the town’s upcoming Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations. From Saturday, Nov. 27, to Sunday, Dec. 5, community members can participate in free events that ring in seasonal festivities. The Kiwanis Club of Carefree, a foundation dedicated to serving children of the community, is hosting the Kiwanis
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