I miss you
J-P. A. Maldonado | Desert Foothills, but of Cave Creek
I was saddened by the news of Binky's passing. That old gray ghost would always greet me at your door and insist on a doggie biscuit, which he would carry to a corner, lie down with the predictable "O-omph!" and consume the treat with great relish. Most of all, I remember that great photo of Binky exercising his First Amendment right by peeing on a copy of the Arizona Republic.
I miss you, ol' dawg!
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Adam and Beth
Gary Kiernan | Cave Creek
Adam and Beth sitting in a tree ... how many times will Beth Duckett and The Arizona Republic run the picture of Trenk with the same embarrassing quote?:
"It's very exciting. It is sort of hard to process what it all means right now."
It certainly was hard for The Republic, as they claimed Trenk "was elected to the Cave Creek council." They forgot the fact that all votes had not, at that point, been counted. Therefore it was impossible to know whether he had attained the necessary 50 percent plus one of the votes cast. Not surprisingly, that whole report "disappeared" from their website with nary a correction on the web.
I sincerely hope Mr. Trenk was not similarly disillusioned – that would not bode well.
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My constitutional rights
George A. Ross | Cave Creek
This letter is in response to last week’s editorial concerning statements made by me in a telephone conversation with the town manager. It is a constitutional right for citizens to lobby and petition their elected officials. Nowhere in any of the state or federal constitutions does it mention that to do so a citizen is required to run for public office. I witness, on a regular basis, you cajoling, in strong language, officials on a variety of issues. Yet, I have never seen your name on a ballot. What makes my constitutional rights subservient to yours? Nothing!
Your hearsay information about me concerning the issue of raising water rates was privileged, some what accurate and taken out of context. It was not a threat. I stated my position and my intentions. If the mayor or the town manager felt strongly enough about their position then my opposition would have been a moot point. I believe that the facts and figures presented concerning water rate increases were well thought out and accurate. It was not an idle effort. It was stated by another citizen that if the council, staff or anyone else could demonstrate, with hard data, that there was an alternative, let them present those figures. The silence was deafening.
The results of Tuesday's election were clear and concise. Fiscal responsibility, strong leadership and a realistic approach to this current financial crisis are a necessity. As a citizen of Cave Creek, the state of Arizona and the United States of America, I will never abrogate any of my constitutional rights. I refuse to be bullied. This is clearly a case of "the pot calling the kettle black."
[Editor’s Note: The point of my editorial comments, which Mr. Ross seemed to miss, was volunteers need to keep their egos at bay and understand that threatening recall of the mayor and withholding promised monies that could benefit the town, because it didn’t appear he would get his way, is totally inappropriate – reminiscent of a child taking his/her ball and going home in the midst of a tantrum. As for Mr. Ross’ use of the time worn phrase “the pot calling the kettle black,” I am not a town volunteer. I own a community watchdog newspaper and express my opinions about such chicanery in an opinion column.]
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Dumping
Geoff Orton | Carefree
I enjoyed the good story about the arrest and conviction of the guy who dumped the junk in the Preserve. Good detective work on the part of the Town Marshal, and kudos to him.
Maybe next time that guy will drop the stuff off at The Town Dump (just kidding). After all, that is the name of it. It's a wonder somebody has not done that before.
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Applause for all recyclers
Councilman Bob Coady | Carefree
Now that our monthly Carefree Recycling is over, I would like to thank those that have been supporters.
Our recycling program began, thanks to local businessman Rod de Szendeffy, who offered his property as a site for our monthly recycle. We were able to introduce a community worker program, thanks to the involvement of Carefree’s Judge Scull and Town Prosecutor Tom Parascandola.
Due to the support and funding from the Soroptimists, we were able to purchase two fluorescent bulb compactors and begin our bulb recycling program.
Working with Sheriff Arpaio and MCSO, Carefree was able to institute the first Safe Drug Disposal program many towns and cities have now copied.
Throughout our years of recycling, Don Sorchych of Sonoran News publicized all our events. The publicity and coverage were invaluable.
When Carefree Recycling was looking for a drop off site for used fluorescent bulbs, Dave Karsten of Ace Hardware stepped up and offered his business as a drop off site.
Thanks to his commitment to recycling, Mike Mamaghani of Curbside Recycling, Carefree, was able to provide our monthly program at an affordable cost.
When it comes to volunteers, no one can surpass Carefree. Bill, Ron, John, Sue, Sheryl, Kevin, Wade and Rhoda have all worked through out the years.
Last but not least, I thank all of the Carefree and Cave Creek residents who so faithfully came every third Saturday of the month to recycle. I will miss you most of all.
My initial concept was to provide our residents with a permanent recycling drop off site. Maricopa County will now provide that service. I hope you will use this new site and continue our efforts to preserve our beautiful desert environment.
While monthly recycling has ended, we will still continue to do a bi-annual Safe Drug Disposal. My target date is for May; please be on the lookout and save all those drugs in your medicine cabinets.
So, thank you all!
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Thank you
Marty Goodwin | Cave Creek
My husband, Robert W. Goodwin, passed away a few weeks ago and everyone has been so kind. I just wanted to express our gratitude for all the kindness and prayers on our behalf. North Ridge Community Church celebrated with a wonderful service in his honor. Thank you all for your calls, cards, food and other expressions of love.
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Small towns can be cool!
Dick Esser | Cave Creek
I am honored and excited I have been elected to serve another term on the Cave Creek Town Council. I am incredibly grateful for all the support I had throughout the campaign – my campaign manager and friends who worked diligently to get me elected, the business owners for allowing me to put my posters and signs on their property, the publisher of our paper, and especially those who voted for me at the polls. Although we will not know until May who will fill the remaining two seats, I am certain the council will come together and address the challenges that we face, and to share the accomplishments we are certain to achieve.
We live in a wonderful and unique town, and thanks to all of you, we can face the future with hope and optimism. Please know I will do all I can during the next two years to listen to each and every citizen, and to make my votes with your best interests at heart. Small towns can be cool!
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Caught in a war
Paul Block | Phoenix
I appreciate the plight of the Gazan people being caught in a war. However if the Hamas terror organization would stop shelling Sderot and other cities in Israel, Israel would not have entered into Gaza in the first place. Furthermore, where are we coming up with 900 million dollars when we, in our country, are having enormous economic challenges?
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A storm a-brewin'
Duke Schneider | E-mail
I received this from a friend ... but it sounds like a good idea to me!!
There's a storm a-brewin'. What happens when good, responsible people keep quiet? Washington has forgotten they work for us. We don't work for them. Throwing good money after bad is NOT the answer. I am sick of the midnight, closed door sessions to come up with a plan. I am sick of Congress raking CEOs over the coals while they, themselves, have defaulted on their taxes. I am sick of the bailed out companies having lavish vacations and retreats on my dollar. I am sick of being told it is MY responsibility to rescue people that, knowingly, bought more house than they could afford. I am sick of being made to feel it is my patriotic duty to pay MORE taxes. I, like all of you, am a responsible citizen. I pay my taxes. I live on a budget and I don't ask someone else to carry the burden for poor decisions I may make. I have emailed my congressmen and senators asking them to NOT vote for the stimulus package as it was written without reading it first. No one listened. They voted for it, pork and all.
Okay, folks, here it is. You may think you are just one voice and what you think won't make a difference. Well, yes, it will and YES, WE CAN!! If you are disgusted and angry with the way Washington is handling our taxes – if you are fearful of the fallout from the reckless spending of BILLIONS to bailout and "stimulate" without accountability and responsibility – then we need to become ONE, LOUD VOICE THAT CAN BE HEARD FROM EVERY CITY, TOWN, SUBURB AND HOME IN AMERICA. There is a growing protest to demand that Congress, the President and his cabinet LISTEN to us, the American Citizens. What is being done in Washington is NOT the way to handle the economic free fall.
So, here's the plan. On April 1, 2009, all Americans are asked to send a TEA BAG to Washington , D.C. You do not have to enclose a note or any other information unless you so desire. Just a TEA BAG. Many cities are organizing protests. If you simply search, "New American Tea Party," several sites will come up. If you aren't the 'protester' type, simply make your one voice heard with a TEA BAG. Your one voice will become a roar when joined with millions of others that feel the same way. Yes, something needs to be done but the lack of confidence as shown by the steady decline in the stock market speaks volumes.
This was not my idea. I visited the sites of the 'New American Tea Party' and an online survey showed over 90 percent of thousands said they would send the tea bag on April 1. Why April 1? We want them to reach Washington by April 15. Will you do it? I will.
Send it to: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500.
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Wake up call
Brad Lawrence, FNS | Carefree
I thought we lived in this quiet community where not much goes on, but your article on how some city councilman are maliciously going after others on the council is a real wake up call. I left California many years ago to get away from "Washington" style politics. Now I find them just down the street. How could some people be so misinformed and then go way over the top like Gary Hayward and his cohorts did?
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Aid to Palestinians
In Christ,
Carl & Julie Fichtner | Mesa
As American leaders have said they will provide 900 million dollars in aid to Palestinians, there is a very important initiative in Congress, H. Con. Res. 29.
The initiative, if enacted, can ensure that American taxpayers are not harmed by our good intentions to help those in need. Rep. Steve Rothman, Rep. Mark Kirk, Rep. Sue Myrick and dozens of other elected officials are supporting this initiative but they need more support to make it a reality.
While it is important to strengthen moderates in the West Bank, fully $140 million of America's promised aid is to go to the United Nationals Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) who work in Gaza (an area controlled by Iran-backed Hamas). While UNRWA remains the primary delivery mechanism for humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories, there is absolutely no reason why the United Nations cannot take assertive action to ensure that not one penny of U.S. dollars is being redistributed to terrorists.
Unfortunately, at this time we have no such guarantee, given the lax oversight and faulty accountability mechanisms currently in place. Today UNRWA is the "Ken Lay of humanitarian organizations" with no independent audits! H. Con. Res. 29 seeks to fix this and to ensure that not one cent of U.S. taxpayer dollars provided to UNRWA is redirected to terrorists, or to activities that support terror or promote a culture of hatred.
It is imperative that our leaders take all necessary measures to certify that UNRWA operates in full compliance with section 301(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which states that no American taxpayer dollars be directed to terrorists or to further terrorist propaganda.
To improve their transparency, UNRWA should publish online copies of all educational materials used in UNRWA-administered schools. After all, not one penny of U.S. taxpayer money should go to textbooks which teach Palestinian children to hate America or our allies. Nor should their spokespeople be allowed to make false statements in the media.
To bolster their accountability, UNRWA must also implement terrorist name-recognition software and other screening procedures that would help to ensure the UNRWA staff, volunteers and beneficiaries are neither terrorists themselves, nor affiliated with known terrorist organizations.
As it is nearly 1000 days since Israeli Gilad Shalit was taken hostage by Hamas, and rockets continue to be shot at Israel almost every day, we must make sure that American dollars are used for smart solutions – not to give welfare to terrorists or to use them to enable schools to train terrorists through intolerance.
Americans are having trouble meeting their mortgages here at home. Why would we want to provide public housing for terrorists? American schools need more funding. Why would we want to pay for terror textbooks?
The time to work for smart policies for peace and prosperity is today.
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Finance crooks
J. Andrew Smith | Bloomfield, New Jersey
Society deserves something back from Bernie Madoff, and all those other finance crooks. Enslave them in hard labor camps. Test all drugs, tortures and surgical techniques on them – forget animals. Give ALL their homes and other assets to the people they screwed, NOT families or friends. And when they die, donate their organs, preserve what's left, and hang them naked in front of the Stock Exchange.
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