RE/MAX Desert Vibe Winter 2022-23

Welcome

It’s the most wonderful time of the year ... to be in Fountain Hills. The sunny winter days nourish us while we hike, golf, or take a leisurely horseback ride. The incredible variety of holiday events gives us many opportunities to mingle with the community. And the newly expanded Farmer’s Market provides us with a reason to stop by the Avenue of the Fountains every Wednesday to discover some new culinary treasures. (Have you tried the Nepali dumplings at Mr. Momo’s food truck or the best baklava in the world at the Middle Eastern Food tent?)

If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity during the holidays, check out the Event Calendar on pages 6-7. If an event interests you, contact the host and tell them you want to help. Volunteers are always needed, and Fountain Hills thrives because of them. Not finding something that interests you? Donate your time to the Extended Hands Food Bank (ehfb.org).

If you’re having guests this winter, we’ve curated a great list of things you can do with those guests. Our article “22 Things to Do with Out-of-Town Guests” is full of ideas that appeal to all age levels and interests. You can print those pages to tuck away for future reference.

Stroll in the Glow is an excellent time for you to stop into one of our offices to say hi and get to know us. We have two offices on Avenue. Our main office is at 16701 E. Avenue of the Fountains, next door to Sami Fine Jewelry. Our Sonoran Lifestyle Team office is at 16824 E. Avenue of the Fountains, just a few doors up from Fearless Kitty. We’ll serve treats and offer fun photo opportunities for the whole family. We close with a quote about Christmas from the beloved Joanna Gaines of Magnolia and TV’s Fixer Upper:

“We count down the days just to experience it nearly exactly as we always have. It is so comfortable, familiar, and perfectly nostalgic that, frankly, we have no desire to improve upon it at all.”

Perspective

ON THE HOUSING MARKET

Perspective

[ per-spek-tiv ] noun: proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it; objectivity

Gaining perspective is always a wonderful thing. Sometimes, we can take advantage of the perspective of hindsight. At other times, we have to rely on technical or professional advice. Perhaps we have both: the value of hindsight or history combined with the advice of experts.

So, here’s a bit of perspective regarding the current state of the housing market!

Valley of the Sun: Still Going (very) Strong! While year-todate figures will not be available until spring, there was a Year-OverYear (July 2020-June 2021) increase of 66,850 in population for the Phoenix Metro area, or 183 people per day. Much of that growth is due to a strategic shift in our economic base over the past ten years with a stronger emphasis on growth in medical research, health, technology and finance, according to the US Census Bureau.

US Housing Shortage: (Unfortunately) Also Still Going Strong! This has contributed to the rise in prices, while inventory of housing in October 2022 is still low in Maricopa County. In the Fountain Hills market, let’s make this critical point: there were

191 active listings in October 2022. Compare this to key years in our past: Oct 2019- 239 listings; Oct 2014- 422 listings; Oct 2008858 listings; Oct 2006- 843 listings. This information comes from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. Make no mistake, this slow down in the market is not like the past, mainly because very few homes were built between 2008-2018. Another contributing factor: during that ten-year period, two key demographic groups (Gen-X and Millennials) got into the homebuying game, revolutionizing the face of housing demand.

Mortgage Rate Perspective: For the best perspective on historical mortgage rates, go to https://themortgagereports.com/61853/ 30-year-mortgage-rates-chart. There, you’ll find a discussion of recent and long-term rates with an emphasis on how much the low rates of 2020-21 were an anomaly. There are also various narratives that explain the rise and fall of rates over the past thirty years and even a section about the future of interest rates. They offer a great piece of advice:

As a borrower, it doesn’t make much sense to try to time your rate in this market. Our best advice is to buy when you’re financially ready and can afford the home you want — regardless of current interest rates. Remember that you’re not stuck with your mortgage rate forever. If rates drop significantly, homeowners can always refinance later on to cut costs.

Home Value Growth: (Nearly) Always Strong! According to the Case-Schiller Index, the Phoenix Home Price Index has declined a total of 48 of the last 394 months since the index began in 1990. That’s only 12% of the time, and anyone who purchased during those months will tell you today it was one of the best investments they ever made. Forty-seven of those months were between June 2006 – Sept 2011, the worst real estate recession of the previous seventy years. Remember, the dynamics of that recession are not in place today.

The real estate market will never be a straight line upward (or down ward). Thank goodness the crazy growth of the past two years has come to an end as it was not sustainable.

When making a major purchase, it’s always wise to be prudent. Yet, with inventory low, demand structurally high, and rates historically average, don’t discount that this may still be a great time to purchase a home if it suits the needs of your family or your long-term investing expectations.

Events

HOLIDAY MART

NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 17

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM DAILY

RIVER OF TIME MUSEUM

Gently used holiday décor, wreathes and a variety of Christ mas trees will be restored and displayed in the River of Time/Library lobby, the conference room, and on the patio. Prices are deeply discounted on mostly high-quality items. riveroftime.center

COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT

DECEMBER 1 | 4:00 PM

COMMUNITY CENTER

The Community Band’s annual holiday concert called “The Holiday Spirit” will be filled with the songs of Christmas and Hanukkah. Featuring such songs as “White Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride”. fhcband.com

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

DECEMBER 3 | 9:00-11:00 AM

COMMUNITY CENTER

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and get your photo with Santa and Rudolph. Tickets are $12 and must be purchased in advance.

fountainhillsaz.gov/rec

STROLL

IN THE GLOW

DECEMBER 3 | 5:00-8:00 PM

AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS

Kick off the holiday season with this heart-warming event sponsored by the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce. Watch the downtown transform into a winter wonderland as thousands of lights illuminate the Avenue. There will be a live Nativity scene, live music, a bake-off for kids ages 6-17, and pictures with Santa. Businesses along the Avenue stay open late to serve holiday treats and drinks. fountainhillschamber.com/ stroll-in-the-glow

ROLL IN THE GLOW

DECEMBER 3 | 5:00-8:00 PM

AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS

Put some bling on your bike for this holiday lighted bike parade during the annual Stroll in the Glow event. Test your skills on an obstacle course and participate in the contest in one of three categories. The event is presented by Optum and the Town of Fountain Hills and sponsored by Roof King and McDowell Mountain Cycles. fountainhillsaz.gov/786/Roll-in-the-Glow

COMMUNITY CHORUS CONCERT

DECEMBER 4 | 4:00 PM

COMMUNITY CENTER

Enjoy the beautiful sound of voices in this large choir made of local residents. You’ll love the array of famil iar holiday songs to get you into the holiday spirit. This year’s concert theme is “A Season of Celebrating, Joy, and Rejoicing.” Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door. fhcc-az.org

COMMUNITY CHORUS CONCERT

DECEMBER 4 | 7:00 PM

COMMUNITY CENTER

Enjoy the beautiful sound of voices in this large choir made of local residents. You’ll love the array of famil iar holiday songs to get you into the holiday spirit. This year’s concert theme is “A Season of Celebrating, Joy, and Rejoicing.” Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door. fhcc-az.org

MAKE LIGHT-UP HOLIDAY CARDS

DECEMBER 7 | 3:00 PM

FOUNTAIN HILLS

LIBRARY

Build your own paper circuit into a card that will light up! Design the card however you’d like to make the LEDs twin kle as you learn about circuits and make a fun gift for a friend or relative. Registration Preferred. Ages 12 and up. mcldaz.org/en-US/locations/fountainhills

SEASON’S CELEBRATION

DECEMBER 7 | 5:00-7:00 PM

COMMUNITY CENTER

Visit the Community Center’s 25 holiday tree displays, take a photo with Santa, enjoy the holiday craft stations, outdoor kids play zone, cookie decorating station, and hot cocoa bar. Classic holiday music performance by the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet. fountainhillsaz.gov

LIGHT UP THE TOWN HOLIDAY DRIVE

DECEMBER 12 – 15 | AROUND TOWN

Take a drive through Fountain Hills and vote for your favorite light display. Entries are placed in an order that may be the most convenient to drive. As you drive past each entry, you can use a QR code to vote for your favorite. Voting is organized in three categories: Brightest, Most Creative, and Traditional Elegant. Voting closes on December 31. fountainhillsaz.gov/732/ Light-the-Town-Holiday-Drive

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

DECEMBER 23 | 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

FOUNTAIN HILLS LIBRARY

Mrs. Claus is coming to town for a magical time of stories, songs, and more. Stay to make crafts and to learn about different winter holidays that are celebrated around the world. Before you go home, get your face painted to show your holiday spirit. mcldaz.org/en-US/locations/fountainhills

NOON YEAR’S EVE

DECEMBER 29 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

COMMUNITY CENTER

Get ready to ring in the new year at the stroke of ... NOON! This mid-day 90s-themed celebration includes crafts, games, snacks, raffles, photo backdrop, and the famous balloon drop at noon. fountainhillsaz.gov

Elma Bachman

Kristy Coup

Cyndi Dunham

Pam Ehrlich

Pam Foster

Jonathan Ghrist

Anita Glenister* Toni LePoer

Peggy Rae Merry Silbaugh

Debbie Stansell

Guy Loisi

Michelle Campbell

Mike Nabers

Suzanne Nann

Bobbi Turks

John Weil

Denise Weinrich

Dawn Woods

Dori Wittrig

Poinsettia Tree

A FOUNTAIN HILLS TRADITION

One of the most beloved of all the Fountain Hills holiday traditions is the Poinsettia Tree on the Avenue of the Fountains. The 14-foot poinsettia tree is constructed of over 225 live poinsettia plants, making a stunning statement throughout the holiday season.

Planets are purchased in honor of a special person or in memory of a loved one who has passed. When ordering, people can submit a one-sentence note about their special someone. All submissions are

displayed on boards around the tree for the community to enjoy.

The tree will be unveiled during Stroll in the Glow on December 3, 2022, and will remain on display through New Year’s Day. It offers a beautiful holiday photo opportunity for your family holiday card or business website.

The Poinsettia Tree tradition began in 1999 by Bill Muehlhauser and Skip Ipema, mak ing this the 24th anniversary of one of the community’s favorite holiday traditions. Muehlhauser is credited with bringing the idea to Fountain Hills from his former home town, while Ipema was responsible for building the structure.

The tree is a project under the umbrella of the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association, also known as “I Love Fountain Hills.” It’s the first group project for newly gradu ated participants of the Fountain Hills Lead ership Academy. The graduates oversee the design, marketing, sales, construction, and clean-up each year.

Poinsettia Tree Director Mike Pameditis loves his opportunity to oversee this program. “It truly is an honor to participate in our town’s Poinsettia Tree tradition, as it brings so much joy to our residents and visitors. The tree isn’t just a festive arrangement of plants –it’s a celebration of memories of those connected to our community, both past and present. I highly encourage folks to take a few minutes during each holiday season to stop and read each name and message displayed by the tree. It’s deeply heart-warming.”

Plants are $20 each, or $15 for current Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association members. If you want to become a member, you can join and immediately receive your discount.

For more information about the Poinsettia Tree Project, visit iLoveFountainHills.com

JANUARY

2023

EVENTS Events

BINGO

TUESDAYS | 12:30 PM

Encore for More! hosts weekly Bingo at the Community Center. Sales begin at 11:30am and close at 1:00pm. Participants must be 18 years or older to play.

EncoreForMore.org

ART ON THE AVENUE

WEDNESDAYS | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Browse the offerings of more than 60 artists with oneof-a-kind pieces in this unique outdoor gallery: pottery, furniture, wall art, fiber art, and jewelry, to name a few. Located east of the Farmer’s Market on the Avenue of the Fountains through mid-April 2023.

Follow on Facebook: Art on the Avenue

FOUNTAIN HILLS

FARMER’S MARKET

WEDNESDAYS | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Shop the largest weekly Farmer’s Market in the history of Fountain Hills. Over 50 vendors bring a stunning variety of items, from Middle Eastern food to body care products to fresh cut flowers to a huge selection of freshly picked organic produce. Plan to eat at one of the food trucks and enjoy live music.

Follow on Facebook: Fountain Hills Farmer’s Market

FORT McDOWELL

YAVAPAI NATION TOUR

JANUARY 12 | 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Experience a unique 4-hour tour of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Tour includes visits to the Yavapai Cultural Center, the cemetary, Wassaja Preschool, the farm at Fort McDowell, and the Presbyterian Church. Lunch follows at the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.

RiverOfTime.center

“MISERY” AT FOUNTAIN HILLS THEATER

JANUARY 6-22 | VARIOUS DAYS

& TIMES

Successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by his “Number One Fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads the manuscript to his newest novel and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new “Misery” novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and it does. fhtaz.org

IN-HOME CONCERTS

JANUARY 22, 2023 | 4:00 PM

This first event of the In-Home Concerts season features the Sahnas Family Trio. Beautifully blending the sounds and rhythms of their native Greek culture, the Desert Southwest, and the romance of the Spanish guitar and pedal harp, the Sahnas Family (Demitri, Thano, and Lauren) have created a magical and intimate Mediterranean style.

iLoveFountainHills.org

“BEAUTY & THE BEAST” AT FOUNTAIN HILLS THEATER

JAN 27 – FEB 12

VARIOUS DAYS & TIMES

This fun and family-friendly musical, adapted from the original Disney film, brings to life the timeless story of a selfish and hot-tempered prince who is turned into a hid eous monster. He must win the affection of a beautiful, young girl in order to regain his humanity. The exuberant musical offers humor, romance, and excitement for all ages. fhtaz.org

MAYOR’S STATE OF THE TOWN ADDRESS

JANUARY 31 | 7:30 AM

The Mayor’s State of the Town Address is a great way to learn more about what our local government has accom plished over the past year. You’ll get an overview of all the different departments of town government, find out who leads them, what they’ve been doing, and what they plan for the year ahead. Pre-registration required. fountainhillsaz.gov

2023 ACTIVITES AND VOLUNTEER EXPO

JANUARY 25 | 3:00 - 5:00 PM

Stop by the Community Center and visit dozens of booths to learn about local organizations and what they offer. Meet the people who lead these groups, ask questions, and sign up. You can also learn of great ways to volunteer in the community by finding organizations that align with your interests.

fountainhillsaz.gov

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WATER IN THE DESERT

WHERE DOES FOUNTAIN HILLS

ITS Water Water?

Getting water to homes in Fountain Hills was a big hurdle that had to be cleared in the late 1960s when McCulloch Properties, Inc. wanted to develop this area into the community we know and love today.

Fountain Hills’ original “New Town Development Plan” included adequate water supply from wells drilled within the community, and McCulloch drilled three such drills in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Immediately, the Salt River Project (SRP) challenged the right to pump water from these wells. SRP claimed an exclusive right to all groundwater pumped in the area on the basis that the source of such pumping was the underflow of the Verde River. So, McCulloch Properties commissioned a geologic study to verify SRP’s claim. The study concluded the Verde River, from Horseshoe Dam to Granite Reef Dam, flowed on top of a prehis toric lake bed of clay, sealing the river

from water aquifers below the lake bed. McCulloch Properties thought it was in the clear.

Then the Arizona State Department of Water Resources contracted with a consultant who gave a different conclusion. When the department sided with the new finding, McCulloch had two options: buy water rights to the Verde River from SRP or obtain rights elsewhere to provide water for Fountain Hills.

In the mid-1970s, McCulloch successfully applied for a share of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) water. Today 85-90 percent of Fountain Hills water comes from the CAP.

WHERE DO WE GET OUR WATER?

As a Fountain Hills resident, you pay your monthly water bill to EPCOR, whose local office is on Panorama Drive. But before EPCOR can deliver water to your faucets, that water makes a long journey.

It begins with rainfall or snow in the moun tains, trickling downstream to reach Lake

GET

Powell and Lake Mead. From Lake Mead, which sits on the border of Arizona and Nevada, it travels through hundreds of miles of canals across the state. When it reaches the EPCOR system, it’s filtered and tested before finishing its final miles to your home.

WHY ARE LAKE MEAD AND LAKE POWELL DRYING UP?

In 1922, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Nevada signed the Colorado River Compact. The agreement paved the way for the construction of Hoover Dam, which created Lake Mead, and Glen Canyon Dam, which created Lake Powell.

Today, the Colorado River Basin is fac ing a water supply crisis. It began with flawed projections that overestimated the river flow and underestimated the water demand to come. After decades of growing demand, relentless shortage, and climate change, both reservoirs are now more than half empty.

IS FOUNTAIN HILLS’ WATER SUPPLY IN DANGER?

Water management is a never-ending job throughout the entire Western United States. The Arizona Department of Water Resources and EPCOR are optimistic about the future of water for Arizonans.

“You’re already far more efficient than your grandparents, or even your parents, when it comes to energy and water use,” EPCOR states on its website. “According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, we’re using less water today than in 1957 when just 1.1 million people called Arizona home. It’s a testament to changes in the way our state uses water, smarter water management, innovations

in technology, and – last but certainly not least – simple choices that ordinary people are making every day that use less water.”

Regarding water shortages, EPCOR states on its website, “Water managers have been planning for this possibility for many years. Most importantly for EPCOR customers, the restrictions we anticipate in 2023 will have minimal impact on municipal and industrial users like EPCOR. As a result, we do not anticipate reductions through 2023 to affect our customers.”

Some of EPCOR’s management strategies include:

• Making sure our water supply portfolio draws from many sources

• Maximizing use of reclaimed water

• Saving water when it’s not needed

• Creatively partnering with other water users to add long-term flexibility to our supply

•

Upgrading wells for recovery of banked groundwater

For more information about EPCOR, visit: https://www.epcor.com/

For more information about the Arizona Department of Water Resources, visit: https://new.azwater.gov

For more information about ASU’s Arizona Water Blueprint, visit: https://azwaterblueprint.asu.edu

Asteroid

CALLED “FOUNTAIN HILLS”

Fountain Hills has been attracting people for its dark skies long before its designation as an International Dark Sky Community in 2018. One of those people was the late Dr. Charles W. Juels, who discovered over 400 minor planets and asteroids from his backyard.

Juels was born in New York City in 1944 and worked as a psychi atrist in Phoenix until his retirement. After retiring, he started hunting for minor planets by rolling his telescope on rails from his living room to his backyard every night. He used his 10-inch Mead LX200 tele scope to take photos of the night sky.

Finding asteroids isn’t easy. Photos of the night sky must be taken night after night. Then, the images are studied to compare every object to see if any have changed positions. Comparing images with the naked eye is difficult. Dr. Juels worked with his Brazilian colleague Paulo Holvercem to write software that could detect these moving objects. Three months later, they discovered their first moving object, a comet.

Dr. Charles W. Juels

Dr. Juels went on to earn a reputation for his prolific discoveries. He’s credited with finding 315 asteroids. The Minor Planet Cen ter (MPC) credits him with discovering 475 minor planets between 1999 and 2003, ranking him as one of the world’s top discoverers on the MPC charts.

On the evening of November 30, 2000, Dr. Juels discovered yet another asteroid. It was officially cataloged as Asteroid #20989.

As is customary, Juels was granted the privilege of naming his newly discovered asteroid. He called it “Fountain Hills.”

The citation in the Minor Planet Center discovery record reads: “(20989 Fountainhills = 2000 WE147 The town of Fountain Hills, Arizona, incorporated in 1989, is nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains east of Scottsdale. It offers beautiful high Sonoran Desert and mountain views and is home to one of the world’s tallest water fountains, which can attain a height of 170 meters.”

In December 2002, Dr. Juels and Holvercem won the “HarvardSmithsonian 2003 Comet Award” for their joint discovery of C/2002 Y1, a near-parabolic comet. In 1996, Paul G. Comba discovered a main-belt asteroid and named it 20135Juels in honor of Dr. Juels.

Dr. Charles Juels died on January 21, 2009, at sixty-four. His short amateur astronomy career produced astounding discoveries.

To see the telescope Dr. Juels used to discover hundreds of asteroids from his backyard in Fountain Hills, visit the River of Time Museum at 12901 N. La Montana Drive.

On November 30, 2000, Dr. Juels discovered Asteroid #20989, which he officially named “Fountain Hills.”

SONORAN CONSERVANCY OF Fountain Hills!

Anywhere you stand in Fountain Hills, you can look toward the McDowell Mountains to the West and appreciate the untouched view of this beautiful desert mountain range. Dozens of residents had the foresight to preserve this area from development in the 1990s. Today, residents also value the Preserve for its interconnected hiking and mountain biking trails.

HISTORY

In 1995, a task force of eleven members outlined a strategy for turning this section of the McDowell Mountains into a pre serve. With approval from Town Council, the McDowell Mountain Preserve Commission was formed the following year. The goal was to acquire as much land in the mountains as possible.

Around the same time, the Sonoran Con servancy of Fountain Hills formed to gain public support for this effort.

In 1997, the two groups and Town Council called for voter approval of $6 million in General Obligation Bonds to purchase land in the priority areas. In November 1997, 64% of voters sup ported the bond.

In 1999, the Town proclaimed 386 acres as the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain

Preserve from land acquired from a previous settlement agreement and land trade. However, more land was needed to unite the Preserve holdings and a contiguous, undivided land mass. Since negotiations were slow, land val ues had risen, and the $6 million bond wasn’t enough. In October 2000, Town Council approved an increase in Sales Tax of 0.04%. Of that tax increase, 75% was allocated for mountain land use.

A further settlement agreement with MCO Properties in December 2001 allowed the Town to acquire an additional 354 acres for $13.6 million. This increased the Preserve to 740 acres. Additionally, Scottsdale extended its Sonoran Preserve holdings to include 200 acres along the border of Fountain Hills.

Today, the Preserve covers 824 acres. Adjacent to the Preserve borders is Scott sdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Maricopa County’s McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Together, these three areas provide over 52,000 acres of contiguous Sonoran Desert with limited and shared trail access. The total area is cru cial for native wildlife preservation.

SONORAN CONSERVANCY OF FOUNTAIN HILLS

The Sonoran Conservancy is a non-profit organization that continues the same mission it’s had since the beginning: preserving and protecting the views and open land of the McDowell Mountain Preserve. This preservation extends to the Desert Botanical Garden on Fountain Hills Boulevard and the Lake Overlook Trail.

The Sonoran Conservancy supports the Town’s operation and maintenance of these three areas. They also provide rec reational and educational opportunities for these natural assets and take action to minimize the impact on the Town’s natural resources in these areas.

HIKES

The Sonoran Conservancy sponsors a variety of hikes. In addition to traditional daytime, exercise, and interpretive hikes, they also offer Scorpion Hunt Night Hikes with Ranger Amy Burnett and Star gazing Hikes with Vicky Derksen and the Star Dudes. The hikes that make up the annual Fountain Hills Hiking Challenge are on Preserve Trails.

For more information about events, visit www.scfh.org/events.

VOLUNTEERS

TRAILBLAZERS

The Adero Canyon Trailhead opened in November 2018, even though work on the trails began in the Preserve fifteen years earlier. A group of trail building and maintenance volunteers known as the Trailblazers started with the Overlook Trail and Easy Trail. Nearly ten miles of Preserve trails have been hand-built by the Trailblazers. They also maintain the Town’s Lake Overlook Trail and the Desert Botanical Garden trails along Fountain Hills Boulevard.

HOSTS & STEWARDS

The Conservancy has about fifty volun teers who serve as trailhead hosts and stewards. They ensure that all visitors to the Preserve and hikers have safe and enjoyable experiences. The hosts welcome visitors to the Adero Canyon Trailhead and educate them about hik ing options. Stewards lead and support guided hikes. For more information about volunteering, visit visit www.scfh.org/ volunteer-groups.

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Desert Botanical Garden is a local jewel. Conceived by Jane Haynes, this short trail will show you a hidden oasis right in the middle of Fountain Hills. Jane Rouscup gives a beautiful tour of the gar den and the trail in the video below. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EAihW3LaZrA

You’ll also find some excellent educa tional material on the website. If you want to support the work of the Sonoran Con servancy, visit www.scfh.org/donate.

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THINGS TO DO

THINGS TO DO WITH OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS

You’re having out-of-town guests for a few days and you want to give them a feel for living in the Fountain Hills area. What can you do with them?

There is no reason to be stumped on this one. Fountain Hills and the surrounding area are full of things to do that will appeal to all ages, activity levels, and interests. Here’s our roundup of the best things to do so your guests have a great time and discover why you love living here.

1. Visit the fountain. A no-brainer for photo opportunities and a leisurely walk, whether you visit day or night.

2. Golf. Choose from public courses in Fountain Hills, the Verdes, and Fort McDowell.

3. Hike. Try the Desert Botanical Trail, Lake Overlook Trail, Dixie Mine, or Adero Canyon.

4. Mountain biking. Rent a mountain and take a ride in McDowell Mountain Park. You can even rent an electric-assist bike if you want to make it more leisurely.

5.

Horseback riding. Offered through Fort McDowell Adventures or Saguaro Lake Ranch Stables.

6. Disc golf. Get gear from Fountain Hills Express or Paul’s Ace Hardware and head to Fountain Park.

7. Saguaro Lake. Rent a boat or tour with Desert Belle Cruises.

8. Attend a Star Party. ADERO Scottsdale offers telescope viewing on Friday nights from 8:00-10:00 outside their amazing restaurant, Cielo.

9. River of Time Museum. Learn about the history of the Lower Verde River Valley, the beginning days of Fountain Hills, the former Box Bar Ranch, and more.

10. Visit an art gallery. Choose from numerous art galleries that serve our local artists.

11. Art Walk Tour. Take a free docent-led tour of more than 150 pieces of public art.

12. Get a drink. Try out local watering holes at Grapeables or Bone Haus Brewing.

13. Enjoy fountain and mountain view dining. Visit a downtown restaurant or dine at a local golf club.

14. Chocofin Chocolatier. Indulge in fine chocolates and delicious ice cream.

15. Sami Fine Jewelry. Discover custom amethyst designs from the nearby Four Peaks mine.

16. Fort McDowell Casino. Play, eat and stay the night at the newly expanded We-Ko-Pa Resort and Casino.

17. Take a Jeep tour. See the desert up close with Desert Dog Offroad Adventures or Arizona Private Jeep Excursions.

18. Take the kids to the park. We have four parks with great playgrounds.

19. Fountain Hills Theater. Delight guests of all ages at our award-winning theater.

20. Attend a car show. Every Sunday at Phil’s Filling Station.

21. Events on the Avenue. You’ll find a farmer’s market, Art on the Avenue, and other seasonal events.

22. Attend a free concert. There are many musical performances from December through April each year. From In-Home Concerts to the Community Band & Chorus, to Munch & Music, to Music Fest, to Concerts on the Avenue, and more.

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IS NOW ONLINE!

Your source for all the happenings in town is here ... DesertVibe.com is now online!

Desert Vibe is a central hub for all activity in Fountain Hills, East Scott sdale, and the Verdes.

Community Calendar: Events in the Fountain Hills area are cata logued online, from weekly sport meetups to FH Theater Productions to the Art Fair and beyond! The list is updated regularly and displayed chronologically with events.

Local Resources: This is your Fountain Hills almanac of local entertainment and dining. Here you can find a myriad of resources… Fun things to do around the area and the best places to send your kids to school, business resources, and local nonprofit groups.

Stories: This is our blog, showcasing upcoming events, profiles of local public figures, and more.

Live Here: Find lifestyle info about, Fountain Hills, East Scottsdale, and the Verdes (Rio Verde, Tonto Verde, Vista Verde). It’s everything you need to get started!

It’s all here, every day of the week! Check in www.DesertVibe.com and keep up to date!

NEWLY EXPANDED FOUNTAIN HILLS

Farmer’s Market

Betsy Hess had no idea she would one day run a full-fledged Farmer’s Market in Foun tain Hills, but beginning the first Wednesday of November, she’ll be running the biggest Farmer’s Market the town has ever seen.

Betsy grew up on a farm in Michigan and looked forward to sweet corn every summer. “I’ve always loved and supported Farmer’s Markets,” she says.

It started small in 2014 when she met the farmer at the Mesa Corn Mar ket at Brown & Center. “He asked me what was happening in Fountain Hills in the summer, and I told him there was nothing. So we arranged for my son and his buddies to load a truck with corn and watermelon each week during corn season, and we sold it in Fountain Hills.”

The first year, the Fountain Hills Corn Market set up in the parking lot of what is now Flapjacks and Maskadores. The following year, they moved to the parking lot of Go Divas on the corner of the Avenue of the Fountains and Verde River Drive. A few years later, Betsy got a job at Smith Family Chiropractic in front of Desert Vista Park and relocated the market to their parking lot. Year by year, Betsy added more vendors,

Betsy Hess

and more and more people showed up during those two summer months.

“It was a great market,” said Betsy, “but it was getting too crowded. We had lim ited space for vendors, long lines, and people complained that they couldn’t find a place to park.”

Fountain Hills folks flocked to it despite crowding because it was more convenient than driving to Gilbert or Uptown and beating the crowds after the long drive.

Betsy had just finished her ninth season with the Fountain Hills Sweet Corn Market this summer when the Town of Fountain Hills approached her about running a Farmer’s Market on the Ave nue in conjunction with the weekly Art on the Avenue. It’s been four months in the making, but Betsy is ready to launch on November 2.

“I visited all the Farmer’s Markets around the Valley. I’ve met the vendors and sam pled a lot of food, and I’ve only invited vendors that I’ve actually tried their prod ucts and liked them. I’ve included a wide variety of vendors and some that offer gluten-free and vegan products, too.”

The new and expanded Fountain Hills Farmer’s Market is nothing like you’ve experienced before. Betsy is proud to offer 40-50 vendors each week, enough to fill space on both the lower and upper sections of the Avenue of the Fountains.

“The vendor I’m the most excited about,” says Betsy, “is McClendon Select. He is the largest certified organic farmer in Arizona and is well-known at the biggest Farmer’s Markets in the area. He met me in Fountain Hills to walk the Avenue, and he’s decided to set up twelve tents with

rows of shopping. He has a huge variety of produce, which will be picked fresh the night before the market.”

Some of the vendors include:

• Noble Bread

• Good Living Greens

• The Tamale Store

• Gunnar & Jakes Pickles and Peppers

• Ukrainian Soups • Chicken & quail eggs • Doctor Hummus • North Star Halibut • Valley Keto • Herbs from the Heart • Ital American Specialties • Perks Soaps • McClendon Select • Fountain Flowergirl • Nepali dumplings and ready-to-eat curry bowls

• Sonoran Scavengers (foraged food from the desert)

• And much more!

The Fountain Hills Farmer’s Market runs every Wednesday for 24 weeks from Nov. 2 - April 12 from 10am - 2pm.

Stay up to date with information about the Fountain Hills Farmer’s Market by following them on Facebook or Instagram. These are new social media channels, so keep watching for updates.