Community Center - www.fh.az.gov

The Fountain Hills Community Center is a gem in the center of the community.

The Center provides space not only for area residents to use but has become a favorite venue for out-of-town users.

The 31,000-square-foot facility features rooms designed to accommodate a variety of meeting needs. The 5,000-square-foot lobby can be used for receptions or displays and flows well into the 8,200-square-foot Grand Ballroom. The ballroom can be divided into a number of configurations, and individual breakout rooms also are available. The center also includes a fully-equipped prep kitchen, allowing clients to bring in their own catering.

Throughout the center, a revolving art display provides an added dimension to the already beautiful facility. In addition to serving as meeting headquarters for many local organizations, the Community Center has become popular for wedding receptions.

Fountain Hills Community Center is located at 13001 N. La Montana Drive. For information about booking space at the center, call the Community Center, 816-5117, or visit www.fh.az.gov.

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Medical Services
For business listings, visit the Fountain Hills Yellow Pages online

Fountain Hills Medical Campus is changing health care in town.

The three-building complex on Palisades Blvd. --- once the site for town offices --- has acquired a new life as a self-contained health care hub. Primary tenants and owners --- Spooner & Shaft Physical Therapy, Southwest Medical Imaging Ltd. and Fountain Hills Medical Practice (Dr. Matthew Hummel) --- are anchors for the medical campus. VJ Properties is the managing partner. 

Convenient, accessible and comprehensive describe the design of the 50,000-square-foot complex on six acres. Physicians’ offices are a few steps away from laboratory, imaging and physical therapy services. A  canopy-shaded healing garden will unite the pedestrian traffic between the three buildings. The “pocket  park” will be a serene oasis for clients and neighbors.

Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) will operate a full-service laboratory. Suites have been created for a dermatologist, Dr. Gary A. McCracken of North Scottsdale Dermatology, and ophthalmologist, Dr. Paul Petelin of Scottsdale Center for  Sight.

Tenants are anticipated to move into the complex in late autumn. The new complex is expected to add 40 to 50 health-related employees.

Until Dr. Hummel moves into his new complex, he and his staff see patients at 13620 N. Saguaro Blvd., suite 100. An associate, Dr. Janis Saunders, specializes in women’s health care and osteopathy. Physician assistants are Sal Zummo and Haylen Trotta.

Dr. Srivani K. Srikantiah and Dr. G. Brian Bechill are the latest additions to Desert Community Medical Associates medical team at a new location, 13215 N. Verde River Drive.  They join physicians’ assistants Christine Sikorski and  Doris (Ginger) Reeves.

A physician’s assistant, Joelle Mulroy Cluff, has been added to the practice of Dr. Jyoti Patel at Fountain Hills Pediatrics & Internal Medicine, 13620 N. Saguaro Blvd., suite 50.

The following is a listing of those Fountain Hills medical professionals who have offices or practice here as of May 2008. Also listed are local veterinary offices.

Major Medical Facilities 

Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., has more than 250 physicians and surgeons on staff and 1,900 support personnel who offer internationally known diagnostic, research and outpatient care. The Mayo Clinic is located within a few minutes from Fountain Hills' western border. For appointments, call (480) 301-1735; for general information, (480) 301-8000.

Mayor Clinic Hospital at 56th St. and Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, was the first hospital planned, designed and built by Mayo Clinic. Completed in the fall of 1998, the hospital provides inpatient care to support the medical and surgical specialties and programs provided by Mayor Clinic.  The hospital offers 244 beds, 18 operating rooms and a 24-hour emergency department. The main telephone number is (480) 515-6296.

Scottsdale Healthcare is committed to being the healthcare provider of choice for the Northeast Valley. A nonprofit organization, Scottsdale Healthcare was founded in 1962 as City Hospital of Scottsdale. Today there are three campuses, three hospitals, outpatient centers, home health services and a wide range of community health education and outreach programs.  The provider has some 6,700 staff members and physicians representing more than 50 specialties.

Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn, 7400 E. Osborn Road, was the first to open. The telephone number is (480) 882-4000. Scottsdale Healthcare Shea hospital, 92nd St. and Shea Blvd., opened in 1984 and today serves the northeast Valley with 343 beds. Ranked as the top hospital in the Valley in 2000, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea is known for its cardiology, oncology, orth-neuro and women's and children's services. For general information, call (480) 323-3000.

Scottsdale Healthcare’s third hospital, Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak, opened in the fall of 2007 north of Loop 101 at Scottsdale Road and Thompson Peak Parkway. The hospital added 60 beds to the total number of beds within the system. For general information, call (480) 324-7000.

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Assisted Living facilities
For business listings, visit the Fountain Hills Yellow Pages online

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Senior services Volunteers help make the Senior Activity Center blossom with sunshine.

The fact that the Senior Activity Center has nearly 300 volunteers is just one indicator that the center is a busy place. The Senior Activity Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday in the Community Center, 13001 N. La Montana Dr.

The center coordinates the Home Delivered Meals Program which has added a third route. The program provides nutritious hot mid-day meals to individuals who are homebound, elderly, ill or recovering from surgery.  

By adding a third route, the service can accommodate more clients, provide meals in a more timely fashion, and minimize the delivery time for volunteers. The town has provided the service to individuals in need since the Home Delivered Meals program was created in 1990.

Volunteers are needed to help deliver meals for 90 minutes, once a month. More than 150 volunteer drivers assist in this activity.  They can choose the day of the week. Not only does the program provide a healthy meal but it also allows for a brief daily visit to these sometimes-lonely people. 

All deliveries are made in teams of two so volunteers can pair with a spouse, relative, friend or neighbor. Recruiting new volunteers is ongoing because of the additional route.

The Senior Activity Center provides hundreds of other opportunities for seniors to prove that age is only a number. The number of individuals who become members each year is growing. Annual membership of $10 entitles members to participate in many activities free of charge and receive discounted rates on all trips. Membership is not limited to “seniors.” All adults are eligible for membership; the Senior Activity Center currently has more than 1,100 members.

Programs include line dancing, bingo, cards,  fitness classes, quilting, knitting, dominoes, woodcarving, Mah Jongg, Scrabble, bunko, Sherlock Holmes book club, women’s singles, table talk for women, league sport games with Wii and a men’s discussion group. The center also sponsors current-release movies that are shown weekly, and several educational classes throughout the year such as conversational Spanish, AARP Defensive Driving class and Great Decision classes. The center also sponsors guest speakers, and has a free lending library.

The center offers educational classes at a minimal cost. A variety of theater trips, day trips, casino trips and overnight trips are offered at a reasonable price. The center coordinates a free Medical Equipment Loan Program for seniors in need of medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches and walkers Donations of wheelchairs always can be used.

The Senior Activity Center changes to meet the needs of the community and offers support groups such as Alzheimer’s, bereavement, caregiver’s, Crohn’s & Colitis, diabetes, hearing loss, low vision, and Parkinson’s.  There also are social services available to members, including blood pressure monitoring, hearing screenings, financial consultations, legal consultations and medical insurance consultations.

The SeniorNet Computer Learning Center schedules computer classes monthly and offers an open computer lab each week. 

The center organizes two annual events. The first is the Senior Activities Expo held each January, showcasing current programs and activities. The second event is the Community Health Fair,  held each March, which provides healthcare information and free screenings.

The Fountain Hills Senior Activity Center is located in the Fountain Hills Community Center, 13001 N. La Montana Drive. The phone number is (480) 816-5888.

For further information, visit its Web site at www.fhseniorservices.org.

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Transportation

Fountain Hills residents and visitors have several options for getting around the Valley for work and recreation.

Although most people rely on their own vehicles for transportation, there are a few alternatives when it comes to public transit here and into the Valley. Rush-hour commu­ters, for example, are served by two express bus lines that originate in Fountain Hills, and a few private shuttle services are available for transportation to Sky Harbor Airport and other portions of the greater Phoenix area.

The following is a brief synopsis of transportation alterna­tives available to residents:

Express Bus

Express Route No. 512 has local weekday service into the Valley, with the buses departing at 5:55 and 6:13 a.m. at La Montana Drive and Palisades Blvd.

The buses travel south on Palisades Boulevard and west on Shea Boulevard into Scottsdale and the metro Phoenix area. Several boarding places are possible along Palisades, where Valley bus stops are located.

The buses arrive at 17th Avenue and Jefferson at 7:32 and 7:51 a.m., respec­tively, after making several stops in downtown Phoenix. The return trips to Fountain Hills arrive at 5:47 and 6:24 p.m. The express route allows for connections to more than 15 Valley Metro bus routes.

The cost is $2.75 daily or $85 for a monthly pass (as of July 1, 2009). Patrons also can use their VISA, Master­Card, debit card or a check to pay the fare for Valley buses; for more informa­tion call (602) 253-5000. Discount fares are available for youths 6-18 years old and seniors age 65 and older.

Long-term fares can be arranged online, through the mail, at transit centers, certain retail locations or on the bus.

The Fountain Hills Library has copies of “The Bus Book,” which includes full details and maps of all bus routes in the greater Phoenix area. All of this and other information is available at www.valleymetro.org.

Carpooling

When sharing the ride, you help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the Valley while saving money, reducing stress and enjoying your ride.

ShareTheRide.com is a free ride-matching service that provides an easy way to match you with others who are interested in sharing the ride to work in a carpool or vanpool. You can even find somebody to bike with into work. More information is available at (602) 262-RIDE (7433) or visit www.valleymetro.org (Share the Ride).

Vanpooling

Valley Metro provides vans to qualifying groups of 6 to 15 commuters. They share a ride in a comfortable van driven by one of the vanpool members. Passengers share the cost of operating the van by paying an equitable monthly fare. The fare covers all costs including gas, insurance and van maintenance.

The monthly vanpool fares are based on round-trip mileage, so the farther you must travel, the more you save. Since costs are shared equally, the more riders in your vanpool, the less you pay.

The computerized matching system is available at ShareTheRide.com.

Light Rail

A light rail system went online in the Phoenix area in December 2008. The METRO light rail vehicles have a capacity of 175 and operate seven days a week, late into the evenings.

Trains generally arrive at stations every 10 minutes during daytime hours and every 20 minutes during nighttime hours, weekends and holidays.

The METRO system was designed to integrate seamlessly with Valley Metro bus service and shares the same fare structure. Thel all-day pass is good for both bus and rail service.

Valley Metro offers a variety of fare options to make it even easier for you to get where you need to go including all-day, three-day, weekly or monthly passes, as well as semester passes for college students.

Transit fare can be purchased from Fare Vending Machines at all METRO light rail stations and from numerous fare outlets located throughout the valley. You also can purchase an all-day pass on the bus.

The system goes from Mesa, through Tempe and into Phoenix, ending near Bethany Home Road and 19th Avenue. For Fountain Hills residents, the nearest connection is on Main Street and Sycamore, near the EVIT campus, where a park and ride lot is available.

More information is available at www.metrolightrail.org or call (602) 254-RAIL.

Shuttle van service

As of June 2009, the Town of Fountain Hills was studying an option to provide van service for the elderly and handicapped who need transportation to medical appointments, etc. A former service provided through Maricopa County was to be discontinued as of June 30, 2009.

The Town of Fountain Hills also was coordinating a volunteer-based program called “Give a Lift,” in which non-handicapped residents with local transportation needs could be serviced. More information is available by calling Town Volunteer Coordinator Heather Ware at (480) 816-5108.

Bicycle

While motor vehicles continue to be the dominant form of transportation in Fountain Hills, some residents prefer the healthier and more environmentally friendly method of riding a bike.

Maps of official bike lanes in Fountain Hills and throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area are available by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at (480) 816-5152. Most major boulevards in town have marked edge lanes that are conducive to bicycles.

In Maricopa County there are more than 1,300 miles of bike lanes, which includes multi-use, paved multi-use, bike lanes and bike routes on streets.

Other information is available by calling the Maricopa Association of Governments, (602 254-6300, or the Regional Public Transit Authority (Valley Metro) at (602) 262-7242.

Airports

Several general aviation airports serve the needs of Fountain Hills residents, whether just a passenger on a major commercial airline or the pilot of a small aircraft. They are Sky Harbor Interna­tional Airport in Phoenix, Scottsdale Airport and Falcon Field and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa.

About a 30-minute drive from Fountain Hills, Sky Harbor is the fifth busiest airport in the country. It has approximately 25 major airlines that fly out of its term­inals and three runways. The airport also accommodates small aircraft and some surrounding air-related industries. Sky Harbor general information can be obtained by calling (602) 273-3300.

Scottsdale Airport is a general aviation satellite airfield that is also used heavily by company representatives who fly in and conduct business at the adjacent Scottsdale Airpark.

Located about 25 minutes from Fountain Hills, the Scottsdale Airport is situated west of Hayden Road and north of Thunderbird Road. General and hangar rental infor­mation is available by calling (480) 312-2321.

Mesa’s Falcon Field has no major commercial carriers, but is dedicated to providing specialized services to smaller, privately owned aircraft.

Falcon Field Airport is owned and operated by the City of Mesa. The airport currently serves as home base for more than 900 aircraft and as an industrial park with more than 30 aviation-related businesses, and more than 50 commercial enterprises.

It is about a 30-minute drive from Fountain Hills, located at 4800 E. Falcon Drive near Greenfield and McKellips roads. General information and hangar rental information is available by calling (480) 644-2444.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is located in southeastern Mesa and is operated and maintained by the Williams Gateway Airport Authority, which includes several municipalities and an Indian reservation.

Gateway has a wide variety of tenants and a diverse group of airport users. The majority of its traffic is general aviation flight training. Other uses are military aircraft, large aircraft flight testing and cargo operations.

The airport is attempting to build up commercial and general aviation passenger flights. Allegiant Air is currently flying commercial flights out of Gateway.

The administrative offices are located at 5835 S. Sossaman Road in Mesa. General information is available by calling (480) 988-7600 or www.phxmesagateway.org.

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