This is no gentle reminder. This is a strong reminder to support the arts in our Fountain Hills schools with your Arizona tax credit donation. Your donation can enhance music, art, dance and drama programs, as well as other extracurricular activities. The choice is yours! And the choice of local schools is yours. Or you can elect to have the district choose which program and which school needs your donation most.

Anyone who pays Arizona state taxes can participate. Individuals may claim up to $200; those married and filing a joint return up to $400. Then you deduct the amount of your donation from the Arizona taxes you owe. You can pay with cash or by credit card, by mail or on-line. Just do it! For more information, call 480-664-5000, or see www.fhusd.org.

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The annual Live Poinsettia Tree sponsored by the Cultural & Civic Association is going up in a new location this year. It will be located outside the Community Center, where it is expected to be seen by more people than it was when it was located on the Avenue of the Fountains. The tree is 14 feet tall and holds 220 live poinsettia plants, which are being supplied this year by Safeway.

Chairmen Phil and Carol Gaziano invite all of you to consider sponsoring one plant to honor a friend or family member. It is also a nice way for clubs and organizations to memorialize a member who has died this past year.

You can pick up an order form at the Community Center, Gridleys or Fountain Fashions, or you can download one from www.fountainhillscca.org (click on Upcoming Events). Then mail the form with your check for $20 payable to FHCCA to P.O. Box 18254, Fountain Hills, AZ 85269. Your name and the honoree’s name will be posted next to the tree.

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The Cultural & Civic Association’s 14th annual Juried Art Show is looking for entrants. The show is open to artists from Fountain Hills, Copperwynd, Cordabella, Rio and Tonto Verde and Fort McDowell. Artists may enter up to two pieces in any media including photography, sculpture and thrown pottery.

Details and entry forms are available at the Community Center, and must be received by Dec. 30. Artwork will be received and juried on Wednesday, Jan. 7. All chosen entries will hang until Jan. 29, and an artists’ reception will be held Friday, Jan. 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. We hope to see some new names in this year’s show!

The Community Center is decorated for the holidays with beautiful trees and wreaths decorated in the snowflake theme and donated by civic groups, clubs, and individuals. Be sure to check out the wreath decorated by Bill and Marilyn Muehlhauser in honor of their golden wedding anniversary this year. And Terri Zimmerman has contributed a beautiful and most unusual “Emerald” tree. The trains will soon be up to delight kids and adults alike. On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Community Center will feature the annual Noon Kiwanis “Breakfast (or Lunch) with Santa” and then “Snowflake Fantasy” will begin at 2:30, with refreshments, music, and special activities for children. The fantasy ends at 5:30 pm, just in time for you to walk over to the Avenue of the Fountains for the annual “Stroll in the Glow” and a visit from Santa.

We remind you, when you are at the Community Center, to check out the northern (back) hallway. Each month there is a display of artwork there from one of our schools. Last month the work of students at McDowell Mountain (kindergarten - second grade) was exhibited. December is featuring student artists from Fountain Hills High School.

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Be sure to get your tickets for the holiday concert at the Community Center performed by the Fountain Hills Community Chorus, directed by Matthew Frable and accompanied by Lois McElligott.  There will be two performances – the first at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, and the second at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and can be purchased from any chorus member or at the door.

The Fountain Hills High School band and choir are giving a concert on Thursday, Dec. 11. And the town, in conjunction with the Arizona Commission on the Arts, is presenting a free concert at Fountain Park, featuring Furious George, on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m.

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The stage musical Willy Wonka Junior is being performed by our award-winning Youth Theater on weekends from Dec. 5 through the 21st. Based on the story “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” this is a most enjoyable production. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for those 17 and younger. Call the box office at 837-9661.

And if you are looking for unusual holiday gifts, try shopping at the First Saturday Art Walk on Dec. 6 at the Plaza Fountainside.  Sponsored by the Art League, the walk is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.

Or stop by the Artists Gallery on the Avenue of the Fountains any day of the week. The gallery is having a reception featuring “Miniatures for Home and Holiday” on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.

For more information see www.fountainhillsartistsgallery.com 

Or, take a look in the store at the L. Alan River of Time Museum.  The store features unique jewelry, books and art work.

And one more gift idea! Order tickets to the Chihuly glass exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden. Advance reservations are recommended because there are three timed admissions – 8 a.m. to noon; noon to 4 p.m.; and 4 to 8 p.m. You can visit www.dbg.org or telephone 480-481-8188 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13.50 for seniors, $7.50 for students, and $5 for children 3 to 12 (children under 3 are free).

Happy Holidays!