The cold spell we’ve been having has been something else, but by the time you read this, it should be better with afternoon highs in the 70s.

The 30 degree morning low on Dec. 26 was the coldest day of the year in Fountain Hills in 2014. I had to actually scrape ice off my windshield on more than one morning last week. Looking back on the year’s weather, I’d say it was pretty good. We didn’t have the extreme heat this past summer. (I call anything over 110 degrees extreme.)

May 16 was the first day where it reached 100 degrees. The highest temperature .was a mere 110 on July 24.

But overall, it was the warmest average temperature on record in the Valley, according to the National Weather Service. The average temperature combined, was 77.1 degrees (The previous highest average temperature was 76.9 in 1989.

January through March was particularly warm. With many readings in March in the 80s, and February saw many high 70 readings.

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Friday, Jan. 9, is the deadline for making changes in your residential listings in the Fountain Hills and Verde Communities Telephone Directory. Many of you have exchanged your land line phones for cell phones. We need your new phone number.

There is a form to fill out on Page 10A for any new or changed listings.

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The Fountain Hills and Lower Verde River Valley Historical Society is holding its January dinner meeting on the 22nd.

Former Mayor Jerry Miles is the guest speaker. His topic will be the town of Jerome, The northern Arizona former ghost town is now a tourist attraction.

The dinner is open to anyone, but you must make reservations. You can do so by calling Jean Linzer at 480-837-0762.

Cost is $18 for members and $22 for non-members.

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Wasn’t the snow pretty on the surrounding mountains, including the nearby McDowells, last week? And did you see the spectacular full moon rising over Four Peaks on Sunday?

Combine those scenes with the beautiful sunrises and sunsets lately and you have a photographer’s paradise we live in.

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Well, Jan. 18 is the final day for the Fountain Hills Ross store.

The clothing and home accessories store was one of the original anchors in the Target shopping center.

I heard reports that it was the lowest volume store in Arizona for the retail company.

That’s too bad! It’s always bad to lose a retail store in town. For years, there were comments made like . . . “I wish I could find a pair of men’s socks in town.” Ross and Target fulfilled that wish. I guess we had one store too many.

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Now that the Cardinals are out of the Super Bowl picture, after getting eliminated last Saturday, everyone is falling back to their original favorite team. We have a big rivalry going on in our office with The Times Editor Mike Scharnow rooting for the Green Bay Packers and Let’s Go Editor Linda McThrall cheering for the Dallas Cowboys.

As for me, I can’t wait for Spring Training to start.