Congratulations to each of our winners in the “Holidays Cash in the Hills” contest.

Last Thursday, December 17, the final five drawing winners in the weekly contest had their names drawn.

Winning $25 in the final week of the contest were Susan Pellegrini, who entered at Jazzercise, Rosemarie Dann, who had signed up at Anytime Fitness, Joanne Tate, who submitted her entry at Gridleys, Jeanne Kelly, who entered at Card$mart, and Roxana Daymude, who signed up at Papa Murphy’s.

Their names then went into the drawing box with other weekly winners and those who signed up during the last week of the contest.

Last Thursday it was time for our Grand Prize Drawing.

The first name drawn from the box was Rose Rand. She won the big prize of $500. The next name drawn was that of Jared Emmons, who won $300. The third place Grand Prize winner was Jim Cartmell.

Rose signed up for the contest at Senor Taco II Jared signed up at Fallen Phoenix Games and Jim filled out his entry while shopping at Paul’s Ace Hardware.

Rose said she would probably spread the winning prize money between a number of participating businesses. One sure thing is Jared is going to treat his entire family to dinner at HAO Restaurant. He didn’t know how he would spend the remainder of the money.

Mr. Cartmell could not get in last Friday to claim his prize. He said it would be picked up at a later time.

All of the prize money must be spent in one of the participating merchants’ shops or restaurants by Jan. 31, 2016.

And we had one more winner. All of the business names that participated in the contest were placed in a box for a separate drawing.

Winner of the free quarter page ad was Kay Kinder’s Fountain Fashions.

The business, located in the Bashas’ shopping center, recently celebrated its 43rd anniversary.

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It is now officially winter, although it felt like it last week with highs in the 50s and lows around the freezing temperature of 32 degrees. I had 27 one morning at my house. I had frost every morning from Sunday through Thursday.

My house is across the street from the lowest point in Fountain Hills.

In the summertime, it works to our advantage as the cool air combines with the sprinklers going off on the golf course. The combination makes most evenings not that uncomfortable for sitting on our back patio by the pool.

But that same combination works against my frost tender plants in the winter time.

It’s a little funny that my asparagus fern in the back of the house, doesn’t look bad. Usually, it is the first to go.

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There is a deadline coming up that you need to be reminded of. On Page 1A, you’ll see a coupon for any changes you may have in your listing for the Fountain Hills Telephone Directory.

If you have relocated, or you have converted from a land line to a mobile phone, you need to complete the coupon and return it to our office by Dec. 31.

A man from our office, Jim Nelson, has been calling the past week to correct any discrepancies between our records and the numbers received from Qwest.

After all, we want to provide you with the most up-to-date listing of numbers you’ll find anywhere for Fountain HilIs and Rio Verde.