Well, for those of you who like weather statistics, I have Fountain Hills information for 2012.

It was a very dry year with 5.23 inches of rain recoded at the official weather station in Fountain Park. I know, other parts of town had more than that but that is the official total, which is almost identical to the 5.22 inches total in 2009, which was the lowest annual rainfall ever recorded here.

The lowest temperature for the year was 37 degrees, which was recorded on four different days, Jan. 20, Feb. 15, March 3, and Dec.11.

In contrast, the highest temperature was 113 on August 8, 12 and 13, all part of the hottest week of the year, when it was 110 degrees or higher for eight straight days from August 7 to 14.

The first day that the thermometer hit 100 degrees was April 21 and the last day was Oct. 2, when it reached 101 degrees.

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Be sure to make your reservations for the Historical Society dinner meeting on Jan. 16, which is going to be something special.

The recently completed documentary on the life of Tribal President Dr. Clinton Pattea will be shown. This will be the first public showing of the film which also provides a history of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

It was filmed by Michael Renaud, a Hollywood cinematographer, who retired in Fountain Hills. It is being produced by Judy Confer, executive director of the River of Time Museum.

Reservations must be made by Sunday, Jan. 12. Cost is $18 for members and $22 for non-members.

Call 480-837-0762.

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I know there are some West Phoenix High School grads living in Fountain Hills and I regularly see Stern Produce trucks driving through the community coming or going to local restaurants.

You may have heard about the tragic death of one of my West High buddies, Bill Stern. He was traveling back to Phoenix when the plane he was piloting crashed in the hill country east of San Diego. With him were his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Katie. All died instantly.

It was a kit plane he had owned for six years. The family frequently flew that route to San Diego for weekends at their Mission Beach second home.

Bill went to work in the family business after graduation from ASU. His grandfather started Stern Produce in 1917, but it was under Bill’s leadership that the company experienced its greatest growth.

The firm has four distribution centers in the state, servicing numerous restaurants with produce and special cuts of meat.

Bill and I had a lot of classes together at Clarendon Elementary and West High. Freshman year we would walk between classes and talk about such things as the previous Saturday night episode of “Gunsmoke.”

He was the quarterback of our high school football team. But, he also was quarterback of our Clarendon team that won the Phoenix city flag football championship. We won on a long pass by him to me running down the sidelines. That was my only claim to fame in football because I did not play in high school, opting for track and cross country.

Ah, fond memories. Rest in peace my friend.