Five dollars
APRIL 2010
Art Walks Benefit Community
Fast Track Careers The Alternative Education Boom
Economy 2010
Northern Colorado’s Outlook STYLE :: APRIL 2010 :: www.stylemagazinecolorado.com :: est 1984
Recognized by Barron's. Respected by peers. Focused on clients. We salute Clayton Hartman for being named to Barron's "Top 1,000" Financial Advisors list. Putting clients first is why Clayton was recognized as being one of the very best Financial Advisors in America in 2010. Clayton Hartman, Senior Vice President-Investments 3711 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Suite 410, Fort Collins, CO 80525 877-838-5828 clayton.hartman@ubs.com
www.ubs.com/financialservicesinc
$ UBS
UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. 2/22/10 issue. Barron's is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Co. Š20 10 UBS Financial Services Inc. All rights reserved. Member SIPC. 1 .32_Ad_7.5x4.75 RC0317_HarC
Dr. Nieves has taken a unique approach to 21st century medicine, combining his medical practice with a new enterprise- non-surgical spine care with exercise and functional strength conditioning. Dr. Nieves has seen the connection between Russian Kettlebells and the enforcement of proper spine mechanics; something he has been teaching to his patients everyday in his medical practice. It has been a long time coming, but finally Dr. Nieves has married two of his favorite passions: spine care and Kettlebells. Dr. Nieves has been treating patients with spine and joint problems for more than 15 years. His clients span a wide variety of levels, ranging from Olympic athletes to the elderly in assisted living facilities. They all have something in common: a need for proper movement patterns, proper spine mechanics and correct posture. Dr. Nieves has remodeled the facility at 1437 Riverside Avenue, Fort Collins, to provide a state-of-the-art medical facility, providing comfort and education to his patients and clients. The facility has a full Fluroscopy Suite where spine intervention procedures can be performed on patients who may have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, disc degeneration, arthritis of the spine, stiffness and low back or neck pain. Most of these procedures have been customarily done in a surgical center but can now be done in an office setting, saving the patient money, time and still providing them the same standard of care. Dr. Nieves has completed the highest degree of training for performing these procedures. He is fellowship trained and board certified in Spine Intervention Procedures by the highest credentialing committee (The American Board of Medical Specialties). We are very excited to bring non-surgical spine care, exercise and functional strength conditioning to the Front Range Community. We look forward to helping you achieve a better quality of life! Judo with Chief Instructor Ricardo A. Nieves M.D., CSCS, RKC Team Leader www.comradekb.com 970-689-1077
Superior Care Closer to Home Ricardo A. Nieves, M.D., FAAPMR COLIIIDI 4.. SPINE, PAIN, AND SPliTS MEDICINE, P.C. $
{New Location) 1437 Riverside Ave. I Fort Collins, CO 80524 I 970.692.5550 I wwwcspasm.com
2
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
at the POUDRE VALLEY HOSPITAL HARMONY CAMPUS Paolo Romero, MD :: Matthew Sorensen, MD Regina Brown, MD Anne Kanard, MD :: Miho Toi Scott MA, MD
2121 E. Harmony Rd. Suite 150, Fort Collins
970.493.6337 www.cancercenteroftherockies.com
INSIDE TO OUTSIDE We Do It All! expert since 1992
•
I
Customized Janitorial Services Floor Stripping and Waxing Carpet Cleaning Window Cleaning Property Management & Maintenance Day or Night Porter Services Construction Clean-up Parking Lot Sweeping
I I
GREEN PRODUCTS WHENEVER REQUESTED
Customized, comprehensive cleaning programs for the entire Front Range and Wyoming
4
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Jim Beckmann, MD
. I
Hal Chapel, MD
John Drury, MD
Cyndi Gryboski, MD Cecilia Hirsch, MD
CardiaVascular Institute of North Colorado l<nows you by heart.
Paul Hurst, MD
~
Lin-Wang Dong, MD
.
Maurice Lyons, DO
Arnold Pfahnl, MD
Brian Lyle, MD
•
Randy Marsh, MD
Gary Rath, MD
Ken Richards, MD Ahmad Shihabi, MD
Gene Tullis, MD
Steve Zumbrun, MD
We're right here with the right care for your heart everyday. Having a healthy heart has such a tremendous impact on your ability to lead an active, fulfilling life. Isn't it comforting to know that the full-time cardiologists and other heart care professionals at the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado can provide you with a wide range of treatments and procedures? Whether it's an immediate need, a planned procedure, or rehabilitation to get your heart back in shape, our highly-trained experts can provide you with the care you need including, but not limited to: • Emergency assessment and treatment • Diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions
• Electrophysiology including pacemaker and defibrillator placement
• Heart failure clinic
• PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease) diagnosis and treatment
• Cardiac catheterization, coronary angiogram, angioplasty and stent placement
• Vein screenings and treatment
• Advanced cardiovascular surgery
• Ongoing follow-up care in our clinic
• Thoracic and Vascular surgical procedures
Put your heart in the right place. Call 970-203-2400 for an appointment.
~
Banner Health
CardiaVascular Institute of North Colorado ·
McKee Medical Center North Colorado Medical Center www.BannerHealth .com/CVI
5 1 2 3 4 5
Reasons To Call Molly Maid...
Instead of cleaning, you can spend time doing what YOU want to do. Molly Maid follows your instructions, we listen, we care. We have a 25 year reputation, we’re known for our quality. There are no contracts and your satisfaction is guaranteed! We’re in your neighborhood, call for a free, in-home consultation and estimate.
style media and design, inc.
| 970.226.6400 |
w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m
Molly Maid of Northern Colorado A clean you can trust.
970-282-7707
mollymaid.com
Publisher Lydia Dody Editor Angeline Grenz creative director Scott Prosser Senior Designer Lisa Gould Advertising Sales EXECUTIVES Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226 Abby Bloedorn (970) 222-8406 Karen Christensen (970) 679-7593 Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400 Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932 Office Manager Ina Szwec Accounting Manager Karla Vigil Office Assistants Ronda Huser, Trish Milton Contributing Writers Connie Hein, Kimberly Lock, Kay Rios, Corey Radman, Laura Sebastian, Ina Szwec Photographer Warren Diggles Contributing Photographers Abby Bloedorn, Marcus Edwards, Ina Szwec Affiliations Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce 2010 Style Magazines January-Loveland/Greeley Medical & Wellness Magazine and Directory February-Style March-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness April-Style May-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness June-Style July-Fort Collins Medical & Wellness Magazine and Directories August-Style September-Women’s Health & Breast Cancer October-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness November/December-Holiday Style Style Media and Design, Inc. magazines are free monthly publications direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, a one year subscription is $25/year and a two year subscription is $45/year. Free magazines are available at over 140 locations throughout Northern Colorado. For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact: Style Media and Design Inc., 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 226-6400. Fax (970) 226-6427. E-Mail: ronda@StyleMedia.com ©2010 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Style Media and Design Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of Style Media & Design Inc.
6
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
We Offer It All Under One Roof! Delivery & Quality Installation Available! Free Design Services & Estimates Personal One-On-One Service! Professionals With Unsurpassed Knowledge & Expertise! Hundreds Of Name Brands To Choose From! Affordable Products For Every Budget! Lumber • Floor Coverings • Kitchen Cabinetry Windows and Doors • Plumbing • Lighting • Hardware
The Weight is Over...
Heard of In je For
ResultsAreTypical.com Free Permanent Results • Available Now!
Essences - emotional support and stabiJty Herbal blend - organ support and gentle detox
committed to your permanent weight loss success! FORT COLLINS SOUTHEAST Anderson Family Chiropractic 1927 Wilmington Dr., Ste 201 Fort Collins, CO 80528 (970) 225-1006 HCG .Answers@ gmail.com
WELLINGTON, NUNN, BRIGGSDALE
NORTH Fort Collins Chiropractic 1217 E. Elizabeth St. Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 493-0611 HCG@ FortCollinsChiro.com
GREELEY Christi Klein HCGDropsTheWeight@gmail.com se hable espanol
HCG Phases (970) 834-2487 HCGPhases@gmail.com
"48 lbs lost in 69 days!" -Maria B.
LOVELAND/LONGMONT CENTRAL Natural Health Center of the Rockies 373 W. Drake Rd ., Ste 5 Fort Collins, CO 80526 (970) 225-6900 nhcr4u@ qwestoffice.net WEST Debbie Oppie & Erin Blodgett Desired Reflections 970-449-9132 info@ desiredreflections.com SOUTHWEST Dixie Miller HcgAskDixie@ yahoo.com EATON, EVANS, WINDSOR 10 Oak Business Center 10 Oak (Hwy 85 & CR 74) Eaton, Colorado, 80615 (970) 454-3540 BodyByHCG@ aol.com
A Gentle Balance Tamara Kennedy, RCMT (970) 217-7381 HCGMagicDrops@ aol.com CASTLE ROCK/HIGHLANDS RANCH Inspired Fitness inspiredfitnessHCG@ gmail.com WYOMING LARAMIE I CHEYENNE Dixie Miller HcgAskDixie@ yahoo.com CASPER Heidi Swartz (307) 267-8561 simplyu1 @yahoo.com
• The FDA has not approved the use of HCG as a weight loss supplement.
BEFORE "'"'"'
AFTER ·.._,_
A Must Read Lydia’s annual Loveland/Greeley Medical/Wellness Magazine & Directory is always a popular product in our facilities for patients and visitors eager to learn more about the services we provide in Northern Colorado. It’s a must read issue every year! ~ Paul Matthews Public Relations Director McKee Medical Center, Loveland ~ Gene Haffner Public Relations Director North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley
Avid Reader Dear Lydia, I wanted to let you know that I am an avid reader of Style Magazine. I love the pictures, the advertising and how you present articles. I started reading each issue after seeing the one you did with Martin Lind on the cover several years ago. The article on him was great! And I especially enjoy the fact that there is a personality behind your writing. ~ Ivan Adams, Windsor
Clear and Concise Connie, I just wanted to compliment you on the article you wrote for Style Magazine (“Real Estate Forecast 2010,” February 2010, Style). You did a great job taking such a diverse and complex set of data and conveying it in a clear and concise manner. Thanks for letting me be a part of the story! Sincerely, ~ Chris Hardy Managing Broker Coldwell Banker, Fort Collins Residential Brokerage
Positive Impact Abby, Thanks again for all your help in making the article happen (“Students Compete in Design Challenge,” February 2010, Style). Your enthusiasm was great and talking with you was always a pleasure. Nowell Vincent is now head of the department for the interior design school and is very happy about the impact this whole experience had on her class. We even got an article in Colorado Higher Ed News about what we did with her class. And I got a slap on the back from the boss. A positive impact all the way round and I hope you enjoyed it as well. Regards, ~ Rod Hartley, Karndean International
Ideas that Help Hi Lydia, I wanted to let you know how much I look forward to receiving Style Magazine. I especially enjoyed reading the 2010 March Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness issue and will also be sending it to my mom to read. She has not had much luck in spine treatment so I will have her read this issue for ideas to help her with her disc problem. And our family has had various heart problems, so after reading about the Calcium Score test, I will be scheduling an appointment for both my husband and myself. Thank you for always including such interesting articles. ~ Cheryl Nickerson, Dellenbach Cadillac, Fort Collins
Medical Marijuana – the Pros and Cons Style, What a beautiful and impressive magazine you have. The article “The Facts About Medical Marijuana” in the 2010 March Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness issue was well written and helped me assess the pros and cons of medical marijuana. I appreciated that the article did not paint a picture full of negativity and doom and gloom around the subject. I look forward to receiving my own issues of Style, and not having to borrow my friends! ~ Mary Busha, Greeley
we love to hear from readers. send your comments and suggestions to: angie@stylemedia.com | Phone: 970.226.6400, ext.215 | Fax: 970.226.6427 | www.stylemagazinecolorado.com
Style 2010
9
on the cover
Local mayors pose together as they discuss Northern Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future: Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson, Loveland Mayor Cecil Gutierrez and Estes Park Mayor Bill Pinkham. Photography by Warren Diggles
14 16
24 32
42 44
50 58 APRIL 2010 :: STYLE
10
www.stylemagazinecolorado.com Lydiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STYLE Magazine
are you getting tired of
LoWer returnS?
contact me today!
to find out
about inveStment aLternativeS.
(970) 622-2366
K E V I N . D U N N I G A N @ I N V E s t M E N tcENtErs . coM
w w w .H Elp w ItH M y I NVEstMENts . coM Rates are as of 3/18/10. The following are offered by Investment Centers of America and are subject to change and availability. Bonds sold prior to maturity may be worth more or less than the original cost. Interest may be subject to state and local taxes. Also some issues may be subject to the alternative minimum tax.
I N V E s t M E N t G r A DE c o r p o r A t E B oNDs Name: Union Carbide Chem&plast Coupon: 7.875 Maturity : 04/01/2023 Rating: Ba2/BBBPrice: 101.50
7.690% Yield to Maturity
tAx frEE M U N I c I p A l B o N Ds Name: E-470 Pub Hwy Auth Colo Rev Coupon: 0.00 Maturity: 09/01/2021 Rating: Baa1/A Price: 52.428 Quality Ratings by Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s/Standard & Poors NR = Not Rated
5.725% Yield to Maturity
KEVIN DUNNIGAN, MBA certified financial planner tm Professional
Located at Home State Bank 300 East 29th Street, Loveland, CO
(970) 622-2366 | (877) 622-5591 Investment Center of America, Inc. (ICA), member FINRA, SIPC is not affiliated with Home State Bank. Securities, and insurance products offered through ICA and its affiliated insurance agencies are: not insured by the FDIC or any 11other federal government agency *not a deposit or obligation or guaranteed by any bank or itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; affiliates, *subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal amount invested.
“
Weddings are More than
“I Do
Reverend Janet Kramer, Wedding Officiant Creates Memories to Last a Lifetime Creative & Personalized Non-Denominational Ceremonies, Rehearsals, & Renewal of Vows
Ceremonies Celebrating Love Available for Simple Ceremonies At Any Location in Northern Colorado Flexible For Same Day Appointments
970-631-6832 info@vows4two.com
12
M
y friends at The Group Inc. send me their very informative “Insider” newsletter which I always enjoy, and their recent one relayed several interesting things that we, living in this area, instinctively already know. A new survey reported that Colorado residents are among the most content in the country with Colorado ranking fourth among the 50 states in this Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. They reported that only residents of Utah, Hawaii, and Wyoming were ahead of our residents. This index measures categories such as life evaluation, work quality, healthy behavior, physical health and emotional health. To view the survey, visit www.well-beingindex.com. Additionally, Fort Collins ranks number 2 on Forbes list of best places for businesses and careers. And a study by www.bizjournals.com/edit_ special/77.html ranked Fort Collins 7th out of the top 10 mid-sized metropolitan areas in the U.S. in a quality-of-life survey. Even though you and I are not strangers to tough times – including several wars, a few recessions, job cutbacks, high interest rates, and out of control inflation – we always come back to appreciating how very lucky we all are to live and work in this area which has some insulation to drastic economic swings. The phrase, quality of life, might be sounding trite by now, but it definitely has important meaning for all of us. Historically this issue of Style includes articles that talk about our economy and our lifestyle in the Front Range. We are proud to be featuring Jim Sprout and Kristi Benningsdorf along with Advisors Paula Edwards and Larry Edwards from First Western Trust Bank on our cover. Not only is this a great group of folks, but business magazine Inc. 500 ranked the bank as fastest growing. Read Fastest Growing Bank to learn about this great up and coming organization. Talking about the economy is on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days. Read our Status Report: The Northern Colorado Economy to get an overview of our real estate status, employment condition, and retail/sales tax numbers. The public and private city leaders we interviewed found positive signs for recovery in our Northern Colo
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine lydia@stylemedia.com
T
Business Profile
GrowSecure
Offers Customized Security By Kay Rios
GrowSecure, Inc. Insurance and Financial Services lives up to its name by promising investment safety, says Chief Executive Officer and President Chuck Layman Jr. “We have not had one client lose a single penny due to market downturns in the past 10 years.”
14
he GrowSecure philosophy is borrowed from Warren Buffet, one of the world’s most successful investors, Layman says. “Rule number one, never lose money. Rule number two, refer to rule number one.” Layman, who has been in the insurance and financial arena for over 34 years, says his company is able to keep retirement assets secure because it creates individualized plans that cater to each client’s specific needs. The client base ranges from 50 to 75 years old and has a minimum of $150,000 earmarked for retirement. At different points in life, the client’s goals and objectives for that money change, says Layman. “There are three phases of wealth. First, the accumulation phase. Second, comes preservation and, third, distribution. Most of our clients are in the preservation stage and are retired or will retire in five to 10 years.” He equates his business model to the healthcare arena. “A doctor doesn’t give everyone the same shot. It has to be very individualized.” The mistake that people often make is in going to a general practitioner, says Layman. In finances there are specialized areas. “At 65 or 35 years old, they (general practitioners) often make the same recommendation and put their clients into the same product even though there is a difference in their needs. At 65, they are probably more concerned with safety. At 35, time is on their side and they can go with the ups and downs of a less secure environment.” Layman believes in making money on retirement assets regardless of the environment. And it’s not that difficult if you have the right information, he says. “We help people understand what’s available and then they decide what’s best for them instead of someone telling them what they need to do.” It’s essential to have current information and follow new practices, Layman says. “Times have changed. We’ve had 9/11, terrorist attacks and a depression unlike anything since 1929. Traditional investing doesn’t work. That only works if the market is going up. General practitioners have the same tools in their belt that we do, but they either don’t understand how to use those tools or are more concerned with the money they make rather than what the client makes. We only deal with the tools that will not lose money due to market fluctuations.” Safety is the number one concern at GrowSecure. “If that’s not a top priority for the client,” he says, “we don’t work with them. The second priority is potential growth, and liquidity is number three.” Layman has watched the cycles for a number of years. It’s how he’s managed to stay in business for so long, he says. He started in 1976 with Prudential Insurance, mentored by his father. He began Layman and Associates in 1982 and two years ago the name changed to GrowSecure, Inc. to more accurately reflect the business philosophy. His daughter Alicia Lewis, who is also the chief financial officer and vice president, joined him six years ago. The father-daughter team has worked well, he says. “I don’t plan to retire but if I would decide to or if I would pass on, Alicia has been in on all of the meetings and our clients feel secure that someone will be with them until
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
The GrowSecure team: Lois Hewitt, Chuck Layman Jr., Alicia Lewis and Erica Pauly
they are in their 90s.” GrowSecure has worked hard to establish its reputation. Layman is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table, representing the top three percent in insurance and investments services. GrowSecure’s success is based on careful planning and attention to detail. “There are foolproof strategies that have proven themselves over time,” says Layman, “We’re licensed with around 20 companies but we focus on two or three depending on the client’s need.” As for the future, Layman says, “I believe the country is going to make a rebound but the question is how long will that take? No one knows. Some people may be telling you to sit tight. To that, I say, have them put that in writing and make sure they put in the date of when a rebound will happen.” For more information about GrowSecure, call (970) 669-1225 or visit www.growsecure.com. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. Please consult with a professional specializing in these areas regarding the applicability of this information to your situation. Respond and learn how life insurance or annuities can be used in various planning strategies for retirement. 15928 0701410
Kay Rios, Ph.D., is a freelance writer in Fort Collins. She writes for a variety of publications and is currently at work on a collection of creative nonfiction and a mystery novel.
Style 2010
15
Business Profile
living
LaVida luxurious By Laura Sebastian
Things may disappear when you visit the newly opened LaVida Massage … things such as your migraine, your neck and shoulder tension, even your insomnia.
16
I
n fact, a newfound energy and confidence may envelope you, making you decide now is finally the time to fulfill that dream of rafting down the Colorado River, climbing high into the Rockies to check out the spring wildflowers, or sailing through the air on your first skydive. “Massage is one of the most beneficial and ancient forms of self-care,” says Sherry Buersmeyer, owner and manager of LaVida Massage. “It reduces stress and anxiety, soothes sore muscles and even improves your circulation and flexibility. And with the economy, people aren’t sleeping well, they get headaches, and massage is a healthy alternative to heading to the doctor for muscle relaxants or sleeping pills.” Emily Bush, one of LaVida’s massage therapists, agrees. A specialist in hot stone, prenatal, deep tissue and sports injury massage, Bush says, “LaVida is not a business focused on making money, it’s a business focused on helping people live well in their bodies and on helping the community realize that massage can be a preventative action for many health issues.” LaVida, which opened February 17 at 2733 Council Tree Avenue in the Front Range Village Shopping Center, offers help for what ails you at an affordable price. “Our goal is to make it possible for people to have a monthly or weekly massage instead of it being an infrequent treat,” Buersmeyer says. “That’s part of the LaVida philosophy: we offer a luxurious atmosphere and spa-quality service that won’t break your budget.” And the atmosphere at LaVida is indeed pleasing, with massage rooms refreshingly uncluttered, yet well-appointed. The walls are painted in tones of sage green and a dark, soothing chocolate, and each showcases a few pieces of artwork, all chosen by Buersmeyer. Music plays softly and a salt crystal lamp, thought to cleanse the air and improve energy levels, glows in every room. LaVida offers massages such as deep tissue, Swedish, hot stone, couples, prenatal, chair and triggerpoint therapy. For new clients, LaVida’s 60-minute basic massage is on special for $39.95 until the end of May. The company’s Loyalty Program offers additional financial breaks. In signing up for this one-year program you’ll pay only $44.95 per massage (regular prices start at $54.95). “There’s no sign-up fee and no limit to the number of massages you can get for that price,” Buersmeyer says. “And with 30 days’ notice, you can cancel the program without a penalty, which is an option most other facilities don’t offer.” Also unusual, LaVida is open seven days a week. “We make everything as convenient as possible,” Buersmeyer says. “Our location is ideal, close to workplaces and among all the great new stores of Front Range Village. Parking is plentiful and we’re open long hours to fit any schedule. And in addition to our 12 highly trained and certified massage therapists [currently, 10 women and two men], we’re adding an aesthetician to our staff so clients will have the options of waxing, custom facials and chemical peels as well.” As for home products, LaVida offers Plantlife and Wright Essence brands, which are all-natural, chosen by Buersmeyer and unique to her location. Among the choices are body lotions, soaps and aromatherapy oils in delicious scents such as in lavender, eucalyptus, vanilla-orange and lemongrass, and mineral baths for stress relief, detoxification therapy and treatment for sore muscles. Part of a chain of franchises headquartered in Commerce, Michigan, LaVida of Fort Collins is the flagship store of Colorado. “I chose a LaVida franchise because I’ve always be-
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
LaVida Massage carries Plantlife and Wright Essense all-natural product lines.
lieved in the benefits of massage and because it has a successful, proven business model,” Buersmeyer says. “And they give us the freedom to customize our store, so we can offer services and products to fit the specific needs of people living in the Colorado climate.” The road to owning a healing business began in childhood for Buersmeyer. A born nurturer, she grew up in a family of horticulturists, spending her childhood and much of her adult life at their family-owned Tower Nursery in Aurora, Colo. It served as Buersmeyer’s training ground for learning everything about the care of plants. A self-described “plant geek and nature girl,” she went on to own her own landscaping business and continued her knowledge of nurturing and healing by studying horticulture at both Front Range Community College and the Botanic Gardens, and nursing at the University of Northern Colorado. Buersmeyer rounded out her know-how with classes at the Bradford Business School in Denver. In October 2009, she married Andy Buersmeyer, a test engineer at Advanced Energy. The couple lives with Maggie, their sheltie, and Rain, their greyhound rescue dog. In addition to his day job, Andy handles the accounting and behind-the-scenes aspects of LaVida, while Sherry handles all on-site management duties. Buersmeyer’s leafy background still has its influence on her life and business. “Gardening is healing and nurturing plants,” she says. “The difference now is that I’m providing a service that’s healing and nurturing people. My favorite part of being here each day is seeing people come in happy… and leave even happier.” For more information, call (970) 223-2512 or visit fortcollins.co.lavidamassage.com. Laura Sebastian, who lives in Fort Collins, has worked as a freelance writer for 11 years.
17
Economy Forecast
Northern Colorado
Economy
2010
FORT COLLINS $76,000,000
$75,509,265
$74,500,000 $73,000,000
$72,346,001
$71,500,000
$70,820,220
$70,000,000
2008
2009
2010 (projected)
LOVELAND $35,000,000
By Kimberly Lock
$34,406,342
$34,250,000 Monday, April 5, 2010
$33,500,000
Many cities live and die by sales tax collections. While 2009 was a challenging year for the economy, local officials Monday, April 5, 2010 are taking a cautiously optimistic outlook towards incoming 2010 sales tax revenues, hoping for the best and preparing for Monday, April 5, 2010 the worst.
$32,750,000
$32,367,685
2008
2009
20
2010 (projected)
GREELEY $46,000,000
$45,413,010
$44,500,000 $43,000,000 $41,500,000
$40,871,000
$40,319,636 $40,000,000
2008
2009
2010 (projected)
E S T E S PA R K $7,200,000
$7,183,790
$7,100,000 $7,000,000
$6,900,000
$6,900,000
See how 2008, 2009 and projected 2010 sales tax revenues stack up by municipalities.
$32,203,590
$32,000,000
$6,852,575
$6,800,000
2008
2009
2010 (projected)
Lydiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STYLE Magazine
Loveland Mayor Cecil Gutierrez
Greeley City Manager Roy Otto
Estes Park Mayor Bill Pinkham
Loveland Seeks to Diversify
Greeley Looks to Future
Visitors Bring Money to Estes Park
Loveland Mayor Cecil Gutierrez says his city’s conservative fiscal policy is helping the city weather the storm. The city carries no debt, has issued no bonds and is working to maintain reserves by continuing to be tight with budgeting. “We have gone even further by rolling our budget back to the 2007 level of income,” he says. “The previous city counsel was proactive in their approach and prepared for future downturns.” Loveland saw a decrease in sales tax revenues from 2008 to 2009 of $11.6 million or 5.4 percent. The biggest decline in sales was seen in the home furnishings sector, while the taxes collected from hotels increased by 41.1 percent from 2008. The city’s biggest asset for sales tax in Loveland is the Centerra shopping complex, which includes the Promenade Shops at Centerra and Marketplace at Centerra. The centers are home to Best Buy, Target, Staples, Macy’s, Old Navy and Barnes and Noble. “Centerra provides eight to 10 percent of our sales tax income, so it is an important part of our budget, but we have to diversify so we don’t have such a dependence on Centerra,” Gutierrez says. One of the ways the city is diversifying is by investing money into the downtown area. The mayor and city council are currently working on a project called the Rialto Bridge, which involves renovating former Quality Shoes and Monaco Trattoria locations into green room space for the Rialto Theater. The hope is the additional space will attract bigger name artists, which in turn would bring additional people downtown. “It is going to be a real mixed-use project with a restaurant, additional lobby space, bigger bathrooms and a green room on the first level, with offices on the upper two levels,” Gutierrez says.
While Loveland is reinvigorating its downtown, Greeley continues to recover from the aftershocks of the closing of New Frontier Bank and a glut of available housing due to the foreclosure crisis. The number of foreclosure filings has slowly decreased from 2006, when Greeley and Weld County had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation. In Weld County, foreclosure filings dropped 17.8 percent from January 2009, according to the state Department of Local Affairs’ Department of Housing. “I think some of the things that made the area so attractive before the hit still exist and are helping sell homes now – mainly the affordability of the area,” says Roy Otto, Greeley’s city manager. In 2009, Greeley’s sales and use tax collections were 10.8 percent below 2008 levels. The city’s lodging tax was also down 10.9 percent from the previous year. The city is projecting flat sales tax collections into 2010. But the story in Greeley is not all doom and gloom. The Leprino Foods Co. is in the process of pulling the permits to begin construction on a $270 million cheese-processing plant. The plant is expected to open in 2011 and will employ 500 people. Otto is excited for the prospects Leprino will bring to the city, and is also hopeful existing JBS Swift Beef Company will continue to bring jobs to the city. “JBS is one of the top three protein producers in the world and it is based right here in Greeley, out at Promontory,” he says. The city has been growing to the west and Otto says he expects the trend to continue into the next decade. There are several neighborhoods under construction west of 47th Avenue, including St. Michaels and Promontory. Greeley’s retail scene has added some new storefronts in the past few years and Sprouts Farmer’s Market opened in Greeley this month. The natural grocer joins Kohl’s, Best Buy, Sports Authority and Lowe’s as recent additions to West Greeley.
Estes Park is wholly dependent on the dollars of visitors to the mountain town for its survival. And when people have less money to spend on travel, they tend to stay closer to home. This fact is a double-edged sword for Estes Park; while out-of-state visitor numbers are down, they are seeing an increase in the number of visitors who live on the Front Range. “Our town budget consists of 75 percent sales tax, so we are heavily dependent on disposable income,” says Mayor Bill Pinkham. “We don’t have any manufacturing so we have to work on those things that bring tourists to town. And when energy prices are high, disposable income declines.” Estes Park is an attractive vacation spot for locals looking to get away because it is a “one tank town” – meaning you can get there and back on a tank of gas or less. The town saw a drop in sales tax of 4.6 percent in 2009 and plans on holding the budget flat in 2010. “We have seen reservations come in at a higher rate, with food and restaurants being a leader in sales tax collection, but the retail was not so great … it will be interesting to see how this summer is,” Pinkham says.
Style 2010
21
Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson
Fort Collins was known as the regional retail leader for years, but competition from other cities is forcing Fort Collins to deal with budget shortfalls. The city saw a decline of $2.5 million in sales tax collections, or 3.8 percent, and $3.2 million in use tax revenues, or 20.3 percent. One of the major enigmas the city is facing is the future of the Foothills Mall. The mall is currently owned by General Growth Properties, which is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The area was designated as an urban renewal area a few years ago, but the designation has lapsed. These two factors are causing the future of the mall to be a big question mark. Additionally, the city has over 600,000 square feet of empty retail space along the College Avenue corridor, including the former locations of Circuit City, Toys “R” Us, Wal-Mart and Linens N’ Things. “There are two solid anchors at the mall with Sears and Macy’s,” says Mayor Doug Hutchinson. “I am optimistic the area will look different in a few years, and the Mason Corridor factors into that to make the area more attractive.” The Mason Corridor project, originally approved by voters in 1998, has evolved into a five-mile byway running north from Harmony Road to Cherry Street. The proposed project includes pedestrian and bike friendly pathways and a bus rapid transit system. The project is in the final planning stages with initial construction beginning summer 2010. Construction has also begun on an area of the city many wrote off years ago with the development of the North College Marketplace at the intersection of North College Ave. and Willox Lane. The 26-acre shopping center is anchored by King Soopers as well as anticipated restaurants, a bank and a liquor store. Hutchinson says the project was made possible by the Fort Collins City Council through the Fort Collins Urban Renewal Authority, which provided $8 million to fund public infrastructure
“While we have several companies looking to move here, you have to also think of your existing companies. Remember, your lack of a retention program is someone else’s attraction program.”
Mike Masciola, COO and senior vice president of Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation
Larry Burkhardt, president and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development
Unemployment Stats:
How Does Northern Colorado Measure Up? Figures based on January 2010 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Unemployment Rate Denver/Aurora MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) Fort Collins/Loveland MSA
10
6.25 5
7.7
7.8
7.4 6.6 5.8
6.2
9.7 8.2 8.3 6.6
3.75 2.5 1.25 0 Percent
22
9.7
8.75 7.5
Colorado’s Unemployment Rate Boulder/Longmont MSA Greeley MSA
2009
7.2
January 2010 statistics were the newest available at time of publication
Fort Collins Continues to Revitalize Empty Spaces
“Our office has been exceptionally busy (since February). We have seen a dozen or so prospective companies looking at the area and they are all intriguing. It is definitely an encouraging sign.”
2010 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
for the project. Fort Collins is also addressing diversification issues by changing the way government thinks to help ensure the city remains a vibrant place to live and work. To facilitate the changes the city hired an economic director and established 29 citizen advisory boards to help the city expand its vision. “In 2005, we had a major paradigm shift,” Hutchinson says. “We have shifted from the economy of the ‘90s, which was based largely on Fort Collins being the regional retail giant with a large high tech employment base … We set a goal to have a healthy economy that utilizes our unique community in a changing world.”
Phones Ringing at Local Economic Development Agencies The pipeline of new potential Northern Colorado employers is starting to fill once again. Mike Masciola, COO and senior vice president of Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. (NCEDC), says the organization has approximately 75 companies it is in contact with, and 18 to 25 of those are communicating with NCEDC on a weekly basis. “What we are seeing are companies who are looking to consolidate operations into a less expensive urban market,” he says. “They are looking for areas with 500,000 people, where labor costs and real estate costs are less, meaning their overall operating expenses cost less.” The area is attractive to green energy companies who want to locate close to Vestas Wind Systems, Ice Energy and Abound Solar. The synergy of these companies is attractive to others in the industry and is making Northern Colorado an outstanding location for renewable energy. “Colorado has the second most highly qualified workforce in the nation,” according to Larry Burkhardt, president and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development. The area is very attractive to site selectors, Burkhardt says, and when he speaks regionally of the market, including Longmont, Boulder, Fort Collins, Loveland, Brighton and Greeley, he sees the area as highly competitive and primed for continued economic development.
Kimberly Lock is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids in the Colorado outdoors.
Style 2010
20/20 v i s i o n
By Kimberly Lock
Using 20/20 vision, Northern Colorado leaders made their predictions of what the year 2020 will look like for Northern Colorado. They used several factors to help determine their predictions, including: The happenings of the past decade – the completion of The Larimer County Fairgrounds and the Budweiser Events Center, the consolidation of Hewlett-Packard Development Company into a single location leaving hundreds of thousands of square feet of vacant commercial space in Loveland and Greeley, the rise and fall of the local housing market and the demise of New Frontier Bank in Greeley.
Weld County to have a higher standard of living and income across the board. I also hope to attract more companies to the southwest Weld County corridor where we have some very talented people who currently drive 10 or 20 miles to work. A savvy employer will see that and tap into that workforce and decrease the commute of those people and improve their quality of life,” Burkhardt says.
Current trends – the development of the
Larimer County’s Dreams
area’s green-industry marketplace and its growing attraction to similar businesses, a decrease of funding for higher education by the state and the diversification of companies doing business in Northern Colorado.
Current projects and anticipated funding – the three major cities in Northern Colorado – Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley – all have major projects in the planning stages, and officials for these cities hope to have them completed in 10 years. Officials are also anticipating how sales and property tax trends are going to affect them in the next decade.
The Future of Weld County “I think the simplest way to look at the future of Northern Colorado is to see its future in the renewable energy sector,” says Roy Otto, Greeley’s city manager. Otto says the city has plans to build a renewable energy plant on the eastside, which will use byproducts from the anticipated Leprino Foods Company processing plant. “In 2020 I see Greeley and Weld County leading the nation in the next waves of agricultural advancements,” he says. “I also hope we attract additional corporate headquarters from an economic development standpoint.” Weld County experienced a population boom in the early- to mid-2000s with a population growth of 38.1 percent from 2000 to 2008 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. One of the areas most impacted by the boom was the Frederick, Firestone, Dacono area in southwestern Weld County. Larry Burkhardt, president and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development, says he believes Weld County will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in 10 years. “My hopes are not tied to a particular economic development but rather for residents of
In 1995, the Fort Collins city council developed “City Plan” to guide the city with growth through 2025. While the plan is being re-visited this year, city officials hope to maintain some of the original vision into the next decade. One of those visions was to make sure the region doesn’t turn into one big metropolis. “In the long-term there are many positive aspects to the community,” says Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson. “I also hope the land separators we have established are working to separate Fort Collins from Loveland … I also hope we have postured ourselves to capitalize on any upturns in the future.” One of the major issues Cecil Gutierrez, Loveland’s mayor, hopes will be addressed within the decade is the state of the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport. Gutierrez sees the airport as an asset to attract more companies but the communities are “going to have to work really hard to turn it into a regional airport to attract those kinds of companies.” On a regional scale, Mike Masciola, COO and vice president of Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp., says the next 10 years will make a big difference in the look our economic landscape. “Larimer County’s skilled workforce, outstanding educational institutions, transportation access and availability of commercial and industrial land will help grow and sustain its diverse economy into 2020,” he says. “New and existing companies will continue to provide a variety of employment opportunities throughout the region,” he continues, “particularly as it grows and becomes more attractive to employers seeking markets greater than 500,000 people. As the supply of vacant land fills along the I-25 corridor, in-fill and redevelopment activity will increase furthering the downtown development and other revitalization goals of our local communities.”
23
Education Alternatives
Careers
Fast-Track
Adults are returning to school in record numbers, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Market changes, economic factors and other life changes have spurred an increase in the desire for new or expanded education without the time commitment of a traditional college degree.
By Kay Rios
The number of non-traditional students enrolled in higher education programs is significant – and growing. According to the Council of Graduate Schools, between 1987 and 2007, the number of graduate students 40 years of age and over increased 87 percent, and the number of graduate students 30 to 39 years of age increased 28 percent. One reason more adults are going back to school is to adjust to labor market shifts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the manufacturing sector declined sharply in recent years. At the same time, employment in service-based sectors such as leisure and hospitality, education and health services has continued to grow by leaps and bounds since 1995. The 2010 list from U.S. News & World Report still has the healthcare arena as one of the strongest areas for upcoming careers. People are also changing jobs more than in previous years, with Americans changing an average of 10 times during their working life, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. The rise in the number of adults returning to school may also be an indicator that career changes are increasing. Adult education provides the means to change careers and/or increase a worker’s earning potential.
Richard Laub, CEO of Institute of Business and Medical Careers (IBMC) says, “About 20 percent of our students have bachelor’s degrees but can’t get a job. I think there is a huge need for programs like these.” The reason? “Students who come here have an immediate need,” IBMC President, Steve Steele, says. “It can be a life crisis, a spouse being laid off or something that creates a need to get into the job market quickly. An associate degree can take three or four years, and a four-year degree often takes five or six years. People look at how long that takes and get disillusioned, so I think people are attracted to something that has a start and a finish. These people are saying ‘put me out in the market.’ They want a career path and job opportunities and they don’t have years to spend,” he says. Northern Colorado has several options for those who might be looking for new or expanded careers and are not on the college path. Three of those opportunities are profiled in this article.
Institute of Business and Medical Careers (IBMC)
IBMC offers its students several main programs: medical billing and coding, therapeutic massage,
pharmacy technician, business administration, accounting and paralegal. “We have both diploma and degree options,” says Steele. The diploma offers the quickest route into the chosen field and is about four months shorter than the degree path. The most popular courses are in the healthcare arena, he says. “The medical assistant program makes up 35 percent of the student body. Many are drawn to healthcare industry because it’s consistently sustainable through any economy and there’s a good chance of placement.” Placement is key for IBMC adds Laub. “We spend a lot of money on job placement and we’re staffed heavily in that area. We do direct mail to general leads on job planning and we have a strong network. We’ve been doing this now for 20 years and there’s a good chance an office manager is an IBMC graduate and will call us for staffing. We also pay referral bonuses. We work it very, very hard.” As a result of all that hard work, IBMC has a 90 percent placement rate. “That’s off the chart,” Laub says. “You want to hit 100 percent, but that’s impossible. There are people who take time off after they finish and some people just vanish. So 90 percent is as good as anyone can do. Last year, we hit 91 percent and I about fell off my chair.” Externships play a huge role in placement, he says. “The last three weeks of the program is on-the-job. We have agreements with doctors and attorneys and, for three weeks, they get a trained employee for free. It’s a good try-before-you-buy situation. We have a 50 percent placement rate just off the externships.” IBMC student body has grown almost four times over since 2001, when enrollment was at 218. They currently have 829 students and 185 employees spread between three locations – Fort Collins, Greeley and Cheyenne. IBMC will open a Longmont location this year with classes beginning in the fall. The student age range runs from 18 to 60-plus years, Steele says. “Some are directly out of high school but don’t want the university setting and others are here changing careers.” “This isn’t just a business,” Steele says. “This is about people. People’s lives are important to us and we care about where they are going and what their dreams are. If they commit, then we’re going to partner with them.”
Palmer School of Floral Design
Angela Palmer’s Palmer School of Floral Design isn’t just designed to keep industry professionals up to date; the school offers several levels of training for those who want to get into the business. The school is recognized as a career path and the Larimer County Workforce Center will help with tuition for students who are in transition. Students have several options. They can take the four courses separately or as part of the certification program. Beginning Floral Design 101 is a 25-hour course that prepares the learner to create arrangements. Basic Floral Design 102 looks at celebration designs, wreaths, swags, wedding bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. Basic Floral Design 103 includes oriental and traditional designs, and Advance Floral Design 104 includes high style designs. Classes cover the elements of design and design principles. The certification program requires a total of 100 hours (25 per class) and rigorous testing. A written exam and the completion of a project that shows competency in areas of purchasing, marketing and design are required. The Palmer School is only one of three in Colorado; the others are in Denver. The certification program is required for
26
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Affordable Roofing's team is dedicated to providing clients with the highest level of professional, quality work at fair and competitive market prices. The repeat and referral business that comes from satisfied clients is an integral part of the success of their business. Affordable Roofing strives to maintain the highest level of integrity, honesty and fairness in the relationships with their clients, the insurance industry, subcontractors and suppliers. Their goal with each project is to take the stress out of what's typically a stressful situation and create a pleasant experience that will be remembered.
AFFORDA:iLE ROOFING
I
Angela Palmer, Owner, Palmer School of Floral Design
Tina Matuska, Owner/Director, Hair Dynamics Education Center membership in the Colorado Professional Florist association (CPF), says Palmer, who is not only a CPF member and an Academy of American Florists (AAF) member, she is one of 1,200 people certified through The American Institute of Floral Designers (AAFD). For students graduating from Palmer’s school, there are a variety of opportunities, she says. “Floral design and interior design go hand-in-hand. Wedding consultants can also use this for their work. It’s good training for people who work with permanent botanicals (previously called silks).” The courses provide skilled labor for the market and Palmer takes advantage of that. “I use my roster of students to hire freelance designers for seasonal work – Valentine’s Day, weddings, Christmas.” Palmer knows the floral industry well. She and husband Spiro started Palmer Florist in 1975 at the corner of College and Olive Street in Fort Collins. In 2003, they moved the business to the current location at 3710 Mitchell Drive and she opened the school in 2001. In 2009, they reopened a downtown location on the corner of Laporte and College. Palmer’s school has proved to be quite popular. The classes, which are held three times a year in January, April and September tend to fill quickly, so advance registration is encouraged. Classes are kept small, she says. “We can accommodate up to 30 in our classroom but I prefer to keep it at 15 so they get a lot of individual attention.” Anyone can attend, she says. “You don’t need any knowledge before you come in and you can be any age. We have everyone from 18-year-olds to grandmothers.”
28
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
The teaching approach caters to appropriate learning styles, she says. “People in this industry are visual so we have a lot of visuals in the books and we use videos. It’s very intense training.” Students are also trained in salon success, people skills and marketing. “They need to develop the skills that are the most important for survival. We added this part of the program about six years ago and it’s becoming the trend throughout the industry.” It goes beyond cutting hair or giving facials. “Just being the best stylist does not necessarily mean you will be successful. You also need life skills. When students walk out of here and I give them a diploma, I know they have everything they need to succeed.” Kay Rios is a freelance writer living in Fort Collins. The IBMC team: JoAnn Caddoo, Career Services Director; Steve Steele, President; Diana Gunderson, Vice President of Education; Kevin McNeil, Regional Director of Admissions; Colleen Laub, CMO/Owner; and Richard Laub, CEO/Owner
Hair Dynamics Education Center
Cosmetology/hairstyling ranked nationally as one of the highest for job satisfaction in 2009, and the good news is, there’s no chance of it being outsourced overseas. “Some salons were hurt by the recession but most made it through and are still hiring,” says Tina Matuska, owner/Director of Hair Dynamics Education Center. Matuska says she saw an increase in enrollment over last year. “We’re generally busy and our programs are full,” she says. “We start classes monthly and we always see an increase.” Matuska and husband Dave started the school in 1984. Within three years they bought the building south of Fort Collins on Hwy 287. They went from 400 square feet to 17,000 square feet and started a major remodel a year and a half ago to accommodate growth. The school currently has 180 students. Full time students attend during the day and put in 30 hours a week, working four to five days a week for 15 months to complete the full cosmetology program. Nighttime classes are available for part time students. The full program includes hair, skin and nails. Students can elect to take just the hair program, which takes 10 months for full time students, or the aesthetics program (skin) or manicure program, each of which take five months. Most students take the full program, Matuska says. “Not all states recognize just hair or just nails. Only in the last 10 years has hairstyling by itself been recognized and still only about five or six states offer licensing for just hair.” Students finish the program ready for licensure, she says. “We prepare them for the two part test, written and practical, and we have a pretty high pass rate the first time. We track pass, fail, graduation and placement.” Hair Dynamics, which is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), has high outcomes, with 2008 figures showing completion rates at 78 percent, licensure at 94 percent and placement at 89 percent. “We hold a high standard for our training,” Matuska says. “The state requires 20 percent of training to be classroom time before they can work in the student salon but we require 36 percent classroom first. We know if we train them well before they go into the salon setting, they will do well.”
Style 2010
29
Green Up! Many businesses are going out of their way to help us live more green. These products are available locally and make a positive impact on the health of our environment. Here are a few new products or new applications for existing products designed to give proactive consumers the eco-friendly choice.
Artificial Turf Artificial turf has become increasingly popular, as advances in technology have made this product easier to use, more durable and more realistic. Artificial turf can be used in both residential and commercial settings as putting greens, bocce courts, landscaping projects, playgrounds, pet areas, sport surfaces and on rooftops. Artificial turf is a green choice because of the use of recycled materials for the subbase and in the turf, and a reduction in water usage for areas with artificial turf. It also eliminates any need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. “Artificial turf uses a large amount of recycled tires,” says Ben Collins, owner of Collins Turf. “And we recycle a lot of concrete for the sub-base material.” Some turfs are now being made with a backing derived from soybeans, says Collins. The turf can also be installed with a shock-absorbing recycled foam rubber padding for children’s play areas. “Artificial turf can turn an unusable part of the yard into a usable recreation area that never needs to be mowed, requires no water or pesticides and has no fertilizer runoff to taint waterways. It has low or no maintenance and pays for itself in just a few years,” says Collins. When used in pet areas, minimal maintenance is necessary – liquids run through, solids can be removed and the turf can be sprayed down occasionally with a product like Simple Green to keep it clean. For more information, contact Collins Turf at (877) TURF-123 or info@collinsturf.com. Or visit their website at www.collinsturf.com.
SKY Motor Oil Three months ago, Mountain View Goodyear began carrying this innovative new product. Since then, 25 percent of their oil changes use SKY motor oil and that number is still rising. SKY motor oil is re-refined oil that has the same quality standards as typical motor oil with the added benefit of reducing air pollutants, reducing dependency on foreign oils and conserving petroleum resources. Re-refined oils such as SKY, that have been certified by the American Petroleum Institute, are equal in quality to oil made from virgin base stocks. This is because the oil itself does not breakdown. Previously used oils can be cleaned and additives replaced to create a usable product. SKY’s re-refined oil, according to Jason Lightbody, general manager of Mountain View Goodyear, has the added benefit of being processed in the United States, further reducing foreign dependency. Additionally, Lightbody says that SKY motor oil has been proven to leave engines cleaner after a year of use. Currently, Mountain View Goodyear is the number one distributor of SKY oil in Northern Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyo. An oil change using SKY re-refined oil costs just $5 more than a normal oil change and lasts just as long. “It was an easy way for us to do something for the environment,” says Lightbody, “and we have had an amazing response from our customers.” Mountain View Goodyear has three locations: 221 E. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins; 148 E. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins; and 401 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY. Call 866-728-8306 or visit www.mountainviewgoodyear.com.
Heatilator Fireplaces Heatilator’s Constitution wood-burning fireplace has long been a best seller at MaSun Energy Systems, and a new line coming out this spring by Heatilator called Eco Choice offers even more value and power. Both lines are entirely EPAcompliant, clean burning packages. “There are not a lot of frills on the Constitution, but its firebrick lining and double fan system are what our customers really like. It really kicks out the heat and has a smaller chimney pipe. You get the whole package at a pretty good price,” says MaSun sales representative Duane Ritter. The Eco Choice line of wood and pellet burning stoves also offers homeowners great value and efficiency. “The new fireplaces are incredibly affordable with a very big firebox,” says Ritter. “The are sized to heat 1,700 to 2,200 square feet.” The stoves burn cleanly with carbon neutral and renewable fuels. Both the Eco Choice and the Constitution stoves qualify buyers for the federal Planet Hearth tax credit, which gives rebates of 30 percent of the cost of the unit, up to $1,500, on qualifying heating products that use biomass (wood or pellet) fuels. Fort Collins’ Zilch program also offers energy rebates on some wood-burning fireplace upgrades. For more information call MaSun Energy Systems, 308 Summit View Dr., Fort Collins, (970) 484-2112 or visit www.mefireup.com.
30
' '~ i
·'"
'
,
•
~.
.
'
Jl
.,
. •• Deotal h ygiemst on staff I • Annual exams. comp]e e with Vizi. Lit~® Pi tts '\ · ~ Gance~ 'S,cree . ing ~ , " ,
• Digitalic:-rays .· ,, ·
., ,
'
.
~
•')/.\'")
...
.,
~ N1trousPxide ~ JV,.'s_tor · patie t comfort · .,, • Mercury free fillings . ' ' . .,
<
)
'
,1,
•
• ~orcelain cro~ns, fi, ling~, \ and veneer,s ·
.,
.
·:-Brite~m•le~,w~ite rimg
Northern Colorado Business & Building 2009
31
Hope Lives!
Pictured: Marsha Petrovic, former Executive Director; Melissa Evans, current Executive Director; Emily Schneider, volunteer; Cathy Waugh, Event Coordinator; and Laurie Schulz, survivor and volunteer.
Hope Lives!
Looks to the Future
Have you ever felt like you were dropped from the comfort and security of your world into cold, dark, foreign surroundings where nothing is familiar? Ken Sargent, chairman of the board for Hope Lives! The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Foundation, says that’s exactly how many women feel upon receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.
“
W
omen often feel like aliens that don’t speak the language and have no map to help them navigate the territory,” he says. “They need help to know how to take that first step to slowly move forward in their journey.” Hope Lives!, says Sargent, helps approximately 200 women a year do just that – take that first step – by giving them support that continues throughout their journey. “We provide and pay for cancer-related services, support and education to go along with the medical treatment breast cancer patients are receiving.” Among the many free services they provide for clients are acupuncture, wigs, nutrition counseling, massage, reflexology, home cleaning, counseling and in-home exercise training. Often, says Sargent, Hope Lives! serves as a liaison with patient navigators at hospitals and other healthcare providers.
32
By Connie Hein
Hope Lives! founder Lydia Dody decisively and courageously battled breast cancer and knows how it feels to search for much-needed help, services and education, while simultaneously dealing with the challenges brought on by the disease. “My breast cancer journey was challenging, and the unknowns were frightening. My job became to educate myself, endure and become a survivor. Through this arduous process, I wanted other women to benefit from the services that helped me heal. In the past 10 years, Hope Lives! has provided approximately 12,000 free services to women diagnosed with breast cancer. We will continue our passionate mission until a cure is found!” says Dody. Dody, the Hope Lives! staff and volunteers of the foundation believe it is imperative that the process of finding complementary care and support should not add to the hardship of going through cancer treatment. This is the concept on which Hope Lives! was founded a decade ago. As the organization prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary (at their signature fundraising gala this October), Sargent says it is a time to reflect on and celebrate how far they have come since 2001. “We also want to show our gratitude for all the generous people that made it possible to help so many women throughout the years.” They look forward to sharing their vision for the future. “We are hoping to purchase a facility where caretakers can come to the clients in a quiet and restful place,” says Sargent. “Clients would be able to get their needs met in one location, from the first day of their devastating news and throughout their journey.” Hope Lives! fundraising will take on a twopronged approach for 2010 and 2011, as they
continue to raise funds to provide services for their clients and start to raise funds for the new facility. “It is an exciting time for us as we move forward and make long-term plans for the future,” says Sargent. As the new decade begins for Hope Lives!, there is also a new executive director. Marsha Petrovic, who served as director the past two years, has moved on to pursue other goals. Sargent says Petrovic has been a great executive director and deserves honor and praise for all she has contributed to the organization. Melissa Evans, the new executive director, took over in March and says she is very excited to continue the great work that has been started in the organization. “I look forward to bringing my energy, enthusiasm and passion to this great organization,” she says. “I hope to continue to raise awareness about our services, as well as work with people in the community to provide even more services to help women diagnosed with this disease.” Evans believes Hope Lives! brings a unique and important aspect of breast cancer care to Northern Colorado. “There are many great organizations that help with fundraising for research to find a cure, or give information for early detection and prevention, but Hope Lives! is unique because it helps women after the diagnosis,” she says. “I hope to get more and more people invested in this effort and create more and more excitement, which creates synergy in our community,” Evan adds. Evans is originally from Hutchinson, Kan., and has held other positions in non-profit organizations. She brings extensive experience in community relations, fundraising, event planning and volunteer management. “My experience with other organizations was great preparation for my new position,” she says. “I look forward to putting that experience to work furthering the mission of Hope Lives!” Sargent is also very passionate about continuing his work with the organization. He has been on the board since 2003 (with one short hiatus), and says his passion about Hope Lives! comes from watching his mother’s brave fight with breast cancer. “My mother fought the disease with dignity, but did it mostly alone for 10 years because she didn’t have resources like those provided by Hope Lives!,” he says. After hearing Lydia’s story and her mission, Sargent decided that if he could do something to help another woman going through the same kind of battle, he would do so in his mother’s honor. “Since I can’t give massages or make wigs, or any of the other services the organization provides, I decided I could support others that can do these extraordinary things for clients.” Hope Lives! is able to support women through generous donations and grants from the community and through the efforts of the many dedicated volunteers in Northern Colorado. “All our volunteers and staff bring loving compassion and concern to every patient,” he says. “Many are survivors themselves and understand what clients are going through.” Sargent encourages women who have received a breast cancer diagnosis to call the center immediately to speak with someone who can help guide them through the difficulties of diagnosis and help them navigate the foreign soil to find the support they need. For more information about care and services, call (970) 225-6200 or visit www.hopelives.org. Connie Hein is a freelance writer living in Windsor and praying for women going through this journey.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
For more information about our services, our events, to volunteer, or to donate, please contact Hope Lives!
2629 Redwing Road, Suite 260 • Fort Collins, CO 80526
970.. 225 ..6200 • www.hopelives.org
R.ORTER NDUSTRIES
Where clean meets green. 5202 Granite Street, Loveland· 970.667.5239
porterclean.com • maid-clean.com
Porter Industries leads the way in safe and healthy cleaning for a greener tomorrow!"
11
Porter Industries is a PROUD SPONSOR of Hope Lives!
Mary Baretta “Grace” Fund
The Bonnie J. Addario
Lung Cancer Foundation &
for Walk L ung C ancer To breathe fresh energy into raising both awareness and funding for lung cancer, the Mary Baretta “Grace” Fund 5K Run/Walk kicks off its inaugural event on April 24 in Boulder.
T
he event honors the memory of Mary Baretta who succumbed to non-smoker’s lung cancer in 2009. But it is also provides a platform for bringing funding and awareness issues into focus, says Ron Baretta, Mary’s husband and one of the organizers of the walk. Early detection of this deadly disease is essential, Baretta says, as he reflects on Mary’s story. “Here’s this really healthy woman who exercised and did everything correctly. She was a non-smoker and she had lung cancer? It was a shock,” recalls Baretta. “There is a stigma around lung cancer,” he continues. “One of the reasons there is not a lot of money in lung cancer research is because people think it’s all about smoking and that those who have it, brought it on themselves.” That’s not true. In fact, non-smoking cancer statistics are on the rise and it has become increasingly more common for non-smokers to be diagnosed with lung cancer. Statistics show one in five women and one out of 10 men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.
Mary Baretta “Grace” Fund 5K Walk/Run
By Kay Rios
Join the BJALCF/MBGF on Saturday, April 24, 2010, for their first ever 5K walk/ run in loving memory of Mary Baretta “Grace.” Participants can “walk, run, tumble, crawl, sprint, . . . hop, skip or jump” their way to the finish line while raising much-needed funding for early detection and lung cancer research.
Other little known facts about lung cancer: •
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. among every ethnic group: one in every three cancer deaths.
•
Lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers combined.
•
Over 60 percent of new cases are neversmokers or former smokers, many of whom quit decades ago.
•
Over 450 people die a day of lung cancer in the U.S. – an average of 19 people an hour. Every three minutes another person is diagnosed with lung cancer.
•
Lung cancer surpassed breast cancer as the #1 cancer killer of women in 1987. However, for every $9 spent on breast cancer, only $1 is spent on lung cancer in the U.S.
•
The majority of lung cancer patients are being diagnosed so late that they will die within one year.
•
The underfunding of lung cancer research has kept its survival rate as low as 15.5 percent – the same as it was over 40 years ago.
Race registration stars at 3:30 p.m. The shotgun start begins at 4:30 p.m. and the after-race celebration goes from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event is located at the Boulder Reservoir, 5100 North 31st Street, Boulder. The goal is to make history with 1,000 participants in 2010. “The hope for this first one is to raise $50,000,” says Ron Baretta, one of the organizers. “Next year, we may do one in Fort Collins as well but this year we’ll focus on the one in Boulder and do it right.” Participants are encouraged to preregister for the walk/run online at www.lungcancerfoundation.org. For additional information call (303) 586-1625 or email laurie@lungcancerfoundation.org.
- Statistics provided by the Lung Cancer Alliance and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation.
34
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
~wim
~un~a~ns of
1
ith us this Summer!
learn to swim program for
possibilities.
children ages 6 months & up
arm Water temperature
~
(fi)egin here, go an
ywhere.
USA
maintained 88- 90 degrees
orning and Evening
GYMNAStiCS p.\ember ctub
classes offered for more flexibility
Class Size
limited to
6 students
or less per instructor
Our Swimming Instructors are CPR, First Aid & Water Safety Swim
My Summer Checklist: swi..., every day, do gymnastics
Instructor Certified
egister soon for best availability!
twice a week, make some super "ool art projects, v sit all of rny local favori+e field trip spots, harg with my ca!T'p budd es and super cool camp counselors, practice my favonte sports anc. ·r p ove my k 'c;, rave a supe cool sumMer 1 Sign up for Summer Camp while there's still space! For children ages 5-12. We have lots of other programs for children outside of this age group. Call or email us for more information. @r
gymnastics & dance
Gymnastics
Dance
Summer Day Camp
Warm Water Swimming
·-··-·. mountain-ki ds.com 419 E. Stuart St. Fort Collins, CO 80525
.' . (j
Birthday After School Camp l.Oarmups Parties & Transportation Coffee & Clothing
(970)482 -31 infoftc@mountain-kids.com
NCMC Foundation
Foundation Focus
NCMC Cancer Institute
NCMC Foundation Supports Hospital By Angeline Grenz
Last year marked a season of change at the North Colorado Medical Center (NCMC) Foundation. Rather than a big funding push in 2009, the Foundation took advantage of a slower economy to re-evaluate priorities moving forward. “We spent a lot of time examining the stewardship process,” says John H. Smith, NCMC Foundation President. “As a profession, we spend a lot of our time prospecting and asking for gifts, but not enough focus keeping our donors informed.” With that realization, NCMC Foundation decided to reach out to its donors and become more donor-centric. “Last year, our board called more than 200 donors and thanked them personally for their support.” An e-newsletter was developed and is sent to more than 2,000 individuals six times a year. “This keeps them informed not only about the Foundation and activities, but also about the hospital,” says Smith. He also introduced the Community Intern Program, which invites five or six prominent community leaders to spend the day at the hospital. “They get to spend an entire day learning what really takes place behind the healthcare door,” says Smith.
36
Attendees visit 12 different areas within the hospital and are able to interact with directors, managers, physicians and administration. “This gives them a greater perspective of NCMC’s commitment to our community, the level of sophisticated technology, as well as the knowledge and expertise among the staff.” As the NCMC Foundation has worked to create better communication with its donors, the nonprofit has also made a move in its operating philosophy. “We have changed the focus of the Foundation to more closely align with the funding challenges facing the hospital,” says Smith. What that looks like in 2010 is a more streamlined focus when it comes to generating revenue. The Foundation reduced its major events from five per year to three. The three major fundraisers support three different areas of the hospital. The NCMC Foundation Gala, held in January, raised a record $135,000 for the NCMC Cancer Institute, one of the organization’s current fundraising priorities. The NCMC Cancer Institute is a model of excellence for cancer care. The cancer program has been on the leading edge of cancer treatment, technological advancement, services and research since 1951 when staff began collecting data for a cancer registry. In June, NCMC Foundation’s annual golf tournament will again benefit the Breast Center at NCMC. The June 14 event is expected to raise approximately $50,000 for a Faxitron, a piece of
diagnostic equipment that ensures biopsy samples are adequate for analysis. The Western States Burn Center Golf Classic, held every fall, supports NCMC’s Western States Burn Center. This event typically supports the Burn Center’s expansion, equipment needs and Advanced Burn Life Support program. The Boettcher Foundation has agreed to provide a 1 to 1 matching grant of up to $100,000 for the Burn Center through October 2010. The Cardio Vascular Institute will also benefit from donors’ generosity in 2010, as the Foundation begins to organize a fundraising effort to replace two echocardiograms and the electrophysiology lab. These initiatives are designed with the hospital’s needs in mind, but they make up only a fraction of the projects supported by the Foundation. Ongoing projects include the Hospitality House, for out-of-town families; First Steps, a program that provides pregnant mothers with referrals for medical care, education and information about community resources; Family Connects, which provides children’s programs such as Early Childhood Mental Health, Parents as Teachers Home Visitation and Grow Great Minds Early Learning Groups; Monfort Children’s Clinic; the Curtis Strong Center for the Visually Impaired; the Med-Aid Prescription Assistance program; the Will Rothman Family Chaplaincy; North Colorado Med Evac; ongoing nurse and caregiver education programs and scholarships; and a medical equipment fund. The NCMC Foundation was formed in 1975. In the past 35 years, it has raised nearly $40 million to support the hospital and related community health programs. To find out more about the NCMC Foundation or to give a gift, call (970) 356-9020 or visit www.ncmcfoundation.org.
Family Connects Grow Great Minds early learning group supported by NCMC Foundation.
Oil and gas industry supporters at the Western States Burn Center open house, April 2009.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Be extra sure. Choose digital mammography. With full-field digital mammography, you can benefit from less radiation exposure, shorter exam times and enhanced image clarity resulting in up to 28% more breast cancer being detected. Early detection, especially if you're 40 and over, is the best way to protect yourself from breast cancer. And at our Breast Center, we make your mammogram as pleasant as possible with easy check-in, warm robes, comfortable mammo pads, and a caring atmosphere. Appointments : 970-350-6070 Self referrals welcome
Banner Health
North Colorado Medical Center速
Summit View Medical Commons 2001 70th Avenue Greeley www.BannerHealth.com Keyword: NCMC
Breast Center North Colorado Medical Center is a Spirit of Women hospital. Banner Health is the leading provider of nonprofit health care in northern Colorado.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
Boys & Girls Clubs
R
of Larimer County
Daniel Romero, the 2010 Loveland Youth of the Year from Thompson Valley High School, was raised in a single-parent home while his father was in prison through many of the early years of his life. They didn’t meet until he was eight. When his mother was forced to turn her attention to family problems, Romero opted to live on his own and says he “kind of raised myself.”
By Connie Hein
omero lived across the street from the Loveland Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County (BGCLC) and joined the club when he was just 6 years old. At 14, he began volunteering through the club, which sparked his passion for helping others. Kathi Wright, BGCLC executive director, says Romero has always been an active member of the club. He has served as president of the Keystone Club, planned and implemented the Cardboard Cram to raise money for the homeless, worked with ROTC, the CO Meth Project, Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, and his church’s recent project at an orphanage in Mexico. Wright says Romero drives several children from his neighborhood to the club and is a wonderful mentor to many young children there. Romero hopes to become a youth minister after graduation. “Watching Daniel mature from an ornery little guy to an incredible leader has been a joy,” says Wright. Romero is one example of how BGCLC gives kids advantages they may not otherwise have. She says when their work is done well, the result is kids like Romero who are well on their way to achieving their greatest potential. CONT. ON PAGE 40
38
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
CONT. FROM PAGE 38 In addition to Romero, many club members are making outstanding achievements with the help of the staff at BGCLC. Ian Dreitz won the Wellington 2010 Youth of the Year. “He is an outstanding young man who demonstrates his caring abilities and shows every member they can count on him for help and support,” says Wright. Jose Hernandez was honored with a $4,900 scholarship, part of a 9Kids Who Care Award. Pam Rud, unit director at the Fort Collins club says, “For the Latino kids in particular, he’s a big role model. They look up to him as the kind of person they want to be.” He has been accepted to three colleges. Davey Nashelsky, the Fort Collins 2010 Youth of the Year, has served as a Tech Center and Recording Studio Coordinator, and Junior Staff. Wright says he learned the entire process of the Eagles Nest Recording Studio at the BGCLC right after it was developed. A Fort Collins Youth of the Year, Robin Klitch received over $20,000 in scholarships and was accepted to her top three college choices. “She was a great role model for younger members and wants to work with youth because of her experiences with the club,” says Wright. Sam Delude was voted Youth of the Month six times. He received a full Daniel’s Fund Scholarship with help from the staff during the application and interview process. “He is now a freshman at the University of New Mexico and still checks in with staff to report his progress,” says Wright. Wright says the mission of BGCLC is to provide safe places, caring professionals and proven programs to help youths, like the ones above, reach their full potential. BGCLC has units in Wellington, Fort Collins and Loveland. For $5 per year, youth ages 6 to 18 can be at the club 25 hours a week during school terms and extra hours during school breaks. BGCLC’s staff is trained regularly in programs that help youth in the arts, character and leadership, education, technology, career development, health and life skills, and sports/fitness/recreation. Through the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations who share the belief in the potential of all girls and boys regardless of their circumstances, Wright says BGCLC helps hundreds of kids become caring, successful adults. For more information about BGCLC, readers may call (970) 223-1709 or visit www. bgclarimer.org.
40
Pamela Amelang
Jon Ainslie
Andrea Crowl
Jessica Collins
emily kennedy
Theresa Rudel
Amy stevens
Vivian Teumer
Pamela Amelang
Emily Kennedy
Pamela is married to Darell and they have three children: Amber, 32, Crystal, 30, and Terra, 22. Pamela is one of the five owners of Della Terra Mountain Chateau and the wedding manager. She enjoys reading, travel, interior design and architecture. “The whole process was fun but scary! I usually prefer to stay out of the picture! The clothing provided by The Twisted Pine was beautiful.”
Emily is manager of CorePower Yoga Studio. In addition to her love of power yoga, Emily enjoys cardio kickboxing, reading and riding her bike. “I enjoyed this experience and the chance to model our beautiful clothing. I would love to have the readers of Style Magazine explore the numerous benefits of a yoga practice!”
Jon Ainslie Jon is an advertising representative for Style Magazine. In his spare time, Jon enjoys international game fishing, diving, skydiving, skiing, hunting, golf, world travel and art collecting. “It was fun to be on the other side of the process. The setting, Della Terra, was spectacular and the whole day was fun. The selection at The Twisted Pine was terrific – I want the jacket I modeled!”
Theresa Rudel Theresa is married to Rob and they have two children, Rachel, 16, and Jake, 11. Rachel is a personal trainer at Fort Collins Club. When not helping others meet their fitness goals, Theresa keeps in shape by running, cycling, mountain climbing and lifting. “I had so much fun and they made me feel relaxed! I love the clothing line because it fits so well and moves with your body.”
Amy Stevens
Andrea and husband Douglas are proud parents of Ruby, 5, and Sadie, 11 months. She is a yoga instructor and retail manager for CorePower Yoga. She enjoys practicing yoga and running to stay fit. “I enjoyed working with the photographer and I had fun trying something new. CorePower Yoga has an ever-changing selection of active and lifestyle wear.”
Amy is married to John and has two children, Tyler, 18, and Alex, 14. She is owner of The BeanBlossom in Estes Park. When not working at her boutique, she enjoys exercising, skiing and spending time with her family and friends. “Lydia and her staff are fun, inviting and professional. This was a great opportunity for me as a storeowner to have such a unique experience. Della Terra is a gorgeous facility and is special to me because my nephew will be married here in July.”
Jessica Collins
Vivian Teumer
Jessica is an interior designer, owner of Acquire Design and director of marketing for the historic Crags Lodge. She enjoys skiing, biking, hiking, backpacking, reading, cooking, wine tasting, movies, live music and, most of all, spending time with friends and family. “This was the most fun I have ever had! I was unsure what to expect, but in the end I had a great time. Lydia and her staff were wonderful.”
Vivian is married to Jamie. Together they have five children: Dustin, Abram, Devin, Chris and Sean. Vivian is a personal trainer at Fort Collins Club. She enjoys travel, especially to Mexico with her husband, working out and spending time with her family. “What a fun experience! They made me feel special. I love Skirt Sport clothes – they let me be girly even when I work out!”
Andrea Crowl
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Theresa looks great in this vibrant turquoise v-neck sport tank, $45, and organic bamboo and spandex fitted capri pant with embroidery and snap detail, $35, both by Green Apple. Courtesy of Fort Collins Club, Fort Collins. Emily has full range of motion for all her yoga stances in this black and white floral athletic deep-v spandex tank, $54, and athletic groove yoga pants, $98, both by lululemon. Pictured with a Yogitoes skidless mat, $65. Andrea stays fit in style in this power tank in raspberry, $52, and reversible crop yoga pants with multi-colored fold-down waistband, $86, created to withstand five years of physical abuse. Both by lululemon. A Yogitoes headband finishes the look, $5. Courtesy of CorePower Yoga, Fort Collins. Vivian is ready to workout, outfitted in this breathable pink and white tank with built-in bra, $55, and pink and white floral lycra sport skirt with built in panty, $44, both by Skirt Sports. Courtesy of Fort Collins Club, Fort Collins.
Pam enjoys the afternoon sun in a Damselle “Chateaux” faux fur knit ruffle jacket, $95 – heaven to the touch! A three-strand turquoise bead necklace is the perfect bit of contrast, $86. Courtesy of The Twisted Pine, Estes Park. Amy’s flirty yet elegant royal blue poly dress by Frank Lyman, $169, fits and flatters. Feminine shutter pleats and attractive jewelry neckline makes for a year round classic. Ruffle handbag by Sondra Roberts, $79, and Origin pendant necklace, $40, complete the look. Courtesy of The BeanBlossom, Estes Park. Perfect for a wedding, Amy’s exquisite hot pink nylon/poly blend evening coat by Joseph Ribkoff, $298, features a stand-up ruffle collar, pockets and cuffs. The coat’s sheen is set off nicely by the Brighton silver pendant necklace, $44. Courtesy of The BeanBlossom, Estes Park.
Jennifer shows off a smart-looking Tribal ensemble. Lightweight lime green tie front jacket, $98, tops a sparkling multicolored tank, $59, and loose black slacks by Insight, $70. Courtesy of The BeanBlossom, Estes Park. Jon and Jessica enjoy a brisk spring day outside Della Terra Mountain Chateau. Jon is handsome in a men’s Lone Pine “Romano” black Highland deerskin jacket with double collar and brown leather accents, $1,300. The jacket’s cashmere lining wears like iron! Jessica is ready for adventure in this double face lamb leather jacket in brown with whipstitch details and raccoon collar, $1,195, and Ethyl denim jeans with crystal grommet accents, a slight flair leg and just the right amount of stretch, $52. Courtesy of The Twisted Pine, Estes Park.
43
LifeStyle
spur local economies
A
rt is what binds us together and bears witness to our shared experience as humans. Art stimulates creativity and develops vibrant communities. It does so mainly through our hearts, by tapping into that connective thread between us all, but art also serves as a community builder through our economy – much of it on a local level. A study by the nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts found that nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year. Of that, $63.1 billion is spent by organizations with an additional $103.1 billion spent by their audiences in event-related costs. That $166 billion translates to 5.7 million fulltime equivalent jobs for Americans, and $7.9 billion in local government revenue, collectively. The precise impact can be difficult for smaller communities to quantify, but is easily shown to be effective by the number of towns that offer regular arts-based events. By weaving gallery walks into a “night on the town” experience, groups of business owners and artists work to-
44
gether to provide satisfying cultural experiences that generate income for entire districts. What is an art walk? Gallery or art walks are collaborations between galleries, museums and sometimes business associations where visitors use a map to drop in on suggested art installations. Along the way, some districts add to the experience with live music and other performance arts. Invariably art-goers will stop for refreshments and shopping along the way. Fort Collins The Fort Collins Gallery Walk began 14 years ago when Marcy Oliver at Old Town Art & Framery wanted to grow public awareness of the many galleries in the area. Building on a model she had seen in Laramie, Wyo., the walks were intended to make art lovers aware of the rich local art scene that existed. “I think the walk has remained a mainstay for so many years because it’s a free event and it appeals to so many different kinds of people:
“
“
walks Art
By Corey Radman
Art is the signature of civilizations. Beverly Sills, operatic soprano
young families with children to older couples,” says Oliver. Peggy Lyle, programming and event director for Downtown Fort Collins, can attest to the event’s impact on the district. “We can tell from the influx of activity that happens on those first Fridays – the fullness of restaurants and parking – that it’s an ongoing favorite.”
Loveland A longtime friend and former employee of Oliver’s, Billie Colson, learned about the impact a gallery walk can have when she worked at Old Town Art & Framery. After moving to Loveland and opening her own Independence Gallery (named for her birthday on July 4), one of the first things Colson pursued was a similar event. “I could see tons of cars from people going
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
to restaurants and thought why not give them something else to do?” she says. “There aren’t a large number of galleries in Loveland, so we encouraged shops to stay open later than usual on the second Friday of the month. Many of the restaurants offer specials on those evenings and the whole area just feels like a big block party!” Especially in warmer months, Colson says, people come down and enjoy an evening stroll. “One night the streets were so packed, the city had to send police on horseback for crowd control. It was wall to wall.” Loveland’s downtown is approaching the 5th anniversary of its Night on the Town this spring, and Colson is already dreaming about a fun way to celebrate. Estes Park The 20th anniversary of the Estes Park Cultural Arts Council’s Art Walk and Jazz Fest is coming up on May 15 and 16. A combined effort of the art council and the town of Estes Park, the Jazz Fest has become a regional draw. “We’re a small but mighty community; we have art from all over the world and a great variety of genres,” says Lynda S. Vogel, executive director of the arts council. The art walk in Estes Park is ongoing during the day, rather than scheduled on an evening, though the community regularly promotes the arts through events like the Jazz Fest. Vogel maintains that the opportunities to enjoy art and nature in Estes Park are one of a kind. “I don’t know of any place else on the Front Range where you can observe a painter at work beside the river and have an elk walk up,” she says. “One year at the Plein Air outdoor painting event, we had 80 elk come running through. It was a stampede; all the artists held onto their paintings for dear life, but not one person was hurt.” Greeley Where the previous community art walks are compact, Greeley’s is just the opposite. Their participating businesses and galleries are far spread, and the city uses that to their advantage to keep people coming back. “Every month is a whole new experience,” says Bianca Fisher, project coordinator for Greeley’s Downtown Development Authority. “People come back repeatedly to try to catch something they missed the month before.” Greeley makes a special effort to include live music on the plaza during summer months and indoor events at Zoe’s Café in cooler weather. The Tointon Gallery in the Union Colony Civic Center is the anchor in downtown, but the Greeley Freight Station Museum on 10th Street is garnering rave reviews from families and history buffs with its model train displays. Pam Bricker, owner of Mariposa Plants and Flowers and Chair of the Greeley Downtown Alliance, has been an active participant of Spend the Night on the Town for the year and a half she has owned the shop. “There really is something for everyone,” she says. “At Mariposa, we always pick a theme and decorate the windows… we retailers want to encourage people to come downtown and enjoy the galleries and our city,” she says. As the weather warms, consider an evening on the town… it’s your duty to civilization. Corey Radman is a writer and mother who lives in Fort Collins.
Style 2010
45
Art Lab Fort Collins
287
Currently residing at 239 Lindon St. • 970.556.8600
Cherry St.
= parking garage
Willow St.
100 S. College Ave. • 970.493.4111
Centennial Galleries of Fine Art 233 Linden St. • 970.221.5290
CoCo Artist Studio
11 Old Town Square, Suite 121-A • 970.308.6278
Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art (FCMOCA) 201 S. College Ave. • 970.482.2787
A Hwy 14
D
Illustrated Light Gallery of Fine Art Photography
t
K
L
119 W. Oak St. • 970.490.1001
Ch
es tn
Indigo Gallery
ut S
1 Old Town Square, Suite 103 • 970.493.4673
E
N G
Leap of Faith Fine Art Gallery
O
148 W. Oak St., Suite C • 970.493.5327
C
Lincoln Center Art Galleries 417 W. Magnolia • 970.416.2737
Oak St. Plaza
Meko’s Gallery and Framing 222 Linden St. • 970.221.4208
I
Old Town Art and Framery
F
H
173 N.College Ave. • 970.221.5105
Fort Collins Gallery Walk First Friday of every month, 6-9 p.m. www.fortcollinsgallerywalk.com
Poudre River Art Center
406 N. College Ave. • 970.672.4887
Trimble Court Artisans
118 Trimble Ct. • 970.221.0051 J
Wadoo Furniture and Gifts
To
314 E. Mountain Ave. • 970.223.4012
A
Sage Moon Original Artwork & Gifts
B
The Master’s Fine Art Gallery & Sculpture Garden
C
Loveland Museum/Gallery Art & History
D
Lincoln Gallery Original Artwork
E
Independence Gallery Original Artwork
F
Art of the Rockies
46
M
Cache Bank and Trust (Quarterly Shows Only)
I-25
Loveland
B
7th
116 E. 4th St. • 970.461.8866 116 E. 4th St. • 970.461.8866
6th
503 N. Lincoln • 970.962.2410 429 N. Lincoln • 970.663.2407 440 N. Lincoln • 970.669.0889
C
5th
440 N. Lincoln • 970.669.5111
D
E F
Washington
Jefferson
3rd
Lincoln
A
Clevland
4th Railroad
Art Walk Art Walk Art Walk
102 W. Mountain Ave. • 970.223.6450
O
Fort Collins
North
Art on Mountain
Night on the Town Second Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m. www.independence-gallery-llc. fineartamerica.com
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
lEW TIRE AND AUTO SERVICE
EW FlEET SE]RVICE FROM 2 TO 100 FLEET VEHICLES WE HAVE THE FLEET SOLUTIONS YOU NEED WE OFFER EASY FINANCING AFTER HOURS REPAIRS, AND OF COURSE A DEDICATED FLEET SALES MANAGER TO HANDLE YOUR ACCOUNTS
148 E. Foothills Parkway Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-226-4103
401 W. Lincolnway Cheyenne, WY 82001 307-634-3546
221 E. Mountain Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-482-9533
Hours Of Operation: Monday - Friday 7:30 -6:00 ALL DAY SATURDAY
Please join over 30 Larimer County restaurants, plus wineries and breweries for an evening of delicious food and fabulous drink.
Northern Colorado Business & Building 2009
47
Estes Park Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park
2
Glassworks Studio & Gallery
3
Omnibus
4
Village Goldsmith, Inc
5
Highland Music & Minstrel’s Gifts
6
Earthwood Collections
7
Images of Rocky Mountain National Park
8
Art Center of Estes Park
9
Wildlife Photo Art
423 W. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.586.9203
Wonderview Ave. Hwy 34 Bi-pass
323 W. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.586.8619
239 W. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.586.5523
141 E. Elkhorn Ave.• 970.577.8100 203a Park Lane • 970.372.5212
Performance Park
e. Av
235 W. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.586.5659 157 W. Elkhorn Ave • 577.9532
or eg Gr ac M
1
7
2 3
Wes t Elk ho
rn A ve.
4
5
6
11
10
9
Big Thompson River
Fall River
517 Big Thompson • 970.586.5882
440 E. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.577.1111
River Jewelry, Antiques & Coins 10 Fall 356 E. Elkhorn Ave. #4 • 970.586.4367 11 Photos by Sandi
e D r.
Hwy 36 Moraine Ave.
14
rsid
304 E. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.577.8187
Spirits Ltd. – Gallery, Gifts & Custom Framing 12 Wild 148 W. Elkhorn Ave. • 970.586.4392
Big Thompson River
15 miles south on Hwy. 7 to Allenspark
Ri
Designs Weaving Studio 13 Neota 156 Wiest Drive • 970.586.8800 14 The Old Gallery
Ea
st
14863 Hwy 7, Allenspark • 303.747.2089
Ongoing, self-guided tours www.estes.org or www.estesarts.com
Greeley
Greeley History Museum
4
Tointon Gallery
5
The Dragon’s Cache Gallery
6
Greeley Freight Station Museum
7
Showcase Art Center
8
Madison & Main Gallery
9
Margie’s Java Joint
800 8th Ave., Ste 317 • 970.356.7100
5
7th St. 4
714 8th St. • 970.350.9220
651 10th Ave. • 970.350.9450 1109 7th St. • 970.353.1051
8th St. 2
931 16th St. • 970.356.6364
Theatre Art Gallery 10 Atlas 709 16th St.
1
9th Ave.
10th Ave.
927 16th St. • 970.351.6201
7
9th St.
680 10th St. • 970.392.2934
1335 8th Ave. • 970.356.8593
13th St.
3
10th St.
14th St.
8th Ave.
3
818 9th St. Plaza • 970.352.9341
9th Ave.
2
The Eden Gallery
8th Ave.
Max’ims Art Gallery
Lincoln Park
1
48
East Elkhorn Ave.
Bond Park
13 12
Art Walk Information
To Loveland Hwy 34
8
ve
Art Walk Art Walk Art Walk 1
15th St. 6
8
9
10
16th St.
First Friday: Spend the Night on the Town First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. www.greeleydowntown.com
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Style 2010
49
rugby proves itself a gentleman among sports
For the love
of the Game
Great Outdoors
By Corey Radman
It’s 45 degrees outside and Terje Whitmore is breathing hard, his steady puffs pushing condensation into the gray, March sky. As his breathing slows, the small cloud over his head rises and mingles with the breath of the 29 other rugby players on the muddy pitch. They are 30 minutes into a non-stop 40 minute period of rugby. 50
W
hitmore crouches, linking his arms into the scrum – the huddled pack of players, both teammates and opponents – readying to pounce for the ball. As he stares ahead, his eyes lock onto those of a beefy forward before him. Whitmore contemplates the best way to smash into him and his seven bloodthirsty brethren to gain possession. He has no fear. “Rugby is an elegant violence,” Whitmore says of the game which is often compared to soccer. The difference? “Soccer is a gentleman’s game, played by a bunch of hooligans. But rugby is a hooligan sport played by a bunch of gentlemen.” He laughs, aware that he may offend, but confident that spectators of a rugby match will agree with him. Respect for the game reigns supreme among players and fans alike. Whitmore is president of the Northern Colorado Rugby Club (NCRC), established in 1978 in Fort Collins. “Sure, it’s a very competitive, aggressive game, but the players’ camaraderie and passion is like no other sport,” he says. Teammate Eric Rice recently joined the club, bringing his experience from high school play in Kansas. He explains that rugby tradition requires the home team to take the away team out for beers after the game for socialization. Many nights the singing and carousing carry on into the wee hours.
“If you still have aggression towards the other team after a match, you didn’t play hard enough,” Rice says. “You leave it all out on the field. Rugby is a great outlet for all the frustrations that come up during the week … after the game, you’re free of all those burdens.” He grins, relaxing into his chair the morning after the season’s first win. The club, dubbed “The Flamingos” by the early founders, currently has about 35 active players who practice and play home games in Timnath at the WildWing field. The Flamingos are one of six Division II clubs, which includes teams from Denver, Colorado Springs, Greeley and Glenwood Springs. Their schedule also includes matches with several Division I teams, as well as regional collegiate teams. According to the team website (www.fortcollinsrugby.com), “The season is split into a Fall (September/ October) and Spring (March/April) schedule with each club playing each other twice a year. The championship team advances to Western Regionals in May, culminating in a national Final Four Championship in early June.” To attend a game, check the team website for their schedule. No admission fee is charged, and attendance at the after-game party is encouraged.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Impact
Most players on the Flamingos are working professionals by day, rugby players by night. Players range in age from 20 to 45 years old. The adult league supports Fort Collins Youth Rugby league (with boys and girls teams) through coaching and mentorships. Many of those youth players go on to play on the adult men’s and women’s teams. While youth rugby players come from all over the city, Whitmore has made it his personal mission and a team goal to pull troubled teens into the league. “Rugby saved my life,” he says. “I was headed into a life of gangs and violence when my buddies got me to come out and play in a sport that was sometimes violent, but it had structure. And the team was a family.” Charlie Snyder was club president when Whitmore was a young player. Snyder downplays Whitmore’s troubled roots, but is clearly proud of the player and the man he has become. “Terje was a typical young guy with a real talent for the sport,” he says. “He’s a hardnosed old-style rugby player. He’s learned a lot about technique and finesse in his years of play, but in his heart he likes to square up and go head to head.” Snyder says the ties among rugby players are akin to family. “Risking your body together on a regular basis over years … you tend not to forget those guys.” That type of battle-like bond coupled with the social aspect of rugby is exactly the environment Whitmore thinks will benefit at-risk teens through the club’s “From the Streets to the Pitch” program. At present, the effort is in its infancy, but community advocates for at-risk youth are beginning to show an interest in lending their support and recommendation as well. “I just want to offer an outlet,” Whitmore says.
Commitment to Community
NCRC supports several charitable causes, including Toys for Tots and food drives for the food banks. Additionally, NCRC has made helping kids in the community a formal priority by choosing Realities for Children as their official team charity. “We pledge to donate 50 percent of all that we raise through events to Realities for Children in 2010,” says Whitmore. Realities President Craig Secher is enthusiastic about the new partnership. “We are very pleased to be chosen by Northern Colorado Rugby,” Secher says, “In addition to pledging to raise over $10,000 for the abused and at-risk children we serve this year, they are also stepping up as lead volunteers and helping to raise awareness about the needs of abused children in Larimer County. Their commitment to our community’s children is a powerful statement about the true character of this team and their impact countywide as an organization.”
Corporate Players Club
To aid in the goal of broadening their reach, the rugby club has begun a partnership program with local businesses. However, the Corporate Players Club (CPC) is more than just a sponsorship program, Whitmore explains. “The intention is to get small businesses involved with the team. We want CPC members to enjoy the benefits of being a part of our community.” Whitmore has spearheaded the effort to build this new program, whose early members include
Style 2010
51
Tony’s Bar and Grill, Stonehouse Grille and Floyd’s 99 Barbershop. He envisions a group of like-minded business owners who enjoy watching the sport, appreciate the connection and exposure to players and other businesses in the network, and who extend and receive benefits like discounts or services within the CPC community. “We support our CPC members with several membership benefits and through multitiered social marketing campaigns that drive traffic to their businesses,” says Whitmore. “There’s a lot to gain from being a CPC member,” says Jim Katopodis, manager of Tony’s Bar and Grill. “We’ve seen more traffic because of our membership over the last three years. Because of the after game get-togethers where they bring the away team in, we’ve become known as the rugby bar in town. Then those teams start coming in too and bringing their friends.” Katopodis sums up the dissonance that embodies first impressions of the rugby club when he says, “They’re great big guys, and at first I thought they might be trouble. But that’s not them at all … they’re really responsible … they’re gentlemen.” Corey Radman is a writer and mother of two who would turn tail and run like the wind if one of these players spotted her with the ball.
How is Rugby Played? Rugby is easiest to learn by watching a match with someone who can explain it as the action plays out, but here are a few basics: • The game is played in two non-stop 40-minute periods, with a 10-minute halftime. There are no time-outs. • Each team has 15 players on the field – eight forwards and seven backs. Generally, forwards are bigger and lay the groundwork for smaller, more agile backs to score. • The ball is advanced by being kicked or run by a player. No forward passing is allowed. • Points are scored in several ways: a try (the sport’s equivalent to a touchdown) scores five points and is made by grounding the ball into the goal; a subsequent conversion kick scores two points; penalty kicks and drop goals each score three points.
52
Personalized service tailored to reveal
your beautiful, confident smile. • Teeth-in-a-day®• Implants • Extractions • IV Sedation Summit Oral & Implant Surgery is a local private practice owned by Dr. Zachary Owen, an oral surgeon who specializes in surgical extractions and dental implants. Dental Implants are the most modern and effective solution for missing teeth. A solution that will last a lifetime. By replacing loose or bothersome dentures you can improve your appearance, boost self esteem and eliminate stressful situations. Come see us if you'd like to discuss your rejuvenated smile.
The Highest in Qgality &.. Care
N C M C F O U N D AT I O N G A L A January 30 :: Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa & Conference Center :: Loveland “James Bond, Casino Royale” was the evening’s theme at the annual NCMC Foundation Gala, attended by more than 400 community members. Special festivities included a martini bar featuring Bond favorite, The Vesper, a luxury sports car display, and just-for-fun gaming tables. Guests also enjoyed a gourmet dinner, a montage of Bond themed live dance performances and a silent auction. The Gala also honored the Pink Ladies, a group of 17 breast cancer survivors whose dedication over 12 years has raised funds for breast cancer research. The event netted more than $135,000 for the purchase of a stereotactic radiotherapy machine and technology upgrades for the Cancer Institute at North Colorado Medical Center (NCMC). Photos provided by Juan Leal.
Colleen & Steve Carrico
Greg & Amber Denzel
Greg & Gina Pickerel
Catie Dabbs, Mark Cook
The Pink Ladies– Recipients of the NCMC Foundation Award: Sarah Armbrust, Vonda Shirazi, Lea Prothe, Bonnie Dean, Caryl Sills, Cathy Smith, Andrea Hawkins, Jean Morrell
GIVE 10 GRAND GALA February 6 Hanger at Fort Collins/Loveland Airport :: Loveland The 3rd Annual Give 10 Grand Gala saw an increase this year, with over 230 guests attending. The blacktie event had a 1940s-inspired theme, complete with a 1943 Staggerwing Beechcraft plane that greeted guests upon their arrival. During dinner, a string quartet and vocalists performed Cole Porter tunes and high-energy swing music entertained guests after dinner. Give 10 is a local initiative created to inspire philanthropy and build a stronger Larimer County community. Photos courtesy of Harper Point Photography
Gail Bratz, Bill West, Bev Donnelley
54
Donn & Mary Turner
Lee & Lester Kaplan
Gretchen Gaede, Shelly Hill, Ryan Keiffer
Karen & Carl Spina
Diane & Bill Warren
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
D A N C I N G W I T H T H E S TA R S of fort collins February 12 :: Lincoln Center :: Fort Collins Ten couples provided an evening of glitz, glamour and plenty of sizzle at this 3rd annual dance competition event. Local celebrities partnered with professional dancers from Northern Colorado to dance the Swing, Hip Hop, Waltz, Tango and more, as they competed for votes and the coveted Dancing With the Stars trophy. Over 300 guests applauded the passionate dancers and helped to raise $32,000 for Canyon Concert Ballet Company and their mission of cultural enrichment in the community through dance performances.
Heather & Danny Huerta
Gary Hixon
Jane Sullivan
(2009 Dancing With the Stars Winner)
Ann Yanagi, Jeff Hughes
Frank Heine, Carrie Martello
Laurel Brubacher, Brian Thompson 2010 Winners of Dancing With the Stars
Dawn Putney, Chris McCullough Mike Clary, Linda & Larry Smith, Melissa Clary
Eric Glenn, Shelby Morrison
Helping you climb the path to financial success • Business & Individual Tax Services & Planning • Business Start Up • Bookkeeping, Payroll & Quickbooks Consulting • Auditing & Financial Statement Preparation FORT COLLINS 301 East Olive Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 970.493.6869
Style 2010
www.rlrcpas.com GREELEY 4631 W. 20th St Rd, Ste. 101 Greeley, CO 80634 970.304.9420
WINDSOR 825 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 970.493.6869
CHEYENNE 1620 Central Ave, Ste. 304 Cheyenne, WY 82001 370.631.5598
55
S I M P LY R E D February 12 :: Hilton :: Fort Collins The color red was in abundance at this popular 7th annual event. Held on the eve of Valentine’s Day, the 250-plus guests enjoyed a delicious dinner, live auction, mystery Valentine’s Day boxes and rose raffle. Mike Demma was awarded the 2010 Lamplighter Award and recognized as a ‘light’ leading the way within our community through his commitment to youth and education. The evening raised $30,000 for TEAM and their mission to prevent the abuse and illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among our youth.
Ricardo & Kim Nieves
Ken DeSimone, Mike Demma (2010 Lamplighter Award Recipient), Scoot Crandell
Brooke & Brian Hopkins
Jami & Dan Wiens
Mark Driscoll
Linda Clark, Connie Hanrahan
Candy & Tim Wirt
C H AT A M O U R I I I February 13 :: Drake Centre :: Fort Collins More than 300 cat lovers enjoyed a purrrrfect evening at this feline event. Guests enjoyed a savory dinner, silent and live auction, including the Grande Cat Auction, and were entertained by Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald from Animal Planet. The full evening helped raise over $38,000 to benefit the Fort Collins Cat Rescue (FCCR) and their continual work helping the feline population and with spays and neuters for the community. Since opening their clinic in June 2006, FCCR has had more than 2,400 adoptions and performed over 11,400 cat/dog neuters and spays.
Brian Kughman, Sarah Swanty, Jan Thydean, Debbie Chesonis
Claire Stevens, Asher, Joseph Case
56
Jan Link
Judy Calhoun, Sandra Risler
Margaret Zamzow, Judy Jackson
Anna Neubauer, Saxon, Eldred Bristol
Susan & Richard Harrison
Saundra Skrove, Betsy Strafach, Peter Frosio, Kara Brown
Ruth & Jeff Swanty
Kit Sutherland, Scott Kinze
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
4th annual Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day with ramstrong February 14 Donnan Home:: Fort Collins More than 120 guests came to celebrate community, love, relationships and survivorship at this event and helped to raise $31,000 for RAMSTRONG and their mission to support local cancer survivors by providing financial assistance for basic needs, scholarships, programs and services. Since its inception, RAMSTRONG has raised over $400,000 and in 2009 was able to help 88 local cancer patients/survivors to meet basic needs while going through treatment. Photos courtesty of Joe Vasos.
Becky Vasos, Marcia Donnan, Donna Schnieder, Lori Hottman, Johnna Bavoso
Don French
Jeff & Jessie Donaldson, Diana French
Julie Rickett, Sharon & Larry Merkel
Wendy Ahlm, Kelly Koza
Style 2010
Deanna & Jack McCrery
DJ Johnson, Lisa Wilson, John Arnolfo
Jill Belisle, Terry McNeal, Terri Johnson
57
Roger and B.J. Clark Inspired by Art and Community
I
n Loveland, it’s hard to tell what came first: a community dedicated to the arts or artists drawn together to create a community. Regardless, supporting Loveland’s arts goes hand in hand with being an active part of the community. No one knows this better than Roger and B.J. Clark. The Clarks would humbly have you take away from this article not that they have done something special in Loveland. Rather, they would firmly remind readers that what makes the arts such a prominent part of Loveland culture spans far beyond the simple ways in which they are able to participate. They point to a community of “friends helping friends” and the energy created when artists are around other artists. One would argue, however, that it is the Clarks’ example (and others like them) – two art lovers who just want to be involved – that is exactly what shaped Loveland into what it is today. Roger and B.J.’s story started when they met at Harvard in 1970, “a product of the coed dorm rooms,” says Roger. Roger was
58
at Harvard Law School and B.J. was obtaining her English degree. After marrying and taking up residence in Chicago in 1971, they came to Loveland to visit a friend, Larimer County Judge Dave Williams, and fell in love with “all that stuff that draws people out,” says Roger. From Rocky Mountain National park to the Colorado lifestyle, they were hooked and Loveland, in particular, was the apple of their eye. “Roger always had the urge to be in a smaller town, part of a community,” says B.J. In 1973, they picked up their belongings and moved. Thirty-seven years later, the Clarks have a grown daughter, and two grandchildren, ages seven and five years, who live in Frederick, Colorado. Roger has always been interested in the arts. His mother was an accomplished artist, and one of her paintings is proudly displayed in Roger’s office at his Loveland law firm, Clark Williams and Matsunaka. The painting hangs on the wall across from his desk, a prized spot. “My mother painted, did ceramics, threw pots . . . she dragged me to a lot of museums when I was young,” he says, so his interest came naturally. Clark is a bit of an artist himself – “I draw some,” he reveals – though he keeps mostly quiet about his own works. B.J. is also an artist, though her works take the form of words on paper. She is a published author of two books (one a children’s book). She is also executive director for Epsilon Sigma Alpha International in Fort Collins, a service organization that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The early 70s was a fortuitous time for the Clarks to settle in Loveland. Loveland’s artists were busy setting the city apart as a true arts community. The Clarks were present through the establishment of the Art Castings of Colorado art foundry; saw the determination of five sculptors who in 1984 had the vision to create a world-class sculpture show, Sculpture
in the Park; and participated in the restoration and revival of the Rialto Theater, which reopened in 1995. Throughout these important events in Loveland’s art history, Roger and B.J. supported the arts with philanthropic works, volunteering and leadership. Roger has served on the board of directors for the Erion Foundation since the mid-90s, the only non-family member to do so. He also serves on the City of Loveland Visual Arts Commission board and the Community Foundation’s Loveland Community Fund Committee Board of Trustees. Roger’s work on these boards, geared toward promoting Loveland’s arts, only tells part of the story. He and B.J. call many of Loveland’s artists “friends” and were eager to wrap up their interview in the interests of meeting up with one local artist for a St. Patrick’s Day feast. They speak with emotion about other Loveland artists and art lovers, such as sculptor George Walbye, who was one of the forefathers of Loveland’s Sculpture in the Park, and George’s late wife Phyllis, the beloved Reporter-Herald arts and entertainment editor. A sculpture commissioned in Phyllis’ honor will be placed outside the Rialto Theater in May. The sculpture’s dedication will coincide with the theater’s 90th anniversary. Together, B.J. and Roger enjoy writing poetry and belong to a local poetry club, led by acclaimed artist Veronica Patterson. Whatever the medium, the Clarks participate in, advocate for and get a little misty-eyed over Loveland’s great collection of artists. They encourage everyone to embrace the arts: “It gives you a fuller life,” says Roger. Often, when he speaks publically in support of the arts, he uses one of his favorite quotes from B.J. “I tell them, ‘Arts reference the human spirit. You can’t do better than investing in humanity.’”
Angeline Grenz is editor of Style Magazine.
in•no•vate – v. 1. to introduce something new; make changes in anything established, 2. to alter.
Style invites you to nominate your Community Innovator. Send suggestions to angie@stylemedia. com for consideration.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
RFUMtiC® january -December 2009
IS THE TOP REAL ESTATE ORGANIZATION IN NORTHERN COLORADO
5.7% Coldwell Banker
nl:fAAit..V HAS THE RESOURCES THAT LEAD
IV1~F'I~
TO SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTIONS
<:£ Experienced Agents <:£ A Brand People Know and Trust <:£ A Vast Referral Network to Connect Buyers and Sellers <:£ Extensive Visibility for your Property on remax.com <:£ Agents with Expertise in Foreclosures and Other Distressed Properties <:£ Advanced Training for RE/MAX Agents <:£ RE/MAX Commercial®division <:£ The RE/MAX Collection®luxury home division In Northern Colorado and around the world, nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX ~
RFOMtiC. Outstanding Agen:}!f WMli{
Outstanding Results. ® RE/ MAX Mountain States Region © RE/ MAX International, Inc. Each office is independently owned and operated.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377
www.stylemagazinecolorado.com 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80521
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
SRX Crossover
To The New Standard of Luxury. Kevin Dellenbach
Butch Stockover
Mike Dellenbach
Cheryl Nickerson
The 2010 Cadillac SRX At Dellenbach Cadillac 125 W. Swallow
(just west of Dellenbach Subaru)
970-226-2438
www.dellenbach.com 60
Lydiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s STYLE Magazine