Professional Services

A Legacy of Gratitude

Four generations of family and community shape the legacy Glenn Frank carries forward. Article by Donja Medina | Photography by Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Some legacies are measured by what a person builds. Others, by what they pass along. For Glenn Frank, the two have always gone hand in hand. His family’s story in Fort Collins reaches back to 1934, spanning 90 years and four generations in the trades. In 1996, Glenn purchased Fort Collins Sheet Metal from his grandfather...

Life + Culture

Sweetness Worth Sharing

For Holli McElwee, Kilwins is a story of family, community and giving back. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Rasor Sharp & Bob Younger Images At Kilwins in Old Town, the scent of chocolate, warm waffle cones, and freshly made fudge greets you. But for owner Holli McElwee, the sweetest part isn't behind the glass. It is the people. When McElwee thinks about what she is most thankful for, she starts with faith, family, and a community she never expected would become home. A...

Arts + Culture

Thankful for the People Behind the Dream

Behind Dude Dad is a team built on friendship, trust, family and showing up together. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake & Heidi Calmus | Photography by Bob Younger Images & Provided When Taylor Calmus looks around his Fort Collins studio, he doesn’t just see a growing business. He sees those sitting next to him who helped him along the way. Friends became coworkers, coworkers became family, and for Taylor, that’s the part of the Dude Dad story he’s most thankful for. The Dude Dad business has over...

Life + Culture

Driven By Community

For generations, Pedersen Toyota has supported local causes, strengthened community connections, and helped build a brighter Northern Colorado. Article by Fort Collins City Lifestyle | Photography by RamStrength & RespiteCare In Northern Colorado, community is more than where we live. It’s the neighbors who show up when someone needs help, the businesses that give back, and the belief that making a difference begins close to home. For more than 50 years, family-owned Pedersen Toyota in Fort...

Finance + Legal Services

Healing through Service

A Veteran's Mission to Help Others Heal Article and Photography by Elevations Credit Union One veteran moved from PTSD, financial challenge, and instability to leading a nonprofit that helps veterans and first responders across Northern Colorado heal through community, fitness, and wellness. “I love seeing people win. I love seeing people overcome adversity,” said Nick Dunagan, CEO and founder of Health4Heroes. “It fills my cup.” Nick’s journey started one year after his tour with the U.S...

Life + Culture

Blue Agave, Made From Scratch

Richard and Brenda Lucio bring decades of experience, Southwestern flavor and hospitality to Fort Collins. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Coleman & Co. and Provided For Richard and Brenda Lucio, Blue Agave Grill is more than one restaurant. It is the Fort Collins restaurant Richard had imagined for years, a place shaped by decades of experience, a love of Southwestern flavor, a commitment to cooking from scratch, and a belief that hospitality should make people feel at home. ...

Professional Services

Ready When Power Fails

Simple ways to keep your home safe, comfortable and powered through unexpected outages Article by Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning | Photography by Provided As Northern Colorado heads into colder weather, power outages can become more than an inconvenience. We asked Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning what homeowners should know about backup power and surge protection before the next storm hits. Q: Why think about backup power before winter? A: Outages can happen during wind...

Life + Culture

Beneath the Surface, Social Is More Than Cocktails

Social’s underground setting draws you in, but its hospitality, creativity and connection keep you returning Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Bob Younger Images Walk down the stairs beneath Old Town Square and something shifts. The streets disappear. The pace slows. And for a little while, it becomes surprisingly easy to forget what time it is, or what was waiting for you upstairs. That feeling has been part of Social since its owner, Ty Fulcher, opened the underground cocktail...

Life + Culture

Sweet Chaos

How Mother Cookie Cake turned viral laughs into community impact Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Bob Younger Images “Shut up and sit down. I need to tell you about this cake.” At 2 a.m., nine months pregnant and sleep-deprived, Fort Collins mom Shelby Boolay recorded a SpongeBob cookie cake voiceover. Laughing uncontrollably, she blurted out the phrase, and her unexpected signature was born. The video gathered 30 million views. Hundreds of thousands know her as Mother Cookie...

Life + Culture

Style Worth Checking Into

At The Buxton, Ashley Stiles blends bold design, family memories and heartfelt hospitality into a colorful, memorable Fort Collins experience. Article by Carli Taylor-Drake | Photography by Boxwood Photos Before The Buxton was a hotel, it was a feeling: a pink house in Oklahoma, supper around the table, peonies in the garden and evenings watching Hee Haw and Dallas,  a feeling of being expected, included and cared for. For Ashley Stiles, that feeling lived at her grandparents’ home in...