Education

Leading Through Service

2026 African Americans of Excellence Honorees Share Lifelong Commitment to Giving Back Article by Emily Holland | Photography by Artwork by Yemi Every year, the ranks of Frederick’s African Americans of Excellence Awards are filled with citizens, both men and women, who epitomize servant leadership. In small things and larger things, in times of public visibility and in faithfulness behind the scenes, these individuals have shown over decades what it means to put others before self. They are...

Arts + Culture

Celebrate & Grow

AAOE’s Student Artist Program Nurtures Creativity & Professional Aspirations Article by Emily Holland | Photography by Lytebox Photography Frederick’s African Americans of Excellence Student Artist Program, directed by local professional artist and AAOE founder Yemi Fagbohun, expresses the spirit of the overall initiative in that it asks every year: how can we dig deeper and serve our community more? Observing its fourth year in 2026, Yemi says that his goal this year is for the artwork to go...

Arts + Culture

An Essence Defined

Salyer McLaughlin’s Docudrama Boomtown Captures and Celebrates What Makes Frederick Unique Article by Emily Holland | Photography by Provided A city or town is so much more than its streets and buildings – a city is its people, and its people have a spirit.    This is the underlying intuition behind “Boomtown,” Frederick’s latest independent film feature and brainchild of local director/producer Salyer McLaughlin. It seeks to dive deep into a mystery that perhaps has never been so thoroughly...

Professional Services

Chamber Success Stories

How Chamber Relationships Turn Ideas Into Partnerships and Businesses Into Success Stories Article by Madelyn Wilson | Photography by Provided Business in Frederick County comes in many different forms and the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s membership proudly reflects that diversity. The Chamber offers its members spaces and opportunities to grow and connect in ways that matter most to them. Whether striving to meet other business leaders in the community, create visibility for an...

Professional Services

A Picture-Perfect Partnership

How a Frederick County Couple Elevates Events through Love, Creativity and Modern Photo Experiences Article by Amber Smith At the heart of Premier Pics Maryland is a love story that began long before the camera flashes. Adam and Chontelle Borden, married nearly 16 years and together since high school, are a true Frederick County duo through and through. Born and raised in the same community they now serve, they live in Walkersville with their three awesome kids and one lovable rescue dog. This...

Home Services

Top 5 Best Shade Trees to Plant as a Homeowner in Frederick, MD

Top 5 Best Shade Trees to Plant as a Homeowner in Frederick, MDHappy Wednesday to all you lovely tree fanatics out there. This is Micayla C from A1 Tree Pros. In today's article we will be discussing the best shade trees to plant in or around your home. So let's roll our sleeves and get right to the nitty gritty.....If you’re a homeowner in Frederick, MD, planting a shade tree is one of the smartest long-term investments you can make to enhance the curb appeal of your humble abode. The right...

Fitness

Built On Strength Together

Q&A with Blake Bomberger & Marc George—the Co-Founders of Unrivaled Iron Gym Article by Blake Bomberger & Marc George Frederick isn’t short on gyms, but Unrivaled Iron Gym isn’t trying to be “another gym.” From day one, co-founders Marc and Blake set out to build something different: a place where high-level coaching meets genuine connection, where recovery is taken as seriously as reps and where every walk of life—from beginners to elite competitors—feels at home. In just two years...

Health + Wellness

Reclaiming Joy

How To Consciously Move Forward After a Difficult Year Article by Vanessa Durrant | Photography by Michelle Chu Photography A new year has the power to help us contemplate the previous twelve months. This solemn reflection offers an opportunity to authentically move through each year mindfully. Truth is, there are years that stretch us beyond recognition and years that seem to dismantle the identities we’ve built. Difficult years can leave us wondering if we’ll ever feel okay again.  ...

Wellness

Redefining the Reset

Building a Life You Don’t Need a Break From Article by Danielle Rizzo What if we could forget the pressure of becoming a “new you.” This year, the goal isn’t reinvention- it’s restoration. Here’s how to build a life that feels good to live, not one that you need to escape from. Every January, we fall into the same rhythm- a list of resolutions, a burst of motivation and a silent hope that this year will finally feel different. But a few weeks in, we’re right back where we started: tired...

Health + Wellness

House Calls are Back

Summit Family Health is Revolutionizing Healthcare and Delivering it Right to Their Patients’ Doors Article by Emily Dickey | Photography by Gigi Saenz It’s safe to say, relationships are the best medicine.  The team at Summit Family Health makes relationships top priority when conducting their “good ol’ fashioned house calls,” giving patients and their families a dose of compassion and understanding that aren’t always found in an office setting.  “We come to you. We listen. We educate. We...