2012-02 Lydia's Style Magazine

Indoor Fun ThisWinter

Real EstateRecovery

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 | w w w . m e d i c a l a n d w e l l n e s s . c o mA STYLE MEDIA AND DESIGN, INC. PUBLICATION : : EST. 1984

Prepare Your Homefor Resale

FEbRuaRY 2012

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55Style 2012

66 Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

The Voice of Northern Colorado for

28 Years.sty le 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

w w w. m e d i c a l a n d w e l l n e s s . c o m

Publisher Lydia Dody | [email protected] editor Angeline Grenz

[email protected] director Scott Prosser

senior designer Lisa Goulddigital director Austin Lamb | [email protected]

advertising sales eXecutivesJon Ainslie (970) 219-9226Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400

David Knight (970) 619-9846Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932

office Manager/about town editor Ina Szwec | [email protected]

accounting Manager Karla Vigilcirculation Manager Trisha Milton

contributing writersJulie Estlick, Connie Hein, Melissa Katsimpalis, Heidi

Kerr-Schlaefer, Logan Martinez, Kristin Mastre, Marty Metzger, Erica Pauly, Corey Radman, Kay Rios,

Carl Simmons

PhotograPhers Marcus Edwards, Brent Yoder

affiliationsFort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

Loveland Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center

2012 style MagazinesJanuary-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

Magazine and McKee Medical Center & North Colorado Medical Center Physician Directory

February-StyleMarch-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

April-StyleMay-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness

June-StyleJuly-Northern Colorado Medical & WellnessMagazine and Poudre Valley Health System

Physician DirectoryAugust-Style

September-Women’s Health & Breast CancerOctober-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 150 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, ext. 208. Fax (970) 226-6427. E-Mail: [email protected]

©2012 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.

77Style 2012


October 2011)! I’m a new member to the team and the great writing in Style made me even more excited to work for such a great company!

Lyndsey BurmeisterHome Instead Senior Care

Women in our Community

Dear Lydia and Staff,Thank you so much for the article on the

benefits of pellet hormone therapy in your September issue. We have had many women contact us about the therapy who are looking for relief from their premenopausal and meno-pausal symptoms, and they are grateful to find it. We so appreciate the work you do for the women in our community, especially through the Women’s Health issue of your magazine (Lydia’s Style Magazine, September 2011).

Dr. Rebecca de la TorreAllura Skin, Laser, and Wellness Clinic

Square DanCing Fun

Lydia, I was so impressed with your article about

square dancing (Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness, October 2011)! It had such depth with the history, health benefits, quotes from people you talked to, etc. You did such a thorough job, and it was a fun and interesting article. The icing on the cake was the next page with that

darling square dancer graphic with all the clubs in the area. I’ve gotten lots of compliments on that picture!

Thank you so much for your interest in our fun new hobby!

Love,Robyn Phillips

Looking ForWarD to eaCh iSSue

Dear Lydia,I wanted to let you know how much I have

enjoyed receiving Style. I look forward to each issue and the day I receive it I curl up in my chair and read it cover to cover and in fact, so does my husband. It’s one of the few magazines he reads. I love the articles and also the About Town section. I usually save all the issues for the year. Thank you again, for the gift of Style.

Kathy Pontius, Fort Collins

great Writing

Dear Lydia,Wow! What a great article featuring Home

Instead (Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness,

we love to hear froM reaDerS. SenD your coMMentS anD

SuggeStIonS to: [email protected]

P: 970.226.6400, ext.215 | F: 970.226.6427www.stylemagazinecolorado.com

Dear Style,I loved your September 2011 Women’s Health

issue. The cover was colorful, the cover model had spirit and the clothes were beautiful. I was so excited by this issue that I visited Lady Gaia and Cloz specifically in search of the featured apparel in this issue and I looked into having my hair cut just as the cover model had hers. Thank you for this fantastic issue. It is a great resource of information with wonderful testi-monies of courage.

Julie Lovato, Berthoud

P.S. I am the proud owner of the pink jacket the cover model wore.

99Style 2012


featuresHome Builder AssociAtion of nortHern colorAdo’s Builder of tHe YeAr, remodeler AssociAte of tHe YeAr, 2012 President . .14

reAl estAte in 2012 . . . . . . . .20Local experts uncover the ups and downs of Northern Colorado’s real estate market.

minerAl rigHts - know Your oPtions . . . . . .24The mystifying topic of mineral rights and property ownership.

business profileAllen service celeBrAtes 50 YeArs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

windsor Booms . . . . . . . . . . 23Highland Meadows Golf Course ex-periences renewed interest in home construction.

about townA PHoto tour of non-Profit events . . . . . . 62

Pennies Purposeclassic car chautauquamckee galacrossroadsmatthews Houserespite Ballnightlightsfort collins museum of Art

departments

PuBlisHer’s letter . . . . . . 12

lifestyle

fAll in love witH Your Home AgAin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40The latest wall, window and flooring options for your home.

building northern colorado

oPtions for indoor fun tHis winter . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Find your fun without facing the cold winter temperatures.

from tHe reAders . . . . . . . . 8

communitY innovAtor . . . .66Ralph Waldo: Supporting Community Businesses

on the coverJon and Martha Turner enjoy the Highland Meadows Golf Course vista from a model home on Murano Drive in the Windsor subdivision. The subdivision is experiencing renewed interest as more people are looking to purchase new construction homes.

Photo by Marcus Edwards.

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FEBRUARY 2012 : : STYLE www.STYLEmagazinEcoLorado.com

turning Your Home... into tHeir Home . . . . . . . . . . . . .26What you need to know before you put your home on the market.

find tHe fitness center rigHt for You . . . . . . . . . . .52Find the center that aligns with your fitness goals.

delicious discoveries witH feAsting fort collins . . . .56Eating locally is good for both the economy and your tastebuds.

climAte wise: sAving A lot of green . . . .57Local program can help any business be more green.

un-wAsting Your trAsH . .32Tips and tricks on composting and recycling facilities in Northern Colorado.

mklAren: designer APPArel A greAt communitY fit . . . . .17

special building sectionlindgren lAndscAPe: tHe murrAY’s lAndscAPe trAnsformAtion . . . . . . . . . . 36

HigHcrAft Builders: tAke tHe uncertAintY out of Home imProvement . . . . . . . .38

AlPine gArdens: A fresH, new look . . . . . . . . 39

old Post office Houses Art for tHe Ages . . . . . . . . .58Fort Collins Museum of Art fights to preserve it’s home.

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[email protected]

As we start a fresh new year many of us review our past year and make New Year’s resolutions. Statistically health and wellness are at the top of many lists, including mine; I’m re-committing to losing a few pounds, being more mindful of eating right and more disciplined with working out. This past year, Nancy Stilson-Herzog’s Biggest Loser program at The Other Club has kept me account-able to working out two times a week and taught me about good nutrition. That, together with strength and flexibility training with my personal trainer, Bud Phillips, has inspired me to reach for an even higher level of fitness. Read “Find the Fitness Center for You” and align your fitness goals with just the right health club – we have many great ones in the area.

Another one of my resolutions this year is to continue to update my home with the possibility of selling and downsizing. Selling a house today has become a sophisticated process, which includes bringing your home up to competitive standards inside and out. Read “Fall in Love with Your Home Again” to get some great ideas on new windows,

wall treatments and flooring options to update or prepare your home to sell. For great ideas on prepar-ing your home for sale and de-personalizing, experts share their knowledge in “Turning Your Home… into Their Home.” De-personalizing is going to be the most difficult project for me. Taking down family photos and putting away all my collectibles and art will definitely be a challenge, but one I am planning to tackle this year!

The beginning of a new year is a time when I also reflect back over the past year and make business plans for the upcoming year. Last year,

the business climate was still uncertain, but there were signs that recovery was occurring, and many of our advertisers were starting to experience busi-ness growth and recovery. Real estate started to show improvement and the community of Windsor experienced growth in new home construction. Read “Real Estate in 2012” to learn from area experts more details about the ups and downs of Northern Colorado’s real estate market.

Photographing Jon and Martha Turner for our cover was especially fun! Not only is Jon an extremely successful developer, but he is also a loving, caring and supportive husband to Martha. In 1997, Martha was our first wedding cover model and I was delighted to reconnect with her. She is still the beautiful, spirited and positive woman I met many years ago.

Another exciting addition to Style this year is our new column, Delicious Discoveries, by Kristin Mastre. Many of you have probably heard of her as a food blogger and restaurant critic in Fort Col-lins and Northern Colorado. She will be writing her column especially for Style and we know you will enjoy her candor and great sense of humor.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue and find it informative and interesting. We continue to be committed to being the positive voice of Northern Colorado as we begin our 28th year of publishing.

Wishing each of you a healthy and pros-perous 2012!

1313Style 2012

[email protected]


“Eclipse Designs has built a reputation as a premier full-service custom window fashions company throughout Northern Colorado,” says Calvin Dewey, owner of Eclipse Designs and 2012 Remodeler Associate of the Year recipient.

“We offer a full-range of high-quality solu-tions at a fair price and provide experienced pro-fessional design consultation and installation on every project,” Dewey says.

Receiving the Remodeler Associate of the Year award of 2012 gave Dewey a confidence in his

company that can only be found through recogni-tion of his pledge to the HBA for the last 10 years.

“I think when you commit to any organiza-tion, a certain level of time and interest is neces-sary and I decided early on to make that commit-ment,” says Dewey.

“I think receiving the award tells us we are definitely doing things right,” adds Dewey. “More than 70 percent of our business comes from re-ferrals and repeat customers – that’s the kind of advertising budget we can live with!”

In his 41 years in the Northern Colorado home-builder industry, Steve Spanjer, President of Spanjer Homes, has been part of both the HBA and the Na-tional Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) for the past 18 years. Chosen for the Builder of the Year award of 2012, Spanjer is honored by the recognition.

“I get great satisfaction from giving back to the homebuilding industry through my involvement in various programs but receiving this distinction from my peers is a tremendous honor,” says Spanjer.

“Typically, this award is given to a builder who is active in both the community and the homebuilding

industry,” says Spanjer. “I was recognized with the Builder of the Year award primarily because of my contribution to the Home Builders Association on both the local and the national level.”

One of Spanjer’s secrets to success is understanding and being sensitive to the building market as well as his clients.

“Not only knowing how to build a quality home, but also being sensitive to both the market and to the homeowner is critical,” says Spanjer. “Underlying all of this is honesty, integrity, effective communication and the building of lasting relationships.”

Builderof the year Spanjer Homes

Eclipse Designs Remodeler Associateof the year

The following builders have shown integrity and support for the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Northern Colorado, garnering the recognition of the 2012 awards for Builder of the Year, Remodeler of the Year and the 2012 President.

Steve Spanjer, PresidentSpanjer Homes

Calvin Dewey, OwnerEclipse Designs

Chris Jeavons

Salutes the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado


Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado 2012 President

As a person who has claimed a career in banking, becoming the president of the HBA could sound out of place, but Jeavons has dedicated over 15 years of his life to his involvement.

“Technically, you are supposed to be a builder to be the president of these local chapters, so I have never considered it previously,” says Jeavons. “How-ever, the association membership is declining and the builders who are still active do not have time to take on the responsibilities right now.”

Jeavons says the duties of the president include “overall management of the association for the year including formulating and monitoring the budget.”

Other duties include running board meetings, general membership meetings, overseeing special events and being the spokesperson for the association.

Jeavons is looking to avert participation decline in the association and wants to do so with some fun.

“Participation is declining on all three levels of the National Association of Homebuilders,” explains Jea-vons. “We have to make sure we are delivering value for the cost. I want to help maintain a viable organi-zation that provides benefit to its membership and to the home building industry in Northern Colorado. We will do that through providing educational opportuni-ties, political advocacy and some fun events.”

1515Style 2012


Business Profile

“We’ve seen a lot of changes and we’ve gone through changes as a company,” Jeff says.

But the one thing that hasn’t changed is the company motto, ‘The Name You Know and Trust.’ Mike adds, “We continue to stand by our commitment to quality service. We’ve built trust over the decades and we have long-standing customers that can attest to that.”

That long-standing commitment began when Marion and June Allen opened the business on April 1, 1962, as a residential plumbing contractor. When residential growth slowed in the ‘80s, commercial construction work was added and the business continued to prosper. More recently, the company has focused all its energy on residential customer service. “We’ve worked hard to become a first class service company,” Jeff says.

And it’s still family run. Jeff and his brother, Mike, are second generation in the business and they continue their parent’s tradition of focusing on customer service.

That effort has proven successful. “In the past two years we have increased our service

department by over 75 percent,” Jeff explains. “That’s a huge statement in this economy when most businesses are unfortunately struggling just to keep pace with past years. We’re not only weathering the current economic downturn, we are becoming a stronger company. And our cus-tomers demand and deserve first class service.”

Allen Service handles every residential plumb-ing need from leaky faucets, drains and sewers to home heating and air conditioning systems, working in everything from century-old homes to the most modern constructions. And as part of the customer service focus, Allen stays ahead of the curve with new and innovative products.

“We make sure the company is on the front line in terms of new equipment and technology. And we’ve been operating ‘green’ for years,” Jeff says.

That’s true of the whole industry, he adds. Water conservation efforts are a good example. “Low flush toilets, low water consumption with fixtures and faucets – those things came to the plumbing industry first. The industry was actually green before it was fashionable.”

As they look forward to the half-century anniversary celebration of Allen Plumbing and Heating, Inc. this coming April, CEO Jeff Allen and President Mike Allen look back over those 50 years of service to the Northern Colorado community.

Celebrates 50 Years By Kay Rios

Mike and Jeff Allen, Allen Plumbing & Heating’s second

generation of family leadership

1717Style 2012

The ever-changing government standards have encouraged new products and helped increase energy efficiency in homes, he says. “And we have amazing solutions for homeowners that will help their homes stay comfortable, healthy and energy efficient.”

Not only does Allen Service carry a wide variety of products including things like tankless and solar water heaters, the staff has been trained in what Allen terms “home science.”

“It involves the whole house approach,” Jeff says. “That means considering the variety of areas in the home where there are oppor-tunities to improve your heating and cooling performance, increasing energy efficiency and saving the client money on heating, cooling and hot water bills.” Allen Service, in fact, offers a Home Performance Improvement analysis that can help determine solutions for drafts, uneven heating and cooling, poor ventilation, and other heating and cooling issues.

“It also is about looking for ways to squeeze the most out of the client’s energy dollars. We look at everything and then listen to the custom-ers talk about their needs. There’s a checklist of lifestyle questions we ask,” he continues.

But it’s not a one size fits all, Jeff stresses. “Everyone has different needs and there are different strategies for those different needs. The customer helps us build the system depending on those needs. You have choices that you get to make and we don’t tell you what you need to have. We come with several viable options and you make the choice.”

New technology provides many options and it is well tested, Mike says. “The right choices can literally change the comfort in your home. Homes are being built so tightly now that people need to consider fresh air exchange options. There are also options for steam humidity, electric air cleaners and HEPA air filtering systems. And we do live in a desert so adding humidity is important because our dry climate affects everything from skin and hair to furniture and wood floors. We take extra care in discussing issues related to someone’s home comfort and we try to help educate the customer so they can make the best buying decisions.”

All of the Allen technicians are equipped to assist clients in determining best options, Jeff explains. “We continually help our people develop the skills that help us increase our stan-dard of service. We’re not only investing in training for the obvious technical skills, we’re investing in the continual development of their customer service skills, and that’s something they can take home with them.”

Training is constant, Mike says, “We have service training classes every week, and individual coaching on top of that every week. That helps us ensure that we’ll deliver service in a very sincere and meaningful way.”

That’s the bottom line at Allen Service, Jeff maintains, “It’s all about relationship building as opposed to a quick fix.”

Kay Rios, Ph.D., is a freelance writer in Fort Collins.

By Connie Hein

Business Profile

When looking for just the right pieces to brighten your wardrobe, MkLaren can provide your spring spruce-up needs, whether your style is comfortable, sophisticated or elegant. MkLaren is a new locally owned franchise bou-tique that opened Dec. 8 at Front Range Village in Fort Collins.

Owner Julia Apodaca says MkLaren features the latest in contemporary fashion purchased from large markets including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City. “Because MkLaren is a small franchise, with only five boutiques including our Fort Collins location, we have the advantage of shopping all the markets together to hand select pieces that are just right for our own clientele,” Apodaca says. “And we have the expertise of other franchise owners with client feedback about styles and designers that are popular throughout the country.”

MkLaren is a great fit for Fort Collins, says Apodaca, adding a unique style and dimension to designer clothing available in Northern Colorado.

“From Splendid tees and upscale denim pieces to dresses for formal and casual occasions, we have clothes to fit a wide variety of women’s sizes, styles and budgets,” she says.

Apodaca graduated from CSU and has lived in Fort Collins for 11 years. This is her first experience with a retail business and she is enjoying the opportunity to use her skills in management, marketing and customer service. She enjoys being part of the MkLaren chain. “I am originally from Montana where MkLaren originated.” Apodaca loved the MkLaren shop-ping experience and thought their concept and

clothing would be appreciated by Northern Colorado’s residents.

“The boutique has been very well received with lots of positive feedback,” says Apodaca. She explains that part of their success is due to the MkLaren emphasis on outstanding cus-tomer service.

“We pride ourselves on serving the needs of our customers,” she says. “We want our clients to look great and feel fabulous and have a fun time doing it.”

Apodaca is married with two children. “Life has been very busy since the opening of the boutique,” she says. “But I’ve had lots of sup-port not only from the franchise, but from my family.” She says her mother and sister help in the boutique and give it a fun, family feel.

Apodaca is looking forward to the spring season. “We had a great opening inventory that sold quickly, so I am confident we are on the right track,” she says.

MkLaren carries apparel, handbags, hats, jewelry, footwear and intimates from hundreds of designers. To see samples of their styles and vendors, readers may visit www.MkLaren.com and follow them on Facebook for special cus-tomer sales events. Or visit the boutique and tell Apodaca that you read about her in Lydia’s Style Magazine and wanted to see what all the excitement was about. MkLaren is located on Council Tree Avenue just three doors west of Sephora near the roundabout.

Connie Hein is a freelance writer in Windsor.

The season for bundling up to brave the elements

is on its way out and springtime in the Rockies is about to settle in for a

nice long visit.

Designer Apparela great community fit

Julie Apodaca, owner


1919Style 2012


All the economic factors in a region play a part in what is happening in the real estate market, and this is true across the country. Northern Colorado is different because despite following some of the national trends, it has been on a miniature roller coaster, as opposed to a monster roller coaster.

States like Florida experienced massive peaks in housing prices and were severely affected when the bottom fell out of the market in 2008. Home values crashed and the real estate markets in these regions all but collapsed.

The national media tends to focus on real estate stories in Florida, Las Vegas and California, leading the public to believe these dramatic ups and downs have occurred everywhere, but this is not the case.

While Northern Colorado didn’t peak or crash as spectacularly as other areas, this doesn’t mean the region was unscathed. The Fort Collins Board of Realtors reports a 20 percent decline in membership since 2008, unemployment has been significant and foreclosures rates soared in cities like Greeley; however, there are strong indicators that the region is recovering, and at a faster rate than many areas of the country.

Last summer, Forbes issued their list of the 25 Best Places for Business. To create the list,

they used factors such as job growth (past and present), costs (business and living), income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth. They also considered qual-ity of life issues such as crime, the availability of cultural and recreational activities, and net migration patterns. Lastly, they factored in the number of highly rated college and universities in the region.

In a nod to the recovery of Colorado’s econ-omy, Fort Collins ranked fifth, while Denver was ninth on Forbes’ list.

“When I look at the market big picture, I see a lot of healthy signs. Number one, I see that our prices are remaining pretty much level relative to other places around the country, and our markets continue to show lots of strength,” says Eric Thompson, president of The Group, Inc.

The Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA), a source trusted by real estate companies, has a housing index and tracks 306 markets all over the country. Their most recent quarterly report showed the Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley markets in the top third of the markets they track, while Colorado was ranked sixth of all 50 states.

The Nitty GrittyStyle sat down with Heidi DeForge, managing

broker at Keller Williams Realty, to look over the Everitt Real Estate Center’s Market Statistics for Northern Colorado. While these charts and graphs do not paint a cheery portrait of growth, they do paint a picture of relative stability.

In Larimer County, the statistics from the first quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011 are nearly identical, although a closer look shows that some numbers were actually down in 2011.

“Homes under $300,000 are down from last year, except for those priced under $100,000 – those go really quickly. But look at $300,000 to $350,000, those are actually up in 2011,” says DeForge.

An influx of investors combined with low interests rates is helping fuel the sale of lower end products, two issues discussed later in this article. The Everitt Real Estate reports show inventory is a real problem in places like Loveland.

“That’s probably one of the big topics right now, because there isn’t enough inventory,” says DeForge.

Her sentiments were echoed again and again by real estate professionals across Northern Colorado.

“The number of homes for sale on the market is down almost 20 percent compared to last year,” said Thompson. “The good news is, unlike

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

If the last five years have taught us anything, it’s that it is difficult to project economic futures; however, we can analyze the past to determine how it is affecting today’s market and we can study the present to make educated predictions about tomorrow.

Real Estate in 2012

2121Style 2012

Eric Thompson,President of the Group Inc., Fort Collins

Gene Vaughan,owner of Re/Max Alliance, Fort Collins

other places, we don’t have a big glut of inventory on the market – we have reduced inventory.”

Reduced inventory means that a well-priced house will sell, and most houses in Northern Colorado are selling for around 95 percent of the asking price, and it’s not unusual for several offers to be put in on an appropriately priced home.

The Right Realtor & The Right PriceAs the market has shifted over the past five

years, the world of real estate has become more complex. The importance of finding the right real estate agent to guide you through the process is perhaps more important than ever before. Finding an agent who understands the current marketplace is the first thing to do for anyone looking to buy or sell real estate this year.

“People assume that to sell homes you just have to show a home and sign a contract, but with everything that is going on from a market standpoint and a legislative standpoint, the dif-ficulty of selling a home over the last several years has increased. I think people forget what realtors really do. In many cases they are counselors,” says Clint Skutchan, executive vice-president of

the Fort Collins Board of Realtors. Vicki Lairson, a 13-year veteran with Coldwell

Banker, has experienced continued success in the business, despite the economic downturn. Counseling homebuyers and sellers is a large part of her job, and Lairson stresses that her achievements have come about through creat-ing lasting, honest relationships with her clients.

Buyers buy homes based on location, condi-tion and price. Condition can be changed, and the price has to be right or the home will not sell. With emotions often involved in the sale or purchase of a home, it’s important to know and trust your agent. Lairson believes an agent does an injustice to a seller if he or she knows the home is overpriced and lists it anyway.

“I think everyone should be honest and upfront on where the reality is of pricing a home today,” she says. “If a house isn’t priced right, everyone is mad in the end, even if the house sells, because it will sell for less than what the

owners thought they’d get for it.”

Investor Activity High,Mortgage Rates Low

Investors are playing a huge role in Northern Colorado’s current real estate economy. There are several factors in this development, including historically low vacancy and mortgage rates.

“At The Group we teach a class called ‘Wake up Money.’ We’ve taught it once a month, four times and we’ve had up to 100 people per class,” says Thompson.

“That’s just a sign to us that there are lots of people who see there’s an opportunity to own investment real estate. Especially while Wall Street has been so volatile and unpredictable – people are seeing that it makes good long term financial sense to own real estate.”

In 2010, one out of 15 public trustee sale properties were being purchased by investors at the courthouse steps. In 2011, it was one out of seven, and this past November out of 24 homes that went on sale at the Larimer County Courthouse, investors purchased five.

All this investor action is partly responsible

for the inventory shortage, but the issue is also tied into foreclosures and short sales.

Today, loan modifications are taking more time, and the banks are simply allowing people to stay in their homes longer than in the past; a trend expected to continue this year. Foreclosures are still occurring, but the numbers are going down, due in part to the example given above.

Many more investors are looking at short sales, because some banks still enforce the Neighbor-hood Stabilization Program. NSP keeps investors from purchasing a bank owned property for 15 to 30 days after the property is put on the market. During that time it is only available for purchase to owner occupy tenants.

“I also think banks are finally figuring out that short sales cost them less,” says DeForge.

With interest rates hovering around four percent, it’s a great time to buy real estate in Northern Colorado and it’s not just investors who are getting into the game. First time homebuyers

are benefiting as well. When compared to the first-time homebuyer

tax credit that was available through the first part of 2010, the current mortgage rates will actually save a homebuyer more money in the long run as illustrated by DeForge:

“Based on current interest rates, a home purchased today would cost an average of $160 per month less than it did a year ago – an annual savings of $1,900. Over the next 10 years, that is a savings of about $19,000. So as opposed to the $8,000 tax credit rebate offered in 2010, you are actually getting much more for your money today than under that deal.”

Vacancy Rates Making NewsA vacancy rate is the percentage of all rental

units that are unoccupied or not rented at a given time. Northern Colorado’s vacancy rates are so low the topic is making news.

“Some people are referring to vacancy rates and the demand for housing as a critical issue,” says Nicole Hanson, owner of KEVCO, a real estate investment and property management company in Fort Collins.

While most real estate professionals are rep-resenting vacancy rates in Northern Colorado to be around four percent, Hanson has heard it’s closer to two or three percent in Fort Collins.

“Since the real estate market shifted in 2008, the demand is remarkably high,” says Hanson.

She believes there are several factors affect-ing the demand from housing in Fort Collins specifically. The first is enrollment at Colorado State University. Every year enrollment goes up and this translates into a higher demand for off campus living.

While student housing is a consistent demand, KEVCO is getting more inquiries from non-student residents looking for housing. They are also fielding a great number of phone calls from individuals or families who are relocating to Northern Colorado for work.

“In regards to relocation, the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC) is reporting so much activity around

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want to be in this sector because it’s close to I-25, close to Centerra, and my perception is that this sector does a big part of the market,” says DeForge.

Optimism has been tremendous when it comes to Loveland’s economic outlook. The Rocky Mountain Center for Technology (formerly the ACE project) is still on track, a big renovation is underway downtown and the Centerra area continues to flourish. Add these factors to low housing inventory, new construction is bound to be on the horizon in Loveland.

With a diverse economy including everything from agriculture to new energy, two major universities and an outstanding quality of life, there is little doubt that Northern Colorado has the right stuff to prosper in 2012 – and as we have all learned over the last five years, as the economy goes, so does real estate.

Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a journalist and free-lance writer from Northern Colorado. She is also the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about Colorado events and festivals.

Heidi DeForge, Managing Broker, Keller Williams Realty, Fort Collins

Vicki Lairson, Realtor, Coldwell Banker, Fort Collins

Clint Skutchan, Executive Vice-President, Fort Collins Board of Realtors

new companies wanting to move here, and we’re seeing that happening,” says DeForge. In fact, Keller Williams is so confident about relocation playing a part in the future of North-ern Colorado they recently hired a relocation specialist.

With vacancy rates going down, rent is going up, and Hanson predicts this trend to continue into 2013.

“Our rental prices have gone up every year since 2008,” says Hanson. “We do assess each property on it’s own merit, so I’m not telling you that rental rates increase across the board. But they’ve been consistently increasing.”

Due to the current housing shortage and vacancy rates, many real estate professionals are predicting Northern Colorado will see starts on new built apartment complexes across the region this year.

New Construction in NoCo“New construction” are two words being

used more frequently in economic discussions around Northern Colorado. “We’re seeing more presales. That’s a very important thing that tells me our market may be turning around,” says Gene Vaughan, owner of Re/Max Alliance.

“When you start seeing presales, I think it’s a very good sign. It’s a show of confidence and it’s a bit of a departure from the scarcity mentality,” he adds.

Thompson agrees that new construction is on the rise.

“We’ve had, I think, five straight years of more new construction closings than new construc-tion starts. However, the builders who we work with are actually doing pretty well. If they have a product that is priced right, and positioned right, they are seeing success,” says Thompson.

New builds have been most prevalent in the Town of Windsor. From January to October 2011, there were 212 single-family detached building permits issued in Windsor. Fort Collins came in second with 159 permits pulled during the same period. Johnstown, with six percent

of the population of Fort Collins, came in third with 151 permits.

Scott Ballstadt has been the chief planner at the Town of Windsor for 13 years. When Ballstadt moved to Windsor in 1997, the town’s population was 7,500. Today the population is approximately 19,000.

“We seem to be strong compared to the region the last few years, and during the eco-nomic downtown, we’ve had decent numbers,” says Ballstadt. “I think just based on our avail-able lot inventory and the trend we’ve seen in the last couple years, we believe it will probably still be strong this year and possibly increase.”

While road and infrastructure construction is not as prevalent as it was in the early to mid-2000s, there are a couple of examples, including new phases in the Windshire Park subdivision. Most of the smaller projects around Windsor

are being built on previously planted lots already served with infrastructure.

Active areas in Windsor include Water Valley South, Greenspire subdivision near Windsor Lake, Peakview subdivision and Highland Mead-ows, located in the Larimer County part of Windsor.

Like the rest of Colorado, commercial build-ing in Windsor has been slow, although they have seen some industrial projects in the Great Western Industrial Park and Vestas continues working on phases of development.

Currently, a massive construction project is improving circulation at the interchange of I-25 and State Hwy 392, commonly known as the Windsor exit. With this project expected to be complete in July, Ballstadt fully expects to see new commercial projects spring up around the vastly improved exit.

During the economic downturn, Greeley has been the subject of a lot of bad press, even on a national level; however, today the story is about the city’s amazing turn around.

In 2011, home prices actually went up in Greeley and while homes are generally less

expensive in Weld County than Larimer, the higher price ranges were still moving in that market and foreclosures have slowed remarkably.

“We really have addressed that issue. Foreclo-sures are extremely low. Greeley has traditionally always been the best-valued market place for single-family residence and still is today, and will probably continue in the future,” says Bruce Biggi, economic development manager for the City of Greeley.

The relatively quick recovery in Greeley is partly due to the diverse economy of Weld County and an emphasis by the city on primary industry creation. Oil and gas plays a part, but Greeley also has a thriving agricultural industry, as well as business services, health sciences and education.

In Fort Collins, the strongest new build region is the east Harmony corridor. “A lot of people

23Style 2012

Highland Meadows Golf Course (HMGC) is a community of custom homes, an 18-hole golf course, 30 acres of open space, community pool, clubhouse, tennis center and more. The subdivision is conveniently located to be easily accessible to I-25 and local municipalities. HMGC sits in Larimer County and within the Poudre School District.

“It is a new market out here,” says Jon Turner, president of Hillside Commercial Group, the development company behind HMGC. One indicator of ongoing activity is the pockets of construction that can be seen throughout the development. Another indicator: the number of visitors that show up for open houses every week.

“We are seeing tremendous activity here,”

Windsor is leading the Way With neW home builds in northern Colorado and highland meadoWs golf Course is one

development that is direCting this ComebaCk.

says Lee Cord, Realtor with The Group, Inc. and agent for the Murano series at HMGC. While many visitors are from out-of-state, a large number are locals who planned to relocate to HMGC prior to the recession and have finally been able to sell their existing home.

Another contributor is the lack of new con-struction throughout Northern Colorado, says Cord. HMGC took a risk at the start of the reces-sion. Turner’s first move was to adjust prices to meet current market values. At the same time he brought together local banks and a few strong builders to construct more than a dozen speck homes in 2010, a bold move at a time when construction was virtually dead. This helped to position HMGC to draw new business as the

economy began to rebound. “We had help from banks and builders – every

one pitched in,” says Turner. The success is evi-dent: 56 homes were sold in 2011, and Hillside has sold out of their own inventory of finished lots and their core group of builders is working through their inventory as well. The focus for Hillside in 2012 is the HMGC commercial com-ponent, made up of 80 acres of commercial and residential mixed use property surrounding a large lake on Fairgrounds Avenue. Already, Turner has negotiated with a new microbrewery to anchor the development and is planning a boardwalk and lakefront restaurant sites.

Turner also credits the Town of Windsor with enabling the construction community to rebound

so quickly. “The town staff has been proactive in adjusting to the market,” says Turner. “They have reached out to commercial developers and have been very accommodating in streamlining submittal processes. This is a key part of keeping a town vibrant.”

These efforts will continue to move Windsor away from its label as a “bedroom community” and more towards a position of importance to the overall region. “As Windsor takes a larger and larger foothold in the Northern Colorado economy, it will become more important for the town to compete regionally,” says Turner.

HMGC is just one of Hillside’s many successful developments. They are responsible for Country Meadows in Larimer County, Country Farms and

Windsor Estates in Windsor and several others. Currently, Hillside is developing Windshire in Windsor, Timnath Ranch in Timnath and Heron Lakes Golf Course in Berthoud.

Timnath Ranch is a 1,600-unit master planned community located two miles east of I-25 on Har-mony Road. The first phase of lots have been built and sold to builders and 35 acres of industrial lots have been sold. Hillside also donated the site for Poudre School District’s Bethke Elementary School, which opened in 2008.

Turner is a family man who balances a busy workload with a busy family life. His wife, Martha, used to work at Hillside (in fact, it is how they met) and they have two sons, Warren, 14, and Harrison, 12. Martha, who has MS and has

been confined to a wheelchair for the last nine years, relies heavily on Turner’s help. “He is such a wonderful support to me.”

Working and living in Windsor enables Turner to watch over his development interests and still pick his sons up from school in the afternoons. It has also given him a deep-felt investment in Windsor. Turner, who relocated to Windsor from California in 1993, advocates for keeping local dollars in Northern Colorado and taking a regional approach to luring in big employers.

“Windsor, and Northern Colorado at large, is a great place to invest and to call home in this ‘new market,’” says Turner.

Angeline Grenz is editor of Lydia’s Style Magazine.

Jon Turner, presidenT of Hillside CommerCial Group, THe developmenT Company beHind HmGC

Windsor, and norTHern Colorado aT larGe, is a GreaT plaCe To invesT and To Call Home in THis ‘neW markeT.’

Windsor booms


When Jim and Joy Ferguson bought a home on a quarter-acre lot in Windsor’s River West neighborhood, they didn’t know much about the issue of mineral rights. Having relocated from Chicago, it was not a subject that had come up previously.

In early 2011, Joy and Jim received a letter from Ranchers Exploration Partners explaining the company’s intentions to develop the miner-als under their property. Through this letter, the couple was informed they owned 50 percent of those mineral rights.

“When property is being sold, it’s not unusual that the minerals have been reserved by prior owners and the purchasers of lots have no ownership,” says Kenneth Lind, Esq., of Lind & Ottenhoff in Windsor. The 28-year-old law firm is special counsel to the Town of Windsor.

“On the other hand, I’ve seen just as many cases where the owners will end up with some minerals. A developer prefers to gain ownership of all the minerals so that you don’t have the issue of the split estate.”

Colorado allows separation of surface and mineral ownership. This split estate means you own everything on the surface of your property, but none of what is below it. Or, as in the Ferguson’s case, you may own all of the

surface rights and a portion of the mineral rights.Today, Ranchers Exploration Partners is in the

exploratory phase at the River West subdivision. In cases such as this, the oil and gas company is betting on the soundness of their scientific research and that they will be able to construct a producing well.

Nationally, one in four wells produce. If there is production at River West, eventually the Fer-gusons will receive payments from the oil and gas company because of their part ownership in the mineral rights.

A mineral lease between an oil company and mineral owner is typically for a period of three to five years. If there is no option to extend the lease, the oil company must come back to the landowner to get a new lease. Within the language of a lease, there are primary and secondary terms. The primary term determines how much time the oil company has to drill a well. The secondary term indicates how long the lease extends if a well is drilled and has sufficient production.

“Landowners often think if they have a three year lease, then the oil company will automatically leave their property after three years,” says Jonathan Batt, an attorney with Lind & Ottenhoff, LP. “The lease continues for the duration of the production of that well.”

While the Ferguson’s situation is straight forward, this often isn’t the case. It can be difficult to determine who has ownership of mineral rights.

“You have to do the mineral title search to find out who owns the minerals. Basically that means you hire an attorney,” says Lind. “It is usually a lengthy, expensive process because

you have to go back from the day you start your search to the first recorded document, and those will usually go back to the 1860s or 1870s.”

The dilemma is that there may be more than one severance of the mineral rights on your land. For example, in 1920, a seller conveys his land to Party A, but reserves 50 percent of the mineral rights. Now, the seller owns 50 percent and Party A owns 50 percent of the minerals. Thirty years later, Party A conveys landowner-ship to Party B, and reserved 50 percent of the minerals. At this point, Party A and Party B each own 25 percent of the minerals and the original owner still owns 50 percent.

It is easy to see how complicated this can get as the years roll by and the land continues to change hands.

Researching the question of mineral rights on a particular piece of land often involves contacting a law firm familiar with the region. In addition, if approached by an oil and gas company, it’s important for a landowner to retain counsel right away.

If negotiations are required regarding bonus payments or leases with an oil and gas company, it’s wise to have an attorney looking out for your interest. For example, Batt encourages smaller subdivisions to make sure their surface use rights are protected.

“Many times landowners are approached with a mineral lease and told ‘we will work out the surface issues later.’ They need to resolve the surface use concerns at the same time they are negotiating the lease,” advises Batt.

“Ultimately, we were most concerned with what it would look like, and if there was going to be any negative impact on the environment,” says Joy Ferguson.

Ranchers Exploration Partners was able to alleviate any fears the Fergusons and their neighbors had; however, the issue isn’t always resolved so cleanly.

Those who try to stop oil companies from drilling in their neighborhood find it is nearly impossible. If a majority of homeowners have signed leases with the oil and gas company, most states, including Colorado, have statutory provisions compelling landowners to enter into what is called a Pooling Agreement.

“It’s called ‘co-equal estate.’ The surface owner cannot prohibit development of the minerals and generally the mineral owner cannot prohibit development of the surface,” says Lind.

Joy Ferguson remains optimistic about the project slated for her Windsor neighborhood.

“I’d be really excited if this country could move forward with more energy indepen-dence,” she says. “It creates jobs here, and we wouldn’t have to deal with countries that aren’t friendly to us, or be so dependent on those countries that can turn the spigot on and off.”

Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a journalist and freelance writer from Northern Colorado. She is also the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about Colorado events and festivals.

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

MineralRightsKnowYour

OptionsJoy and Jim Ferguson’s neighborhood in

Windsor had a crash course in mineral rights when they were informed that drilling would

happen under their homes.

2525Style 2012


Local Realtor Rob Mygatt and home stager Kathy Lanning partner together to help homeowners sell their home quickly and with the right price tag by decorating the home with an objective eye. Fresh flowers, right, add instant color and brighten any room.

One convention all experts agree on is this: Begin to make it look less like your home, and do everything you can to help your prospective buyer to envision it as their home.

“The most common mistake people make is that they don’t look through the buyer’s eyes. It’s their home. It’s their pictures. It’s their closet,” says Rob Mygatt, associate/partner for The Group Inc., in Fort Collins. “If they stepped out and came back in with objective eyes, they’d see a lot of things that are obvious to anyone else walking in for the first time. When the curtain goes up and the home is on the market, you have to be ready to go.”

Ready Your Home, and YourselfRoxanne Winslow, executive assistant for

downtown Fort Collins home furnishing and accessory store The Living Space, observes, “The homeowner wants to make the home a home, and the realtor wants to make it a future home.

What you’re looking for is a happy medium between an empty home and a future home. It helps buyers to visualize what their new home could look like.”

Living Space manager Bill Kissock affirms, “A common adage is, ‘Once you’ve put your house on the market, it’s no longer your home.’ Stagers like to emphasize that because they’re trying to de-personalize the house. They want the people coming in to envision their own space, not see someone else’s space. A big part is editing the space, not adding to it. Sellers often don’t appreciate that, because you’re taking away the items they’re attached to. What they need to remember is: Don’t think of how you live in your house, but how someone else sees it.”

Before bringing in stagers or renovators there are many changes homeowners can make to get their homes ready to go on the market. (Several of them can be found on page 31. Read “Getting Ready for Resale.”) The most difficult

of those actions for sellers are probably those that involve “de-personalizing” their homes. But Bonnie Tilford and Danielle Spitz, realtor/interior designers with The Design Team at Keller Williams in Fort Collins, say the emotional discomfort of transitioning from owner to seller is worth it.

“Removing a lot of personal touches is some-thing people have a hard time with,” Tilford says, “but sellers needed to realize that once their homes are on sale, it’s a commodity like any other. Just like you dress up for a job interview, preparing your home for sale is very similar. Taking down personal fixtures and artwork on the refrigerator, as hard as it may be, will help the home to sell.

“Existing homes also compete with model homes,” Tilford adds. “Nobody lives in model homes, but they’re beautifully staged, so they look like they’re ready to move in. It’s about removing unnecessary items and moving in necessary items. It’s essentially dressing up their

By Carl Simmons

So, you’re ready to put your home on the market.But let’s face it: There are a lot of homes on the market. How do you make yours stand out from the pack?

Turning Your Home…

2727Style 2012

homes for sale.”Spitz adds, “We recommend either giving

the walls a clean slate and painting them a really neutral color, or soft blues and soft greens for accents. Strong colors can turn off buyers when they come into the home. There are so many ideas we give homeowners; it depends on each home.”

At the same time, Mygatt adds, “Some things you can control; some you can’t. People are going to drive into your neighborhood, and they’re already making judgments. There’s going to be an immediate gut reaction, and they’re going to keep narrowing it down. They’re going to open the front door, and immediately start gathering information based on appearance. It’s been said that people make a decision within three to 10 seconds as to whether they want to go further. Appearance represents condition, condition represents security. Just like you noticed certain aspects when you bought the home, people are going to notice other traits when they come into your home.

“The Realtor is going to be making judgments as well,” he says. “He wants to make the home acceptable to the buyer. The buyer is looking for objections; the Realtor is looking for positives.”

There are not only changes sellers should be doing, but details they need to remember to not be doing. As one example, Tilford mentions the importance of not ignoring minor repairs. “Buyers are a lot more informed and will look for details like cracks in the drywall,” she says. “It might be completely minor, but they’ll look at it and say ‘Oh, there’s structural damage.’

“Another big thing is lighting,” she adds. “If you’ve got dull light bulbs or fluorescent lighting; it can make a house feel like an office instead of warm and inviting. Lighting can change the appearance radically. Buyers are emotional and will buy emotionally; they’ll overlook some smaller items if they can see themselves living in the home. At the end of the day, that’s what will make for the quickest possible sale.”

And ultimately, any actions that facilitate a quick sale are the most cost-effective measures a seller can take. “You’re making that impression in the first couple of weeks,” Spitz says, “and if it doesn’t sell right away you might end up dropping the price of the home, so it definitely has an affect.”

“Also,” Tilford adds, “if a house doesn’t sell for six or seven months, buyers start to think ‘What’s wrong with it?’ and are more willing to beat up the seller on the price.”

Bring in a StagerThus, in order to make the best first impres-

sion as soon as a home hits the market, most real estate agents recommend bringing in a professional stager. “We work with stagers all the time,” Kissock says. “It’s a growing part of our business, especially as the demand for stag-ers grows. We had two different Realtors come in last week and ask if there were any stagers we could recommend. There are a lot of empty houses sitting there; the competition is crazy right now. People want to spiff up their homes before they sell, so we’ll sell them furniture, lighting, art – often at the suggestion of the agent.”


Bonnie Tilford and Daniele Spitz make up The Design Team at Keller Williams. They specialize in offering their clients assistance with interior design, staging and remodeling expertise.

Staging a home for sale often means returning walls and décor to a more neutral palette and removing personal objects from the room.

Counters clear of clutter and nice, bright light can make rooms look larger and feel more open.

He adds, “When the economy was going really well, homeowners weren’t doing a lot of staging. Now that the market’s competitive, staging’s become more important. The rub is, people don’t want to pay for staging, because now they don’t have as much money.”

However, more Realtors are seeing the value of staging a home and now include a complimen-tary consultation with their listing agreement, according to Kathy Lanning, owner of Home Staging Services in Fort Collins. “And I find that sellers are thankful to have a professional come in to help them with the process. Sellers often tell me, as they search for their new homes, that they can quickly tell which homes have been staged and which haven’t.”

“After people have lived in their homes for a certain amount of time, it’s difficult for them to be objective as to what needs to go and what needs to stay, and how their space will be perceived by a prospective buyer,” Lanning says. “It’s my job to make the house feel warm and inviting, and to make it look as large as possible. When I do a consultation, I give cus-tomers an extensive report of the things they can do to get their homes ready for the market – de-cluttering the house, removing personal pictures, putting out new towels, replacing dead plants. I find that folks are very receptive to the recommendations.”

In terms of ongoing staging work, especially for unoccupied homes, Lanning adds, “There are stagers that lease furniture and accessories; however, I’ve had great success by simply acces-sorizing. The goal with a vacant home is to add softness and color to the key areas, and I do that by accessorizing with artificial plants and trees, pretty towels and shower curtains in the baths, and vignettes in the kitchen… anything to keep the home from looking and feeling too vanilla.”

Lanning also suggests that homeowners who are planning to sell the home in the future should “consider bringing in a stager to see if any painting, carpet replacement or new appli-ances are in order. That way, they can enjoy the updates before they turn their home over to a new owner.”

Mygatt and Lanning have worked together frequently as real estate agent and stager. Mygatt describes one particularly involved preparation for market sale: “We had a rural home that took two to three months to get ready for market. We had to completely empty the house. We brought in a handyman and 16 dumpsters later, it was time to bring in Kathy. She brought in her accessories, and once she did that the home sold in an amazingly short amount of time.”

“To be fair, there are a lot of people who need to keep things cost-effective because of their financial situation,” Mygatt adds. “But I see that as just another reason to bring in a stager to do a consultation – to identify those things the owner can do that are simple and inexpensive. In general, the easiest and most cost-effective move a homeowner can make is to bring in a stager.”

Sometimes Lanning’s work goes beyond making a home attractive. “My favorite project was working with a gentleman who had recently lost his wife of many years, and was moving to

2929Style 2012

another state to be closer to his children,” she says. “I realized that he needed major assistance beyond an initial staging consultation. We started by sorting through everything that was going to be donated to charities; I helped him with some pre-packing, then cleaned and staged his home. We were under contract in less than three weeks. Because he was very anxious to move on, he asked me if I would handle moving day so he could start his new journey, which I did. After one final cleaning, the house was ready to be turned over to the new homeowner. The most gratifying part was the trust he put in me.”

When Is It Time to Remodel?Sometimes staging isn’t enough. There may

be times where bringing in a remodeler is what it will take to help get your home up to par and selling quickly.

“There are plenty of homeowners who have the skills and knowledge to complete basic improvement projects, but when it comes to significant remodeling work it’s important to be realistic about your skill set,” says Kira Kolde-way, interior designer and marketer for HighCraft Builders in Fort Collins. “You can easily hire and oversee professional subcontractors for those parts of a job that are out of your comfort zone. The most important aspect of any DIY project is to admit when you’re in over your head. Tackling a difficult project beyond your skill set will almost always cost more time, money and frustration in the long run – especially when you have to pay a professional to fix your mistakes.”

In terms of what remodeling projects bring the best return, Koldeway says, “In our experience, replacing the front entry door and/or the garage door of the home yields the highest return on investment, closely followed by cosmetic kitchen and bath remodels. According to Remodeling magazine's cost-versus-value report, these proj-ects bring a roughly 50 to 70 percent return on investment in our area.

“It’s important to look at the housing values in your area,” she notes. “If your home is already the most expensive property on the block, then you might not be able to recoup major remodel-ing costs when you sell. If your property is valued less than other houses in your neighborhood, a well-planned remodel can increase your resale value.”

No matter what route you choose to get your home ready for resale, the advice of The Living Space team sums it up well. “Seek an objective professional, and listen to what he or she has to say,” Kissock recommends. “Don’t take it personally, because your goal is the same – to sell the house.”

“Be open-minded,” Winslow adds. “Be on the same team.”

Carl Simmons is a freelance writer and editor in Loveland and author of the six-book Bible-study series Growing Out: From Disciples to Disciplers (Group Publishing). You can learn more about Carl at carlsimmonslive.com.

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Georgena ArnettLoveland •481-9801

Jim ChanceHorsetooth • 377-6022

Jesse LanerCenterra • 672-7212

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There are a number of easy and inex-pensive changes you can make to get your home ready for the onslaught of real estate agents and potential buyers, before “bringing in the big guns.” Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:

Curb Appeal:• Trim trees and shrubs.• Clean out flower beds, and invest in some colorful flowers.• Paint the front door.• Make sure the doorbell works properly.• Wash the mailbox.• Keep the porch swept.• Get an attractive mat for people to wipe their feet. • Keep children’s toys out of the front yard, sidewalks and front porch.

Inside Appeal:• Clean everything.• Air out your home. Eliminate all odors as much as possible. • Put all pet-related items as far out of sight (and smell) as possible.• Wash the windows, inside and out. • Clean the carpets (or wax and polish the floors).• Put bright light bulbs in every socket. Make your home bright and cheery. • Clean out closets, cabinets and drawers – make them look roomy. • Get everything off the floor.• Get all electrical wires out of view as much as possible.• Arrange your shelves so things aren’t piled to the ceiling. • Minimize your furniture. Select the pieces that look best; put the others in the garage or storage. • Go over the kitchen like a health inspector. Clean the oven, range

(new drip pans) and the seal of the dishwasher door. • Consider replacing dated brass door knobs or cabinet door hardware with brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze finishes. • Bathtubs, showers and sinks should be freshly caulked. The grout should be clean and in good condition. There should be no leaks in the faucets or traps. • Put out new towels and linens.• Clean the ashes out of the fireplace. • Make sure that the pull-down staircase is working correctly. Be sure there’s a light in the attic. • Remove as many personal items – photos, diplomas, posters, children’s art – from the walls and refrigerator as you’re comfortable doing. Remember: You’re preparing the house to become someone else’s home!

The Backyard:• The pool needs to be sparkling and free of leaves. • Remove any patio furniture and grills that are in disrepair.• Again, trim trees and shrubs.

Taking it to the Next Level:• Consider removing any outdated wallpaper and replacing light fixtures. • Put fresh paint on interior and/or exterior walls where needed. • New appliances in the kitchen can be the difference in a buyer choosing your home over another.

A special thanks to Bonnie Tilford and Danielle Spitz at The Design Team at Keller Williams, and Rob Mygatt at The Group Inc., for the information supplied here.

Getting ready for resale

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eLeCtroniCSThere are a number of retailers and vendors

in Fort Collins who accept e-waste; a full list can be found on the city’s recycling page. “There’s almost always a fee for accepting, but you might be able to find someone who doesn‘t charge,” Gordon notes. “There are quite a bit of options, but people have to do a tiny bit of research.”

At the Loveland recycling center, Rasmussen says, “We can take anything with a [memory or sound] card or a [circuit] board.” Tyler Bande-mer, solid waste superintendent for the City of Loveland, adds, “Most items require a fee, based on weight, but it’s a minimal fee.”

Walkinshaw adds that Gallegos Sanitation also has an e-waste recycling program. “We can either go pick up materials, or we have a drop-off site here at Heath Parkway. We can charge per item or per pound for larger items. It’s cheaper to drop it off, otherwise there’s a hauling fee.”

Un-wastingYour Trash

In fact, says Becca Walkinshaw, sustainability coordinator at Gallegos Sanitation in Fort Collins, 80 to 90 percent of all solid-waste materials can be either composted or recycled. “Materials are a commodity; they have value,” Walkinshaw says. “There are a lot of programs throughout the area. The important thing is to not just throw things into the landfill.”

The Larimer County landfill on Taft Hill Road in Fort Collins isn’t just for throwing things out. Take, for example, the Drop ‘N’ Swap program, open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. About 30,000 pounds of paint and hazardous household products are reused through this free program each year. “Rather than materials going into the landfill, people drop them off and other people pick them up and use them,” Walkinshaw says. “It’s pretty ingenious, actually.” Materials from resi-dences are free but business waste is accepted by appointment only and for a fee.

“The longer the landfill lasts, the better off we all are,” adds Rose Watson, environmental educator for the Larimer County Solid Waste Department. In addition to the Drop ‘N’ Swap program, there are many educational programs at the landfill or conducted through the depart-ment. More than 6,000 people each year attend either educational programs at the “Garbage Garage Education Center” at the Taft Hill facility, or at outreach events Watson conducts through-out Larimer County. (Loveland readers, by the way, might better know Watson as Patty Packrat, from her regular column in the Reporter-Herald.)

“The Garbage Garage, a hands on education center, is near and dear to my heart,” Watson says. “We’re open for drop-in visitors Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s a great place for people from all ages to come and learn more about reducing, reusing and recy-cling as well as solid waste. All of our programs

By Carl Simmons

Just because an item can’t go in your recycling bin, doesn’t mean it has to go in the trash.

are free. We even have birthday parties there.”“We’re very fortunate to have a household

hazardous disposal facility at the Larimer County center,” says Susie Gordon, senior environmental planner for the City of Fort Collins. “You can recycle to your heart’s content. There are some limits – for example, they don’t take radioactive materials or asbestos – but almost all items can be recycled within Larimer County.”

There are also programs in Fort Collins, Gordon points out, including hazardous drop-off events in early June and one mid-September. “We do them right in the heart of town, and people find it’s very convenient. Used motor oil, batteries, paint thinner, hazardous household wastes – it’s virtually everything.”

Here’s a quick overview of difficult-to-dispose-of items, and what options are available. For more details, visit the websites featured at the end of this article.

Paint anD other hazarDouS houSehoLD materiaLS

In addition to the Drop ‘N Swap program at the Larimer County landfill, Nate Rasmus-sen, recycling center supervisor for the City of Loveland, helpfully points out, “As long as paint

cans are empty but dried out, people can bring them to the recycling site on Wilson Avenue. Otherwise, if there’s still paint at the bottom, they need to be treated as hazardous waste and taken to the county landfill.”

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toiLetS anD otheraggregate materiaLS

Both Fort Collins and Loveland offer crushing facilities for aggregate materials such as concrete and asphalt, as well as for toilets. “One of the things people don’t know about is an opportunity to drop off aggregate material for free – includ-ing concrete and porcelain toilets – at the City Streets Department (1380 Hoffman Mill Road, Fort Collins),” Gordon says, “It’s a crushing operation that creates road material. That’s a really great program.” Also, Fort Collins Utilities offers residential water customers up to a $50 rebate for the purchase of high-efficiency toilets.

Rasmussen says that the Wilson Avenue recy-cling center in Loveland also accepts toilets and aggregate materials for crushing.

aPPLianCeS anD other metaLSWhen recycling appliances and other metals,

Kent Garvin, president and CEO of Colorado Iron and Metal, says it’s all about quantity. “Even though other items might be just as recycling-friendly, metals are on the high end of the recy-cling spectrum because of their value,” Garvin says. “Prices have never been higher, because the global demand is so high.”

Still, he adds, “Appliances don’t weigh a lot by themselves, so you have to bring at least 500 pounds of ferrous (magnetic) scrap in order to get paid. A ton right now brings a little under $200, so that minimum 500 pounds would bring less than $50. You can bring in your single appliance, and we’ll take it, but we won’t pay you for it.”

“Non-ferrous metals are the high-grade recy-clable ones, so you get paid from ounce one,” Garvin notes. Current prices per pound for smaller quantities of these range from 50 cents for aluminum cans to $2.10 for bare bright copper wire. “All these prices are subject to quantity,” he adds. “For example, I’ll pay $3 per pound for bare bright copper wire if it’s a large amount.”

Buyback programs and dealers for appli-ances can also be found in both Fort Collins


and Loveland. A list of companies in Fort Collins who’ll purchase or pick up used appliances can be found at www.fcgov.com/recycling/centers. Rasmussen adds that the Loveland Power and Water Department offers a refrigerator and freezer recycling program, in which participat-ing residents receive a $35 bill credit on their utility bills.

meDiCationSWhile there are no ongoing collection pro-

grams for pills and other medications, local law-enforcement agencies do sponsor occasional take-back programs. Gordon notes that the Food and Drug Administration sponsors a program in Fort Collins each fall, and that Colorado State University and Larimer County also sponsor one-day events. “The Colorado State Health Depart-ment is planning to roll out more programs as well,” Gordon adds. “I think we’re going to see more and more of those opportunities.” In the meantime, everyone agrees: Don’t dump your medications, and don’t flush them.

Light buLbSMany lighting and hardware retailers will take

back CFL bulbs (the spiral, energy-conserving ones). “More and more, the people who sell them are willing to take them back,” Gordon says. Unbroken CFL bulbs can be taken to the House-hold Hazardous Waste facility at the landfill.

Disposal of fluorescent lighting can be tricky, however. “You need to be careful with fluores-cent lighting,” Rasmussen says. “The green-tipped lights have a low mercury level, so they’re considered OK to throw out. Otherwise, they need to be taken to the Larimer landfill.”

PVC anD Large PLaStiCS“There’s a way to grind up heavy-duty plas-

tic with industrial-size grinders,” Gordon says,

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other itemSRasmussen says that the Loveland recycling

facility will take batteries, car batteries, plastic grocery sacks, bubble wrap and cooking oil. Gordon notes that cooking oil can be recycled at a couple places in Fort Collins, including Ecothrift (208 N. Howes Ave.) and Habitat for Humanity (4001 South Taft Hill Road), and that ReSource (1501 N. College Ave.) “will take almost any kind of architectural material and resell it to the public at flea-market prices.” All facilities noted that they will take used tires, for a fee.

Also, for those who are willing to drive, Boulder’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) program, located on 5030 Old Pearl Street, handles many things that aren’t currently handled in Larimer County, including Styrofoam, fire extinguishers and shoes.

There are also many things consumers can do to think green long before they need to figure out how to dispose of items safely and smartly. “Be a conscious shopper,” Watson advises. “Buy items that require less packaging and those made with post-consumer recycled materials. Don’t just think of recycling as your first option, but of reducing and reusing. There are so many things that go into recycling bins that can be reused.”

For more DetaiLS about hoW to go green With your DiSPoSaL itemS, ViSit the

FoLLoWing WebSiteS:

Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM)www.ecocycle.org/charm

City of Fort Collinswww.fcgov.com/recycling

Gallegos Sanitationwww.gallegossanitation.com

Larimer CountySolid Waste Department and Landfill

www.larimer.org/solidwaste

City of Loveland Recycling Centerwww.ci.loveland.co.us

though not every recycle location can take plas-tics. In Loveland there is a drop-off site at the Wilson Avenue recycling center and GSI will recycle some PVC and large plastics, but they request a sample before they can commit to what they will recycle.

“We don’t take everything,” Rasmussen clari-fies, “but we can handle large durable plastics like five-gallon buckets and large kids’ toys such as playhouses.”

Lydia’s STYLE Magazine

The Murrays were ready for an upgrade. The beauty of their southeast Fort Collins home did not carry through to their backyard. The large space was under used, lackluster and failed to draw the family outside to enjoy the Colorado sunshine. Their vision was a custom space, both elegant and functional. They wanted a top-of-the-line outdoor kitchen with room to entertain several guests – a space that would be utilized no matter the season.

But the project was not without challenges. It would be completed in several phases over a period of nine years, but the finished project still needed to be seamless in its design. The latest phase, done in Spring 2011, had to be done on a tight deadline – it would be used for the Murrays’ annual fundraising event. Installing in the spring also meant battling rain and adverse weather, an unpleasant challenge when laying an incredible amount of pavers.

Lindgren Landscape was ready for the challenge. “We have worked with the Lindgren team for over nine years now on many projects,” testified homeowners Garvin and Bar-bara Murray. “Working with the Lindgren team is always a pleasure . . . like working with family – sometimes even better! They are flexible, professional and their workmanship is outstanding.”

The Murray home’s first major phase, which Lindgren began in 2005, included a de-tached circular paver patio and formal solid marble fountain overlooking the rest of the landscape. This patio, located at the side of the property, leads down to the main backyard space.

The circular destination patio was laid with Belgard cobble pavers that complemented the home’s formal design. Lindgren incorporated a custom stone planter and bench into the hardscape.

Building Northern Colorado

“One challenge of the outdoor living phase was man-aging the amount of subcontractors around the tight deadline,” recalls project designer Allison Jonez. “Throughout most of the project, our four-man crew was working around multiple subcontractors at one time. Trying to install pavers and the rest of the land-scape materials around framers, masons, foundation crews, electricians, plumbers, tile installers and stucco men proved especially challenging. We overcame this by making sure that all of the subcontractors were aware of the deadline and were flexible in working around each other.”

The Murray’s Landscape Transformation

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970.226.5677www.lindgrenlandscape.com

The Spring 2011 phase provided the true wow factor for entertaining guests. This phase included a fully loaded outdoor kitchen, fire pit, pergola for shade, a block staircase and ad-ditional patio spaces. All the components blend into the first phase of the space, due largely to Lindgren’s ability to match and maintain the architecture and design style integrity.

The kitchen is a semi-circular design replete with all the bells and whistles of a luxury indoor kitchen. Fire Magic appliances in gleaming stainless steel are surrounded by a sweeping granite countertops and a vibrant ocean blue glass tile backsplash. An oversized shade structure protects the kitchen from the harsh Western exposure and colorful outdoor pots, chair cushions, annuals and perennials set off the natural tones of the hand-laid Belgard pavers.

The overall layout is designed with numerous functional and creative seating and enter-taining areas, designed to facilitate larger groups or intimate gatherings of close friends. To preserve the Murray’s privacy, 24 10-foot-tall Spartan Junipers were shipped from Oregon to create instant screening from neighbors and plantings were designed to create interest during all four seasons.

The serenity of the Murrays’ new outdoor living space speaks for itself. It is an oasis of luxury, elegance and beauty. They are more than pleased with the finished result, which has made them cherish their home even more: “This outdoor living project has expanded and embellished our living space and has added value to our home. We no longer have to travel as much because we can now walk into our own little paradise in our backyard.”

“The Lindgren team takes pride in their work and [they] do it right. They create durable projects that highlight their old style craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.” – Garvin & Barbara Murray


When it comes to home improvement, there are two uni-versal truths: homeowners want to enhance their quality of life and save as much money as possible. In most situations, though, you can’t pinch pennies on a remodeling project and expect a five-star finished product. Fortunately, there is a way for homeowners to have their cake and eat it too.

How do homeowners capture the perfect home remodel without losing an arm or leg in the process? It’s simple. Trust a company equipped to handle your project from start to fin-ish. Better known as design-build specialists, these companies handle all facets of home remodeling, including budget set-ting, design and construction.

If you’re like some of the people we’ve met throughout our 13 years in the industry, you may have been told that the cheapest way to approach home remodeling is to find a friend or family-member to do the work. Maybe someone told you about a guy who is a great carpenter on the side. Hiring friends or weekend warriors has its uses, but there are several facets of your project that may go overlooked. This can cost you time, leach money and, worst of all, hinder results.

Home remodeling can be scary. Even if you find a trust-worthy company, good intentions don’t guarantee great re-sults. Uninspired design or poor production can result in a space that doesn’t capture the clients’ goals, uses too much space or is improperly built. The worst part is that the average homeowner may not recognize the difference between ama-teur and pro-grade designs. Even careful homeowners who contract an architect can fall into this trap. Without a support staff to help draft designs and estimate costs, certified archi-tects may hand you plans for a project that goes over budget. A design-build team, however, assures you that there’s a quali-fied professional working on every aspect of your remodeling project – keeping the budget and homeowners’ goals in mind all the way.


HoMe IMproveMenT

970.472.8100www.highcrafthomeservices.net

Did you know that a poor-quality remodeling project could hurt the market value of your home? On the other hand, well-executed remodels will add value to your home. With the right additions and upgrades, you can recuperate a sig-nificant portion of your investment in home value. Some design-build companies even have long-term warranties, so homeowners don’t have to worry about their investment.

As a general rule of thumb, homeowners should consider their home in retro-spect. Before getting started on a project, remember to ask, “In five years, would I be satisfied with cheap labor, or would I be happier with maximized property value and a flawless project?” Sometimes, the raw figures of a remodeling project can be intimidating, but it’s important to look beyond short-term gains for an exponen-tially larger return in the long run.

AfTerBefore

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Mark and Peggy Smith enlisted the help of Alpine Gardens to create an updated and functional outdoor room. The existing space was nice, but it needed a fresh, new look. The design called for a massive pergola, made from fiberglass that would stretch the entire patio space. One of the Smith’s priorities was to create the feel of a room, yet not compromise the warming Colorado sunshine. Therefore, the pergola was designed to create structure, but not provide dense shade. The design also included features such as a contemporary fire pit, an outdoor kitchen and a new, secluded location for the hot tub. A state of the art, low voltage lighting system was installed to extend the patio’s enjoyment long into the eve-ning hours. Plantings were added to freshen up the beds and provide some color as well as the desired privacy.


www.alpinelandscaping.com

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Designing rooms that feel more inviting on a budget is driving many energy-efficient and eco-friendly remodeling trends this season. A growing crop of reclaimed and recycled materials make getting the chic, handcrafted look easy on your wallet and the environment.

Homeowners are increasingly staying put, according to the National Association of Real-tors. Only 11 percent of sellers in 2011 owned their home for three years or less, down from 30 percent in 2006. Last year’s survey found that homeowners are relying on improvements to makeover their existing property.

Whether you’re dying to replace your kitchen window for more expansive views, install a hand-scraped wood floor or add a stunning accent wall, sit back and let us guide you through some top to bottom remodel options to take your home from blah to beautiful.

Window DressingReplacing your windows is one of the sim-

plest ways to enhance your views and change the look of your home. In fact, it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in this slow housing market.

Remodeler Magazine recently ranked window replacements in the top five projects for resale value. The money saved on your heating and

Fall in Love with Your Home AgainEnergy-efficient solutions beautify your space and save money.

By Julie Estlick

the wood inside the frame. “It blends right in,” Thiret says.

Champion Windows have also come out with Cherry and light Oak wood grain interiors after repeated customer requests, says Steve Lambert, division manager at Champion Windows in Loveland. The cost for the upgrade is 20 to 25 percent more than plain vinyl.

“Windows are a commonsense, feel-good purchase in this economy,” Lambert says. “You’re not just saving on utility bills. Consider the extended lifetime of your furnace and central air system if your windows are significantly more energy efficient.”

While daylight on the Front Range is bright and plentiful, it’s also intense at this elevation and homeowners need protection from harm-ful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Look for Low-Emissivity (Low-E) glass windows that include a special metal-oxide coating on them to control heat passage. Champion’s Comfort 365 glass and Renewal by Andersen’s High Performance Low-E4 glass have these coatings, blocking over 80 per-cent of UV rays while doubling energy efficiency in the extreme weather months.

Swapping to a solid awning picture window in the kitchen is the most requested window replacement along the Front Range. “Everyone gets excited about a better, clearer view of the mountains or birds in their yard,” Thiret says. “It’s the window you look out every single day, waiting for the coffee pot or rinsing dishes.”

The exterior of your home can get an instant face-lift, too. Andersen and Champion both offer a choice of several designer colors fused on the vinyl, much more fade resistant than paint and it won’t chip. Just imagine the curb appeal alone from a pop of color versus boring old white.

Adding window coverings are a great way to customize your space as well. Not only do

cooling bill – around 40 percent or more – will be seen immediately, and your home will be more appealing when it’s time to sell.

More window makers are now using some recycled content in their glass. A wide variety of types and styles of windows gives homeowners an opportunity to change the look of the whole house or one corner of a room.

The latest trend is wood-clad interior vinyl windows. Colorado’s unusual climate combined with condensation can wreak havoc on all-wood windows, causing warping and requiring sanding and refinishing every few years. Replacement window companies are seeing a surge in sales, even in high-end residences, to replace all-wood windows.

“Our Fibrex composite windows with wood-clad interiors look great and are a very sustainable option,” says Gary Thiret, president of Renewal by Andersen Window Replacement. “We use 40 percent reclaimed wood fiber in different species of wood, and you still have a durable, maintenance-free vinyl window.”

If you’re adding wood, how green can it be you ask? Well, a machine at Andersen grabs millings on the way down and mixes in reclaimed sawdust to make the wood composite. Stand back and you can’t tell the difference between a light Oak or Maple trim near the window and

Low-Emissivity glass windows can prevent over 80 percent of UV rays – allowing you to enjoy the sunshine, not the heat. Photo

courtesy of Champion Windows.

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Window coverings can help cut down on glare and keep the sunshine out. But they also add per-sonality to your home, such as the texture and drama of these window treatments by Eclipse Designs.

Another trend, according to Renewal by Andersen Window Replacement, is the wood-clad vinyl window, a more durable alternative to all-wood windows.


shutters, shades and drapes help cut down on glare and keep the sunshine in (or out), they allow you to put your own personal stamp on a room.

Eclipse Designs co-owner Karen Kloss has seen huge advancements in how windows can be dressed for function and flair. Kloss and husband Calvin Dewey are designing many rooms with quality fabric shades in a wide range of colors and textures. If you want softer light flowing into a sitting room, for example, Hunter Douglas Alustra Silhouette Shading is on point. Colored fabrics suspended between two layers of sheers diffuse the sunlight coming in.

“Our state has lots of intense sun and that

needs to be managed to protect your home’s interior, your furniture and artwork,” Kloss says. “Shades are great and so versatile, you can adjust them to reduce glare or shut them for privacy.”

Hunter Douglas’s new energy-efficient line is the Duette Architella tightly woven honeycomb shades. A price comparison for a 48x48 inch window might look like this: You’ll spend $130 for 2-inch wood blinds, $250 for honeycomb shades or $590 for the higher-end Silhouette Shading.

Looking for a bigger wow factor? Over half of Kloss’s business now is custom fabric drap-ery and cornices, the decorative molding that hangs over shades or curtains. Forget about your grandmother’s heavy curtains, it’s all about layering, using playful textures and treatments that pull a look together.

“You can make a decision to block views, enhance a view or create a new focal point, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy your interior space,” Kloss says. “Call in an expert to show you what’s affordable and fits with your goals.”

Drapes, swags and valences can bring in an

array of colors and style to your décor. Color tastes are expanding in Colorado, and the ubiq-uitous Tuscan golds and coppers have given way to broader color palettes like blues, grays and even jewel tones this year, designers say.

Kloss offers an example: “Let’s say you love the look and feel of silk. It needs more body to hang voluptuously so we back that with double lining panels layered in flannel and satin. Add in a swag and it looks beautiful. We’re doing that look for a client right now.”

Wall art In a college town full of artists, it’s not

surprising to find clever and creative solutions for decorating walls and cabinets. The hottest trend is moving beyond borders to full accent walls. Neal Morse, a third-generation painter and owner of Morse Decorating, practices the craft of wall glazing to rave reviews.

The glazing process he’s honed over the past decade adds dimension to a wall and the color gets into the imperfections for a one-of-a-kind look. Morse trowels mud on the wall for texture, then paints a solid base color in a medium tone. Next he applies an opaque glaze in a tinted, darker shade. It’s that dark color that sits in the grooves. Then he wipes off the excess glaze and applies a water-based clear varnish for protection.

“It gives a pretty cool effect,” Morse says. “Not many people can apply the glaze correctly without going too heavy on the mud. It’s very detailed. I like to keep it a smooth look, no sharp edges. You want to see texture and feel it to the touch, but it shouldn’t scratch you walking by.”

Morse does all the work himself, from prep to finish. Cost for glazing one full wall is around $1,000. Smaller projects, like half walls and breakfast nooks run less and are also in demand.

Searching for an instant kitchen facelift? Glaz-ing applied to old cabinets extends their life and saves thousands of dollars. “You get a totally different look from the rest of the cabinets in the home, and a gorgeous piece of furniture,” Morse says. The additional charge for cabinet glazing is $2,000, a custom look for a whole lot less mess and cost than replacing them.

Another family-owned business with an inno-vative vision is E&S Tile Company. Cousins Aaron Everitt and Luke Schilling, owners of Jamestown Builders and Schilling Interiors respectively, came up with a concept for up-cycling old barn wood into unique wood tiles. Schilling had a “light

bulb moment” at a trade show in Las Vegas where everything was manufactured to look hand-hewn and weathered.

“I thought, ‘Why don’t we dismantle old, falling down barns around the Front Range and repurpose the wood to bring out its beauty,’” Schilling recalls. “The barns are already sun-damaged and exposed to wind, rain – heck Mother Nature is on our side doing most of the work!”

A truly local product, their current stock was purchased and collected from two 1930s era barns in Windsor and Wild Horse Ranch in Laramie, Wyo. The Windsor wood planks bear warm reddish hues, while the ranch boards have a honey-colored wood grain from its beeswax finish, mixed with black overtones courtesy of the harsh winds on the plains. E&S only selects barns built in the 1920s and ‘30s, and no painted wood to avoid lead-based paints.

The history of the wood and its rough uneven-ness gives a real richness to the tiles. The polyure-thane finish makes the tiles water resistant but not waterproof or fireproof. Tiles are available in 2X2, 2X6, 4X4 sizes, sometimes mixed all

These recycled wood tiles by E&S Tile Company (owned by cousins Aaron Everitt and Luke Schilling) add a dra-

matic touch to any accent wall.

Glazed walls, like these by Morse Deco-rating, create a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind

accent to any room. Glazing can also be applied to cabinets to create a new look with-

out the expense of replacing them.

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together to create a mosaic effect. Prices range from $10 to $30 per square foot depending on the species of wood and what’s in stock.

A wood tile accent wall is perfect for warming up a space, and excellent as a multidimensional backsplash (just not directly behind the stove), says Aaron Everitt. “We’ve had cool statement pieces for entryways and we did a moveable art piece that’s hanging behind the bar at The Mayor of Old Town.”

Fashion under FootUnless you’re in a brand new home, who

doesn’t want to upgrade their floors? Keeping with the same theme, there are more eco-friendly flooring options than ever before, while not sacrificing on look or durability.

In hardwood floors, attention is turning to Bamboo and Aspen, which grow fast and regen-erate quicker than other wood species. As in other areas of the home, the most popular is the chiseled or reclaimed look.

However, truly reclaimed and refinished hard-wood floors are not easy on the pocketbook at $20 or more per square foot plus labor, a skilled job that can get pricey. Another drawback is that reclaimed wood can’t be laid down on concrete because there’s not enough space for it to expand and contract.

Area designers suggest that a more durable, cost-effective alternative is engineered flooring. A hardwood veneer of your choice glued on a plank of plywood gives the genuine look and feel of real wood for less with easier installation. ECO-Strand is a nice line that uses 2mm-thick Aspen veneer in a variety of finishes and starts as low as $7 a foot.

“Engineered wood fights expansion and

contraction and holds it’s shape much better for how dry it is here,” says Amy Laner, senior designer at Schilling Interiors. “We sell high-end, reclaimed engineered wood, which is unusual, but there are many beautiful lines and finishes to fit anyone’s budget.”

Park Place Interiors carries several cool alterna-tives to traditional floors, including leather and the newest trend – luxury vinyl tile.

Finding creative solutions to homeowners’ dilemmas is a calling for Sharis Ainslie, manager of the Water Valley location and family member of the third-generation business, previously known as The Carpet Club in Greeley.

One big difference she’s noticed this season is that clients are keen on texture and looking beyond function to style. Families that need tile for the abuse it can withstand are moving toward larger format tiles – 24X24 inches – so you can see the pattern and there’s less grout between tiles for easier clean up.

Linen patterns that are etched or show raised vertical lines are big sellers. “People love to feel their tiles now and not just see them,” Ainslie says.

Porcelain stone tile companies are also getting greener. Crossville Tiles, a major producer of porcelain and ceramic tiles, built it’s own recycling plant and offers a Tile Take-Back Program to keep fired, or finished tile out of landfills. Crossville tiles start around $3.50 per square foot.

If you want something fun and upscale, Ain-slie has added a leather floor made out of shoe parts and old couches in a few select homes, including a game room in Steamboat Springs. Made by Torly, the floors come in planks with a cork backing and snap together. The price ranges between $13 to $16 per square foot,

making it a cool option to achieve a certain feel in a smaller room.

Even carpeting, the old standby, now comes in recyclable fibers and more interesting textures. The popular SmartStrand uses corn-based poly-mer strands with a backing composed of pop bottles and factory plastic scraps.

“Typically our SmartStrand customers have done their homework and appreciate that it is made from a sustainable source,” says Cindy Corbett, owner of Loveland Design Carpet One. “Durability appears to be the same as nylon and we carry 15- to 20-year warranties on SmartStrand.”

Wool never goes out of style and is the “ulti-mate recyclable product,” she notes. Lanolin is wool’s natural stain protection and the backing is jute, a vegetable fiber. Competitive pricing has brought down the cost of even luxurious New Zealand wool.

Carpeting a 12 x 12 foot room, for instance, would cost around $200 using either Smart-Strand, Stainmaster or wool, depending on the weight of the material and design intricacy. Installation and pads add on to the price.

Whether your remodeling projects are big or small, remember it’s hard to put a price on contentment.

Here’s the advice designer Laner gives her clients: “Don’t feel guilty for investing in a place you love and setting the stage for beautiful family memories.”

Julie Estlick is a freelance writer and mom who enjoys reading and dreaming about diverse décor.

Sharis Ainslie, with Park Place Interiors, says leather flooring may be the way to go if you want a floor that is both durable and stands out from the norm. The leather tiles are made from recycled

leather furniture.

Wool carpeting is an old standby that is becoming even greener, with recycled materi-

als and natural backing, according to Cindy Corbett, of Loveland Design Carpet One.

4545Style 2012


LifeStyle

Style spoke with several local businesses to see how residents can still have a great time during the winter months while staying warm indoors. Whether you are looking for an outing with the kids, a special date night, girl’s night out or an exotic adventure, Northern Colorado businesses have got you covered. Here are a few options that may be old favorites rediscovered or new finds. Rest assured all are great options for indoor fun.

indoors and activeBowling is a long-time favorite for families

and friends, offering active entertainment inside. With two locations in Fort Collins, one in Broom-field and one in Estes Park, it is easy to find a Chippers Lanes near you. Tanis Roeder, special events director for Chippers Lanes, says, “Each center has its own unique flare and all of them offer birthday parties and a lot more. Our north Fort Collins location offers live music, karaoke, moonlight bowling and fun leagues during the winter. Our Horsetooth center has many leagues and large events like group nights out, family gatherings and even fundraising events. Broom-field and Estes Park also offer some really fun

Options for Indoor Fun This WinterThere’s a reason why MONEY Magazine voted Northern Colorado as the number one place to live in the nation in 2011. It isn’t just because of the majestic mountaintops, but also because we are an active community all year long. The serene beauty of the mountainside offers pleasure to many for a few weekends during the winter, but there is also plenty to do off the mountain, and away from the cold temperatures, in Northern Colorado during the snowy season.

By Erica Pauly

leagues this time of year.” Bowling is the perfect activity during the

snowy season. A couple can reserve a lane for a fun night out, a family can enjoy a birthday or family night together, and bowling leagues entice people who want to still be active and have fun without being out in the cold weather. Roeder says, “We have live music, short season leagues (running 6-12 weeks), church leagues, karaoke, cosmic bowling, moonlight bowling, arcade games, pool tables, restaurants and bars at each of our locations,” says Roeder. “There is something for everyone. We’ve even had

Family fun is plentiful at Chippers Lanes.

4747Style 2012

non-profit organization start leagues where the fun prize is a donation back to their own cause.”

To make bowling reservations or for more information on the different ways to get involved in leagues visit www.chipperslanes.com.

Catch a good movie Movies are a date night essential or a great

family fun option, but Lyric Cinema Café offers more options than the average theatre. Located at 300 East Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins, Lyric offers morning cartoons for kids and smaller, independent films that won’t be featured at the larger multiplexes. The atmosphere is quaint, but the theatre’s café sells food and beverage items not present at most movie snack bars and visitors can hang out at the café before and after their movie.

The cinema’s founder and owner, Ben Mozer, first had a dream to begin the theatre when he was just a child. “I’ve loved movies since I was a kid. When I was 14, I visited Spain with my family and was able to just sit and enjoy a movie

Bowling, a tradition for many families, is a great winter-time sport.


Lyric Cinema Café is a great date-night location. Indie films and a local beer or glass of wine make for a great twist on going to the movies.

A girlfriends-only evening can be fun and functional with a local cooking class. Whole Foods’ Italian class taught attendees how to make homemade pasta, with dinner served at

the conclusion.

4949Style 2012

in a comfortable environment. At that moment I knew I wanted to make that into a reality in the States.” At Lyric every movie is shown for at least a week. Depending on the popularity, the film may remain on the marquee even longer.

During the first several months of 2012, Lyric will be hosting their annual, “Byllynsgate Ball,” which includes local painters, performers, musi-cians, films and poets. This will be hosted the first and third Thursday of each month.

“The idea of Byllynsgate came from the Irish saying that means ‘raucously offensive,’” says Mozer. “These artists are all at the Lyric to show their final presentations, and we’re excited that they work so hard to be a part of our event. We are able to provide entertainment to our community through this and we’re proud to be a part of something so local and relevant.”

Lyric Cinema opened in 2007 with the goal of featuring talented local artists in order to help them gain recognition and support. Lyric show times, events and daily cartoons can be heard on their automated voicemail at (970) 493-0893 or visit www.lyriccinemacafe.com.

take a Cooking ClassStaying indoors doesn’t equal boring when

you seize the opportunity to learn something new. Northern Colorado has a wealth of options that are based around a group class setting, from knitting to painting to a fun cooking course.

Whole Foods may be known to many as the market to locate specialty foods for those looking for obscure items on a shopping list, but they also offer cooking classes for anyone looking for a fun date night or girl’s night out.

Since it’s opening in 2004, the Fort Collins Whole Foods Market has been expanding and cooking classes are a part of that. Sadie Westhoff, marketing team leader with Whole Foods for almost seven years, says, “The winter months definitely bring the most students. People are anxious to get out of the house, but the weather can prevent a lot of activities, so Whole Foods is a perfect solution.

“The types of cooking classes are broad, and while we may repeat a favorite or two, we always try to offer something new and excit-ing,” adds Westhoff. “Every one of our classes demonstrates and teaches recipes. At the same time, every class is unique. Some offer hands-on experience and others don’t.”

There are many classes offered during the winter months so deciding which one is right for you will depend on the level of instruction you prefer. The cost of classes also depends on the recipe for the evening and the level of instruc-tion. Students typically taste the ingredients and eat the entire meal, which basically amounts to the cost of going out for a meal. Most classes range from $25-$45 per person, but to find the class that may be right for you visit the Salud Calendar on the Whole Foods website, www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

underwater adventuresIf you are looking for something a little more

unusual, why not try an adventurous indoor scuba diving class? To those who ask, is there scuba diving in Colorado?, the answer is yes.


Doug Donaldson, owner of Alpine SCUBA, says, “I did not start diving until the 90s, when I promised one of my Boy Scout troops that I would take them to Florida to dive. I enjoyed it so much that it just grew from there.” Donald-son trained for his open dive certification and within a very short time opened his scuba shop in Fort Collins.

Alpine SCUBA is the only scuba facility in Northern Colorado to be Professional Association of Diving Instructors certified (PADI), meaning Alpine is certified and recognized by National Geographic. Not only are they held to higher stan-dards because of this, but Donaldson also became the only person to be recognized as a National Geographical diver in Northern Colorado.

Alpine offers classes for open water diving certifications all year long, but the winter months are always the busiest. Students begin with a study book and video at home prior to coming to Alpine for their class. “We offer weekend courses on Saturdays and Sundays at our training pool, and then we go to Utah to a year-round 95-degree lake near Park City for the final open water dive. Most of our students love that they can dive in a lake that is so warm in February or March.” The cost for the indoor classes is $175 and the lake dive is $275.

Donaldson adds, “If you are really ambitious, you can be completely certified within a month.” Alpine also schedules dive trips throughout the

Looking for something completely differ-ent? A scuba diving class, like this one at

Alpine SCUBA, available year round, may be just what you are looking for this winter.

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year to exotic places like Honduras and other Caribbean locations. For more information visit, www.alpinescuba.net.

For more options for indoor fun, no matter the occasion, visit our resource listing of art and cooking classes, movie theaters and more at www.stylemagazinecolorado.com.

Erica Pauly is a freelance writer and Marketing Director for GrowSecure Insurance and Financial Services. She lives in Loveland with her husband, Brent, and Great Dane, Beau.


LifeStyle

Community collaboration is another key trend; communities will take a more active role in addressing health issues aimed at encouraging young people and families to be more active. Workplace support is expected to increase as well, with employers looking to outsource well-ness programs with local fitness facilities to help employees manage their health.

However, the type of fitness center suitable for the individual depends much on personality, work out style and fitness goals. Fortunately, Northern Colorado has a multitude of options for everyone.

the everything-you-Want Variety“If you want a very well rounded approach

to fitness and wellness, the larger clubs tend to offer that,” according to Todd Heenan, co-owner and manager of the Fort Collins Club.

Fitness clubs like the Fort Collins Club and Miramont Lifestyle Center give their patrons an endless array of workout approaches, with additional bells and whistles that offer more than just the chance to work up a sweat. And if you are a family with 2+ children, large clubs can be the best deal in town.

“We strive for an environment of community,” says Heenan, a fact that is readily evident on a random 9:30 a.m. stroll through the club. The indoor pool is busy with a class, the bar/snack area is buzzing with friends visiting and moms buying their kids smoothies. Members reading a magazine occupy the fireplace seating area. And all around there are members on cardio machines, weight machines, in group classes and beyond.

The Fort Collins Club is the completely loaded fitness center. The building has an 8,000 square foot cardio area and 120 pieces of cardio equip-ment throughout the club, weight rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, basketball court, climb-ing wall, two separate children’s areas, a full service bar with snacks, soups and sandwiches, a conference room, yoga studio and full service salon. Members can walk in and easily spend an afternoon working out, socializing, enjoying a light lunch and having a massage. The club offers over 80 different classes each week.

“For many people, the social aspect – getting here, meeting people – becomes a large part of why they come back,” says Heenan.

The club has evolved to include a heavy focus

on families. “We had to figure out how to create a fun time for mom and dad and for the kids – where they can do things together and they can do things separately.”

This decision is two fold: on the one hand, members who have grown with the Fort Collins Club have families of their own and the focus is one that came naturally to the club that has been a Fort Collins staple for almost 30 years. But the focus helps accomplish a common goal among health clubs and doctors – to cultivate a future fitness center member.

There is an influx of school-age children from nearby schools that walk in around 3 p.m. when class lets out. “It is great for the working parent; their children can come to the gallery to do their homework or play basketball, racquetball, do something productive,” says Heenan. “And parents trust us to keep an eye on them. We have seen this evolve until keeping the kids active is as much our responsibility as keeping the adults active.”

Lifestyle classes are also available at the Fort Collins Club, in the form of their Life Traits Essentials program held three times a month. The program consists of fitness and wellness

Find the Fitness Center right For You

Doctors today brook no argument: regular exercise is a must for your health. But for many, joining a fitness center offers more than the means to fulfill this directive; it is an enhancement to our lifestyle. Fitness centers come in all

sizes and shapes, suitable for anyone, from the feverish weightlifter or leisurely yoga maven. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently released fitness trends for 2012. Among their trends to

watch was an increase in lifestyle coaching and “whole-life training” available at fitness centers. This includes the addition of nutritionists and other allied healthcare professionals at fitness facilities that focus on wellness,

nutrition and stress management.

By Angeline Grenz

The Fort Collins Club’s cardio theater has over 100 cardio machines.

5353Style 2012

Club Location Contact Wei

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24 Hour Fitness 2208 E. Harmony Rd.(970) 797-303624hourfitness.com

ü ü ü ü üCourt, pool, sauna, whirlpool, steam room

S: $35/mo. 24 hours

Anytime Fitness 200 W. Foothills Pkwy.(970) 223-2248anytimefitness.com

ü ü ü üBoxing studio, tanning, anywhere club access

S: $35/mo.C: $64/mo.

Staffed hours: M-F 9a-7p, Sa 9a-2p

Become Fit1611 S. College Ave., Suite 2A

(970) 482-3868becomefitfc.com

ü ü ü Sports yoga, crossfit S: $70/mo.Varies depending on class time

Elan Yoga & Fitness 353 W. Drake Rd.(970) 223-9642elanyoga.com

ü ü ü ü Yoga, 24 hour accessYoga S: $72/mo. Fitness S: $27/mo.

24 hours

Emergent Fit1833 E. Harmony Rd., Unit #4

(970) 219-0775emerfit.com

ü ü ü Crossfit, nutrition advisingS: $150/mo.C: $250/mo.

Varies depending on class time

Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping

2716 S. College Ave. Suite B

(970) 237-3217extremebodyshaping.com

ü ü üKickboxing, weight loss program

S: $399/10 wk. session, all inclusive


Fort Collins Club 1307 E. Prospect Rd.(970) 224-2582forcollinsclub.net

ü ü ü ü üPool, salon, court, rockwall, health seminars

S: $63/mo.F: $125/mo.

M-F 4:30a-10:30p, Sa-Su 6a-8p

Fort CollinsSenior Center

1200 Raintree Dr.(970) 221-6644fcgov.com/seniorcenter

üPool, indoor track, gym, kitchen, art rooms

Under 49: $49/yr. min50 & up: $25/yr. min.

M-F 6a-9p, Sa 8a-5p, Su noon-5p

Miramont Lifestyle 1800 Heath Pkwy.(970) 221-5000miramontlifestyle.com

ü ü ü ü ü Indoor track, rockwallS: $69/mo.; C: $112/mo.; F: $129/mo.

M-F 7a-7p, Sa 9a-5p, Su 9a-3p

Miramont Lifestyle 2211 S. College Ave.(970) 225-2233miramontlifestyle.com

ü ü ü ü üClub access to all four locations

S: $69/mo.; C: $112/mo.; F: $129/mo.


Miramont Lifestyle 901 Oakridge Dr.(970) 282-1000miramontlifestyle.com

ü ü ü ü üS: $69/mo.; C: $112/mo.; F: $129/mo.


Old Town Fitness 351 Linden St.(970) 493-7222theclubatoldtown.com

ü ü ü ü ü Yoga, pilatesS: $32.50/mo.C: $50/mo.

4a-10p everyday

The Other Club 1227 Riverside Ave.(970) 221-4348theotherclubfitness.com

ü ü ü ü Yoga, pilates, massageS: $55/mo.F: $75/mo.

M-F 5a-9p,Sa-Su 7a-7p

Raintree Athletic 25555 S. Shields St. (970) 490-1300raintreeathleticclub.com

ü ü ü ü ü Gym, racquetball courtsS: $47/mo.; C: $75/mo.; F: $85/mo.

M-F 5a-midnight,Sa-Su 6a-10p

Snap Fitness 1015 S. Taft Hill Rd. (970) 472-1777snapfitness.com

ü ü ü 24 hour accessS: $34.50/mo.F: $64.95/mo.

24 hours

Zone Health and Fitness

1739 S. College Ave.(970) 224-4500fortcollinszone.com

ü ü ü S: $35/mo.M-Th 5a-10:30p, F 5a-9p, Sa 7a-8p, Su 8a-7p

NorCo CrossFit7352 Greenridge Rd. Unit A10

(210) 385-9967norcocrossfit.com

ü ü üYoga, pilates, kick boxing, sauna, pool

Varies on classesVaries depending on classes

Windsor Health Club

655 Academy Ct.(970) 686-2582windsorhealthclub.com

ü ü ü ü ü Massage, tanningS: $35/mo.C: $56/mo.

M-Th 4:30a-9p, F 4:30a-8p, Sa-Su 7a-4p

Fitness Center Comparisons

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courses, and in depth tours of the club to help members take advantage of all the options avail-able. “This gives people a really good comfort level at the club,” says Heenan.

These amenities don’t come without the price tag, with a single membership available for $63/month and a family for $125 (although specials run throughout the year), but the expense is especially affordable for families when you look at the programs geared specifically towards children, says Heenan.

The Scaled-Down VersionOf course, not everyone wants the busy atmo-

sphere of the larger club, and for new attendees, the large clubs may be a tad overwhelming. If you fall into this group, you may want to explore options such as The Other Club or the Old Town Athletic Club in Fort Collins.

These smaller clubs tend to have a less expen-sive memberships and draw loyal patrons who appreciate the quiet atmosphere and the first name basis with not only club personnel, but also fellow members, a fact that The Other Club understands well. The Other Club offers special programs such as The Biggest Loser to inspire members to get fit.


Club Location Contact Wei

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care

AdditionalAmenities Membership* Hours

Altitude Fitness 6628 Powell St.(970) 599-1299altitudefitnessnow.com

ü ü ü ü Fitness evaluations3x/wk: $119/mo.2x/wk: $79/mo.


Anytime Fitness 324 W. 37th St.(970) 203-0800anytimefitness.com


Varies on fitness program

Staffed hours: M-Th 10a-7p, F 10a-7p

Chilson Recreation 700 E. 4th St. (970) 962-2386wellness.com

ü ü ü ü ü Boxing, yoga, sauna, gymS: $465/yr.F: $683/yr.

M-F 5:30a-9:30p, Sa 6a-6p, Su 11a-6p

Crossfit Loveland 1163 Eagle Dr. #B(970) 203-0759crossfitloveland.com

ü ü Crossfit$15/class$100/mo. unlimited

M-F 7:30a-8:30p

Fitness 19 3121 N. Garfield St.(970) 679-0019fitness.com

ü ü ü ü üVaries on fitness program

M-F 4:30a-9p, Sa 7a-6p, Su 8a-6p

Gold’s Gym 910 E. Eisenhower (970) 593-9111 ü ü ü ü üSauna, steam rooms, yoga, pilates

Varies on age and services

M-Th 5a-10p, F 5a-10p, Sa-Su 7a-7p

Loveland Athletic 1000 S. Lincoln Ave.Suite 180

(970) 663-4009lovelandathleticclub.com

ü ü ü ü üKick boxing, tanning, sauna

S: $44/mo.C: $74/mo.

M-Th 5a-10p, F 5a-9p, Sa 8a-5p, Su 8a-4p

Loveland Fitness 106 Karl Brown Wy.(513) 677-5683lovelandfitness.com

ü ü ü üKeycard access only, wellness seminars

Mo./mo. S: $35/mo.Yr. S: $25/mo.

Keycard access: 5a-Midnight everyday

Miramont Lifestyle3755 Precision Dr. Suite 100

(970) 744-5005miramontlifestyle.com

ü ü ü ü üS: $69/mo.; C: $112/mo.; F: $129/mo.

M-Th 5a-8p, F 5a-6p, Sa 8a-12p, Su closed

Orchards Athletic 289 E. 29th St.(970) 667-3800orchardathleticclub.com

ü ü ü ü ü Gym, racquetball courtsS: $45/mo.C: $75/mo.

M-Th 5a-10p, F 5a-9p, Sa-Su 7a-5p

Old Town Fitness 351 Linden St.(970) 493-7222theclubatoldtown.com

ü ü ü ü ü Yoga, pilatesS: $32.50/mo.C: $50/mo.

4a-10p everyday

Anytime Fitness 4731 10th St. Suite G(970) 352-3640anytimefitness.com


Varies on fitness program

M-F 11a-7p Sa 9a-12p

Conditioning Spa Health and Fitness

2640 11th Ave.(970) 356-2073conditioningspa.com

ü ü ü ü üRacquetball courts, whirlpool, pool, sauna

S: $40/mo.M-Th 5a-11p F 5-10 Sa-Su 7a-6p

Greeley Recreation 651 10th Ave.(970) 350-9400greeleygov.com/greeleyrec

ü ü üGym, pool, racquetball courts, rock wall

S: $360/yr.F: $600/yr.

M-T 6a-10p F 6a-8p Sa 8a-5p Su closed

Workout West Health and Rec

5699 W. 20th St.(970 330-6707workoutwest.com

ü ü ü ü üRacquetball courts, gym, indoor track, tennis facility

S: $51/mo., 1 yrC: $66/mo., 1 yr

M-Th 4a-9p F 4a-8p Sa-Su 6a-6p

Love

land

*Membership pricing does not include seasonal specials or other discount rates, for more information on membership contact clubs directly. S: single; C: couple; F: family

Gre

eley

“We refer to ourselves as the ‘un-club,’” says Nancy Stilson-Herzog, certified personal trainer and wellness coach at The Other Club. “We are come-as-you-are and non-intimidating. There are no crowds here.”

The Other Club offers many amenities, but on a smaller scale. Yoga and Pilates, personal train-ing, group classes, wellness programs, mobility and agility conditioning programs, massage and medical aesthetics are all offered under their roof. The club tends to attract an older, more mature crowd of individuals whose health care goals are at the forefront.

“You definitely have to find your spot when choosing a center,” says Stilson-Herzog. Mem-bers at the club are indeed a small community, interacting socially, drinking coffee and knitting in the seating area, and making workout plans together.

But the overriding goal, according to Stilson-Herzog, is fitness at the club. “We draw individu-als who are getting serious about their health and who want to become as fit as possible whatever their age.” To this end she has seen a shift in members’ mindset. “People are realizing the need to get help from qualified and experi-enced trainers who can get them in shape and help them lose weight. They want someone on a regular basis and are more willing to invest in making permanent healthy lifestyle changes.”

The club, opened 16 years ago by Bud Phil-lips, has created unique programs such as their Biggest Loser and Fitter Fort Collins wellness

programs. These programs focus on fitness through education, including classes on nutri-tion, blood pressure and more. “People today are so confused about their health and nutrition,” says Stilson-Herzog. “We even have a class just about food politics.”

Pricing at The Other Club is slightly more economical at $55/month for an individual and $75 for a family. Another intimate club, the Old Town Athletic Club is smaller in size and their offerings are more restricted: cardio, weights and group fitness classes. The price is also lighter on your wallet: $37.50/month for a single or $55 for a couple.

Specialty clubs also exist that have a specific focus, such as Elan Yoga & Fitness (formerly Breath Yoga and Life Fit 24). At Elan, yoga classes make up the backbone of their program and yoga memberships start at $72/month for an individual but include unlimited access to the fitness center. Many fitness centers have an additional charge for their yoga classes, so if yoga is a mainstay of your fitness routine, this may be a great way to get the best of both worlds.

Just the Class, ma’am A newer trend in fitness is the class based

conditioning program, like Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping or Emergent Fit. These clubs don’t have large fitness centers, where members linger over weight or cardio machines. They are get in/get out, well-oiled machines.

Because they are class based, members

Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping requires mem-bers to sign up for 10 weeks of group fitness.

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generally sign up for a number of weeks and commit to a certain number of classes each week. Such is the case at Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping; Becky Dostal owns the local fran-chise, which opened its doors in October 2010.

At Extreme Bodyshaping, members sign up for the 10-Week Challenge, committing to 45-minute classes six days a week. Roll call is taken at each class, a system that promotes accountability.

“The biggest problem people have with gyms is the accountability to themselves and to push themselves to a higher level,” says Dostal. “This 10-week challenge is designed to get them there.” A plus: the 250-pound punching bags scattered throughout the room promise to help alleviate the day’s stress.

The classes are split between three strength classes and three kickboxing classes. At the beginning of the 10 weeks, members weigh in and their progress is checked throughout the program. The first few weeks help mem-bers learn basic maneuvers. After they have begun to develop some muscle mass, “we put that muscle to good use,” says Dostal. At the end of the program, the member who is determined to have made the most significant fitness advancements wins a prize.

While the classes are designed to keep mem-bers moving in fat burning mode, they can be adjusted to match each person’s fitness level, so everyone can feel comfortable. “It is an incredibly great, total body workout,” says

Dostal. “And it is great for different physical abilities and ages.”

The idea is to keep the workouts simple and focused. “People tend to get overwhelmed at fitness clubs with so many options,” she says. “Here it is bare bones and everyone has a coach and a team and they feel included. We motivate each other. It is such a community.”

This profile can also pave the way to get back in the fitness lifestyle swing of things. While many members return after their initial 10 weeks for an advanced course, some take the motivation and the progress they have made and use it to launch back into a gym membership or into a sport of their choice, says Dostal.

Though weight loss is not the primary focus, “people who complete the course experience significant weight loss,” says Dostal. The total body workout from the 10-week challenge costs $399, which comes with everything needed for the class, including gloves.

Whatever route you take to better health in 2012, it seems that social networking plays a part. From The Fort Collins Club to The Other Club to Extreme Bodyshaping each fitness center agrees that longevity as a member and com-mitment to fitness gets a healthy boost from having a support system, large or small.

Angeline Grenz is editor of Lydia’s Style Magazine.

Delicious DiscoveriesW I T H F E A S T I N G F O R T C O L L I N S


Locally Sourced and DeliciousWho knew that eating locally sourced foods was

not only good for our economy and environment, but better for our tastebuds as well? Recently, the National Restaurant Association surveyed over 1,800 professional chefs around the country to identify key dining trends in 2012. Sourcing local ingredients came in as the number one restaurant trend for this year.

This isn’t a groundbreaking concept to chefs like Kevin Grossi at Jax Fish House in Fort Collins and Jason Shaeffer at Chimney Park Restaurant & Bar in Windsor; they’ve been serving menus with upwards of 90 percent local ingredients in the summer. There are many restaurants along the Front Range who have been forging strong relationships with farmers all in the name of delicious food.

That’s the primary reason why many of our chefs have been at farmer’s markets and Colorado farms – local foods taste dramatically better. The dining public is making note of this. As more people are becoming aware of the availability of ingredients through their CSA and farmers’ market, they are questioning servers, requesting that chefs cook with local produce.

Chefs that have developed lasting relation-ships with farmers are sure to get produce that is picked at its prime for superior flavor. This creates success for everyone – the community is served delicious food, the popularity of restaurants increases, money goes back to farmers and our environment becomes sustainable by decreasing the distance food travels. Sourcing locally becomes an easy choice.

Supporting local farms has been simple since the fields are so close to the city. It’s one of the best aspects of living in an agricultural commu-nity. Also, there are new distribution companies like LoCo Food that are making it convenient for restaurants to purchase local goods. Now big dis-tributors like Sysco are following suit by offering Colorado-specific produce lists. Sourcing locally has certainly generated more jobs and income for our community.

As a restaurant critic, I can certainly taste the difference when a dish is made with local ingre-dients. Some of my favorite restaurants are those that support our farmers, because their food is simply outstanding from the freshness. Here’s a list of my favorite Top 10 Northern Colorado restaurants that support going local.

Chimney Park Restaurant & Bar Recently named as one of the top 100 U.S.

restaurants of 2011 by Open Table diners, Chef Shaeffer has created a fine dining destination in Northern Colorado that focuses on using artisan and locally grown ingredients for a menu that is constantly changing to coincide with the season.

Jax Fish House Chef Kevin Grossi at Jax Fish House has an

impressive dedication to quality. This is one of the few kitchen staffs that I know of taking a field trip to small Fort Collins farms to become familiar with our farmers, produce and community, and incor-porating that in an ever-changing seasonal menu.

Spoons, Soups and Salads Tom Stoner at Spoons has been using local

farmers for the nine years they’ve been open. They are also involved with the Downtown Fort Collins’ summer and winter market where they sell their Stone Soup, which is our opportunity to raise money for the Larimer County Food Bank.

Canyon Chop House There is a long list of places where Chef Matt

Schump, from the Canyon Chop House, purchases locally grown foods. On the social side, they host the monthly meetings for the Local Harvest Happy Hour Group, creating a happy hour menu featuring seasonal local ingredients.

Tasty Harmony Owned by Sacha Steinhouser, Tasty Harmony is

a vegetarian/vegan, organic, local farm-supporting restaurant. Situated a bit south off the corner of

Mountain and Mason, Tasty Harmony is a great addition to the Downtown Fort Collins dining scene.

El Monte Grill & LoungeOwned by Pat McGaughran, also founder of The

Rio, El Monte offers Pan-American cuisine, a more Central American flavor with hints of Texas and New Mexico with ingredients often found at farmers’ markets, thanks to distributors like LoCo Foods.

Choice City Butcher & Deli Russ Robinsons at Choice City Butcher & Deli

was one of the first restaurants in Fort Collins to pave the way for beer pairing dinners using some of the best, locally grown meat, dairy and other ingredients.

Café Vino Cafe Vino offers the best of both worlds – a

premium coffee Internet cafe by day and a Euro-pean-style wine and tapas bar by night, tendering an intimate place for conversation and a unique epicurean medley with locally sourced ingredients.

Ace Gillett’s LoungeAce Gillette’s Lounge evokes the feeling of class

and sultry sophistication. Executive Chef Troy Heller creates some of the most tantalizing tapas in Fort Collins by using local ingredients.

Jay’s Bistro Jay’s Bistro has been a long-standing place of

celebration for Fort Collins since 1980. Owners Jay and Jacki Wilten have been supporting local farms by participating in events like Beet Street’s Homegrown Festival.

Kristin Mastre is the premiere food blogger and restaurant critic in Fort Collins and Northern Colo-rado. Being an honest writer, she’ll tell it like she tastes it. Her reviews can be read on FeastingFort-Collins.com. You can also get tips and restaurant news by following on Facebook at facebook.com/feastingfortcollins and twitter @feastingFC.

Over the last three years, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring the Fort Collins food indus-try. I’ve met local chefs, tasted an array of different dishes, chatted with Northern Colorado farmers and sipped on many of our regions’ award-winning craft beers. Becoming Fort Collins’ premier food blogger and restaurant critic has allowed me to find some delicious discoveries.

That is precisely what I will be sharing with all of you in this new column in Style Magazine – delicious discoveries that I haven’t yet shared with anyone else. You get to read it here first! I’ll provide you with some of my most treasured food finds, hopefully shedding some light on some of the best flavors Northern Colorado has to offer.

Thank you for reading along with me, and cheers to sharing Delicious Discoveries together!

- Kristin Mastre

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That’s the number of green leafies the city would have had to plant were it not for the conservation efforts of Climate Wise members.

Since 2000, Climate Wise participants have conserved over 725,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). That is the same amount of CO2e emitted during nearly two million round trips to Denver. It’s also the amount of CO2 that 12 million newly planted trees would absorb. All of this happened two years faster than Climate Wise anticipated, smashing the initial goals they set for emissions.

The City of Fort Collins started Climate Wise in 2000 to help local businesses reach their financial and environmental goals. The free, voluntary program has 300 business partners, and provides on-site assessments to participating organizations. City experts and program mentors like Brendle Group offer custom suggestions to help partners implement reduction programs for energy, water, transportation and waste. Partici-pants are asked to attend at least two events per year and implement one project that lessens its environmental impact. “A project doesn’t have to be PV (photovoltaic solar cells) on the roof,” says Kathy Collier, Climate Wise Manager. “It can be as simple as getting employees to turn

off computers every night.”It’s clear that this private/public partnership

is getting results. It was recognized in 2008 by Harvard University as a Top 50 Innovations in American Government Program. Fort Collins was ranked among the top 22 “2010 Smarter Cities” for its green investments by the Natural Resources Defense Council. And, other climate-concerned communities in the western U.S are now using Climate Wise as a model.

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant serves as an excellent example of Climate Wise’s approach. Their compost program was already pretty impressive (at 800 pounds of compost per week) when they began consulting with another Cli-mate Wise partner, Gallegos Sanitation. As a result of the collective brainpower, They now divert 5,000 pounds of compost away from the landfill every week because they include all the paper towels from the restrooms and the wait staff order tickets. According to Climate Wise reports, The Rio’s used cooking oil now becomes biodiesel. Because of water displacement devices in restrooms and kitchens, The Rio has saved $10,000 in annual utility costs.

The Climate Wise sticker can be seen on front windows all through town. Many participants are small to medium sized businesses; however, large manufacturers like Woodward reap benefits from membership as well.

Jerry Becker is Facility Manager for Wood-ward’s Loveland and Fort Collins sites. He says by email that he was reticent to join Climate Wise in the beginning because he assumed it was a program structured only for small businesses and his invested time wouldn’t pay off. Becker explains, “Shortly after joining the Climate Wise program I realized that I was wrong about my initial hesitation. The Climate Wise team has been very instrumental in educating my staff and me, along with Woodward as a whole, in waste and energy reduction. I have implemented many of the suggestions from the experts that Climate Wise staff put me in touch with. By using the new knowledge gained, we showed an annual cost savings of over $400,000.”

Overall, Climate Wise businesses saved $13 million in 2010 because of their conservation efforts.

Collier explains how a little goes a long way. “If people put in just a little time and thought, the rewards will pay back in great numbers.”

An overall $13 million (plus 12 million trees) worth of payback to be exact. Now, that’s a lot of green.

Corey Radman is a writer and mother of two. She can be reached via her website at fortcol-linswriter.com.

ClimateWise: Saving a Lot of Green12 million trees.

By Corey Radman

LifeStyle

Climate Wise partners with local programs such as Fort Collins’ Bike to Work Day in December 2011 to encourage businesses to go green.


LifeStyle

a building for the ages Monumental in scale and elegance, the three-

story Second Renaissance Revival structure, which graces the intersection of College Avenue and Oak Street, was designed by James Knox Taylor, supervising architect for the U.S. Treasury. The building stood as a symbol of civic pride and progress that swept the country during the height of the City Beautiful Movement, born out of the neoclassical elegance of the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. The Movement was the most influential civic architectural theme to shape the country throughout the early 20th century.

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not be real-ized,” pronounced Daniel H. Burnham, father of the City Beautiful Movement and one of the most nationally prominent architects of the day. He called on city planners to construct major civic buildings – libraries, post offices, museums, universities, schools and “the columned corner bank” – with design and substance to withstand the ages. Fort Collins took note.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and designated a Fort Collins local landmark, the historic Post Office displays the

old Post oFFiCehouses Art For the Ages

Known today as the home of the Fort Collins Museum of Art (FCMOA), the historic Old Town Post Office was hailed ‘the finest building in the city’ when it opened in 1912. Over the past century, the building has been praised, abandoned,

neglected and revived. In its centennial year, this historic landmark faces tough times ahead as the Museum fights to preserve the building and continue to provide inspiring art to the Fort Collins community.

By Melissa A. Katsimpalis

The 100-year-old Post Office building has been the home of the Fort Collins Museum of Art since 1991.

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same grace, grandeur and substance of bygone days – from the outside; however, behind those stately walls, the building’s late ‘70s renovation and mechanical operations tell a more pedes-trian story.

In 1972, the post office moved to the newly constructed Federal Building at the corner of Howes and Olive streets. The Downtown build-ing stood vacant until 1977 when renovations to convert it into office space destroyed much of the original interior’s integrity and beauty.

After years of benign neglect, the building gained renewed life in 1990 when a nucleus of artists, arts lovers and community leaders envisioned a new purpose for it. Art supporters rallied a number of local community organiza-tions and jurisdictions to help raise $200,000 to purchase the building to house the community’s first and only non-profit art museum, One West Contemporary Art Center, now FCMOA.

The old Post Office building reopened in 1991, with its first exhibition and has been a gathering place for visual art ever since. Those civic-minded community members believed – and believe today – the arts form the cornerstone of any vibrant, progressive community.

balancing Preservation and the museum mission

Marianne Lorenz, FCMOA executive director, says, “The museum staff and board are stewards of two critical elements of this community’s his-tory and future: our building and our ability to bring art that can foster life-long learning, social interaction, personal inquiry and collective pride in our community.”

The “Chihuly Venetians: from George R. Stroemple Collection” exhibit will run through

March 18, 2012.


However, preservation needs and the muse-um’s mission continually compete for limited funds. FCMOA’s annual budget is approximately $300,000, a sum the museum must raise each year through member dues, admissions, its Founder’s Society, exhibition sponsors, dona-tions and grants.

Examples of the constraints of this competition are the building’s current heating, ventilation, plumbing and electrical systems, which date to 1977. An engineering review done two years ago indicates those systems are at the end of their useful lives.

“We experience some major building mal-function almost every year,” Lorenz continues. “These events are costly and often dangerous to the valuable art we house here on a regular basis. They definitely hamper our mission.”

She explains, “Our creative mission is to offer our audiences the highest-quality art experiences by presenting a diverse series of exhibitions, community events and educational programs for children and adults.”

Operating in tandem is the organization’s business mission. “We focus on selecting art that will engage the public, draw visitors and supporters, and help us raise money to fund our operational budget, which includes maintaining the building. It’s a very delicate balance.”

An Uncertain FutureOver the last five years, this strategy has helped

FCMOA triple membership, secure sponsorships and grants, attract strong, albeit limited, private patronage and bring in major exhibitions. For example, FCMOA brought last year’s blockbuster, “Ansel Adams: Masterworks” and is exhibiting its current coup, “Chihuly Venetians: from the George R. Stroemple Collection,” which runs through March 18.

“This is the first time this body of work by the world’s most important glass artist, Dale Chihuly, has been shown in the region,” says Lorenz. In addition, FCMOA is presenting an exhibition highlighting five private Colorado glass collections in honor of the 50th anniversary of the American Studio Glass Movement.

“As a private non-profit, we make it or break it based on support from our public, friends and supporters. And, sadly, so does this magnificient building,” says Lorenz.

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Lorenz says, museum life within the 100-year-old building is not without uncertainty. Andrea Kop-penhofer, board president, points out, “During 2012, the museum board will have to make some hard decisions about how to raise and deploy funds within its very restricted budget.

“We can’t keep taking a Band-Aid approach to maintaining the building and still bring in outstanding shows,” she continues. “We’ve got some hard work ahead, and we’re hoping the kind of civic pride that went into building this landmark will help us sustain it and our museum mission.”

Melissa Katsimpalis is Senior Marketing Specialist with Fort Collins Utilities and a freelance writer and poet whose articles and poems have appeared in numerous publications and literary journals throughout the country.

Last September, for example, the building suffered major water damage when a faulty cooling coil poured thousands of gallons of water throughout much of its three-floor interior. The damage closed the building for six weeks, shut down a major revenue-generating national exhibition and has placed a monumental demand on the museum’s annual budget. The costs to repair water-related damage tallied more than $100,000. Those costs were covered by insur-ance; however, costs to repair the failed systems themselves are born by the museum and have already exceeded $20,000.

“We definitely are not going to let this latest water damage rain on our parade.” Lorenz says. “We specifically chose the Chihuly exhibition to mark the beginning of the 100th birthday of our building, which in 1912, through elegance and function, brought a point of view to what ‘community’ means.”

The “Venetian Series” is Chihuly’s most inno-vative glass series, inspired by Art Deco Venetian art glass from the 1920s and 1930s. Chihuly chronicler, Ron Glowen says, “He cultivates nature in the physical forms and visual effects of glass and roots it in the fertile soil of cultural tradition.”

“We’ve opened the building’s centennial year with something spectacular.” However,


PENNIES FOR A PURPOSE

PROJECT SELF-SUFFICENCY CLASSIC CAR PARTY

october 7 :: Front range Village :: Fort Collins More than 200 people had an exclusive opportunity for preview and purchase at this Junior League of Fort Collins (JLFC) second annual event. Attendees enjoyed

hors d’ oeuvres, cocktails, live entertainment and a blind auction in addition to their shopping experience and helped to raise nearly $9,000 for the JLFC programs

including the ABLEWomen Career Closet, Poudre School District Snack Program and Lincoln Center Imagination Series. Photos courtesy of imagecatcherman.com.

Sara Coutts, Kate Hagdorn, Brandy Morrow, Allison Hines, Dawn Paepke, Angela Gray Jennifer Kurth, Kelsy Lamb Michele Marquitz, Deanna McCrery

october 7 :: Car Warehouse :: Fort CollinsMore than 100 guests gathered for a night of fun amidst the nostalgic backdrop of the Dellenbach family’s 40 classic cars. The evening included cocktails, gourmet

appetizers, dinner and dessert, and featured a live art auction of car-themed art donated by an area artist. This inaugural event raised over $23,000 for Project Self-

Sufficiency and their programs to assist low-income single parents in their efforts to achieve economic independence and maintain strong, healthy families.

Steve Schrader, Phyllis & Wayne SchraderTom Tonoli, Rhys Christensen, Judy Christensen Katherine & Scott Deeter, Mollie Smith, Jim McGinnis

AN EVENING WITH ALEXANDER HAMILTON

november 5 :: St. Patrick Presbyterian Church :: greeleyMore than 75 supporters of High Plains Chautauqua gathered for “An Evening with Alexander Hamilton: 18th Century Answers to 21st Century Problems.”

Guests, many dressed in colonial attire, enjoyed the wine reception and hors d’ oeuvres as the evening got underway, and desserts and champagne following

the presentation. Proceeds of the evening help to support the High Plains Chautauqua annual August festival.

Jane Adams, Thelma Edgerton, Gale Giebler Hal Bidlack portraying Alexander Hamilton Gail Rowe, Young Chautauquan Tillie Newman, Ron Edgerton

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PENNIES FOR A PURPOSE CROSSROADS SAFEHOUSE 31ST ANNIVERSARY GALA

MCKEE PRESENTS.. .HEARTS OF THE WEST GALA

november 5 :: hilton :: Fort CollinsNearly 500 community supporters gathered to celebrate Crossroads Safehouse’s 31 years of service. Guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions,

and musical entertainment. Partner agencies of Crossroads Safehouse in Larimer County – Alternatives to Violence, Estes Valley Victim Advocates, Project Self-

Sufficiency, Sexual Assault Victim Advocates Center and Women’s Resource Center – received the 2011 Creative Vision for Women Award. This signature annual

event raised more than $166,000 to benefit victims of domestic violence and their children in Larimer County.

Amy & Pastor Matt Blackford, Charles & Sylvia Matthys, Lori Matthys, Bob TraughberJane & Steve Ray Deborah & Darin Atteberry

Quilt winner Jenny HardingTraci & Tom GendronVicki Lutz, Bill Slye Ryan Wood, Mary Kennedy, Laura Williams

november 5 :: embassy Suites hotel, Spa & Conference Center :: LovelandPresented by The Friends of the Hospital, this

30th annual event provided more than 300

business owners, physicians, community

leaders and McKee Foundation supporters

an evening celebrating their Western roots.

Along with specially prepared delicacies

and drinks, attendees enjoyed live music,

mechanical bull riding, a live auction, Old

West-style casino games and more. Over

$91,000 was raised to benefit the Facility

Capital Campaign for the Stepping Stones

Adult Day Program at McKee Medical Center.

Photos courtesy of Harper Point Photography.

Jim & Mary McCambridge

Wes & Trudy Sargent

Rick & Bonnie Sutton

Mary & Gary Camp Lisa & David Frasier

Georgia & Dan Chenoweth

Marilyn Schock


november 10 :: Fort Collins Country Club :: Fort CollinsThe 2nd annual Hoopla event provided more than 200 guests a rockin’ 1950s style good time. Live performances from Elvis, Marilyn and Judy Garland impersonators

entertained while a swing lesson and dance off with the Jumpin’ Jive Cats had guests out of their chairs to cut a rug well into the night. More than $13,000 was

raised at this event to benefit The Matthews House as they serve youths transitioning to adulthood with little family support. Photos courtesy of Craig Vollmer Photography.

Katie McClelland, Sara Mitchell, Joyce Dickens, Vickie Mitchell John Runkles, Tasha Taylor Front - Lindy Marvin. Back - Ann Lubenow, Carol Litchfield, Suzy Wells

Stacey Evans, Becky SolleyLisa Chandler, Corey & Gabe Green

HOOPLA FOR HOPE

november 19 :: embassy Suites hotel, Spa & Conference Center :: LovelandMore than 600 guests gathered at the Respite Care Holiday Ball for an evening of elegance, dinner, dancing and celebration, and helped to raise a record-breaking

$214,000 net. Proceeds from the evening directly benefit children and families served by Respite Care. Respite Care provides short-term care for children with

developmental disabilities and rest to parents and families, and currently serves over 140 families in Larimer County. Photos courtesy of LampLight Photography.

Rene & Bryce NolandHeather Matz, Larry & Pat Kendall

Jenna, Sander, Rachel, Kenny, Lisa MalmquistDeb & Kent Obermann

Roger & Jill Belisle, Gordon Grashorn -Winner of the car raffle and a 2012 Honda Civic LX, Carrie & Eric Baumgart, Cindy & Gregg DeGroot

Brad & Lisa Florin, Louis & Joanna Blasini, Debbie & Scott Wright

29TH ANNUAL RESPITE CARE HOLIDAY BALL

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HOOPLA FOR HOPE

29TH ANNUAL RESPITE CARE HOLIDAY BALL

REALIT ITES FOR CHILDREN NIGHTLIGHTS CELEBRATION

December 1 :: First Presbyterian Church Front Lawn :: Fort CollinsMore than 1,000 bundled-up community members gathered to support brightening the lives of abused and neglected local children. Children’s voices filled the

night air as attendees enjoyed hot chocolate and cider and awaited the lighting of the 50-foot tall, one-of-a-kind NightLights Tree with over 25,000 blue LED

lights. More than $125,000 was raised for Realities for Children Charities Emergency Fund. Photos courtesy of The Enchanted Journey Photography.

Morgan Charbo, Beth & Mike Charbo, Jaime Charbo, Haley Donaldson

Nancy Piper, Al Blanchard, Susan Butters, Karrie Allen Marilee Morley, Jan Colton

Sam Shada, President of Overland Sertoma Club, presents a donation check of $3,000 to Craig Secher,

President of Realities For Children Charities

Tanya Horn, Curt & Nancy Richardson, Chelsea MackeyBill See, Randy DeMario

Steve Lucas, Grant & Jennifer Jennings, Denise Lucas

FCMOA RE-OPENING & CHIHULY VENETIANS PREMIER

December 10 :: Fort Collins museum of art (FCmoa) :: Fort CollinsMore than 100 guests attended the re-opening of Fort Collins Museum of Art at their event showcasing “Chihuly Venetians: From the George R. Stroemple Collection.”

Guests enjoyed sumptuous hors d’oeuvres and drinks as they delighted in Chihuly’s flamboyant and whimsical glass series inspired by art deco Venetian glass from the

1920s and 1930s that are being shown for the first time in Colorado. Proceeds from the evening help to support FCMOA’s exhibition and education programs.

Scott & Sue Shannon, Marianne Lorenz, Will Dorrance Karen & Daniel Johnese

Barbara Mitchell, Marilyn Cockburn, Gary Hixon

Dean Bratz, Donna Stroh Mike & Myra Powers Donna & Donald Beard

Ali Dody-Hettler, Lydia Dody Doug & Andrea Koppenhofer

Joy Souply, Karen Merrian, Jane Sullivan


ralph waldoSupporting community Businesses

Style invites you to nominate your Community Innovator. Send suggestions to [email protected] for consideration.

in•no•vate – v. 1. to introduce something new; make changes in anything established, 2. to alter.

By Marty Metzger

Communities can thrive with dedicated individuals who work tirelessly for busi-ness development and growth. Often,

these individuals don’t consider their efforts extraordinary – they are just supporting the place they love. Ralph Waldo is one of these people.

Ralph Waldo was the 2011 recipient of the Regional Economic Development Excellence award. A Broker Associate/Partner with The Group Inc., Waldo was chosen for the honor by the Northern Colorado Economic Develop-ment Council (NCEDC) for his ongoing work to bring new businesses to Larimer county and encouraging local companies to expand.

The Fort Collins real estate agent can’t explain the reason he was honored with the plaque and standing ovation. “I was totally stunned to receive the award,” says Waldo. “I can think of a lot of other people more deserving. But I was very honored to receive it.”

Surely the origins of his selection lay within his decades-long dedication to local business. But the Cleveland, Ohio native didn’t start out as a budding business builder. Rather, Waldo first pursued and received an Indiana University B.S. degree in Physical Education in 1964. He was a winning swimmer on high

school and college teams, as well as a soccer goalie. It’s only logical that his first job was as a swim coach/English teacher in Grandville, Mich.

Waldo says he “bounced around Michigan and Indi-ana for a while,” including a five-year stint with Sun Oil Company and five years with Xerox Corporation. After getting a real estate license in 1977, Waldo left Xerox to pursue his new occupation in Fort Wayne, Texas, where he remained for 3 1/2 years.

Then a friend and fellow Fort Wayne real estate agent moved to Fort Collins in 1981 and Waldo accom-

panied her mostly to lend moral support in her job hunt. There was major economic turmoil at the time in Fort Wayne. In fall 1980, International Harvester had announced their facility relocation from Fort Wayne to Springfield, Ohio. Within just 90 days, an astounding 11,000 Fort Wayne workers lost their jobs. Waldo sadly recalls that every third house went up for sale. The economy, at best, was bleak.

So, Waldo interviewed with The Group Inc., was accepted, and relocated to Fort Collins in 1981 to work as a partner.

From the outset, the former college athlete actively flexed his community-support muscles. The lessons taken from Fort Wayne’s economy fiasco weren’t lost on him. Beginning in 1983, Waldo became part of a group of Fort Collins business enthusiasts who worked with City Council to grow jobs in the community (for example, enticing Anheuser-Busch to open their Fort Collins brewing facility). This group also founded Fort Collins, Inc. (FCI) in the mid-1980s when the need for a privately funded economic development agency arose.

In 1990, Waldo was placed on FCI’s Board of Directors by the Fort Collins Board of Real-tors and served as its Chairman in 2000. With their approval, he worked to merge FCI with Loveland Economic Development Council. The resulting organization was the NCEDC.

Waldo insists he wasn’t the principal player

in that merger. “Tim Dow of Fort Collins and Ron Schneider of Loveland worked it out,” he declares. “Without their diligence, it absolutely would not have happened.”

NCEDC has since toiled to keep area business life strong by actions such as the preservation of Intel in Fort Collins.

Waldo, who stayed on with NCEDC until 2007, comments on how the town has grown since his arrival here three decades ago. Expan-sion space within the city limits is running out, so new growth must be vertical, he asserts, beginning with the Mason Street corridor. Over the years, most new retail has moved south of the downtown area, he adds.

Many technological changes have occurred in his profession’s business model, one that Waldo believes is still highly people-oriented. He doesn’t count it as a positive that inter-agent contacts are now more often by emails than face-to-face.

Even businessmen need time out for recre-ation. Waldo does some road biking and was a runner for 30 years with The Big Dogs local group. But most of his current recreational activities are more placid. Waldo and wife Debbie are avid sports fans who enjoy grill-ing, cooking, wine tasting and spending time with Waldo’s three grown children, Ralph IV, Steve and Beth.

Several community causes earn Waldo’s assistance for the goals they champion: the Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Collins Board of Realtors, United Way and Boys & Girls Clubs. Waldo also remains an active investor in NCEDC and further supports them at events.

If anyone’s wondering, Waldo’s full given name, Ralph Emerson Waldo III, legitimately harkens back to famous author Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is an ancestral family member.

Waldo, now 72, plans to retire from real estate in the next year or so, but remain in Fort Collins because, he declares, “I love this area!”

And business will remain strong in this area, thanks, in part, to him.

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2012-02 Lydia's Style Magazine