Education

Be A Good Person

Bringing The Community Together With Four Simple Words Article by Kristen Gonzales | Photography by Provided Four bold black letters. A resonating anthem. Driving home kindness with a simple message. When Julian Donaldson and Darian Simon created the Be A Good Person fashion line, it was about bringing people together with a timeless proverb. “It was in 2015, and social media was kind of becoming polarizing,” Trevor Obering, Creative Director of Operations, explains. “They just kind of wanted...

Local Services

Parker’s Pet Nanny

Wendy Strain’s Passion For Pets Motivates Her Growing Business Article by Julie Hoglund | Photography by Provided At Camp Pet Nanny, dogs play hide-and-seek and do crafts with camp director Wendy Strain, owner of The Pet's Nanny of Parker. Wendy opened her business two years ago after 20 years of working in the animal industry. “I love animals!” she exclaims. “I wasn’t happy working in any job if it didn’t involve animals. It’s just my heart and my passion.”  Her love for animals began at age...

Wellness

The Light House Denver

How a Denver Metro Nonprofit Aims To Ease a Child’s Transition Into Foster Care Article by Cassidy Ritter Elicia Williams was a foster parent for five years, gaining firsthand experience in Colorado’s foster care system and the limited support parents and kids receive.  When a child is placed in foster care, they often arrive at their new home with emotional trauma and few belongings. The foster parent typically has little information about the child’s needs, likes and dislikes until after...

Fitness

Take the First Step

The Hardest Step in Any Endeavor is the First One Article by Cassandra Green | Photography by Provided Seth “One Shot” Rodenbaugh, Owner and Operator at Obsidian Martial Arts, has been a student of martial arts in various forms since he was four years old. With nearly a decade in the military under his belt on the combatives team as an Army sniper, Seth medically retired with a Purple Heart, and found a focus in jiu-jitsu. As the owner and operator of Obsidian Martial Arts, he makes it his...

Health + Wellness

Your Healthy Life

Mona Merrick, Owner of Body Balance Coaching, Shares Easy Ways to Maintain Gut Health Article by Cassidy Ritter | Photography by Abby Watkins For many, living a healthy life means working out a few times a week and eating fruits and vegetables regularly. But according to Mona Merrick, a Parker-based functional health coach and Pilates instructor, the health journey includes physical, emotional and mental well-being, and the gut serves as a foundation. “The gut influences nearly every major...

Sports + Recreation

Rodeo Princess In Parker

The Joy, Camaraderie and Grit of the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Through the Eyes of Parker’s Princess, Addison Staninger Article by Kristen Gonzales | Photography by Dance the Magic Photos Editor's Note: The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo marks its 108th year beginning July 24 and spanning two weeks celebrating Douglas County's western and ag roots. This year's fair and rodeo features premier acts such as Trace Adkins and AWOLNATION, ProRodeo events, food and arts open class competitions and...

Travel

Pura Vida For All

How Costa Rica Masters Family Fun, Sustainable Luxury and Eco-Tourism Article by Joan Dameron | Photography by Ashley Church Costa Rica is a rare destination that offers something for everyone. Its variety is what truly sets it apart; you can move from lush rainforests and volcanoes to serene beaches and luxury resorts all within one trip. It’s also a destination deeply rooted in wellness, sustainability and the “Pura Vida” (pure life) lifestyle, which focuses on an intentional mindset of...

Sports + Recreation

Meet Your Neighbor: Debbie Mills

Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Fair Board Director, Debbie Mills Leads With Style and Grace Article by Cassandra Green | Photography by Abby Watkins Recognized as Committee Woman of the Year by The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, Debbie Mills is the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Fair Board Director. Debbie, starting in the middle, can you share about traveling to rodeos with your girls when they were younger? They did youth rodeo in high school, primarily National Little Britches Rodeo...

Home + Design

Crafting Designer Entrances

FRISCO Gate Designs Estate Gates Where Elegance Meets Engineering Article by Kristen Gonzales | Photography by Matt Rees A custom-built gate produced by FRISCO Gate, a full-service, locally owned welding and fabrication business, sets a property apart from the rest. With over a decade of experience, they specialize in handcrafted gates tailored to each client’s vision. From intricate designs to precision engineering, customers know they are getting the best from Matt Rees and his team.  “Our...

Local Services

More Than Coffee

Marvin’s Place Serves Up Hospitality, Kindness and Community Article by Cassidy Ritter | Photography by @danrichard.co When visiting Marvin’s Place in Downtown Parker, you’ll often see guests reading a book, chatting with a friend or striking up a conversation with a stranger. What you won’t find is someone typing away on their laptop because the specialty coffee shop doesn’t have Wi-Fi. That aspect was an intentional decision by owners Chris and Tasha Gary, who opened Marvin’s Place in March...