Love in the foothills’ air, threading through all our stories this week.

From Linda Kirkpatrick’s tribute and the appointment of Evergreen Fire/Rescue’s new board member to the Conifer Rotary’s Peach Sale that benefits local nonprofits and Genesee’s completion of a mile-long emergency access road. All reflected love in some way: love for a beloved woman, love of service, and love and protection for a community in the event of a wildfire.

That kind of community love is something many aren’t fortunate enough to have. But it is contagious.

So keep it goin’, Evergreen, Conifer, Genesee and everyone else in the foothills. The world needs more of what you do so well.

We truly appreciate each one of our subscribers, and promise to keep bringing all of you fresh news here every week!

Legendary community philanthropist is preparing to end her life after a terminal cancer diagnosis. While Linda has led the community in innumerable critical projects, she did not want to speak or be on stage, but instead socialize with friends. She also did not want people to give speeches. So instead, a committee created a factual but touching film about her life in which people spoke about her accomplishments and friendship.

And the Evergreen Leadership Foundation respectfully broke her wish to not be on stage when it named her the first recipient of its Heart of Volunteerism award.

After just nine months of Herculean construction, Genesee Fire cut the ribbon on a mile-long emergency evacuation road. The $8 million project, approved by Genesee Fire voters, gives residents another way to get out of the area in an emergency and firefighters from nearby districts a shortcut to come to Genesee’s aid.

Four-year Evergreen Fire/Rescue board president Stacey Ballinger relucantantly left the board because of her impending move to the Front Range. Read more about her service and love for EFR.

That opened a door for Jason Parker, a 15-year Evergreen resident who, like so many in the area, has a long history of community volunteerism. Joining EFR is “an honor,” he said. Learn more about Jason in our story.

Palisade peaches are ripening a month ahead of schedule, which means pre-orders for Conifer Rotary’s annual Peach Sale are ahead of schedule, too.

Get your order in here! (Scroll down a bit to the Peach Sale.)

A semi lost much of its load of screws on Highway 285 near Morrison on Tuesday. Reports say more than 50 unsuspecting drivers who drove over the screws had tire damage, most punctured by multiple screws. One woman said she counted 137 screws in her four tires.

Stop by the EChO Food Pantry and say hi to Wendy Grummons. An Evergreen resident, she shares EChO’s philosophy that access to food and other essentials helps families and individuals thrive. Her background in nonprofit community services groups makes her a perfect fit for EChO. Welcome, Wendy!

The Evergreen Park & Recreation District board recently thanked its Buchanan Rec Center employees and volunteers who helped soothe guests and ensure their safety during the Feb. 12 shooting at nearby Elk Creek Center.

Lance Black, 62, fired 19 gunshot rounds inside the building — just steps from the Buchanan Rec Center — then shot himself when confronted by deputies.

The rec center went into lockdown and these people stepped up to make those uncertain initial moments as calm and secure as possible for the center’s guests.

The 2026 Evergreen Alternative Gift Fair wants new vendors for its fall event. Only 501©3 vendors are qualified to join the event. Interested? Message [email protected] by Sept. 1.

Our HAPPENINGS calendar, which has only been available in our print issues, is going online. We’ll also give our contributors a way to add items themselves. Why? Because we’re so 2026! Or perhaps more accurately, better late than never.

Next week: How to kill an iPhone.

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