Business

Not a snowflake was in sight, but Christmas spirit still blanketed the sunny scene at Luckylure Christmas Trees in Evergreen on Sunday afternoon.

From toasty marshmallows to tall tannenbaums to jolly little ones, the atmosphere was all yule — while temperatures hovered in the low 60s. 

Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce president Lin Browning has begun meeting with local organizations and business representatives to explore ways to encourage people to shop locally.

“The piece that the chamber brings is a natural fit,” Browning said. “It’s not a chamber initiative,” she added.

While talking with those involved in the effort, Browning said it has become obvious that the entire community needs to collaborate in a partnership.

An array of 40 photovoltaic panels strategically placed in the yard of Mike and Joan Spalding’s home in Kerr Gulch is generating enough electrical power to keep them warm and take a huge chunk out of their utility payments.

Hank Kaanta of Evergreen Sun Power, who oversaw the installation of the 10-kilowatt solar electric system, estimates that it will produce an average of 15,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year, or 1,250 kWh a month. 

Keys on the Green restaurant and golf shop at the Evergreen Golf Course has closed effective Nov. 1.

RLR Inc., which has had the concessionaire contract to operate both businesses since 2001, terminated its contract with Denver Parks and Recreation effective Nov. 7. Denver Parks operates the golf course. RLR ended its contract six months early.

On Tuesday, Ron Reif of RLR Inc. was cleaning out the golf shop. The restaurant was expected to continue serving food through Wednesday. There were no signs on the building indicating that the restaurant was closing.