There’s this feeling of nostalgia at times and recently it happened for me after reading the front-page Courier story about Merry Jo Larsen, which was published on March 13. The story shared history of her family, their business – The Cowhand, and a commitment to western heritage. Seth Boster did a great job highlighting Merry Jo as he related to her with local kindness.

Local kindness is something we all share because we are here, in the same place. It is easy to forget that the word, kind, is a noun first. It means a group of people or things having similar characteristics. We have “local kindness” within our community with the people here because we are neighbors. We have kindness with our colleagues at work because we are in the same field. We can expand on kindness in every aspect of our lives when we think of people and the ways we relate to each other. You and I have kindness because you’re reading this column, which I wrote. We are of the same mindset, for this moment, which makes us of similar mind and kind.

Our paths have crossed in Merry Jo’s cowboy town and we can explore its history together at the Ute Pass Historical Society. This nonprofit organization is located at 231 East Henrietta Avenue in Woodland Park. There are a number of great reasons to stop by, including a gift shop with books related to local kindness, which is our area’s local history. You are encouraged to check utepasshistoricalsociety.org/ for open hours before you make the trip. And, don’t forget to invite others to join you. The more the merrier when sharing kindness.

The Ute Pass Historical Society in Woodland Park and the Pikes Peak Historical Society in Florissant are similar in kind. Pikes Peak Historical Society also owns a shop and museum, which is located at 18033 Teller Road #1 in Florissant. It is across from the Florissant Post Office. This museum offers visitors an entertaining and educational virtual tour of the Pikes Peak region. On April 21, the Society is also hosting a Chautauqua, educational session, at Lake George Charter School, which begins at 2 p.m. Check out the program for that day on their website at pikespeakhsmuseum.org

Western heritage is engrained in elements of daily life here. There are even times when a cowboy arrives in Woodland Park on horseback using highway 24. He and I have a similar kindness because I have four wheels on my car and his horse has four legs. I hope you’ll recognize and share your local kindness with others. We have the ability to make great things happen when we appreciate our own kind.

Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or 719-233-9902 if you want your nonprofit to be part of this column or to be part of the Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Gayle Gross has worked with nonprofits in the community since 1998. Now, she facilitates SOAR’s Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. – 10:45. The group meets at Reserve Our Gallery or at a nonprofit’s location. Join the group on March 12 at the gallery.