New Year's Eve events may signal start of big year for downtown Cheyenne

Some really fine detail in this photo by David Jamison of NV Photographics. My wife, daughter and I, along with a thousand of our closest friends, came downtown to the first-ever ball drop, a project of the LightsOn! Project. LightsOn! has taken over the ground floor of the Hynds Building which is catty-corner to the Depot Plaza. Many events are planned for the Hynds in 2012, including art exhibits, figure-drawing classes, and a slate of LCCC Enrichment courses, including a workshop on creating your own one-person shows by writer and performer Christi Mitchell. Rumor has it that the State Museum is looking at the Hynds space for its annual Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition. Stay tuned... 

"Occupy Your Heart" the theme of this Sunday's service at UU Church of Cheyenne

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne has been very supportive of Occupy Cheyenne during its formative phase. We've held several GAs at the church, as well as sign-making sessions before public actions at the State Capitol and the Depot Plaza. UU Church members Leah Zegan and Forrest King and others have been very welcoming. I'm not a member but, during the past five years, I've been inside the walls of this church much more often than I have been in any other, including the two local Catholic churches (and one big downtown cathedral) that represent my faith tradition. 

I am drawn to the UU's commitment to social justice. This Sunday, Jan. 8, at 10:30 a.m., Rev. Dana Lightsey will conduct a service with the theme of "Occupy Your Heart." Here's a short description:

Time magazine's person of the year for 2011 is "the protester." Our world is being changed by mass protests all over the world. What are the common themes of these protests and what can we learn from them to make our world a better place for all?

Local food, arts, crafts and music featured at Winter Farmers' Market Jan. 7

What: Cheyenne Winter Farmers’ Market 

Where: Inside the Cheyenne Downtown Depot

When: Saturday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.–2 p.m

Details: The Winter Farmers’ Market offers products grown, raised or crafted within 150 miles of Cheyenne. It will provide an opportunity to purchase locally grown all-​​natural beef, lamb, turkey, bison, farm fresh eggs, honey, along with locally crafted artisan breads, jams, jellies, tamales, empanadas, tortillas, soup and chili, jewelry, natural skin care, handmade baskets and much more. Come and stay for lunch, for more information call 307.649.2430.


I read somewhere that the market will feature live music. This is usually the case, but I couldn't find the performers names listed anywhere. Shouldn't musicians get the same kind of billing as farm fresh eggs and tamales?

Wyoming scholarships available for National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore

As we've discussed at length here, Wyoming's downtowns have launched some innovative projects. I think of downtown Cheyenne's LightsOn! project and the arts-based redevelopment launched by Casper. There is the renovated Rock Springs downtown theatre, the roundhouse project in Evanston, the "living upstairs in downtown" program in Sheridan, and so on. But much more needs to be done. You can't have a great city or town without a thriving downtown. The Wyoming Main Street Program is leading the way. It is offering scholarships to the national conference:

The Wyoming Main Street Program is offering travel scholarships to a conference that will help participants revitalize and build vibrant commercial districts in Wyoming’s downtowns. Several scholarships are available for the National Main Streets Conference in Baltimore, Md., April 1-4, 2012. The trip includes a Wyoming Main Street sponsored pre-trip to Maryland and Delaware, March 29-31, to learn how Main Street principles are being applied in other communities. 

The conference brings together people from communities of all sizes to network, discuss issues, and learn new ideas and solutions for growing and developing downtown revitalization programs. This year’s conference will focus on taking Main Street to the next level by continuing to grow support, economic strength, and the national movement. The scholarships cover airfare to and from an applicant’s nearest airport and Baltimore, conference registration fees, and lodging during the pre-trip and conference. 

Scholarship applications are due to Wyoming Main Street no later than Feb. 3, 2012. Application packets must include a completed application form. Scholarships will only be offered to individuals who are residents of a Wyoming municipality and associated with, or supported by, one of the following organizations: local government, downtown association or its equivalent, downtown merchants association, urban renewal authority, downtown development authority, chamber of commerce, historic preservation organization, or other community organizations intended to revitalize a historic downtown. 

Notification of scholarship awards will be made from the Wyoming Main Street staff on or around Feb. 15, 2012. Recipients are asked to give a report to their local city/town council as well as the Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board about the information learned on the trip and how it will help their community. 

For more information, contact Wyoming Main Street Specialist Scott Wisniewski at 307.777.2934 or scott.w@wyo.gov. 

The Wyoming Main Street Program is dedicated to providing Wyoming communities with opportunities to strengthen local pride and revitalize historic downtown districts by utilizing the Main Street Four Point Approach. This approach means Wyoming Main Street strives to help downtown business owners improve the appearance of downtowns, build cooperation between downtown groups, help downtowns market their unique qualities and strengthen the economic base of downtown.

Applications available here. For information, contact Kim Kittel at 307.287.2170 or kim.kittel@wyo.gov.

Once again, Wyoming teen suicide in the news

Once again, Wyoming teen suicide is in the news. This time, it's the death of 13-year-old Alex Frye of Cheyenne. His death on New Year's Day is getting plenty of attention in the local media -- and elsewhere. There is much talk about the alleged cause -- bullying at school. The school district seems to be doing its part of bringing up the topic and providing counselors for students and teachers at Alex's school, Carey Junior High. According to last night's Channel 5 newscast, the Cheyenne Police Department is adding a position to address suicide prevention. There's a fine local organization, Grace for 2 Brothers which offers “suicide prevention through awareness and education.”

Still, the beat goes on. Wyoming has among the highest teen suicide stats in the nation. Some of that is due to isolation and rough weather and lack of opportunity. Some of that is due to bullying, although it's unclear how much. It is clear that bullies beget bullies, and until this is addressed, bullying will continue to lead to both the mental and physical scarring of vulnerable youth.

Some of Wyoming’s cluelessness about suicide can be blamed on Wyoming's "cowboy up" mentality, which can be summed up this way: "Cowboy up!" Be tough. Shake it off. Get back on that horse. None of which helps much when it comes to assisting someone in pain.

I refer you to Tom Morton's excellent Casper Star-Tribune column from Oct. 26. He focused on the lethal nature of suicide by gun. Guns are very popular in Wyoming, and a popular (and very final) way to commit suicide. He noted that U.S. suicide stats -- 39th in the world -- are not particularly alarming. But, "if Wyoming's rate of 20.0 suicides per 100,000 population was compared to the worldwide rates, Wyoming would rank about 10th." Read more here. 

This comes from a 2010 article in the WTE:

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Wyoming youth, said Keith Hotle, a suicide prevention team leader with the Wyoming Department of Health. Only car crashes kill more teens. 

If a new disease was the second-leading cause of death for youth, that would be front page news all over the state," he said. 

But it isn't. Those headlines arrive only with each new suicide by a Wyoming youth. And they appear with great regularity, much to our shame.

Rest in peace, Alex Frye. We will remember you.

Cheyenne NAACP and Occupy Cheyenne search for common ground

The next meeting of the NAACP Unit #4108 is scheduled for Monday, January 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Sunflower Room of the Laramie County Public Library in downtown Cheyenne.  The meeting will focus on finalizing events and activities for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 16 and February’s Black History Month.


NAACP members are invited to General Assembly meeting sponsored by Occupy Cheyenne on Thursday, Jan. 5, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave., in downtown Cheyenne. We have common ground in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, philosophy of nonviolent protests against the powers and principalities that join forces to keep us all down. More info at Occupy Cheyenne on Facebook.

Help wanted: Wyoming Democratic Party

Something is happening on the Wyoming Democratic Party web site (and it's about time):

Field Director: The Wyoming Democratic Party is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Field Director (currently funded under the Democratic National Committee's State Party Partnership Program). A complete job description and application information is located here: Field Director Job Description.
 Compliance Director:  The Wyoming Democratic Party is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Compliance Director (currently partially funded under the Democratic National Committee's State Party Partnership Program). The Compliance Director is the staff member responsible for working with the Executive Director and others to oversee all aspects of the WDP’s compliance with applicable state and federal laws.  A complete job description and application information is located here: Compliance Director Job Description.
 Internships:  The Wyoming Democratic Party is offering internship opportunities for students. These are unpaid internships, and would require 10 to 20 hours per week (we are willing to be flexible as a student's schedule requires). Some of the duties will include researching, recruiting volunteers, phone banking, attending community events, networking with other organizations, and organizing events in the community. This is a great way to get political experience and make long-time professional contacts. For more information, contact Dana Walton at (307) 258-1825 or dana@wyomingdemocrats.com.

Poet and Army vet Brian Turner: Dialogue needed between U.S. vets and Iraqi artists

I read Brian Turner’s first poetry book, “Here, Bullet,” when it came out in 2005 from Alice James Books. Amazing poems from a witness to the war, one who arrived at the front possessing an MFA in creative writing.

We haven’t seen a huge amount of war poetry coming out of Iraq. It’s a mere trickle when compared to the U.S. poetry shaped by Vietnam. It’s early yet – the war only ended last week, officially. You can start with Turner’s work:

Earlier this year, Brian Turner went back to Baghdad as an Army veteran who also happens to be a writer. Turner served as an infantry team leader with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat team in 2003 and 2004, an experience that informs his award-winning book of poetry “Here, Bullet.” Iraq also features in his latest book, “Phantom Noise.” 

He believes now that the war is officially over, there needs to be a new dialogue between the two countries, especially between U.S. vets and Iraqi artists. 

“I was able to meet some Iraqi poets and painters, and they’re sort of waiting,” Turner told Here & Now's Robin Young. “They see the guns and the tanks and helicopters come, and they’re wondering where is another part of the conversation, more of a dialogue in art, that kind of constructive conversation. So if anybody is interested in that, I would encourage them to not sit by the sidelines and not get involved. They’re waiting for us.”

Hear a WBUR radio interview and Turner reading one of his poems at http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2011/12/22/poet-iraq-turner

Moving sale this week at downtown Cheyenne's Link Gallery

Cheyenne loses an art gallery, gains yet another empty storefront:

The owners of the LINK GALLERY, 124 W. Lincolnway in Cheyenne, are moving to Austin, Texas, one of America's most exciting cities, so they are having a sale. Prices are 20-40% off most paintings and prints through January 7. Mon-Sat 10:30 am – 5 pm. FMI: 307-778-0330. On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Link-Gallery/50875219291?sk=info

The great big hole in Cheyenne's downtown makes for a hole in its soul

Ball drops at the Depot Plaza on New Year's Eve, causing all of us to think good thoughts about downtown Cheyenne's future.

After two years of railing against Wyoming's woeful public education system, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle editorial staff is shifting its focus.

It's time to kick Cheyenne in the ass.

The city is "mired in the doldrums and doing little to find its way out." It has "lost its desire to chase after pre-eminence." Cheyenne needs to "recapture the vision of being a great city."

Most shocking of all, the WTE has discovered that there is a a great big hole in the middle of downtown. It's not a metaphoric hole, either, but a very real one.

The downtown hole is a manifestation of Cheyenne's lack of vision. I recently asked the question of whether any other city of Cheyenne's size would tolerate a mega-hole to exist at its city center for seven years. A gas explosion leveled almost a city block in downtown Bozeman two years ago. The hole was filled in short order followed by rebuilding. Downtown Deadwood was able to fill its downtown hole (an old mine) with businesses and now has a bustling economy. Many other Rocky Mountain cities have faced explosions and blights and economic downturns. They have come up with viable plans to enliven their downtowns. 

My wife Chris and I went to the downtown New Year's Eve festivities last night. It was great to see so many people downtown. That rarely happens outside of Cheyenne Frontier Days or summer's Friday night concert series. Art Design & Dine has brought some life to downtown each second Thursday but it's still struggling to catch on after two years. Unfortunately, one of the participating AD&D galleries soon will be closing.

WTE identifies what it missing from downtown development: "visionary thinking and risk-taking." We've seen visionary thinking exhibited in the LightsOn! Project at the Hynds Building, which hosted a rocking party last night. We're also seeing some of that with the Dinneen Building and the accompanying screetscaping. Much more is needed.  

I'm with the WTE on this one. They plan to fill their op-ed pages to calls for an end to the miasma that had led to status as a second-rate city of the West.

I'll be reading.

As you might expect, there are some bright spots in Cheyenne's present. We'll talk about those too...

Who is the mystery man from Ten Sleep arrested at Occupy the (Iowa) Caucuses?

Rachel Maddow muses in this MSNBC clip about the Occupy the (Iowa) Caucuses protester arrested at Mitt Romney HQ and whose hometown is listed as Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Since musicians were featured at the occupation, and one of them looked suspiciously like Jalan "This Banjo Kills Facists" Crossland of Ten Sleep, we think that this mystery man is indeed the man who gave us "Don't Taze Me, Bro'" What say you, dear readers?

First Occupy Cheyenne GA of the new year Jan. 5 at Paramount Cafe

We got the nod from Leah Z that we can hold the next Occupy Cheyenne General Assembly at the Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave., on Thursday, Jan. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. Bring some dough to buy an idea-enhancing coffee. Agenda items include plans for January actions, a protest at the Capitol when the Legislature convenes in February, and ideas about participating in the regional Occupy GA in Boulder, Colo., Feb. 18-19. Agenda will be up and running in a few days on the Occupy Cheyenne Facebook page for additions and subtractions. Happy New Year, Occupiers! Looking for full equality in The Equality State in 2012!

This Is Why We Fight: Progressive blogging, from the pulpit to the streets

Video production by eninaoj

I was listening to The Decembrists’ “The King is Dead” for the umpteenth time when “This is Why We Fight” got stuck in my head. Why do we fight, we progressive bloggers here in Wyoming? I sort of knew why I fight but I wasn’t sure about the rest of our ragged little band. So I came up with a few questions that I sent to some of the consistent bloggers on the “WY Progressives” blogroll (see right sidebar). First up is Rodger McDaniel, founder, writer and editor of Blowing in the Wyoming Wind.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: I was born on January 10, 2011 when I retired from the State of Wyoming and became free to blog about issues that matter. In another life I served 10 years in the legislature, was the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1982, practiced law for 18 years and, in the Freudenthal administration, I was the director of the Department of Family Services and head of the state's mental health and substance abuse programs. Currently I am a preacher, a grandfather, and a blogger.

Q: Why do you blog?

A: I blog because I can. I realize there are many people who because of their jobs or other reasons are not free to speak out. I am and enjoy doing so. I don't have to worry about getting elected or being fired.

Q: Any predictions for 2012?

A: Obama will be the only winner in the GOP primaries. One of the GOP candidates will tell the truth about something (I have no way to predict who it will be but more likely Ron Paul than Michelle Bachmann). The U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the Affordable Care Act and find state laws prohibiting same-sex marriage to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. One war will end and at least one more will start. The Wyoming Legislature will provide even more fodder for outlaw bloggers. I will finish writing my book on Lester Hunt's life. (Not so sure about that last one!)

Q: What's your favorite song, whether it's from 2011 or from some other year?

A: My music development was arrested in my disc jockey days. Therefore it is a Beatles song "In My Life."

Rodger McDaniel: From the altar...

....to the streets, with Occupy Cheyenne.

Writer Rebecca Solnit maps Laramie and then occupies the world

Yup’ik Elder Esther Green occupies the river

Read this beautiful essay by California writer Rebecca Solnit on the CBS News site. You may remember Rebecca from her residency at the University of Wyoming creative writing program earlier this year. She and her students conducted a community mapping project, “Laramie: A Gem City Atlas,” with the results exhibited at the UW Art Museum in May and June. They were occupying Laramie before Occupy Laramie sprang up this fall. Read a Casper Star-Tribune story about the community mapping project here.

Laramie native Robin Van Ausdall named new executive director of Wyoming Democratic Party

Jeremy Pelzer reports this in today's Casper Star-Tribune:

Wyoming Democrats have selected Colorado political consultant Robin Van Ausdall as their new executive director, according to her and other party officials. 

Van Ausdall, who was born in Laramie, is a political veteran, serving as campaign manager for David Canter’s unsuccessful bid against U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., in 2010 and as the Democratic National Committee’s field organizer for northeast Colorado from 2005 through 2008. She was Andrew Romanoff’s caucus director in his unsuccessful 2010 Colorado Senate bid. Most recently, she ran a Denver school board campaign and operates a karaoke and DJ service in Fort Collins, Colo., Van Ausdall said.   

Kyle DeBeer, the party’s interim executive director, said Wednesday a formal announcement will come early next week and that it hasn’t yet been decided when the new executive director will start. 

Democratic sources said Van Ausdall was chosen over Jason Perkey, who ran U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ failed campaign for mayor of Chicago earlier this year. The Wyoming Democrats’ executive director position has been vacant since October, when Bill Luckett left for Oregon after his wife found a job there.

Occupy Fort Collins holds a "Coats, Cans and Cash" fund-raiser Jan. 29 at Avo's

Occupy movements in the Rocky Mountain region are leaving the streets for proactive community involvement. Occupy Fort Collins will be holding a "Coats, Cans and Cash" fund-raiser on Sunday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., at Avogadro's Number, 605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, Colo., right down the road from Cheyenne. Fund-raiser for those who actually need clothing and food and cash -- an increasing number of Americans (thanks to the greedy 1%). Performances by GD Money and the Funky Tunk Heroes and DumptruckButterlips. Get more info at the Occupy Fort Collins and Occupy Ft. Collins Facebook pages and at http://www.occupyfortcollins.org. 

Occupy Hip Hop in Colorado Springs a fund-raiser for foreclosure actions

Occupy Colorado Springs is sponsoring this event on Jan. 7 that's a fund-raiser for some of the org's foreclosure actions. This week, the OCS folks are occupying the foreclosure of the house of a 62-year-old leukemia victim. Get more info about Occupy Hip Hop at http://www.facebook.com/events/156851661083815/  

Rep. Gingery's bill proposes much-needed boost in waiver program budget

From the Wyoming Public Media web site:

A Wyoming program that helps the disabled has a long waiting list, but a state bill to be introduced next year could help. 

Jackson representative Keith Gingery (R-Fremont/Teton) is the sponsor of the bill to be introduced during the upcoming legislative session would provide $28 million in state and federal funding for Wyoming's Home and Community Based Waiver Program. The waiver program provides services for people with disabilities. More than 450 people in Wyoming are waiting for adult, child or brain-injury waivers. 

Wyoming expects to spend about $214 million on the waivers over the next two fiscal years, with about half the cost paid with federal dollars. But Gingery said that the funding isn't enough to meet existing demand for the waivers.

This program provides much-needed support to those families challenged with long-term medical care that is usually only partially covered by insurance – if that family is insured at all. Guidelines of the waiver program are outlined here.

Support Rep. Gingery via e-mail at kgingery@wyoming.com

Reboot the Robot performs tonight at Paramount Cafe in downtown Cheyenne

Reboot the Robot (Jon Ware) and Kelsi Rivera will perform an acoustic concert on Wednesday, Dec. 28 (tonight), 6-8 p.m. at the Paramount Café, 1607 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne. This is the newly-opened café’s first event so come on down and support indie music and indie business in downtown Cheyenne. Hear songs by Reboot the Robot at http://www.YouTube.com/RTRmuzac. Find out more about the Paramount Café on its Facebook page.

"Carbon Sink" got all the headlines, but there was much more to Wyoming public art in 2011

The Wyomingarts blog reports that 2011 was a banner year for public art in Wyoming. One of the most notable was Chris Drury's environmental installation "Carbon Sink: What Goes Around, Comes Around." This commissioned piece, made from beetle-kill Wyoming trees and bona fide Wyoming coal, was installed last summer on the University of Wyoming campus and instantly earned the wrath of the state's energy moguls, who think that they own the place. To prove it, at least one Casper-based mogul withheld his annual contribution to the University of Wyoming. Art matters. Sometimes art can cause an entitled fat cat to withhold funding from his alma mater, even during a year when the football team has a winning record and goes to a bowl game! But there was much more to public art in Wyoming this year than "Carbon Sink." Take an art tour of Wyoming at http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com/2011/12/year-in-review-public-art-projects.html

Local artist's domestic violence posters raise funds for Safehouse in Cheyenne

It's dangerous to be a woman in The Equality State. View the entire series of posters by Forrest King, designed to raise funds for  Cheyenne's Safehouse, at http://www.facebook.com/BatteredBrideProject   

WTE Online: CRMC offers psychiatric service through computer

This is a great idea for a rural state (Wyoming) which has high risk factors for suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse -- and one that serves its 580,000 residents with just 30 psychiatrists (one per 19,333 people), most located in cities: CRMC offers psychiatric service through computer -- Wyoming Tribune Eagle Online

UW hosts largest Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration in Wyoming Jan. 16-20

The University of Wyoming in Laramie sponsors the annual Martin Luther King, Jr./Days of Dialogue and March Jan. 16-20. This year's timely theme is "Building Unity Through Community: Local to Global." This week-long celebration of King's legacy of peace and justice is the largest in Wyoming, possibly the region.  

The week's schedule:

Monday, Jan. 16
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: National Service Day

4 p.m.: Martin Luther King, Jr. March beginning at Albany County Courthouse
4:45 p.m.- Willena Stanford Supper at UW Wyoming Union Ballroom. Entertainment provided by WASA and the ARK

Tuesday, Jan. 17
12 noon-1:30 p.m.: ECTL Book Discussion, "On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman’s Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti" by Margaret Trost. Registration required at www.uwyo.edu/ctl. At Coe Library, Rm 506. Lunch provided.

12:15-1:30 p.m.: "The Face of Discrimination" panel discussion, Union Family Room
4-6 p.m.: "Build 2020 w/ Molina Speaks" -- hip-hop workshop and performance with Adrian Molina, Union Family Room

Wednesday, Jan. 18
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: "Local to Global" photo exhibit opening, Union Art Gallery 234
3 p.m.: Opening for the "Tunnel of Oppression," Union East Ballroom
8 p.m.: The Players Club – step performance, SAC Event - A & S Auditorium

Thursday, Jan. 19
12:15-1:30 p.m.: "Art Imitates Life" panel discussion, Union West Ballroom
3:30-5 p.m.: Chad Hymas, motivational speaker, Union West Ballroom
7 p.m.: Hill Harper, keynote address, A & S Auditorium

Friday, Jan. 20
12 noon-1 p.m.: Poetry Slam Workshop with Slam Nuba, Union West Ballroom, sponsored by Residence Life & Dining Services
1:15-2:30 p.m.: Poetry Slam Open Mic with Slam Nuba, Union Skylight Lounge, sponsored by Residence Life & Dining Services
6:30 p.m.: "Shadow Ball" movie with talk-back session, Union Family Room, sponsored by Wyoming PBS
9-11:30 p.m.: FNF Movie: "Circumstance," Union Family Room
8:30 p.m.: Lupe Fiasco, hip-hop artist, C&C Event in the A & S Auditorium. Doors open at 8 p.m. UW Student Tickets: $20, non-UW student tickets: $30

More info at http://mlkdod.wordpress.com/

My vote for 2011's best radio show in WY -- Cognitive Dissonance on KOCA-FM every Friday night

Meg and Cameron counted down the year's top 25 songs the past two weeks on Meg Lanker-Simons' Friday night Cognitive Dissonance radio show on KOCA-FM out of Laramie. In case you live out of broadcast range (as I do), read the lists at the Cognitive Dissonance Tumblr site and go find the tunes in other places. Listen to the show every Friday night, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. at 93.5 on your radio dial if you can. Friends who live west of Cheyenne's F.E. Warren AFB and east of the summit say they can get it. Maybe I just need to get in my car every Friday night and drive Happy Jack Road until it appears on my Ford Fusion's radio. The show offers a great mix of progressive music and politics. I've even been on the show. I'm not in the groove, music-wise, but I am progressive, politics-wise. Happy New Year, Meg! Keep the talk and the music coming!

"The Hole," Cheyenne's perpetual eyesore, is in the news yet again

"The Hole" is the site on Lincolnway that once was the site of the Mary's Bake Shoppe Building. When it burned down in 2004 in a yet-unsolved arson fire, who would have thought it would still be a wreck seven years later. The gold-and-white building across Lincolnway is the Historic Atlas Theatre. Photo: Joshua A. Bickell, Casper Star-Tribune

"The Hole" in Cheyenne is in the news again.

Every other day, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle op-ed pages carries a letter to the editor asking why the city hasn't come up with a plan to fill "The Hole" along downtown's main drag. The correspondent usually is perplexed  that leaders of the state's capital city, the largest metropolitan statistical area in the state, cannot come up with a plan to turn the seven-year-old hole into a building or a park or a retail center or something.

This time around, "The Hole" is the subject of a page 3 article by Joan Barron in the Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming's statewide newspaper.

Here's a glimpse of a few of the problems holding up progress on the issue: 

Bob Bradshaw, special projects manager for the city of Cheyenne, other city officials and members of the capital city’s Downtown Development Authority are frustrated at the continued presence of the downtown blight because it gives visitors the wrong impression about the character of the city and its residents.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has worked for the past 18 months to make improvements on “The Hole,” but is limited by available money and its lack of legal authority, DDA board President John Sundahl said. 

The organization budgeted $40,000 to build a fence to shield the lot from public view, but the owner of the Hynds Building refused permission, Sundahl said. 

Some citizens want a park created at the site. Sundahl said the DDA doesn’t have the money. 

He said a park would require filing in the hole and removing the old foundation, which, as the engineers warned, could be problematic.

“It’s a terribly complicated issue,” Sundahl said. “You would think it would be easy as a piece of cake.”

And so on. Read the entire article here. 

All we hear are excuses. Blame, too. To make it even worse, the whole of Casper is now laughing at us. 

I think we should put the issue in the hands of artists. They could come up with ideas to turn the gaping hole in a work of public art. Digital artists could come up with a way to project an historic building onto the site. Visitors then would think that our historic downtown is actually in one piece. Perhaps our knitters could yarn-bomb the site, assembling a multi-colored network of fabric that would give all of us the impression that something interesting and useful is happening at the site.

Perhaps this is beyond the ken of artists. Many cities have been transforming vacant lots into urban gardens. Our city engineer has said that the site is dangerous, that bricks may come loose from the east wall and tumble onto innocent heads, but maybe we could "seed bomb" the hole, water it down and many crops could grow haphazardly. Squash and beans and cukes could be harvested by guys in helmets or body armor. I'd volunteer to assemble some of the seed bombs (I'll leave the harvesting to hardier souls).

Conventional solutions don't seem to be working. Unorthodox methods may. Do you have any ideas, dear readers?

Enjoy our state parks now before proposed budget cuts from Wyoming Legislature take effect

Glendo State Park

The following is a great program offered by my state government colleagues over at Wyoming State Parks.

The Wyoming Division of State Parks, Historic Sites and Trials will sponsor free, guided hikes in four state parks and historic sites on New Year’s Day as part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 states. 

America’s State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on January 1, at a state park close to home. First Day Hikes offer a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family. 

“We are excited to host First Day Hikes as part of this national effort to get people outdoors and into our parks. First Day Hikes are a great way to cure cabin fever and burn off those extra holiday calories by starting off the New Year with an invigorating walk or hike in one of our beautiful state parks,” said State Parks Administrator Domenic Bravo. 

America’s State Parks boast a variety of beautiful settings for year-round outdoor recreation, and each First Day Hike will offer an opportunity to explore the unique natural and cultural treasures close to home. From California to Maine, hikers can climb hills and mountain tops, walk along ponds and beaches, and traverse trails through forests, fields and prairies. Visitors can listen to birds, breathe in the fresh air, discover wildlife tracks, feel the wind and the warmth of the sun or the coldness of the snow. 

Visitors can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, experience spectacular views and vistas and benefit from the company of a knowledgeable state park guide. “Studies have proven that getting outdoors is one good way to relax and recharge the body, mind and spirit.” stated Phil McNelly, NASPD’s Executive Director. “We hope that hiking along a trail in a state park will become part of an individual’s or family’s regular exercise routine.” 

First Day Hikes originated over 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts. The program was launched to promote both healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year round recreation at state parks. Many other states have offered outdoor recreation programs on New Year’s Day, however, this is the first time all 50 state park systems have joined together to sponsor First Day Hikes. 

Park staff and volunteers will lead the hikes, which average one to two miles or longer depending on the state park. Details about hike locations, difficulty and length, terrain and tips regarding proper clothing are listed on the America’s State Parks website. Visit www.americasstateparks.org to find a First Day Hike nearest you. 

In Wyoming, hikes will be offered at the following locations and times: 

Fort Bridger State Historic Site – one mile hike/walk around the historic site. Meet at entrance booth at 1 p.m. 

Curt Gowdy State Park – Up to four mile hike on a trail to be determined. Meet at Aspen Grove Trail head at 1 p.m. 

Guernsey State Park – Up to 2.5 mile hike on a trail to be determined. Meet at headquarters at 1 p.m. 

Glendo State Park – Up to a four mile hike along a newly constructed Narrows Bluff Trail. Meet at the Dam overlook at 10 a.m. 

Participants are urged to wear adequate clothing, coffee and hot chocolate will be provided, Bonfires at most locations. This is a kid and family friendly event, entry fee to participating parks will be waived. 

RSVPs are requested but not required. Please RSVP by emailing Paul.Gritten@wyo.gov. 

This event kicks off Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites 2012 75th Anniversary celebration. The organization America's State Parks is committed to promoting outdoor recreation in state parks as a way to address obesity, especially among children. Getting kids outside and unplugged from video games and other electronic media creates a unique connection with nature that promotes physical and mental well-being and encourages creativity and stewardship of our shared resources.

The ironic part of all this? Republicans in the Wyoming Legislature want budget cuts of up to 8 percent. Those budget cuts may force state agencies to eliminate staff and cut back on programs. So, while Wyoming celebrates the 75th anniversary of its fantastic system of state parks and historic sites, many of them will be cutting back hours, services and possibly even closing due to budget cuts.

All this will be happening in a Wyoming that has a budget surplus of somewhere around $500 million. The only explanation can be found in the fact that 24 Republican candidates with a Tea Party philosophy (if you can call it a "philosophy") were elected to the Legislature during the 2010 elections. They are true believers in small government at the expense of service to their constituents.

If you show up at a state park this summer and find it closed, call your Republican state legislator and ask him/her why. You can find contact info on the Legisweb site at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/lsoweb/default.aspx

Rep. Cynthia Lummis, member-in-good-standing of the 1%, votes to raise taxes on middle-class Wyomingites

This press release comes from Jane Ifland, communications director of the Wyoming Democratic Party:

Today, on the heels of yesterday’s blatantly partisan vote by Republicans in the House to raise taxes on 160 million Americans in the middle of the holiday season, Chuck Herz, Chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party, released the following statement: 

“Cynthia Lummis ought to be ashamed of herself. Her refusal to cooperate with anyone —including the Senate leadership of her own party— puts her in the ranks of the rankest extremists of her party. That’s bad for Wyoming people in and of itself. 

But worse is the fact that her uncooperative attitude will hit Wyoming middle class families where it hurts the most this holiday season: right in the wallet.” (The failure of Rep. Lummis and her fellow extremist House members to cooperate with the rest of our leadership will cost the average Wyoming wage earner more than $1,600 in actual cash next year.) 

“If you want to look from worse to worse yet,” Herz continued, “you can see that this incomprehensible disregard for the well-being of the middle class of Wyoming and America carries right up through the GOP leadership – if you can call it that – to the ineffectual John Boehner and the clueless Mitt Romney. 

Romney, in particular, has repeatedly dismissed the payroll tax cut as a ‘little Band-Aid’ – reluctantly supporting an extension only after he realized the public overwhelmingly supported it. These tax cuts make a real difference to middle class families. Failing to extend them is bad for our people, bad for our state, bad for our country.”

Shop locally by supporting local theatre

Opening Jan. 20 at the CLTP: "Messiah on the Frigidaire"

The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players offers a full season of live theatre for all of us in southeastern Wyoming. My wife Chris and I were volunteers Saturday night for the next-to-last performance of "She Loves Me." All local performers, all-local musicians in the orchestra pit, all-local volunteer crew. CLTP puts the "community" in "community theatre." With that in mind, here's a neat holiday gift idea:

Looking for a gift for that person who has everything?

How about gifting the perfect night out? 

Getting a jump on your holiday gift list? 

Well, Cheyenne Little Theatre Players gift certificates are the answer! 

Call the CLTP box office at 307-638-6543 to purchase one for a specific show in our season, or purchase a general certificate that the recipient may redeem for a show of their choice. 

FMI: http://www.cheyennelittletheatre.org

Casper developer Steve Grimshaw recycles everything (including the kitchen sink) for new project

Casper developer Steve Grimshaw says that he just wants to be a "responsible builder." To that end, he hired contractor Pete Peterson to recycle whatever he could from the old KC Apartments that were being demolished to make way for the new Sunshine Apartments near downtown. Peterson was able to recycle 83 percent of the building. That included concrete that was crushed to go into the foundations of the new building. Also claw-foot bathtubs, cabinets, door locks and faucet handles. Also salvaged were old cement slabs (shown above) stamped with the date "1917" that will pave the new public arts space that is part of the project. A coalition of Casper organizations recently received a National Endowment for the Arts grant for the arts space. Photo by Dan Cepeda, Casper Star-Tribune. Read entire article at http://trib.com/news/local/casper/developer-recycles-notorious-casper-apartment/article_e504182e-4cd8-55b8-bf54-6d72b0b292a1.html#ixzz1h5EsEb00

Republican Rep. David Miller of Riverton will become an executive of a coal company

Why bother to hire lobbyists or pour energy money into electing state representatives when you can just buy one? Go to http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/state-representative-miller-will-become-executive-coal-company

Roots band with Wyoming roots brings in the new year in Lander

The Patti Fiasco is a country-rock band with Wyoming roots now based in Fort Collins, Colo. I heard a very cool song from the band's new CD on "Morning Music" today on Wyoming Public Radio. It was “Wyoming is for Lovers.” Struck me as strange because that's Virginia's old state slogan. Anyway, a great attention-getting tune in the country-rock or Americana or roots music category -- I get confused by all the labels. Anyway, the Patti Fiasco plays New Year's Eve at the Lander Bar. Also performing at the University of Wyoming Union Ballroom in Laramie on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m., at a WELCOME BACK UW STUDENTS FREE SHOW!

Paramount Cafe offers great coffees and creative placemaking in downtown Cheyenne

My coworker Linda and I walked down to the new Paramount Cafe this afternoon. Proprietor Leah Zegan had earlier posted on Facebook that she and her baristas were testing their drinks today so why didn't we all come down for some samples. So we did.

The Paramount Cafe is located in the old Paramount Theater. Remember when all the movie theatres were located downtown? The Lincoln, the Atlas, the Paramount? The Lincoln is the only one left in downtown Cheyenne that still shows movies. The Atlas is owned by the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players and houses some of the CLTP's seasonal plays, including the summer melodrama. The Paramount hasn't been a movie theater for God knows how long (I'll have to investigate the Wyoming State Archives to discover the Paramount's history).

There is something theatrical about this  place. The young baristas are all rehearsing for opening day tomorrow. The young male barista showed Linda the player piano that takes up a corner of the wood-paneled cafe. He sang along as the piano roll scrolled across the piano face.

I ordered a latte straight up and Linda had a vanilla latte. Two shots in a 12-ounce cup gives the coffee drinker enough of a jolt to make it through a chilly Monday afternoon. It's also more than you get in most of the chain coffee shops.

Come on down to Leah's place starting tomorrow. This is a new independent business bringing new life to downtown Cheyenne. Sip a latte, play around with the player piano and peruse the art in the hallway. Think about the cool movies that used to draw post-war families. Come back Shane -- come back! Officer Krupke, you're really a square, this boy don't need a judge he needs an analyst's care! Who are those guys? That's bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.

Paramount Cafe, 1607 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne, 307-634-2576. All sorts of hot and cold beverages. Baked goods provided by The Bread Basket.

Arts Alliance of Cheyenne considering merger with Cheyenne Arts Council

During most of my 20 years in Cheyenne, there was no arts council. Suddenly, mushroom-like, two arts organizations sprouted out of the rocky soil of southeast Wyoming. Not really a surprise, really, since quite a bit of fertilizer (organic and inorganic) had been applied over the years. Are you growing tired of this aggie metaphor? I am. Anyway, there now is an effort by the Arts Alliance of Cheyenne to merge with the Cheyenne Arts Council. This is good news as it should bring a better focus to arts events in Cheyenne and around Laramie County. It should also boost fund-raising and grant-writing efforts. Who knows, the oomph associated with this collaboration may help achieve an arts-centric solution to The Big Hole in downtown Cheyenne. To get the merger details, visit the Arts Alliance of Cheyenne site or go to this link on the Wyoming Arts Council site.

Thanks to Michael White for icasualties.org and its coverage of the Iraq War

Soldiers wave to the last U.S. military convoy to leave Iraq as it crosses the Kuwaiti border. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

One of the web sites that was consistently informative and accurate during the Iraq War was icasualties.org. The site tracked war killed and wounded both in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also carried a dynamic news feed. Founder Michael White, a software engineer from Stone Mountain, Ga., was interviewed on NPR's "Weekend Edition" this morning. He noted most of the response over the years was positive but there were some who accused him of playing politics, especially with the Iraq invasion and its bloody aftermath. The site's focus was on military casualties, relying mostly on releases from the Pentagon and its equivalent in the U.K. and other "Coalition of the Willing" countries.

It was more difficult to track stats on U.S. military wounded once they left the battlefield due to HIPAA laws, which White said that he supports. He didn't want to make any statements regarding civilian casualties since there were no consistently reputable sources of info on those. Hospitals in Iraq reported one set of civilian casualties on one day and then another set the following day. Michael signed off of NPR this morning by saying that he was glad that there was one site that he wouldn't be updating as often. Thanks for icasualties.org, Michael, and all the work that went into it.

I wasn't blogging back in spring of 2003 when the U.S. launched the Iraq War. I was firmly against it. So it goes. As it winds down now, I've been looking at some of my early posts about the war. One of the first ones concerned Pres. Bush's November 2006 trip to Vietnam, a place he fought so hard not to visit during his National Guard career. The New York Times article on the trip featured this quote from Stanley Karnow, author of the much-respected history of the Vietnam War:

"There are differences and similarities, of course," he said. "We got lied into both wars." But, he added: "The easy summation is that Vietnam began as a guerrilla war and escalated into an orthodox war by the end we were fighting in big units. Iraq starts as a conventional war, and has degenerated into a guerrilla war. It has gone in an opposite direction. And it’s much more difficult to deal with."

Ain't it the truth. "We got lied into both wars." And there's another similarity. The American War in Iraq (Part II) is ending with a whimper and not a bang. Hundreds of thousands of veterans are out there now, wondering what comes next. Not too different from the mid-1970s, when millions of Vietnam veterans were out there, in places all across America, wondering what came next. 

Rep. Amy Edmonds wants bill that divulges outside origins of shady legislation -- does that include ALEC?

Rep. Amy Edmonds

I was pleased to see that reliably conservative Wyoming State Rep. Amy Edmonds (R-Cheyenne) will introduce a bill this session that will make it easier to identify a bill's true authors. From today's Wyoming Tribune-Eagle:

"In my opinion, there are a lot of outside sources that go into the writing of a bill," she said. "I don't think a lot of people are aware of who is writing all the bills, so this would keep track of that." 

Edmonds said that many bills are crafted from model legislation or with input from organizations, special interest groups or other states.

We could start with tracking the legislation that is crafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the right-wing organization funded by the Koch Brothers. Every summer ALEC flies a group of our state legislators to its national gathering, wines and dines them, hands them a batch of model legislation and wishes them godspeed. Those bills tend to be anti-worker, anti-public education, anti-LGBT, anti-voter, anti-immigrant, and anti-women. They tend to support unbridled energy development over sound environmental protections. They tend to favor the 1% over the 99%. 

I'd love to see ALEC's name writ large on every piece of disgusting right-wing legislation that finds its way to the Wyoming State Legislature. Wouldn't you?

Strangely enough, Rep. Edmonds name is on the list of ALEC-affiliated members of the Wyoming House and Senate, as provided by ALEC Exposed. I published that list last August. Read it here. 

Contact Rep. Edmonds and give her a big thumbs-up on her efforts to shine some light on some of the shadier pieces of legislation that find their way to Wyoming. While you're at it, tell her to distance herself from ALEC. The Wyoming Legisweb site lists this contact info for Rep. Edmonds: 307-214-8126 (cell) or aedmonds@wyoming.com

Wyoming Outdoor Council's Frontline investigates smog problems in the oil and gas fields

From the WOC Frontline:

Clean air in Wyoming has perhaps been taken for granted over the years. But, as unbelievable as it may seem, in the second decade of the 21st century, Wyoming is facing a smog problem. Click here to read the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s winter issue of Frontline.

The SEIU marches for jobs for the 99%

My national union hits the streets to support the 99%. Proud to be a member  -- my local is WPEA, the Wyoming Public Employees Union. The Wyoming State Legislature will be attacking our jobs, our pay and our benefits when the session begins in February. We also will be out on the streets. Meanwhile, tell Congress that you stand with the 99% at www.seiu.org

WYDOT finds funds for local safety project

Congrats to Pete Laybourn and the members of the 180/Greeley Highway Enhancement Coalition for securing funds to address safety issues at one of the busiest intersections in Cheyenne. Southside residents on foot, bikes and wheelchairs have to negotiate this crazy intersection to get to the only grocery store in the area. In this Channel 5 news clip, Pete takes time out to thank Gov. Mead for pushing to increase funds for highways and other infrastructure needs in the face of a Republican-dominated Legislature intent on cutting such funds by up to 8 percent even when the state has a billion-dollar surplus. For full story, go to Greeley Highway Getting Safer

Watch the ball drop and support downtown businesses Dec. 31 in Cheyenne

http://www.facebook.com/events/203689459716924/?notif_t=event_invite