The Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra is cancelling their holiday concert. But you can still support the musicians and conductor.
Here is their official press release: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra board and staff have made the difficult decision to cancel the December 12th Holiday Magic performances, presented by HollyFrontier. With the recent new restrictions by the Governor, as well as the rising number of COVID cases in the community and local hospital, CSO feels it is in the best interest of all involved to not proceed with this concert at this time. The health and well-being of all CSO patrons, staff and musicians is a top priority. Those who have purchased a ticket to this concert may call 307-778-8561beginning Mon., Nov. 30th to discuss ticket exchange or donation options.
Courtesy photo Josh Groban’s new album Harmony Target exclusive
Josh Groban is known for his amazing voice and holiday album Noel and so many more. His latest is Harmony, which he will be livestreaming the new tracks in concert tomorrow. Even though musicians have had limited touring ability due to the pandemic artists like Josh Groban are doing livestream concerts you can buy tickets to. I interviewed Josh when I worked at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. And he’s a wonderful person as well as a talented artist. His singing is great in person in concert in a stadium and this is as close as fans can get for now.
So follow the directions below for his Thanksgiving Day Facebook concert!
Spend Thanksgiving with Josh tomorrow! His Harmony album livestream concert starts at 1pm PST but you can watch and re-watch it all weekend long. We are so thrilled to donate a portion of the sales to No Kid Hungry! You can still grab your tickets at JoshGroban.com. See you then!
Also don’t forget to catch a special performance by Josh on Thanksgiving Day in a livestream concert celebrating and raising funds for Nurse Heroes everywhere. Tune in on Thanksgiving at 4 pm PST/7 pm ET for a special performance by Josh Groban and many others. Learn more about Nurse Heroes Live! here: https://live.nurseheroes.org/
HOURS of the Laramie County Library branches if you would like to check out books inside or curbside (curbside only when there isn’t inclement weather)
Cheyenne Library Hours: Monday through Thursday 10 a..m. To 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Curbside open anytime library is open unless there is inclamate weather
Burns Library Hours: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays
Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesdays closed Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m.to noon
Closed Sundays
Pine Bluffs branch Hours: closed Mondays and Sundays
Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. t 5 p.m.
Fridays 1 p.m. to 5p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon
All information courtesy of the Laramie County Library
WELCOME TO WINTER FEST VIRTUAL EVENTS from the Laramie County Library that you can do online from the comfort of your home.
From Dec. 7-19
Winter weather got you stuck inside? We have a solution for that! Join in the fun by picking up an activity kit on the 2nd floor of the library or by utilizing the library’s curbside pick-up service. We will have three projects for ages Pre-K and up starting December 7th, with a second set of projects debuting on December 14th. *While supplies last. (Children & Families; 2nd Floor)
*RSVP Required Virtual Kindermusik® Saturday, December 19
10 – 10:30am
Join Laura Sutton from Rhythm & You for a fun time with books, music, and movement. Come to the 2nd floor of the library to pick up your free rhythm kit or pick it up utilizing the library’s curbside service to participate in all the fun! RSVP for this event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive the Zoom link via email. (Ages 2–5; Live via Zoom)
*RSVP Required
Virtual Denver Zoo
Tuesday, December 29
11am–12pm
Zoom down to the Denver Zoo with a live virtual experience visiting some of our favorite animals! Stop by the Ask Here desk on the 2nd floor of the library or by curbside pickup starting December 21st to pick up an interactive craft that will go along with our one-of-a-kind visit! RSVP for this event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive the Zoom link via email. (Children & Families; Live via Zoom)
*RSVP Required
Virtual Winter Jeopardy
Wednesday, December 30
6–7pm
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a trivia champ? Join us for Winter Jeopardy and you could win some fabulous prizes! RSVP for this event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive the Zoom link via email. (Children & Families; Live via Zoom)
Virtual New Year’s at Noon
Thursday, December 31
11am–12pm
It’s time for our annual New Year’s at Noon! This year we will be counting down to noon at home with fun crafts and projects that you can do while joining us virtually! Pick up your interactive bag at the library starting December 28th and then get ready as we say “so long” to 2020! Tune into our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LaramieCountyLibrary to join in on the New Year’s fun! (Children & Families; Live via Facebook)
Monthly Virtual Early Literacy Classes
Early Literacy Class Themes
Week of November 30: Art & Imagination
Week of December 7: Pigs-A-Plenty
Week of December 14: Here Comes Winter!
Week of December 21: Storyteller’s Favorites
Week of December 28: Storyteller’s Favorites
Virtual Pre-recorded Early Literacy Class
Monday, November 30 Mondays: December 7, 14, 21, 28
10–10:30am *can be watched at any time throughout the week
Join us for a pre-recorded interactive early literacy class. Practice new skills incorporating books, songs, rhymes, movement, and more! A new session is posted each Monday morning and will be available all week. Click here to participate: https://lclsonline.org/early-literacy-programming/
Each week, we will offer three chances to participate in an Early Literacy Class! A virtual live class on Tuesday at 10am, a virtual live class on Thursday at 10am, and a pre-recorded session posted on Monday at 10am that you can watch at your convenience any time throughout the week. All virtual live classes require advanced RSVP through our events calendar. Just choose whichever session or format suits you and your family best!
Stop by the Ask Here desk on the 2nd floor to pick up a weekly craft packet and free rhythm kit to go along with the week’s Early Literacy Classes whether you are joining us for the live version or the pre-recorded version! Some crafts will also be available at the Burns Branch Library. (Ages 18 Months–5 Years; Laramie County Library System Website)
*RSVP Required Virtual Tales Together
Tuesdays: December 1, 8, 15
Thursdays: December 3, 10, 17
10–10:30am
Join us for a live virtual Tales Together via Zoom! During this interactive Early Literacy Class we will practice new skills, incorporate books, songs, rhymes, movement, and more! RSVP for this class at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ and receive an email with a Zoom link for the live event.
Each week, we will offer three chances to participate in an Early Literacy Class! A virtual live class on Tuesday at 10am, a virtual live class on Thursday at 10am, and a pre-recorded session posted on Monday at 10am that you can watch at your convenience any time throughout the week. All virtual live classes require advanced RSVP through our events calendar. Just choose whichever session or format suits you and your family best!
Stop by the Ask Here desk on the 2nd floor to pick up a weekly craft packet and free rhythm kit to go along with the week’s Early Literacy Classes whether you are joining us for the live version or the pre-recorded version! (Ages 18 Months – 5 Years; Live via Zoom)
Virtual Teen Events *RSVP Required
Virtual Anime Watch Party
Wednesdays: December 2, 16
5–6pm
Connect with us on Discord to watch popular anime episodes and discuss in the chat. Discover more fun activities by joining our Teens Talk Manga community. Don’t have a Discord account yet? No problem! Laramie County Library is now offering Discord Communities for teens to interact, chat, and play online. To participate, you will need a phone, tablet, or computer with internet connection and a Discord account. You will receive the Discord invite link and information needed to create an account when you RSVP for the event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/. (Teens; Live via Discord)
*RSVP Required
Virtual Teen Dungeons & Dragons
Saturdays, December 5
1–3pm
Role-playing adventure is just a click away. Join our Teen D&D online community and get started on creating a character today. Don’t have a Discord account yet? No problem! Laramie County Library is now offering Discord Communities for teens to interact, chat, and play online. To participate, you will need a phone, tablet, or computer with internet connection and a Discord account. You will receive the Discord invite link and information needed to create an account when you RSVP for the event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/. (Teens; Live via Discord)
*RSVP Required
Virtual Teen Trivia and Tee K.O.
Wednesday, December 9
5–6pm
Join us for Trivia Murder Party and t-shirt battles in our Video Games online community this month! Don’t have a Discord account yet? No problem! Laramie County Library is now offering Discord Communities for teens to interact, chat, and play online. To participate, you will need a phone, tablet, or computer with internet connection and a Discord account. You will receive the Discord invite link and information needed to create an account when you RSVP for the event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/. This month, we are featuring the Jackbox games Trivia Murder Party and Tee K.O.! (Teens; Live via Discord)
Virtual Adult Events *RSVP Required
Virtual Ernest Hemingway: An Exploration of Life and Stories
Wednesday, December 2
6:30–7:30pm
Delve into Ernest Hemingway’s life of adventure, complexity, and intrigue with a presentation by Dr. Caskey Russell. The University of Wyoming professor will lecture on the biographical history of the famous author before discussing the diverse stories presented in the One Book Wyoming selection, In Our Time. RSVP for the event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive an email with the Zoom link. (Adults; Live via Zoom)
*RSVP Required
Virtual Jeopardy: 1980s Friday, December 11
7–8:30pm Like, totally! Like, we are feeling, like, soo nostalgic right now! Grab your Garbage Pail Kid cards, peg your pants, put on your high tops, and tease out your bangs ‘cause we are taking it back to the ‘80s. Come play the classic game of Jeopardy with us and you could win a prize for first, second, or third place as well as a prize for best ‘80s garb!RSVP for the event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive an email with the Zoom link. (Adults; Live via Zoom)
Virtual Burns Branch Library Events
December Giving for the Community December 1–21
Library Hours We have partnered with The Shepard’s Closet this month to give to the community this holiday season! During the first three weeks of December, bring your non-perishable foods, toys, and winter clothing to our drop-off location at the library. All donations will go to help fill Christmas baskets for families in need. The Shepard’s Closet is located at the Burns Town Hall at 327 S. Main Street. (All Ages; Burns Branch Library)
Take It and Make It Monday Mondays: December 7, 14, 21, 28
Library Hours Get crafty on Monday! Visit the library to pick up a craft packet to take home and create a beaded candy cane or wreath ornament. (All Ages; Burns Branch Library)
*RSVP Required
Virtual Ladies Night (Out) In: Ornament Workshop Thursday, December 10
5:30–6:30pm Pick up your supply packet at the Burns Branch Library, get cozy with a drink, and join us live via Zoom as we create some great holiday ornaments such as a tea light snowman and a yarn mini hat. RSVP for this fun event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive an email with the Zoom link. (Adults; Live via Zoom)
Unwrap the Gift of Reading December 14–19
Library Hours Begin the holiday cheer early by unwrapping the gift of reading! Select a wrapped book to check out, unwrap, and read. Inside you will find a book review form to fill out and bring back with the book. All returned forms are entered in for prize drawings. (All Ages; Burns Branch Library)
*RSVP Required Virtual Live Dinner and a Book Club Tuesday, December 15
5:30–6:30pm Go virtual with us! The book this month is Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd. For more information, please call 307-547-2249 or visit with library staff. RSVP for this event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive an email with the Zoom link. (Adults; Live via Zoom)
*RSVP Required
VirtualBINGO with the Grinch
Tuesday, December 22
5–6pm
Don’t steal Christmas cheer, instead try your luck at BINGO with the Grinch and also participate in a special read aloud of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Our hearts will grow three sizes if you join in on this fun event with prizes to be won. A few BINGO packets will be available for pick-up at the Pine Bluffs Branch Library, most will be available at the Burns Branch library. RSVP for this event at https://lclsonline.org/calendar/ to receive the Zoom link via email. (Children and Families; Live via Zoom)
Virtual Pine Bluffs Library Branch Events The Twelve Days of Christmas Crafts December 8–23
Library Hours Stop by to pick up a Christmas craft kit featuring everything you need to make festive handmade cards and holiday ornaments. There will be a new craft each day the library is open! (All Ages; Pine Bluffs Branch Library)
Trim the Tree December 8–23
Library Hours Help make our Christmas merry and bright! Bring your craft kit ornaments to display or leave a holiday message on our Post-It® tree. (All Ages; Pine Bluffs Branch Library)
Winter Reading Celebration Kickoff Friday, December 18 1–5pm Thursday, December 19 9am–12pm Join us in Pine Bluffs for the kick off of our Winter Reading Program! Add your snowflake to our winter wonderland and get started reading with a gift from Santa’s bag of books. (All Ages; Pine Bluffs Branch Library)
I have my magazine for a reason. Media is very biased. It is either extremely left or extremely right. There is no such thing as objective journalism anymore. There also aren’t any social media sites out there that also aren’t biased. So my goal is to be objective.
Look 2020 has been a lousy year for a lot of people in the United States. Between Sars 2 Covid-19, businesses and schools being shut down, concerts, theater, rodeos, festivals, cruises and movies being postponed until who knows when, huge wildfires in the Western part of the U.S., hurricanes and flooding in parts of the South, racial tension, protests, riots, marches, murder hornets, and the U.S. presidential election and so much more, yay us.
This year people have been angry, anxious, fearful, hateful, and this all stems from the media. Whether it is social media, news on Internet search engine sites, media on your TV, youtube, your radio, newspapers, your smart phones, media is everywhere.
Do you know what is more powerful than the media? It’s knowledge, research, the ability to find the truth, to find honesty.
Don’t hate your family member, your friend, your coworker, or your neighbor because of who they chose to vote for. Nobody is wrong. The great thing about America is we have the freedom to choose who we vote for. And everyone can vote if you are a legal citizen, including women like me, which hasn’t always been the case for women.
We also have the freedom of speech in America. That is something to be very grateful for and something that is to not be taken for granted.
Everybody has the ability to choose use their words wisely, whether it is through social media, a text, a phone call, an email, a letter, a messenger message, or a conversation of any kind.
I have never in my lifetime seen so many people trash politicians, their friends, their family, their neighbors, so openly and so freely without thinking about the consequences. And there are consequences.
I think the thing that appalled me the most this year was a post on Facebook that I tried to report of an individual who wished that President Trump would be put on a ventilator when he had Covid-19. And Facebook left that comment up. It is not legal to wish ill will on the President of the United States. But A lot of people did. And did I say Facebook left that comment up, after I reported it. TWICE!
My mom passed away last year. She had COPD, heart issues, and she had fallen. She was on blood thinner, and when she was put on a ventilator, she had caught pneumonia in the hospital, and had surgery to remove what they thought was mucus, they found that she had blood in her lungs. My mom was on a ventilator in ICU for many days. And eventually there was nothing more that the doctors or nurses could do to try and save her so I had to take her off of the ventilator. It was the worst day of my life.
There is nothing worse than seeing someone you love with their hands secured down, and a tube down their throat, and unable to talk to you.
I don’t care how much a person hates the President of the United States, but I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
The job of being a president is thankless. Because no matter what you do people are going to either love you or they are going to hate you.
And President Trump has the right to have the ballots recounted in every state. It is part of a fair election.
Everyone should really just be nice to each other, too. Whether you voted for Trump, for Biden, for Kanye, for Jorgensen, for yourself, or for nobody. Everyone in America has a that right to choose.
Last year I lost my mom, I had a miscarriage, I lost my dog to cancer, and this year I lost my grandpa. One day I saw him in the hospital to say good bye to him and to thank him for everything he gave us, and a few days later we were at the family gravesite over looking a mountain burying his ashes. It was very traumatic to say the least and really made me take a look at life.
What I am trying to say is life is precious. Life is a gift. Your words can either be poison, or they can be kind.
Everyone is fighting a battle right now. This year has been incredibly fucked up and difficult. There really isn’t any other way to put that.
Yes, Covid-19 is a real virus, with no cure, I have friends who are fighting it right now. But these are things the media ISN’T talking about: COVID-19 has also caused mental health issues, families to go hungry, women, men and children to be abused even more than ever during the shutdowns, children to go missing for months because schools couldn’t find them anymore once the shut downs happened. Our elderly community has been lonelier than ever before. My grandpa, we couldn’t zoom with him because he was hard of hearing and hated technology, we couldn’t talk to him through a window because he would have been confused and angry because he couldn’t hug us, so I got to see him when he had a day left to live and was unresponsive. And NO he didn’t have Covid-19 but it certainly did kill him.
I have seen firsthand how families went hungry, how the shutdowns led to abuse and divorces, how financial hardship can kill a person’s confidence, or business, and how some families are barely hanging onto their homes and are close to homelessness or are homeless, how deployments are incredibly difficult on spouses. How political views can rip apart families and friendships. How racism is still a huge issue in America.
But there is something that is out there that is more powerful than politics, more powerful than a killer virus, or racism … it is your own voice, your own actions, and your faith, whatever that is.
So, when you wake up tomorrow, you have the choice to be kind to people, or not. And that’s not something you can blame politicians, or a virus on. Something that has helped me deal with my own anxiety about everything that is going on in the world is unplugging from all social media outlets, all TV, all radio, shutting off the news apps on my phone. Focusing on my family, friends, my pets, fixing myself, trying to help people when I can, and being kind.
We have the ability to vote in our country, the ability to get in touch with the government officials when we are unhappy or want change, or to even run for office ourselves. And we also have the freedom of speech. Use it wisely. And don’t always trust one media source or the other. Research, and learn.
I still tell Biden supporters I voted for Biden, and Trump supporters I voted for Trump, and sometimes to throw people off I tell them the opposite, or that I voted for Kanye, or even myself.The cool thing about America is you also have the right to vote in secret. But however you voted treat everyone with respect, with kindness. Be an example for the future of America, our youth.
Laramie County Library System will be closed until 10am on Wednesday, November 4 due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19. The library’s safety restrictions ensure that no member of the public has been in the building without a mask, nor have they been within six feet of the employee for more than fifteen minutes.
The Laramie County Library Board of Directors and County Librarian will continue to closely monitor the situation and work in tandem with the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department to keep library employees and the public safe. The building will be professionally cleaned and disinfected during the closure, allowing the library to safely reopen on Wednesday, November 4.
