A reproduction of Rock Springs’ Andrew Kneeland’s Duck Stamp award-winning acrylic painting.
Two temporary exhibits will be on display next month at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson. The public is invited to view the colorful exhibits, which celebrate Wyoming successes.
From the National Elk Refuge … The first exhibit commemorates the 125th anniversary of Wyoming statehood. Wyoming became the 44th state admitted to the Union on July 10, 1890. An interactive display will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the state’s history and fun facts. Both a Wyoming and National Elk Refuge time line will be featured, along with coloring sheets, state logos, and a Wyoming quiz. Small Wyoming flags will be given to the first 200 families that visit the exhibit, which will be in the upstairs theater from July 2 through July 12.
Later in the month, visitor center staff will add a second exhibit to the upper level of the visitor center. The Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp 2015 Artwork Tour for the Top 100 entries and National Best in Show will move from its current location at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette to the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center from July 9 through August 2.The exhibit features an acrylic painting of two wood ducks by Andrew Kneeland, age 17, of Rock Springs. Not only was Kneeland awarded top honors in the state competition, but his artwork was judged the winner among best–of–show entries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. His design will appear on next year’s Federal Junior Duck Stamp, scheduled to be released in June 2016.
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic educational program that uses both conservation and design principles to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl biology to students from kindergarten through high school. The program incorporates both scientific and wildlife management principles into an engaging visual arts curriculum. At the completion of their studies, participants complete a Junior Duck Stamp design, which is submitted to a state or territory contest. Top entries move on to the national competition.
Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center hours are from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Please note this CHANGE in date – but not location! If you’re a vendor, or a buyer/store that would like to attend, please email editor@wyolifestyle.com for info!
Daniel Matern and Civil War era infantry
Wyoming Heritage Days, A Walk Through Time at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper
June 13-14
June 13, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
June 14 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The event is FREE and open to the public!
LOCATION: National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Casper – right adjacent to the Events Center!
Description: In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Wyoming’s statehood, The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper will host a premier living history event. The event will feature colorful personalities from Wyoming’s past. Many called Wyoming “home” before it was a state. All played an important role in Wyoming’s unique heritage.
From the Wyoming Business Council: Rawlins wins 2015 Great American Main Street Award
RAWLINS DDA/MAIN STREET WINS PRESTIGIOUS GREAT AMERICAN MAIN STREET AWARD IN ATLANTA!
ATLANTA – Rawlins today became the first community in the northern Rocky Mountain region to win the prestigious Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA).
Rawlins Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Executive Director Pam Thayer and staff along with board of directors, city council and Junior Main Street members, and downtown business owners and volunteers will officially receive the award during today’s opening plenary between 2 and 4 p.m. MDT at the 2015 National Main Streets Conference in Atlanta.
Thayer launched Rawlins’ Main Street efforts in 2006.
”Nine years ago it was overwhelming, but as we moved through the steps, it became a little clearer,” Thayer said. ”And sitting through these classes (at the National Main Streets conference), all I can think about is how much more work we have to do.
”For me, the award represents filling up our tank. It’s getting the gas to keep us moving forward.”
Rawlins was a GAMSA semifinalist last year, a first for a Wyoming Main Street program member, and was given the inaugural One to Watch award. Wyoming Main Street is a Wyoming Business Council program.
“We are so proud Wyoming is home to the first GAMSA recipient in the northern Rocky Mountain region,” Business Council Chief Executive Officer Shawn Reese said. “Rawlins is an outstanding example of how a community can work together to achieve downtown development and enhanced quality of life.”
The National Main Street Center (NMSC) was created in 1980 as a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, the NMSC recognizes the country’s best examples of comprehensive commercial district revitalization. Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a national jury. Criteria include strength of the Main Street in creating an exciting place to live, work, play and visit; commitment to historic preservation; implementation of model partnerships, and demonstrated success of the Main Street Four-Point Approach®. There are more than 2,000 Main Street communities across the country.
“We are honored to receive this level of recognition,” Rawlins Mayor Robert Grauberger said. “All the hard work from Pam Thayer, the board of directors, and the volunteers, plus the support from the businesses, the community and the City of Rawlins are the reasons we have won this award. We are very proud.”
The town of about 10,000 people is located along Interstate 80 in south-central Wyoming. It was founded in 1867 when surveyors for the transcontinental railroad stopped for water. Hard times hit in the late 1990s and the downtown vacancy rate topped 50 percent. Since Rawlins joined the Wyoming Main Street program nine years ago, the downtown building vacancy rate dropped from 45 percent to 10 percent and 59 private and public rehabilitation projects were completed. The total dollars reinvested in the downtown district since 2008 is about $8.5 million.
Evidence of Rawlins’ can-do spirit is seen in the rehabilitation of the badly deteriorated Rainbow Te-ton buildings, which the Rawlins DDA/Main Street converted into an entrepreneurial center, and the Carbon Mercantile, a community-owned clothing store.
Since the 2014 National Main Streets Conference in Detroit, Rawlins completed a downtown streetscaping project, a public art sculpture project and passed an ordinance that changed the district’s zoning to allow for downtown living.
“Rawlins is a textbook example of how the health of a Main Street is so closely tied to the health of its small businesses,” National Main Street Center President and CEO Patrice Frey said. “Rawlins DDA/Main Street has done a tremendous job of nurturing existing businesses, attracting new enterprise and fostering a true entrepreneurial spirit.
“With the DDA/Main Street now set on creating more downtown housing and façade improvements, we have no doubt Rawlins will only continue to grow and thrive.”
For more information about the Wyoming Main Street program, contact Program Manager Linda Klinck at 307-777-2934 or linda.klinck@wyo.gov.
About the Wyoming Business Council. Our mission is to increase Wyoming’s prosperity. We envision a Wyoming where industries are strong, diverse and expanding. Small business is a big deal. Communities have the highest quality of life. Wyoming is the technology center of the High Plains. Wyoming knows no boundaries. Please go to www.wyomingbusiness.org
LARAMIE MAIN STREET / DOWNTOWN LARAMIE: DEPOT FUNDRAISER
When the Laramie Depot was originally built, in 1924, the drains from the roof emptied into a cistern under the depot. The cistern, in turn, emptied into the city sewer.
Eventually the city had the cistern disconnected from the sewer, and french drains were installed under the downspouts. The drains have filled up, and are no longer working, so the runoff is degrading and compacting the soil under the brickwork.
We have an engineering study in hand which lays out a plan to install drainage gutters to adequately drain the water away from the foundation of our depot. In order to install the gutters, we will be removing the brickwork, and excavating the soil that is compacting. We will replace the excavated soil with compacted base, graded away from the depot before we install the finishing layer.
We would appreciate any and all help that we can get to repair our depot.
The Living Wyoming: A Photographic Tribute, Exploring the Southeast Quadrant
Read about Rich, Bo and their books in our upcoming Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine Spring & Early Summer 2015 issue – almost complete!
The first hardcover “The Living Wyoming: A Photographic Tribute” book, by Rich Rosenfeld and Robert (Bo) Edgerton, will be released and available for shipping on June 10th. Pre-order your copy between March 25th and April 19th, all of which will be hand numbered and signed by both contributors. ONLY pre-ordered books will be hand numbered and signed. Pricing on pre-orders will be $38.95 each and will include postage within the lower 48 states. As an added bonuses, for ALL pre-orders, Bo will be giving out a “PDC” Promotion Discount Code for 10% off any image from the book that you would like to have printed. Any Size! AND we will also offer those that pre-order the first book, a 10% discount when they pre-order our second book, covering the Southwest Quadrant, when it becomes available.
Click the picture to connect with our website & preregister for the Laramie Bridal Expo February 15!
– U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo, is encouraging Wyoming high school students to apply to be a Senate page for one of the summer sessions in Washington, DC.
The deadline for summer applications is March 5.
“Along with allowing students a front row seat during debates in the U.S. Senate, participants will have the opportunity to explore the nation’s capital and interact with students from across the country,” Enzi said. “The program provides experiences that participants will carry with them forever.”
Page duties consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative material at the Capitol. Other duties include preparing the Senate chamber for sessions and carrying bills and amendments to the appropriate people on the Senate floor.
Summer page eligibility is limited to high school students who have completed their sophomore year and will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date the session begins. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Pages live in Webster Hall located near the Capitol and receive a stipend to cover the cost of the residence. Breakfast and dinner are provided daily.
The summer session is split into two. Summer session I is from June 8 – June 26, 2015. Summer session II is from July 7 – August 7, 2015. The application due date for both sessions is March5. Applications and additional information can be found by going to www.enzi.senate.gov. Further questions can be directed to Dianne Kirkbride in Senator Enzi’s Cheyenne office at 307-772-2477 or Dianne_Kirkbride@enzi.senate.gov.
Sublette County Libraries are seeking a part-time, 15 hour per week Library Assistant for the Big Piney Library. The work schedule includes three Saturdays per month. Starting pay is $15 an hour. Duties include working at the circulation desk assisting patrons. Applications must be received by the Library Director no later than 8 pm on Wednesday, January 14th. Applications may be dropped off in Pinedale or Big Piney.
Learn 20 Things in 20 Days Weekdays all month long 5:30 pm — 6:30 pm — The Pinedale Library
Start off the new year by learning something new! Throughout January, you’ll be able to stop by the library on a weekday evening and learn something new in just an hour. All classes are free and are subject to subject to change. This week’s offerings:
Monday: Bread Making — Tuesday: Geocaching — Wednesday: Floral Arranging Tips — Thursday: Take Better Photos — Friday: Home Brew Basics
Workshop offered twice, register for the most convenient date. Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church, Hansen Hall, 170 N. Glenwood Street Cost: Free Jackson, WY- Is your child entering Kindergarten in Fall 2015?
Join us for this free workshop for parents, preschool teachers and caregivers featuring educators from Children’s Learning Center, Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, Teton County Library and Teton Science Schools, in addition to a panel of local Teton County Kindergarten teachers.
Learn about play as learning, early literacy reading, available health screenings, and hands-on exploration to foster science and math skills. Find out what happens on a typical day in Kindergarten, how Kindergarten has changed, and how can you help your child be ready.
Presented in English and Spanish, with free child care and light refreshments. Early educators who attend can earn 1.5 STARS credits. Registration required. Contact Isabel 733-2164, ext. 101 or izumel@tclib.org.
You can find Teton County Library online at www.tclib.org, call us at 307.733.2164 or visit us at 125 Virginian Lane, Jackson, Wyo.
From the Natrona County Library…
From the Albany County Public Library…
The Albany County Public Library added Mondays from 1-5 PM to their regular hours, beginning January 12! WOO HOO!
Chabad Jewish Center of Jackson Hole to Light Up Town Square & Join the 10,000 Public Menorahs Worldwide, Symbolizing Universal Message of Religious Freedom
Jackson, WY – The Chabad Jewish Center of Jackson Hole will be honoring Chanukah with more community Chanukah events than ever before. On the fifth evening of Chanukah in the Town Square on Saturday, December 20th at 7:30 PM, the community is invited to a giant Menorah lighting, sing Chanukah songs & hear the story of Chanukah. Chanukah gelt will be served while Chanukah Menorahs and dreidels (spinning tops) will be available for one and all.
On the sixth night of Chanukah, Sunday, December 21st from 5:30 – 6:30 PM, the community is invited to a Menorah Lighting Ceremony in the Village Commons at Teton Village.
Enjoy the eighth night of Chanukah, Tuesday, December 23rd, at the Four Seasons Resort in Teton Village at 5:30 PM for a Menorah lighting, Chanukah songs & to hear the story of Chanukah!
Chanukah embraces gratitude and offers a narrative deeply embedded in the collective Jewish psyche: combating intolerance, fighting for freedom, and thanking God for a miraculous victory.
The public Menorah lightings are organized by Chabad Rabbi Zalman Mendelsohn, Executive Director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Jackson Hole, who remarked, “The Menorah serves as a symbol of Jackson’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship freely, celebrate openly, and share in our diversity with pride. Specifically in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her culture free from restraint and persecution, the Menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both Chanukah tradition and constitutional principles.”
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The Chabad Jewish Center will also host a Menorah Lighting Ceremony & Chanukah party in the State Capitol Building in Cheyenne. Below is a short description of all of the planned celebrations. All events are open to the media & to the public.
Menorah Lighting in the Town Square
Menorah lighting, Chanukah songs & hear the story of Chanukah. Delicious Chanukah treats such as hot potato latkes, doughnuts filled with jelly (Sufganiyot) and chocolate Chanukah gelt will be served while Chanukah Menorahs and dreidels (spinning tops) will be available for one and all. Saturday, December 20 | 7:30 PM
Town Square – Jackson Hole
Capitol Menorah Lighting
For the 7th consecutive year, the Chabad Jewish Center will host the annual Menorah lighting ceremony and Chanukah party at the State Capitol Building in Cheyenne. The ceremony will feature Jewish music from the 67th Army Band, Chanukah songs from the S. Mary’s children’s choir, background music from the Cheyenne Youth Symphony Orchestra, Menorah kindling with beloved Holocaust survivor siblings Zolly Gancz and Helen Zigmond and greetings from Hon. Governor Matt Mead, Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen, community leaders and elected officials. Delicious Chanukah treats such as hot potato latkes, doughnuts filled with jelly (Sufganiyot) and chocolate Chanukah gelt will be served while Chanukah Menorahs and dreidels (spinning tops) will be available for one and all. The gathering is open to the public and is a great learning experience for the diverse crowd whom participate. Wednesday, December 17 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Wyoming State Capitol Building, West Hallway
24th St. & Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Teton Village Menorah Lighting
Celebrating the sixth night of Chanukah! Menorah lighting, Chanukah songs & hear the story of Chanukah. Enjoy delicious Chocolate Chanukah gelt while Chanukah Menorahs & dreidels (spinning tops) will be available for one and all. Sunday, December 21 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Teton Village – Village Commons
Teton Village, WY 83025
Menorah Lighting at the Four Seasons Resort
Celebrating the eighth night of Chanukah! Menorah lighting, Chanukah songs & hear the story of Chanukah. Enjoy delicious Chocolate Chanukah gelt while Chanukah Menorahs & dreidels (spinning tops) will be available for one and all. Tuessday, December 23 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
7680 Granite Loop Road
Teton Village, WY 83025
About Chabad Jewish Center of Jackson Hole
Simply put, Chabad’s mission is to reach out to others with acts of goodness and kindness. We’re a community-based nonprofit organization whose efforts are rooted in traditional Jewish values — and many of our programs help the needy regardless of background or belief.
Chabad Rabbi Zalman and Mrs. Raizy Mendelsohn came to serve the Jewish community of Wyoming in 2007 and now run a network of nonsectarian educational and social services. Thanks to our generous supporters, we’ve been able to educate, comfort, and give hope to countless people in need.
Chabad Jewish Center of Jackson Hole is part of the largest Jewish organization in the world, with over 3,700 branches spanning the globe. Chabad embraces a philosophy of study, meditation, and social outreach that combines rigorous academics with proactive community involvement. Our rapidly growing array of educational, cultural and social services programs has made us one of the most dynamic forces in modern Jewish life. “Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for “Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge. Founded in 1772 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, Chabad promotes the mystical, traditional, legal and social principles of the Torah — while using modern methods and technology for education, community outreach, youth programs, crisis intervention, and other social services.
Chabad has consistently been at the forefront of Jewish education and community activism. The work of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Chabad Rebbe of blessed memory who assumed leadership of the movement in 1950, is legendary. Motivated by a profound love for humanity and spurred by boundless optimism, the Rebbe lifted the global Jewish community from the ashes of the Holocaust and launched an unprecedented range of Jewish institutions, outreach programs and social services.
Today, more than 4,600 of the Rebbe’s emissaries and a workforce of more than 20,000 continue and expand the Rebbe’s mission to create a world of goodness, kindness and Godliness, as Chabad constantly innovates new approaches in educational, social and community services throughout the world.
Click the image to pregister for the 2015 Cheyenne Bridal Expo on January 18 – skip the lines! WIN a Honeymoon or a Flat Screen TV!
Go shopping…and then go fishing. Wyo & Colo fly fishing apparel made for the fisher-person with the utmost style…Click on the picture to connect with Dead Drift Fly Fishing, proudly made in Wyoming.
Laramie has Irish fever this week! Check out these two awesome events for getting your luck on…
LARAMIE DANCE CENTER HOSTS IRISH CULTURE NIGHT — TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 6:30 PM
Held at the Gryphon Theater, inside the Laramie Plains Civic Center, Irish Culture Night kicks off at 6:30 PM with FREE admission to the public. The Laramie Dance Center Irish Dance Academy will be performing with its multi-age group , and includes the talents of local Laramie Irish musicians and a local Laramie bagpipe musician!
Want to learn how to Irish step dance? Contact Laramie Dance Center at owner@laramiedancecenter.com for more information!
International sensation Gaelic Storm performs Wednesday, November 5 at the Gryphon Theater. Ever seen Titanic? (Or better question – who HASN’T?!) Gaelic Storm was the steerage band playing during the dance scene….ahhh, yes, that’s them. They are awesome. We play their CDs regularly around our house as our youngest step-2-3’s happily around the living room. Must see. Definitely.
Early Childhood Expert Nancy Bruski Presents Workshop for Parents & Teachers Jackson, WY- Join early childhood expert Nancy Bruski for educational workshops tailored for parents, teachers and caregivers interacting with children age 8 and younger. Bruski founded and owns Wise Choice Guidance, www.wisechoiceguidance.com, in Evanston, IL providing therapy and training, consultation and workshops for early educators and parents. She published her first book “The Insightful Teacher: Reflective Strategies to Shape Your Early Childhood Classroom,” last fall.
While visiting Jackson, Bruski will present four, free workshops. Her visit is sponsored and supported by Teton County Library, Children’s Learning Center and Head Start, Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center and Wilson Elementary School.
Registration is required, and Spanish translation is available on request. Contact the Library’s Assistant Director, Isabel Zumel: izumel@tclib.org or 733-2164 ext. 101.
Friday, October 3 Help Your Child Build Inner Controls Without Losing Control Yourself 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Library Ordway Auditorium Learn techniques for engaging cooperation – without yelling or nagging – and helping children learn self-control and responsibility.
Raising Self Confident Children 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center, Wilson Discover strategies for raising confident children who feel understood even when they don’t always get what they want.
Kindergarten Readiness: What Parents Should Do & Expect from Schools 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Library Ordway Auditorium Understand what Kindergarten readiness means, including what you should expect from elementary schools and how to be an effective advocate for your child. In English with Spanish translation.
Saturday, October 4 Reflective Teachers Are Effective Teachers: Creating Compassionate Classrooms 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Library Ordway Auditorium Early childhood expert, Nancy Bruski, will present the classroom philosophy and approach described in her book, “The Insightful Teacher.” She will present a path to success as a teacher of young children that explores a wide range of topics, including: what it means to be reflective in one’s work, how to have developmentally appropriate expectations of children, setting up the physical environments to support successful behaviors, building strong connections with families, alternatives to consequences for managing behaviors, and developing individualized intervention strategies for chronically challenging behaviors. Applicable to preschool teachers, early elementary school teachers and child care providers. 6 STARS credits approved. Simultaneous Spanish translation available upon request.
Nancy Bruski Nancy Bruski has a 30-plus year career specializing in work with children and families. Her initial training was at the Virginia Frank Child Development Center in Chicago, which specializes in providing therapy as well as a therapeutic preschool/kindergarten program for emotionally disturbed preschoolers and their families. She has since delivered services to staff, parents and children in several agency settings.
Nancy began her private clinical social work therapy, consultation and professional speaking practice in 1980. Currently, Nancy is an Adjunct Professor at Oakton Community College, teaching “Child Development” and “Guidance in the Early Childhood Classroom;”an Early Childhood Consultant to the Gertrude B. Nielsen Early Learning Center, a Full-Day NAEYC accredited program in suburban Chicago.
Nancy is committed to assisting teachers and parents to become more psychologically sensitive to children by helping them create strategies and interventions that increase children’s social-emotional competence.
For more information or to register for Bruski’s workshops in Jackson, call Library Assistant Director at 307.733.2164 ext. 101 or email izumel@tclib.org.
Historic Evening with Anne Frank’s Stepsister: Eva Schloss, Learning From the Past; Living the Present; Looking to the Future
On Thursday, August 28, 2014, the Chabad Jewish Center of Wyoming will host what is sure to be an inspiring evening with Mrs. Eva Schloss as she tells her fascinating story. Mrs. Schloss is the step sister and childhood friend of Anne Frank. She is an enthusiastic advocate for helping society understand the meaning of an existance without prejudice or bigotry towards any human being. Governor Matt Mead is proclaiming August 28, 2014 Wyoming Tolerance Day. The lecture will be held at the Center For The Arts, located at 265 S. Cache Street, in Jackson and will begin at 7:00 p.m. A personal book signing will follow the lecture.
Eva Schloss Biography:
I was born in Vienna,Austria 1929. As one of many Jewish families, we were faced with persecution, but were lucky enough to be able to flee the country, first to Belgium and then in 1940 to Amsterdam, Holland, where we met the Frank family.
Following the German invasion of Holland in 1942 and the arrests of many Jews, our family had to go into hiding. In May 1944 we were betrayed, captured by the Nazis and sent to the death camp Auschwitz. In January 1945 my mother and I were liberated by the Russian army. We were evacuated eastward, travelling with the Russian army as far as Odessa. We had to wait until the war ended in May 1945 to be repatriated to Amsterdam. There we learnt of the tragic deaths of my father and 17 year old brother in Mauthausen. The loss of my family haunted me and made it difficult to lead a normal life again.
I had to resume my education and finished school at 18, and went on to study History of Art for a year at the University of Amsterdam.In 1951 I began training as a professional photographer in London, where I met Zvi Schloss. We were married a year later and made our home in London, during which time I was working in a commercial studio. In 1953 my mother married Otto Frank the widowed father of the diarist Anne Frank, making me her posthumous step sister.
Zvi and I had our first daughter in 1956, and we were blessed with two more over the years. From 1972-1997 I owned and ran an antiques business, in that time the girls had grown up and had children of their own, making us the proud grandparents of three girls and two boys.
Since 1986 I have become increasingly active in Holocaust education by speaking in schools, universities, prisons and public meetings. I co-founded the Anne Frank Educational Trust in the UK.
My first book, Eva’s Story, about my experiences during the war, was published in 1988. It has been translated into eight languages.
In 1995 I co-operated with U.S. playwright James Still in the creation of an educational play And Then They Came for Me, Remembering the World of Anne Frank, dealing with four teenagers in the Holocaust. The play is widely performed in England, U.S.A, Europe and Australia. I am attending many of those performances so I can answer questions after the shows. In connection with these educational activities, I received an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Northumbria in 2001, and from the University of York in 2004 for Education.
In 2005 I wrote my second book, The Promise, aimed at younger readers, telling the story of my brother Heinz.
In 2008 the U. S. House of Representatives honoured me in the Congressional Record.
In 2012 I was awarded an MBE by Prince Charles for Holocaust Education.
In 2013 I published my third book, After Auschwitz, describing the impact of my experiences on my life and that of those around me.
Two Agencies. One Goal. — Wyoming & South Dakota Troopers Work Together During this Busy Time of Year
City – Sundance
Troopers from Wyoming and South Dakota met up on August 5th at the Wyoming / South Dakota state line for an informal get together and lunch. With the Sturgis motorcycle rally this week in South Dakota and the popular “Ham and Jam” event in Wyoming today, troopers from both agencies are staying busy with the increased motorcycle traffic in both states. Highway safety is the focus during the events and additional troopers have been sent to the areas to increase visibility and enforcement.
As motorists enjoy the beautiful scenery the two states have to offer, we remind you to please drive and ride safely, wear your seat belts and helmets and to never drive or ride drunk or buzzed.
We greatly appreciate Ludwig Photography for hosting an open house featuring over a century of their family’s photography of the Laramie and Southeast Wyoming area. This free event runs from 10 AM – noon on Saturday, May 31 and is a neat opportunity to experience the history of Laramie up close.
The open house is one of many events during the Food + Photo Festival in Laramie May 30 & 31. Other events include:
Friday, May 30 — Free Open House, Alice Hardie Stevens Center: View photography submitted in the photo competition 7-10 PM
Saturday, May 31 — Free Open House, Historic Laramie Photography — Ludwig Photography: 10 AM – Noon
Saturday, May 31 — Learn How Altitude Makes a Great Local Beer + Beer Tasting — Altitude Chophouse & Brewery: 2-3 PM $15/ticket
Saturday, May 31 — Wine Tasting — Laramie Country Club: 7-10 PM $30/ticket
We were lucky to feature Ludwig’s story in our Sprinter 2014 issue of Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine. Below are some excerpts from the article showcasing the family’s story…
On a September day in 1905, photographer Henning Svenson stepped off the train in Laramie. Inspired by the West and looking for adventure, Svenson arrived in the frontier town with one dollar in his pocket and a quest to open a photography studio. The opportunities Wyoming offers to reinvent one’s self are not available elsewhere; in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that was even more the case than it is today. Svenson’s road to Laramie was not direct, however. Born in Kiel, Germany on July 16, 1879, Svenson served as a photographic apprentice to Ferdinand Urbahns from 1895-98. This was followed by work in retouching in Lausanne, Switzerland and Paris. Svenson attended the World’s Fair in Paris, where he met Amy DuPont, who encouraged him to come to work in her New York City studio. In 1902, Svenson immigrated to the United States, and created portraits of DuPont’s New York clientele before joining his brother in Iowa. The two brothers opened a photography studio, with Henning later setting out to open a branch out west. He traveled first to Denver, but found the city didn’t suit him; he boarded a train north, and the rest is history – well-photographed history, to be exact.
Svenson established a solid clientele and a reputation as the premier photography studio in the region. Henning and Marie’s family also grew to include three daughters, Helen, Aneleas and Lottie. The Chauncey Root Building burnt to the ground (with Svenson injured in the blaze) in 1910 due to a boiler explosion. The studio relocated to 314 South Second Street, above a pool hall, until Svenson built his permanent location on the corner of Third Street & Ivinson (where the studio sits today).
“My great-grandfather was unique in that he empowered his daughters to be a part of the family business,” Brande, who is the current owner of the family business, says. All three of Svenson’s daughters attended the University of Wyoming and worked in the studio. The older sisters became film developers; Lottie’s talent was capturing images alongside her father. Svenson Photography created tens of thousands of regional images annually, many used for postcards, father and daughter equally responsible for the work. Sadly, Henning Svenson died in 1932 at the age of 52 from lung complications, his daughters assuming the role of studio ownership and operations.
Eldest daughter Helen was the first to assume ownership of the studio. Lottie Svenson married Walter “Doc” Ludwig, and in 1943 the couple purchased the studio from Helen, renaming it Ludwig Photo Enterprises. Lottie played an equal and important role in the studio alongside her husband. “My grandmother was a progressive woman,” Brande says with a smile. “She raced motorcycles, wore pants, and even broke horses when she was a kid.”
Walter and Lottie Ludwig had one daughter, Carol, who had a sense of adventure like her mother and grandfather before her. In the 1940s, the family acquired a ranch on the Wyoming/Colorado border, and Carol embraced a love of ranching life and the West. She served as Miss Laramie Jubilee Days 1961 and first runner-up to Miss Rodeo Wyoming. She was one of the first women to climb Devils Tower, competed in slalom and was a ski instructor at Winter Park, using folk singing to finance her skiing obsession.
Carol married Bill Loyer, Ludwig Photo Enterprises’s Kodak Eastman representative at the time. The two honeymooned through Europe for a month before settling in New Jersey. However, the love of Wyoming called them home, and the two opened a studio branch in Cheyenne, working alongside Carol’s parents in the Laramie branch. The couple grew the business into a regional hub for both portrait photography and film developing. In 2005, 100 years after Svenson opened his studio, the Loyers’ daughter, Anne Brande, purchased the Laramie branch. Today, Brande focuses her business, Ludwig Photography, on capturing emotional portraiture of the individuals she not only counts as clients, but as friends.
The legacy of Henning Svenson lives on in the tens of thousands of priceless photos created by him and his descendants. For over 100 years, Anne Brande’s family has documented the growth and transformation of a frontier town in a romantic era. As she flipped through a series of prints during my interview, the flux between the Old West and the modern era was glaringly obvious. For example, one 1920s era photo of Second Street in Downtown Laramie showed a street full of Ford Model T’s and similar vehicles, both parked and driving – with a gentleman riding a horse right alongside them on the street.
“What I really love about Henning’s photography is that it was not staged,” Brande says. “He had a love of the West, but also an appreciation for industrialization and modern elements. He’d often image these two elements side-by-side, just as they appeared in real life.” Brande and I mused about the horse and rider in the image – this was no parade, this was an average day in Laramie in the 1920s. Did the rider refuse to give up his horse for an automobile? Could he not afford one? Or was he terrified at the thought of operating a piece of machinery versus relying upon his horse? When your rapidly changing world allows for both animal and machine to coexist, how does one process that transformation? Henning Svenson captured this and thousands of other moments like these – individuals who had witnessed the West, and were now standing by while it changed before their very eyes. His images helped me understand the gravity of living in a rapidly changing world. Often times I think that our world today is rapidly changing, however when I consider the flux my great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents witnessed, I can appreciate the emotion of their experience.
With the historic significance of her family’s collection in mind, Brande has donated portions of the images to the American Heritage Center, a part of the University of Wyoming. The first half was valued at over $2 million, with another large portion recently appraised for almost $500,000 by Penelope Dixon & Associates. “I’ve been told that our collection is the only of its kind in the world both on a fine art basis and a social context,” Brande says. “It’s so vast and covers over 104 years and spans four generations, while also being well catalogued. It’s a very rare find.” The American Heritage Center’s collection of over 4,000 images can be viewed under ‘Ludwig-Svenson Studio Collection’ in the digital collections section on the AHC website. (uwyo.edu/ahc)
Brande and her family’s century of images have been a part of numerous projects throughout the years: from historical research to exhibits, from books and magazines to film. Ludwig Photography of Laramie and Portrait Artist Anne Brande continue to create emotional heirlooms for their clients, continuing the family tradition into the 21st century. Visit ludwigphoto.com or visit the studio at 224 Ivinson Avenue in Downtown Laramie to meet Anne.
Rawlins Receives National Main Street Award at Conference in Detroit
The Rawlins Downtown Development Authority/Main Street program received a One to Watch Award at this year’s National Main Streets Conference on May 18 in Detroit, Michigan.
The award recognizes exceptional communities working on very innovative projects, and that are poised on the cusp of major transformation. They exemplify the idea that any great Main Street is an ever-evolving work in progress and offer inspiration for other Main Street programs. It is the first time the award has been given. Middlesborough, Kentucky also received the One to Watch Award.
“Rawlins DDA/Main Street is thrilled to win the One to Watch Award. It recognizes all the hard work we have done through the organization,” said Pam Thayer, executive director of the Rawlins DDA/Main Street program. “We could not have received the award without the amazing downtown merchants, the innovative property owners, the committed volunteers and the public and private support in the community. It truly is an award for all.”
Representatives from Rawlins, Wyo., stand to be recognized at the National Main Streets conference May 18 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo courtesy WY Main Street program)
In March, Rawlins was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA), a coveted award that recognizes exceptional Main Street communities with successes that serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization. Rawlins’ nomination as a semifinalist for the GAMSA marked the first time a Wyoming Main Street community has been selected. No community from the Rocky Mountain Region has previously won the GAMSA.
“The One to Watch Award is still an amazing recognition by the National Main Street organization and we could not be more proud of Rawlins for receiving this honor,” said Mary Randolph, executive director of the Wyoming Main Street program. “The Rawlins community has worked so hard and is very deserving of this prestigious award.”
According to Thayer, over the past several years Rawlins has seen many successes including: A drop in the downtown’s building vacancy rate from 45 percent to 10 percent; nearly 25,000 volunteer hours in the program since its inception in 2006, which equals an in-kind contribution to the program of $523,807; and 55 private and public rehabilitation projects completed. The total dollars reinvested in the downtown district since 2008 is about $7.2 million; and for every dollar the Rawlins DDA/Main Street incurred in costs there was a return of $9.56 returned to the downtown district.
Rawlins DDA/Main Street members received the One to Watch award on May 18 at the National Main Streets Conference in Detroit, Mich. (L-R)Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Pat Robbins, south central regional director for the Business Council; Eddie Archuleta, City Council, City of Rawlins; Mary Randolph, executive director of the Wyoming Main Street program; Charel Coleman, Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Kacey Caldwell, Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Adam Mendenhall, Rawlins DDA/Main Street; Pam Thayer, executive director of the Rawlins DDA/Main Street program; Karen Fate, Senior BRC/CFP Grant & Loan Specialist at the Business Council; Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center; Barbara Sidway, chair, National Main Street Center Board of Directors. (Photo courtesy WY Main Street program)
For more information about the Wyoming Main Street program, contact Mary Randolph at 307.777.6430 or mary.randolph@wyo.gov. For information about the Rawlins DDA/Main Street program contact Pam Thayer at 307.328.2099 or rawlinsmainstreeted@rawlins-wyoming.com.
The Wyoming Main Street program was established by the Wyoming Legislature in 2004. The National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, emphasizes a four-point approach to revitalization: economic restructuring, design, organization and promotion.
The mission of the Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. The Business Council, a state government agency, concentrates its efforts on providing assistance for existing Wyoming companies and start-ups, helping communities meet their development and diversification needs, and recruiting new firms and industries targeted to complement the state’s assets. For more information, please visit www.wyomingbusiness.org.
Laramie Main Street Announces Laramie Mural Project Naming Competition!
Click the image at left for tickets, info, schedule & more for our Food & Photo Festival, May 30 & 31 in Laramie!
Plein Air Painters at Natl Elk Refuge Visitor Center May 13
A group of painters will use the backdrop of the National Elk Refuge as artistic inspiration on Tuesday, May 13, giving visitors an opportunity to watch and ask questions as the artists create their works.
The artists are part of the Teton Plein Air Painters, a group of artists who meet once a week from May – October in the Teton environs. Starting with two people during the summer of 2012, the group now has a communication list of over seventy. Typically, three to ten people are onsite to paint, referencing the landscape for motifs. Art mediums include oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink.
The group will spread out in the area of the visitor center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson. Weather permitting, likely locations will include the visitor center lawn, the covered upper deck of the facility, and the remote viewing deck across the lawn next to the wetlands area. Current visitor center hours are from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, but visitors are welcome to stroll through the grounds after hours to enjoy the art session.
En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air” and is used to describe painting done in an outdoor setting. The artists paint natural light, using color to define form. Depending on the light and weather, plein air paintings are generally done in one session. Artists may add final touches to their work once back in the studio. For additional information on the Teton Plein Air Painters and Tuesday’s session, contact Bobbi Miller, Facilitator, at 307 / 543 2910.
Click the title above to connect with The Culture Trip and their review of contemporary art galleries in Cheyenne. They write, “Though Wyoming is known for its rural landscapes and cowboy character, its capital, Cheyenne, named for the Native American people of the Great Plains, is culturally diverse and heavily populated. We examine the budding cultural scene of this Western state with a look at the top ten galleries in its largest city.”
Grand Teton National Park: American Indian Guest Artists 2014 Program in Grand Teton National Park
Provided by Grand Teton National Park
MOOSE, WY —For the past 39 years, artisans from diverse American Indian tribes have demonstrated their traditional and contemporary art forms in Grand Teton National Park. This annual program provides visitors a chance to gain greater appreciation and understanding of Indian cultures that are still alive and active today.
Participating artists demonstrate and share the cultural traditions of their tribes through art forms such as painting, weaving, pottery, beadwork, and musical instruments. Guest artists exhibit daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Artists also offer their finished items for purchase.
May 11 – 26
Debbie & Willy LaMere
Shoshone
Beadwork & Flint Knapping
May 27 – June 2
Amanda Coby
Shoshone
Beadwork & Weaving
June 3 – 9
Kelly Looking Horse
Lakota Sioux
Drums, Antler & Hide Items
June 10 – 16
Guillermo Martinez
Tarascan-Apache
Handmade Flutes & Drums
June 17 – 23
Kelly Looking Horse
Lakota Sioux
Drums, Antler & Hide items
June 24 – 30
Ted Moran
S’Klallam
Northwest Coastal Carving
July 1 – 7
DG House
Cherokee
Painting & Printmaking
July 8 – 14
Andrea Two Bulls
Oglala Sioux
Beadwork & Painting
July 15 – 21
Monte Yellowbird
Arikara/ Hidatsa
Ledger Art
July 22 – 28
Gale Self
Choctaw
Silver & Turquoise Jewelry
July 29 – August 4
Lovey Two Bulls
Oglala Sioux
Beadwork, Jewelry & Art Work
August 5 – 11
Debbie & Willy LaMere
Shoshone
Beadwork & Flint Knapping
August 12 – 18
Paul Hacker
Choctaw
Ledger Art, Knives & Flutes
August 19 – 25
Jola LaBeau
Eastern Shoshone
Beadwork & Other Crafts
August 26 – Sept. 1
Josie Broncho
Shoshone/Paiute
Beadwork
September 2 – 8
Nancy Nacki & Clyde Hall
Shoshone
Beadwork, Silver & Pottery
September 9 – 15
Maynard White Owl
Nez Perce/ Cayuse
Beadwork
September 16 – 22
DG House
Cherokee
Painting & Printmaking
September 23 – 29
Guillermo Martinez
Tarascan-Apache
Handmade Flutes & Drums
Sept. 30 – Oct. 13
Debbie and Willy LaMere
Shoshone
Beadwork & Flint Knapping
Laramie Main Street Alliances Downtown Mural Project Naming Contest
Join the Laramie Main Street Alliance in celebrating the fourth year of the Laramie Mural Project!
Now through the end of June, take a selfie with your favorite mural and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #laramiemural for a chance to win mural themed merchandise!
Then, visit the artists painting behind Altitude (starting next week) and suggest a name for our new mural! You can post your suggestions to our Facebook page, “Downtown Laramie” or email them to downtownlaramie@gmail.com.
Suggestions will be compiled by the artists and the top three will be posted the first week of June with voting opened up to the public. The name will be announced at our dedication party for the mural on Friday, June 13th from 5 to 7 p.m. behind Altitude Chophouse, 320 S. 2nd Street.
For more information about the Laramie Mural Project, visit: www.laramiemuralproject.org or call 307-760-3355.
UPDATES ON THE BEAUTY & THE BEAST RODEO!! Check out the update from the Beauty & the Beast Rodeo held in Ten Sleep over Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 24, 2014! Call 307.366.2311 for more info – and visit their website at www.tensleeprodeo.com!
Bulls and bareback are full! Barrel racing still open: prizes to 6th place and $1000 added money! Kids events: barrel racing and mutton bustin’. WILD HORSE RACE!!
AND!!! Outlaw Rodeo Wear is offering a limited edition Beauty & the Beast hoodie for $35. Know anyone that might like to have one? Check out this special & lots more cute western wear for the whole family at www.outlawrodeowear.com!
Visit our shopping listing to learn more about Outlaw Rodeo Wear & to see more samples of their work!
