You are reading Trader’s special two-week issue for Christmas! The issue runs from Friday, December 20 through Thursday, January 2. Our office will be closed Monday-Friday, December 23-27 and will reopen Monday, December 30, at 8:00am. Early deadline for the January 3, issue will be Tuesday, December 31, at 4:00pm. All classified and display ads must be turned in by 4:00pm on Tuesday, January 4. Our family at Trader’s Shopper’s Guide wishes You and Your Family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Cheyenne Artists’ Guild will host a Holiday Market with Arts and Gifts through December 21 at 1701 Morrie Avenue. They will have original art, sculptures, wood, jewelry, photography and more.

Cheyenne Regional Volunteers will be wrapping holiday gifts on December 20-23 from 10:00am-6:00pm and December 24 from 10:00am-4:00pm, centrally located in Frontier Mall. This year’s gift-wrapping proceeds will benefit CRMC volunteer grant projects. For information about volunteer opportunities, visit cheyenneregional.org/volunteer.

Come and enjoy the sounds of the season at the annual “Bells of Cheyenne Christmas Concert!” This concert will feature different church hand bell choirs from around Cheyenne and will be on Saturday, December 21, at 2:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, 108 East 18th Street. Free and all are invited!

Registration is open now-January 30 for the 11th Annual Cheyenne Habitat Hero Workshop on February 1, 9:00am-4:00pm in the Pathfinder Building at LCCC, 1400 East College Drive. Registration is $28 and includes lunch and ticket company fees. Register at www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cheyenne50th/HabitatHero-the-native-plant-garden-planning-planting-and-preserving-1223662526. Registration is limited to 150 people. The theme is “The Native Plant Garden: Planning, Planting and Preserving.” Speakers include Lauren Springer, Scott Aker, Amanda Martinez, Mark Rinne, Deryn Davidson, and Michelle Bohanan. See speaker bios and talk descriptions at https://cheyenneaudubon.org/. For questions, please contact Mark, mgorges@juno.com.

Cheyenne Audubon members invite birdwatchers of all skill levels to help with the Guernsey/Fort Laramie Christmas Bird Count to be held January 1. Meet count compiler Jane Dorn either at 8:00am at the Fort Laramie Post Office, 105 East Merriam Street, or at 9:30am at the main entrance to Guernsey State Park, 2187 Lake Side Drive. Please contact Jane, 307-640-4002, linglebird@yahoo.com, if you plan to participate so she can advise you of any changes in plans due to weather. Bring water, lunch, warm clothes, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. The count circle, centered on the point where Highway 26 crosses the Goshen County–Platte County line, includes Guernsey State Park, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, the Oregon Trail Ruts and Hartville.

E.M.P. 2020 presents New Years Sock Hop Ball Drop, December 31, at Little America Hotel & Resort, 2800 West Lincolnway. Pinups and poodle skirts with live music by Bianca and The Flyboys from 7:00pm-1:00am. Contests, prizes, food, drinks and more! Tickets $65/person or $100/couple, food included and cash bar; reserved tables $450 and seat 8. For tickets call 307-275-1479. Portion of all proceeds to benefit Meals on Wheels Cheyenne and Community Action of Laramie County.

Set Free!! with Cheyenne Women’s Connection and National Sexuality Educator, Shelly “Too Tall” Donahue from Eaton, CO. Speaker/Feature: “Be Empowered!” Shelly is helping teens with new age trends/ideas, transgenderism and self esteem issues; Special Music with Nancy McKenzie and Company. Come for the fun, food and bring friends on Tuesday, January 14, from 9:30am-11:30am, at the Red Lion Inn, 204 West Fox Farm Road. Meal/program is $17/person. Please call Colette Johnson at 307-214-0874 or email, colettejohnson87@gmail.com for more information and to make your reservation by January 8th.

Buses will not run and office will be closed Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday, December 25 and Wednesday, January 1. Buses and office will close at noon on Tuesday, December 31.

Come see a world-class exhibition about the ingenuity of rural America at the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Avenue, on view through January 14. The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation and local host organizations. Spark! Places of Innovation highlights innovation in rural America from the perspective of the people who lived it. The exhibition features stories and images from over 30 communities across the nation gathered through a crowdsourcing initiative. These places of innovation examined their existing assets, characteristics, people, resources and history to tackle the challenges of today with creative solutions and chart new directions for their future.

Eagles Auxiliary #128 members meet at the Eagles Lodge, 1600 Thomes Avenue, 2nd and 4th Mondays, officers at 6:00pm, regular meeting 7:00pm.

The Cheyenne Water Tank Mural Project review committee has released its call for artists for a project that would see murals painted on two water tanks in north Cheyenne. Interested artists would be expected to complete the project in 2025, with a dedication in 2026 for Cheyenne’s America 250 celebration. Artists must be Wyoming residents and can respond to the request for proposals online through Arts Cheyenne at artscheyenne.com/water-tank-mural-project. Information concerning materials, mural subjects and review/selection criteria are also available at that website. The Water Tank Mural Project seeks to bring art to both of the Board of Public Utilities’ water towers just north of Storey Boulevard. The project is a collaboration between Visit Cheyenne, Discover Cheyenne, BOPU, Arts Cheyenne and the City of Cheyenne. For additional information, contact Desiree Brothe at desiree@artscheyenne.com.

The Kiwanis Club of Cheyenne meets on Thursday at 12:00pm in order to help children in need. For information on the Kiwanis Club of Cheyenne go online to CheyenneKiwanis.org.

The Cheyenne 798 Toastmasters Club meets each Wednesday at 6:00pm at the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Avenue. This is a nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective and confident speakers, communicators and leaders. For information about meetings or joining the club visit www.Cheyenne798.toastmastersclubs.org and follow @TCheyenne798 on X, @ Cheyenne798toastmasters on Instagram or Cheyenne 798 Toastmasters on Facebook.

The Widows and Widowers group would like to welcome new members who are needing to move on after the loss of their life partner. Get out of the house and form new friendships at their once a week Tuesday meetings, held in the public library at 2200 Pioneer Avenue. Meeting starts at 12:30pm. Group lunch twice weekly, once after Tuesday meeting and 2:00pm lunch on Sundays. They get together to share, learn, have fun and laughter. Once a month meeting days are insights shared by professionals on need to know issues. This local group goes on outings, tours and lectures. It’s a good thing to have camaraderie, socialization and friendship in life. Call Vicki at 307-631-9990 for information on the Tuesday you prefer to start.

“Veterans Remembrance Memorial” is accepting donations and sponsorships to place a permanent Vietnam Wall here in Cheyenne, WY. The total cost of The Wall is $175,000 plus $25,000 for the trailer, which also serves as an education center for our POW-MIA and Veterans. This Vietnam Wall is an 80% replica of the wall in Washington DC. The wall is 365 feet long and 8 feet high, and will have lights and flags, along with benches. It will be a special place to hold ceremonies and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and freedom, and help those that have brothers, sisters or family members whose names are on it. If you would like to become a sponsor: your company or name will be on the permanent sponsor plaque and a personal sponsor plaque for you or your company. Sponsorship donation amounts are Sergeant $1,000, Captain $2,500, Colonel $5,000, and General $10,000 or more. This will also help in bringing visitors to our great city. To donate or for more information, call 443-784-8575.

The Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless is in need of blankets, comforters, sheets and neck ties. These items are used to make sleeping bags for the homeless population of Cheyenne. Deliver clean items to the Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless, 907 Campbell Avenue, 307-634-8499.

The Office of Youth Alternatives Foster Grandparent Program is looking for tutor/mentors that are 55 years and older to work with children who need extra support in a supervised classroom setting for the School Year 2024-2025. Foster Grandparents make a difference in the lives of children in our community and earn an average of $300 per month in a non-taxable stipend. Some qualifications apply. Individuals interested in serving may call 307-637-6480 for more information. Make a difference for yourself and a child today.

The Cheyenne Camera Club meets the first and third Thursdays each month from September through May at 6:00pm at the Highlands Presbyterian Church at 2390 Pattison Avenue. The public is welcome to attend. Coffee break meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Dazbog Coffee at 3911 East Pershing Boulevard at 9:00am. Call Judy at 307-634-0357 or go to cheyennecameraclub.org.

Trader’s office hours are 8:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Wednesday and 8:00am-3:00pm Thursday and Friday. If you would like to place an ad outside these hours you may phone in your ad to 307-634-8895 and leave your ad, contact name and phone number on our voicemail or place your ad online at wyotraders.com. The deadline for classified advertising is 4:00pm Wednesday.

Frontier Post is a non-drinking, non-smoking Veterans organization that meets the 2nd Tuesday each month, 7:00pm, inside the Veterans’ Rock Facility at 605 South Greeley Highway, Suite 1. Frontier Post invites veterans to apply for membership at the monthly meeting.

Come be a part of the Marine Corps League on the 2nd Thursday of every month, at the American Legion Post 6, 2001 East Lincolnway, at 6:30pm.

The Alliance of Therapy Dogs is looking for more teams to serve Cheyenne and the surrounding area. They have a very busy schedule with many different opportunities for everyone and their dogs to bring smiles and joy to many, many people! Please go to www.therapydogs.com, click on “How to Become a Member” and get the registration process started. A working dog is a happy dog and this type of volunteering gives you and your dog true quality time together.

There is always something happening in Cheyenne! Fine and performing arts, culture and science. For details and calendar of events, please visit them online at ArtsCheyenne.com.