Robert Greer addresses NAACP banquet -- and signs books -- June 4 in Cheyenne

The multi-talented Robert Greer will come to the Cheyenne Holiday Inn on Saturday, June 4, to speak at the annual banquet of the Wyoming NAACP. His theme will be the contributions that African-Americans made to the history of the West. He will sign copies of his books from 6-7 p.m.. Dinner will follow, with Dr. Greer's speech at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, $50 per couple. You can purchase tickets for the event by calling Abe Stevenson at 307-634-8304 or Bennie McLaughlin, 307-634-5527.

When he's not writing, Dr. Greer is a professor of pathology, medicine, surgery and dentistry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. He also holds a master's degree in creative writing from Boston University and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Miami University of Ohio, his alma mater.


Greer has lived in Denver for thirty years. In 1986 he founded The High Plains Literary Review and continues to serve as its editor-in-chief. He is the author or co-author of three medical textbooks and over 125 scientific articles. His short stories have appeared in dozens of national literary magazines and his short story collection, Isolation and Other Stories, published in 2000 by the Davies Group Publishers, is also wonderfully illustrated. 

Greer has been involved in cancer research at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for more than thirty years. In 1983 his research group was the first in the world to report a synergistic link between smokeless tobacco use and human papillomaviruses in certain cancers of the mouth. That research foundation is the basis for the plot of his novel, The Devil's Hatband, the author's first novel featuring Denver bail bondsman and detective CJ Floyd. Several of his novels are set in Wyoming.


Spoon, Greer’s 2009 novel of the contemporary American West, won the Colorado Book Award for literary fiction. It also was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award and received the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union 2010 Media of the Year Award. Wyoming’s Craig Johnson, author of Another Man's Moccasins and The Dark Horse , had this to say about the novel: "With Spoon, Robert Greer tells the story of a modern-day range war in wildfire prose both taut and lyrical."

Greer also reviews books for a Denver National Public Radio affiliate, KUVO, and raises cattle on a ranch in Platte County, Wyoming. 

Harmony, Hops & Hope May 7 in Casper benefits Cancer Action Network

Saturday, May 7th, 4-8pm

The Yellowstone Garage, 355 W. Yellowstone, Casper, Wyoming

While raising funds for a great cause, "Harmony, Hops and Hope" also promises to be a fun community event, with homegrown Wyoming music and beer tasting, highlighting the craftsmanship of Wyoming breweries.

Bands include: Chad Lore, John Kirlin and the Highplains Drifters, and the Dang Ol' Boys!

The entire event will covered live, on-air by Casper's Pure Rock Station, 100.5 FM, KTED's own Rood Dogg.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), along with 307 Magazine, Wyoming's premium magazine, would like to personally invite you to attend the First Annual Fundraising Event, Harmony, Hops and Hope!

Order tickets online here. You will not recieve a hard-copy ticket. Simply bring a photo ID to "Harmony, Hops and Hope" and your name will be on a list to get in!

Proceeds from this event will go to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the nonprofit, nonpartisan, advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. ACS CAN is committed to making the fight against cancer a national priority.

Because we use your donations to support our citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts to end cancer, contributions to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. are not tax deductible.

Wyoming Art for the Cure "celebrates art & life" April 29

“Wyoming Art for the Cure - A Celebration of Art & Life” will take place on Friday, April 29, 6-9 p.m., at Little America Hotel and Convention Center in Cheyenne.

The event is a live and silent art auction open to the community that includes an evening of light fare, friendly company, and incredible artwork donated generously by regional artists. All monies raised at the Wyoming Art for the Cure event are donated directly to the Wyoming Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For tickets or more info, go to http://www.artforthecure.org

"Cottonwood Sunset" photo by Doc Thiessen of Laramie is one of the 2011 auction artworks in Art for the Cure.

"Let Their Voices be Heard" co-author addresses "Body Image Awareness" week at UW

How society views body image will be explored through a series of discussions and interactive demonstrations during "Body Image Awareness" week Feb. 21-26, at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

On Tuesday, Feb. 22: Betty Holmes speaks about the book that she co-authored, "Let Their Voices Be Heard: Quotations from Life Stories Related to Physical Activity, Food and Eating, and Body Image." Holmes works for the Wyoming Department of Health and was WIN the Rockies regional project coordinator. WIN the Rockies helped to educate community members to value health, respect body size differences and enjoy the benefits of self-acceptance, physically active living and healthful and pleasurable eating. Event is free and open to the public at the UW Union west and center ballrooms, 7 p.m.

For a complete list of the week's activities, visit the University Counseling Center website at http://www.uwyo.edu/ucc/ or call Tracy at (307) 766-2187.

Call for entries: FIU College of Nursing and Health Sciences public art project

Florida Art in State Buildings Program announces:

College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL

Budget is $50,000

Deadline: Thursday March 31, 2011 (received by 5 p.m.)

For Project Inquires please contact:
Carol Damian damianc@fiu.edu
Alexander Garcia aogarcia@fiu.edu

Florida International University is Miami–Dade County's first public, four–year university. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU has been locally and globally engaged for more than four decades finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time.

For complete guidelines, go to http://thefrost.fiu.edu/artinstate.html

Jackson duo offers art and chocolate for Valentine's Day

From Wilson artist Shannon Troxler:

Art and chocolate. The bare necessities of life.

Two girls from Jackson have teamed up to bring you just that. Kristen Simpson, a chocolatier. (Teton Chocolat) and Shannon Troxler, a fine artist, have combined their talents to create Teton Chocolat Boxes. We use repurposed cigar boxes decorated with a limited edition print of Shannon's art work and filled with Kristen's delicious hand crafted chocolates.

Each box is filled with an assortment of milk and dark chocolate (with nuts) hand-crafted in the shape of ornate flowers or Venus nipples dusted with iridescent colors. A portion of the proceeds from each box sold goes to the oncology department of St. John's hospital in Jackson to help in the research and treatment of
cancer patients in our community.

Order Direct by Feb 4 for $28 ($3 goes to charity).

After Feb. 4, the Chocolate Boxes will be at Ella's Room and at the JH Flower Co. for $34 apiece.

FMI: paintergirl@bresnan.net; 307-733-0378

Call for entries: 11th annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival

From a press release:

The Cheyenne Veterans Administration Medical center Recreation Therapy Department is currently accepting visual and performing art entries for the 11th Annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

This event is open to all Veterans who have received care or services from the Cheyenne VAMC or any of the other VA clinics in southeastern Wyoming, northern Colorado and western Nebraska. Entry Forms are due by Feb 18, 2011 and may be picked up at the Laramie County Library, VA Medical Center 2360 E. Pershing Blvd or by contacting Kristi Ruben, local coordinator at 307-778-7550x7240.

There is no cost to enter the festival. Winners from each category will advance to a regional competition with the chance to advance to the 2011 VA National Creative Arts Festival. The VA Art Competition and Show provides our Veterans with an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and skill and recognizes the value of the arts in the healing process.

This year's local art will be showcased February 24-27 at the Laramie County Public Library with an artists' reception at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 26.

All art must have been created after April 1, 2010, except for the Military Combat Experience entries. For a complete list of the nearly 60 categories of acceptable art and an information packet, contact the Cheyenne VA Creative Arts Festival Coordinator: Kristi Ruben at 307-778-7550 x7240 or kristi.ruben@va.gov.

Save the Date -- Wyoming Art for the Cure 4/29/11

Attention artists! Save the Date: April 29, 2011.

Mark your calendars now! Wyoming Art for the Cure will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 6-9 p.m . at Little America Hotel & Resort.

Get more info -- and view last year's entries -- at http://www.komenwyoming.org/wyomingartforthecure

Artist & author Carlton Davis to speak at UW Disability Awareness Days

Carlton Davis is an artist and author of the book "Bipolar Bare."

"Celebrate Pink" Feb. 12 in Cheyenne

DT's Tusker Bar in Cheyenne is hosting "Celebrate Pink" on Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. A portion of the night's sales will be donated to Art for the Cure. DT's is one of the sponsors for the 2010 Art for the Cure Gala in Cheyenne.

Wyoming Art for the Cure Gala will be held on Friday, April 23, from 6-9 p.m. at Little America Hotel & Resort in Cheyenne. The 2010 honoree is Susan Thomas.

FMI: www.artforthecure.org

Pictured: "Angel Wing Begonia," water-based media, by Jessica DeBall, the 2009 Art for the Cure "Best in Show" winner

New book by Laramie mother and daughter

From a UW press release:

A new book describes a Laramie mother and daughter's trek from stroke through rehabilitation and their return home.

Stacy Gupton suffered a stroke in 2003 while working on an art project. Stacy and her mother, Mona, said at that time they lacked the resources to deal with stroke and all the complications and said they wrote "A Piece of Her Mind" to help others.

"We felt Stacy's story could give someone else hope of finding life after tragedy," said Mona, who works in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "We did not write this book to simply tell a sad story. We want others to know that life truly does go on, and it is up to each of us how we choose to live each day.

"Once a day is gone, we can't get it back. We can laugh or cry. I tell Stacy all the time that every day she has now is a bonus."

Mona said she realized writing the book would be emotional.

"It actually took me nearly three years to complete the manuscript. There were times when I wrote with such anger and pain that it was exhausting," she said.

Writing was therapeutic. "By going back and reading my journal entries and Stacy's, I was able to visualize exactly how far she had come and how we had grown together as a family," said Mona.

Stacy said she's glad she wrote the book. "I had to relive everything, and that wasn't easy. Even though it was really hard, I am glad we did this because it showed me how much I have improved," she said. "On bad days, it made me remember why I never give up."

Order the book through your local bookstore or at amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/ylm3wz9

Thomas Pogge discusses "Health Care Reform for the U.S. and the World's Poor"

Widely-published author and philosopher Thomas Pogge will discuss "Health Care Reform for the U.S. and the World's Poor," Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. in Room 133 of the University of Wyoming Classroom Building in Laramie.

A prolific writer and lecturer, Pogge who has written extensively on moral and political philosophy, including books on cosmopolitanism, global justice and extreme poverty. His book "World Poverty and Human Rights" is regarded as one of the most comprehensive works on global justice.

Pogge also heads a team that is developing a complement to the pharmaceutical patent regime that would improve access to advanced medicines for the poor worldwide. He received his Ph.D. at Harvard University.

For more information, e-mail UW Philosophy Professor Ed Sherline, sherline@uwyo.edu.