LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Wyoming shoppers choosing to buy gifts at local mom-and-pop stores this holiday season can sample cookies with Mrs. Claus and refuel at Santa's Saloon, and kids can send letters to the jolly old elf via Pony Express riders.

Trey Sherwood, executive director of the Laramie Main Street Alliance, acknowledged most of the money shoppers spend at corporate chains ends up out of state, but when people buy local, they support their neighbors, and 68 cents of every dollar stays in the community.

"And it turns into payroll for local jobs, and it turns into support for our little-league teams," Sherwood outlined. "Because small businesses are often the sponsors for our youth sports."

Historic downtown Laramie, founded as a railroad town, is celebrating small businesses all week, capping off with a holiday parade. Instead of a traditional tree, officials will light up the city's historic train.

In addition to Santa, the "Old West Holiday" in downtown Cheyenne also features lights and decorations on architecture dating back to Wyoming's territorial days. Many buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Haylee Chenchar, vice president of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority, said small businesses have turned downtown into a festive winter wonderland.

"Everyone who comes to downtown, they will not only get to do their holiday shopping and support local businesses, but they really get a one-of-a-kind holiday experience that can't be replicated anywhere else," Chenchar explained.

Sherwood pointed out folks also can support most local businesses, and avoid big-box store supply-chain logjams, from the comfort of your sofa.

"Supporting local through online, you can sit in your pajamas at home and know that you are still making an investment in your downtown by shopping local, not having to worry about it being shipped late," Chenchar concluded.

Visit a Wisconsin farmers market, and chances are there are products grown by Hmong producers. But like other agricultural groups, the population is aging and outreach specialists hope younger Hmong farmers get the support they need to succeed.

Wisconsin has the third-largest Hmong population in the U.S., according to data from the University of Wisconsin. Only 2% are officially employed in agriculture but researchers suspect the number is underreported.

Yimmuaj Yang, community director for the Groundswell Conservancy, senses a changing of the guard with older Hmong producers nearing retirement. Some of their adult children express interest in taking over but have not been as vocal. She added their mindset is different from their parents.

"Older Hmong farmers, farming is therapeutic for them," Yang explained. "They're making a little bit of money, but also, farming and gardening makes them happy. The difference is that these younger farmers, they want farming to be financially sustainable."

She noted aspiring producers are also bilingual and multicultural, allowing support organizations to adjust their outreach. Yang acknowledged land access is a major challenge for emerging Hmong farmers and her group is working with partners like the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute to create funding solutions to address this problem.

Yang would also like to see policy adjustments dealing with how long a farmer can rent land. There is a new federal program helping with land access but Yang said more support is needed. She feels giving younger Hmong farmers peace of mind might inspire them to further explore what they grow and sell.

"Unlike Minnesota and the Twin Cities, where there's a big concentration of Hmong consumers; in Wisconsin, the Hmong community is, sort of, scattered throughout the state," Yang pointed out.

It means farmers have to focus more on marketing mainstream fruits and vegetables to non-Hmong customers. Yang suggested if groups like hers get more bandwidth to boost technical support, the next generation of Hmong producers will be in a better position to grow culturally specific food.

Events are scheduled this month to inform more people about Minnesota's new law eliminating the need for proof of legal residence to get a driver's license. Advocates for Latino immigrants see some positives, along with a few hiccups to sort out.

Last fall, Minnesota launched its Driver's Licenses for All initiative, with supporters saying it would make roadways safer while removing transportation burdens for undocumented individuals.

Eduardo Peñasco, lead organizer for Communities Organizing Latino Power and Action, said in general, the policy change is still embraced by the populations he works with.

"People are happy about this and (are) making an effort to try to apply and go through the process so they can get their license," Peñasco observed.

At first, the group found many Spanish-speaking applicants were not passing the written exam, in part through not accessing valid information in the driver's manual. In partnering with the Department of Public Safety, it has been hosting orientations to help people prepare. The organization noted written exam passage rates are improving but there is concern some people are discouraged by early obstacles.

The Department of Vehicle Services has upcoming dates listed on its website for various outreach related to the program. The events are all in the Twin Cities, and the group hopes to beef up its informational approach elsewhere in Minnesota.

Peñasco indicated they want Latino communities to feel reassured about the option and recapture the enthusiasm seen when the initiative kicked off.

"It has been kind of a slowdown a little bit but still somewhat in demand," Peñasco pointed out. "Taking the first step is always the difficult part."

After focusing on helping with those first steps, Peñasco added the next challenge is the skills test behind the wheel. Staffing issues have led to delays in scheduling. Community partners also point out driving schools, prompted by a failed test, can be costly with information in English only. Peñasco feels the state is making a sincere effort to reduce headaches as all parties try to adjust.

On May 21, the town of Sinclair is hosting a free screening of the Wyoming PBS documentary "100 Years on the Lincoln Highway" at the newly restored Parco/Sinclair Theatre - as part of Historic Preservation Month.

Monte Thayer - community events director for the town of Sinclair and the theater's manager - said the original Lincoln Highway runs directly in front of the cozy, old-style theater that most people in their thirties or younger have never seen.

"Everybody that comes here - whether they are performers or just attendees of an event - they just fall in love with the theater, and the old little ticket booth inside," said Thayer. "People just fall in love with it."

The theater was built in 1924, when the town was named Parco for the oil company running the nearby refinery.

The town's name changed after the Sinclair Consolidated Oil Corporation took over operations in the early 1940s.

The theater matches the Spanish Colonial Architecture style of the other original public buildings in town, and the interior renovation was completed in 2021.

Former Sinclair mayor Leif Johansson said the old boiler in the basement had to be removed because it was full of asbestos.

Workers chipped out the original concrete floor to make the space compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The original seats, which were too narrow for today's audiences, were replaced with larger seats.

"Before it didn't have a balcony," said Johansson. "We put in a balcony, and we put in a concession area, and larger bathrooms for people. It took a little over a year to refurnish it and get it going again."

Thayer said funds are still being raised to complete the exterior restoration. He said feedback from town residents on the decision to invest upwards of $2 million has been positive.

"They just talked about how it's improved the quality of life," said Thayer. "And this is coming from people that initially weren't in favor of the renovation, but now say that was the best idea this town could have done with that place, and it's just been a godsend."




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