׉?ׁB!בCטFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://Lbi4G2AQ082gycefrJIVDDvyoD3x0tRoJp4KZca9plsY`׉ 7cassandra://kGYKb3yizF_WNMc7BSUO3ScLye0WK8w9q8jPEEeflqUo`h׉ 7cassandra://f5T9XOO09l9fvlEy2N012BczfLFeh8I-EWt8nYroay0&`h:_`טFu׈O'׈Eh:_`׉E<2 $ APRIL 18, 2025 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 9 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Budget cuts cause Engagement Center closure. page 4 KEN PARKS #490 ASK YOUR VENDOR: HOW DO YOU REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE? GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. Travels with Dreamer: Riding that train page 10 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator Matthew Zisi. Creative Commons • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor # ׉ 7cassandra://f5T9XOO09l9fvlEy2N012BczfLFeh8I-EWt8nYroay0&`h:_`h:_` בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://GRgkI4Ik9cD3Mo3Ss-zt_fx5RFCOvBiSLTl3ri6z0KQp`I׉ 7cassandra://hu45W-1NwkiIXp1p1rfDnz4WA1TQWNFsmQp6GwKWNhM`׉ 7cassandra://7NlXGtwCKSAjbT9jeiUjCml_xgZi8KoEZ6XCve-Ty9EI>`h:_`˔נh:_`ʁ9׉Hhttp://www.groundcovernews.orgGׁ ׁ rנh:_`с9ׁHhttp://www.groundcovernews.orgׁ ׁ Јנh:_`Ё 9ׁH"mailto:contact@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Јנh:_`ρR!9ׁH&mailto:submissions@groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E 2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER ASK YOUR VENDOR How do you reduce, reuse, recycle? Create no garbage. Compost and recycle everything. — Ken Parks, #490 Do it consistently. Muscle memory is a product of repetition. — Wayne Sparks, #615 Work together. No one can do it alone. — Pedro Campos, #652 I pick up litter whenever I can. — Stephanie Dent, #84 I collect and reuse Kroger bags! And I never litter. — Shawn Swoffer, #574 Spread love, wisdom and joy to my best ability. — Larzell Washington, #128 Eating healthy vegetables is good for the earth and me! — Monte Smith, #487 Don't be a litterbug! — Tony Schohl, #9 1. Dry mirrors without streaks 2. Protect your breakables 3. Make paper mache art/sculpture 4. Cover a table during art projects 5. Decorate with paper chains 6. Stuff in your shoes to accelerate drying APRIL 18, 2025 7. Collage 8. Wrap gifts 9. Kindle fires 10. Give to a friend! PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DETERMINED INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, PRODUCING A STREET NEWSPAPER THAT GIVES A PLATFORM TO UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN WASHTENAW COUNTY, PROMOTING AN ACTION TO BUILD A JUST, CARING AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower lowincome persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Vendors purchase each copy of our regular editions of Groundcover News at our office for 50 cents. This money goes towards production costs. Vendors work selling the paper on the street for $2, keeping all income and tips from each sale. Street papers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people and combat the increase in poverty. Our paper is a proud member of the International Network of Street Papers. STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Michelle Lardie-Guzek — intern ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS John Brooks Jr. Robert Colley Cindy Gere Heather Hale Arhan Kaul June Miller Ken Parks Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Tommy Spaghetti Wayne S. Steven GROUNDCOVER NEWS ADVERTISING RATES Size 1/8 1/6 1/4 1/2 full page Black/White $110.00 $145.00 $200.00 $375.00 $650.00 Color $150.00 $200.00 $265.00 $500.00 $900.00 Dimensions (W x H in inches) 5 X 3 or 2.5 X 6.5 5 X 4 5 X 6.25 5 X 13 or 10.25 X 6.5 10.25 X 13 PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett Zach Dortzbach Steve Ross Anabel Sicko Allison Wei VOLUNTEERS Jane Atkins Jessi Averill Sim Bose Jud Branam Luiza Duarte Caetano Jacob Fallman Glenn Gates Bella Martinez Robert Klingler Ari Ruczynski Jack Weinberg Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Melanie Wenzel CONTACT US Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO OLD ISSUES + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org PACKAGE PRICING Three Months/Six Issues: 15% off Six Months/Twelve Issues: 25% off Full Year/Twenty-four Issues: 35% off Only run for two weeks/one issue: 40% off Additional 20% discount for money saving coupons EARTH DAY2025 can be reused in a variety of ways! ׉ 7cassandra://7NlXGtwCKSAjbT9jeiUjCml_xgZi8KoEZ6XCve-Ty9EI>`h:_`׉EAPRIL 18, 2025 ON MY CORNER My view on the sports world Hello my fans, this is Wayne S. Sorry to be away for so long, but things happen. I hope that you have enjoyed the winter as much as I did. And if you believe that, I have some lakefront property on the Mojave Desert that I'd like to show you. Now that the cold winter season is almost over, I can’t wait to reconnect with everyone — so many of you started as customers and ended up becoming friends. I’ve really missed you all, and I hope you’ve missed me too! It’s going to be a long, hot summer, and I’m sure that I will have a lot to talk about. But first let’s get this March Madness stuff out of the way. Are you a fan? Or are you not? The jury is still out with me. It seems that so much is happening in a short period of time that things are getting by me. Do you feel the same? Right in the middle of March Madness, Wayne Gretzky’s record for scoring goals was broken! Alex Ovechkin broke the 894 goals record that had I love Easter DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 WAYNE S. Groundcover vendor No. 615 stood for 31 years. There’s so much I can say about this, but I won’t. We are saddened for (the other) Wayne, but records exist to be broken. So congratulations to Alex. This year we also saw one of the biggest contracts in the history of baseball be awarded — $500M contract over the next 14 years to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays. I'm wondering how long it will be before this record is broken and we have a new "biggest contract" in pro sports. Let’s get back to March Madness. For only the second time ever all four men’s teams to make the Final Four were #1 seeds, which made for a bunch of good basketball. By the time you read this article the outcome has been determined: the Florida Gators are the NCAA national champions. Next up is the UCONN women’s basketball team who have won their 12th national championship. How long do you think it will be before this record is broken? So much to think about in women’s sports these days. Ladies, you make people’s lives more interesting! I hope to one day see you get credit for being an overall asset to the sporting community as a whole and not be relegated to just making records that are superficial and taken for granted. Shout out to all the women athletes who train hard, who are dedicated, and who are an asset to the sporting world. Now let’s talk a little bit about the NBA. Most importantly, the Detroit Pistons who are up and coming and Sike Ward JOHN BROOKS JR. Groundcover vendor No. 672 getting ready to rule the NBA again. Is this going to be the “Bad Boys” 2.0? That was the team’s nickname in 1989 and 1990 when they won back-to-back championships. Or are they going to mismanage a team that could make a statement this season that the “Bad Boys” are back? Let’s hope that they don’t falter and make a fool out of me! Next, let’s talk about the Detroit Lions: Healthy, wealthy, wise and on their way to a championship season. I’m sure everyone agrees with me about this. If you don’t, then I just don’t know what to say to you. Go Lions! Last but not least, Michigan Football. Do we have the right guy? I think maybe, maybe not. We should have been a lot better than we were last year. But are we ready to take the next steps? Michigan Football is the love of my life; far be it from me to say or do anything that would make people think otherwise. The only thing I have left to say is, Go Blue! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 Easter is beautiful And Easter is wonderful I love Easter because it's about celebrating Jesus who loves me and you and everybody else, too. I know this is true Because I read the Bible and the Bible is true. Easter is for me and Easter is for you God made Easter to celebrate for Everybody else, too! I love bunnies and pretty dresses and Easter candy I like to always keep plenty of it handy. Easter is lovely just like Christmas It is pretty and lovely, too. Going to Frankenmuth is one of my favorite outings to go and do Christmas and Easter are very lovely And for me that is very true. Trapped in the System, Not only physically but mentally, Unless you walked the path I walked, There's no possible way you feeling me, Loyalty above all, Guided by none trust few, Free Haley until they set her free I know she hear me, A2 got her too, Free Black, Free Ed Boii, Free Bronta Ypsi know I’m the DIAMOND Child Chi got lil durk — YPSI got me too. 6/30/2025 Habebe h:_`h:_` בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://aPjE574NZZdrF_-q6US6i2kpnehD5u7dyA3B3O3dgII E`I׉ 7cassandra://HqP557Xl69erTmf5t5r8VE5AQCDwKP9B85cGepEADxA.`׉ 7cassandra://ddigMKwfGnHfvyLPm02ru8DU7axNjkVB-epMMWhUAL4PW`h:_`ғנh:_`΁9׉Hhttps://homeofnewvision.org/Gׁ ׁ rנh:_`ׁ =̧9ׁHhttp://aadl.org/starwarsdayׁ ׁ Јנh:_`ց = ̪9ׁHhttp://aadl.org/wlbpd/applyׁ ׁ Ј׉E4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS RECOVERY On Tuesday, April 1, an email went out to all Home of New Vision staff stating that the Engagement Center would be closing immediately. It was no April Fool’s joke. A similar email was sent to Dawn Farm employees stating that the organization received "a ‘stop-work order’ to discontinue any American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded programs immediately.” This directly impacted their Strong Roots family recovery program which provides housing and supportive services to families with parents in recovery. The Trump Administration federal Department of Health and Human Services sent out a memo that certain federal grants, including Block Grant funds allocated to states and LINDSAY CALKA Publisher communities, appropriated under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 (H.R. 1319), were purportedly being terminated immediately. This termination of funding purported to take effect the same day. The ARPA grants had been scheduled to continue through the fiscal year. Nintety-one percent of the Engagement Center’s budget was funded by ARPA. According to CEO Heather Williams, Home of New Vision does not have any unrestricted funding so the organization would need to raise over $300,000 in private donations to keep the center open in 2025, not to mention 2026 and beyond. A Facebook post created by a community member broke the news to the public. It stated, the “Engagement Center in Ypsilanti served as a crisis intervention facility, offering a supervised and supportive environment for individuals struggling with substance use and co-occurring disorders … especially those ready to enter substance use treatment but facing waitlists for an available bed. The Center APRIL 18, 2025 Budget cuts cause abrupt Engagement Center closure provided a crucial space where individuals could stay, receive support, and be connected to treatment facilities and recovery resources. “Now, without this ‘bridge,’ the gap in care becomes even wider. Patients seeking treatment often wait days, if not weeks, for an open bed. Without the Engagement Center, those who detox in the hospital will now be discharged home — or to the streets if they have no home — left to wait with little to no support. “This closure is more than just the loss of a facility; it’s the loss of a critical lifeline for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.” Gary Jackson, a former Engagement see ENGAGEMENT page 7  From overdose to opportunity: How Home of New Vision's ROOT team is saving lives ROBERT COLLEY Home of New Vision The Recovery Opioid Overdose Team (ROOT) at Home of New Vision plays a critical role in addressing opioid use disorders in Washtenaw County. The team focuses on overdose prevention, harm reduction and peer-based recovery support to individuals in crisis situations. ROOT team members perform various duties, including updating client files, preparing outreach bags, attending community events and responding to overdose alerts. A key responsibility is direct engagement with individuals who have experienced an overdose. When an alert indicates that Narcan has been administered, ROOT dispatches its Quick Response Team to connect with the individual, offering treatment resources and follow-up care for up to six months. The ROOT crisis phone is available 24/7 and provides immediate assistance to anyone experiencing or witnessing an overdose. ROOT’s services are delivered by Certified Peer Recovery Coaches, individuals with lived experience of substance use who are in sustained recovery. CPRCs must have at least two years of recovery and a demonstrated commitment to helping others. Their lived experience allows them to connect with clients on a level that enhances trust and relatability. ROOT works closely with the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project (WRAP), sharing office space and collaborating on events such as Soberbowl and community college outreach. These events aim to raise awareness, reduce stigma and connect individuals with resources. ROOT and WRAP also direct outreach in urban areas, distributing backpacks containing Narcan, hygiene supplies and recovery literature. These efforts provide tangible support and open doors for conversation about treatment and recovery. Home of New Vision supports multiple recovery pathways, including SMART Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Recovery Dharma, Recovery Yoga and Christian-based options like Celebrate Recovery. This approach ensures that individuals can choose the recovery model that resonates most with them. Impact and Michigan Overdose Trends Michigan continues to face the challenges of the opioid crisis, but recent data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) show signs of progress: • 2020: 2,738 overdose deaths • 2021: 3,096 overdose deaths (peak year) • 2022: 2,998 overdose deaths • 2023: 2,826 overdose deaths (provisional) • January–July 2024: 1,200 deaths (provisional) According to MDHHS, the overall Free Narcan Locations ROOT is committed to harm reduction practices, including the distribution of clean syringes, fentanyl/ xylazine/nitazene testing strips and Narcan. These initiatives are designed to reduce the spread of disease and prevent fatal overdoses. Harm reduction builds rapport and trust, especially with individuals who may not yet be ready for treatment. Free Narcan kits are available at overdose death rate dropped from 31.1 per 100,000 in 2021 to 28.2 in 2023 — a 5.7% reduction. This decline in Michigan is nearly five times greater than the national average over the same period. This progress is credited to statewide harm reduction efforts, including the Naloxone Direct Portal, which has distributed over 1 million naloxone kits and contributed to more than 21,000 documented overdose reversals. Other significant initiatives include the expansion of Medicaid Substance Use Disorder provider capacity, access to medications for opioid use disorder and transportation services for treatment access. Despite improvements, disparities remain. In 2023, the likelihood of dying from an overdose was 2.8 times greater for Black residents and 2.2 times greater for American Indian/Alaska Native than for white residents. MDHHS addresses these inequities through targeted interventions and community-based support services. multiple sites throughout Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and surrounding areas. Locations include libraries, community centers, health departments and pharmacies. The ROOT team stocks and maintains these resources which are accessible to the public — some even 24/7. To find a location near you or to learn more, scan the QR code on page 12. Moving Forward ROOT continues its mission of engaging individuals before and after overdose, promoting recovery and providing essential harm reduction tools. As Michigan leads the nation in opioid response strategies, local efforts like ROOT remain vital to ensuring recovery resources are accessible and equitable for all. If you or someone you know is seeking support for substance use, Home of New Vision can help. Services are available for individuals at any stage of recovery, including those not yet ready for treatment. 24/7 Crisis Line: 734-417-6363 Phone: 734-975-1602 Main Office: 3115 Professional Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Walk-ins: Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Whether you are looking for treatment or peer support or want to learn more about recovery pathways, the Home of New Vision team is ready to support you. Learn more about our other programs online at: https://homeofnewvision.org/ ׉ 7cassandra://ddigMKwfGnHfvyLPm02ru8DU7axNjkVB-epMMWhUAL4PW`h:_`׉EAPRIL 18, 2025 TRUMP Presidential action: "Ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling" HEATHER HALE U-M student contributor On January 29, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14190, titled "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," aiming to reshape the educational landscape by addressing concerns over certain instructional content in schools. This executive order is part of a broader policy agenda that includes additional executive actions school focused on expanding choice and regulating campus activism. The administration's policy framework, known as Agenda 47, introduces measures to reduce federal funding for programs that incorporate critical race theory and discussions on gender ideology, reinforcing a vision of education centered on “traditional” American values. Key provisions of Executive Order 14190 The executive order encompasses several significant directives: Prohibition of Specific Educational Content: Schools are barred from teaching materials deemed "anti-American" or "subversive," including critical race theory, discussions on systemic racism, gender identity, and any curriculum suggesting the United States has a fundamentally oppressive history. Historical events such as slavery and segregation may only be discussed within a "patriotic framework," emphasizing national progress rather than ongoing systemic issues. Law Enforcement Involvement: Educational institutions suspected of promoting prohibited content may face investigations conducted by federal oversight committees. Teachers facilitating discussions on gender identity, systemic racism or using students' preferred pronouns risk suspension, termination or even legal charges for violating the order. Funding Revocation: Schools that fail to comply with the order's provisions risk losing federal funding, including Title I funding, which supports low-income students. This measure is intended to enforce adherence to the policy and deter school districts from incorporating restricted content. Reinstatement of the 1776 Commission: The order revives the 1776 Commission, an initiative promoting "patriotic education." Originally established in 2020 during Trump’s first term, the commission aimed to counter what it described as a leftwing distortion of American history by emphasizing the nation's founding principles and achievements. It was disbanded by President Joe Biden in 2021, as critics argued that it presented a historically inaccurate and overly celebratory view of American history while downplaying issues like slavery and systemic racism. Schools receiving federal funds must now integrate materials from the commission into their history curricula, prioritizing narratives that highlight American exceptionalism. Impacts on educational institutions The implementation of this order has led to significant changes within educational organizations. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Learning Media removed LGBTQ+ educational resources and closed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office. The Department of Education has undergone extensive restructuring, with significant cuts to research programs and financial aid services, raising concerns about access to higher education for underprivileged students. Ann Arbor, known for its progressive educational values, has been deeply affected by the executive order. Ann Arbor Public Schools has opposed the order, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity while simultaneously grappling with potential federal funding losses. In response, the district has implemented protective measures, such as offering after-school discussion groups where students can engage in conversations on race and identity outside of federally regulated curricula. The district has also partnered with local advocacy organizations to provide legal resources for educators who face penalties under the new directives. At the University of Michigan, faculty and students have expressed strong opposition to the order. The university has joined national coalitions challenging the order’s restrictions on academic freedom, with student protests erupting on campus and faculty members releasing statements emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in education. Local educator’s experience One tangible example of the order's effects can be seen in the case of Olivia Martinez, a history teacher at Huron High School in Ann Arbor. Martinez was placed on administrative leave after assigning a reading on the impact of redlining and systemic racism in housing policy. Despite the reading being based on peer-reviewed historical research, it was flagged as "anti-American" under the executive order’s provisions. The incident has sparked outrage among students and parents, with petitions calling for her reinstatement and legal organizations stepping in to provide support. This executive order has sparked a wide range of reactions. Supporters argue that the order is essential for protecting children from exposure to controversial topics and reinforcing traditional values. On the other hand, critics contend that it suppresses free speech, marginalizes LGBTQ+ students, and limits discussions on race and identity. Legal challenges are anticipated, with several organizations asserting that the order is unconstitutional. As the nation continues to grapple with these changes, the future of educational policy remains a contested battleground. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Hang out in any of our five locations across town, browsing books, magazines, newspapers, and more, or check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, and home tools— you name it! Study and meeting rooms, fast and free WiFi, and plenty of places to sit and hang out Washtenaw Library for the Blind & Print Disabled at AADL This free service loans books, magazines, & videos in alternative formats (audiobooks, large print, braille books & magazines, and descriptive video) to individuals who are unable to read or use standard printed materials. Visit aadl.org/wlbpd/apply to apply. Public Computers The AADL has public-access Internet computers available for use by both cardholders and noncardholders at all five locations. Each station has USB ports, headphone jacks, and some of the fastest wifi speeds in town! FEATURED EVENT Sunday, May 4 • 11am–4pm Downtown Library You don’t need to travel to a galaxy far, far away to celebrate May the Fourth. Come to the Downtown Library for themed photo ops, games, storytime, crafts, screenings, and music! Check out aadl.org/starwarsday for more! h:_`h:_` בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://bWryvrTyX-yxgXN2xGinc0e0UEV6jzXE5CcjH8qq3hU %`I׉ 7cassandra://7qj2adgjIHsuPytzh1mlayvbnVmCQUGuqdDY-zuyMcA(`׉ 7cassandra://N1IZcWEiRsmkmh7OWq_iQnUvo7WtupCSBk1Urivq2PUS`h:_`׉E06 GROUNDCOVER NEWS EARTH DAY 2025 Ann Arbor pursues carbon neutrality goals ARHAN KAUL U-M student contributor Through its A2Zero Initiative, Ann Arbor has set an ambitious goal to go carbon-neutral by 2030. This plan is meant to reduce the City’s carbon footprint. Ann Arbor is choosing to focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency efforts and community engagement. According to the Ann Arbor City Council’s update on the plan, A2Zero provides a framework for this transition away from fossil fuels and promotes a new infrastructure to support reduced fossil fuel consumption. This initiative includes infrastructure investments in clean energy, sustainable transportation and other climate technologies. In particular, the A2Zero plan is designed to help the community by setting goals for Ann Arbor residents and leaders to pursue. The creators of A2Zero have set seven strategies that they hope will drive this change: 1. Reduce vehicle mileage by 50%. 2. Switch to renewable energy. 3. Improve energy efficiency. 4. Move to a circular economy. 5. Enhance local food systems. 6. Protect green spaces. 7. Foster more community education on green efforts. This comprehensive approach will ensure that Ann Arbor and its citizens have a smooth transition into a new age of energy use. While these goals and strategies may seem lofty, the city has been on track so far. In fact, A2Zero has made significant progress towards approaching its goal of 2030 carbon neutrality, City leaders say. The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (The Ride) has been actively transitioning its fleet toward low-emission vehicles. The Ride's 2045 plan emphasizes luring more people out of their cars and introducing low-emissions buses. Read more about the Ride 2045 in the December 27, 2024 edition of Groundcover News. To promote active transportation, Ann Arbor has invested in enhancing its bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. The Downtown Ann Arbor Curb Management Plan, published in October 2024, highlights the construction of new bike lanes and pedestrian spaces, supporting the City's goals for sustainable transportation options. Additionally, programs like Ann Arbor Solarize, a bulk buy solar program, bring together residents and solar installers to make bulk purchases of solar panels. This makes buying solar energy more affordable for residents. Another key aspect of A2Zero has been community engagement and education. Ann Arbor has been incorporating various programs to inform residents about the benefits of sustainability and how they can participate in green initiatives. The City has been hosting workshops, distributing educational materials and investing in green initiatives to speed up the transition to renewable energy. On February 28, the Circular Economy subgroup came to the Groundcover News office to survey vendors about their personal sustainability practices. To ensure long term sustainability, Ann Arbor has been trying to implement more policy changes to align with A2Zero objectives. Measures include updating building codes with more energy-efficient designs and providing incentives for businesses and consumers who participate in green energy efforts. These efforts also support Ann Arbor’s focus on educating citizens on sustainable thinking, encouraging long-term behavioral changes that promote energy conservation, waste reduction and the adoption of renewable technologies. Through community programs and policy initiatives, the City aims to create a culture of sustainability that extends beyond 2030, ensuring lasting environmental benefits for future generations. APRIL 18, 2025 Earth Day 2025: Celebrating youth leadership in environmental protection and action WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 Earth Day is the culmination of the 1960s environmental movement. Rachel Carson’s 1962 book “Silent Spring” about pesticide DDT and its resulting pollution had captured the public attention, as well as that of President John F. Kennedy. The massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, and the huge fire that flamed because of chemical dumps on the Cuyahoga river in Cleveland, Ohio, were viewed by millions of Americans in their living rooms on TV and in print media. The late 1960s was a period when many young Americans were described by the politicians and mass media as members of the counter-culture. It was also a period of civil rights struggles and the women’s liberation movement. There were protests by young people against the polluters in California and Ohio. Because there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms from the federal government to deal with hazardous waste dumping and dangerous chemical pollution, young Americans in colleges, high schools and other walks of life took to the streets to demonstrate. At Michigan, the students initiated a teach-in which was the model recommended by the founder of Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Senator Nelson called for a teach-in at all college campuses across the nation on April 22, 1970. On that day, about 20 million Americans demonstrated. They wanted to raise the level of awareness of the American people about the need to protect the environment with legislation and community actions. Many historians and journalists have concluded that the April 22 Earth Day event of 1970 was a huge success. The impacts are staggering. Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1972. Subsequently, they passed the Clean Water Act. President Richard Nixon established a cabinet-level agency known as the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA’s mandate was the protection of the environment and public health. Later, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act), often known as the “Superfund Law.” It was amended and reauthorized in 1986 and again in 1999. Though climate the University of change was excluded from the EPA’s mandate, since that time it has become the most pressing issue in the environmental Environmental Action for Survival: The History and Legacies of U-M's 1970 Teach-In on the Environment (2020). Photo from U-M School of the Environment and Sustainabilty debate. The Earth’s temperature has risen to new and unbearable levels since the Earth Day of 1970. We have been using the concept of “climate change” to describe the trends and impacts of global warming which result in disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, monsoons, tornadoes, flash flooding, drought and their impact on migration and wildlife. The year 2023, for a short while, was described as the hottest year since 1800 when weather forecasters started to measure global heat temperatures. It was 1.48 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature in 2024 was higher than the previous year. The temperature was recorded at 1.55 degrees Celsius, exceeding the threshold established by the 2015 Paris Accord on annual global temperatures. It is possible that the 2025 global temperature will surpass 2024 levels. As part of the Paris Agreement on climate change, it is recommended that the United Nations Conference on Climate Change do more to show success or failure towards the attainment see EARTH DAY page 11  ׉ 7cassandra://N1IZcWEiRsmkmh7OWq_iQnUvo7WtupCSBk1Urivq2PUS`h:_`׉EAPRIL 18, 2025 PRISON ART Art intel: Prison art reflections I attended a wonderful event at the University of Michigan Duderstadt Gallery. The event, called the Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners, is a result of U-M facilitation of the creation of art projects by many prisoners from Michigan — right at the prison. The Prison Creative Arts Project also allows the incarcerated to take classes in art. The resulting pieces of art, all on display at the gallery, range vastly from rococo painting and classical arts to abstractions and amazing sculptures, as well as crafts in paper arts and spray painting on fabrics. With the photos I took, what I tried to do as a former arts teacher was to show the extreme variety of the arts, including my favorites within the project. This show was from March 18 to April 1, and on the first night many artworks were sold, with the proceeds going to the prisoners. This helps them pay for basic needs as well as more paints and supplies for the next year's arts projects. The talent is absolutely amazing …  ENGAGEMENT from page 4 Center service-recipient, shared, “The Engagement Center can lead people to recovery. They let me stay there until I went to Dawn Farm. That was the beginning of my recovery; now I’ve been sober for close to three years. “It's like they don’t want people to seek help, they want us to stay sick.” Williams commented that Home of New Vision is working behind the scenes to get something in that space that is semi-similar in some capacity. The Engagement Center in Jackson, Mich. is still open and fully operational due to its divergent funding sources. CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 There were images where I was shocked about how much detail and true thought processes had gone into them. One work I found very powerful was the "See No, Hear No, Speak No Justice" art piece. This spoke to me hard. I felt the artist was talking about a truly universal issue when it comes to incarceration. This idea of not hearing the people at all with regards to being become a real issue in our society, to the point that the psychiatric institutions are now diagnosing being in long Other Home of New Vision programs impacted by the ARPA work-stopage include their Women's Speciality Program (51% ARPA funding), ROOT Quick Response Team (see article page 4), and harm reduction (13%). This has resulted in lay-offs and service reductions. Dawn Farm raised over $40,000 in three days which will prevent any immediate service disruptions for the Strong Roots families. term incarceration as a real mental illness. The long-term trauma of imprisonment can turn into PTSD and sadly, there may be suicide linked to it, which we don’t talk about at all. The trauma may also lead to reoffending, sometimes because of the idea that a person becomes totally dependent on the system — as in “I can't take living in society, I only know how to live in the prison system, I can only live in the prison system.” This diagnosis is slowly being recognized as a real disorder and some people are in fact on disability for it. We need to address these issues and rethink prisons. There is a very powerful system of institutionalized has now incarceration that is modelled after British Columbian native tribes in Canada where each person spends time finding ways in nature to show their apology to victims, family and community after living off the land and reconciliation to nature and one's self. At the end, the prisoner rediscovers oneself and gives back to the community and family they trangressed GROUNDCOVER NEWS 7 See No, Speak No, Hear No Justice. Robert Tate, acrylic. 2025. against. To me, prison is putting people in cages, much like a zoo, and we humans are way better than that. I think it's time to completely gut the system and bring back a more direct approach of taking full responsibility, showing remorse, and giving restitution to the family or community directly. h:_`h:_` בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://EknAZMKWFsg5fOA9tGr9VAhyjFE3r6g8scNGZnqq9n4`I׉ 7cassandra://TQY6CeMCH61PuCdnFZyIOpDmldxIm-5giPDinurai9E `׉ 7cassandra://Wf6omx2w4mRioUFt6mHL9A93TixhXpRJPL6RpkIaf-8S`h:_`ܒנh:_`ہ9׉H#http://annarborcommunitycommons.orgGׁ ׁ rנh:_`߁9ׁHhttp://groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS CUBA Where is the revolution? KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 The revolution begins when you realize that reality is your home and it is ever-present. It’s easy to forget as the playfulness of the mind takes you on past reveries, irrelevant but brilliant distractions of the moment and a large range of future plans and possibilities. You may notice that you are not fully present. Every mistake or interruption is a reminder. If impatience arises, you have lost it. There are remedies to help you tune back in. Take a breath all the way to the bottom and relax. Seven breaths is a good marker. Allow a natural breath to flow. Breathe the rhythm of your work. Maybe the keypad is dancing to your flow or you hit the nail on the head and drive it home. Building a house becomes easy as we learn land sovereignty and tune in to the barnraising ethic of our ancestors. The Amish and Habitat for Humanity remember this heritage which is in our bones. If you use the above as a guide you will most likely discover that reality is revolutionary. Everything you need is at hand. Even a scam may mean “DIG IN” and get to the bottom of the mess and stand your ground with what you learned. That’s what Richard Werner did in his book “Princes of the Yen,” which is about money and power, and his podcast “The Deep State.” He tells us the simple truth about financial policy and the government/corporations. I follow him and Jack Kruse to show, as I would summarize it, that reality is decentralized in nature and that Mother Nature is our guide to this complexity. Mind training is essential so that we can rest in this natural state. There are many teachers. When you are ready, you will learn how to tune in. Study and experience will come together as you master how to do it yourself in the presence of a teacher. There are masters who can point the way regardless of where you are on the stages of the path. Groundcover News will help you stay tuned in. When I was preparing for a trip to Cuba, I focused on organizing basics such as shoes, seeds, supplements, herbs, solar panels, and greenhouse plastic — to be healthy and productive for the long term. When the American and Cuban revolutions meet, both countries will advance. Ann Arbor has a history of movement work that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mentioned at the University of Michigan. You can see his quote on the first floor of the Michigan Union. “Students have a responsibility to participate in the movement.” Students for a Democratic Society did this and popularized “participatory democracy” as the slogan to embody. Unless you are an astronaut or in the Bardo (which usually refers to the gap between death and rebirth) looking at the vast open space, the earth is always under your feet. The Groundcover community is part of the global movement that is learning connection to reality. If the rhythm of the powwow (one was held at Skyline High School in March) is in your awareness, you are on the good road. I am back from Cuba now. I found several people who are earth-centered and promote what we learn from the moringa tree that food is medicine. It helped me heal from the bladder/prostate issues that intensified because I forgot the medicine prescribed by the urologist and was forced to use what was at hand. Turmeric helps; plants are our healing companions. The U.S. dollar is king in Cuba now. The community gardens have collapsed as healthy projects. That food is not going to the schools as in past years, but to export and government APRIL 18, 2025 Ken and his neighbor, Dunya, in Havana. stores which sell in U.S. currency. So many Cubans want to emigrate in order to survive. The global view is to be cultivated and every form of resistance will feed into a growing awareness of the debt slavery we all face. Can government workers collaborate with the people to move the money from warfare to human needs? People of the world, arise and throw off your chains. Start with a mindful breath and continue until the job is done. Remember Easter. You can kill the revolutionary but you can’t kill the Revolution. Stay strong, keep the faith. See you on April 20 at the Commons (all day)! annarborcommunitycommons.org. ׉ 7cassandra://Wf6omx2w4mRioUFt6mHL9A93TixhXpRJPL6RpkIaf-8S`h:_`׉E(APRIL 18, 2025 PUZZLES GROUNDCOVER NEWS CROSSWORD International Network of Street Papers 9 Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website. ACROSS 1. Pack (down) 5. Edmonton hockey player 10. Common request 14. Black cat, maybe 15. Danger signal 16. 2002 Winter Olympics locale 17. Greet the day 18. Plant life 19. Shakespeare, for one 20. Ineffectively 23. Jane ___, third wife of Henry VIII 24. At liberty 25. Morsel for a horse 26. Brother of Abel 28. Big Apple attraction, with "the" 31. Star of the Berlin Olympics 34. Merlin or Cassandra 35. Biological groupings 36. Device that expresses data in binary code 39. Earthenware pot 40. It may be proper 41. At attention 42. Handwoven Scandinavian rug 43. Any thing 44. Jail, slangily 45. ___ of the above 47. Spartan 51. Flag-carrying soldier 54. Animal house 55. Bouquet 56. Verve 57. "Green Gables" girl 58. Link 59. Records 60. Garden intruder 61. Bridge positions 62. Coastal raptor DOWN 1. Doughnut shape 2. Nitrogen compound 3. Chaotic 4. Pulmonary disease 5. Fabric remnant 6. More sick 7. Neighbor of Cambodia 8. Blows it 9. Assert again 10. 100 kopecks 11. Draw 12. Be different 13. High degree 21. Go downhill, maybe 22. Ashes holder 26. First part of the large intestine 27. "___ Flux" 29. Board member, for short 30. Bakery buy 31. Aroma 32. Cunning 33. Sweetbriar 34. ___ gin fizz 35. Record player 37. Come before 38. Porridge ingredient 43. B & B 44. Residents of Havana 46. Propelled a boat 47. Own up to 48. Glitch 49. Despot's duration 50. Jagged, as a leaf's edge 51. All there 52. Part of a score, maybe 53. Some deer 54. Bar topic h:_`h:_` בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://VBA_Kq1gENhZal_JYY-EQdotLg5_CNGikoq66Xkj5Vc v``I׉ 7cassandra://BXJAQobUO_v6OH3M0sqdXMGJgzjQxUYVTKjKvcWYnZs=0`׉ 7cassandra://puh8GfvGKrD-gt9pyKGbIzqNgrHyoV7qrwxso5hs_mMS0`h:_`׉E%810 GROUNDCOVER NEWS CREATIVE Travels with Dreamer: Riding that train STEVEN Groundcover vendor No. 668 Editor’s Note: This article is a prequel to the “Travels With Dreamer” pieces in the March 7 and March 21 issues of Groundcover. I met Dreamer for the first time at a Rainbow Gathering. Dreamer, unbeknownst to me, would be instrumental as a wingman for me with The Girl in the Shiny Green Dress. We got to talking and smoked tons of weed (no booze in the gathering — only in the parking lot. One of the few rules. I liked the parking lot a lot, too). I knew I wanted to go to New Orleans; Dreamer knew he would find just the mushrooms he'd been looking for in New Orleans. If I'd known at the time that his main mission was mushrooms, I would have walked less than 100 yards in any direction and probably got him some ... Sigh. After a few awesome conversations with some older Road Dogs, we picked up enough know-how to hop trains, we thought. A couple nuggets I still remember: If you're trying to grab a moving train, don't if you can avoid it. If you really feel like you need to get on that train, look at the bolts on the wheels. If you can see individual bolts you might be okay. If you can't make out individual bolts, it's going too fast. It may seem to be going slow enough but if the bolts are a blur, it's going too fast. Whether true or not we took it as sage advice. The other useful tip I remember proved to be important. While walking the tracks, pick up a couple of railroad spikes to carry with you if you think you might climb into a boxcar. When riding in a boxcar, take one of those spikes and wedge it into the bottom of the door to jam it open. The idea is that if the train car jerks suddenly or stops, the door could slam shut. Some of those cars go months between uses and you'll be a skeleton when they find you. That was a good nugget, or at least not a bad one. Whatever other advice he gave us is lost to me except for the tip that was bad advice. He told us the rail Switchers don't care about hobos so you can ask them where the trains are going. If possible, you get on a train at a switchyard while it's not moving, and after you ask a Switcher where it goes. Cool, no sweat. We found a stopped train. I think it was grain. No inside available to climb into, nothing realistic to ride on top of. At the ends of the cars were platforms just big enough to sit on so we got on those. They were small platforms and we had to sit separately. It was nice just relaxing with my thoughts. Of course we had to wait until the train moved. We rode that way a while, into the night. I can’t say for sure how long we rode that way, but not really very long compared to the other rides we had. It stopped at a rail yard and we were able to just get off without any cowboy-type gymnastics. We quickly found a coal car and climbed up. Coal cars were open to the sky like big rectangular buckets. The coal stopped a bit before the top so we could hunker down out of the wind. We waited. The train started moving before dawn so we got to see the sun rise from the top of a raised moving platform. It was amazing. The sun turned the dew-laced tops of the verdantly crowned trees below us into dazzling sequin-gloved jazz hands as we came to a bridge over a lake. It was a long bridge and I felt privileged to be able to see the lake this way. I wasn’t privileged; I was breaking the law. Pfft semantics. Off to the left, below on the lake, were a couple of dudes fishing from a modest boat. I hollered down to them, knowing it's a fishing foul, “Hey guys, where are we?” They raised their breakfast beers together and shouted through laughter, “Virginia!” I responded, also laughing my ass off, “It's beautiful!” It was beautiful. The coal train stopped at an actual switching yard. What luck we figured. A bunch of stopped trains, lots of open cars. Holy shit, there’s even a switcher guy. We mosey on up, ask him about destinations and make some small talk, then bid him good day. I was 6’3” at the time with long, filthy red hair past my shoulders. I’m pretty filthy in general, at this point we both were. Ratty torn jeans patched with safety pins and random swathes of cloth and a sweet-as-hell tight red leather jacket that had been my uncle’s in the 70s. Oh, and of course Chuck Taylors on my feet, shoes known for their amazing support for all the walking I was doing. Dreamer was shortish, kind of built but not bulky. He had brown dreads past his ears with beads and whatnot affixed to them randomly in a few places. Jeans and a tie-dye shirt and a gray hoodie. Both with overstuffed backpacks, we looked like a couple of dirty hippies. We climbed on a train the old guy said was going to Panama City, then we waited hours. We did a lot of waiting for trains. In unmoving trains and trains yet to arrive. In my brilliance I figured if the train is going to South America it's going generally south west, so close enough to the direction of New Orleans. I wasn’t a big spring break scholar so I had no idea there was a Panama City, Florida. Dreamer put his complete faith in me — I’m not sure why. Out of the blue the giant metal began making tentative sounds, not little sounds, far too much iron and steel for little sounds. So long, Illinois. It became dark not long after the Pennsylvanian Behemoth began its slow creep to cruising speed. Dreamer and I were soon conked out. I slept the sleep of salvation. The noises — the clickety clacks, the chunk chunks, the banging lights of intersections, the steamy banshee wail at the will of the engineer, the whooshing wind, the constant drumming of my friend and the rhythmic rocking motions — the smells of timber and tar, the clear autumn sky giving up its stars, the wild fantastic whimsies of my goofy musings combined to form a singular momentous sleep. The morning's gloaming woke us early. The train was stopped; we were cold and hungry. We poked our heads about to see what's up. It's not a railyard per se, but I guess another switching station. Out we climbed, stretching our bones. Sleeping on the wood floor of a boxcar is less comfortable than it sounds even though the train's lullaby is so soothing. We clambered over the car connectors between the cars. Well, I clambered; Dreamer, with the grace of a percussionist, threw himself in some way at this hurdle. He crashed. Kind of bad. He sprained his ankle like it-may-aswell-be-broken sprained ... This effingguy. Come on man. Did I think of walking off and ditching his ass? I can't remember but it would have been on brand. I’m a living crutch now. We hobbled to the edge of the tracks and holy shit there's a walk-in clinic like, right over there. Its parking lot abuts the train company's private property, where we were. Were we lucky? I mean, no sprained ankle would have been better but okay, this works. I've had sprained ankles and all these years later I sympathize with him but at the time I wanted to slap the shit out of him. Not really of course but it was a hassle to crutch him and our gear over to the clinic. We left with his ankle wrapped up and actual crutches. I guess they thought one of us was going to pay them? The lady at the counter was not a fan of ours. After a short walk back to the train we were in decent spirits, all things considered. As we approached I noticed something. "Dude, Dreamer hang on man. - Dude this isn't our train.” "Whaddya mean man? This is where we left it isn't it?” "Well yeah man this is totally where we left it but look at it man, there's like no boxcar that we wedged open.” After he casts a slight glance around, I swear I heard a bell ring somewhere, Dreamer says, "Damn dude this isn't our f***ing train bro.” "That's what I'm saying man.” I let my frustration play on the nefarious train-swap and not all the crap that would hurt his feelings. "What are we gonna do?" "Well," I took off my hat and scratched my sweaty head, squinted my eyes thoughtfully for a minute then continued, "Well this train is pointed the same way, let's just jump on this one." It was in fact the same train. After waiting many hours it moved again. Really we were lucky we didn't wait much longer for any of the trains. We had spent a very long time at the clinic and we were tired and went to sleep in a boxcar. No wedged open door this time. We had been in thinking it was a different train, so we risked getting on the one with no spikes. We woke in shock and confusion to bright lights in our eyes. Emanating from the darkness was belligerent twangy shouting. It took very little time for me to realize this was the cops and we was getting busted. We were arrested in Panama City, dragged off the train, cuffed and taken to the station for processing. We were searched thoroughly and kept separate, of course. By the time I went in front of a judge via teleconferencing I’d been in jail three days. The older judge actually laughed when the charges were read, saying he hadn't heard these charges in a long time. He gave us three days time served and we were kicked loose. As the judge was asking what our plans were, with the very real hint they should include leaving town, I said we were headed to New Orleans. The arresting officer pokes his head into the camera view and tells us, also laughing, to hitch and stay away from the trains. Paying cash for LP Records, CDs, 45s, large and small collections. Also buying guitars, amplifiers. Call or Text: 734.476.3355 APRIL 18, 2025 ׉ 7cassandra://puh8GfvGKrD-gt9pyKGbIzqNgrHyoV7qrwxso5hs_mMS0`h:_`׉EAPRIL 18, 2025 CREATIVE GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11  EARTH DAY from page 6 of climate goals, and the Conference of Parties schedule annual objectives and dialogues to discuss climate actions. The 2025 COP meeting will be in Brazil. It is noteworthy that the first COP meeting which the UNFCCC arranged took place in Berlin in 1995, an indication that the UN was taking climate change seriously early on. The UN acted to involve a lot of nations in what they regarded as a serious threat. Since then, young Americans and young people all over the world such as Greta Thunberg of Sweden led peaceful protests and demonstrations to save the Planet Earth. The Michigan Connection to Earth Day It is almost impossible to tell the story of Earth Day and the modern environmental movement without mentioning the local connection. It is fair to say that the founding fathers and founding mothers of Earth Day have their roots planted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The U-M teach-in event in March 1970 was the precursor to the April Earth Day events. Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson, as well as Michigan’s Republican Governor William Milliken, attended. As we mark the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, let us take some time to remember those young students of 1970, now older adults, who as members of U-M’s Environmental Action for Survival mobilized their peers on campus to join them to raise awareness about saving our Planet Earth. They held that first teach-in for the environment in March 1970, before Gaylord Nelson called for a nationwide teach-in at US college campuses on April 22, 1970. On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability invited some of the students (four males and two females) to tell their stories about Earth Day and their participation in the movement — way back in 1970. The title of the public lecture was: “Environmental Action for Survival: The History and Legacies of U-M’s 1970 Teach-In on the Environment.” During the public lecture, they shared their story of activism and determination to raise the level of consciousness of the American public to the dangers and risks of inaction. They wanted public decision-makers to hear their voice and take actions to save lives, protect the environment and safeguard public health. A display at the 50th anniversary reunion in 2020 noted, “... Environmental Action for Survival (ENACT) organized a fourday environmental teach-in at the University of Michigan, the precursor of the national Earth Day event that drew 20 million people on April 22, 1970. (See photo on page 7 of ENACT members and the round poster which they displayed. The poster said, “GIVE EARTH A CHANCE.”) Conclusion Earth Day is a major event in many countries across the globe. There are always large crowds in cities and towns, especially college towns. At the University of Michigan campus there will be many events planned and scheduled. On March 25, 2024, the University First Earth Day in the Diag. International Institute for Sustainbility and Development Record magazine carried a front-page headline, “Earth Month puts focus on U-M sustainability efforts.” Sustainability communication writer Adam Fisher wrote, “U-M is marking late March and all of April with a series of events focused on sustainability and climate action, continuing a tradition that began with the first 'Teach-in on the environment' in 1970 — which grew into what is now known as Earth Day.” The events of 2024 included the following topics: Climate Vulnerability and Health Symposium; U.S. Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland on Environmental Justice and Confronting Climate Crisis; Water at Michigan Symposium; and Leadership for Turning Climate Anxiety into Action. The spirit of bipartisanship and consensus about protecting the earth as reflected in the April 22, 1970, event seems to have been waning. Some branches of the federal government and state governments have been challenging the benefits of environmental protection. We must be vigilant. Let’s keep our planet safe. PUZZLE SOLUTIONS h:_`āh:_`Á בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://Hnv-m4uXC2vlTWQS4z8Ow2AGlo5CTFHvT33FcSGyNf82`׉ 7cassandra://S92L7CjXOL_pD8aj1nHoA2GDOqtu4IAAdh6skuL5tPE͈B`h׉ 7cassandra://SZTtnK9ySmHCUQ5hQzXhGNX20vCMsFJOL_rQhSefxPk+`h:_`נh:_`wd 9ׁHhttp://PEOPLESFOOD.COOPׁ ׁ Ј׉E12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Oatballs JUNE MILLER U-M student contributor Oatballs are a filling snack to give you a boost of energy between meals. Their long shelf life makes them a great snack to always have on hand. Ingredients: 5 cups whole oats 1 16 oz. jar of peanut butter or nut butter of your choice ¾ cup maple syrup ½ cup nuts Chocolate chips (measure with your heart) Directions: Put all of your ingredients into a bowl and mix! Scoop out a spoonful at a time and roll into a ball. Plop them into a container or plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 1-2 months. SPRINGcleaning? DON’T THROW AWAY! KIWANIS WILL REUSE IN SOME OTHER WAY! Large I tem/Quant i ty Donat ion FREE Pickup Upon Request ! 100 N STAEBLER RD, ANN ARBOR MI 48103 OFF JACKSON RD IN SCIO TOWNSHIP Building Bridges Fashion & Art Show Featuring upcycled fashion on and off the runway Art on a Journey presents : April 25, 5 - 7 p.m., 16 S Washington St. Ypsilanti Art on a Journey is raising money to provide art supplies for artists with lived experience. Dinner provided. 734-665-0450 on s i te donat ions accepted Saturdays 9am-12pm APRIL 18, 2025 USE THIS COUPON ANYTIME $5 OFF NATURAL FOODS MARKET 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP ANY PURCHASE OF $30 OR MORE One coupon per transaction. Must present coupon at the time of purchase. Coupon good for in-store only. No other discounts or coop cards apply. Not valid for gift cards, case purchases, beer or wine. OFFER EXPIRES 5/30/2025 ׉ 7cassandra://SZTtnK9ySmHCUQ5hQzXhGNX20vCMsFJOL_rQhSefxPk+`h:_`׈Eh:_`Ɓh:_`Ł ,April 18, 2025hO'