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$
JULY 11, 2025 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 15
YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS.
PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS.
Undercover art intel: A chance for
disabled artists. page 2
JOE WOODS
#103
ASK YOUR
VENDOR:
WHAT'S YOUR
BEST ART
FAIR TIP?
GROUNDCOVER
NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH.
THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM
• Proposal: Housing-development
accelerator
• Charbonneau: Open your eyes to
housing inequity. PAGE 4
@groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor #
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GROUNDCOVER NEWS
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Undercover art intel:
A chance for disabled artists
Within Washtenaw County,
there is a large disabled community
made up of the working
disabled who hold a job
despite their disability challenges.
Many U.S. military service
members also have
disabilities from many different
diagnoses. There are
non-working people with disabilities
who also contribute
through volunteering.
Within these groups there is a
small contingent of artists who
work hard to create varying art
pieces. It is sad that often much
of this work is not seen, left in
the closet or drawer of an individual
artist, due to little access
to large and small art galleries or
art shows, not being able to
access a ride or lack of computer
knowledge. Many of the artists
have anxiety and this can be a
CINDY GERE
Groundcover vendor No. 279
set-back on showing art. It truly
is the worry or fear of “I’m disabled,
why would anyone want
to see my art, let alone buy one
of my pieces?”
As a Native American artist
with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder), I know firsthand
that this fear is real for many
who have any disability.
I'm proud to announce one of
the first shows for individuals
with disabilities. From Autism
to Down Syndrome, a very
small show with a lot of other
activities will be held in front of
the downtown Community
Mental Health Annex building
between Ann and Huron on
Fourth Avenue. It's a big red
brick building. This little event
will be during the Ann Arbor
Art Fair. Please come, show
your support and pick up great
art works!
Yes, my art will be there as
well! — Kung Fu Panda
Friday, July 18, 12-4 p.m.
110 N 4th Ave., Ann Arbor
Author's note: The cover of this
edition was collectively splatter-painted
by Groundcover vendors
at our June 27 vendor
meeting!
JULY 11, 2025
letter to the EDITOR
This is in regards to Jim Clark's anti-capitalism
article in the June 27, 2025 issue of Groundcover.
Anti-capitalism is incompatible with human
nature — people are wired to build, invest, to
strive and be productive, to advance their family's
well being. Little people like me WANT the goods
and services billionaires, millionaires and average
capitalists produce. Competitive markets
foster innovation.
Can anyone reasonably argue this country is
worse off compared to 150 years ago? Try imagining
life without washing machines or chemotherapy.
Free markets have made life better,
healthier and prosperous for billions of people.
Anti-capitalist systems have been tried in other
countries — think Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and
Fidel Castro in Cuba. Both nationalized their food
distribution systems in the interests of "equity"
and "access." And the result? Poverty, rationing
and hunger. Grocery store shelves were stripped
bare, and citizens stood in lines for hours for a loaf
of bread or a bag of rice, if there was any food left
at all. Bureaucrats decided what the citizens ate,
when they ate and where they got it.
I hope the anti-capitalists of the United States
reorient their thinking.
Sincerely, Anonymous
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 $2, keeping
all income and tips from each sale.
Street papers like Groundcover
News exist in cities all over the
United States, as well as in more
than 40 other countries, in an effort
to raise awareness of the plight of
homeless people and combat the
increase in poverty. Our paper is a
proud member of the International
Network of Street Papers.
STAFF
Lindsay Calka — publisher
Cynthia Price — editor
ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS
Elizabeth Bauman
Jim Clark
Lynn Gait-Bilodeau
Cindy Gere
Roberto Isla Caballero
LaShawn Courtwright
augustine jay
Mike Jones
Bryan Kiser Jr.
Eric Kopchia
Chad Naugle
Denise Shearer
Shawn Swoffer
Kaleaf Warnya
Felicia Wilbert
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Story and photo submissions:
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׉	 7cassandra://uJPEMi9A69dqI2QIJyGRFz5zVszcnSkytiZ8dV9GvCUQ` hoӸ;3$G׉EJULY 11, 2025
ON MY CORNER
MEET YOUR VENDOR
What's your best
Ann Arbor Art Fair tip?
Don't go overboard spending
money. Put a budget on your
spending! — Joe Woods, #103
Put on your most interesting
face, and see what happens then.
— Wayne Sparks, #615
Start on Main Street, go up Liberty,
go down State Street up to
North U, then come back down
to the clock tower.
— Cindy Gere #279
Make sure you know ahead of
time where the bathrooms, free
water and places to sit down are.
— Felicia Wilbert #234
Keep hydrated and find shade.
— Mike Jones, #113
Stay the heck away— if anything,
go for a half day. It’s
always gonna storm.
— Snap, #205
Dress colorfully.
— Shawn Swoffer, #574
Walk slow and don’t try to rush.
— Denise Shearer, #485
July 1992 — it was the start of a
great day. Cleo awoke at 7 a.m.,
anticipating a new hair client and
making $400. Her client lived on
the second floor of her building.
Cleo was happy not having to
travel that morning in the LA traffic.
Cleo's client, Corey, requested
having her hair braided; however,
she had a two-month-old baby
and was concerned about being in
a salon all day getting her hair
done. Fortunately for her, Cleo
offered private services.
Cleo went upstairs and knocked
on Corey's door. She slouched to
the door dragging her feet, finally
opened the door and said good
morning. Cleo looked at her hair
and her clothing, thinking this
young lady really needs a helping
hand. Cleo clearly saw that Corey
was depressed. Cleo said, "Good
morning sweetheart, it's going to
be a blessed day. Let's get moving.”
However, Corey was still
slow-dragging. As Cleo looked
around her house, she noticed that
the baby was not there. She also
noticed that Corey didn't have any
furniture. There was only a dining
room table with four chairs, a full
size bed and a baby bed. Cleo was
relieved they didn't have to keep
stopping to attend to the baby. She
asked where the baby was at out of
concern. Corey said, "With her
grandmother, of course. I don't
know how long it will take. I didn't
want you to have to keep
stopping.”
Cleo asked Corey, “How about
we do a makeover today?”
Corey smiled and said, "What?
Okay, do what you do. I will trust
you!”
Cleo said, “I'll be right back.”
GROUNDCOVER NEWS
Truth or Lies: Sisterly Love
a sofa set please. That's my gift to
the baby.”
Corey was so amazed she was
almost in tears. Cleo laughed and
said, "Now don't start crying
because you'll mess up your
makeup.”
Corey
said, “I must take
FELICIA WILBERT
Groundcover vendor No. 234
She hurried to her apartment,
walked over to her closet, selected
three dresses, two pairs of matching
sandals and retrieved her
makeup kit.
Cleo walked back to the apartment
upstairs, made a makeshift
station on the table and began to
work. She quickly braided the
young lady's hair in six hours,
which normally takes longer.
Corey said, “I never had my hair
braided so fast and it's too beautiful.
How did you make my hair feel
so light? Before when I had my hair
braided, my braids were very
heavy. I would always take them
out within two weeks.”
Cleo styled Corey's hair
in
medium size, long individual
braids. She got a $400 hairdo and a
$250 makeover. After applying her
makeup, Cleo gave Corey eyelashes
and a pair of earrings. Corey
selected a long dress with red, blue
and yellow abstract flowers detailing
the dress. When she got dressed
and looked in the mirror, Corey
was amazed. She said, "Wow, I look
like I stepped out of a magazine!
Thank you so much. Here is your
money. How much more do I owe
you?”
Cleo said to her, “I'll just take
$100; you keep the rest and buy you
pictures.”
"Yes," Cleo said, “so I can put it in
my portfolio.”
Corey wanted to go outside to
walk and get some ice cream. Cleo
told her, “Well, you better get ready
for a new day because you're about
to experience something you never
have before.”
As they approached Eighth and
Alvarado Street in LA, a Spanish
man on the sidewalk started whistling
and shouting. “Beautiful
señoritas! Beautiful señoritas!" He
raised his hands, gesturing to
others to move out the way, parting
the sidewalk.
Corey was so tickled she said to
Cleo, "Wow, I've never had that
kind of treatment before!"
Cleo said, “That’s every day for
me. It's all about the walk, the talk,
and the way you dress. It's how you
carry yourself, that's how men will
treat you.” Corey was feeling so
elated. She quickly snapped out of
the depressive state of mind she
was feeling earlier. She wanted to
pay for the makeover and the
clothing.
Fortunately, Cleo said to her,
“That's what sisters do for one
another. When you're feeling sad,
we’re supposed to cheer you up
and that should cost you nothing.”
“Can we go look at furniture?“
asked Corey. “If only everyone in
the world felt that way, it would be
a better place.”
3
Letting go of the past to save my
future
CHAD NAUGLE
Groundcover contributor
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking
12/31/2025
lately — about who I was, who I
thought I’d be, and where I’m actually
going. Somewhere along the
line, I realized I’ve been dragging
around old hopes and dreams like
baggage I’m afraid to let go of. They
used to be sources of motivation.
Now, they’re holding me back.
It’s hard to admit, but the version
of my life I imagined years ago
doesn’t fit the person I am today. I
keep chasing goals that no longer
reflect my values or reality, stuck in
a loop of "what should’ve been"
instead of embracing what could
still be. And by clinging so tightly to
the past, I’ve been sabotaging my
future without even realizing it.
Growth means being honest with
yourself — even when it hurts. It
means letting go of the dreams that
no longer serve you so you can
make room for the ones that do.
I’m learning that release isn’t failure.
It’s freedom.
If you’re holding onto an outdated
version of your life like I was,
I hope this helps you see it’s okay
to let go. You’re allowed to change.
You’re allowed to start again. And
your future deserves the real you,
not a shadow of who you once
hoped to be.
Time to turn the page.
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GROUNDCOVER NEWS
ART FOR EVERYONE
Art on a Journey!
Let's take a journey through the
wonderful culture of art here in Washtenaw
County. From Ypsilanti to Ann
Arbor and beyond you can find art galleries,
art supply stores and everything
else to satisfy one’s artistic tastes and
desires.
Let us begin our journey in downtown
Ypsilanti and the Riverside Arts
Center located on 76 N. Huron St.
The Riverside Arts Center offers, promotes
and nurtures dynamic arts and
cultural programs through arts education,
performing arts and visual and
fine arts activities primarily intended
to serve and engage the Ypsilanti community
and surrounding Washtenaw
County area.
The center offers diverse and
high-quality arts programming that
makes a positive contribution to the
image, culture, education and economic
development of the Ypsilanti
community. It acts as a hub of artistic
ventures, producing and hosting various
fine and performing artist activities
in an accessible facility that
includes a theater, art galleries, dance
studio, artist studios and classrooms.
West of Ypsilanti in Ann Arbor,
Gutman Gallery is an inclusive fine
arts space located at 118 N. 4th Ave in
downtown A2. Not only is the gallery
home to rotating art exhibitions and a
gallery shop, it also provides a creative
space for the community to come
together for workshops and events.
Gutman Gallery is the gallery of The
Guild of Artists and Artisans.
The gallery is open to all regardless
of gender, sexual orientation, religion,
racial group, etc. With artists at the
heart of everything that The Guild
does, the Gutman Gallery exhibitions
feature artwork from both Guild artist
members as well as non-members and
is curated through jury selection. The
gallery shop is an opportunity for current
Guild members to showcase and
sell their work. It offers an exceptional
MIKE JONES
Groundcover vendor No. 113
opportunity for artists as they have
highly competitive commission rates,
with artists receiving a large percentage
of their sales. Recent renovations
to the space were made possible with
support from the Michigan Arts and
Culture Council.
Art is a journey we all experience
through life itself. Moments are captured
by those who choose to do so,
through the means of their artistic
expression. We all have artistic ways of
expressing ourselves consciously or
unconsciously. Those who are conscious
of this expression seek to
explore new ways to create something
for others to appreciate.
We are privileged to have a variety of
resources in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area
to inspire and help us artists come up
with something awesome.
Places like Michaels, Ypsilanti Art
Supply and SCRAP Creative Reuse are
a few notable art supply stores in our
neck of the woods that help us creators
on our quest to create something to
appreciate.
In life's journey, as time takes hold
and life's challenges weigh on us heavily
at times, we all seek some form of
therapy. A lot of artists I know express
how being in a creative mode is so
beneficial to their well-being because
they are thinking about creating something
beautiful instead of thinking
about how to pay the bills, etc. (read:
stress).
It's all about making time and space
to create. If one does not have the time
and space, one cannot create a masterpiece
because one is using up all his or
her time to find space to exist here on
planet earth.
Imagine on this journey you find
yourself unhoused. Imagine trying to
create when displaced, and constantly
on the move. Imagine having all these
artistic visions in your head but not
being able to manifest them because
you are too occupied with basic survival.This
often happens to people
who find themselves unhoused: their
artistic talents go unused, not allowing
that individual to thrive, but only to
survive.
This is why Rose Marcum-Raugh
started Art on a Journey back in 2019,
and celebrated six years on this journey
last April. Once homeless herself,
but having artistic talents and knowing
the difficulties involved with trying to
create while on this insecure journey
of homelessness, she committed to
finding an artist space for those in the
homeless community.
Marcum-Raugh always dreamed of
starting an art studio. She often saw
housing-insecure and unhoused artists
who could not afford to display
their art in regular local art galleries.
One day while volunteering at the
Daytime Warming Center at the Journey
of Faith, she was asked to do some
clean-up work in the basement. Once
she started working in the basement
she thought to herself, this would be a
good space for artists like myself to
practice their craft. This space would
eventually
grow into Art on a
Journey.
Art on a Journey is no longer physically
at the Journey of Faith Church
(the building on Manchester Road has
been demolished), but now serves as
a mobile gallery and online platform.
Go to artonajourney.gallery to see and
purchase art.
Phil Huhn joined Marcum-Raugh on
JULY 11, 2025
Now that Art on a Journey no
longer has a brick and mortar
gallery, artists temporarily display
works at different cafes,
galleries and other gathering
spaces. Rachel (left) and Phil
Huhn (right) in front of Rachel's
visiting gallery at Bridge Community
Cafe.
this journey in 2022 by displaying his
art on the website and local art shows
and also making connections with
local businesses and organizations to
display Art on a Journey artists and
their work. Huhn has a background in
dance, photography, and art administration,
so Art on a Journey was a good
fit for him. Just like Marcum-Raugh,
Huhn was once homeless and now
volunteers at the Daytime Warming
Center. He is great at making connections
with the unhoused community
and getting their art displayed in
public places. He convinced me to display
some of my photographs at different
showings in Washtenaw County.
Art on a Journey would like to let
readers know they are currently looking
for space to create and display art
from an unlikely source — the
unhoused. So, if you have space and
are willing to share or have any good
ideas, connect with Marcum-Raugh or
Huhn and have a talk. Cheers!
Rachel's paintings
Seth Best with landscape painting at Art
on a Journey's April 25 art show/sale.
׉	 7cassandra://S5hLTmyt3LIzExjafTpXGkALI0Iyf_fYzJMlboskylcR` hoӸ;3$G׉EJULY 11, 2025
COMMUNITY
People in the neighborhood:
Goochie
legal action and Goochie was
evicted. He tried to fight it but it
came down to the police’s word over
his.
When I asked him how long he
was homeless after the eviction he
said “a few years.”
“Can you talk about that?” I asked.
Goochie replied, “Yeah, it was
JIM CLARK
Groundcover vendor No. 139
This is Goochie’s story.
Goochie’s full name is Terril
Tamon Cotton II. He is a Southside
Ypsilanti native whose purlieu is the
streets of downtown Ypsilanti.
I asked Goochie how he got his
nickname.
“My cousins gave it to me when I
was little; they used to tickle me and
be like goochie goochie goo!” he
reminisced.
Goochie was born with Spina
Bifida which is a hole in his spinal
cord. They told his mother he would
not live past three years and the doctors
said he was supposed to die a
long time ago. “But,” he declared,
“I'm still here.” He was born in 1983
at the University of Michigan hospital.
Goochie attended West Middle
School, Estabrook Elementary and
graduated from Ypsilanti High
School in 2001.
I asked him if he went to college.
He replied that he went to Wayne
Community College for a few classes
but had a hard time writing long
papers. “I felt like it wasn’t for me,”
he said. “They did give me a job in
the office. I answered the phone. It
was my first job ever.”
I asked him if he could learn anything
from college without having to
write papers, what would it be?
Goochie answered, “I would like to
study business management. I want
to open something like a nightclub
around here, something fun.” He is
not sure what he would name it yet.
Goochie became homeless in 2009
living in Sycamore Meadows apartments.
Goochie had guests come to
his apartment that ended up triggering
an eviction. The man was staying
with his girlfriend off the record. He
was not supposed to be on the property,
but Goochie didn’t know this.
The apartment management took
hard for me ‘cause I'm in a wheelchair
and then when the winter
comes I can’t get through snow so I
have to wait for people to come bring
me stuff, take me places, yeah it was
horrible. The hotel places don’t give
no deals on extended stays so you
gotta pay night after night. The Harmony
House doesn't give you deals.
No week-to-week or month-tomonth
breaks, nothing.”
Goochie's popularity in the downtown
sector of Ypsilanti has earned
him the nickname of “the unofficial
mayor of Ypsilanti.” In fact, when
you see him on the streets he is surrounded
by people and surrounded
by love. It seems like he knows
everyone.
I asked him if he ever considered
actually running officially. He said
with a smile, “They want me to run
for office, but I don't know how to
start. I told everybody just show me
the way and I’ll do it.”
Then I said, “Great, so campaign
speech time! What would you do for
us as Mayor of Ypsilanti?”
Goochie responded, “To be
honest,
there is so much to do
around here. Like we need a building,
a permanent building for a
homeless shelter. Certain roads
never get fixed, certain sidewalks
never get fixed. The corner of Washtenaw
and Washington, it seems like
those streets never get fixed. We also
need to figure out a way the community
and police can combine
together without being at each other’s
throats. We need to figure out
something for people to do during
the day.”
We’re at 16 S. Washington while
conducting the interview. There are
people attending a service in the
building and Goochie and a few
others are at a table under the
awning. I asked him to describe the
event. He replied, “The main reason
everybody is here is for the FedUp
Wednesday meal. So Care Based
Safety comes to help out in case
people need wound care or medical
supplies; we’re like the medical
team.”
From the Care-Based Safety website:
“Care-Based Safety is dedicated
to acting with principle and intention.
We are taking careful steps in
building a community response
program that brings loving, unarmed
support to people directly impacted
by structural violence — without
police. In our planning, response,
and practice we center the needs of
people who are Black, Indigenous,
undocumented, unhoused,
LGBTQIA+, using drugs, and/or
experiencing mental health
struggles.”
Care-Based Safety’s summer program
runs June-August 2025 on
Wednesdays and Thursdays from
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 16 S. Washington
St., Ypsilanti.
Goochie says that most of the
community issues Care-Based
Safety handles are due to drugs and
alcohol. Arguing and fighting are
common. He believes the answer is
more community programming.
After several interviews with
people in the neighborhood, it
became apparent that many of the
area's homeless people are aware of
these same problems. They admit
that alcohol and drugs are a problem
and that they could overcome them
if they tried. But it is also known that
the effort needed to get sober, get a
job and get housing is tremendous
and without community support,
nearly hopeless.
The street community is populated
by adults who know what they
need. The police do nothing to help.
The city and county do nothing to
help. The business owners, landlords,
and “not-in-my-backyard”
minded neighbors do absolutely
nothing to help. People have been
demanding a 24/7 low barrier shelter
in Ypsilanti, but their voices are
ignored. Meanwhile people congregate
and do what they do. The business
owners and landlords
complain, saying they are ruining
the “downtown experience.” The
people who live in Ypsilanti but have
no shelter are well aware of how
their behavior affects things, but
have no recourse.
The street community would be
more than happy to work with the
city, the neighbors, the business
owners and the cops if they would
listen to what the community is
asking for: to be heard, to be provided
shelter, educational and recreational
programming and to have
police accountability. The people in
the neighborhood live here too. They
need a voice, they need a mayor,
they need Goochie.
People in the Neighborhood is a
Groundcover News column that
focuses on neighbors of the street
community in Washtenaw County.
GROUNDCOVER NEWS
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
Preschool Storytimes and Baby
Playgroups
Join our storytellers on weekdays
inside the library for fun songs,
stories, puppets, and movement!
Visit aadl.org/storytimes to view
a list of upcoming in-person
storytimes and playgroups. You
can also stream and download
our recorded storytimes online at
AADL.TV.
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.
FEATURED EVENT
5
Saturday, July 26 • 1 PM •
Veterans Memorial Park
Join fellow Summer Game players
and community members for
a spectacular celebration of all
things Summer Game! Circus
performances, lawn games, ice
cream, codes, and more await at
our annual summer celebration.
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GROUNDCOVER NEWS
PRINT GALLERY
Kaleaf Warnya
Miracle Davis
JULY 11, 2025
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PRINT GALLERY
Roberto Isla Caballero
Eric Kopchia
GROUNDCOVER NEWS
7
Denise Shearer
SUPPORT
CALL FOR
and understanding
24/7 mental health and substance use support
734-544-3050
LEARN MORE about programs funded
by the community mental health and
public safety preservation millage.
PEER SUPPORT: Artie Tomlin, Valerie Bass, and Marti Schneider
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GROUNDCOVER NEWS
COLORING PAGE
COLORING page
Color in or out of the lines, get creative and add your own details!
JULY 11, 2025
by Cindy Gere, Groundcover vendor No. 279
׉	 7cassandra://ncofxj83tDJKVfwPS2ErBfsvnAXuez6OJkK7NWDRAYQTG` hoӸ;3$G׉E#JULY 11, 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. "Check this out!"
5. Another name for "cat"
10. Good source of protein
14. A chorus line
15. Carry away, in a way
16. ___ probandi
17. Euros replaced them
18. A person's sould in
Hinduism
19. face zits; puberty
20. Someone who is lost
23. Flipper
24. Femin___ (three letters)
25. "Dear old" guy
26. Bank offering, for short
28. A rival
30. Alias
32. Boundaries
34. All excited
35. Womb
37. Bucket
38. Bits and pieces
41. A crew's living quarters on a
ship
42. Laze
44. "Stupid me!"; Homer Simpson
45. British street car; verb
49. Ashes holder
50. "Iliad" warrior
52. Bleat
53. ___ Verde National Park
54. Collection of planets
59. Like Radio City Music Hall
61. Army outfit
64. Omniverous fish
65. Past tense of outride
66. cooked bread; verb
67. Bird cleaning its feathers,
past tense
DOWN
1. Amigo
2. Moveable glass door
3. Collection of string instruments
4. "Little piggies"
5. Compote fruit
6. Latin for ultimate
7. "___ here"
8. Normal; used as a model
9. "Fiddler on the Roof" role
10. Exactly
11. Occasionally
12. Event used to generate
financial support
13. "It's no ___!"
21. Black gold
22. Cutting tool
23. J.F.K. overseer
27. "Is that ___?"
29. Auspices
31. Barbie's beau
33. "How ___ Mehta Got Kissed,
Got Wild, and Got a Life"
(Kaavya Viswanathan novel in
the news)
35. ___-friendly; technology
36. Doing nothing
39. Short order, for short
40. Pistol, slangily
41. Kind of approval; food
43. Genetic makeup
46. Overseas
47. More, in Madrid
48. Yellow fruit of passion flower
51. Bubbly drinks
53. Downing Street distance
55. Advanced
56. Advil target
57. Aspersion
58. "Soap" family name
59. Appropriate
60. "Flying Down to ___"
62. "___ to Billie Joe"
63. "20,000 Leagues" harpooner
___ Land
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10
GROUNDCOVER NEWS
POETRY
Summer
wonder
LA SHAWN COURWRIGHT
Groundcover writer
Summertime is the greatest time for
things to grow
In particular the caterpillar
The caterpillar munches out on a
whole lot of leaves
Spins a cocoon around itself
Then it stays inside for a time
When it comes out it is a new creature
called a butterfly
It remains on the branch until its wings
dry
After that it off on its first flight
Its first fly
What a summer wonder
The wonderful, beautiful, majestic
butterfly
Be Yourself
BRYAN KISER
Groundcover vendor No. 670
Jumped in, the feeling never felt warming
Closed my eyes and hoped for better days
Mornings are hot and nights are cold
Life is beautiful on the surface
Underneath you see all that has expired or been lost
Loss is a blessing, fuel to your fire
Politics say my life is over, help is never a guarantee
Sleep here, move there, many restless nights
Seek and ye shall find, elders tell me
I’ve searched and looked
Exiled and lost
Wronged and righted
Laugh and cried with the pain and without it
Break me down, strip away my pride
Freedom, does it exist?
Seeing that patience is the key
My mind rambles the most
Leaving my mouth untalkable
My brothers and sisters suffer in silence
Though our soul screams in sorrow
Who can speak for the homeless when it’s misunderstood
Wisdom
JASON MICHAEL CHURCH
Groundcover contributor
Went and got benzos
Thinking it was what’s needed
Really just need Jesus
Follow his teaching
Practice what he be preaching
Spread Love and Kindness.
Seek help when ready
Do not be afraid to change
One day at a time
We must all believe
Recovery is possible
Knowledge is power
No need for the hate
Let’s practice understanding
Love one another
Smarter
JASON MICHAEL CHURCH
They all throw singles
Not us we are different
We only throw change
Now they all blame us
For women getting smarter
Gave them too much cents
JULY 11, 2025
Summertime
in Ann Arbor
JOE WOODS
Groundcover vendor No. 103
Summertime in Ann Arbor Michigan
So many things to do
90° weather at the river cooling off as you
barbecue
Summertime in Ann Arbor Michigan
So many things to do
Sitting outside enjoying downtown Ann
Arbor's vibe while eating your food
Summertime in Ann Arbor Michigan
So many things to do
At Top of the Park enjoying live music or a
movie while drinking a nice cold brew
Summertime in Ann Arbor Michigan
So many things to do
Blistering heat during Art Fair
Enjoying the festivities in the heat as you
keep water on you to stay cool
Summertime in Ann Arbor Michigan
So many things to do
People out walking their dogs getting ice
cream and everybody's in a good mood
Summertime in Ann Arbor Michigan
So many things to do
And always remember in the beautiful city
of Ann Arbor our motto here is GO BLUE
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
׉	 7cassandra://Jah42g5aPPOxu2JRa1tofCtVL8NPU5um67VCK7IVwfo;)` hoӸ;3$G׉E"JULY 11, 2025
POETRY
'questions
answered'
if my debt has been paid
then why am i still afraid?
why do i feel betrayed?
why is my color grey?
have i gone blind?
will i see what's to find?
how long is the grind?
i'm restless and tired
exhausted and wired
if i can't believe blind
will God have me fired?
or freed from this cage?
i grow stronger with age
but what good is wisdom
in this day and age
where the devil's a wizard
and i'm just a mage?
i wasn't taught love
it's something i know
like when a rain falls and our sun casts a glow
reflecting white light in a prism rainbow
like when a rose blooms and the warm winds blow
like fragile sparkling sky flying Snow
i want to be here
not so long ago
i want to live now
i've had enough practice
why would our god give us life to retract it?
these are just some of the questions i have
am i missing something?
please try not to laugh
i'm dying inside
but i refuse to hide
from the almighty truth about which satan lied
AUGUSTINE JAY
Groundcover vendor No. 678
for that i'm a stranger
i'm a caged bird
i smile and sing but no one hears my words
no one but God
the love we all need
the one thing we starve for but nobody feeds
the one thing that grows without soil or seed
everything was is and always will be
the one thing we dig for that nobody buried
to love is to synchronize
forever married
throughout from within and around space and time
love is the only god worth all these rhymes
and as long as we have it
we will never die
GROUNDCOVER NEWS
11
Pride,
Unfolding
LYNN GAIT-BILODEAU
Groundcover vendor No. 663
We are the colors after rain,
the spectrum bold and unashamed—
a thousand stories, woven threads
of hope and hurt and love reclaimed.
We are the laughter in the dark,
the hands that reach across the room,
the quiet courage, beating hearts
that blossom riotously in bloom.
We are the names they tried to hush,
the truths that shimmer in the light,
the chosen kin, the gentle hush
of dawn that breaks a longer night.
We are the questions, we are the song,
the dance of genders, fierce and free,
the right to love, to live, belong—
the future we demand to see.
So let us rise, and let us sing,
with every voice and every hue.
This pride is not a borrowed thing—
it’s us, it’s real, it’s always true.
Another
peaceful day
SHAWN SWOFFER
Groundcover vendor No. 574
As the morning dew is on the grass I open my eyes
When the heat of the summer hits the day
I stop to listen to the busy city
Author's note: I’d like to encourage folks to
check out Groundcover vendor No. 139 Jim
Clark’s thoughts on “Radical Love.” You can
find it online on the Groundcover website.
Navigate to "Street News" and then "Digital
Issues" and look for the March 21, 2025 edition;
it’s on page 4! Thanks for reading and
stay well friends! TTFN!
When evenings comes into less sounds
from the city's cars and trucks
I meditate into the night
I feel good and happy
It's been a good day I think to myself
When the night blankets us with darkness
I sleep into an entire nighttime
Maybe tomorrow
I'll have another peaceful day
Another morning will stop my way
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GROUNDCOVER NEWS
ART FAIR MAP
Roasted asparagus
ELIZABETH BAUMAN
Groundcover contributor
Ingredients:
1 large bunch (about 1 pound) fresh
asparagus
1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed
baking sheet with parchment paper.
Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus
and discard.
Wash the asparagus and place on the
sheet. Drizzle with 1 to 2 teaspoons
olive oil, just enough to lightly coat the
asparagus. Sprinkle salt and pepper
JULY 11, 2025
over the asparagus, and toss until the
spears are lightly coated in oil. Arrange
the spears in a single layer on the pan.
Bake just until the base of the asparagus
is easily pierced by a fork. Very
thin asparagus will take as little as 9 to
12 minutes,
thicker asparagus will
need 15 to 20 minutes.
Season with a small amount of
grated parmesan cheese.
$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
7/24/2025
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