׉?ׁB!בCטFFu׉׉ 7cassandra://Xp2EGC-aHRKbrlwpzaqA_gHRZx_g9wbVmgoxDN-Sel4%`׉ 7cassandra://z3oniLaStlcWDiwFfzPh5sW-LfU7g_SvrH_8gvUgXR8́`h׉ 7cassandra://PHH-wYXps3vzLw73o3aJwjI4YvisVrHas24dZJbtadY0F`׉ 7cassandra://p9M4FbdsRVbMCkbH5TFEGaQAT1EVfpB0HQJ9jV2b2YsSB͠4dvFז0?HTטFu׈K0Y2׈EdvFז0?HT׉E2 $ JUNE 16, 2023 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 13 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Can you dig-it? Tech questions and answers from Washtenaw Literacy. Page 5 MEET YOUR VENDOR: ROBERTO ISLA CABALLERO PAGE 3 GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. in Washtenaw County and across the nation. page 4 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM Ypsilanti 2023 Juneteenth Festival graphic. @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor # ׉ 7cassandra://PHH-wYXps3vzLw73o3aJwjI4YvisVrHas24dZJbtadY0F`dvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://9njzpU3LCotTNuUYMivWcctTYdJmB6rN6T4K0kAJg-k`I׉ 7cassandra://i4Nhiy2yMA_xxD19zj1vdaKP2n60jbFjH9cvgPLHTAU`׉ 7cassandra://Zc9scXFlvh21tMzrt1yeOD9ZXAVjyyR86oTIuRJxfRYP`׉ 7cassandra://z2RYxR0Qn5tG1DpwmbwGeY2iafUO_DAvKaR3zTVXWmI|̌͠ idvFז0?HTנdvFז0?HTǁ9׉Hhttp://www.groundcovernews.orgGׁ ׁ rנdvFז0?HT܁9׉H http://linktr.ee/groundcovernewsGׁ ׁ rנdvFז0?HT}9ׁHhttp://covernews.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EA2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER Undercover art intel: Panda’s art at Argus’ Artisan Market! Come one, come all! This summer, Argus Farm Stop will hold their Summer Artisan Market, presenting artists from around the greater Washtenaw area. This annual event will showcase many kinds of art, including, most importantly, cultural and local arts. Let us not forget that the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many of the local galleries and local art events, putting a full stop on artists’ work and sales across the nation. As a result, many artists were obligated to sell online. That puts a barrier between the artist and the buyer. It is vital for artists to show their work in person to the public. Selling one’s art is a very personal and intimate interaction with the world. Art is all about emotional connection. That can’t happen through a computer. Computer sales are a cold and empty interaction with the artist. I have always believed that the United CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 there showing my own works of art for not only my own patrons, but also the general public. This is my first official public event outside of the homeless low-income art gallery held by M.I.S.S.I.O.N. at Journey of Faith Church. This event is only six hours long, so mark your calendars and we will be happy to see you on June 24, 2023. Come one, come all! States is about freedom and liberty to not only travel to events, but to sell across the nation at locations like Argus, so I’m really happy that this event is taking place this year. The Summer Artisan Art Market will be at the Argus Farm Stop (Packard location), 1200 Packard St. The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. I am honored to say that I will be JUNE 16, 2023 CONTENT correction In the March 24 issue of Groundcover News, editing of "What the street took" by Markona Love resulted in an inadvertent change to the meaning of one of his paragraphs. His intention was to thank the following: the General Defense Committee, Washtenaw Camp Outreach, Solidarity House, Mercy House, Purple House, Peace House, Hamilton House, Freight House and the Hope Clinic (especially Heather). We apologize for the misunderstanding. CREATING OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE WHILE TAKING ACTION TO END HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY. 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 Layla McMurtrie — deputy editor ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Mohammed Al Mustapha Kevin Allgood Luiza Duarte Caetano Amanda Gale Cindy Gere Markona Love Ken Parks Will Shakespeare Washtenaw Literacy Felicia Wilbert PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett Elliot Cubit Zachary Dortzbach Anabel Sicko Sandy Smith VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Logan Brown Luiza Duarte Caetano Glenn Gates Alexandra Granberg Harleen Kaur Robert Klingler Mira Simonton-Chao Alex Tarbet Melanie Wenzel Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof Claude VanValkenburg Navya Yagalla Emily Yao 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 CONTACT US Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, PITCH A STORY + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org linktr.ee/groundcovernews 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 ׉ 7cassandra://Zc9scXFlvh21tMzrt1yeOD9ZXAVjyyR86oTIuRJxfRYP`dvFז0?HT׉EoJUNE 16, 2023 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR GROUNDCOVER NEWS Baby resources still needed! The baby registry is in the name “Tabitha Ludwig.” Please help us as we have nothing for the baby yet; it would be a great blessing. If you want to send money instead, we have a Venmo account @solowyte83 and a CashApp account $flyhighsis. I did receive a little help from a wonderful TABITHA LUDWIG Groundcover vendor No. 360 Roberto Isla Caballero, vendor No. 347 My name is Tabitha. My fiance and I are In one sentence, who are you? From Cuba to Ann Arbor, 1980! Where do you usually sell Groundcover News? Corner of Washington and Main St. When and why did you start selling Groundcover? 2016. Somebody at St. Andrew’s Breakfast Church asked if I wanted to sell papers and then took me to the Groundcover office! What is your favorite thing to do in Ann Arbor? Sell my papers. For now, this is my thing. What song do you have completely memorized? I like too much music. I dance every night. I like any kind of music – Mexican, American, Cuban. What is something about you that someone on the street wouldn’t know? I don’t make complaints. I just stay on my corner. What was your first job? I helped my father make things. I started working in a school in Cuba. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Coffee. What's the best thing about selling Groundcover News? My money in my pocket! What are you most likely to become famous for? I'm already famous from being on the cover of Groundcover News in 2016 (pictured below). 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 past monthly issues. • 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 please email contact@groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website. having a baby in July and definitely need help with getting the things needed. If anyone would like to help out my family with this beautiful baby girl, I have a baby registry on Amazon and also at Target. couple and I would like to thank them for the things they helped my family with. But with that being said, me and my family are still desperately in need of help. The baby does have growth restrictions in the womb so my doctor is talking about inducing my labor, so there is a very high chance that she will be born a preemie. Thank you all so much and God bless! Let's welcome baby Lena Almond to the Groundcover family soon. 3 dvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://VJ4gJMamyg8F3sJa5cPE6zr2_wWJcGKv6CRGOWAPn44 AP`I׉ 7cassandra://qlqdiIwwcNkTMMkE5OvRGQyfrs9EmooVTAOXCsGYq7o9`׉ 7cassandra://pLIV1ltizUTjGGgjN_zsqRSBf6pltpo6btvqaVXWAmAT"`׉ 7cassandra://wR2w0v8zqoFPTnRx6yKP1dH64c3iYoSw5S7RuqPVDls ͠ idvFז0?HTÖנdvFז0?HT ̰9׉Hhttp://washtenawliteracy.orgGׁ ׁ rנdvFז0?HTɁ a؁̉9ׁHhttp://AADL.org/roomsׁ ׁ ЈנdvFז0?HTȁ f̗9ׁHhttp://AADL.org/printingׁ ׁ ЈנdvFז0?HTǁ ̰9ׁHhttp://washtenawliteracy.orgׁ ׁ ЈנdvFז0?HTƁہ9ׁHhttp://groundcovernews.comׁ ׁ ЈנdvFז0?HTŁ<!̧9ׁHhttp://www.donotcall.govׁ ׁ Ј׉Ed4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS JUNETEENTH JUNE 16, 2023 Celebration of Juneteenth in Washtenaw County and across the nation On June 19, Americans will celebrate the second anniversary of “Juneteenth" being a national holiday. Juneteenth marks the end of chattel slavery in America. For the African American community, Juneteenth represents a celebration of freedom, liberty and equality. Ms. Opal Lee of Fort Worth, Texas, is described as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” In a YouTube interview which she gave on May 24, 2021 to Southern Living Magazine, 94-yearold Ms. Lee said the following: “It is in my DNA to help people. Juneteenth is actually the 19th day of June. It started when General Gordon Granger and 7,000 Black Troops made their way to Galveston to tell the 250,000 enslaved people there that they were free. He nailed that Order called ‘General Order No. 3’ to the door of the reading Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. And when those people came in from their work and somebody read that to them, they started celebrating, and we’ve been celebrating ever since. They gained so much. They gained the ability to name themselves, the ability to have children which cannot be taken away from them. They were able to dress, to own property, to vote, to pay taxes and all these things. It was freedom then, and we need freedom now, and I see Juneteenth being a unifier…” On June 18, 2021, about one month after Ms. Opal Lee gave her interview to Southern Living Magazine, she arrived at the East Wing of the White House for a Juneteenth signing ceremony. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed Ms. Lee, Harvard Professor Annette Gordon-Reed, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson and other invited guests to celebrate the law which made June 19 a federal holiday. Vice President Kamala Harris said, “Throughout history, Juneteenth has been known by many names — Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Liberation Day … and today, a national holiday. Today is a day of celebration. It is not only a day of pride, it’s also a day for us to reaffirm and rededicate ourselves to action.” Nevada Current Newspaper was among several news organizations which covered the White House event. It reported on Vice President Harris' remarks, including “the White House was built by enslaved people and the ceremony [took] place from where President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” The Nevada Current also reported a quote from Congresswoman Jackson who WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 fought very hard and very long to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Congresswoman Jackson said, “It has been a long journey … It has not been an easy journey. When we stand here today, we should be reminded of the fact that there were people who continued to experience the whips of a whip for two more years, even as Abraham Lincoln stood in the shining sun in the aftermath of Gettysburg to unite the Union and proclaim the slaves freed in 1863.” The Public Law which President Biden signed was truly bipartisan legislation entitled “Juneteenth National Independence Day.” It sailed through the Senate, and only 14 Republicans voted against the Bill at the U.S. House of Representatives. Below is a brief remark by President Biden proclaiming Juneteenth a federal holiday and a day of observance: “On June 19, 1865 — nearly nine decades after our Nation’s founding, and more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation — enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free from bondage. As those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens, Black Americans came to commemorate Junteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and a new tradition that we honor today. In its celebration of freedom, Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans. And that is why I am proud to have consecrated Juneteenth as our newest national holiday.” Gratitude to Opal Lee, Annette Gordon-Reid and Sheila Jackson On May 30, Baptist News Global Writer Mallory Challis wrote an article titled, “Opal Lee may be ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ but she’s not done working for justice yet.” Today, Ms. Lee is 96. Last year, on June 17, Opal Lee visited Harvard University’s Chan School of Public Health in order to tell U.S. President Joe Biden is applauded as he reaches for a pen to sign the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, as Opal Lee, a 94-year-old activist and retired educator in Fort Worth, Texas, reacts with Vice President Kamala Harris in the East Room of the White House. June 17, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Barria stories of Juneteenth. Two notable viewpoints from Ms. Lee are: Juneteenth is not a celebration for one day and it was her candid wish that people across America will celebrate freedom and liberty from the 19th of June to the 4th of July Independence Day. Annette Gordon-Reed is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning author whose recent book is entitled “On Juneteenth.” She is also a distinguished professor of history and law at Harvard. On February 10, 2022, Virginia Commonwealth University invited her to deliver the “VCU Black History Month Lecture.” She came to VCU last year to talk about her book. Planners of the Juneteenth celebration at Harvard (June 14-17) invited Professor Gordon-Reed in order to learn more about her experience growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, about Texas history, and about the complexities of America’s past historiography and how we reflect on the experiences. News writer Brian McNell said that Annette Gordon-Reed is “the first African American recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for history and one of the authoritative voices on race and history in America.” The prize was awarded to her book project titled, “The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.” The book, “On Juneteenth" has won several awards and recognition. The publisher told McNell that the book, “'On Juneteenth' provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origin in Texas and the enormous hardships that African Americans have endured in the century since, from reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond.” We wish to salute and thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson and her colleagues in Congress. During a period of uncertainty and the nightmare of COVID-19 pandemic she and her co-sponsors in the House and Senate made it possible to secure a bi-partisan law which President Biden was very happy to sign. Conclusion On June 2, 2021, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners issued a resolution proclaiming June 19 as county observance of Juneteenth. June 19 was already made a holiday in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor during the springtime of 2021 before it was made a federal holiday with President Biden’s signature. Street marches and rallies took place in Ann Arbor and on the U-M campus. The Ann Arbor branch of the NAACP organized several celebrations in city parks. Brown Chapel made several books on history available and held conversations on reimagining justice celebration at the Ypsilanti Church. Similar celebrations took place in 2022. For the 2023 Juneteenth celebration, community members are advised to search for events on Facebook for the cities of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Several events are planned for revelers and street vendors in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Groundcover News will be represented on Saturday, June 17 in downtown Ypsilanti. Finally, Juneteenth can be a family celebration or a group celebration. It is also an occasion for civic knowledge and community education. We encourage intergenerational celebration. All the advocates who worked hard to make Juneteenth a federal holiday say that every American needs to know the story of Juneteenth, especially the young people in our communities. Reading, learning and in-depth conversations will give us hope for the future. HAPPY FREEDOM DAY! ׉ 7cassandra://pLIV1ltizUTjGGgjN_zsqRSBf6pltpo6btvqaVXWAmAT"`dvFז0?HT׉EJUNE 16, 2023 DIGITAL LITERACY TECH QUESTIONS + ANSWERS FROM WASHTENAW LITERACY Q: I constantly need to reset my passwords. What is the best, safest way to keep track of passwords for different accounts? A: Making and remembering passwords can be one of the most frustrating aspects of living in our internet-dominated world. One of the main difficulties is that the more secure your passwords are the harder it can be to keep track of them. Passwords are more secure when they are unique, long and complex. But keeping multiple lengthy passwords straight in your head can feel impossible. Thankfully, there are several different tools and strategies you can use to prevent yourself from having to constantly reset your login credentials. One of the easiest ways to keep track of your passwords is to use a password manager. Password managers are applications or browser-based tools that store your passwords for you in an encrypted format, which means that they are resistant to being hacked. Although some password managers support biometric security (such as fingerprints), most password managers will still require you to remember one master password that will give you access to all of your other login details. If you use a password manager it is really important to make your master password as secure as possible. A less high-tech alternative to a password manager is to simply write down your passwords on paper and keep them together in a secure place. There are a few things you should consider if you decide that this option is for you. Make sure that you have somewhere really safe to store them, preferably somewhere away from your computer and where you won't lose them. It is a good idea to write passwords in an unlabeled notebook, to make them a bit harder to find. Another thing you might try is to write hints instead of the passwords themselves. For example, if your password is the name of your dream car with your mother’s birth date and an exclamation mark, you can write “car mom excited” instead of writing your actual password. Then, even if someone gets ahold of your list of passwords, they won’t necessarily be able to get into your accounts. Try to make your clues vague enough that others won’t be able to figure them out, but specific enough that you’ll remember what it means. One last tip is to think about which accounts are the most important for you to keep secure. For your most important, most sensitive accounts, such as online banking, telehealth, or email, it might be best to spend some time making sure that you can memorize the passwords, even if you keep your other passwords in a password manager or written in a notebook. Q: Is there any way to block spam calls? Or to prevent them? A: Spam calls are a serious problem, and one that is reportedly on the rise. Various sources report that, during the last three years, 30-60% of all calls placed in the United States were spam calls. The Federal Communications Commission, a government body charged with regulating radio, television, phone and internet communication in the United States, has stated that unwanted phone calls are their “top consumer complaint” and their “top consumer protection priority.” There is no single, foolproof way for you to completely prevent all unwanted calls. That being said, by taking a few precautions you should be able to greatly reduce the number of spam calls you receive. One of the first steps towards minimizing spam calls is to add your name to the Do Not Call Registry. The Do Not Call Registry is a list of phone numbers maintained by the FCC to help prevent unwanted telemarketing calls. You can add your phone number to the registry at www.donotcall.gov. Once your number is on the list, it is illegal for telemarketers to call you. Adding your number should help to cut down on the number of telemarketing calls you receive, and it will enable you to report unwanted calls to the FCC. Unfortunately, many spam callers don’t care about the legality of what they’re doing, so putting your number on the Do Not Call Registry will not totally eliminate unwanted phone calls. Most smartphones have several other options for limiting spam calls. iPhones and androids allow you to silence all calls coming from numbers that aren’t in your contacts. The calls will still show up in your call log, but your phone will not ring. You can also download a spam blocker application to help filter out unwanted calls. Popular spam blockers for androids and iPhones include Hiya, Robo Shield, Truecaller and Nomorobo. Some phone providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, have additional call filtering and caller-ID features that can help you crack down on spam calls. One last important piece of advice about limiting unwanted calls is that you should try not to answer any calls from numbers you don’t recognize. When you answer a spam call, it lets the caller know that your phone number is active, which can lead to more calls in the future. Submit your technology-related questions to submissions@ groundcovernews.com and they might be published in the next issue of Groundcover News! If you struggle with technology, reading, writing, or math, you may be eligible for tutoring through Washtenaw Literacy. For more information, or to volunteer as a tutor, visit washtenawliteracy.org or call 734-337-3338. 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 science tools— you name it! Study and meeting rooms, fast and free WiFi, and plenty of places to sit and hang out. Print Stuff at AADL Need to print forms, essential documents, applications, or homework? We can help! We can print up to 30 pages per person per week at no charge and have your items ready to pick up at the library of your choice the next weekday. For more information, visit: AADL.org/printing Bookable Meeting Rooms Book a meeting room with your AADL card. We have 10 available meeting rooms across the system that you can reserve for up to two hours per day, 12 times per calendar year. They’re also available on a first-come firstserved basis. To book a room, visit AADL.org/rooms FEATURED EVENT The Summer Game SPECTACULAR Saturday, July 29 1-4pm Veterans Memorial Park Join us at the annual splendiferously staggering, outdoor, earna-metric-ton-of-points, Summer Game Spectacular! Get outside and enjoy the summer with us in one of Ann Arbor’s greatest parks! Featuring the high-flying circus The Aviary, AADL’s amazing outdoor game collection, face painting, food trucks, and more, this slam-bang event will knock your socks off no matter your age! 5 dvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://RthYgfkMvNPxCsZOvq9Gw3oguxzMoiH2TWOzoBK1S3E p0`I׉ 7cassandra://_TsSvRRIwizpZo2gyq6z2sjR3zxi4_o-YuYsK8oOF78*l`׉ 7cassandra://zu9fgmmvER6taN-8ELaZY5yjIwMu8M1It5qD4XJ4JTgU `׉ 7cassandra://DHiC_EVxG48rbd69XEKhP_00RZhf5VuZR2CV0Pfwsrw\X͠ idvFז0?HT׉Ex6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS TRAVEL REPORT JUNE 16, 2023 Left: Ken and Odalys with her daughter Daymara, and Daymara's son, Anthony. Middle: Ken, Daniela and her son Santiago Alberto, and Daniela's parents, Lazaro and Anita. Right: Daniela and Ken. All photos were taken in Guanabacoa, Havana, Cuba. Blessings from Cuba KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 I came back to Ann Arbor after a month in Cuba (May 5 to June 2). I hope you read “Cuba or Bust,” which helped me get there. The community financial support was essential, especially due to surprise expenses to confirm a flight and overweight baggage, not to mention it was a one way ticket. Generosity got me a return ticket. The blessings of Cuba are more than the blessings of the Revolution. African culture, particularly Yoruba, runs deep in Cuba, evident in the many parties and street celebrations with the rhythm of African music and dance. The African diasporic religion Santeria is everywhere. When I arrived on May 5, there was the sound of drums and song from Odalys’ (my first wife) house, one of the two houses our family has built in the last 20 years. The truth is when I married Odalys, I married Cuba with layers of extended family. The central family today centers on my three ahijadas (godchildren) and Jorge and Mayalin, who run the neighborhood farm. We are learning that the earth is our original family. My first trip to Cuba was in 1994 with the Pastors for Peace Caravan. We were welcomed like heroes for standing up in solidarity just like the many thousands of Cubans who volunteered to go to Angola to fight the South African invasion, especially after Fidel pointed out that “African blood flows in Cuban veins.” This is one of the historic lessons of the Cuban Revolution. Cubans, Angolans and Namibians united to defeat the South African Defense Force which was backed by the United States and had nuclear weapons. Nelson Mandela went to Cuba to express gratitude for this victory which led to his release from prison. Cuba today may look like a failed revolution as food shortages and high prices weigh heavily on everyday life. If you read my October 1, 2022 article “The Problems We Cause For Ourselves,” you are aware of the reality of obstacles arising at every stage of the path which are resolved by looking at the new context and the goal of freedom. Our ability to do this requires tender love and care. The central, dominating role of the U.S. dollar creates poverty in third world countries by trashing local currencies and promoting global commodity consumption. My month in Cuba was in this context. Cubans still get rations of rice, beans, eggs and more, but it is not enough. Fortunately, May is mango season. My family has a tree in the yard so I ate several mangos a day. I brought enough money and food to help when rations ran out. The shortages hurt enough people that many want to emigrate. My Groundcover article from January 27, “Welcome Refugees," tells that story. If you read “The Wisdom Of The Body,” published February 24, you may recall that my “core fell through the floor;” this was the background for a health crisis that delayed the trip. My serious arthritis cleared up quickly in Cuba. There is no explanation outside of the fact that it is a more natural environment. Reality is alive in earth, sky and human relations. The relaxation response becomes natural in a way that is hard to explain to North Americans. It is part of the popularity of Cuba as a tourist destination. It is unique among many countries that retain some precapitalist heritage. Cuba brings its revolutionary character into the third world and has a global reputation for genuine independence from the capitalist model. It is a nice surprise that Daniela (my lead ahijada) is a natural master of natural breath. She often says “tranquilo'' to me. She is the center of my article “Welcome Refugees” and will be part of the growing Cuban-American community in North America. Puentes de Amor (Bridges of Love) is a Cuban-American group that we want to work with and expand. I believe the indigenous people of Turtle Island and Cuban Americans will work together as we build a culture of peace. The next step for all peace-loving people is to welcome the Golden Rule sailboat, a project of Veterans for Peace. It will be in the Detroit area in mid August. Hasta la victoria siempre! Always towards victory, we look forward to the next step in that direction. ׉ 7cassandra://zu9fgmmvER6taN-8ELaZY5yjIwMu8M1It5qD4XJ4JTgU `dvFז0?HT׉EJUNE 16, 2023 MEET MY PET PAL GROUNDCOVER NEWS meet my pet pal: TISH GIRL & AMANDA "feel our fairy dust" A column on why those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity have pets and why it is important to support that. Mom, Becky; who also HOPES she will get to visit with me again now and then. I ENJOY that my Pet Girl Amanda is ALWAYS talking with me when she preps for the day and when she gets back to our wooded home. We feel nature around us together; and I “can tell” Amanda FEELS VERY SATISFIED! with my company. My Pet Girl relates with my really posiHi there! My name is “Tish-Girl” or “Tish” (well, at least that’s what my “Pet Girl” Amanda most often calls me). My full name is “Socraticia.” My “Pet Girl” gave me this name because there are times and ways I just “look so wise.” How did Pet and Pet-Human find each other? I was getting REALLY DESPERATE! I had been THROWN-OUT, tank and all, at a dumpster! My Pet Girl Amanda was walking by one day, and she saw me in my tank with pretty pink pebbles, blue sand, green plants, and just a bit of water. The trouble was she thought I was a small, ornate rock! How could I let this human who cared enough about animals to stop by my tank to investigate — know that I WASN’T a rock!? Besides, I was SCARED! What if my natural instinct was right, and I should be AFRAID of any! human? Still, I was DESPERATE! I decided to extend my head out of my shell, just a bit; and also to move a little. Suddenly, I realized that the human girl looking into my tank as I moved a bit, realized that I am a LIVING TURTLE! Right then, Amanda became my “Pet Girl;” She immediately picked-up my tank with me in it, and brought me into what was then her and her Mom’s apartment. The next day, she looked-up what type of turtle I am, and realizing I am a “Red-Eared-Slider,” she reset my whole tank to be especially for me, just how I need it. She also gave me my type of food. It was then that I knew, I am LOVED! She also talks with me (though I speak a language different from English) and somehow we UNDERSTAND each other. My Pet Girl Amanda also dotes upon me, looking at me fondly, and all these ways let me know that my Pet Girl Amanda ESPECIALLY VALUES and LOVES me. She DELIGHTS in me, and wants to visit with me; She recognizes and likes my yellow and brown splashes of just right, beautiful design. It’s now been 17 years since my Pet Girl Amanda found me; I was then only slightly smaller than a quarter, and I’m now as big as Amanda’s two hands! Many feeder worms, mini shrimp, spinach, pellets and lettuce later — we’ve been Pet and human companions all this time; and since my average life expectancy is 30 years, we’re doing great, and we’ve got some miles to go! Tell us a few things about yourself. I’m a KEEN OBSERVER, and always tell Amanda in my own way How HAPPY I am with her as my Pet human, for her company and for her CARE for me with each detail. Also, somehow I “just know things.” I can tell if my Pet Girl is rushed or tired sometimes, though I am GLAD that Amanda is always a happy person, and patient and CARING,NO MATTER WHAT. I communicate a lot through and with my eyes; I look directly, to notice and convey. I’m still VERY WISE. I get EXTRA relaxed or enthused when Amanda puts K-Love Christian radio on. I ENJOY Amanda’s visits; it’s fun being a pet when you’re LOVED. I’ve been wondering where Amanda’s BELOVED Mom is? She used to live with us and she and I also used to visit a lot — especially while Amanda was volunteering or at work. However, I’m now daily entertained by the sounds of other nearby animals, other sounds like tree leaves blowing in the wind. Sometimes I hear Amanda’s Mom’s voice through this small, strange, hand-held device, and I wonder and I wish I could visit again with Amanda’s Mom sometimes. Amanda and I PRAY for her BELOVED tive nature; we together find and focus on the GOOD; the beauty and purity around us; and the GOOD in other people. We desire to bless others with our “positive vibes,” and to even seek to somehow give back to Nature, at least a little of what it’s doing for us. So we breathe it, and RECEIVE IT; FULLY. We SEEK to KEEP a part of it with us, and let some others EXPERIENCE the “Fairy Dust” (Ha Ha!) from off of us, also. We just CARE! What is a challenge of having a pet while experiencing homelessness? If you tell the wrong people that you have a pet while you’re “homeless,” they might assume you shouldn’t have one! Some people don’t realize that exactly you and your pet are ESSENTIAL FOR EACH OTHER! You Are FAMILY, helping each other thrive! and advance in a big, big world of some who don’t care. If you have kids, just imagine them being taken away from you just because you’re not in some other people’s financial bracket, and then insisting that somehow you’re then best situated to enjoy life and advance financially, though your heart would be ripped apart from such excruciating loss! The really good thing is the way my Pet Girl Amanda takes care of us. We don’t know that we’re homeless, and thus, we really AREN’T! My Pet Girl Amanda, takes much better care of me and herself than if we were residing in a more traditional dwelling! Amanda cunningly improvises; I have a smaller tank right now (though probably my Pet Girl is going to buy me a larger one for summer). We will be taking walks in “our woods” soon on a leash, since my metabolism is getting more active now that spring is more fully here. There isn’t a stream here, so Amanda must bring water in a jug to me, but that is “AOK” with her, since it’s for me. Though my metabolism goes down to semi-dormant during coldest fall and winter, I MUST have at least three or four hand warmers that my Pet Girl tucks me in with, along with my blankies. Water also must be given only at certain times; I don’t need it as often; though water also must have a hand warmer under it, to keep it from freezing. My Pet Girl ALWAYS keeps us REALLY TOASTY WARM! My Pet Girl budgets extra carefully to make sure I ALWAYS! HAVE WHAT I NEED, and that I’m COMFORTABLE. Something really sad though, is, if you have a pet that CANNOT BE ADAPTED FOR, that pet might not have ANY good options for the cold season. Amanda’s pet toads now simply talk to us from afar somewhere. We hear them in the voices of non-pet toads and frogs in the woods around us. THANKFULLY, I, Tish-Girl, am MUCH Simpler to TAKE CARE of; Amanda and I just ENTRUST our departed amphibian friends to our OMNIPOTENT, ALL MERCIFUL GOD. We believe we will more than likely have them in our lives again someday, somewhere beyond this life, In Eternity. What is something our readers should know about you and Amanda if they see you both on the street? You won’t likely encounter Amanda and I out in public; I MUCH prefer the earthy ground under my feet, and the shade covering of leaves overhead and around us (and actually Amanda much prefers this environment in many ways, also! ) If we somehow do get to meet someday though, I’ll really look forward to it! I’m REALLY FRIENDLY and I know my Pet Girl Amanda will seek only nice humans to introduce me to; and if you’re interested in this Pet Pals article, you probably are one! 7 dvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://X5HdnHULrmm4k0B5uEUSBtKiiQWmrvTNDH6bbh7vt30gQ`I׉ 7cassandra://Av7-W4VpVW6qa5b8tnCakGZ-RuUh5wtG9WOwElOpGe88`׉ 7cassandra://B9Jq475o-k6udklhFYSxxEZs4_zrT6Zvl3GsL3ezMcgI`׉ 7cassandra://612DQBRlEgdQ3OUqPY-Yr8u_V6DYsiIAt13rnrZsWqQ\͠ idvFז0?HT͑נdvFז0?HTρG̿9ׁHhttp://groundcovernews.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VENDOR VOICES Love by Love: Let our Lindsay shine Start with her warm and kind face inviting your serenity. Looking into that face is like floating in a Sea of Tranquillity, with a smile that would squash an entire evil empire. Lindsay's laugh is awesome, precious at the least … lifts me to such great heights. She is as royalty to the streets. Ya, I guess I'm saying she's a Princess — Our Princess of the Disenfranchised, who is there for Us always with her warm and loving smile, illuminating the room — so warmly as if to swaddle us in … 'Princess Warrior Lindsay Of The Disenfranchised' She works so hard and takes on such a heavy stress load for Us. She cares so intently and always gives her sincere thought and effort to helping Us anyway she's able … often, above and beyond reasonable measure. She is intelligent, talented, even tempered, and with an always sunny, Sunshine demeanor — do not underestimate MARKONA LOVE Groundcover contributor that hidden strength that's there when we need it. With all these talents, she has many choices — and if you think she's in it for the money — what money? Lindsay’s beauty shines from within, and then upon us. Oh man, she never stops; her home is a rescue house for the homeless, she does homeless camp outreach on off time and has invested in several endeavors, always to support her community. She has been doing this while in Graduate A column on compassion School at the University of Michigan, then continuing after getting her Masters Degree. She could do anything, but what she seems to want to keep doing is giving and giving and giving. Bless her Giant heart, sometimes I believe we don't deserve her presence but she does it anyway and gifts Us with her glowing presence that refreshes and renews our strength to fight on. Her Love and Kindness are there for her vendors and writers with so many little helpings that are often above and beyond, that she manages to wedge into a hectic time schedule. She probably would say something so kind and humble, like, “Oh, I was going to do that anyway" (while she's up early or late cooking our dinner for the Writers Review Meeting). Somebody get that woman a peanut butter and chamomile smoothie. Bless her heart, that was a joke for her. I have to have a treat and a joke for that smile, and a laugh — now I'm ready to write “War And Peace.” Truth or lies: Randy the Racer “Zoom, zoom, rev, rev,” went the sounds of the motor headers as Randy raced down the street. Randy Welch, a three-time National Car Racing Association winner, raced down the street everyday. It did not matter if he was on the track or if he was going to the local store, he sped up every time he drove. Randy was 26 years old and had no children or wife. He was a bachelor with an arrogant disposition. Town folk would say he was quite full of himself and needed to stop speeding through the town. Randy would race against anyone who challenged him. He never wore a seat belt or considered any pedestrians. Randy had several race cars. His favorite was the red 1980 Maserati he won as a prize in the Spark racing competition. Every time he drove the Maserati, Randy would race on the streets boasting that no one could beat him. The Maserati was previously owned by Juan Hamman, a humble family man who crashed while racing in the national competition. Juan won seven national and 10 international races before he passed. “Zoom, zoom, rumble, rumble,” — the sounds of the Maserati idling at the corner of Seventh St. A black Camaro approached the intersection. Randy turned his head to the right and nodded at the driver of the Camaro. They looked at each other then took off — “zoom, zoom.” All of a sudden, Randy sees Juan Hamman FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 standing in the middle of the road. Juan was gesturing to him and shouting, “Slow down, children are playing.” Randy could not believe his eyes — Juan was standing in the road shouting at him! He could not swerve or veer, he had to keep driving straight ahead. Randy thought, “If it is Juan standing in the road, I will have to run his dead body over!” In an instant, Juan grabbed a little girl who was pedaling her bicycle in the street. He snatched her off her bike, thus saving her life. Randy did not expect her to be riding in the street! Finally stopping, he was relieved that the girl was safe and not injured because of his street racing. Randy stood, looking all around and everywhere for Juan. When he returned home later that evening, he wondered if he really saw Juan, questioning himself, wondering if the little girl was real or dead also. The next day he decided to return to Seventh St. to see if the little girl was real, and where Juan was. How could he return from the grave, he wondered? Randy was anxious and not paying attention to his speed. Once again he was speeding, and out of nowhere the little girl appeared riding her bicycle. Then Juan appeared, and Randy drove straight through Juan’s silhouette once again. Randy did not notice that he had traveled through time crossing through Juan’s silhouette. Randy found himself in a jail cell. He had been charged with vehicular manslaughter of a pedestrian. Randy stood grabbing the bars shouting “What have I done? How did I get here? Someone please help me! I am sorry! I promise never to speed down the streets again!” Randy started to cry thinking how he never got married or had children. He thought about the little girl. “Is that who I hit?” Her parents probably wanted to kill him or see him in jail for life. Randy shouted and swore out of his mouth that if he could turn back the hand of time, things would be different. He would not speed down the street, and only race on the track. Exhausted from crying and shouting, he laid down on the cot in the cell to rest. Randy fell asleep and dreamed. His lawyer was a man named Larry Cluable and the prosecutor was a lady named Shelly Smoores. She wanted to see him put away for life in prison! He had run over the little girl named Kylie Ight. The jury had more women than men. The judge was a lady named Judge Christy Evans. The trial was quick and the jury only deliberated for fifteen minutes. Judge Evans read the verdict then sentenced him to twenty years hard labor. When she slapped the gavel, he awoke, shaking and scared. He was sitting behind the wheel of the 1980 red Maserati. He threw his hands up and thanked Juan silently and slowly drove home. Grateful to Juan, he opened a training course for new drivers, teaching them the importance of not speeding and street racing. Groundcover needs a special Lindsay appreciation day, not just as a Publisher, Director, Editor or friend … somehow she's all of that and a plate of pomme frites. Lindsay has had patience with me through so much. I'm eager to know where she gets the foundation that gives her that strength ... it sure is noticed and greatly appreciated by moi. All Our Grace to Lindsay Calka. All The Grace to Our Loving Lindsay. Sincerely, Markona Love "LINDSAY DAY" (June 16) Author's Note: I wrote this from within a state of apology, currently in progress. I had the realization that I was adding more of the same stress to what Lindsay already had piled on her. I was being self-centered and selfish of her feelings, which I will forever regret. JUNE 16, 2023 Is "Randy the Racer" TRUTH or LIES? Go online at groundcovernews.org to cast your vote! You guessed right Groundcover readers, the Town of Junken, published May 19, was based on a TRUE story. ׉ 7cassandra://B9Jq475o-k6udklhFYSxxEZs4_zrT6Zvl3GsL3ezMcgI`dvFז0?HT׉EJUNE 16, 2023 POETRY Temporarily homeless ANONYMOUS Sitting by the side of the road, Walking for miles and miles. Saving pop bottles to cash in. Wondering how you'll get your next meal. "Homelessness? Things happen. You're fine. Don’t spend money on drugs," they say. But they don’t know the half of it. And who said anything about anyone using drugs when maybe they're just down and out? Use, abuse, take take take. Is that how you find the way out of your situation? There’s a better approach called give and take, When both have something to offer. Trains, planes, buses, and cars... Who knew, all the fusses we make about affording fares and gasoline. But we all have to get somewhere, somehow and sometime. Why not just enjoy the idea of traveling? Life is so short, why all this suffering? Crying, hurting, starving, thirsting... And do you have it made when you have many things? Who knew material goods could mean so little when what you need is love and compassion? She's young, she's innocent, she's homeless, so let’s take advantage... You're old, you're unclean, you're mean, so she'll run the other direction. Who's in her corner fighting for her? Parents, family, friends, you just don’t see. I don’t need your kind of "saving." And they look out for me so I'm not as alone as I seem. Where oh where can I go to sleep tonight? All I need is a place to lay my head at night, a job and some money. Who knew life could be so hard, unemployed. It should be that I'm employed and well set. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9 dvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT בCט u׉׉ 7cassandra://bNNtXOh77R74qIkf8oriAexofX5ujxBJK4yr-OLc4tcD`I׉ 7cassandra://5AB_fj7S2yKL8xcCVTaalQv2QyxLzAHaem04lZ80LPo$`׉ 7cassandra://5kjQu4yG0RQQz61IpRTegN3HtX4_L7ulblVCyJwBPMAO`׉ 7cassandra://PU7FjLaLdCKZBkOYweKwy8yROtWNquQLgpQw6F4PCQ0͠ idvFז0?HTёנdvFז0?HTӁ-w9ׁHhttp://oldtownaa.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E!10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS THINK ABOUT IT Build your positivity muscle MOHAMMED AL MUSTAPHA Groundcover contributor I want to start this article by reminding you, the reader, that you are a resilient being capable of extraordinary feats which you can choose to exhibit at any time. This superb sense of resilience, which you embody, can at times be dulled by the many different circumstances in life, but it never diminishes. It will always be there for you in your time of need and can be generously extended to assist others around you as well. We human beings are very unique and peculiar creatures. I like to think of us as unique individual collections of memories. The way we interpret those memories can be positive or negative. Unfortunately, for many of us, the deficit in balance of bad versus good memories leads us to regress into a negative pattern of thinking. This negative digression cycle is very hard to break and can so consume a human being that they can lose sight of the beauty of who they are and what they have. They can become so overwhelmed that they completely lose track of the goodness within and become self-destructive through negative habits such as substance abuse and dependence, alcoholism or a host of the many negative coping mechanisms that we humans can detrimentally execute. Overcoming past traumas is not an easy thing. To deal with the intrusive and excessively negative thoughts that barrage my mind, I have learned a potentially helpful new trick that I want to share with you. You see, just like you, I have my fair share of negative and horrid past traumas and experiences. When these obtrusive negative thoughts started inundating my mind and obstructing my thinking, I didn't know how to deal with them, and they would cycle through my head in such a fashion that I didn't know how to stop them. I would seek substances that would alter my mind in the hope of easing it, but they would only compound and amplify the problem. The regression was so severe that I would lose track of whatever I was occupied with at the time and would end up making completely irrational decisions that would devastate my self-development progress. Being the hard-headed individual I am, I abhorred seeking mental health assistance, whether due to cultural stigma or just plain arrogance and hardheadedness. To deal with the insistent and obsessive negative thought cycle of self-victimization, and constantly asking myself the same questions like "why did this happen to me?" or "why is my life this way?" or "why did I have to go through this?" I just faced my mind and embraced the thoughts. By embracing my traumas and recognizing them as part of my being, my personality, and my character, I was able to overcome them. Whenever I would get negative thoughts of previous trauma, instead of allowing my mind to wander with the question of "why me" and "why so", I reminded myself that I am here, now, and alive. What was supposed to hurt me and destabilize me, I have endured and survived. What was supposed to make me weaker and destroy me has only made me stronger, has reinforced my resolve to be a better human, to not give in to evilness, to continuously strive to be a better, stronger person. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and embracing a victimized mindset, I reverse it. I am a survivor. I am stronger today than I was when whatever traumatic event happened. By constantly reminding myself that this is who I am today, I am in constant self-development and improvement of myself, my body, my mind, my family, my community and humanity in general. By embracing the trauma and realizing that it has happened, it is in the past, and it's a part of me, it has only made me stronger. I am free from see POSITIVITY next page  JUNE 16, 2023 Breaking the ice — doubts, faith, opportunity KEVIN ALLGOOD Groundcover contributor Some may say Groundcover is a scam; some of its writers at times may think their writing is subpar, but it's a way to make money writing and selling papers. Some may feel it's not their talent and think that they may never make it. The thing is, I'm a Christian, virgin, schizophrenic myself trying to navigate the spiritual world of the Most High God and Satan Our Adversary. I know not the mental health nor the total economic stance of all involved in Groundcover, therefore can only speak on my own behalf. I know many are hurting in today's economy and we could all seem to get in the Christmas spirit out of the season of goodwill and love for others. Saint Nikolas was a real man that would buy toys for the poor kids and was beloved for it. That Irishman I believe became Saint Nick, our Santa Claus. Now, if Santa was a real person, a Christian, then how could we get into His Spirit, His Holy Spirit — by selflessly loving others? We could also humbly pray that God would circumcise our hearts and His Holy Spirit would come into Our Temple that is our body. So no parent has to lie about Santa coming and leaving gifts cause if Dad is in His Holy Spirit, he truly is Saint Nick. When friends tell kids that Santa is not real and they finally believe it, they therefore subconsciously think the whole Jesus thing is a lie. Was Jesus real? Is his birthday just a scam to make money? I ask kids today what Christmas is about and many would think Santa gives gifts and there are elves and reindeer. Many kids nowadays do not even know that it is the day agreed on to celebrate the birthday of Christ and the gift of salvation. Looking at Groundcover’s 2023 Exceptional Community Member Edition, the photo of Juan Castro dressed as Santa surrounded by three beautiful women looks like an embarrassing amount of riches. Many think schizophrenic and think crazy; some may think of Rob Thomas’s “Unwell” (a favorite song of mine). But I see it not as some doctors do, as the subconscious talking to the conscious, but as an evil demon, and that sometimes you forget people are around and you get mad at it and yell or get teary-eyed and cry. Sometimes you get so stressed you forget to take a bath or brush your teeth. With Groundcover, I see an opportunity that God has put before me, and even if I don't profit from it, hopefully others will. Like a rock thrown into a pond, the ripples are what counts. I could foresee a doctor across the street from the State movie theater, having a coffee at Starbucks, (BTW is it legal in America to want to unionize? How could anyone get fired for wanting to help their coworkers to have better work conditions?) reading my story, keeping up on my entries, who might understand something, for me to have a breakthrough all because of Groundcover. In my faithwalk, it’s been lonely and I have been abused by Satan all my life and if it's God doing it, "love me less" (joking, Archangel Gabriel, I'm joking). My heart’s desire one day is to have a loving family, for me to be a family man. I have struggled with sexual sin thought across all areas on a spectrum, but trust I am a born again virgin of two decades. Like going to the gym, self-talk trying to stand up to dangerous sin thoughts is a must to get stronger. I realized that hiding from the Truth only makes you live in fear and to house Fear in My Temple was a horrible feeling I desired freedom from. The internet seems to have a skill - leading you into mental sin and seemingly encouraging you to lie from the very sin it sold you. From my experience, it seems some demons have something in your temple to physically hold on to when we lie and are afraid. The first step to freedom is to be willing to admit you fall short of the glory of God. And for those sins that test your honesty, confess it, if need be openly, and therefore do not fear the past, for the Bible says to confess your sins to one another and God is just to take away all unrighteousness from you. To beat fear is to be brave so many times that fear is tired and afraid of you so it doesn't even bother any more. To be on Social Security with free time, maybe Groundcover and I may be a good marriage after long courting seasons. If all things work for the good of those who love God and are called for His purpose, then hopefully He has a purpose for me at Groundcover! It's maybe not about winning a Pulitzer Prize, but to find rich loving relationships, and maybe even about others in the community hearing about a personal story and maybe changing their life. From a long lost friend to a daughter never known, a Father, an admirer, to a mentor, you never know what treasure you can get. Well this piece has more about the birth of Jesus then myself, but now I think maybe it’s about my birth at Groundcover and it’s all sound. really ׉ 7cassandra://5kjQu4yG0RQQz61IpRTegN3HtX4_L7ulblVCyJwBPMAO`dvFז0?HT׉EsJUNE 16, 2023 PUZZLES GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11  POSITIVITY from last page the negative thought cycle and mental distress and agony. It doesn't make sense to allow things that have transpired and expired in the past to affect us today. Let's make today and tomorrow better by becoming better versions of ourselves and beautifying our surroundings. Like a good friend of mine said, “Take a deep breath and do something good.” Start by realizing what's in the past is in the past. You have already gotten over it. It hurt when it happened, but you hold the key to not letting it hurt today. Realize that we humans are very variable and capable of both good and bad. Therefore, embrace the good and forgive the bad. Remember that we all face different circumstances that can dilute and dictate our judgment at times. By forgiving your traumatizers, you not only give yourself relief but also them. Start with small acts of kindness, such as smiling, stopping on the road to smell the flowers, enjoying the beauty of the sunshine and nature around you, getting a fresh haircut (in my case, it involves a nice head shave that leaves my bald head sparkling and shiny, making Mr. Clean jealous), putting on a nice outfit and just walking outside, complimenting your fellow man on the street, whether they are an acquaintance or just a pedestrian. Go for a bike ride, enjoy a nice meal, or just go to the ice cream parlor and ask for sample spoons of all the flavors. Just remember that negative thoughts are just thoughts. They do not stop you or define you. And that small acts of kindness and small acts of self-hedonism will work to accumulate a degree of happiness, which will uplift your mood and affect your disposition for the better. Seeking therapy and counseling is great, and I advise all those struggling with mental health issues to please utilize the knowledge and power of mental health professionals, whether through your health insurance or through the county-provided services such as Community Mental Health. I myself will be seeking therapy to make sure that I am on the right path. The gist of what I am trying to say is this: we all have our fair share of negative memories and traumatizing experiences that we carry inside of us. At any time, they can arise to destabilize our being and progress. But by facing them and embracing them, we take away their destructive and destabilizing power. If we start by executing small positive tasks, we build up progress to accomplish bigger and better things. In my experience, going to the gym to work out has been extremely helpful. It has given me mental clarity, improved my mental health, improved my physical appearance and my diet, which has had a wonderful effect on my personality and thought pattern as a whole. By doing a large number of small positive tasks, I am able to accumulate positive energy, which in turn gives me the courage and motivation to 10% OFF LUNCH JOIN US FOR 122 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor • oldtownaa.com • (734) 662-9291 Dine in only, offer good Mon - Sat 11:30 am - 4:00 pm, excludes alcohol. Expires 7/1/23 seek even greater positive challenges. One of those small positive tasks for me has been riding a bicycle. It feels great, gets me where I need to go faster, and improves my cardiovascular health. Also, seek a hobby. Find something that you enjoy doing. On the real, one of the best things that has happened to me has been writing. I never thought that I would have my articles published in a newspaper, let alone a full page. That's why I give a huge heartfelt shoutout to the Groundcover family, starting with the awesome Managing Director for doing such an amazing job, to all the editorial staff for making sure my writing makes sense, all the donors for making sure we have this outlet, and last but not least, the vendors for making sure that our works get into the hands of the readers. Whatever you do, just remember that what has happened in the past does not dictate your tomorrow, for it is a better day. Start with small positive acts and, trust me, they will accumulate into bigger and better things. And hey, wherever you are going, I pray that all the traffic lights on your way turn green. Amen. dvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT בCטFu׉׉ 7cassandra://pXqnWA6ZgwCiXWpqXd9F59wM0SuhaFA24Mwb-h3MCPU,0`׉ 7cassandra://jDY8ATYYxNQL8-I6PFAUi7N71Pvp5Bm97CpSWhea9RA͋e`h׉ 7cassandra://EkRnTZPWzWbWNFLBpQ6jM0pFYflpGh4hdYEWz_SGf0Y-a`׉ 7cassandra://EW4Oijyk9-wxX3xyYoy2HuD79LQJhUtv9ziFPaW8Bps:Q.͠4dvFז0?HTԒנdvFז0?HTׁd 9ׁHhttp://PEOPLESFOOD.COOPׁ ׁ ЈנdvFז0?HTց h9ׁHhttp://peoplesfood.coopׁ ׁ Ј׉E12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Easiest chili in the world LUIZA DUARTE CAETANO Groundcover contributor Ingredients: 1 pound of ground beef 1 onion 4 cloves of garlic 1 can beans 1 can corn 1 can diced tomato, or 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 tsp chili powder About 32 ounces of boiling water. Salt and pepper to taste. Optional: shredded cheese. Directions: Prep your ingredients: Dice your onions and mince your garlic. Open the cans and drain them. Set some water to boil. Set a different pot on high heat. No oil needed. When the pot is hot, add the ground beef in and smash it with a wooden spoon, moving it so it browns, but doesn’t burn. Season the beef with the salt, pepper, and chili powder. Add your onions and garlic and cook them for about 3 minutes, or until they soften, mixing constantly. Add the corn, beans, and tomato, mix, and finally cover it all with the boiling water. Let it simmer over medium-low heat for another 10 minutes. Serve it hot with some shredded cheese and sour cream on top, or as is. JUNE 16, 2023 PUZZLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL COMFORT CUISINE! Available: Mon. - Fri. from 11-2 • Weekly menu at peoplesfood.coop PFC Kitchen proudly presents : $2 OFF NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP ANY PURCHASE OF $15 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 7/13/2023 ׉ 7cassandra://EkRnTZPWzWbWNFLBpQ6jM0pFYflpGh4hdYEWz_SGf0Y-a`dvFז0?HT׈EdvFז0?HTdvFז0?HT ,June 16, 2023dv?UŎ|