2 $ SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 | VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 20 YOUR PURCHASE BENEFITS THE VENDORS. PLEASE BUY ONLY FROM BADGED VENDORS. Flock cameras in Washtenaw County? page 4 MEET YOUR VENDOR: PONY BUSH PAGE 3 GROUNDCOVER NEWS AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE GROUND UP | WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICH. Paul and Neoma. Photo by Chris McKeown. ANIMAL EDITION Meet my pet pal: Kimberly and Elsa page 7 Vendors and their pets page 8 Pets and their people page 9 Fostering cats page 10 Origins of a lynx page 10 Jane Goodall, force of nature page 11 THIS PAPER WAS BOUGHT FROM • Proposal: Housing-development accelerator • Charbonneau: Open your eyes to housing inequity. PAGE 4 @groundcovernews, include vendor name and vendor #
2 GROUNDCOVER NEWS GROUNDCOVER SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELFDETERMINED 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. Vendors are the main contributors to the paper, and are compensated to write and report. 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. nominations now open! Please nominate us. Our categories are... Best Podcast: GROUNDCOVER SPEAKS Best Nonproft: GROUNDCOVER NEWS STAFF Lindsay Calka — publisher Cynthia Price — editor Samantha Lay — intern ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Monique Caldwell Pedro Campos Jim Clark Jay Cooper Ben Foster Cindy Gere Eliza Janssen Mike Jones Lynx Maize Ken Parks Joseph Schreiber Will Shakespeare Denise Shearer Tommy Spaghetti PROOFREADERS Susan Beckett June Miller Anabel Sicko Talbot Hack VOLUNTEERS Jessi Averill Stephanie Dong Jacob Fallman Ben Foster Glenn Gates Barak Howell Robert Klingler Haniah Khan Aklesia Maereg Margaret Patston Adam Rizk Eleanor Snipes Mary Wisgerhof Max Wisgerhof BOARD of DIRECTORS Jacob Fallman Shelley DeNeve Jessi Averill Steve Borgsdorf Anna Gersh Greg Hoffman Jack Edelstein Glenn Gates Hailu Shitaye Felicia Wilbert CONTACT US Story and photo submissions: submissions@groundcovernews.com Advertising and partnerships: contact@groundcovernews.com Office: 423 S. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor Mon-Sat, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Phone: 734-263-2098 @groundcover @groundcovernews DONATE, LISTEN TO OLD ISSUES + LEARN MORE www.groundcovernews.org WAYS TO SUPPORT 1. Buy the paper, read the paper. 2. Get the word out — We rely on grassroots marketing. Talk to people about Groundcover and share us with your network. 3. Volunteer — You'll learn a lot about our vendors, the newspaper and your community. Interested in volunteering regularly? Fill out the form on our website. 4. Advertise your company, organization, event or resource — see rates below. 5. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram — promote our posts and share your favorite articles and vendor interactions. 6. Donate items — A seasonally appropriate list of items most needed at our office and on the street is available on our website. Drop off anytime we're open. Nominations open September 1 - October 15 ATIONS OPEN! SEPT 1 Log on & VOTE! ecurrent.com Organized by Current Magazine
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR Highway to Heaven I love to watch the TV show Highway to Heaven still, even though it was on back in the 1980s. It stars Michael Pony Bush, Groundcover vendor No. 305 In one sentence, who are you? Myself. I’m just me. Where do you usually sell Groundcover? Downtown Ann Arbor — Literati most often. If you were a character from a movie, book and/or TV show, who would you be and why? Denzel Washington in "Training Day." If you could travel back in time, what time period would you travel back to and why? The 80s — the younger days when I was in high school. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? California or Florida. Or Amsterdam! If you could choose any two famous people to have dinner with, who would they be? Dolly Parton before she died and Beyonce. If you had to teach a class on one thing, what would you teach? Homelessness. How to survive, and educate people who have never been homeless on what it's like. Tell us about a person who changed your life in some way. Panda (Cindy Gere)! She got me with Groundcover. What was your happiest memory from the past year? I did lots of good sales at Ypsi Pride and the Ann Arbor Art Fair this summer. What would your entrance song be? The Rocky theme song. Describe your perfect day. Making money (good paper sales). Nice weather, listening to good music. Landon and Victor French, and anything with them is good I think. Highway to Heaven is a show about a guardian angel on probation that gets to live on earth and help people. It is very inspirational and funny. Having it on is very relaxing and it is about God and Jesus too. It helps you think about things differently. It also is comforting and soothing. It can relax you so much that you go to sleep while it's on when you are tired, and it's also good to watch when you are grieving or sad about something. It portrays different life situations and it also helps you deal with people passing away because it is about people going to heaven DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 when they pass away. I think it is a show about loving people and helping people, and I believe God and Jesus are about love and helping people and comforting people who are hurting. It is also beautiful with pretty scenery and beautiful clothes that people used to wear in the 80s. It would be nice to have an up-to-date version of Highway to Heaven because I believe that both of the stars have went to Heaven and we need some new earthly actors to play the new roles. I think people would really enjoy the original version of the show, and a new version of the show. That’s what I think is enjoyable about the 80s TV show Highway to Heaven. Editor’s note: There is a reboot of Highway to Heaven in the works! It is currently planned for the 2027-28 season, and involves Michael Landon Productions. Planning ahead: 1, 2, 3, 4, Lunar The future lies before us. What are the next events that speak to us? For some of us, International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 20, looms large now. For years it was held on the Community Commons next to the Ann Arbor District Library. That lot was privatized by a special election so the city cannot issue a permit. This year it will be at Libery Plaza from 1-5 p.m. See more details in the Community Events calendar on page 5. The next event on my mind is my 84th birthday, which will be celebrated Sunday, October 11, about Hiroshima and the survivor who researched the 12 American POWs who died in the atomic bomb blast. In November, Vets for KEN PARKS Groundcover vendor No. 490 from 4-7 p.m. at Friends Meeting House,1420 Hill St., Ann Arbor. We are planning a potluck social gathering with a documentary, “Paper Lanterns,” at 6 p.m. It is a story Peace will have the Arlington Michigan display at Veterans Park. Winter solstice and Christmas are the celebrations of the shortest day of the year and confidence that the sun will return. The Light of the world is born again. Of the Lunar New Year celebrations both Tết and Losar are February 5. Losar is Tibetan New Year, and Karuna Buddhist Center will have a series of events which will be detailed on their website (karunabuddhistcenter.org/). Tết is Vietnamese New Year and is famous for the Tết offensive of 1968 which began the end of the War in Vietnam. Americans lost faith in the war and Lyndon Johnson did not run for reelection. There are some wonderful Vietnamese in Ann Arbor. Let’s recognize them at Tết and Losar. Grant your blessings that all these events bring us an experience of awakening and the all good expanse of primordial purity which is the mother of everything! GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3
4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS SURVEILLANCE Flock cameras in Washtenaw County? MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 Automated license-plate-reading cameras, such as Flock Cameras, are present in Washtenaw County and are being actively debated. There are heated community discussions nationwide on what constitutes public safety versus personal privacy while using this technology. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and local municipalities like Ypsilanti Township and Pittsfield Township have discussed, considered or deployed automated license plate reading (ALPR) technology to assist with law enforcement investigations. The installation of these stationary, solar-powered cameras — which capture vehicle plates, makes, models and exterior details — has drawn pushback from residents and local activist groups concerned about data privacy and mass surveillance. There are approximately 3,000 to 4,000 ALPR cameras deployed across at least 54 of Michigan's 83 counties. Washtenaw County does not use automated speed or red-light enforcement cameras (often referred to as photo-radar or "flat" cameras) because Michigan law banned automated traffic tickets. The cameras positioned in Washtenaw County above traffic lights or along highways do not issue tickets and are used purely for traffic timing and monitoring. According to crowd-sourced data on DeFlock.org, private entities — such as local Home Owners Associations, and major retailers like Meijer and Lowe's — operate independent license plate readers across Ann Arbor and Scio Township. In 2022, Ypsilanti Township officials explored installing close to 70 cameras, 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 blanketing entrances and exits to township roadways, while surrounding the Ypsilanti city limits. Online survey responses showed that a strong majority of Ypsilanti Township residents opposed a proposal to cover the area with ALPR for use by law enforcement. During an online community education event in April 2022, of 1,148 respondents to an online survey who indicated they lived in Ypsilanti Township, 999 said they opposed using the license plate readers. Thirty-two were neutral and 117 strongly supported it. Ypsilanti Township has a history of installing fixed public safety surveillance cameras on utility poles in specific neighborhoods (such as West Willow, Harris Park, Holmes Road, Apple Ridge), managed via local public safety/neighborhood watch initiatives. The Saline City Council discussed a similar proposal for ALPR cameras with local police, but council members expressed hesitation and reservations regarding data privacy. The Milan Police Department operates four Flock Safety cameras. The Michigan Department of Transportation hosts a live feed of highway cameras on major routes like I-94, US-23 and M-14 passing through Washtenaw County. The City of Ann Arbor utilizes roughly 55% of its major intersections to test "Gridsmart" adaptive traffic cameras for data tracking and mitigating severe crashes. The "Gridsmart" system mitigates these crashes primarily by optimizing traffic signal timing in real time through advanced computer vision, which actively prevents dangerous broadside (T-bone) collisions, wrong-way driving incidents and pedestrian strikes. Rather than relying on traditional in-ground 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 loops, the system uses an omnidirectional "bell camera" to provide 360degree situational awareness. Local platforms like "Trafficvision. Live" aggregate roughly 400+ live traffic feeds across the county. Trafficvision. Live aggregates over 155,000 public live camera feeds from departments of transportation, municipalities and official global sources into a single, searchable map and grid interface. The stationary cameras — capturing vehicle license plates, color, make, model and other distinguishing features but no information on the driver — offer a tool for police contending with an increase in violent crime, according to the Sheriff’s Office report. A rapid succession of high-profile police misconduct scandals across the nation and data misuse tracking cases collectively ignited the massive public backlash. While privacy advocates like the ACLU had warned about these cameras for years, the turning point from quiet compliance to active, nationwide resistance was specific incidents where the technology was abused for personal stalking and political targeting. The domestic stalking scandals caused public outrage to reach a boiling point following revelations that police officers were using the massive nationwide database to track romantic partners. In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, multiple officers resigned after an internal investigation revealed the system was used over 40 times to track a former domestic partner. Similar investigations into officers tracking their wives or exes emerged in multiple states, proving to the public that internal guardrails were insufficient. Backlash intensified when it was revealed that Flock data was accessed 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 by authorities trying to track a woman seeking a self-managed abortion. This bridged the gap between theoretical privacy concerns and real-world consequences, alienating citizens across the political spectrum, merging political surveillance and medical data. In a prominent abuse-of-power case, police in Lenexa, Kan. were accused of using the city’s license plate readers to intentionally track the movements of a resident who had written a newspaper column criticizing the police department. Activists and local governments began pushing back aggressively after reports surfaced that local police agencies were running thousands of searches to assist federal immigration enforcement, including tracking vehicles tied to cameras installed near schools. Because these events exposed how easily a privately-owned network of over 120,000 cameras could map out a citizen's "pattern of life," a fierce "De-Flock" movement exploded. Residents now use crowd-sourced tracking maps like DeFlock to locate and monitor the placement of these automated readers across Michigan neighborhoods. In dozens of states, citizens have taken matters into their own hands, with widespread reports of people cutting down camera poles with electric saws, blocking lenses or destroying the equipment. Flock Cameras are not a new technology, but they are getting people's attention due to personal privacy and mass surveillance concerns. There is no scheduled upcoming meeting specifically for ALPR cameras in Washtenaw County but stay tuned because Groundcover News will be following Flock camera stories as they develop in and around the Washtenaw County area. 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. SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 COMMUNITY letter to the EDITOR Dear Groundcover, I had the pleasure of meeting one of your writers and distributors, Ken Parks, at a coffee shop in Ann Arbor. We had a pleasant chat about Ann Arbor's history of racism and segregation as well as a writer by the name of James A. Michener. He mentioned to me the firsthand accounts that Michener recalls in his novel stories about WWII in the Pacific and also some of the nuances of this historic time. I also was able to read Mr. Parks' piece "Democracy at Work." One line struck me as I was reading, Parks wrote, "now is the time to face reality and live a fully engaged life. Our true nature will manifest as we engage in all levels of struggle." As a Social Welfare graduate student here in Ann Arbor, there is so much that interconnects with conversations we have with clients and our own identity. It can feel overwhelming at the idea that all the good that is done in the world is overlooked and overshadowed by the harm and violence of today's world. Reading Parks' piece gave me hope and also reinforced what I already know to be true — that there is no separation between our morals or community EVENTS SOFA STORIES: STORIES ON STAGE AND SCREEN Friday, September 18, 7:30 p.m. Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl. Performances of original monologues and screenings of short films from the Detroit-based Sofa Stories Project about the experiences of young people impacted by housing insecurity. Age 14 & up. Tickets $5 in advance at ums.org/ season/2026-27-season or at the door. Sunday, September 20, 4 p.m. Ypsi Freighthouse. All invited to join the artists behind Sofa Stories in an interactive storytelling session designed to help participants craft, shape, and then perform their own personal stories on the theme of “home.” YPSI FALL RIVER DAY Sunday, September 20, 12-3 p.m. Frog Island and Riverside Park, Ypsilanti. Free kayak trips, arts and crafts for kids, games, a live animal exhibit, river-themed exhibits and education, a shuttle for paddlers and more. Walk-up registration only for paddling. cityofypsilanti. com/fallriverday INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: MUSIC UNITES THE WORLD Sunday, September 20, Liberty Plaza, on the corner of Liberty and S. Division Streets. 1-5 p.m. The theme for the 2026 International Day of Peace is Invest in Peace — For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly to strengthen the ideals of peace within and among all nations. For some, peace means the absence of violence. To others, peace means freedom from fear. Ending cycles of conflict. Building peace that lasts. But what does it mean to you? Jewish Yom Kippur Day of Atonement begins on Sunday evening sundown. NAVIGATING FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY Monday, September 21, AADL Pittsfield branch. 6:30-7:45 p.m. Presentation by members of the NAMI advocacy committee about how it’s possible to move from crisis to stability and recovery in a time of instability in mental health funding and services. PENNY STAMPS SERIES: OLAYAMI DABLS Tuesday, September 22, 5:30 p.m. Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor. For decades, Detroit artist Olayami Dabls has explored the intersections of art, history, identity, community and healing through sculpture, storytelling and material culture. Founder of the MBAD African Bead Museum, Dabls presents commentary on the past, present and future from African and African American perspectives, drawing upon traditions in which materials convey identity and serve as messages for healing and protection. In 2022, he received the prestigious Kresge Artist Award for his innovative practice and enduring legacy within his community and beyond. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. A2 JAZZ FEST Saturday, September 26, Rabbit Hole, 210 S. 1st St. Ann Arbor. 5:30 p.m. Noah Hogan Quartet. 7 p.m. Tariq Gardner & Evening Star. 8 p.m. Sean Dobbins Organ Trio. Sunday, September 27, Ravens Club, 207 S. Main St. Ann Arbor. 6 p.m. Elvin Sharp Quartet. 7:30 p.m. Alex Hoberty Quintet. 9 p.m. Junk Jazz. All events free. See back page. YPSI TASTY GRUB CRAWL Tuesday, September 29, 4-8 p.m. Depot Town, Downtown Ypsilanti. A chance for food lovers to enjoy the best food, beverages and unique shops that Ypsilanti has to offer. $25 adults, $15 students, $10 kids. Tickets can be purchased online at a2chamber.org/events. Presented by the A2Y Chamber of Commerce. BREAD & PUPPET: THE UPSIDE DOWN WORLD CIRCUS Wednesday, September 30, 7 p.m. Riverside Park, 2 E. Cross St. Ypsilanti. The one and only Bread & Puppet Circus is back to confront our upside-down situation! With stilt dancers, paper maché beasts of all sizes and a riotous brass band, The Upside Down World Circus is an urgent spectacle of protest and celebration. After each show Bread & Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli, and “Cheap Art” — books, posters, postcards, pamphlets and banners from the Bread & Puppet Press — will be for sale. Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews. com values and our purpose in life. We must fully immerse ourselves in collaborating with others and working together to build a future of tomorrow, and this extends across age, race, gender expression and socioeconomic status. I really appreciated meeting Mr. Parks and being able to see someone else in the world who hopes to make a difference. Thank you for everything you all do, and thank you, Mr. Parks, I hope this message finds you. With respect, Trinity GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5
6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS TRANSPORTATION SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 Understanding why Blake Transit Center moved: The role of DDA and A2 City Council Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA) is the major bus transportation system in Washtenaw County. TheRide is the name of Ann Arbor’s transportation organization which is responsible for management, strategic planning, strategic communication, marketing and decentralized leadership for projects. Over time, TheRide has worked with Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for transit improvements, bus riders' safety and convenient accessibility for bus riders and bus drivers. Its latest project to improve 4th Avenue necessitated closing the Blake Transit Center. Using the power of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) given to DDA by State law and City Council ordinance, the planners are able to raise funds for building more parking spaces, infrastructure development and improvements, cultural enhancements, place-making sites and housing affordability, to mention a few. The Ann Arbor City Council meetings and deliberations showed that in March 2026, there was a vote to approve DDA proposals on capital improvement plans and projects. The plan includes wider sidewalks, added space for outdoor dining outside restaurants, a midblock crosswalk with flashing pedestrian signals near the entrance drive to Blake Transit Center, enhanced transit shelters and dedicated bus lanes paved in concrete, as well as some public art, wider main replacement and stormwater improvements. WILL SHAKESPEARE Groundcover vendor No. 258 Temporary closing of Blake Transit Center This year, TheRide leadership and DDA once again are collaborating on capital improvement plans for Fourth Avenue and transit improvements. A2dda.org identified the following specific project information. The 4th Avenue project at Blake will: Enhance bus boarding and operations; Improve physical accessibility of the block for people of all ages and abilities; Add amenities for people taking the bus and walking — benches, trees, new street lights, trash cans and public art; Support bicycle travel, although designated bike lanes are not proposed due to the limited width of the right-of-way; Update infrastructure and improve stormwater management; Incorporate infrastructure to support the Ann Arbor Housing Commission (AAHC) project at 350 S. Fifth Ave. Ann Arbor DDA is the lead agency for the 4th Avenue Street and Transit Improvements Projects. The City’s Engineering and other departments, along with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, work together cooperatively. Nani Wolf, DDA Planning Specialist, is a valuable contact person for the DDA, especially for the funding of projects. Council voted in March to approve $5.7 million for construction contracts awarded to the Forsom company. It is estimated that the cost overall may be $8 million. Project information officials noted that construction on 4th avenue started on May 4. Because of the Ann Arbor Art Fair, there was a pause from July 10 to July 26. It is anticipated that construction will continue through December 2026. It is expected that some landscaping work to beautify 4th Avenue may take place in 2027. On May 3, when most University of Michigan students left Ann Arbor for their hometowns, vacation spots, career jobs or internships, the Blake Transit Center formally closed the building which housed the service desk for ride information and purchase of tickets. A banner was left hanging which says, “Blake Transit Center is Temporarily Closed on May 3. It will reopen in December 2026.” In a statement to the community, TheRide’s deputy CEO for planning and innovation, Mr. Forest Yang, tried to reassure the public. He said, “Our team has worked to relocate boarding locations as close to Blake Transit Center as possible, and we encourage riders to plan ahead and check TheRide.org for the most up-to-date stop information. TheRide is committed to keeping service safe, reliable and accessible throughout the construction.” The Michigan Daily of April 17, 2026 had a headline, “Blake Transit Center in Ann Arbor Closing for Several Months, Bus Stops Relocating.” This article was published during final exam weeks and may have been missed by students. Another important positive story which is linked to this one is the plan to build a 20-story affordable housing complex on the empty parking lot which is next to Blake Transit Center. The DDA and the Ann Arbor City Council are committed to building more affordable housing for lower income folks who want to work and live in the city. Safe, convenient, efficient, accessible and affordable bus transportation will also help make Ann Arbor a livable city. Transit-Oriented Development planning is a popular tool in the toolbox of urban planners. Transportation planning is a concentration for students and career professionals who want to help shape the future of vehicle circulation and transport networks. TheRide 2045 is a long-range plan for bus transport improvement, see AAATA next page
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 MY PET PAL meet my pet pal: KIMBERLY and ELSA Why those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity have pets and why it is important to support that How did you and your pet find each other? Elsa is from Wisconsin. She was for sale in the newspaper $150. Tell us a few things about Elsa. Elsa is crazy; she loves people, dogs and cats but doesn’t always show it appropriately. She’s a herding dog. She will chase anything that runs. She has a lot of tics, things she doesn't like, such as bicycles, flyswatters, weed whackers, wheels, snapping, clapping, fireworks, vacuum — I could go on. She’s likely to chase those things. What rewards do you get from having a pet? Elsa saves my life all the time. When it can be really sad out here, I always have Elsa. I hug and hold her. She won’t leave me for anything. What is a challenge of having a pet while experiencing homelessness/poverty/economic exploitation? I’m in my vehicle. Summer is hot and it costs me more money to run the A/C for my dog when she has to be left in my vehicle. And winter is cold so I need more heat, more gas. My money runs out a lot of times for her vet visits but it’s important to me she stays up to date on shots an her vet care. My dog gets overwhelmed and stresses out from the streets. A lot of times she won’t eat her food until the middle of the night after we’ve been alone for a while. What is something our readers should know about your pet if they see you both on the street? Elsa loves people. You can pet her. If you’ve never met her she might bark at you at first, then she’s okay. She’s really protective of me out here. GROUNDCOVER NEWS AAATA from last page a few proposed “Bus Hubs” across the urban county and reconstructing the Ypsilanti Transit Center. June 22, 2026 Ypsilanti City Council approved the sale of their parking lot behind the YTC (between Pearl, Washington and Adams Streets) to the AAATA for $705,000. The area will be redeveloped to include more indoor passenger waiting areas and to double the space for buses, costing an estimated $23 million. In cooperation with DDA and local government leadership, TheRide wants to improve and strengthen the overall network of bus transportation. There are proposals for “Bus Rapid Transit” which include continuous upgrades and coordination of services. 7 Look for TheRide wayfinding around the downtown area!
8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS PETS Vendors and their pets GROUNDCOVER NEWS Tabitha and Sean Almond Cookie is the darker Gecko and Speedy is the other one. Goofy is the one with the black and white tail and Pinky is the pink and yellow one. SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 REAL-WORLD PERSPECTIVES ON POVERTY SOLUTIONS SPEAKER SERIES Fall 2026 Fridays @ noon, SSW B780 poverty.umich.edu/speakers All talks free & open to the public Lessons Learned from Designing and Evaluating Ann Arbor's Guaranteed Income Pilot Kristin Seefeldt, University of Michigan Poverty Solutions Co-sponsored by U-M School of Social Work Fri Oct. 2 Rebuilding Democracy Journalist Osita Nwanevu in conversation with U-M Professor Elizabeth Anderson Co-sponsored by U-M Philosophy, Rackham Graduate School, Energy Club at Ross, and a coalition of U-M departments & organizations Joe Woods and Moza My name is Joe Woods, Groundcover vendor No. 103, and my dog's name is Moza (pronouned "Mussa"), which is Arabic for Moses. He was left in an abandoned shelter with seven other animals in Atlanta, Ga. He's 110 lbs now and is a shepherd wolf mix. Teresa and I had the pleasure of giving him a loving home four years ago on July 14th. When we got him he was malnourished, only 72 lbs. When we first saw him we both fell in love with him and vowed to give him a very loving home. He's my big baby and Teresa's boo boo bear. He's the gentlest and kindest dog you'll ever meet. He's actually a gentleman; he sits with his legs crossed and is a ladies' man, he loves women. We're very happy that he's in our life and we've seen him become very happy with us, too. Designing for Dignity: Strengthening Food Assistance Amid Policy Threats Kate Bauer, University of Michigan Co-sponsored by U-M School of Public Health, and Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health Policy Fri Oct. 30 Cash Plus Psychosocial Interventions for Economic Mobility Catherine Thomas, University of Michigan Co-sponsored by U-M Department of Psychology Fri Nov. 13 Lonnie Baker and Eden This is my dog Eden. She is a 7-year old boxer and pitt mix. I adopted her 5 years ago. She is very friendly and loving to people, but does not like other dogs and squirrels. She brings a lot of joy to my home. The Importance of Research and Data for Policy and Social Change Poverty Solutions Panel Fri Nov. 20 1:30pm @ TBD Beyond Silos: An Inter-Institutional Framework for Understanding Poverty and Advancing Social Change Kess Ballentine, Wayne State University Co-sponsored by U-M Center for Innovation Fri Oct. 16 cityLAB’s Innovations for Affordable Housing Dana Cuff, University of California Los Angeles Co-sponsored by U-M Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning Fri Oct. 23 Fri Oct. 9 6pm @ Ross School
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 PETS Pets and their people People know how important pets are to their human companions. They are considered family because of the deep emotional connection mammals feel for each other. During a homelessness episode, people and their companions share the same encounters. They have to find food and shelter. They may need medical attention (for example getting vaccinations or pest treatment). The most important function of an animal companion is to have a sense of belonging to someone and not feel lonely. This is what makes the bond so strong. Being homeless with a pet carries additional challenges. Owners will skip meals in order to feed their companion. Shelters will turn people away if they have pets. Oftentimes the housing arena presents paywalls to people being able to stay with their companions after they find housing, usually additional fees and added rent. Or conditions that need to be met that are also costly. Here are the stories of two friends of mine and their companions who have recently found housing. Paul and Neoma JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 asked Paul. “In front of Starbucks,” Paul replied. “He would come out and just, like, buy me whatever. And then, like, during that time, he got to know me, and he just likes to help dogs. So now we're very close.” “When you got your housing placement, what did you have to do to move Neoma in with you?” I asked. PauI replied, “I had to have three different pieces of paperwork. One of them was her chipping information, and then her vet records, and then her AKC certification” (which has a $50 fee attached). “I wouldn't have been able to do it by myself,” Paul confided. “because there's a lot that goes into it, with the paperwork and all that.” “Did Dylan help?” I asked. “Yeah,” Paul replied, “he helped, like, pretty much all of it. The only thing I did was raise her.” Paul describes Neoma as being happy and playful. But she did have an issue transferring from a homeless dog to a housed dog. “It took her some time to get used to apartment living. Like the first five minutes we were there, she shit in the house. I think she was thinking ‘everywhere is my bathroom because I live outside,’” he recalled. “Were you able to potty-train her?” I asked. “Yeah. I did it the same way my dad Paul lives on the northside of Ann Arbor with his pure-bred, blue-nosed American Pit Bull terrier Neoma. She is two-and-a-half years old. “I found her when she was a puppy. She was starving,” Paul tells me. He was homeless in February 2026 when they met. “At first we stayed in a tent, but the raccoons kept breaking in and stealing her food so we started sleeping downtown,” said Paul. Paul has a friend named Dylan who has been supporting him while he supports Neoma. Dylan helped him with her medical needs including a chip, food and occasional motel rooms when it was really cold. “Where did you meet Dylan?” I did to make our dogs listen. And that was if they went to the bathroom in the house, he took the back of their necks and shoved their noses in the poo, and then swatted them on their butt. And it worked. Now she waits for me to get home, but sometimes still if she has to go, then she has to go. I really wish she would use the bathroom rugs.” “I've always wondered why people couldn't train dogs to go in a box like cats,” I questioned. Paul answered, “I think it's because, like, back before we kind of domesticated cats, cats used to hide their poo so they wouldn't be tracked by the other cats. It's convenient how cats have gone in their boxes, because it was already bred into them to do that from nature. But dogs can just pretty much go anywhere.” “You said she’s not fixed. Are you gonna let her have puppies?” I asked. “Only if I find a purebred rednose, “ he answered, “and they have to be papered, so I can charge that price.” “That's smart,” I said. Paul continued, “Because I was thinking, like, I could give one away or two away, but I could benefit a lot from getting cash. I added it up, and it's like nine grand. And all you gotta do is feed them and clean up after them when they're gone.” “That's not a bad deal,” I said. “Are you going to do it?” “I might,” he replied, "but if I do it, I'm turning my bedroom into a den. It's just to have the puppies have their own space. And then when Neoma doesn't want to be bothered with them, she can step right over the gate.” “Do you think you'll ever be a dog trainer?” I asked. Paul replied, “I don't think I have the patience like that yet. But I think I would be a very good dog handler.” Josh and Angel Josh and I met three years ago when he was sheltering in a tent. Now he lives in an apartment on the east side of Ypsilanti with his partner and his animal companion, Angel the cat. “How did Angel come to live with you?” I asked. Josh replied, “She was only supposed to be a couple of weeks foster. I was helping a friend of a friend. I didn't even know her.” “You were just helping out a friend with pet sitting? How long ago did they drop her off?” I asked. “Two months,” Josh said. “They had got evicted, and they didn't want to keep the cats in the vehicle. They had found a place for everyone but her.” I asked Josh to describe Angel. “For being a Libra, she's temperamental,” he told me. “She likes being by herself. She doesn't like other animals. She really doesn't like kids. I had a couple of friends with two of the most beautiful little girls I've ever met in my life living here briefly. Every time a little one would come in, Angel would saunter off and be like ‘F this shit, I’m out.’” “Temperamental?” I asked. wouldn't come out and say hi?” “She “Normally she doesn't like strangers. Janice likes to point out how similar she and I are.” “You and the cat?” I confirmed. “Yeah. Like, she and I have a routine. see PETS page 13 GROUNDCOVER NEWS 9
10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS ANIMALS Fostering cats The Huron Valley Humane Society has an animal foster care program for both cats and dogs, from birth to eight weeks old. Fostering a kitten is a true sacrifice and it takes a love for animals to see and care for a tiny kitten from birth to eight weeks — truly a labor of love. The real question is: how does one get a kitten? Most of the cats that come to the animal shelter are infant animals found in the woods, on trails, along the side of the road and in abandoned buildings. We label them "feral" for not having a home. In truth they are homeless animals. Rehoming them can give them better lives than the one in the woods. Most feral animals don't start that way. People dump and abandon them, or they are runaways. A single door left open accidentally by human error might be the issue. You have to apply to qualify to receive foster kittens, and there is an application form at hshv.org. We think cats and dogs are wild, but most are domesticated and can't fend for themselves because we feed them. Wild animals or wild dogs and cats know the kinds of mice and rats, tubers and bugs to eat to maintain themselves. Wild cats are raised to be wild and, when domesticated, they stay wild. It is the same with the wolf dog hybrid animal which is more wild and is very dangerous. Many have been mauled trying to raise a wild wolf dog. And that is why Michigan banned the wolf dog. Animals are innocent. We humans are the problem. Un-neutered dogs and cats create feral animals. Dumping cats at animal shelters or outside cat hospitals like the one on Packard can be an issue for everyone. CINDY GERE Groundcover vendor No. 279 Cats born in rural areas that are not neutered can also create a larger population fast; one feral animal can have as many as three to four litters from March to October. Feral cats can breed as soon as 10 days after their first litter. This can create health issues for cats later on. So imagine a mother cat has just been found in the woods behind an old property getting cleaned out. The family catches momma cat in a trap. Three of the eight kittens are sick. This is where my friend Mary comes in. Mary Eller is a local foster caregiver who has cared for kittens for many years. Mary has done the HVHS program for years and draws from animal husbandry skills due to her years of raising animals on her family farm. She also has chickens named Goldie, Big Mama, Little Girl, Sunny, Spot and Shadow; cats named Molly and Mouse; and a lab dog named Beckett. Mary told me that in order to take care of these kittens, when the tiny ones first arrive, “I need to be ready for the commitment of very little sleep.” The baby kittens require round-theclock care, feeding every three hours depending on the size of the baby. This must go for around two to three weeks. The origins of a lynx A lynx is a wildcat usually of about medium size. Their known locations are the forests of North America, Europe and Asia. The word lynx comes from a Greek term which means "to shine." This is a good descriptor for features like the eyes since they are reflective. Their ears have prominent tufts (the hairs above the ears) and they have short stubbed tails. A lynx can usually be identified by its color pattern — light brown, rusty red or grey with spots to blend in with nature. Another exquisite feature is that their fur actually grows thicker in the winter time to keep them warmer in the colder seasons. This species covers areas of the world LYNX MAIZE Groundcover vendor No. 664 such as Western Europe and Central Asia, where you would find a Eurasian and Iberian lynx, or North American territory where you would find a bobcat (lynx Rufus) or Canadian lynx. At this time, Mary herself takes cat naps in order to help such tiny kittens. As I recall over the years watching this process, she would take a kitten and give it a once-over checking for any issue, such as drooling or lethargy. Many kittens at this stage can get sick if not watched over carefully. Mom cat would lick and feed the kitten often to keep it warm and safe. Animals can smell illness on the baby including neurological issues, often abandoning the baby for survival over care. It is the law of nature. But we humans give every chance to every animal, big or small. Mary would take the kittens, feed the tiny ones with a small syringe or modified cat nipple on the syringe, sometimes even having to tube-feed the baby if it refused to eat. Then rubbing the kitten’s bum (the mom cat would normally be licking it) to help it eliminate the waste; kittens can't go any other way. This process would keep it strong and healthy. Mary ran a tight ship with the kittens; only sometimes did a kitten get truly sick. And then the humane society had to take the baby back and put it in a cat care clinic. The baby, once fed, would be returned to the incubator if it needed more sleep time. The babies are as big as a human palm, so tiny and so cute, little bitty balls of fur. The foster program is absolutely wonderful. They provide all the care items such as wipes, feeding tubes and syringes for feeding with nipples, the baby scale for weighing the kittens, a cat carrier and the incubator, the kitten formula and solid foods, the litter for the litter box, the meds if a kitten gets sick and the wellness check-up at the kitten clinic for shots. The program is very labor-intensive and requires homebound, dedicated people. It takes eight long weeks for the tiny baby no bigger than a palm to become a rambunctious kitten ready for adoption. All kittens must get their first shots at the kitten clinic at three to four weeks. The Huron Valley Humane Society foster program covers all costs including for all illnesses, such as feline leukemia which is very contagious and will require total isolation for long-term care. The shots are part of the vaccination protocols that all pets get to keep them safe and healthy. Mary told me that the hardest part of caring for kittens is letting them go. Another role of the cat fosters is caring for the mom cats who have kittens. This is just setting up a room for the mom cat, and Mary does all the rest in raising the kittens. Once the cat has raised the baby to eight weeks, she will then go back to the vet to get spayed and she will go directly to the adoption center after she has had all her shots. “Baby kittens are the funniest to care for, teaching them and training them to be okay with human touch,” Mary said. “The kittens are so much fun after around four weeks when they become much more active and rambunctious. They often will play all day in their playpen, keeping each other company and being wild with each other. The best part is watching them get out of hand and play with each other.” Their rough play is essential to living and surviving, learning to catch flying birds and mice or rats. instinct they are born with, developing their hunting skill. It’s totally an SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 The lynx bodies are very adaptive to cooler climates because they have webbed paws with hair underneath and long legs to help them maneuver through thick snow. Bobcats on the other hand do not use the same tactics since their legs are so short. Felines such as a lynx are so skilled at hunting that they move stealthily until the perfect moment to strike their prey. They can spot rodents from 250 feet away. They tend to stalk in dense areas where there is plenty of cover. Speaking of cover, when it comes to - the reproduction of this species they tend to have dens in abandoned burrows or underneath fallen trees. They usually mate at the end of winter; rival males scratch at each other to win the females’ trust. The female takes the resulting offspring to raise on her own with no male involvement. When a lynx is grown, it can range from 32-47 inches long and weigh 22-42 pounds. After capturing documented clips and observing, researchers discovered that the animal becomes its own primary caregiver after 10 months and discovers its own territories after 20 months. The lynx was becoming endangered because of the loss of habitat, poaching (humans hunting for fur) and the diseases of their prey that leach into them. Through conservation and reintroduction, a decline of the species has reversed and has brought the animal back tenfold.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 INSP GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11 Jane Goodall, force of nature ELIZA JANSSEN The Big Issue Australia A woman is hooting and hollering at the podium of UNESCO’s Paris headquarters. Her white hair is in a cloudlike ponytail, an Africa-shaped pendant hanging around her neck. She translates the primate whoops for her audience of Homo sapiens: “What I’m going to say simply means: ‘This is me. This is Jane.’” Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall was 90 years old when she delivered this speech in October 2024. “Who knows how long I have left?” she told The Guardian, around the same time. “Yet there’s so much left to do. As long as my mind and body obey, I’ll keep at it.” Almost exactly a year later, Goodall died in her sleep, partway through a US speaking tour — “keeping at it” to the very last. But even as sadness and gratitude reverberated across the planet in the wake of her death, it was clear that Goodall’s work will never really be over. Its legacy hangs in the air around us: one last pant-hoot-call that continues to echo. There’s so much left to do. Maria Sykes, CEO of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia, says that the first word that comes to mind to describe Goodall is “poise.” “She would tell you she was just Jane from Bournemouth,” Sykes recalls, “but she wasn’t a sweet, white-haired, dithery old lady — she was a force of nature with a great mind, huge principles and just bloody extraordinary drive. She was absolutely unstinting in everything she gave to the cause she believed in, which was animals, people and the environment; the fortunate acronym there being ‘APE’.” Sykes was raised in the UK with a deep passion for animals, surrounded by a menagerie of pets. “I said to Jane when we first met that I grew up a little bit jealous of Doctor Doolittle, being able to talk to animals. And she said, ‘So was I!’” Still, it was only through taking on her mission of global conservation that Sykes realised “how absolutely exceptional and extraordinary” Goodall’s life story really was. “That a young woman in the 1960s would go into an African jungle and start breaking scientific norms, and reinventing what people knew not just of chimps and apes but frankly of themselves… She really redefined what it meant to be human,” Sykes says. Escaping to the wilderness of Tanzania’s Gombe National Park in 1960, accompanied by her ever-supportive mother Vanne, Goodall certainly felt out of her depth. Passionate but inexperienced, and without any academic background, she was mentored by the palaeontologist Louis Leakey to observe the Kasakela chimpanzee community as closely as possible. In a 2004 BBC Horizon interview, Goodall recounted her first impression of Gombe. “I looked up at the hillside with the thick valleys of forest in between and I remember thinking, How will I find the chimps? I felt so tiny, a young girl out on her own in the forest.” For weeks, any of the animals that Goodall spotted would run away from her in fear: “They had never seen a white ape before; they were horrified.” Her first friend was David Greybeard — a male chimp who she spotted dangling a piece of straw into the opening of a termite hill, before withdrawing it and slurping the insects up. Goodall’s observation that chimpanzees made and used tools – like this nifty fishing implement – was one of many revelations that traits believed to be uniquely human were in fact shared by our genetic cousins. Her findings were disregarded at first by the primate ethology establishment: “There were a few who said, ‘Well she must have taught them.’ That would have been very clever of me, I must say.” Refusing to call the chimps by a number, Goodall named members of the community as she got to know them. Each personality revealed a new lesson about their species — and ours. Flo and Gigi, the society’s high-ranking females, proved that chimps expressed love and connection like any human might: kissing, hugging, tickling and comforting their young. The “demonic male” Frodo revealed his species’ darker, more violent side, captured in Goodall’s account of the 1974–78 Gombe Chimpanzee War. “I think the sad part is,” Goodall told the BBC years later, “that having observed that sequence of events in which the larger community completely annihilated the smaller one and then took back the territory … that just made the chimps seem even more like us than I’d ever thought before.” Goodall and her contemporaries Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas were pioneering female primatologists, referred to collectively as “the Trito be an asset in the quiet, observational work of gaining the chimp society’s confidence. She reasoned that females may be more socially conditioned or predisposed by evolution than male scientists to exhibit the care and respect necessary for bonding with the potentially volatile animals. “We’re all compulsive doers now, aren’t we?” Sykes says. “If she had not had that patience to sit for many, many months of stillness and nothingness as the apes bid a hasty retreat, we wouldn’t know what we know today.” Due in part to Goodall’s influence, primatology is one of the few scientific fields that is dominated by women mates.” Goodall’s work in particular made waves – although press attention often focused more on her perceived sex appeal than her remarkable research. (‘Chimp Watcher Is Young, Attractive and Dedicated,’ drooled one 1962 headline.) This apparently didn’t bother her as long as it brought more eyes to her mission. When Sykes asked Goodall how she dealt with sexist assertions that she’d only got headlines “because she had good legs,” Goodall retorted, “Well, frankly, if they got me and the chimps an audience, so be it!” In fact, Goodall felt her womanhood today. The Jane Goodall Institute (JGIA) was founded in 1977, a signal of Goodall’s growing passion for global environmentalism — and Australia was near the top of her list. Goodall once told Sykes that if she had to be a chimp in captivity, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is where she’d hope to spend her days. But both women warn that our country’s defining love of our flora and fauna hides a neglected underbelly of ecological destruction. Australians are I did have good legs. And “a nature-loving, bush-bashing mob as far as the international community is see GOODALL page 13
12 GROUNDCOVER NEWS ARTS + CULTURE The Leni Sinclair space-time continuum One of the problems with writing an article about famed photographer Leni Sinclair is: WHERE TO BEGIN? Should I start the narrative in 1945 when Leni’s mother and four little kids fled war-ravaged Germany and evacuated by boat? Or should the story begin now, today at The Detroit Historical Museum where Leni Sinclair is being honored with a year-long exhibition titled “LENI: Looking Through The Lens?” No matter how you examine it, Leni Sinclair’s body of work is staggeringly accomplished with over 65,000 published photographs in hundreds of books, magazines and newspapers. Leni’s personal history is so vast it could easily fill all 16 pages of Groundcover News. First impression I met Leni in August 2004 at Detroit’s Eastern Market. I was playing an accordion when she dropped a few bucks into my tip basket then proceeded to relay a story about a keyboardist who got discovered while busking Detroit’s Farmers market, “A traveling band picked him up and took him on tour with them. They even recorded several albums together.” Rewind ... I first saw Leni’s photographs in 1976 when I was in ninth grade. My older brother gave me a copy of the Ann Arbor Sun newspaper and I read it cover to cover not realizing Leni’s photography adorned its pages. Going online it is easy to access much information regarding Leni Sinclair’s career however, I’m interested in the stories unavailable on social media. TS: Do you remember the first picture you ever took? LS: Yes, in 1958. TS: Do you still have it? LS: Yes, it was taken from the roof of the Cathedral in Cologne. TS: Your family fled East Germany while the Russians were aggressively exacting revenge by land and sea. You arrived in Detroit 1959. How would you summarize those 13 years (age 5-18)? LS: Our family moved to the Baltic region then Poland. Basically moved around for six months while the war was ending. We resettled in Valdorf. I went to school and worked at the collective farm. At about eight I entered a contest of who could pick the most potato bugs which were destroying the crops. I won a radio and that’s how we were able to hear Radio Free Europe and American Jazz. When Joseph Stalin died I was around 13 and our school held an assembly. TOMMY SPAGHETTI Groundcover vendor No. 669 SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 At a solemn moment, one boy made a remark, “Let us all lower our heads for five minute thinking of Stalin.” Everyone cracked up laughing because it was a religious sentiment while Stalin was famously an atheist. The authorities were furious and refused to let anyone leave until we outed the perpetrator. Well, no one would snitch on him and eventually they had to let us go in the evening before the last train. Also I was denied a high school graduation certificate because I refused to disavow my faith. TS: Which faith? LS: Baptist. They wanted me to sign a piece of paper denouncing it and I refused. Fast forward … TS: The current exhibition at the Detroit Historical Museum showcases 48, 20”x16” photographs. How did you arrive at those 48 out of 65,000? LS: The curators were interested in the photos depicting early 1960’s Jazz musicians in Detroit. Also the underground Rock and Roll music scene from the mid 1960’s. TS: Do you have a favorite photograph? LS: John Coltrane Drome Lounge 1966 TS: That’s your picture! LS: Yes, Celia, my daughter was reading the New York Times and she saw this advertisement. I contacted the manager and they asked me what I wanted for use of the picture and I said ‘a trip to Lagos’ and that’s how I got to be in Lagos, Nigeria as a guest of Fela’s family. TS: Let’s rewind … Back in the 1960s when you were taking pictures did you ever imagine they would someday be lauded as historical document? LS: No, we were busy rushing to meet publication deadlines in the 5th Estate and Ann Arbor Sun newspapers. When I first approached Leni about TS: Why is it your favorite photograph? LS: He’s my favorite Artist. TS: Which photograph is at the doing a benefit for her (November 2025) she declined, stating, “We should do a benefit for JC Crawford, he lost his home and everything in the Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria? LS: Fela Anikulapu Kuti, Fox Theater, 1986. [pictured above] TS: How did they find you? LS: That’s kind of a long story... It has to do with the movie “Finding Fela” by Alex Gibney. Jamaican Hurricane in October." JC Crawford was the spiritual advisor to The MC5 (led by Leni's husband John Sinclair) and like a true 1960s idealist Leni Sinclair is more concerned about others. December 14, 2025 Leni slipped on her ice-covered driveway and fell breaking her tibia, the bone just below her right knee. June 14, 2026 Leni suffered a stroke exactly six months after — just when she was recovering from the broken tibia. Recently when her car took a big shit and died Leni acquiesced. “We could use some help.” Beni-for-Leni Organizing a benefit for Leni Sinclair wasn’t difficult. Jeff Grand was the first musician I called and he contacted Adam Brook & Tino Gross. With Brennan Andes on bass guitar it will be the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH! Monday, November 2, 7-10 p.m. at The Shop, 23305 Dequindre Rd, Hazel Park. Maddy Ringo and Kira Blue performing together will be exquisite. Richie & The Plainsmen from Low and Behold Records plus Jesse Macintosh and The Terraplane Review from Grand Rapids. Beni-for-Leni will attempt to raise awareness and financial support for this truly inspirational eminent artist in our midst.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 CONTINUED GOODALL from page 11 In accordance with one of Goodall’s concerned,” Sykes says, “but the truth is, we are the most urbanised nation on earth. Almost 90 per cent of us live in a coastal city, quite disconnected from nature.” Australia has the dubious honour of holding the planet’s worst mammalian extinction record, and Sykes points out that some of our most culturally prized furry friends are considered vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. “You’re looking at greater gliders, mountain pygmy possums, the northern hairy-nose wombat, koalas for goodness’ sake, the platypus,” she says. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” In nearly two decades of operation, the JGIA has kept hope alive by following its namesake’s optimistic yet pragmatic values. “Jane was never about being defeated by those overwhelming issues,” Sykes believes. “But it’s not passive-cross-your-fingers-hope; it’s hope with its sleeves rolled up. It’s a call to action, right? The antidote to despair is action – doing something about it.” final wishes, the JGIA has set into motion a “soil-under-the-nails learning” programme titled Rewild Your World, empowering children from kindergarten to Year 12 (ages four to 18) to engage with conservation and, ideally, follow in the late primatologist’s wildlife warrior footsteps. “We must aim for this to become quite mainstream environmental education in all schools, frankly,” Sykes says, “because Jane believed very, very deeply in the power of children to herald a different future.” The benefits of the educational programme are various: developing green corridors that practically aid wildlife; offering schools a free, structured approach to learning about conservation beyond the classroom setting; and perhaps addressing eco-anxiety, at a time when youth mental health is in crisis. “This is agency, empowerment, a toolkit to make it different,” Sykes says. “There’s simply nothing better you can do for the health and wellbeing of young minds.” Speaking on ABC’s 7.30 Report in 2024, Goodall specifically addressed the towering challenge faced by local environmental advocates. “I have seen so many places where nature has been completely destroyed by human activities,” she said. “Give that place time and maybe some help, and nature will return. So, the message in Australia will be: you have done immense harm, but it’s not too late.” Sykes shares the same faith, even as the JGIA faces an uncertain transitional period in the wake of Goodall’s death. “There is a heck of a lot riding on this, and I do feel the weight of it on my shoulders,” she says of Rewild Your World’s continuation, “because it feels to me truly, immensely important that, together, we continue Jane’s work. We might have lost Jane, but we must not lose the impact that she brought to the world, and we’ve got to do it now.” The CEO is upfront about the support needed to bring Rewild Your World to Australia’s students, parents, schools and landscapes, and the broader need for environmental awareness and action, on Australia’s shores and beyond. The problem can feel impossibly daunting, like Goodall’s early days as a “tiny, young” girl standing before the thick, dark jungle. And so, in the face of this monumental uncertainty, it seems timely to bring up something completely different. There is an urban legend about a 1987 cartoon by American cartoonist Gary Larson for his comic strip The Far Side. It depicts two chimpanzees sitting on a tree branch, one grooming the other. “Well, well, another blonde hair,” the ape in the back scowls: “Conducting a little more ‘research’ with that Jane Goodall tramp?” The story goes that the Jane Goodall Institute disapproved of the gag, only for Goodall herself to later declare that she personally thought it was hilarious. Sykes hasn’t heard of the incident. But she laughs on Goodall’s behalf. “That was exactly her sense of humour,” Sykes says. “She would’ve loved that.” Courtesy of The Big Issue Australia / INSP.ngo GROUNDCOVER NEWS 13 PETS from page 9 If I opened a can of food right now, she'd be in here cussing at me. And I'd cuss right back at her.” He added, “I affectionately call her my little attention whore. Because she has this routine: she'll eat, and then she's gonna want you to love on her. Gotta get the whole package.” “Yeah. I like cats," I shared. “I'm not a big fan of dogs.” Josh responded, “If you had asked me before I got her, I would have told you I was a dog person. I don't like cleaning the litter box.” “Yeah, that part,” I said. “That's primarily why I don't want to have a dog, because I don't want to clean up its poop.” “See, I can deal with that. I'll take the dog out as much as it needs and I'll clean up after it. I don't have to worry about it in the house.” “That makes sense,” I responded. Josh continued, “But topic: ‘Look,’ I said, ‘you just told me you got another dog. Right. You know Angel doesn't like other pets or kids at all. Right. You see how happy she is here. Let's make this her happy home and her forever home, and you guys come see her whenever you want to.’ She told me she would have to talk to her daughter about it, and the next time I heard from her was a month and a half later with ‘How’s Angel?’ After that much time has passed, they're obviously not that interested in getting her back so as far as I'm concerned, she's mine.” Then I asked Josh, “When you brought Angel to live with you, did you have to do anything special with the landlord?” Josh confided, “They didn’t know I then they found a place to live and the cat couldn't come with them. By then, you know, I was too attached. So I brought up the fact — well, she had been gone for two months, you know what I'm saying? Hadn't even called or anything in two months. And when she showed up, Angel was laying on the bed, and then pulled one of her ‘F this shit, I'm out’ moments. Angel treated her like she was a stranger and ran and hid under the bed. I used that as a kind of leverage, you know. So I broached the had her at first, but things have a way of working out for me. I ended up needing some maintenance in my apartment. This was after she had been here for months. And they ask if you have a pet because they come in and out and don’t want to let it escape. The work I needed done was in the bathroom where I kept the litter box. There's no way I'm gonna hide that litter box. I'm not gonna try to. Right. So I went up to the office and told them it was only supposed to be a couple-aweeks thing. I was told ‘Don’t worry about it.’ But it's supposed to be a $250 non-refundable fee and $25 extra a month. But I am going to have her certified as an emotional support animal so they can’t change their mind and charge me and/or make me get rid of her.” Then Josh shared this thought, “The first two pets that I wanted were shot down immediately by a certain individual (referring to his partner Janice). My first choice was a monkey. I wanted a little Capuchin monkey. A friend of mine back in the '90s had one of them, and he used to dress it up in clothes. It was so cute. But she said no. And then I met Pastor Anna's pet pig. Fun fact. I was in my 40s and didn't know that they had pigs with hair! And I also learned that they can be litter-boxtrained. So I just imagined hanging out on the couch and watching TV with my pet pig.” “That would be so cute,” I commented. “That would be Facebook-worthy.” I confronted his partner about this: “Hey Janice,” I said. “Yeah?” she replied. “How come you won't let Josh have a monkey?” I asked. “Yeah, why can't I have a monkey?” chimed Josh. “He doesn't need a monkey,” said Janice. “Not even an emotional support monkey?” I pleaded. “Yeah. It'll be just like the episode of Friends,” Josh threw in. “No,”’she said firmly. “No? He wants a pig too,” I tried. “No. Just no. No pig either,” said Janice adamantly. “But pigs are clean,” I countered. “No, no piggies,” she declared. I was defeated. Josh brought us back to reality. “I have to think about my son, though, he's non-verbal autistic. “This is what goes through my mind right? Like with a monkey. I just imagine I look over there and he's got the monkey by the neck.” (Josh imitates a child throttling a monkey.) “Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah! Just trying to figure out what the heck it is because he's so confused.” “Right,” I agreed, “yeah, that image. Well, okay then, so probably not a monkey.” Josh agreed, “Right, not a monkey.” If you are interested in helping a neighbor experiencing homelessness with their animal companion, you can call the Humane Society of Huron Valley at (734) 661-3550 for pet food assistance, emergency care support, or their Friends for Life program which coordinates food, medicine, and general support between friends and neighbors with the needs of homeless pets. Also available is the Pet Pals Mutual Aid Network, a Washtenaw County grassroots group that runs a no-barrier pet food pantry for unhoused, housing-insecure and low-income pet owners at Peace House, 706 Davis St., Ypsi (currenly 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.). You can check their updates and community work via the Pet Pals Mutual Aid Facebook Page.
14 GROUNDCOVER NEWS PUZZLES EAT, DRINK, and BE MERRY 1 14 17 20 23 26 33 37 41 44 34 38 42 45 48 53 58 61 64 54 59 62 65 55 56 46 49 47 50 57 60 63 66 51 52 39 43 27 2 3 4 5 15 18 21 24 28 35 29 22 25 30 36 40 31 32 6 7 8 9 10 16 19 Peter Collins 13 11 12 SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 ACROSS 1. Muted trumpet wail 5. Bring together 10. Olympic blade 14. Get __ writing 15. Homeowner's health risk 16. Take a look inside? 17. Pre-Easter season 18. Lawyer's filing 19. The "C" of "TLC" 20. Fall offering 23. Yoko of music 24. Alex and ___ (jewelry brand) 25. Dorm overseers 26. Gala offering 33. Plant in a new container 35. Snake eyes 36. Crossed (out) 37. Mideast nation 38. Falafel holders 40. Berry touted as a superfood 41. Top the field 42. Three squared 43. Mature 44. Spartan offering 48. Chap 49. Notable time 50. "Help!" letters 53. After-school offering 58. Spiritual guide 59. Bike wheel component 60. Foretell 61. OPEC member 62. Home of the Dalai Lama 63. Once again 64. Billiard table cover 65. Laundry detergent add-in 66. Lith. and Lat., once DOWN 1. Roger ___ 2. Cooked at home 3. You can see right through it 4. Put a chip in a pot 5. Sophisticated 6. "The Chronicles of ___" 7. Concise confession 8. ___ the line 9. Administers, as laws 10. "My dog ate my homework," for one 11. Kind of fall 12. Big parts of elephants 13. Look over 21. Let off steam 22. Informal refusals 27. Charged particle 28. Eminent 29. ___ lab 30. Short journeys 31. Zoo barker 32. Computer command 33. Location close to the stage 34. Muslim title 38. Billy Joel and Alicia Keys, for two 39. B&B alternative 40. Fruity drink suffix 42. Mont. neighbor 43. Tiny bit 45. Quantity 46. Undermine 47. Will of "Arrested Development" 51. Less fresh 52. Distorts, as data 53. Medical remedy 54. Type of exam 55. Long narrative poem 56. Beverage brand with a lizard logo 57. Some CEOs' degrees 58. Internet image file, familiarly Originally published in the July 2022 edition of Groundcover News. ANNA L S PUZZLE SOLUTIONS September 4, 2026 edition S P A W O K TO U P E E IW I N R C A O N L I NE C AN O P I E S P O L A ND O NO U T AH R O S I N CE S S N A RE M I X R I G HT S A W E S AC E L A AT V PO ST M E N L E S A B R E S K A A NI M A Q UI T AC E S I T A UT O S A N T L E R D O U L A L E AP V E G S I RR AH B AR O N AG E A S I AG O U T E P T A S GO U GE S M O S RE D E N S U RE
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 POETRY Cartesian The Many Names I Am MONIQUE CALDWELL Groundcover contributor I entered this world as someone's daughter, a small hand reaching toward a future I could not yet imagine. Soon, I became a sister, learning that love could mean sharing space, sharing burdens, sharing pieces of myself. I was a student, collecting answers, a friend, collecting memories, a girlfriend, then a wife, building homes inside the hearts of others. Later, I became a mother, holding a universe in my arms, giving endlessly from a well I believed would never run dry. Life left its marks. Trauma taught me survival. Grief introduced me to empty chairs, silent phones, and names spoken only in memory. Still, I kept giving. I became the one who checked if everyone was okay before asking the same of herself. Piece by piece, I poured myself into the people I loved until the reflection looking back at me felt familiar yet unknown. So now I stand in the quiet aftermath, not searching for another title, not another role to fill. I am learning that beneath daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, survivor, there is still a woman waiting to be known. By realizing who I am meant to be begins not with becoming someone new, but finally coming home to myself. PEDRO CAMPOS Groundcover vendor No. 652 Earth is A Sphere. Some say. It is Flat. On one Line. And Point. Before the point There is void. Move forward — Beyond the three Dimensions — there is Time. By many, A fourth dimension. You have thought Around functions: What is in function Of what? Especially When it touches A matrix. From there, The concept Descends Into parallel Universes. This poem is simple, Unfinished, Yet polished. JOSEPH SCREIBER Groundcover vendor No. 705 A lone leaf was spinning on the wind Looking for a beautiful place to catch some sunshine The leaf spotted a gorgeous lake on its incredible journey to the ground The leaf found its new home … The Lakes And The Leaves The next day two leaves were flying on the wind When they spotted their friend floating on the lake The leaves found their new home The Lakes And The Leaves One day later 4 leaves floated onto the lake Then 8 the next day Then 16 after that Then 32 the day after that day The Lakes And The Leaves After 27 days only 3 percent of the lake was covered by leaves At day 28 a quarter of the lake is covered with leaves Day 29 half of the lake is completely covered in the leaves And day 30? The whole lake is covered in leaves The Lake And The Leaves GROUNDCOVER NEWS Exponentially Falling 15 anarchy loosed JAY COOPER Groundcover contributor Lotos tongues hold each other Maroon dreams on melancholy wake Cast into the sea, and wish for bounte Sink with serene acceptance, and haul heavy hopes aboard tension, slack, rhythm, harmony, Fool hearts on fendered hulls, spy for crisp, salt, camaraderie "Sails!" Be they friend or foe? Courage roll the hard six Will we not wander more?
16 GROUNDCOVER NEWS FOOD Meatballs BEN FOSTER Groundcover contributor Ingredients 10 cloves garlic, minced 1 bunch parsley, chopped Olive oil 15 slices white bread, crusts removed Whole milk 5lb Ground beef 5 eggs, lightly beaten Fennel seeds, chopped/pulverized Salt Pepper Oregano Directions Saute garlic in olive oil for a few minutes. Add parsley and continue sauteeing for a minute or until wilted. Set aside and let cool to room temp. Prepare your bread paste. A feast for the eyes and ears as well as the stomach. Chop up the slices of bread and put them in a large bowl. Pour enough milk over the bread so that the bread is just saturated with milk. Mix with your hands to form a paste. If the bread is still swimming in milk just strain some of it out. You want something like oatmeal consistency. I usually give the fennel seeds a rough chop on the cutting board which invariably sends about a quarter of them flying into the abyss, so maybe crush them up with a mortar and pestle or pulse with a food processor or just leave them whole. Use a large bowl or some other container (I use a big hotel pan) for mixing the meatballs. Before we begin: Don’t over mix. Just get things well distributed. Overmixing your meatballs = tough and dry meatballs. Combine ground beef, bread paste, eggs, (room temp) garlic and parsley. Add salt, pepper, oregano and fennel Wednesdays in Ann Arbor: Free showers 1 0 a.m.-12 p.m.: First Baptist Church, Ann Arbor, 517 E Washington St. 48104 Free lunch 12 -1 p.m.: Liberty Plaza, Ann Arbor 310 S. Division Street, 48104 seeds to taste.* I usually throw this mix into the fridge for an hour or so to “set up” which makes meatballs easier to roll and stay together in the pan, but if you don’t have the time you can skip this step. Form the meatballs. I can’t really tell you how to do this. Develop your own special meatball forming routine. Mine ends with what looks like rolling some dice to sort of round off the edges of the meatball ... it's hard to put into words. Again, just like with mixing the meatballs, don’t overwork the mix by rolling the hell out of them to achieve the perfect spherical meatball shape. If you want perfectly round but terribly tasting meatballs just get the frozen ones from meijer. Just get a cohesive thing that resembles a meatball. Brown balls slowly in a pan with olive oil. I flip them after a couple minutes, my dad usually shakes the pan to get them to move around. If you have a pot of sauce going (check out the recipe from September 4) remove the meatballs while they still have a little ways to go and throw them in the sauce to finish cooking. *By “to taste” I mean, make a couple of test meatballs and adjust the seasoning after tasting those. Mine usually need more salt and more fennel seeds. Wednesdays in Ypsi: Free showers and laundry, 3-5 p.m.: First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, 300 N Washington St. 48197 Free Dinner 5-6 p.m.: First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, 300 N Washington St. 48197 SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 fed-up ministries SCHEDULE LiftUp Worship 6-7 p.m.: First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, 300 N Washington St. 48197 Thursdays: Free lunch 2:30-4 p.m.: Peace Neighborhood HUB Center, 1515 S. Harris Rd., Ypsilanti 48198 Second Saturday of the Month: Free lunch, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Pullover Prevention Mutual Aid Fair. Rotating location, usually Ypsilanti. PHONE (734) 994 - 9174 • PEOPLESFOOD.COOP NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI 216 N. FOURTH AVENUE ANN ARBOR, MI MAKE MEALS YOU LOVE! Fresh ingredients to $5 OFF 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. 10/16/2026 OFFER EXPIRES 5/30/2026
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