Honors for You…An ABC-123 Open Letter of Help to Young Students
By TaShawn Moore
A.B.C’s and 1.2.3’s are just simply – OBJECTIVITY!!! “A” is the object of what you are to become – An honor roll student. An “A” student is focused and willing to work hard for what they want to become wherein, they develop an amazing purpose in the lives of family, friends, teachers and others.
“B” is the object of making good decisions. This will carry you far in becoming ALL YOU CAN BE!!! Be what your Maker designed you to become. Be dedicated to school and your circumstances to make a bright future for yourself.
“C” is the object of looking within oneself and seeing themselves in a positive view.
This positive track will get YOU where you want to be in the future.
As for the 1,2,3’s; these are the objectives of simple addition, multiplication, subtraction and fractions – with this in mind, CONFIGURE an attitude that will give you the TRUE value worth of your life!
With that ALL being said – Stay motivated, focused, positive and bright eyed for a new way of thinking!!
Tashawn Moore is originally from Washington DC. and currently employed by Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in North Minneapolis as a second grade tutor for an outstanding title one program, called Academic Achievement Program; targeting students that fall below the grade average in reading and math with in school tutoring and after school tutoring for qualified students that attend Bethune Elementary School. She has an Associates Degree in Computer Network Administration and is attending Rasmussen College pursuing an Early Childhood Education Degree. Passion, Motivation and Willingness to see children succeed to their highest potential has been a lifetime goal of hers.
Does Arson + “Accident” + Collusion = Demolition on Christmas Eve?
By Harvey Winje, Editor
The house once owned by Pauline Feldje, the maker of the first Minnesota Flag and other historic, cultural artistic productions, has been a controversial subject as the current owner wanted it demolished for parking until it was placed under a moratorium until its historic significance could be documented and evaluated.
Then there was a “fire”; apparently arson. Then a material delivery “accident” caused more damage to the building. So a building inspector conveniently declared the building “unsafe” and ordered it demolished on Christmas Eve when people, of course, are preoccupied and least likely to be aware or able to respond.
Proving, once again, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
Subsequently, the following week, the house was declared having Substantial “Historic Status” by the Historic Preservation Commission; “a day week late and a dollar short.” Don’tcha lovbe it “when a plan comes together?”
Moment of Silence
By Peter Molenaar
Even as these words are written, another beneath the rubble has given up the ghost. The remaining resistance is fading…
Flashback to 1803. Given a plague of wars, Napoleon Bonaparte’s France is a financial wreck. Concurrently, measures to maintain order in the lucrative sugar colony of Haiti are in jeopardy. Hence, the sale of some 828,000 square miles of “French territory” appears to be prudent (our own neighborhood is but a small parcel of this Louisiana Purchase). Every Haitian child knows the story.
Note: Following the logic of ancestral events, it appears that many of us owe our existence to the Haitian slave revolt!
Now see January 12, 2010. Nearly 12,000 registered nurses have volunteered for Haiti disaster relief—some 300 from Minnesota. They stand ready as the largest contingent of RN volunteers in U.S. history. National Nurses United is working around the clock to find deployment locations. “Medical facilities are completely overwhelmed…we are doing everything in our power to get these nurses engaged”, so states the NNU.
Time will tell. These nurses deserve a massive outpouring of respect from the whole of Organized Labor. They are the advanced guard of the moment. But the pitiful truth is, as of this writing, the logistics of deployment remain unresolved.
Now, flash back to 1804. The people of Haiti have the audacity to break their slave chains and to declare independence. Meanwhile, Lewis and Clark commence the expedition which paves the way for the westward expansion of the United States of America.
Yet beneath the imperial eye of the “master race”…
But again the French came knocking—this time to extort compensation for the “loss of property” i.e. payment for lost slaves (lives stolen from Africa) and payment for lost land (land stolen from the Arawak).
Question: How does a debt burden of $150 million Francs calculate over the course of two centuries? Every Haitian child knows the answer.
And so, what else? There was the U.S. military occupation (1915, 1934) followed by the big-time backing of the “Papa Doc”/”Baby Doc” ruthless dictatorships (conveniently anti-communist). More recently, there were two U.S. sponsored coups against elected governments and the imposition of a trade policy which forced the peasants from the land—yes, crammed them into Port-au-Prince, ultimately to be buried alive. A moment of silence, please.
WANTED: Male Mentors
By Raymond Jackson
Not only is Minneapolis in dire need of mentors for children, but cities throughout America are too. This is a need for all children, especially children of color and young boys. On Thursday December 10th, former editor of Essence magazine and founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, Ms. Susan Taylor, visited the Twin Cities to help launch the Minneapolis CARES Mentoring Movement. The Minneapolis CARES Mentoring Movement, founded by V.J. Smith, President of MAD DADS, an organization that reaches out to teens and young adults who are seeking alternatives to negative social interaction, is reaching out to the Twin Cities for help in locating mentors for the many parentless youth, searching for a brighter and more positive future. MAD DADS, Minneapolis Chapter, has existed for over ten years and has been very successful in turning lives around for the better! Mr. Smith says, “We are saving lives by helping young people not succumb to the negative forces around them! But we do need help in this effort, especially from men of color who have overcome the odds of not being successful. We need people to give just a few hours each month mentoring some of our children.”
Collaborators with Minneapolis CARES include, Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Twin Cities; Bolder Options; Kinship of Greater Minneapolis; The City of Minneapolis and Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota. Together they will host seven more mentor recruitment events in 2010.
The initial event, held on December 10, took place at The International Market Square, and featured Ms. Taylor as the keynote speaker. She spoke eloquently of the need for male mentors, most particularly, mentors of African American decent. She solemnly spoke of that loss in her life, and the struggles she faced as a result of it; a void that was very hard to fill. I later spoke with her during her book signing and she said, “we loose too many men to violence and incarceration, which leaves way too many children fatherless. The children are then swayed toward anything they see as a possible filling for that void in their lives. Often that turns out to be a negative void replacement. We need positive void replacements and black men must stop loosing their children through violence and incarceration.”
When speaking with Ms. Taylor you can sense the earnest concern she has for the children and the parents; which is why she started, The National CARES Mentoring Movement. America is seeing an alarmingly high rate of African Americans being incarcerated. Families being torn apart and children being left parentless. The vision for Ms. Taylor and Mr. Smith is to invite African Americans in Minneapolis to reach out to the African American children waiting on the collective list of local mentoring organizations. To get involved call: Big Brothers Big Sisters @ 651-789-2447; Bolder Options @ 612-379-2653; or Kinship @ 612 588-4655.
The next recruiting event will be February 12th, 11-5pm at the IDS Crystal Court, in downtown Minneapolis. The public is invited.
The Alley is Bound for the Future
30 Years of Alley Newspapers in One Set of 13 Volumes awaits trip to Franklin Library to be available to the community; printed on good, book paper and bound hard-covers.
Bound for the Future has two meanings for the Alley Newspaper in 2010: First, it means that the first 30 years of The Alley Newspaper’s issues are now reprinted on good quality book paper instead of lower quality newsprint paper, and the over 4,000 pages are bound into two sets of 13 hardcover volumes. One set is available to the public at the Central Library downtown on Hennepin Avenue and the other is available at the Franklin Library on Franklin Avenue. This making of The Alley’s into hardcover volumes was initiated by the Hennepin County Library. Alley Communications, the nonprofit that produces The Alley Newspaper, began raising money to have another set at the Franklin Library. An Alley volunteer spent a couple of hundred hours compiling a complete set for the Library to use for reprinting. Subsequent to the printing completion, the Library was able to use some left-over funds to pay for the Franklin Library set. This allowed The Alley to redirect the funds donated to date and, instead, broaden the public accessibility effort. The next tasks are to have the whole set microfilmed for availability at the Minnesota Historical Society and then to pursue having the first 34 years of The Alley digitized for the ultimate accessibility and ease for reproduction in subsequent issues or for research use. Simultaneously, Sue Hunter Weir, is beginning the task of indexing all past Alley Newspapers. So, keep those cards and letters coming with donations for the Alley archiving project because we are certainly Bound for the Future!
Secondly, Bound for the Future means that The Alley has survived for 34 years and is setting a course to continue publishing this community owned and governed newspaper on into 2010 and into the future while many small and large newspaper are ceasing production. This community governed media vehicle continues to follow its mission to allow neighbors to “talk to each other,” “inform and engage” local residents and workers,” advocate for causes of peace and justice, and invite everyone to “tell me a story.”
We’re excited and cautious about this continuation. While there is great encouragement to continue publishing and to find the means to provide the financial support of this endeavor, it is a daunting task. We’re strengthened to do the job knowing it is a valuable resource and that so many people read the paper and depend on it to be available to fulfill specific, respective purposes.
We invite others to help continue in this task by doing jobs attractive and appropriate to them as we expand our coverage of stories important to our current readers and, indeed, bring along other readers by including additional topics of interest. Please help The Alley to continue holding a vision of the future for the Phillips Community and beyond and to implement that vision. We are still looking for Board Members to help to guide our work, donations of money and articles, advertisers, and constructive critique. We appreciate hearing from our readers. You can reach as at alleynews.org or 612-990-4022. All of us at Alley Communications wish you times of hope and joy in 2010.
January Phillips What? Where? Contest
Photo #1: It’s a sign? Yes, that’s obvious. The question remains a sign of what? by whom? for what? Tell it all and your name goes in the drawing. It was a Model project in the 60’s, closed, then opened, closed then?
Photo #2: It’s a building? Yes, that’s obvious. What building? Where is it? Whose building? What’s it for? What’s rising out of the top? A long, notoriously substandard sidewalk belonged to this property which certainly was a contradiction of its Owner.
Tell us the What and Where of these 2 photos correctly and win a chance for a drawing of a $20.00 Gift Certificate at Welna Hardware 2438 Bloomington Avenue.
See the captions on the photos to the right for the January Hints.
Get all of the answers of #1 correct and you’re in that drawing.
Get all of the answers of #2 correct and you’re in that drawing.
Get all of the answers of #1 & #2 correct and you’re in both drawings.
So, you may win a $10 gift certificate or possibly 2 $10. gifts certificates to Welna Hardware 2438 Bloomington Avenue
Winners from the December Contest:
Lisa Donovan-Larson, Eloise Funmaker, Geralyn Little Wolf, and Brenda Morrow. All got the two photos correct in December. The top photo is one of two tipis with symbolic turtles, eagles, and flowers, recently erected at 25th and Cedar at Little Earth of United tribes. Here is what Little Earth leader, Bill Ziegler, says about them.
The Winner of the Drawing is Geralyn Little Wolf
“The idea concept was the vision of the Residents of Little Earth. Little Earth is the only Indian Preference housing community in the nation that is located in an urban setting, yet, when driving by there was really nothing visually that showed that. The Tipi sculptures are our effort to 1)show, through the most universally recognizable traditional home, that this community is Native, 2)foster internal pride, and 3)they just look good. “The designer/architect was Dennis Sun Rhodes from Great Horse Group architecture firm. Built and installed by one of Dennis’s sub-contractors.”
The juxtaposed photo beneath the tipis in December was the same photo that no one guesse3d in November. It is roof framework at the NE corner of the new Open Arms Minnesota building at 25th and Bloomington. (See December Alley page 1 Open Arms MN article and photos. These two locations are exactly four blocks apart and each are the skeletal framework inherent in two distinctly different types of shelter.
What’s Up at the Franklin Library-January 2010
By Erin Thomasson
Children’s Programs
Cuentos y Canciones/World Language Storytime: Spanish
Thur., Jan. 7–Feb. 25, 6 p.m. Para niños de 2 años en adelante. Comparta y disfrute con sus niños libros, cuentos, rimas y música en español. Ages 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes and music in Spanish.
Origami Fun!
Sat., Jan. 9, 3:30 p.m.
Grades 1 and up. Learn this nifty paper-folding art from local master Daniel Kluver. Leave with your pockets full of animals!
Sheeko Caruur Af-Soomaali ah/World Language Storytime: Somali
Tuesdays, Jan. 12, 19 & 26, 6:30–7:30 p.m. La wadaag bugagga, sheekoyinka, jaan-gooyada maansada iyo muusikada Soomaalida. Waxaa lagu maalgaliyey deeq ay For children ages 2 and up. Experience the world in other languages.
Celebrate Winter
Fri., Jan. 15, 4 p.m.
Kindergarten and up. Join us for winter-themed stories and crafts!
Minnesota Rocks!
Fri., Jan. 22, 3 p.m.
Kindergarten and up. Granite, slate, sandstone… oh, those rocks! What are they like? Where are they found? Are there fake rocks? Solve rock mysteries and create a piece of rock art to take home. Materials provided.
Kids Book Club
Fri., Jan. 29, 4 p.m.
Grades 4-6. Join other kids to talk about a great book! No pre-reading required! We will share a story and discuss.
Read the rest of this entry »
James Womack and Frances Collier Womack “Happy Trails to You, Until We Meet Again”
James Womack was the grand-uncle of Roy Rogers. Roy Rogers, born in OH, to Andrew and Mattie Womack Slye and named Leonard Franklin Slye; went west in 1931 as a would be musician. In less than two years, he’d co-founded the greatest Western singing group of all time, the Sons of the Pioneers, and four years later, he’d started a career as a movie star with a new name, Roy Rogers. Apparently, a cowboy hero couldn’t be known as Slye. The name “Rogers” came from Will Rogers and “Roy” came from a list. He made his debut in “Under Western Stars”; with Roy Rogers as a new star, and his horse, Trigger.
By Sue Hunter Weir
Those of us who grew in the late 1940s and 1950s, in the age of black and white movies and television, are all familiar with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, King and Queen of the West. At the end of their weekly television show, they signed off by singing “Happy Trails to You,” a song written by Dale. Even now, most of us can still sing the song by heart. Believe it or not, that song has an interesting connection (albeit a somewhat remote one) to Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery.
James Tignal Womack was born in Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky in 1835. During the Civil War, on October 15, 1861, he enlisted in the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He was forced to resign his commission as a 1st Lieutenant a year later due to poor health. In a letter written to his colonel, Womack wrote that he had “been labouring under a disease of the Breast for the last six months, and which has been so severe of late as to Render Me totally unfit for duty…” He was given an honorable discharge for disability on October 10, 1862.
It is not clear exactly when Womack moved to Minnesota, but by 1870, he was living and farming in Hennepin County. He married Frances Elizabeth Collier, and they had at least seven children, one of whom died at the age of two and is buried next to his parents in the cemetery.
Womack was only one of at least eight men from the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry to settle in Minnesota, although he was the only one to settle in Hennepin County. Marlitta Perkins, Regimental Historian of the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, speculated that, because Womack arrived in Minnesota either during, or soon after the end of, the Civil War, it is likely that he had “Union sympathies in a family who had also Confederate leanings.” Two of James Womack’s cousins, who were brothers, fought on opposite sides during the war, something that was not all that uncommon for families living in border states. Archer Womack fought on the Union side, and Egbert Womack fought for the Confederacy; their father, William, was jailed for his secessionist views.
Over the years, the two branches of the family seem to have continued going down separate paths. There are a lot of Womacks on the internet looking for family connections; the majority of them are descendants of Egbert Womack and are connected to the Sons of the Confederacy. But, both branches of the family trace their lineage back to a man named James Tignal Womack, who was not “our” James Tignal Womack, but his grandfather.
Whatever the differences that divided the family so many years ago, there is one family tie that transcends those differences. Archer Womack, James’ cousin, was the grandfather of Roy Rogers, a connection is a considerable source of family pride. “Our” James Womack was Roy’s grand-uncle. James Womack is buried in Lot O, Lot 31, next to his wife Frances, and their son, Roland. And, since many of you are probably thinking it anyway, it seems fitting to sign off with the Womack family’s farewell song—“Happy Trails to You.”
SEARCHING – a Serial Novelle: CHAPTER 10: Abuela
By Patrick Cabello Hansel
“Mr. Bussey, I never used to believe in ghosts”, Angel said, as he wiped up his coffee with the napkins the waitress had brought. The other patrons at Maria’s had gone back to their meals.
“Oh, I’d listen to my abuela when she told us stories about the spirits” he went on, “and when she made her special bread and chocolate for El Día de los Muertos. She always said that our family was descended from Aztec warriors and Spanish conquistadors, and that the blood in us was really angel fire. Crazy stuff like that. But I didn’t think much about it until these last couple of weeks.”
“What happened to change your mind?” Mr. Bussey asked.
“All this weird stuff has been happening to me. First I heard an owl calling from the cemetery…”
“The sign of death”, Mr. Bussey interrupted.
“Yeah—but whose? Then I met this girl named Luz, who I think likes me too. I almost got killed by…well, I don’t know who did it, only that I was beaten unconscious, and Luz’ uncle Jaime, and some guy named Ahmed carried me to this house where a woman named Mother Light lives.”
“Mother Light—who lives over by Cedar, a healer I think.”
“Yes! How do you know that?”
Mr. Bussey smiled and ate a piece of his corn pancake. “Oh, you’d be surprised what I know”.
“So anyway, Mother Light tells me not to go see Luz yet, but to search for who wants me dead, and who wants me alive. And somehow I run into you, and you tell me about a ghost who’s half Mexican wandering around my old neighborhood, a ghost of a boy who has an owl birthmark on his neck. What is all this?”
“What do you think?”
“I think it has something to do with this strange word I’ve heard. Twice now, I’ve heard this word, once when no one was there, and once said by a funny looking guy.”
“What’s the word?” Mr. Bussey asked.
“Lotten. I have no idea what that means”, Angel said.
“Sounds German to me. Or maybe Swedish” Mr. Bussey laughed. “There are a few old Swedes still hanging around here.”
The waitress came over and filled their coffee cups.
“It is Swedish”, she said. “It means ‘let’”.
“Let?” Angel and Mr. Bussey said, simultaneously. They both thought they should pinky swear, for good luck, but neither mentioned it.
“Yes, ‘let’, like ‘let it happen’, or ‘let there be light;”, she answered, and walked away.
Mr. Bussey and Angel looked at each other for awhile. Finally the teacher spoke: “There’s the light again: Luz, Mother Light, let there be light”.
“Yeah”, Angel replied, “but where do I go looking for light?”
“Is your grandmother still alive?”, he asked.
“Yes. She lives in Guanajuato.”, Angel said.
“Maybe you should talk to her”.
“I’d like to, but…well, I’m kind of not staying with my folks anymore, and I don’t have a phone.”
“You can buy a phone card cheap”, Mr. Bussey said, as he stood up from the table and stretched a yawn out. “I get mine at that little store next to Taco Taxi.”
“How do you know about this stuff?” Angel asked, amazed.
“I’m a history teacher, remember?” he laughed. “By the way, what’s your abuela’s name?”
“Socorro…Socorro Cruz”, and then Angel’s lip trembled a little. “Soccorro Cruz Hidalgo”.
“I thought so. Looks like you and our little ghost Mateo Kelly Hidalgo might be related. Good luck”, he laughed. “Or should I say ‘lotten luck to you’?”
“Shut up!” Angel replied, and headed south again, towards the winter sun.
Patrick Cabello Hansel, creative & amiable poet, author, dramatist, and pastor (and so, too, Luisa Cabello Hansel) St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – 28th Street and 15th Ave. in Midtown Phillips. Writes a new Chapter for Novelle Searching in each month’s The Alley. *A new chapter appears every month in The Alley. You can influence the story by contacting the author with your ideas and comments.
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