‘Cover Stories’ Archives
Gratitude to Readers
Image: Mattie Wong, black cat by Chelsi at Noun Project The Alley NameThe space between dwellings of people is an alley. It is called an alley between two dwellings or rows of dwellings. The space between two rows of trees is an allee’ or an alley. The sounds and sights in those spaces are common and include everyday activities like taking out the trash, fixing one’s car, greeting neighbors, etc. The alley seemed a proper name for a newspaper that helped people engage with one another. The Black Cat LogoA logo for the alley naturally became a black cat because of its ability to be independent yet friendly, curious yet polite, pensive yet joyful, loves fish and mice yet won’t chase red herring, and watchful yet playful. Some cultures see a black cat as good fortune and other cultures the opposite which also fits for the alley’s community that includes many cultures and diverse ethnic origins. The CommunityThe alley newspaper began in 1975 as the Newspaper of the [...]
Hope for Trying Times
Goodall, Simard, and Morales Jane Goodall: April 3, 1934 - October 1, 2025. PHOTO: Vincent Calmel Jane Goodall passed from this world October 1, 2025. She recorded a message to the world to be released on the day of her death .It is available for viewing as the first of “The Famous Last Words” Documentary Series by Netflix, recorded March 2025. The Famous Last Words of Dr. Jane Goodall “In the place where I am now I look back over my life. I look back at the world I’ve left behind. What message do I want to leave? I want to make sure that you all understand that each and everyone of you has a role to play.“You may not know it. You may not find it. But your life matters, and you are here for a reason. And I just hope that reason will become apparent as you live through your life. I want you to know that whether or not you find that role that you’re supposed to play, your life does matter. And that every single day you live, you make a difference in the [...]
Stories Unraveled
“Tell me a story,” says a child. An elder tells a story. Books and newspapers are stories.The alley is a newspaper. Everyone knows stories. You know stories. You may share your story in the alley by poetry, prose, lyric, sketch, recipe, photograph, or news about a garden or favorite place in Phillips. If you are ready, send to: Alley Communications, P.O. Box 7006 Mpls., MN 55407 or copydesk@alleynews.org. You can also submit through the Submit! tab above. If inspiration will help you, there are tips by Grace Lee Boggs, Maya Angelou, Martha Graham, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie below. Julie Klamm eases worry of accuracy- “Your most cherished family stories are, I hate to break it to you, almost certainly at least somewhat false. I’m not calling anyone a liar, this is simply how it goes---stories degrade (or improve, depending on your perspective), details are lost, tweaked, censored, sensationalized. I don’t mean to disillusion you; I say this in the spirit of [...]
