July ’23 Board Updates
Thank You John Wilson, Departing Alley Communications Board Member
John began attending Board meetings during the transition time in 2018 when Alley Communications began to move from a few people holding the reins to our current structure—–a small group of dedicated volunteers serving on the Editorial Leadership Committee (ELC) who guide the paper into place each month. The ELC is a standing committee of the Board who now number 5 people.
Community newspapers have been important to John. He remembers picking up as many free papers that he could, some which no longer exist. In addition to serving on the Board for the last couple of years, John also writes the “Transit” column. This column will continue from time to time when there are updates or changes that impact the Phillips Community.
One suggestion John has for the paper is to have a regular column written by a financial institution that offers advice to residents. His biggest hope for the alley is that the paper continues to be published and is free and available to as many people as possible. Thank you John—we will continue to try our very best to do so!
Welcome, Cirien Saadeh!
We are so excited to have Cirien join the Board of Alley Communications.… Read the rest “July ’23 Board Updates”
Life at Southtown: Railroad Shop Kinks
By JOHN ANDERSON
Kinks are not just twisted things, or the name of a British Invasion rock group from the 1960s. Over a century ago in the railcar maintenance world, a kink was workshop slang for an ingenious solution to a difficult problem, a hack, if you will.
The former Milwaukee Road Southtown Yards, a giant, state-of-the-art train maintenance center that was located just east of Hiawatha Avenue and north of E Lake Street, likely implemented some of the best kinks of the time.
Among other facilities, Southtown Yards had a large machine shop. Steampunk fans might easily imagine how it looked at the turn of the 20th century. Machines were driven by a system of line shafts, belts, and pulleys. A line shaft was a rod that spun through power from a motor located in the powerhouse. Line shafts running from the powerhouse were buried underground enroute to the shop; inside, they were hung from the ceiling. Unfortunately, I haven’t found an actual photograph of the Southtown shop, so I will attempt to paint a picture with words.
As the hub for turning, shaping, cutting, planing, milling, and drilling the parts that kept the locomotives running, the machine shop would have been a busy place.… Read the rest “Life at Southtown: Railroad Shop Kinks”
Freedom of Expression
By DANETTE BILLUPS
My freedom of expression is in my hair and I don’t care what other people think
when I wear my afro, dreadlocks, twists and braids
or even if I chose to wear finger waves.
I am free to be me. That is all I can be.
If I wake up with a nappy head
please understand I just got out of bed.
I can use the pressing comb on the stove
or curling iron, then don a bow
to pretty myself all up for you,
if that is what I wanted to do.
But it’s not about you, it’s all about me.
I am free to be me. That’s all I can be.
If I don’t want to straighten my naps,
I could just put on a baseball cap
or a winter hat if it is cold outside.
The choice is mine and that’s no jive.
Bobbie pins, barrettes and rubber bands
used to be at my command
when I was younger wearing ponytails and plaits.
I was too young for wearing church hats
on a Sunday morning or a Saturday
but I could tie a ribbon any day.
If I chose the chemical way
I could use a relaxer any day
or a jheri curl for the greasy look
It’s as easy as reading a book.… Read the rest “Freedom of Expression”
