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Passageway Cover (i) Newsletter – March, 2015
March 2015 Newsletter
Passageway 305 15th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 243-6929 • Fax: (515) 243-1747 E-Mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.passagewayiowa.org
Hours: Monday and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Table of Contents Section Page
Cover Page .................................................................................. i
Contributor’s Page ................................................................... ii
Social Activities Calendar........................................................ 1
Lunch Menu / Food and Nutrition Page ................................. 2
Bus Stop .............................................................................. 3 - 4
Articles, Poems, Stories, etc. ............................................... 5 - 9
Back Page ............................................................................... 10
Employment Newsletter ....................... (On Hiatus for Now…)
Social Activity Highlights This Month
Out of Club:
Sat, March 7th – Flea Market
Tues., March 10th – Movies Out
Tues., March 17th- Go out to Eat
Sat., March 28th-Watch March Madness Basketball
Tues., March 31st- Go Bowling
In Club “Late Night” Highlights
Mon., March 2nd-Make Cookies
Wed., March 4th-Wii Bowling
Mon., March 9th-BINGO
Wed., March 11th-Play Board Games
Mon., March 16th-Movies IN
Wed., March 18th-Play Cards
Mon., March 23rd- BINGO
Wed., March 25th-Reiki
Every Fri., 10:00 – 10:30 – Coffee & Conversation
Every Other Mon. 3:30-4:30 PM- Writers Workshop
Inside the March Newsletter
Several members share very personal and hopeful
stories about their life experiences, and about the role
Passageway and you, Passageway members, have
made in their lives. Check out these inspiring stories
from Cherelle, Tina and Jared.
Jessi W shares with us about her personal journey
with her pregnancy and the prenatal classes that have
been helping her.
John R educates us about the upcoming holiday in
March, St. Paddy’s Day, and some of the traditions
that go along with it.
Bryce H is back with Chapter 16 of “The Boy Who
Sang”.
In February members of Passageway and staff went
to see the play that Ron Gilbert directed, “The
Mountaintop.” Mary C-B, one of our members, has
written about the experience to share with everyone.
Julia C recently went on a cruise and has written
about her experience. Check out Part 1 here!
Julie B has written another poem to share with us!
Contributors to the March Newsletter
Passageway Contributors Page (ii) Newsletter – March, 2015
Executive Director
Jenny Erdman
Passageway Staff
Gary Acklin
Ron Gilbert
Millie Jones-Cowles
John Morrow
Editor/Graphics
Gary Acklin
Jenny Erdman
Ron Gilbert
Millie Jones-Cowles
Marla Ozinga
Journalists
Julie Bird
Jared Collins
Julia Collins
Mary Cowles-Bennethum
Jenny Erdman
Cherelle Evans
Bryce Hook
Tina Ruppel
John Rutt
Jessi Webber
Typists
Cherelle Evans
Bryce Hook
Millie Jones-Cowles
John Knudsen, Jr.
David Rothfus
Tina Ruppel
Jessi Webber
Bob White
Proofreaders, Collators,
Copiers
Mark Baxter
Susan Driscoll
Tracy Lampley
Nicholas Ligas
Julie Long
Richard Meyer
Susan Miller
Marla Ozinga
David Rothfus
Amy Schreck
Amy Shull-Ice
Sherann Shull-Ice
Jeffrey Taggart
Robert White
Rhonda Woodley
March Anniversaries
(Years as Passageway
member in parentheses.)
Bonita Sheets (26)
Charlotte Clevland (23)
Melvin Flying-Nice (22)
Julie Joyce (21)
Marilyn Rae (21)
Carolyn Smith (21)
Joanne Hayner (20)
Terry Hochmuth (20)
Marsha Myers (20)
Steve Ramirez (20)
Allan Schuetz (20)
Paula Robbins (19)
Duane Wallace (19)
James Chaplik (17)
Sherry Jones (17)
John Madden (17)
Tina Spagnolo (17)
Tonia Kalinich (16)
Joe Power (16)
Gini Newton (15)
Anastasia Phillips (15)
Patricia Thompson (15)
Charles Loy (14)
Ajit (Andy) Acharya (13)
Pamela Clark (13)
Jeff Daley (13)
Chad Garrett (11)
David Nodsle (11)
James "Jeff" Patch (11)
Todd Reinders (11)
Paula Willey (11)
Rose Neighbors (10)
Barbara Buzzard (9)
Dwight Evans (9)
Eric Livingston (8)
Mynette Logan (8)
Raymond Perry (8)
Michael Tomlinson (8)
Kirk Williams (8)
Theda Wilson (8)
Carl Brush (7)
Jodi Driesen (7)
Allan McCrary (7)
Kevin Novak (7)
Tim Reffett (7)
Maurice English (6)
Kelly Gee (6)
Linda Johnson (6)
Patrick Dilworth (5)
Connie Lane (5)
Aaron Minor (5)
Jason Rose (5)
John Dautremont (4)
Jacquie Ketelsen (4)
Geralyn Powe (4)
Dorothea Scott (4)
Brenda Signs (4)
Tim Underwood (4)
Janet Payton (3)
Bryce Hook (1)
Robert White (1)
March Birthdays
James Adams
Larry Bagley
Katrina Beeston
Teresa Bennett
Cal Bish
Jamie Branson
Shauna Brummer
Karl Calkins
Buddy Carson
Jassen Cummings
Sherry Currie
Christina East
Patrick Engelmann
Daniel Feeney
Jacqueline Ferguson
Nancy Gates
Tony Geltz
Rita Glenn
Phillis Gue
Mark Hall
Paula Hanke
Laura Hanlon-Bier
Rae J. Hansen-
Longnecker
DeRonn Harris
Josh Isley
Judy Jensen
Robin Larson
Richard Lessenger
Charles Loy
John Madden
Allan McCrary
Gene McKinnis
Iver Mohler
Harold Moraine
Jennifer Mundell
Felix Naranjo
Pedro Phrasany
Mark Pieper
Jedd Powers
Jim Randolph
Kevin Ryan
Mario Schafer
Vicki Schutt
Paul St. John
Judy Storer
Naomi Tennyson
Patricia Thompson
Brian Toom
Rebecca White
Rhonda Wood
Passageway 3 Newsletter – March, 2015
MA
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H
ED
ITIO
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Passageway 4 Newsletter – March, 2015
Continued next month…
Passageway 1 Newsletter – March, 2015
March 2015 Social Activity Calendar
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Passageway holds in club “late night” social activities Monday and Wednesday evenings, typically from 4 to 5 p.m. Those activities are free. They are listed on the calendar in Bold & Italics. Dinner is served on Monday and Wednesday, typically at 5 p.m. for $1.00. Out of club activities are typically each week on Tuesday afternoon/evening, and are listed in Bold & Italics. (When scheduled on a different day, the calendar will note that on the Tuesday of that week.) Cost, if any, and times, are listed with the event. Each month’s activities and menu are planned on the first Wednesday of the month, based mostly on member suggestions.
2
Employment Mtg. 1:15 pm
Late Night
Make Cookies
3 Special Committee Mtg.
Self Study 1:00 pm
Board Meeting
5:15 pm
No Out of Clubhouse Activity
4
House Planning Mtg. for Mar.-1 PM
Late Night: Wii Bowling
5 6
Coffee & Conversation 10-
10:30 am
7
Flea Market
Be at club at 10 a.m. Admission FREE. Bring $
for purchase or food.
9
Employment Mtg. 1:15 pm
Late Night:
Bingo
10
Movies Out $2.00 Members
Passageway pays $3.00 Bring money for snacks
and beverage $2.00
11
House Mtg. 1 PM
Late Night: Board
Games
12
13
Coffee & Conversation 10-
10:30 am
14
Closed
16
Employment Meeting 1:15 pm
Movies In
17 Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Go Out to Eat. Be here by 2 PM
Members will decide where to go on the day
of activity. $8-10
18
House Mtg. 1 PM
Late Night: Play
Cards
19 20
Coffee & Conversation 10-
10:30 am (Celebrate Feb.
B-Days & Anniversaries)
21
Closed
23
Employment Mtg. 1:15 pm
Late Night: Bingo
24
No out of clubhouse activity due to
Basketball Game on Saturday
Special Committee
Meeting Self Study
1:30 pm
Board Meeting 5:15 pm
25
House Mtg. 1 PM
Reiki 3:30 pm
26
27
Coffee & Conversation 10-
10:30 am
28
March Madness Basketball
Game at the Clubhouse- TIME TO BE
DETERMINED
30 Employment
Meeting 1:15pm
Late Night
Arts and Crafts
31 Special Committee
Meeting Self Study
1:30 pm
Out of Club Activity: Bowling
$1.25 per game, shoes FREE. Bring extra $$ for
snacks or games. Be here by 2:30 pm.
Passageway 2 Newsletter—March, 2015
Passageway Recipe of the Month: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
Ingredients 1 (4-pound) cured corned beef brisket, trimmed
16 cups water
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 teaspoons pickling spice
3 garlic cloves, peeled
Cooking spray
1 tablespoons caraway seeds
1 (2 1/2-pound) head green cabbage, cored
and cut into 1-inch strips
4 pounds small red potatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
1(5-ounce) jar prepared horseradish, drained
and squeezed dry
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Preparation Place brisket in a large stockpot; and water and next 5ingredients
(water through garlic). Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and
simmer3 hours. Remove Brisket from pot.
Place brisket on the rack of a broiler pan or roasting pan coated with
cooking spray; place rack in pan. Strain cooking liquid through a
colander into 2 large bowls; discard solids. Return liquid to pot. Add
caraway seeds and cabbage; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 20
minutes. Drain
While cabbage is cooking, place potatoes in a large Dutch oven.
Cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook 20 minutes or until tender.
Drain. Return potatoes to pan. Stir in parsley, butter, rind, juice, and
pepper; toss to coat.
Preheat broiler.
Combine breadcrumbs and horseradish. Spread mustard over one side
of brisket. Press breadcrumb mixture onto mustard. Broil 3 minutes
or until lightly browned. Serve Brisket with cabbage and potatoes.
March 2015 Food and Nutrition Page
March 2015 Lunch Menu
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
2
Beef Stroganoff
3
Tuna Noodle Casserole
4
Baked Tilapia
5
Chef Salad
6
Liver and Onions
9
Sloppy Joes
10
Soup Bar
11
Spaghetti and Meatballs
12
Sub Sandwiches
13
Chef’s Choice
16
Salad Bar
17 Corned Beef and
Cabbage
18
Baked Chicken
19
Baked Ham
20
Veggie Day
23
Homemade Pizza
24
Open-Faced Sandwiches
25
Chicken Stir-Fry
26
Potato Bar
27
Chef’s Choice
30 Chicken Patties
with French Fries
31 Mexican
Casserole
Passageway Food Facts:
Lunch served Monday — Friday at noon, $1.50
Dinner served during our Monday and Wednesday “Late Night” evenings at about 5:00 p.m., $1.00
Snack Bar is open whenever we are not serving meal, provided that we have a member volunteer to run it.
Members may purchase pre-paid $5.00 / $10.00 meal cards to be used for meals and snacks. The cards can either be kept on file at Passageway or carried by the member.
Passageway Monthly Food and Nutrition Tip: .Limit sugar and salt
If you succeed in planning your diet around fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, lean protein, and good fats, you may find yourself naturally cutting back on
foods that can get in the way of your healthy diet—sugar and salt. Sugar Sugar causes energy ups and downs and can add to health and weight problems.
Unfortunately, reducing the amount of candy, cakes, and desserts we eat is only part
of the solution. Often you may not even be aware of the amount of sugar you’re
consuming each day. Large amounts of added sugar can be hidden in foods such as
bread, canned soups and vegetables, pasta sauce, margarine, instant mashed
potatoes, frozen dinners, fast food, soy sauce, and ketchup.
Here are some tips:
Avoid sugary drinks. One 12-oz soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar in it,
more than the daily recommended limit! Try sparkling water with lemon or a
splash of fruit juice.
Sweeten foods yourself. Buy unsweetened iced tea, plain yogur t, or
unflavored oatmeal, for example, and add sweetener (or fruit) yourself. You’re
likely to add far less sweetener than the manufacturer would have.
Eat naturally sweet food such as fruit, peppers, or natur al peanut butter to
satisfy your sweet tooth. Keep these foods handy instead of candy or cookies.
Passageway 5 Newsletter – March, 2015
Attention Members!! Please look at the Social Activity Calendar for March to see when our next Self-Study Meetings will be held here at the Clubhouse. Thanks to those members and staff who have already participated. Hope to see you down here! Your feedback and participation is much appreciated!!
Thanks, Jenny
My Experience at Passageway By Cherelle Danielle
I have had a long way here, but I have made it so far. I’m doing
pretty well here. My life was at a standstill, I felt
inhuman and out of place everywhere else, but Passageway
has given me a sense of normalcy. No judgment here. And I absolutely love staff and
the members. Angels unaware. I love you guys a lot. You have me for life and I have you for life as
well.
My First Day
by Tina Ruppel
My first day at
Passageway was enjoyable and
educational. When I arrived here,
the person sitting at the front
desk greeted and was very
friendly.
The members of
Passageway greeted me and
made me feel welcome. I learned
to check the mail when it comes
in, cut paper, and helped make an
appointment calendar. I also
enjoyed visiting with my club
members, everyone was friendly
and easy to talk to. I enjoyed my
first day.
Prenatal Classes
By Jessi Webber
I have been in the
Storks Nest program for a
while and I am loving the
information that I have
gotten from my teacher. I go
to the Calvary Chapel for
the classes. I go there every
Thursday, from 10 to noon.
This week I have learned a
lot.
I will be delivering at
Broadlawns Hospital by or
on May 21. My son’s name is
Dillon Slade Copeland Jr.
My Fiancée, Jacob, is very
proud to be a father. Our son
is the first one that we have,
and we will make sure that
we will be very good first
time parents.
We will pamper him
to no end. As he gets older,
we will be teaching him how
to work for the things he
wants. We will be setting up
a plan for when he is old
enough that he will work for
his allowance. We want to
teach him discipline and be
firm, yet kind parents.
St. Patrick’s Day 2015 By John Rutt
St. Patrick’s Day is on the 17th of February. Here in America, there are several odd customs observed! Such, as, if you don’t wear green, you can get pinched by
everyone who noticed! This last St. Paddy’s Day I remembered to wear green, so no pinches for me! Also, it is quite common for Tavern’s to put green food-coloring into the beer! Also, here in Des Moines, Iowa, we have a Parade! Almost anyone or any organization can get a unit/float in the Parade! In Chicago, Illinois they put green in the River! Wild! So! Next St. Paddy’s Day, please remember to wear green! Erin Go Braign ( Celtic for Ireland Forever!)!
The Boy Who Sang Chapter 16
By Bryce Hook
Well the boy is going on a trip to find his family. He asked the dragon to come along with him to keep him company. While the boy was walking he came across a big horse that could change colors. The horse was called a mood horse. They are very rare.
Before he could catch the horse he had to calm it down. Now that the horse is calm the boy can ride it. He named the horse Rainbow because he could change colors.
What will our hero do with the horse?
We will have to wait until the next chapter of the boy who sang.
Passageway 6 Newsletter – March, 2015
“THE MOUNTAINTOP” By Mary Cowles-Bennethum
On Thursday, February
12, 2015, clubhouse members
from Passageway went to the
play “The Mountaintop. We took
two van loads of members to the
play, and a few members drove
themselves to the play at
Westminster Presbyterian
Church.
The play was geared
around the day before Martin
Luther King, Jr. was
assassinated. It started out by
showing a speech at a church
speaking about the rights of
sanitation workers in Memphis,
Tennessee. Dr. King retired to
his motel room, and ordered
room service for a cup of coffee.
When the maid came to the door,
it was raining outside and she
held Dr. King’s newspaper over
her head, she knocked on the
door and Dr. King let her in. Dr.
King began conversation with
the maid whose name was Carrie
Mae but she was called CarMae.
During their conversation, they
started to talk about the work of
civil rights that Dr. King was
involved in. This maid was very
opinionated, and she was always
apologizing for the curse words
that came out of her mouth. This
was very humorous part of the
play, when the maid was talking
to Dr. King just like he was an
ordinary person.
Dr. King had visions of
his death for some time before he
came to Memphis to give his
speech. Every time it would
thunder and lightning outside Dr.
King would hold his chest and he
could not breathe. CarMae kept
asking him what the matter was,
but he did not know. The last
time he did this he kept saying he
could not breathe, and holding
his chest while he sat on the bed.
CarMae called Dr. King Michael
and he wanted to know who she
really was. Dr. King wanted to
know how she knew his Christian
name, and where she knew him
from.
Dr. King became quite
angry with CarMae because he
thought she was a spy trying to
get dirt on him to tell his wife.
When he found out she was an
angel, he tried to get her to
postpone his death until he gave
his next speech. She said she
could not do that but she would
call God and find out. God talked
to Dr. King, and he begged God
to postpone his death. Dr. King
kept trying to get God to do what
he wanted and God hung up the
phone on him. Dr. King became
very upset and was crying, and
CarMae assured him she would
get him through the transition of
the journey to heaven.
When God would not give
into Dr. King, he asked CarMae
if she could show him the
“Promised Land.” He wanted to
see it with his own eyes before he
died. The end of the play a
collage of the future of the world
was shown up until Obama was
elected President of the United
States. Dr. King gave an
inspirational speech for people
to pick up from where he left off
and to make a difference in the
world according to God’s will of
loving all people and the rights
of all people.
The members of
Passageway had a good time and
participated when prompted by
Dr. King at the end of the play. It
was humorous, inspirational,
educational, and encouraged
people to pick up where he left
off at and continue to fight for
the rights of others.
You are not alone!
By Jared Collins
You are not alone! We are like passengers of a great ship wreck who all share in a life experience that we didn’t ask for. Sometimes we can feel all alone drifting at sea thinking we are forgotten. We are not! We are loved and we are missed. Prayers are flying out for us to be rescued. It’s just a matter of time. Don’t give up hope and try to stay afloat.
Sometimes it is hard to get the help we need. The mental health care system can often seem at times it overlooks us. My personal experience with having a bipolar disorder all of my adult life was that I didn’t want to think I was any different than my friends. I just want to be one of the guys but sometimes it’s hard to find the right guys and friends who can be supportive.
I’ve had times where life is good and where I don’t feel I need the meds anymore then within six months to a year I develop symptoms again and need treatment. As I’m older now I know the early warning signs and know when I need help but it’s one of those things when you need it, it is very hard to find. It’s hard to get into see a doctor for medication if you are not already on the doctors
Passageway 7 Newsletter – March, 2015
books. There can be a wait of up to 4 to 6 months to be seen.
All I can do is tread water and try to breath. Hospitals won’t take you unless you are a threat to yourself or others or are psychotic. In my last round of chronic symptoms I didn’t sleep for three months. I was scared of what could be. I didn’t want to hurt anybody and I know by my past experience that I can really upset the people closest to my like my friends and family. It’s unfortunate that an illness like cancer can bring families together unlike mental illness can tear families apart. Getting back on my medications is only half the battle the rest is up to me to find the supports I need to cope with the post-traumatic stress.
I’m 43 years old now and have accepted the fact that I can never go off of my meds again. The meds are in constant need of observation from the doctor. It’s good to have a good relationship with your doctor and be honest and tell him exactly what you are going through. But like I said that’s just half the battle. The rest is community support and education on your mental illness. Having a mental illness does not make you less of a person. Some of the most inspiring people in history have suffered their own hell inside. I’m referring to artists and people who have made an impact on this world with sharing themselves. I am new to Passageway and life isn’t as it should be. I’m recovering. I don’t have the life I had when I was working full time in a good job with benefits and raising a family.
But there is hope! I am grateful to be a part of programs that are there to help. Sometimes
they can be very hard to find when you need it. To recover requires goals. When I think of goals I shoot for the stars but that’s not how it works. All you need to do is wake up with a goal. It could be just as simple as jumping in the shower
before getting dressed and making my bed. Then there is long term that should always be on the back burner like how you would like to see yourself in five years.
If you’re out there all alone drifting at sea just keep in mind there are people who care and want to help but you have to reach out or they won’t know how to find you. If you are struggling just breath and keep hope in your heart and we will find you.
A Caribbean Cruise: Part 1
by Julia Collins
Introduction: After the death of my father, my stepmother Sandra filled her days with many activities – one of which was a Cruise to the Caribbean and Mexico. She invited Natalie, her god-daughter and I to go along with her. I am legally blind and mentally ill and have a few other health concerns. So this was a challenging expedition. The day I left Des Moines (for my Caribbean Cruise), the temperature was 0 degrees with snow and ice….
1/8/2015 The first night in Austin, TX was 23 degrees; second day, 34 degrees and cloudy. On the 8th, I took two fights – one from Des Moines to Dallas and one from
Dallas to Austin, TX. I got in at 4:15, and at 5:30 we were eating dinner with Natalie and David (these names are given to protect the actual person) at a wonderful vegetarian restaurant. I had soup, garlic mashed potatoes; steak with an edible flower on top and key lime pie. David was kind enough to pick up the check. Sandra picks up the check when she and David go to the opera. David is a lawyer for the state; Natalie is a caterer, which gives her particular insight into everything pertaining to the food industry. We are all “foodies,” at least during the cruise. She said she would attend AA meetings on the ship. David was not going with us, which is too bad since he is a highly articulate person on many subjects and humorous, too. He put on my white fake fur coat and said he felt like a Czar. He was a perfect gentleman to me and said I looked very glamourous with my long red hair and white fur coat. He complimented Sandra on her hair,
too. I talked a lot about Passageway and David spoke of his four volunteer jobs, including the
soup kitchen at the shelter and meals on wheels. I talked about how stimulating my classes are at the church and mentioned my Goddess Oracle tarot deck, and Natalie said she had the same deck! Sandra talked about what to wear on a cruise – no tank tops, shorts or flip-flops.
Passageway 8 Newsletter – March, 2015
We all had our picture taken after dinner. I had to commemorate it because David says he’s not a “restaurant kind of guy.” By the way, Natalie said she just got a white cat she named Luna Pearl. When we got home, Sandra gave me a tour of my parents’ exquisite three bedroom condo furnished with American and far-east Asian antiques and genuine oriental carpets. It is a formal, beautiful home and reflects my parents perfectly. I have always tried to emulate their style in my own apartments. We had a long talk about the cruise, watched the 10 o’clock news and went to bed.
1/9/2015 I got up without the alarm, took my meds and ate breakfast at home with Sandra reading the newspaper at the dining room table. I had orange juice, Diet Pepsi, fruit, toast and cheerios. We went to Dairy Queen for lunch; cheeseburgers. I thanked her for inviting me on the cruise and she said she thought we’d have a good time. On the way home, Rush Limbaugh railed at the Clintons on the car stereo and I felt apprehensive. If she’s listening to him on the car stereo, what else may she be thinking about me? That I, too, am one of those nasty liberals? We went and bought another point-and-shoot camera for me from Walgreens.
We drove the 3 hours to Huston in what seemed to be record time because of Sandra’s and Natalie’s
banter. The hotel concierge was very nice and helpful. We went to Chili’s for dinner. I had mango, jalapeño chicken, loaded potatoes and broccoli, and all was
scrumptious. The Friday night service was disorganized, so we went to McDonald’s for coffee and cookies for dessert. I bought fries and a Diet Coke. We then watched the dismal 10 pm news. We shared jokes about my Dad calling the handicapped parking spot, which he was entitled to use, as a “handicap” spot. We amended t to “handicrap” spot, to put an anal spin on it. Sandra talked about getting older during dinner and then about Austin University and city politics. Then they, Natalie and Sandra, got a little silly and giggly. Stay tuned for more of Julia’s journey next month!
For G.H. Not Sugar
by Julie Bird
I can't figure out,
Why I like you.
play sexy blues
on your trombone?
Or because you like
putting catsup
on your cottage cheese.
No, not that either.
It is definitely because of
your taste in music.
I certainly won't
forget the time
when you voted on having Guy
Lombardo play at the
senior prom.
Oh, I like your mustache too,
G.H.
Sticks and Stones by Tina Ruppel
Sticks and Stones might break their bones but words can break their soul can make their pride even make their life. After so many times of being degraded and words thrown at you can cause a person too destroy themselves and all is left is for others to bring flowers to where too big will rest for all time.
Al Gore Calls It an
Inconvenient Truth
by Cille Grunzweig
I do know that we should
switch our regular light bulbs
to compact florescent bulbs or
LED bulbs. We started that
practice several years ago. I
know that mass transit, riding a
bike, or walking saves carbon
dioxide, but I rarely car pool
and don’t take the bus; much
less walk instead of drive. (You actually
save one pound of carbon dioxide for
every mile you don’t drive.) What’s
going on here? Well, I talking about
global warming. Some people believe in
it, others are naysayers and then there
are those people, in particular
politicians, who overlook all the
scientific evidence that shows our
planet Earth is in a global warming
state. Artic ice is melting at a rapid
rate. The Earth is being devastated by
frequent droughts, floods and
hurricanes, yet all we do is shake our
heads and mutter, “Global warming”
then turn around and drive home and
do nothing about it.
Passageway 9 Newsletter – March, 2015
Our water sources, rivers and lakes are
polluted and filled with nitrates from
the run off of fertilizer from local and
industrial farms. Rivers are not safe for
drinking or maybe even swimming. Yes,
we treat the river water at water
plants so we can drink it, but at a high
monetary and ecological cost. It hurts
us and it hurts the land and animals.
When I look at pictures of the walrus
and polar bears that are dying due to
Artic ice melting, I pay attention. Then
with all the hurricanes and drought, I
know something is terribly wrong. Just
watching the video, An Inconvenient
Truth, by AL Gore, about global
warming, one can easily understand
what is going on. Gore is a fighter for
eliminating global warming and is
reaching out to educate the U.S., other
countries and individuals about the
perils we and our children and
grandchildren are facing and will
continue to face if we don’t step up our
action to save our planet, Mother
Earth. Yes, our birthplace, our home.
Action on the part of individuals starts
with simple things like recycling and
planting trees. In my household we rate
about a #8 on a scale of 10 in recycling.
We reuse paper and when it is finally
marked on both sides we recycle it.
We clean out empty, sticky, gewy,
messy peanut butter jars and recycle
them. We return empty bottles to the
store for a 5
cent refund.
We planted a
maple in our
front yard
after the plum
tree died. Our
back yard is
filled with tree
branches and
tons of
colorful leaves
in the fall. Yes,
raking is a chore, but it can be fun to
jump into piles of dried leaves.
Remember trees are breathing carbon
dioxide for you! Support the city in
planting more trees.
I’m a negative score on transportation.
I drive an old gas guzzler. I wish I could
afford a hybrid. I’m seeing more of
them and electric cars on our roads.
Iowa is one of the three leading states
in wind energy production. Individuals
and businesses are upping the use of
solar panels as an electrical source.
We need to live with our eyes open
and take action. It’s never too late they
say…but really it is getting late and
everyone needs to embrace the task of
saving our planet.
Where do we
go from here?
Watch Al
Gore’s DVD,
An
Inconvenient
Truth. (Local
libraries carry
the video.)
Follow the
ten things to
do to help
stop global warming and become active
in getting the word out to neighbors
and politicians. Protest and shout but
also speak quietly, but firmly. Write a
letter to a congressman. Create green
energy and check out
ClimateCrisis.net.
Here are the ten things that you can do
to reverse global warming. Adapted
from An Inconvenient Truth Video.
(Please google “read the truth.com”
for in depth information.)
1. Switch to Green Power (Use
energy generated by cleaner
sources, such as the sun, wind,
heat tof the earth and the
burning of biomass.)
2. Purchase offsets to neutralize
remaining emissions. This will
reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
3. Don’t waste paper.
4. Carry your own refillable
bottle for water or other
beverages.
5. Pre-Cycle Reduce waste
before you buy. Buy in bulk.
6. Buy things that last.
7. Modify your diet to include
less meat. (It takes far more
fossil-fuel energy to produce
and transport meat than to
deliver equivalent amounts of
protein.)
8. Vote with your dollars.
9. Support an environmental
group
10. Telecommute from home
The Boy Who Sang
by Bryce Hook
Chapter 13
Well it is one week until
Christmas and all the town
folk are putting up trees and
lights and everyone is so
happy. Now the boy named
Peat is putting up some lights
he bought but the blink with
the music. He wants to win
the best lit cave in the whole tribe. Now the
time has come to judge for the best lit cave.
The judges have seen a lot of cool caves and
now they have made up their minds and the
boy who sang won the battle he is so
happy. First place was 25 thousand dollars.
Until next time good bye.
The Boy Who Sang
by Bryce Hook
Chapter 14
The New Year is finally here the boy just
had his 14th birthday. All the town people
came to celebrate his special day. Then in a
flash it started to rain and it did not stop
for twenty years. What where the town
folks to do. The whole town went to the
wizard this is a very powerful person. Now
the boy just got done talking to the wizard
and he gave him special powers what he
will do with those powers you will have to
wait until next time in the boy who sang.
Passageway Back Page Newsletter – February, 2015
305 15th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
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