We shed light
Alone
By Robert J. Levasseur
Alone now, and I don’t like it.
Forgotten and not remembered.
Never thought of, ever;
Never dreamed of;
Never visited alone
And hoping for love.
My love is gone away.
I wait for her return.
The days and nights are long
As I wait for my love’s return.
When will she appear?
My loneliness surrounds me
And overtakes me.
Is it love, or fear of being alone?
By Tom Deighan
STATE HOUSE – Social ventures – privately-funded companies seeking to serve a public good – are a growing trend in new business formation. Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski has submitted a piece of legislation that would help Rhode Island become a national leader in this emerging economic sector.
“With many students graduating from our colleges and universities with a focus on entrepreneurship and community service, Rhode Island is well-positioned to become the Silicon Valley of the social venture movement,” said Representative Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence, East Providence). “As a tool for economic development, it is critical that we aid investment and foster growth in these socially responsible businesses.”
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4/26/2011 Bill would recoup lost revenue from companies getting tax credits that relocate out of RI Continue reading ‘In the Works: Legislative Roundup’
By Lance Ellis
Even if the person manages to find a homeless shelter, often the time period for stay and policies around stays negate the ability to remain for any length of time and get assistance on issues that made this person susceptible to become homeless. Only their physiological needs are met and only for short periods of time. Even if a transitional home with a longer stay is found, regardless of the best intentions of those running the facilities, these people often do not get their safety needs met. They know that at any time they could be thrown out if they break the rules. They also know that the time of stay is limited. When leaving transitional facilities the homeless do not maintain the support structure that was built. They are often embarassed by the fact that they were homeless. This negates the ability to even think about belonging and needs being met as they hide that part of themselves. Thus there can even be grief about not being able to be open about oneself. While that is not always the case with people in transition, it is more often than not. Continue reading ‘Homeless Experience and Grief’
Verbal Signs
Getting control over your urges and opportunities is like getting control over a bicycle or roller skates or anything else. You’re not going to start out as an expert. You will get control of it only by forcing yourself at first to act differently than you feel! It looks like the bike should fall over, and it may feel very difficult or strange, but by practicing over and over, you learn to ride the bike! So the reason people correctly “feel” that they don’t have self-control is because they haven’t been practicing what would give it to them. In this case, the skill is in resisting urges or opportunities to use. Continue reading ‘How to Get “Self-Control” Over the Urges and Cravings of a Bad Habit’
By Stacey Marie
By Dennis Boisvert and Stan KapelewskiGraduating in 1847, he then served in the Mexican War. In 1849, Burnside was wounded in the neck during a fight with the Apaches in New Mexico. Twice Burnside was offered command of the Army at the Potomac and twice he refused. Burnside knew he was best at a Corps command level. He proved himself a successful commander at the battle of South Mountain, giving General McClellan a chance to destroy Lee’s army at Antietam. But McClellan attacked piecemeal. General Burnside made a good fight at a stone bridge but he had received orders late in the day. He was slow in taking the bridge, giving General Lee time to build his lines.
Continue reading ‘Who Was General Burnside?’
It was not the desperate situation that I thought it was. People often wait the longest of time to get help for their problems. Very often, the person making the decision is not thinking of loved ones who are still here and the tremendous emotional pain — the fear, guilt and shame, to name a few — they will feel in knowing their loved one has done this.
There is a saying that a problem shared, is a problem halved. I like this. Be honest in how you feel. Life will be easier and someday you will not be faced with this decision.
By Arline Bolvin
By Deborah Shepard
To address the unique circumstances and difficulties of homeless people with minor criminal violations, some states have developed a homeless court program. The movement to create homeless courts originated in 1989 in California. The Superior Court there began holding special sessions at local homeless shelters to help homeless people resolve misdemeanor charges against them. Since that time, California has expanded its program and other states have developed similar homeless court programs. According to the American Bar Association, homeless courts exist in Michigan, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Utah and Washington. Continue reading ‘Specialty Homeless Courts: Bringing Justice to the Streets’
By JoAnn Dyes
Over-taxation, poor quality education, an infra-structure that has unraveled; there were layoff notices to “all” 1,926 teachers in the City of Providence alone. Four schools are scheduled to be shut down in June. Rhode Island’s not alone, it’s nationwide and sadly global. With the events of the past few weeks, the tragedy in Japan. When a nation relies on fossil fuel…when a barrel of oil’s price has skyrocketed…The meltdown of nuclear reactors…brings us to a global meltdown. Our money is worthless, when we “owe” trillions…to other countries. Where are the think tanks? Continue reading ‘The Budget Crisis’
By Fred Pece
By Carolyn Schwartz
Buddy Quinn and Janice Luongo
By David Eisenberger
She was on the street, an addict who didn’t want to be helped or think she could be saved. Back in 1969, the Sisters of Mercy began their outreach, which started knocking on doors then taking people in. Janice was one of those people. Six months after starting their outreach, Sister Fran Conway opened a soup kitchen and food pantry called Mary House, named after Mary McLaughlin, a longtime member of the parish who passed in 1975. First there were only Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, then it expanded to a weekly meal. Sadly in 2003 Sister Fran died, but her legacy continues. The meal site on Mondays has continued for over 30 years and Janice Luongo grew up to become the Executive Director of Mary House. Continue reading ‘Mary House’
A Serialized Novel by Francisco Colber
Chapter Nine — Sympaths
Captain Antar, imagining a strategic advantage over the diminutive and mysterious Greenchanceans, kept me under guard in his ready-room, a guestroom outfitted with, among other things, an oxygen deprivation machine that could prove deadly in the event the little beings decided to take me back by force. I was, therefore, the captain’s hostage. But the reality was much different. The Greenchancean cruiser was, as Elhm had suggested, a clever illusion. Not my deception really. It was my father’s idea — to be employed as he wished. Surely, it would keep the explorers off guard. Elhm had no knowledge of Father’s ruse or of the true purpose of our visit, but keeping any truth from his vast telepathic powers would prove formidable: he was as curious about me as I was about him.
“Tell me about the Goddess. Have you ever seen her or is it that you are also blind like us?” He asked.
To answer that query in a way that proved believable to myself and therefore to Elhm was a challenge. I had to search a past that until that very moment appeared whole, but lacked the kind of beliefs he held. Since we Zzolans have no deity to identify with, the only person in my life that made sense to his question was my mother. “Yes. I have seen her,” I replied timidly. Continue reading ‘Into the Chrysalis’
