505 BLANKETS!

Volunteers of all ages came together to lovingly knit, crochet and quilt blankets which will be given to children in need to provide a sense of security, warmth, and comfort at facilities and agencies throughout the Rock, Jefferson, Green and Walworth Co. area.
Co-sponsors and contributors this year included Rock County Job Center, Mocha Moment, Tea & Textiles, Fort Sew ‘n Vac, Marshall Middle School VIP Club, Thrivent, Stitch ‘n Bitch, Material Girls on Main, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Prime Time Pizza, Ben Franklin, Party Lites, Avon, Frito Lay, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Badger Chordhawks Chorus, HospiceCare, House of Mercy, the Matthew Thomassen Charitable Fund through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc., Johnson Bank, and many others.
Door prize and contest winners included: Penny Harris, Marily Oertel, Arlene Katcher, Hannah Schiro, Doris Kolff, Gloria Steurer, Frances Schwengels, and Sandra Vogel of Janesville, as well as Rosalia Ballinger (Whitewater) and Doris Montgomery (Beloit).
Those still wishing to donate blankets now or throughout the year may donate materials or a new, handmade blanket at any of the three donation sites: Project Linus at 23 S. Atwood, Janesville; Walmart SuperCenter Pharmacy, 2785 Milwaukee St., Beloit or at Tea & Textiles, 107 S. Main, Jefferson.
Since the Janesville chapter began in March 2000, over 4,300 blankets have been distributed though a variety of area agencies, facilities, to individual children and blanket requests are always welcome.
Begun in 1995, Project Linus is a 100% volunteer, national organization with nearly 400 chapters and nearly 2 million blankets have been donated throughout the country.
Anyone aware of a child who needs a blanket, would like to donate your own new, handmade blanket, or supplies, contact Project Linus at (608) 752-9248 , e-mail proartist@aol.com, or at http://www.projectlinus.org

Peace, Baseball and...

Rep. Ryan will hold listening sessions
Monday, April 2 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
We want as many peace people to be there as possible. Those who would
like to question the congressman would be best without signs. Please
attend our next coffee session after the Tuesday vigil and coordinate
with us a variety of questions we might ask. Janesville will be at
4:30 - 6:00pm, City Hall, Council Chambers, Room 417,
18 North Jackson St.

Interested in joining the local SnBers at Stitch 'n Pitch on July 31?
Tuesday, July 31^st @ 7:05p

Milwaukee Brewers v. New York Mets

Join the Milwaukee Brewers for Stitch N’ Pitch Night at Miller Park on Tuesday, July 31^st at 7:05 p.m. as your Brewers take on the New York Mets. Purchase a Loge Outfield box seat for just $22 and receive a voucher that you may redeem that night for a free Brewers tote bag filled with goodies. Plus, you can socialize with fellow needle artists, visit TNNA instruction tables and have a blast! We'll be purchasing a block of tickets for this fun night of baseball

and knitting in Milwaukee at the Brewer's game. Please call 752-9248
or e-mail ASAP if you are interested in joining us! Visit www.stitchandpitch.com

Gotta love Steve and Mocha Moment! With the warmer weather
and more people coming out, our tables are now marked with
"Reserved" signs each Thursday ensuring our space under the
brighter light bulbs that have been installed just for our stitching!
The Farmer's Market returns in May...do YOU have anything you're
interested in selling this year? We had a lot of fun last year and hope
even more will join us on Saturday mornings this season. Other
stitching activities and ideas are ALWAYS welcome!

"Woven Harmony" Starts April 30

Attention fiber and music lovers! Thanks to Janesville Presents!, Robert and Rebecca Bluestone will visit our area for a week beginning April 30. Robert is a classical guitarist and Rebecca is a woven tapestries artist.The focus of the week will be the theme “The Arts are for Everyone”. This theme focuses on the fact that the arts are a part of our everyday lives and make our community such a great place to live and work. Robert is a master speaker in this area and has given presentations at national conference events. As part of the week, Robert and Rebecca will do performances at area schools, make presentations to area business groups and host workshops with area teachers on inspiring creativity in children.
Their presentations evolved out of their desire to use their artistic expression as a way to communicate about the things that they feel are truly important in life and to share how creativity and imagination can allow us access to connection, empathy and compassion. They are committed to going into a wide variety of settings sharing their artistry, relationship and experiences. Initial plans include Rebecca meeting with our stitching groups...details TBA soon.
The week culminates with a concert at JPAC on Friday, May 4 at 7:30 pm. Learn more at www.rockcountyarts.com or www.janesvillepac.org

Moms Mobilizing!
http://momsrising.org

MomsRising has a goal of bringing millions of people,
who all share a common concern about the need to build a
more family-friendly America, together as a non-partisan
force for 2008 and beyond.

This grassroots, online effort is mobilizing mothers, and all who have mothers,
across America as a cohesive force for change. Started May 2006, MomsRising
already has over 50,000 citizen members, as well as more than fifty (and growing)
aligned national organizations, working together to create positive solutions for the future.

It's YOUR Future...Help us shape it!

Rock County Citizens for Peace present
Stand for Peace
Saturday, March 17, 2007
10:30 a.m-Noon

Join us as we
• Call upon all people of the Rock Valley area to Stand for Peace.
• Establish nonviolence as our model.
• Grieve for the loss of American and Iraqi lives.
• Hope for more sensible fiscal policy aimed at supporting people, not war.

Meet on the block of Milton Ave. in front of the US Post Office and Big Lots. Park away from the buildings and toward Milton Ave. or on adjacent side streets. Dress warmly, if necessary. We have signs and hope to focus on the cost of war in lives and dollars. Be creative if you would like to bring your own signs.

Weekly Vigil Continues

Every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in front of Rep. Ryan’s office at 20 S. Main St. Janesville. Even in the very cold weather we have had 16- 20 people vigiling. We gather at a nearby coffee shop to warm up and make future plans. Join us when you can.

Rock Co. Democratic Party Meetings
Please join us!

Wednesday March 28, 7:00 p.m.
United Steel Workers Local 1533 Hall , 1620 Shore Dr., Beloit

NOTE regular meeting schedule changes in April 2007 to the
4th TUESDAY of every month...

April 24 Membership Meeting, 7 p.m.
RVUT, 1215 Suffolk, Janesville

May 22 Membership Meeting , 7:00 p.m.
United Steel Workers Local 1533 Hall, 1620 Shore Dr., Beloit