Friday, September 14th, 2012

THE HISTORY OF September 14th, I'm ___________________ .

AND I'M ___________________ . Today in 1883: Birth-control advocate Margaret Sanger is born in Corning, New York. In Sanger's time, many women die of self-induced abortions or raise large families in misery. Doctors refuse to provide contraceptive information, and postal laws prohibit disseminating it through the mail.

Sanger will lead a nationwide crusade and write a column in the Socialist paper, "The Call". Her column will openly describe genitalia, reproduction and contraception, insisting that sex is natural and good. Sanger will open the first birth-control clinic in the United States and fight continuous, highly publicized obscenity charges.

Establishing an organization that will evolve into Planned Parenthood, she'll smuggle diaphragms into the country and help illegally manufacture contraceptives. Sanger words reflect her determination: “No woman can call herself free who doesn't own and control her own body.”


Friday, September 14th, 2012

It's This Weekend’s Action Calendar!

14 South Artists presents its 9th Annual Fall Studio Art Tour tomorrow and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.  Thirty-two artists will be showing their work and greeting the public in eighteen working studios and galleries throughout Brooklyn, Oregon, Evansville, Blanchardville, Paoli, Verona and Stoughton.  For more information about the tour, and to view an interactive map of the studio and gallery sites, visit 14southartists.com or call 206-1396.

Tomorrow is the 29th Annual Hill and Valley Antique Auto and Americana Show in Cross Plains. This will be a celebration of America’s heritage and history represented through historic displays and demonstrations of crafts and skills including blacksmithing, wagon wheel making, quilting, spinning, lace making, and sauerkraut making. Come to check out the antique and classic cars and trucks, steam and gas engines and tractors, horse drawn vehicles and antique fire engines.  This is tomorrow from 6:45am to  4:30pm at Baer Park, 2820 Military Road in Cross Plains. More info at crossplainschamber.net.

Sunday there will be a Climate Organizing Workshop. This workshop is for both experienced activists and people new to the climate movement, and will focus on skills development, team building, and strategic planning. You'll come away with skills that will both bolster your local work and empower you as part of the broader climate movement. The workshop is free and lunch will be provided. This is Sunday from 9am to 5 pm at Arboretum Cohousing, 1137 Erin Street. Please RSVP to Dave at: d-spitzer@tds.net