Blankets

Even if you're not yet ready to retire, San Miguel de Allende is perfect for a vacation or long weekend getaway. Getting there United and American airlines offer connecting flights (via Texas) to San Miguel's two closest airports, Leon/Guanajuato (BJX), 90 minutes away, and Queretaro (QRO), one hour away. Round-trip airfares start around $600. Multiple airlines offer flights to Mexico City, which is three hours from San Miguel. When to go January may be the sole inclement month to travel, and even then it's nothing compared to a typical Baltimore winter.

Harford Community College students created fleece no sew "comfort" blankets to donate to the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center's pediatric emergency department on April 25.

Grumbles and sighs of exasperation were heard coming from the group of third-grade boys huddled around the square piece of pirate-printed fleece. Comments such as "I can't do this" and "This is hard" punctuated the boys' struggles to tie knots in the fabric's fringes. "I'm getting an awful lot of 'can'ts' from you boys," said Kerry Wolf, a parent volunteer at the table. "I think you can. It's like tying a balloon. We're having a water balloon battle and don't even know it. " The boys, along with their fellow students at Runnymede Elementary School, were taking part in the school's fourth annual Project Linus project Dec. 19. A nonprofit organization founded in 1998, Project Linus provides blankets for security, warmth and comfort to children who are ill, traumatized or in need, according to Connie Richman, coordinator for Project Linus in Carroll County.

Paul Edward Kennedy Mullan, a photographer who made headlines as a foundling discovered in a Towson apartment vestibule, died of a brain tumor Feb. 27 at his parents' North Baltimore home. He was 34. The story of his first days filled news columns in January 1979. The Sun reported he was discovered near the vestibule mailboxes of a Towson garden apartment near Towson University. Days old, he was wrapped in a plaid blanket and dressed in a J.C. Penney shirt and a diaper held together with Scotch tape.

  Employees of the Westminster branch of Morgan Stanley donated 15 handmade fleece blankets to Carroll Hospital Center last month as a gesture designed to brighten the spirits of children in the hospital's care over the holidays. The blankets were made by staff members of two departments at Morgan Stanley - the Velnoskey Group and the DeRenzis Ford Group. Douglas Velnoskey, a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley in Westminster, and Coleen Kramer Beal, registered associate of the Velnoskey Group division at the company, made the presentation.

Harford Community College students created fleece no sew "comfort" blankets to donate to the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center's pediatric emergency department on April 25.

MOST PEOPLE recognize Linus, the comic strip character who keeps his security blanket at hand. What they might not know is that Linus has become a symbol for a national volunteer organization that makes and gives security blankets. Project Linus enlists the volunteer efforts of people who enjoy stitching, crocheting and knitting. Their creations are given to children coping with difficult situations. Judy Walter, family and consumer science teacher at North Carroll High School, began a chapter of Project Linus for Carroll County - one of nine chapters in Maryland and more than 300 in the United States.

Almost every evening after dinner, Jean Matson settles into a recliner, pulls yarn and a needle out of her sewing basket and crochets until bedtime. The 71-year-old Forest Hill resident learned the craft as a child and spent years making blankets and afghans for family and friends. Eventually, Matson ran out of people to give them to, so she began making items for her home. Soon the house was awash in rugs, throws and afghans. "I literally had pieces all over the house," Matson said. "I couldn't put more in here if I wanted to."

Organizers are disappointed with the results of a campaign to gatherbasic necessities like shampoo, diapers and toilet paper for the homeless, as the month-long drive nears its end.Contributions at sites throughout the state have dropped off drastically from last year, said Peggy Vick, county organizer of Boxes for Blankets, sponsored bythe non-profit Action for the Homeless.At the end of last February, Boxes for Blankets had collected some 500 boxes -- more than two and a half tons -- of diapers, toiletries, blankets and linens, and sent them to more than 70 shelters aroundthe state.

BECAUSE THE BOY Scouts of Troop 9 sleep outdoors in all sorts of weather, they know the discomfort of being cold at night. The Scouts also know how to do a good turn. Last winter, the troop collected blankets for distribution by Shepherd's Staff of Westminster. About 50 blankets were collected, cleaned and donated. The troop numbers about 12 boys this year. Again, they are collecting usable blankets for those without them. The Scouts are also collecting disposable diapers of all sizes.

  Employees of the Westminster branch of Morgan Stanley donated 15 handmade fleece blankets to Carroll Hospital Center last month as a gesture designed to brighten the spirits of children in the hospital's care over the holidays. The blankets were made by staff members of two departments at Morgan Stanley - the Velnoskey Group and the DeRenzis Ford Group. Douglas Velnoskey, a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley in Westminster, and Coleen Kramer Beal, registered associate of the Velnoskey Group division at the company, made the presentation.

Grumbles and sighs of exasperation were heard coming from the group of third-grade boys huddled around the square piece of pirate-printed fleece. Comments such as "I can't do this" and "This is hard" punctuated the boys' struggles to tie knots in the fabric's fringes. "I'm getting an awful lot of 'can'ts' from you boys," said Kerry Wolf, a parent volunteer at the table. "I think you can. It's like tying a balloon. We're having a water balloon battle and don't even know it. " The boys, along with their fellow students at Runnymede Elementary School, were taking part in the school's fourth annual Project Linus project Dec. 19. A nonprofit organization founded in 1998, Project Linus provides blankets for security, warmth and comfort to children who are ill, traumatized or in need, according to Connie Richman, coordinator for Project Linus in Carroll County.

A winter storm forecast to drop a few inches of snow from Philadelphia to New England was expected to mostly spare the Baltimore area, with little but flurries and cold winds overnight Thursday. The nor'easter tracked farther east than many forecast models had predicted. With a narrow band of precipitation to the storm's west, most of the rain, sleet and snow stayed over the Delmarva Peninsula and the ocean. Relatively warm ground temperatures also prevented accumulation. With a chance missed for the season's first snowfall, it could be a while before the region gets another taste of winter.

Baltimore County police charged an Essex man Monday with stabbing his girlfriend after officers found her body wrapped in a blanket on his kitchen floor. Police say John W. Falkenstein Jr. of Essex stabbed Janet Palasik, 48, after the two got into an argument. Palasik's daughter had called 911 Monday to have officers to check on her mother who had gone to Falkenstein's home in the 700 block of Myrth Ave. on Nov. 4, police said. Officers spoke to Falkenstein at the home, and found Palasik, of the 1100 block of Maple Road in Essex, on the kitchen floor covered with a blanket.

Louise K. Smith, a retired Harford County public school kindergarten educator and longtime volunteer, died Aug. 27 at her Havre de Grace home from complications of recent surgery. She was 84. A daughter of an artist and a homemaker, the former Louise Keck was born and raised in Queens, N.Y., and was a 1944 graduate of Andrew Jackson High School in St. Albans, Queens. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Queens College in New York City, and a master's degree in reading education from what is now Towson University.

All lions - not some - will bite your head off. All bears - not some - will shred you to pieces. All crocodiles - not some - will chop you in half. These are examples of "inherently dangerous" animals. To the contrary, only some pit bulls - but not all - will hurt you. That's why there needs to be a case-by-case determination of the facts about a particular dog. A blanket ruling condemning an entire breed is the epitome of intellectual laziness and the absence of judicial discretion.

WASHINGTON -- Just in time for Christmas, the U.S. Department of Defense has reinstated its program providing blankets for the homeless."It got the green light," Frank Johnson, director of corporate communications at Philadelphia's Defense Supply Center, said yesterday.The news of the decision was greeted with relief by advocates for the homeless, who were facing this winter without the homely but extremely durable blankets they had come to count on."If you have them, you give them out," said Mary Hendrickson, executive director of the Homeless Coalition in Fayetteville, N.C.She, like other advocates, had been forced to seek alternative sources for blankets since the free supply of military blankets was cut off.During the program's first decade, more than 4 million blankets were distributed to more than 500 homeless shelters around the country.

STEVENSVILLE -- Two babies who died at the home of a Kent Island day care provider last month apparently were accidentally suffocated by blankets when they were put down for a nap, authorities have told the children's families.After ruling out tainted food and other possible causes, investigators appear to have settled on a simple explanation, one that contributes to the deaths of up to 1,800 infants a year in the United States: putting babies to sleep with soft, fluffy bedding.In the case of the two Maryland infants, it was probably a handmade quilt, said Dawn Denny, the mother of Ian Walden Denny of Stevensville.

Dr. LaRocco and the staff of St. Joseph Health Park at Hereford would like to thank the community for the generous response to the WLIF Blanket Baltimore program that was conducted in January. We were especially excited to see that individuals also included blankets specifically for children. The donated blankets will now be professionally cleaned and distributed to local homeless shelters around Baltimore. It is very rewarding to be a part of this very close and thoughtful community.

From left, Charles and Betty Roberts, of Mount Airy, donated 50 homemade lap blankets and blankets by the Community Knitting and Crocheting Group, of Columbia, to the local Be a Santa to a Senior program, which provides gifts and companionship to seniors who otherwise might not receive either this holiday season. Receiving the donation on behalf of Home Instead Senior Care is Pamela Urnowey, right. Home Instead Senior Care of Arnold and Ellicott City organized the local Be a Santa to a Senior program along with project partners Anne Arundel County Department on Aging, Howard County Department on Aging, Meals on Wheels, Partner's in Care, Girl Scout Troop 5339, Walmart, Kmart, Berman Goldman & Ribakow LLP, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Morningside House of Friendship and Sunrise Senior Living in Severna Park.