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From the public-notices file: Missing some money?
March 21, 2010 11:43 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Wandering through the public notices that the Daily Journal of Commerce doesn’t have behind a paywall, we spotted this one: Police want to hear from whomever lost something described only as “CASH” that turned up in the 2700 block of 49th SW (map) three months ago. No hint as to how much.

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Tuesday’s your chance to stand up for a West Seattle “gateway”
March 21, 2010 9:18 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

This weekend, like most, West Seattleites have stood up, bent over, dug up, pitched in to pull weeds, pluck trash, plant trees – including the special events in Delridge (WSB coverage here) and Highland Park (WSB coverage here). So tonight we’re reminding you about a chance Tuesday to stand up and say you can help take care of one of the peninsula’s “gateway” areas – the one along the southwest end of kimberleeearl.jpgThe Bridge. You’ll be helping pick up the baton from a West Seattle hero – Earl Cruzen, shown at right with Kimberlee Archie as he was honored a year and a half ago, the day of the big “Gateway Cleanup” (proclaimed “Earl Cruzen Day” by the city). The “Walking on Logs” sculpture and Welcome to West Seattle sign area was part of that cleanup, but that was just one, albeit big, event; Cruzen has put in countless hours taking care of the area himself. As Nancy Driver wrote in the announcement we published last month, “The statues and surround have been maintained for the past decade or more by local hero Earl Cruzen. Earl is 89 now and it’s time for others to take over upkeep of the statues and the grounds directly surrounding them.” First step toward getting involved is the Tuesday meeting at High Point Library (35th/Raymond) – 5:30 pm. Even if you’re not 100% sure you want to commit, be there to find out what needs to be done and how to be part of it.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: 1st rainbow of spring
March 21, 2010 6:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Typical Seattle spring weather – sun, rain, sun, rain … ice pellets? We were off the peninsula for a little while this afternoon but got word from JayDee about (at least some part of) West Seattle getting pelted. Then, the rainbow, as photographed by Leaf from the north end of California SW. The forecast says things will be unsettled through tomorrow – then a steadier dose of sunshine is due in.

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Sunday midafternoon miscellany: Buoy basking, and more
March 21, 2010 3:01 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Saturday photo by JanS)
FROM THE WSB FORUMS: Ready for some good news? There’s a heartwarming “rave” in the WSB Forums’ Rants & Raves section – someone thankful for the people who helped an injured dog find its way home. Read it here.

YET MORE HELPFULNESS: Last weekend, Greg Hatcher shared the story of the booth he and his Madison Middle School student artists planned to have at Emerald City Comicon downtown. Today – his mega-report on the convention and the generosity of folks who chipped in to help them raise money to keep the program going (it relies in part on Partners With Youth, for which the West Seattle YMCA [WSB sponsor] is raising money right now). Read his story here.

“NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE WEEK”: Our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times are featuring Genesee Hill as “Neighborhood of the Week” today. They’ve featured West Seattle areas before but we’re noting this (a) because Dale e-mailed us about it and (b) since it’s home to the newly formed Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council (WSB coverage here).

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Happening now: Highland Park Improvement Club Spring Clean
March 21, 2010 12:53 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news

In 1988, the Talking Heads sang, in “(Nothing But) Flowers,” about blacktop turned back into flowers and fields. A little bit of that is going on outside Highland Park Improvement Club right now, as its Spring Clean event continues till 5 pm. Becca Fong (above) and other volunteers are pulling away asphalt put over parking strips long ago, so they can plant trees (a few of which you can see at the left of this next picture):

Inside, Monica Cavagnaro and others are cleaning and sprucing up the historic HPIC building itself (just celebrated its 90th anniversary last November).

And a variety of other tasks are under way – including litter pickup in nearby greenbelt areas. Need incentive to drop by and help? Somebody mentioned “banana bread” while we were shooting pictures. Just show up any time before 5 pm, when this is scheduled to wrap up, at 1116 SW Holden (map). (And note that HPIC has some other cool events coming up too – like Wine For Our Times on April 24; the building’s also the scene of Highland Park Action Committee meetings, next one this Wednesday, March 24, 7 pm, including a candidates’ forum with those running for 34th District State House Position 2.)

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West Seattle Sunday: HPIC Spring Clean; Hi-Yu tea; orchard meeting
March 21, 2010 7:33 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: HPIC Spring Clean; Hi-Yu tea; orchard meeting
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Friday photo by JayDee)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRING CLEAN: 10 am to 5 pm, help Highland Park Improvement Club spring into the new season:

We will be planting street trees, building a new kiosk/sign, cleaning tables and chairs and walls and more, plus we will have equipment and bags for picking up litter in the neighborhood. Please join us! Bring gloves and whatever gear might be appropriate. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

WSB SPONSOR EVENTS: Both start at 11 – SoundYoga offers free Sunday yoga, 11 am-12:15 pm, and there’s a gold-buying event at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village in partnership with Northwest Gold Exchange/206.938.GOLD, 11 am-5 pm

LOOKING FOR A NEW FURRY COMPANION? A Seattle Humane Society Maxmobile pet adoption event is on the calendar for Next-to-Nature in The Junction, 11 am-3 pm.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SPRING TEA AND SILENT AUCTION: The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2 pm (more details here).

COMMUNITY ORCHARD MEETING TONIGHT: From Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle:

Planning is continuing on a Community Orchard for West Seattle, and it’s time to get more input from you – the West Seattle Community. We have found a site for our first orchard, have identified a potential funding source, and now we would like to hear your ideas – in person.

Come to a Community Orchard IDEAS meeting:
Sunday, March 21
7-8:30 PM
Duwamish Co-housing Common House, 6000 17th SW

This is an opportunity to learn more about the project (short term and long term) and share your ideas of what sorts of things to include in our plans. We welcome everyone to this meeting.join in the blossoming of ideas for growing an even greater abundance of local fruit.

Even more in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

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Update: 1 dead, 2 hurt in 2-vehicle head-on crash at 37th/Admiral
March 21, 2010 2:13 am
|      120 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(cameraphone photo added 2:40 am)
ORIGINAL 2:13 AM REPORT: Thanks to the person who called to be sure we’d seen this on the 911 log – minutes after it appeared: Fire and police crews are working a “heavy rescue” call at 37th/Admiral (map), a crash with two vehicles involved, according to the scanner, with extrication(s) under way. We’re off to the scene to see what we can find out; Admiral is closed at that spot, so stay away.

2:34 AM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick is at the scene and describes it as a “huge” response of police and fire. Meantime, via the scanner here at HQ, we have just heard the first medical report on 2 victims – a 29-year-old man who got out of one of the vehicles on his own, injuries include a fracture. And authorities also have reported one person killed.

2:52 AM UPDATE: Police at the scene confirm that the total is 1 dead, 2 hurt, both going to the hospital. They tell us that it appears so far that the pickup truck was coming up the Admiral Way hill (northbound) while the SUV was going down the hill (southbound), at least one of the vehicles speeding, when the SUV crossed into the truck’s path, and they collided. Admiral is closed from Belvidere to Olga, and since this is a deadly crash, it’s likely to be closed for hours. (The last deadly crash in West Seattle was less than 2 weeks ago, a 1-car crash the night of March 9th on 16th SW.)

3:03 AM UPDATE: Authorities at the scene aren’t saying (and we’re not even certain if they yet know) anything about the gender or age of the person who was killed. Scanner information indicated the 2nd survivor, who like the 1st has been rushed to Harborview Medical Center, was a “middle-aged” man, whose injuries included fractures.

4 AM UPDATE: Adding our clip from the scene – same angle as the photo above, but gives you more context on exactly where it happened. This was shot from behind the yellow-tape line (the only other media photographer there while we were, from KING 5, was immediately to our left):

We’ll check back on Admiral’s status in a few hours; police will likely have an official writeup by then too.

9:40 AM UPDATE: The short item at SPDBlotter has two additional bits of information: The person who died was the SUV’s driver, while the two survivors were the driver and passenger in the pickup; also, police say alcohol may have been a factor as well as speed. No further information has been released about any of the three.

(Photo by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography, as rescuers worked to get one of the survivors out of the pickup)

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Delridge Playground cleanup
March 21, 2010 1:26 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scenes: Delridge Playground cleanup
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photo by Savanna Nichols)
Thanks to North Delridge Neighborhood Council co-secretary Holli Margell for sharing these photos from Saturday’s Delridge Community Center Playground (and vicinity) cleanup by adding them to the West Seattle Blog photo group on Flickr. As that first photo shows – teamwork spanned the generations. 8 months have passed since the huge volunteer effort that built the playground; volunteer help will keep it in good shape, too, and here are more of the folks who joined forces Saturday morning to pitch in:

(Photo by Savanna Nichols)
You have more chances to help brighten West Seattle neighborhoods, today and both days next weekend (here’s our roundup with details).

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Help future guide dogs get started! West Seattle meeting Monday
March 20, 2010 11:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

Got room in your home, heart and life to help raise puppies to become guide dogs? This Monday night, there’s a chance for you to find out what’s involved and whether you can help. West Seattle See Dogs, a puppy-raising club for Guide Dogs for the Blind, “needs volunteers to spend a year or so teaching puppies good house manners and introducing them to the world,” according to organizer Ruth Oldham. As the Guide Dogs for the Blind website puts it, “As a puppy raiser, not only will you discover the delight of a four-footed, wet-nosed companion, you will join a community of like-minded people all working toward improving the quality of life for people who are blind.” The meeting’s at 7 pm Monday, Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) at 2326 California SW (map), and you’ll get to meet some of the “puppies in training.” If you can’t make the meeting but would like to find out about getting involved anyway, e-mail seedogs@comcast.net or call Ruth at 206-953-0268.

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West Seattle wildlife: Caution, coyotes crossing
March 20, 2010 8:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

From Jodi, by the southwest end of The Bridge:

I just wanted to let you know that coyotes have been very active in our neighborhood the last two nights. This morning at 4 am there was one in front our house yelping and running up and down the street (4000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW) along the West Seattle Bridge between the pedestrian overpass and the light at 35th. It was having a fit because there was another coyote on the road (West Seattle bridge) running back and forth between the east and west bond lanes trying to figure out how to get over the chain link fence to join it companion. We watched them for over 10 minutes before they both headed towards the pedestrian overpass. There wasn’t much traffic at that time of the morning on a Saturday, but it could be deadly other days of the week.

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Watch for USS Nimitz off West Seattle shores tomorrow
March 20, 2010 7:32 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Trina for mentioning this on our Facebook wall: The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is coming to Bremerton tomorrow – just a quick stop to pick up friends/family for a “Tiger Cruise” down to its homeport in San Diego, after a half-year-plus deployment, but this December, it’ll be back for maintenance at Naval Base Kitsap. We haven’t yet nailed down the best time range you’re likely to see the carrier off West Seattle shores, but so far it looks like early-to-mid-morning. (U.S. Navy photo, from Nimitz’s recent visit to Thailand)

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West Seattle drummer Matt Chamberlain honored for his groove
March 20, 2010 5:08 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

(Photo by Ronn Dunnett, provided by Matt Chamberlain)
Matt Chamberlain may be the most famous West Seattle musician you haven’t heard of – or haven’t heard much about. But there’s a strong likelihood you’ve heard his work, given everyone with whom he’s played/recorded. And now he’s e-mailed WSB with news that DRUM! Magazine has included him in its list “15 Greatest Groove Drummers of All Time.” Here’s an excerpt he shared from the writeup by Sam Pryor:

By creating a singular groove, Chamberlain became the first-call L.A. session drummer (sorry, Josh Freese). The diverse artists he has recorded with mirror his enormous ability to fit into any situation. Majorly pliable, Chamberlain’s skills (both physically delivered and occasionally programmed) have appeared on more than 200 albums, including those by Fiona Apple, The Wallflowers, Stevie Nicks, Dave Navarro, Master Musicians Of Jajouka, Garbage, David Bowie, Keith Urban, William Shatner, Shakira, Sean Lennon, Sarah McLaughlin, and Dido.

If you noted the L.A. reference – he spends a lot of time there working, but lives here. He explained in his note to us, “My wife and I have been residents of West Seattle for over 15 years … I live here and travel quite a bit but this is always home to me.” The “Top 15” list is in the April issue of DRUM! – which isn’t online yet (though Chamberlain has posted the full text on his website), where we also found word (scroll below the DRUM! mention in the text box on the home page) that he’s playing with Pigeonhed in a benefit at Seattle club Neumos tomorrow.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Two suspicion-stirring sightings
March 20, 2010 2:02 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

First – the case of the electronics-laden shopping cart; second, the case of the “cleaning lady” who wasn’t – read on:Read More

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West Seattle scene: Spring colors “blooming” on the shore
March 20, 2010 12:12 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Low tides this time of year aren’t mega-low (here’s the chart) – but low enough to happen onto sights like that one, photographed by Eve at Lincoln Park on Friday. In the note accompanying the photo, she wondered why there’s such a wide color variation among the common sea stars, as demonstrated in these two. We did find at least one scientific paper that suggested an explanation – but perhaps someone with a little more user-friendly marine-biology knowhow has a simpler answer!

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West Seattle restaurant news: Eness now officially open
March 20, 2010 7:06 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

When we checked in with the proprietors of Eness Restaurant – which moved into the ex-Beato/Ovio/O2 space at 3247 California – they had hoped to open this week, and indeed, they achieved their goal. We got a tip they’d opened quietly on Thursday night; no signs on the door or phone-answering on Friday, but co-owner Khadidja Romari Belambri confirmed by e-mail early today that they’re indeed open for business. Their website’s not up just yet – soon, Khadidja says – but they’re open Tuesdays through Sundays, 5:30-10:30 pm, and hoping to add Saturday/Sunday brunch in about a month. (For more on Eness, here’s our original January report.)

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West Seattle Saturday: Spring into action!
March 20, 2010 6:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(44th SW, looking north from SW Spokane [map], photographed late Friday morning)
Spring officially arrives at 10:32 am. Some of what you can do today in honor of the new season’s arrival:

STREET SCRAMBLE: This “urban scavenger hunt” comes to Alki to open the 2010 season. If you’re not registered yet, too late to do it online, but you can do it in person at the site before the scheduled 9:30 am start – it’s suggested you download forms to get a head-start – read more about how it works here.

PLAYGROUND CLEANUP: 10 am, be at Delridge Community Center Playground to help neighbors, friends and community leaders shine it up – and tidy surrounding areas – for spring.

ROVING REPTILE MAN: 10:30 am at High Point Community Center: Fabulous Famliy Fun!

WANT TO TALK SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS? Your School Board rep Steve Sundquist hosts one of his community chats, all welcome, 11 am at High Point Library.

BUY NATIVE PLANTS: Help the West Seattle Backyard Wildlife Habitat program by buying native plants at the gonatives.com sale, 3225 47th SW (map), 11 am-5 pm.

MARIONETTES AT ALKI BATHHOUSE: 1 pm, it’s the Shaver Marionettes with “Cinderella and the Bug Brigade.”

EQUINOX SUNSET: Join NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen around 7 pm at Solstice Park (east of north Lincoln Park)! Details on her site.

WHITE CENTER ART WALK: 6 pm – venues and artists listed here

That’s just a small sampling of what’s up … full list is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup. Have a great day!

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Video: Car hits parked car, flips on Delridge
March 20, 2010 3:04 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

That’s a tow truck finishing the two-step process of pulling a flipped car back to the upright position, about an hour after that car overturned on Delridge at Willow (map) around 1:10 am. The second car you see in the video was parked when the black car hit it, police told us at the scene. They say someone from the flipped car was taken to the hospital, though we don’t know how badly they’re hurt. The crash happened in the northbound lanes at a wide spot in the road, so Delridge wasn’t closed to traffic for long – cars were directed around the wreckage, using the center and southbound lanes.

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Delridge Produce Cooperative: “Time to put the pieces together”
March 20, 2010 1:43 am
|    Comments Off on Delridge Produce Cooperative: “Time to put the pieces together”
 |   Announcements

Announced via e-mail:

Borscht and Bagels
Delridge Produce Cooperative’s second annual gathering

This time last year, a bunch of neighbors assembled to meet each other and celebrate the idea of working cooperatively to bring fruits and vegetables to our neighborhood. This year, it’s time to put the pieces together and make it happen! We’ll discuss the various options available, and together design the stepping-stones to get where we need to go! Join us for a light lunch of soup, bagels and coffee. Children welcome!

Southwest Youth and Family Center
4555 Delridge Way SW

April 11th, Sunday, 2:30-4:30pm
Phone: 206-271-1880
email: delridgeproducecoop@gmail.com

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Services set for Sunrise Heights service-station owner Mark Hegge
March 19, 2010 11:23 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family, friends and customers are mourning Mark Hegge, who ran the Sunrise Heights Chevron station at 35th/Holden [map]. According to the notice posted at the station (photo), he “passed away unexpectedly” yesterday, at age 52. A celebration of Mr. Hegge’s life is set for 11 am Tuesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, with viewing 1-8 pm Monday at Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home in The Junction. (Thanks to those who called and tweeted to make sure we knew about this.)

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Seattle annexation vote for White Center? Not this fall after all
March 19, 2010 10:51 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | White Center

In late January, we broke the news that Mayor McGinn wanted to pursue a White Center (and environs) annexation vote this fall. Tonight, that plan has changed. This afternoon, the city’s budget boss unveiled the financial analysis that councilmembers had asked to see before considering whether to support the call for a vote – and Beth Goldberg announced, while presenting the analysis today, that the costs would be too high for the budget-crunched city to seek a vote any sooner than fall 2011. Meantime, Burien may fast-track the area instead; more details at partner site White Center Now.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Last sunset of the winter that wasn’t
March 19, 2010 10:25 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Last sunset of the winter that wasn’t
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Chas Redmond for sharing his iPhone photo of the last sunset of winter, viewed from Alki; spring shows up at 10:32 am our time tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service forecast says it’ll be a nice day (good thing, given all the outdoor excitement, from Alki Street Scramble to Delridge Playground spruce-up and beyond) – but by this time tomorrow, the clouds might be back. As for a quick recap of our winter that wasn’t very wintry:
*Icy temperatures for a while in early December (who could forget the frozen fountains? yes, this was before the solstice, but December is unofficially winter)
*Wind trouble in mid-January
*Snow showers in early March
*And last Tuesday’s windburst/power outage

Plus, lots of rainbows! Browse our West Seattle weather coverage archives (newest to oldest).

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A way with words: Madison Middle School Literacy Night
March 19, 2010 9:58 pm
|    Comments Off on A way with words: Madison Middle School Literacy Night
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Madison Middle School‘s Jeanne Merritt for sharing a report and photos from last night’s big event:

Madison Middle School celebrated its annual Literacy Night on Thursday. Students and their families were treated to free pizza in the Commons, then sat down to play games that build literacy skills such as Scrabble. Some visitors were busy making beautiful bookmarks.

In the library there was an open mike for students to read stories and poems they had written — Madison’s own Reader’s Theater.

Also in the library online literacy activities were available.

Books were of course a key ingredient of the evening. A representative from a local bookstore was present, plus hundreds of donated books were available for exchange or free. Hundreds of student-written books were displayed and visitors genuinely enjoyed reading them.

Seventh graders had written ABC biographies of people in U.S. history. Eighth-grade Washington State History students wrote travelogues of an imaginary trip around Washington. They had to include what went in their suitcases, expenses, mileage, photos, information about places they visited, etc. Other eighth-graders had created their own journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Sixth-graders displayed comparative religion essays.

All in all the evening was a very fun celebration of literacy.

School news always welcome – either with information and photos you provide, or tips on events we can cover – here are all the ways to reach WSB!

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Dozens of West Side MOPS moms pampered on Spa Day
March 19, 2010 9:19 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

What’s a “spa day” without chocolate? Luckily the moms of West Side MOPS didn’t have to answer that question. Once again this year, a chocolate fountain was part of the tasty lineup of treats during their group’s annual Spa Day, a members-only celebration. The group – open to mothers of small children from infancy through preschooler age – is based at West Side Presbyterian Church, whose distinctively framed hall was the scene of this morning’s fun and relaxation:

Thanks to donations of services and items from local businesses, at least 40 MOPS moms got to enjoy Spa Day absolutely free. The offerings included massage, eyebrown waxing, energy-drink sampling, makeup consultation, skin care, nail-painting, crafts, even photos by Fauntleroy-based Gail Ann Photography:

And stylists from Forsythe Studio in The Junction are a MOPS Spa Day fixture, this year offering trims and style/color consultation:

West Side MOPS meets twice monthly, fall through spring, with child care provided for the little ones, and registration will be coming up for next year – you can find out more on the West Side MOPS website.

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