Here’s another opportunity to shop local for the holidays. The University City Arts League (4226 Spruce Street) is opening its annual Holiday Craft Show and Sale on Friday, Dec. 2.

Over 30 artists and crafts people will be selling their work, including jewelry, hand-painted silk scarves, pottery, hand-made gift cards, small paintings and prints. All work is hand-made and reasonably priced.

The artisans at the Arts League Crafts Show include Kelly Ann Mifflin (jewelry, pictured), Ken Beidler, Priscilla Sepe, Art Cohen, Dave (Fatman) Fowler (pottery), and Aubrey Levinthal (paintings).

The show is running December 2 through December 15 with the following hours: Dec. 2 & 3: 6 – 9 p.m., daily hours: 3 – 9 p.m., weekend hours: noon – 6 p.m.

60 percent of the proceeds will go to the artists and the remainder to support community arts programs provided by the Arts League.

Wake Up Yoga (4916 Baltimore Ave.) and teacher Vishnu are inviting folks who get affected by the change in season to attend a seasonal blues workshop this Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1 – 4 p.m. The workshop will help you understand and manage anxiety and depression according to Ayurveda, the science of life.

The workshop will teach you how to understand some of the underlying root causes of your seasonal blues, and how to cope with them using diet and lifestyle management tools.

The workshop contribution is $54 and you can register online or by calling 215-235-1228. Pre-registration is required.

Construction workers began taking the scaffolding off St. Francis de Sales domes on Monday. The dome renovation project, which began in August 2010 and cost $2.5 million is almost over. The scaffolding should be completely removed by Friday. The dome renovation is only the first phase of a multimillion St. Francis de Sales renovation project.

Here’s one of the holiday volunteer opportunities. Project MEOW is looking for foster parents for their cats this holiday season.

Project MEOW adoptables (like Dewey, pictured) are nurtured in individual foster homes, allowing for personal assessments of their character, to make the best matches possible with their future forever homes. Project MEOW covers medical and health care, promotes the cat’s adoptable status, and reviews the adoption applications – you provide food, litter, toys, and most rewarding of all, the love and attention the kitty needs. Please contact projectmeowadoptions[at]gmail.com to meet your holiday cuddler, and give the gift of fostering.

Project MEOW is an all-volunteer, animal welfare group that humanely reduces the stray cat population in West Philadelphia through rescue, trap-neuter-return and building strong relationships with the residents who feed and care for stray cats.

Don’t miss the Big Holiday Book Sale at the Walnut West Library (201 S 40th St.) this Saturday, Dec. 3. All books are in excellent, gift-giving condition. There will be a great selection of cookbooks, children’s books, quality non-fiction and coffee-table books. The sale will be held in the library’s community room from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

December is almost here and we will be paying a lot of attention to holiday events in the neighborhood. Please share any information on upcoming holiday events and volunteer opportunities in our area. Email us at: editor[at]westphillylocal.com.

Today is a Small Business Saturday and everyone is encouraged to support small businesses by shopping locally.

We have a lot of great businesses in our neighborhood, so please consider supporting them today. Do your grocery shopping at the Farmer’s Market, Mariposa or Milk & Honey. Have a pet? You can buy your pet supplies at Baltimore Pet Shoppe. Want a new book? Stop by Bindlestiff Books (Facebook link). While shopping, don’t forget to refuel at one of many awesome local cafes and restaurants.

Finally, consider buying your holiday gifts at local shops. VIX Emporium has a very nice selection of handcrafted holiday gifts and today you can get a free “West Philly” tee or tote with a $100 purchase. Also, American Express card holders will get a special credit on their account when they use the card at any of thousands of participating small businesses, including VIX. VIX Saturday hours have been extended until 7 p.m. and the store is now also open on Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. until Christmas.