Photo from Woodlandsphila.org.

A near total (for us in Philly) solar eclipse is coming on Monday, April 8. Philly is not on the “path of totality,” but we will get a very respectable 89 percent coverage of the sun, according to NASA, which should be enough to plunge the city into mid-day darkness for a few minutes.

The moon will start moving in front of the sun at about 2:08 p.m. and peak eclipse will begin at 3:23 p.m. Hopefully it will be a clear day for maximum eclipse awesomeness. If so, you definitely want to check this one out because the next solar eclipse this good won’t be for another 20 years.

So where to go for peak eclipse viewing and astronomical camaraderie in West Philly? A good place to start is at The Woodlands, which is hosting an eclipse viewing get together on April 8 from 2-4:30 p.m. The Woodlands offers a lot of open sky to get a good look. Plus a librarian from the Walnut West Library will be organizing an eclipse-themed storytime complete with music and dancing.

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In an ongoing effort to make voting more accessible for Philadelphia citizens, the City Commissioners Office has opened the first of 10 new and permanent satellite election offices (SEO) at 4029 Market Street. The grand opening attended by state and city officials, including Mayor Cherelle Parker, took place this morning.

Satellite offices will be installed in all 10 council districts and will be open 7 days a week. At each office, residents will be able to register to vote, request and receive a mail ballot, complete it and return it.

“As Chairman Commissioner of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, I am thrilled to unveil the first of our 10 new Satellite Election Offices,” Chairman Sabir said prior to today’s event. “These offices represent a significant step forward in our commitment to making voting more accessible and convenient for all Philadelphia citizens.”

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West Philly parents and guardians: here’s a chance for you to exchange unwanted children’s clothes and shoes for more desirable items. The 4th Annual Spring Clothing Swap for Babies and Kids is scheduled for next Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.. The event will again take place on the 4200 block of Regent Square, the side street across from Clark Park on the east side.

Porches on the block will be labeled by size/age. Drop off your clothes on the corresponding porch starting at 9:30 a.m. Please note that only clothing and shoes in good condition (no stains or rips) will be accepted. Accepted sizes are 0-3M through 8Y.

For more information, visit the Facebook Event page or email: clarkparkclothingswap@gmail.com