Animal Free and Lush(ious)

Lush in the Natick Mall has just launched their first global campaign against animal testing.

Looking to feel beautiful naturally? Love the thought of  a free facial or foot scrub? If so,  Lush Cosmetics is here to help. Lush located in the Natick Mall believes in pampering their clients, ideal customer service, and creating their own products. They stand on firm believes against animal testing and believe in natural products. The make cosmetics by hand for all parts of the body- from shampoos to foot scrubs, Lush has it all — naturally. “We believe in making effective products made from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics,” the Lush website reads. “We believe in happy people making happy soaps.” Lush is constantly creating new and wonderful products that are animal free and feel …

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Tradition Wins: The Natick "Mall" Returns

The Natick Collection has announced that it will change its name back to the "Natick Mall" and return to tradition.

When the new addition was built at Natick Collection in 2007, introducing high-end stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstom, the "Natick Mall" name had a makeover of its own. Since then, the largest mall in New England has been known as "Natick Collection," to the dismay of many locals who were uncomfortable with the change. But this month, the 200-store retail landmark has begun its transition back to its nostalgic name. "For no other reason but to acknowledge tradition, we have returned to referring to the shopping center as Natick Mall. Tradition is important to us," said senior marketing manager Allyson Reed. "Many of our shoppers have grown up shopping here and have always referred to us as Natick Mall.  Our retailers refer to us as …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: July 12

Check out these five things you should know in Natick today.

1. Drink lots of water and stay in the shade today. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms today, but it is expected to get sunnier in the afternoon with a high of 93 degrees and a low of 66, according to the National Weather Service. The heat index could reach 100. 2. Today is National Swimming Pool Day. Hopefully you have access to one, with such high temperatures expected today! 3. There will be a library trustees meeting at 4 p.m today at the Morse Institute Library. 4. At 10:30 a.m., Whitney Place Assisted Living Residences will host an Alzheimer's support group. Call 508-655-3344, ext. 3999 for more information. 5. The American Girl Store in Natick Collection will host a summer reading event today. See the events page for …

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Construction Begins on New Sushi Restaurant

Construction of the new Wasabi restaurant is underway at Natick Collection.

Sushi will soon be coming to Natick on a conveyor belt. Construction has begun on the new Wasabi restaurant in Natick Collection and is expected to be completed this month. The "modern" Japanese eatery is being built in the new addition of the mall, outside the Apple store and will be an "open air" restaurant surrounded only by a railing. Sushi and other Japanese entrees, appetizers and desserts will glide by guests on a conveyor belt, ready for them to grab when they see something they like. The 95-seat restaurant will also have booths available with a wait staff for those who prefer not to hunt for their meal. Wasabi is also located in Howard, VA and Washington, D.C.

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Social Network Provides Outlet for Thoughts, Memories of Lauren Astley

Facebook pages have sprung up as places where friends and strangers alike can remember the Wayland High School grad.

As friends and family and even total strangers struggle to process the events in Wayland during the past few days, Facebook has become an arena in which people can connect and cope. At least three Facebook pages are now dedicated to messages and memories of Lauren Astley, the 18-year-old woman found murdered Monday in Wayland. The first, “Have You Seen Lauren Astley,” was created at 1:57 a.m. Monday, just hours after Astley was reported missing and still more than five hours before her body was discovered. It wasn’t until 6 p.m., Monday that the posts on that page changed from a hopeful effort to find a missing young woman to a de facto memorial page as news reports began to circulate that a body found in a marshy area of Wayland had been …

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Wayland Murder Suspect Arrives at Framingham District Court

Nathaniel Fujita, 18, of Wayland has arrived at court to be arraigned on charges he murdered Lauren Astley.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Nathaniel Fujita of Wayland arrived at Framingham District Court in the back of a Wayland police car, escorted by two Wayland Police officers. Fujita, wearing an orange Wayland football T-shirt and black shorts, did not respond to reporters' questions before being led down the stairs and into the court. Fujita has been charged with the murder of Lauren Astley, the 18-year-old Wayland girl who disappeared Sunday night and whose body was found Monday morning near the Sudbury-Wayland line. She was reportedly last seen leaving her job at Natick Collection Sunday evening. According to the Wayland High School 2011 commencement program, Fujita and Astley were classmates and both graduated from WHS in early June.

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Body Reportedly Identified as Missing Natick Employee

Body found on Wayland's Water Row reportedly identified by father as 18-year-old Lauren Astley.

Update (5:54 p.m.): According to CBS Boston and NECN, the father of Lauren Astley, confirmed that the body discovered early this morning in Water Row, Wayland, was his daughter. Lauren Astley was an employee at the Natick Collection and reportedly last seen leaving the Natick mall. The Middlesex District Attorney's office reportedly has an investigation underway.

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Contributor Corner

Original Designs to Walk Natick Collection Runway

Students from Framingham State University, Lasell College and Mount Ida College will have their original fashion designs shown at a the Form to Fashion Grand Finale Fashion Show.

Students from Framingham State University, Lasell College and Mount Ida College will have their original fashion designs shown at a the Form to Fashion Grand Finale Fashion Show. The show will take place by the Infinity Pool in Natick Collection on Saturday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. The students' designs have been rotating displays at the court outside Neiman Marcus since March. The winner may win a prize and have the opportunity to have their designs displayed in the Neiman Marcus window.

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