DAUGHTERS IN LOCKSTEP WITH MOMS.

Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY

Odds and ends from around the Valley:

Lead by example and great things can happen.

A few of the moms in Girl Scout Troop 40 in Northridge cut their hair last year and donated it to Locks of Love, which provides hairpieces to kids who have lost their hair while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

On Thursday, at Identity Salon in Encino, their daughters followed in their footsteps.

``It took us a year to grow our hair long enough, but we finally did it,'' said 9-year-old Siena Escobar. ``It was our turn to help kids with cancer.''

Ciara Berlin, Melinda Frank and Sarah Arnold, all 10, also had their hair cut by 10 inches for Locks of Love.

Siena's mom, Julie Escobar, and Ciara's mom, Beverly Berlin, thought maybe if more mothers knew about the organization, they could also lead by example.

``The girls see their moms trying to make a difference, and they want to make a difference,'' Julie said. ``It's important to pass down lessons like this to your children.

``People get their hair cut anyway, so why not give it to some sick kids who can use it. That's not asking too much.''

Nope, it isn't. In Woodland Hills last week, 7-year-old Alexa Schwartz had her long hair cut for Locks of Love in honor of her grandparents, Fay and Larry Schwartz, both cancer survivors.

``I know there are kids out there with no hair, so I wanted them to have some of mine so they could go out and do stuff,'' Alexa said Thursday.

``I almost screamed when it was done, but I'm OK with it now. Short hair's cool, especially in the summer.''

In the four years that Locks of Love has been in operation, it has provided hairpieces for more than 2,000 kids with cancer.

For more information on the Florida-based nonprofit, call [phone], or see www.locksoflove.org.

While we're on the topic of kids doing good things, congratulations to 16-year-old Lauren Ormsbee, who was crowned Apricot Queen at last weekend's Apricot Festival in Moorpark.

So what did Lauren do to win the honor? Grow the biggest apricot or bake the best apricot pie? Nope.

She knocked on doors over the course of a month to raise $2,561 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of her best friend's mom who has MS.

``I wanted to receive the crown not only for the fun of being queen for a day, but in order to bring in money for a charity that is very important to me -- my family and my friends,'' Lauren said.

Any golfer will tell you the nicest thing your golfing buddies could do to remember you after you're gone is to play a round in your memory.

Bill Aspinwall's golf buddies did that one better last week in Westlake Village. They played a round of golf and raised $8,500 for the City of Hope in their buddy's name.

Aspinwall, of Calabasas, died in January at age 47 from cancer of the heart, one of the rarest and deadliest forms of the disease.

``Spending a beautiful day on the golf course with friends is exactly the kind of tribute that Bill would have loved,'' said Eric Bossuk, who organized the event, and was friends with Bill since they met on the playground at Hale Junior High School in Woodland Hills 34 year ago.

``We were thrilled to be able to present the City of Hope with these funds in our buddy's name,'' Eric said.

And finally, MEND -- Meet Each Need With Dignity -- has opened Treasure Trunk, an upscale resale store, at 16860 Devonshire St. in Granada Hills.

Proceeds support the nonprofit organization's longtime commitment to serving poor families in the San Fernando Valley.

For more information on store hours, or if you're interested in volunteering a day or two at the store, call store manager Michele McDowell-Jacobson at [phone].

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Photo:

Girl Scout Siena Escobar, 9, shows a lock of her hair that was cut Thursday at Identity Salon in Encino, with the hair being donated to Locks of Love.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer