The photo and report are from Friends of Morgan Junction Parks‘ Barry White:

Friends of Morgan Junction Parks concluded a productive first year this morning with the first phase of a restoration project at the Juneau/Fauntleroy triangle. [map] Volunteers dug out some weedy and deeply buried street trees and applied fresh mulch. A considerable understory of ivy that ran throughout the land was removed, and a maze of dead, low-hanging branches was pruned out to bring much needed light into the interior.

We wish to thank the many volunteers who turned out this year at Morgan Junction Park, the triangle park next to Thriftway, and the Juneau triangle. We’ll start up again in spring with some planting parties at all three sites. Thanks to Morgan Community Association for their backing and to the folks at Seattle Parks and SDOT for the tools, mulch, and plants. It’s been a great year.

You’ll find more photos – and other info about FoMJP – on the group’s Facebook page.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Water break closes 30th SW

| Delridge | High Point | Utilities | West Seattle news

Thanks to Lawrence for the tip: 30th SW between North Delridge and High Point is closed about a block south of the turn at SW Brandon (update: 30th/Findlay, to be specific – here’s a map) while Seattle Public Utilities works on a water break. The crew at the scene told us a few minutes ago that they will likely be out there for a few more hours. No word on what caused the problem, but one possible effect to be aware of overnight and tomorrow morning: The road’s wet in spots and could ice over. (The SPU crew was in fact throwing some salt onto the road when we were there.)

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West Seattle sunset: Saturday night ‘fire in the sky’

November 23, 2013 7:51 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

“Fire in the sky” is how Chris Frankovich described the view of tonight’s sunset he shared (top photo) – one of three we’ve received so far. Next, Monty focused on Mount Rainier in the sunset glow:

And more colorful beauty from Michael Copeland:

Michael says he was surprised: “I thought the awesome sunsets were over!” (Maybe more to come – rain/major cloudiness isn’t expected for up to a week.)

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West Seattle weekend scene: WS Bike Connections cleanup

November 23, 2013 7:32 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Thanks to Don Brubeck from West Seattle Bike Connections for sharing the photo from their work party at the East Duwamish Waterway Fishing Pier, along the bike trail to/from downtown. He says some new volunteers showed up and they “got a lot done. Hoping to keep it going. Shared some donuts with the people fishing.” You can keep up with WSBC’s activities – from volunteerism to advocacy and beyond – via westseattlebikeconnections.org.

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Second ‘Battle of West Seattle’: Madison keeps the trophy

November 23, 2013 4:05 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The weather at Southwest Athletic Complex was clear and cool as the girls-soccer teams from Denny International Middle School and Madison Middle School took the field Friday for the second “Battle of West Seattle.” Madison won again this year, 2-0.

The West Seattle Soccer Club sponsors the “Battle” – as you might guess from that brightly striped scarf beneath the trophy:

It’s a “perpetual” trophy, engraved with each year’s winner, who gets to keep it until the other team takes the title!

P.S. We dropped by for just a few photos, but you can see dozens in this gallery by goalWA.

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Happening now (and tomorrow): Holiday Open House at JF Henry

November 23, 2013 2:34 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Tom Henry is all smiles – and sporting seasonal style – as day 1 of the Holiday Open House at his Junction store JF Henry Cooking and Dining (WSB sponsor) goes into mid-afternoon. As always, it’s two floors of fun and shopping:

Upstairs, you’ll find the treats, and special events such as author appearances today – West Seattle cookbook author Erin Coopey is there right now, until 3:30 – and then tomorrow, five demonstrations and clinics from knives to coffee and beyond, all listed here. If you come with a little one, don’t miss the model train running in the window; we grabbed a quick Instagram clip:

And you know it’s prime shopping if there’s a Santa sighting:

“Santa Al” was just making a cameo today, but will return for photos 10 am-1 pm on December 7th, two weeks from today. Meantime, the JF Henry open house is on until 6 today, 10 am-5 tomorrow with those aforementioned demonstrations, at 4445 California SW.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Bazaar at Seattle Lutheran; benefit at West Seattle Runner

November 23, 2013 12:45 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scenes: Bazaar at Seattle Lutheran; benefit at West Seattle Runner

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

As listed in our West Seattle Saturday highlights, it’s a day full of great start-of-the-holiday-season events, many of which offer the chance to do good – help nonprofits and small businessfolk, for starters. Bazaars are often excellent places for that – like the one under way until 4 pm at Seattle Lutheran High School‘s gym (4100 SW Genesee). Above, scarves on sale with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the SLHS student council. And $10 holiday pies!

Also happening right now – an extra-special reason to stop in and see Lori and Tim McConnell at West Seattle Runner (NW corner of California/Charlestown, upstairs; WSB sponsor):

Mega-fundraiser Tracy Dart is the beneficiary – here’s why. Stop in and do some early holiday shopping at WS Runner, from apparel to gear like Garmin wristband GPS – snacks, silent auction, and a raffle too, open until 7 pm tonight.

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West Seattle scene: Eastridge Church’s annual turkey giveaway

November 23, 2013 10:32 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

Just outside Eastridge Church at 39th/Oregon, it was the busiest morning of the year – volunteers and church staffers offering turkeys, groceries, coats, gloves, and Bibles to hundreds of people. The line stretched down 39th to Fauntleroy and eastward down the sidewalk in front of Trader Joe’s by the time the distribution began at 9 am. Eastridge does the same thing at the same time outside its Issaquah campus, and this year announced it planned to distribute 1,500 turkey/groceries/etc. bags between the two sites.

SIDE NOTE: At least two places in West Seattle are serving a free community Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday – The Hall at Fauntleroy (noon-3 pm) and the West Seattle Eagles‘ aerie (2-5 pm); more information in the Thanksgiving section atop the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info Guide.

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Milestone for the Highway 99 tunnel project: Barging begins

November 23, 2013 9:53 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Milestone in the Highway 99 tunnel project this morning, according to this update just sent to news media by WSDOT‘s KaDeena Yerkan:

… Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP) started using barges to remove excavated soil from the SR 99 tunnel dig site this morning. The barges will take the excavated soil to Mats Mats, a quarry near Port Ludlow.

Prior to today, STP was using trucks to remove soil and dispose of it at facilities in the Puget Sound region. Moving forward, STP will use a combination of barges and trucks.

The labor issue that arose earlier in the tunnel drive has been resolved. Discussions between WSDOT and STP are ongoing. Details will be available upon the conclusion of those discussions.

By the way, a project-related closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is still looming, once the tunneling machine gets to the spot immediately beneath the existing structure, as first reported here back in April. We had asked Yerkan for an update and received this reply late Friday: “We still don’t have a date for when we will tunnel under the viaduct and thus close the structure to traffic for up to two weeks.”

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West Seattle Saturday: Where to shop, sip, give, and much more

November 23, 2013 7:56 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Male harlequin duck, photographed by Mark Wangerin, who says they’re common here in winter)
First big weekend of holiday events! Please check our Holiday Guide and regular year-round Event Calendar for full details of everything happening today and beyond, but for starters, some highlights:

TRAFFIC REMINDER: SW Alaska is scheduled to be closed for construction/utility work between California and 42nd, until 10 tonight and again 7 am-10 pm Sunday. California and 42nd themselves will still go through. Added, after a trip to The Junction for a firsthand look: The sidewalk remains open on the north side of Alaska, so you can get to ALL the businesses there:

And Junction Plaza Park remains open/accessible too.

TURKEY/GROCERIES GIVEAWAY: Eastridge Church will give away hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries starting at 9 am, no questions asked nor proof of need required. (39th/Oregon)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS CLEANUP: As noted here last night, West Seattle Bike Connections would be happy to have your company for their cleanup along the trail east of the low bridge, particularly focusing on the East Duwamish Waterway Fishing Pier. 9 am-noon, with those interested gathering for lunch at Chelan Café afterward.

DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR A DO-GOODER: 10 am-7 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), it’s an all-day benefit for fabled fundraiser/inspirational leader Tracy Dart, whose own medical bills and living expenses have stacked up. WSR is donating a percentage of sales, hosting a silent auction, and more, as detailed on the Facebook event page. (California/Charlestown)

JF HENRY OPEN HOUSE: Holiday Open House at JF Henry Cooking and Dining (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. 10 am-6 pm today (and 10 am-5 pm Sunday). Deals, demonstrations, treats, more – details here. (4445 California SW)

‘SANTA AL’ SIGHTING: During the JF Henry open house, we just found out this morning, “Santa Al” will make a brief appearance, Santa is making a brief stop today, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, during which he says he plans to “announce his holiday schedule for this December.”

(When we get it, Santa Al’s schedule will be added to the WSB Holiday Guide, in the Santa Photos section.)

SLHS BAZAAR: Seattle Lutheran High School Holiday Bazaar, in the gym, 10 am-4 pm; details here. (4100 SW Genesee)

FOOD DRIVE @ TRUE VALUE OPEN HOUSE: Holiday Open House and Food Drive at Junction True Value, 10 am-2 pm, featuring a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank – bring nonperishable food to fill the bin! (4747 44th SW)

OPEN HOUSE AT CAPERS: Holiday Open House and Susan Goodwin Trunk Show at CAPERS in The Junction, 10 am-5 pm. (4525 California SW)

OPEN HOUSE AT NW ART/FRAME: Holiday Open House at Northwest Art & Frame in The Junction. 10 am-5:30 pm. (4733 California SW)

HANUKKAH TASTING EVENT: Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor) presents a tasting of food/beverages for you to consider for upcoming Hanukkah celebrations, 11 am-2 pm. (41st/Admiral/42nd)

THREAD OVER HEALS CLOTHING DRIVE: Clean out your closet and donate to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association! Event noon-3 pm at Alki Bathhouse is much more than a dropoff – our calendar listing has all the details. (60th/Alki)

COLLEGE ADMISSION WORKSHOP: 12th grader in the house? (We can relate.) Get help with college applications at Southwest Library, 1-6 pm. (35th/Henderson)

ROWHOUSE OPEN HOUSE: The Morgan 5.1 rowhouse townhomes have their first open house this afternoon, with pizza and coffee for attendees. Five-star Built Green, per broker Paul Poirier of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor). 1-4 pm. (California/Myrtle)

FALL WINE RELEASE: Pre-Thanksgiving wine tasting and sale, Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), 2-7 pm. (6000 16th SW, north side of SSCC campus)

TOY LIBRARY: The second of two organizational meetings for a possible West Seattle Toy Library happens 3-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). If you’re interested but can’t make the meeting, check the discussion in comments following the story we published with the original announcement. (5612 California SW)

BEER CHURCH TURKEY BOWL: Beer Church‘s annual Turkey Bowl, 6-9 pm at West Seattle Bowl. Even if you’re not signed up to bowl, you’re invited to come by and bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank, try the Beer Church-branded ales, buy a raffle ticket, have a good time! (39th/Oregon)

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