Thanks to whomever texted us the squirrel photo on Friday (more and more people are texting photos – 206-293-6302 – which is great, except we don’t usually know the # so we don’t know who to credit!). **Update: Thanks to Shelly Aaron of West Seattle BodyWorks for the photo!**

(back to original report) Now the weekend has arrived, and here’s the slightly-delayed-by-breaking-news preview for today, starting with two traffic alerts:

ONE LANE ON CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION … because of the crane-removal work we mentioned last night. We just stopped by:

Police are directing traffic. The work could continue as late as 6 pm.

TRACTION WORK ON OLSON: Road work is scheduled this weekend at the east end of Roxbury – details here. (Added 9:16 am: We just drove through the work zone. One lane is open each way.)

And now, event highlights:

BOOK SALE AT TIBBETTS: 10 am-2 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) welcomes you to come browse the huge array of books it has for sale.

The photo sent by Tibbetts shows just a few. (3940 41st SW)

BENEFIT RUMMAGE SALE AT HOPE: 9 am-3 pm, as announced: “Please stop by and support the Ensenada Christian Ministries and The Friends of Literacy at a huge sale at Hope Lutheran Church. Great items – kitchen, clothes, furniture. Everything but the kitchen sink.” (42nd/Oregon)

EMERGENCY-PREPAREDNESS DRILL: 9 am-noon at Ercolini Park west of The Junction, local Emergency Communication Hubs volunteers are practicing how information and help might be distributed if the region were dealing with a volcanic mud and ash flow. Here’s our preview. (48th/Alaska)

MORNING PERFORMANCE OF MADISON MUSICAL: 10 am, it’s the second and final performance of this year’s Madison Middle School musical, “High School Musical,” in the auditorium at West Seattle High School. See our Friday highlights for the plot summary. Tickets at the door, $15/adults, $10/students. (3000 California SW)

DAKOTA PLACE PARK CLEANUP: 10 am-noon, you’re invited to help with spring cleaning at the park built around the historic former substation – BYO tools! Details here. (California/Dakota)

MEEPLES GAMES OPENS: One of West Seattle’s newest businesses, a store/café to play and buy games, is celebrating its grand opening 10 am-10 pm today, as noted here. (California/Charlestown)

THRIFTWAY BARBECUE WITH MACK STRONG: Starting around 11:30 am outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), the retired Seahawks star will be at the grill for the first official benefit barbecue of the season (bratwurst!), with proceeds going to his TEAM-WORKS Foundation. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

WEST SEATTLE 5K SIGNUPS/PACKET PICKUP: Tomorrow’s the day – the West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) along Alki, just after 9 am. If you’re not already signed up, you don’t have to get up extra early to do it before the race – you can go to West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) today, noon-6 pm. If you’re already signed up, that’s also when you can pick up your packet in advance. (California/Charlestown)

SUMMER CAMP OPEN HOUSE: Local nonprofit Unified Outreach invites you to Ginomai Art Center, noon-4 pm, to find out more about its cartoon-animation summer camp for youth – details here. (42nd/Genesee)

strong>LOW TIDE: -2.6 at 1:29 pm, and this is as low as it will go, this cycle. Find the tide chart any time on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.

BENEFIT FOR MUDSLIDE VICTIMS: “SOS for OSO” tonight at Skylark Café and Club, starting at 7 pm; details in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

CHORAL CONCERT: 7:30 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s Gatewood church; details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)

METAL MANIACS/AQUA NET REUNION: 9:30 pm, the title says it all for this live-music event at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – an annual event! (6451 California SW)

And just for the record …

HIGHLAND PARK UNCORKED (SOLD OUT): Just in case you wonder what’s up at Highland Park Improvement Club tonight – it’s the wildly popular annual HPIC wine event, so popular it sold out in advance. Watch hpic1919.org for next year’s announcement!

EVEN WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE … there’s still more on our calendar.