Magnolia Art Experience (MAX) presents Taproot’s Christmas show Sunday, December 11th.

Going home for the holidays is a special sort of adventure full of road trips, family traditions, and the crazy characters we call friends and family. This year, Taproot?s Improv Team is bringing you the story of a pair of newlyweds sharing their first Christmas. Using suggestions from the audience, the actors create the characters, traditions and circumstances in, what is to be, a hilarious and unexpected holiday story you won?t forget. No two performances are the same.

Tickets are $5 for kids 5-12, and $10 for those over 12. (This play is recommended for those over 5). Gingerbread cookies and hot apple cider will be served.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door – online recommended.

By Reporter Steven Smalley

In conjunction with the national ?Small Business Saturday,? the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce presents for your grazing pleasure, Winterfest, within the boundaries of our own quaint little Village. All are invited to stop and Shop Small Saturday 4-8 p.m. for festivities to include carolers, horse-drawn wagon rides, live reindeer, and Santa photos at Windermere. Be sure to attend the Christmas tree lighting beginning at 5 p.m. at Magnolia Garden Center.

?It?s a great time for the Magnolia community to visit the Village and meet the owners,? says Greg Carnese, out-going Chamber of Commerce director. ?Small Business Saturday is happening nation-wide. Friday is for the big boxes and Saturday for the neighborhood. Winterfest is fun too.?

Most businesses provide a little nibble as an added incentive.

Tickets for the free wagon rides are available under the tent in the middle of McGraw Street, operated by the Chamber.

No garbage, food and yard waste or recycling collections are scheduled in Seattle on Thursday, Nov. 24. Collections scheduled for Thursday will occur on Friday, and Friday collections will happen on Saturday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Have your containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.

The City of Seattle?s South Transfer station in the South Park neighborhood will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Customers can report a missed garbage, yard waste or recycling collection by calling (206) 684-3000 or by clicking on ?Report Missed Collection? at SPU?s website.

Compost your giblets: Seattle residents can put all their Thanksgiving food scraps and unwanted leftovers, including green bean casserole, aspic, turkey bones, celery, yams, potatoes, fruitcake and paper napkins in their food and yard waste carts. The food waste will be made into compost for local gardens and parks. Learn how you can prevent kitchen waste at? here.

Did you deep fry your turkey? Recycle your used cooking oil. Set up to 2 gallons of used oil out on your normal collection day for free pick up. Put the oil in one-gallon plastic containers labeled with your name and address. Learn more about what items you can recycle?here.

For information on where to dispose of household hazardous waste, including station locations and hours, contact www.HazWasteHelp.org or (206) 296-4692.

Kick start your holiday spirit by picking up your Christmas tree and supporting Ballard Boy Scout Troop & Crew 100 at their annual tree lot.? Fresh trees from local growers are delivered twice a week to St. Alphonsus? parking lot on 15^th Ave NW by Ballard Market.? Lot opens Saturday 11/26 at 3pm. These hard-working Scouts will be out there rain or shine Monday ? Friday 1?9pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am ? 9pm.

By Reporter Steven Smalley

After 25 faithful years with the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce, the current director, Greg Carnese is pulling the pin. In an open letter to the community he writes, in part:

?It has been an honor to work with and represent such a great community organization. During the last two years, we have doubled current Magnolia Chamber membership to 100+ dues paying members. We’ve worked tenaciously to improve the business climate and have spearheaded the evolution into a Neighborhood Association, inclusive of all members of the community. I’m proud of the Grants we’ve applied for and been awarded by the City of Seattle to drive and fuel our Visioning Magnolia Project.

It has been truly enjoyable to work cooperatively with many friends and colleagues sponsoring Community Events, Projects, and preparing Grant proposals while representing the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce. I will personally miss the day- to-day conversations and interactions with many friends and acquaintances in the community.

As I step away, I leave the Magnolia community well-represented under the watchful eye and capable ongoing leadership of the Board of Directors for the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Magnolia community as Executive Director of the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce.?

Thank you Greg, and best of luck with your future endeavors.

Police responded to suspicious behavior, and then found a home burglarized after a Magnolia mom frightened a pair of suspects?Wednesday night.

?As I pulled into my driveway, I saw two men wearing black clothing head-to-toe,? the mom told Magnolia Voice. ?They took off?running as fast as they could behind my car.?

Later on her security video, we see them high-tailing it, but the images were not close enough to see their faces. Her husband?immediately called police to report the incident.

?After I hung up with the police I went out to the property with a flashlight to see what was going on,? he says. ?Then I heard a?BANG. It wasn?t like a gunshot, but definitely an abnormal sound for the neighborhood. [Police] discovered forced entry on the?rear door. It was an unoccupied building. The owners were away.?

Seattle Police, including a K-9 unit, were unable to immediately locate the culprits. One officer who was holding a fingerprint?brush confirmed the burglary to Magnolia Voice. At the rear of the home neighbors found the sliding glass door with a large hole?in it.

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