No deal yet for Seattle Public Schools and its teachers (etc.) union Seattle Education Association. As we reported early today, talks broke down Saturday night. But tonight, in a lengthy message to families detailing the district’s side of the story, first-year superintendent Ben Shuldiner said a federal mediator’s been called in, at the district’s request. He says that’s because the union made an offer that the district felt met the definition of “regressive bargaining,” which is why the district left the table and called for a mediator.”We are very hopeful that with mediation now, we will be able to get to a deal before the start of school,” Shuldiner writes, though neither side has said when/if negotiations will resume. We mentioned in the update early today that the district plans daily media updates starting Monday, and the first one is set for 3 pm at district HQ in SODO.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Here’s where classes start Monday, and beyond

August 30, 2026 9:29 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We’ve been checking the calendars for local independent and parochial schools, as well as the adjacent districts that draw some students from West Seattle.

Starting tomorrow (Monday, August 31):

Holy Rosary Catholic School
Vashon Island School District

Starting Wednesday, September 2

Westside School (WSB sponsor)
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
Hope Lutheran School
Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School

Starting Thursday, September 3

Highline Public Schools

Starting Tuesday, September 8

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School

Starting Wednesday, September 9

West Seattle Montessori (White Center)

Already started

Summit Atlas Middle/High School
Kennedy Catholic High School (Burien)

As for the Seattle Public Schools situation, we’ll have an update a bit later tonight

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Man shot in Highland Park (updated Monday)

August 30, 2026 7:05 pm

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| Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

7:07 PM: Police are investigating a reported shooting at 12th/Holden. Initial call was from someone who said their boyfriend had been shot. Radio communication indicates this may have been a drive-by shooting. No suspect description so far.

(Added: Reader photos)

7:12 PM: This is now reported to have happened in an alley. The victim was described as ‘alert and conscious.’

7:35 PM: Police have cleared from the scene. We’re following up with them and SFD.

8:04 PM: SFD says the victim is a 21-year-old man, assessed as being in serious condition and taken to Harborview Medical Center.

9:10 AM MONDAY: Here’s the SPD summary we received in response to our followup inquiry:

On 8/30/26 at 6:42 p.m., dispatch received reports of a shooing in the 1200 block of Southwest Holden Street. Officers arrived and found a 21-year-ol man suffering from gunshot wounds to the arm and leg. Officers provided aid until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious but stable condition. The investigation revealed that the man was walking through an alley with a relative when a light-color car drove by and an unknown suspect fired shots, striking the victim. Detectives from the Gun Violence Reduction Unit will work to determine the circumstances that led up to the shooting.

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West Seattle Junction’s next ‘Sweet Stroll’: Got your tickets for tastes?

August 30, 2026 4:32 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from February’s Sweet Stroll – Top Pot Doughnuts is participating this time too)

Last winter, the West Seattle Junction Association presented its first-ever “Sweet Stroll” – one ticket to visit four local dessert purveyors for tasty treats. WSJA is doing it again on Thursday, September 10, in conjunction with the next West Seattle Art Walk – same hours, 5 pm to 8 pm – and tickets are available online right now. Go here to see the list of participating venues and what they’ll be serving up that night!

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ORCAS: Whales in the area

August 30, 2026 3:35 pm

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| West Seattle news | Whales

From Kersti Muul: “Orcas are visible from Constellation, Alki. East side of container ship anchored in Manchester, west side of channel. Trending east towards West Seattle.”

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READER REPORT: Motorized scooter found after what might have been ‘joyride gone wrong’

August 30, 2026 2:34 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Seen around town | West Seattle news

Josh wonders if somebody out there is looking for the scooter he found:

Just want to see if we can help reunite someone with their scooter.

It’s an adult “fun” scooter, not for medical or accessibility. It was abandoned last Saturday (Aug 22nd), early in the morning. The front wheel is severely damaged and the tire is flat. There were a lot of parts and accessories scattered all over the road. Seems like a joyride gone wrong.

I filed a police report with SPD and they “concluded” their investigation.

I don’t want to give too much detail, as it seems to be expensive and it looks like the person who had it put a lot of consideration into what they put on it.

It’s a motorized, electric scooter. Large, heavy duty and just heavy (took a handcart to move it). There’s a sticker on the body.

If this might be yours, email westseattleblog@gmail.com and we’ll connect you.

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READER REPORT: Another student street-corner sale!

August 30, 2026 1:48 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Big day for students to be out with street-corner sales – here’s another one just in via text:

“Student-crafted crochet creatures, 48th and Charlestown until 4:30 today,” reports the texter. Part of the proceeds to monprofits.

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WEEK AHEAD: First West Seattle celebration of new ‘Mass for the Care of Creation’ on Tuesday

August 30, 2026 12:39 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

(NASA image of Earth)

Tuesday is the World Day of Prayer for Creation, and to mark the occasion, Pope Leo‘s new “Mass for the Care of Creation” to be celebrated in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you:

The West Seattle Catholic Community will celebrate a new Mass setting, written by Pope Leo to celebrate all of God’s creation, on Tuesday, Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the first day of the Season of Creation.

The “Mass For the Care of Creation” was written in Latin and introduced in 2025. The English translation was approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Aug. 4.

The first celebration of the Mass in West Seattle will be at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 7000 35th Ave. SW. Fr. Marc Powell, parochial vicar for the West Seattle Catholic Community, will preside. All are invited to join in the celebration.

Sept. 1 was proclaimed as the World Day of Prayer for Creation by the Orthodox Church in 1989 and has been adopted by many denominations worldwide. The World Council of Churches was instrumental in extending the full Season of Creation to Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a great champion of all creation.

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READER REPORT: Students’ flower fundraiser

August 30, 2026 10:19 am

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news

Just sent by Kate:

These kids are on the corner of 34th and Barton selling beautiful bouquets for $10 each to raise money for their 8th grade trip to NY/DC! Come get some flowers…..

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 20 options!

August 30, 2026 6:48 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Osprey and prey, photographed by Rainer Klett)

Here’s what to know for August’s final Sunday – a relatively short list for today/tonight, mostly regular weekly or monthly events from our West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE RUNNING CLUB: 8:30 am, meet at Alki Statue of Liberty (61st/Alki) to run with friends old and new.

SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY: The Westies Run Club is running from The Junction today – meet at 9 am at Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).

AMERICAN MAH JONGG: In The Junction, weekly Sunday morning games are happening at The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Now in late-summer produce-and-products season, open for shopping and eating, 10 am-2 pm, California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska.

MASTER GARDENERS CLINIC: Also in The Junction – one of this season’s last few chances to get your gardening questions answered at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm.

FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)

LIBRARY CLOSURE: Today starts the fourth week of the West Seattle (Admiral) Library‘s three-month closure for HVAC work. For alternatives, see all other locations and their days/hours here.

SPRAYPARK SEASON: Daily splashing through Labor Day, whatever the weather, at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open today! Need a tool but don’t need/want to, or can’t, buy it? Look for it at, and borrow it from, the West Seattle Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE RESIST: 11:30 am-1:30 pm, weekly action in The Junction.

COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, daily public sessions at the outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WADING POOL: Forecast is for a mostly cloudy day and sub-70 high, so the still-operating city-run wading pools might not be open today – if it is, it’s noon-7 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and you can check the hotline after 9 am, 206-684-7796.

FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR US: Third day of this performance at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) is geared toward youth, 1 pm, details (including ticket info) in our calendar listing.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHING SWAP: 2-5 pm at Hoste (2332 California SW), explained in our calendar listing.

WELCOME ROAD WINERY: You’re welcome Sunday afternoons (among other times) at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) – open 2-5 pm today, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)

CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: Monthly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), 2:30 pm to get your beverage and chat, 3 pm discussion of this month’s title, “The Good Earth.” (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)

FREE COMMUNITY MEAL: All welcome, 5:30 pm at Bethany West Seattle (8600 9th SW).

BLACK TEA AT REVELRY ROOM: 7 pm-midnight, nighttime tea service with host Jack Sanders, info and RSVP here. (4547 California SW)

UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: Trivia starts at 7:30 pm – free to play, with prizes. (4302 SW Alaska)

LIVE JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm jazz with the D-Lux Jazz Trio at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).

Organizing, or assisting with, an event that should be on the WSB community Event Calendar – whether one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TEACHER TALKS: Union says district ‘walked away’ Saturday night

August 30, 2026 1:11 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

“SPS walked away from the table tonight.” So begins an update posted by the Seattle Education Association, saying contract talks have broken down with three days left until the scheduled start of classes at Seattle Public Schools. The two sides have been talking since June; the union says special-education staffing is a huge sticking point. As for why, the union has praised this unofficial website purporting to detail what the district has proposed; the district, meantime, has posted its own summary, date-stamped Saturday, here, addressing other issues too. That same page on the district website also promises daily media briefings starting Monday.

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