West Seattle, Washington
17 Saturday
Thanks to Tom Stoner for the photo. In the foreground, escorted by a tug, is Washington State Ferries‘ M/V Cathlamet, the ferry that had a scare Saturday afternoon (WSB coverage here) when a smoky mechanical problem hit while it was between Vashon and Fauntleroy. It’s now at WSF’s Bainbridge Island maintenance site, Eagle Harbor. WSF hasn’t yet announced how long it’ll be out of service; two boats are on the Triangle Route today as has been standard lately, but a third boat – M/V Issaquah – is now tied up at Vashon. In the background of the photo is Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse, which spent a while anchored off Manchester recently, then took off and sailed up Puget Sound, into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and off the Washington coast for a while before returning. Its first official cruise is scheduled to leave Seattle this Thursday (July 29th) for a 10-day Alaska cruise.
If you ride Metro – occasionally or often – but haven’t yet answered its safety survey, today’s your last chance. The survey is part of what Metro calls its SaFE Reform Initiative – safety, security, and fare-enforcement reform. The survey is available here in 13 languages. You don’t have to answer all the questions – you’re allowed to skip any you don’t want to answer. Once Metro comes up with recommended reforms, pilot programs will launch next year.
An update from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:
Seal Sitters continues to monitor our visiting Northern Elephant Seal since he was first spotted in West Seattle waters on July 16. He had previously been sighted in the Des Moines/Redondo area in early June. The volunteers at SR3 (the newly opened Marine Mammal Hospital in Des Moines) named him “Ruckus” considering all the attention and excitement he was creating. To our knowledge, he has not hauled out on any public beach in West Seattle, but with the cooperation of property owners along the Sound, Seal Sitters’ first responders have been able to check on his location and condition.
While elephant seals vary somewhat in color through shades of brown and gray, they all go through an annual “catastrophic molt.” During this process they shed their top layer of skin and fur in chunks which results in a dramatic change in appearance and they remain on the beach for an extended period of time. This is normal, but can give the impression that the animal is sick or dying.
If Ruckus is still in our area when he molts, we hope he can find a quiet safe beach. If you should come across him while out walking our beaches, please keep a respectful distance and report his location to the Seal Sitters’ Hotline at 206-905-7325.
The top photo is of Ruckus on a private West Seattle beach on 7/18, while the bottom photo is of a molting female Northern Elephant Seal on a downtown Seattle beach back in April of this year. Female elephant seals molt in the spring while males molt later in the summer.
Family and friends are remembering Dale Palella and sharing this remembrance with the community:
Retaining his amazing inner strength and boundless sense of humor to the very end, Dale passed away peacefully, at home, with Sallie by his side, on July 18, 2021.
Dale was born in 1937 in Seattle to parents Pasquale and Mary. He graduated from Holy Rosary, Seattle Prep, and Seattle University.
He worked 30 years at Boeing (computing) and Emerald Downs (Mutuels). Dale took great pride in his Italian heritage and was an active member of the Italian Community.Preceded in death by his parents, brother John, and son Anthony (muscular dystrophy). Survived by wife of 30 years, Sallie; former wife, Sharon Palella, mother of their children; son, Dominic (Lily), daughters; Pamela, Paula, and Deblyn (Julia), and granddaughter Michela.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Muscular Dystrophy Association, PO Box 97075, Washington DC. 20090.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Friday night paddlers, photographed by John Hinkey)
Welcome to Sunday!
ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: The Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection is scheduled for 3 am-1 pm work again today, and southbound Delridge Way is closed between SW Holden and SW Trenton.
CHURCHES: Many continue streaming, in place of – or in addition to – in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services. (We’ll continue updating that list each Sunday for as long as a significant number of streaming services continue.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. Food and drink, open-on-all-sides entry/exit, and busking are all back. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
TODAY’S AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Open today – Highland Park spraypark (11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale); Delridge (noon-5:30 pm, 4501 Delridge Way SW) and Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pools. Colman Pool is open noon-7 pm, not weather-dependent.
ART SHOW/SALE: West Seattle artist Linda McClamrock is having a second day of her driveway art show/sale at 5532 SW Lander Place, 11 am-5 pm
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing.
LOW-LOW TIDE: The tide is out to -2.8 feet at 12:26 pm today. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Lincoln Park only, 11 am to 1:30 pm, for questions and exploration advice (skipping Constellation Park because of the recent sewage leak).
LONG-DISTANCE SWIMMERS: Around 12:30-1:30 pm, six open-water swimmers – all 60+ – calling themselves the Silver Seals of the Salish Sea are expected to reach Alki Point, on the first-ever relay version of the Amy Hiland Swim (Bremerton to Alki). You can follow the tracking here after they start around 6:30 am. (UPDATE: They arrived early, about 10:45. Story to come.)
OWEN’S LEMONADE STAND: Thanks to Dani for the tip! 2-4 pm at Beach Drive/Charlestown, a “budding entrepreneur” in action.
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK X 2: GreenStage presents a “Backyard Bard” doubleheader of short Shakespeare, “Twelfth Night” at 3 pm, “The Tempest” at 4:15 pm, both at Delridge Playfield (4458 Delridge Way SW), free.
LIVE MUSIC @ C & P: Sid Law and Alan Sobel, 3-5:30 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
LIVE MUSIC @ WEST SEATTLE BREWING: Urban Achievers‘ Led Zeppelin tribute, plus Cory Wilds Band, 4-9 pm at West Seattle Brewing in The Triangle (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW).
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Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Recognize this bike?
This bike was left on the sidewalk in our neighborhood [Findlay/36th]. Wondering if it was stolen and left. If it belongs to someone, happy to give it to them. They can contact Dave at 206-459-0840.
Thanks to Jennie Goldberg for the video from one of today’s spotlighted West Seattle events – Flutes in the Forest! She reports:
At least 40 people enjoyed the JBC Rose Trio at Schmitz Park today. Attached is a video clip of part of one piece from an hour of flute-trio music – Four Seasons by George Frederick McKay.
The trio plans another free concert in Schmitz Park this August or September.
Thanks for the tips about the fencing that’s up at Madison Middle School. Construction mobilization is under way for the building addition that will be built over the next year. The school will stay open while it’s being built, but Seattle Public Schools says half the playfield will be off-limits.
The 2-story, 8-classroom, 12,500-square-foot project on the north side of the Madison campus will cost $10 million, funded by a state Distressed Schools Grant. The architects are Studio Meng Strazzara. The contractor is Forma Construction.
The addition is scheduled to be ready for occupancy at the start of the 2022-2023 school year. If you’re wondering about the other big project at Madison – athletic-field renovation with turf and lighting – that’s not happening until next year.
Just a little over a week left in July … and time’s ticking for WestSide Baby‘s annual “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive. You can help in multiple ways, including these:
Boxes for Babies
WestSide Baby can purchase diapers at a discounted rate. Your generous donations of dollars for diapers mean we can double the diapers. You’re helping end diaper need! Sign up for our monthly subscription, Boxes for Babies, and your gift will go toward providing diapers and wipes for a baby in our community.
Donate Our Most Needed Items
Diapers & Pull-Ups:
· Diaper sizes 5 & 6
· Pull-up sizes 3T-4T & 4T-5THygiene Items:
· Baby Wipes
· Baby Shampoo & Wash
· Lotion & Diaper CreamBring us your Stuff the Bus donations!
White Center Hub (10002 14th SWW)
Wednesdays from 10 am – 2 pmDream Dinners – Supporting WestSide Baby this August!
Order dinner for your family through Dream Dinners West Seattle – pick up August 19, 20, or 21, benefitting WestSide Baby!
Order online using the links below, choose a pick-up time and select three medium size meals for your family to enjoy for just $50 (each meal serves three people). We will donate $10 from each order back to WESTSIDE BABY.
Enjoy your meals at home with your family! Place a full-size order within two weeks of your pickup & we will DONATE an EXTRA $20!! to Westside Baby !!
Thursday, August 19th, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm https://dreamdinners.com/session/892144
Friday, August 20th, 12 pm-1 pm dreamdinners.com/session/892154
Saturday, August 21st, 10:30-11:30 am – dreamdinners.com/session/892145
About Dream Dinners: “We are a local meal prep business that takes care of the menu planning, grocery shopping, prep, and clean up, so you can enjoy stress-free dinners with your family. Stock your freezer from a menu of 20 chef-crafted meals each month and you’ll spend less time worrying about what to make for dinner and more time doing what you love.”
(Dream Dinners is also a longtime WSB sponsor.)
2:36 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a big “offshore marine fire” response to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. Dispatch says an engine-room fire is reported on board the state ferry M/V Cathlamet, about a mile out. Part of the response is being sent to the Don Armeni vicinity (often in case of sea-to-land patient transfers). Updates to come.
2:45 PM: We’re headed down to the ferry dock first to see what can be seen from there. WSF VesselWatch shows the Cathlamet’s most recent departure as Vashon to Fauntleroy, but also shows this ferry currently headed westbound. (A different ferry, M/V Kittitas, is currently at the dock.
(Added: WSB photo of Cathlamet, seen from Fauntleroy dock)
2:47 PM: Update from dispatch: This may just be a “smoking clutch” that filled the engine room with smoke. They’re trying to get the Cathlamet to Vashon.
The SFD response is continuing to stand by just in case.
2:51 PM: Vishal tweeted that photo, reporting, “My girlfriend is on the boat. Looks like they’re getting escorted back to Vashon.” We also just got a call from someone on the ferry, who says they were almost to Fauntleroy when this all happened, but will be taken off the boat at Vashon and put on another ferry to head here. SFD, meantime, is sending a fireboat that way in case help is needed. The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run usually has three ferries on Saturdays so obviously it’s down to two for now.
3:03 PM: Thanks to Russ for that pic of a USCG vessel also escorting Cathlamet. Our archives, meantime, remind us that Cathlamet, 40 years old, was out of service for part of a day two weeks ago because of what was described as a propulsion issue.
3:10 PM: SFD Rescue Boat 5 just radioed in, from Vashon, that WSF told them no fire or medical help is needed. So they’re heading back downtown and the rest of the responders who were standing by will be dismissed (including fireboat Leschi, below, which was also headed that way with firefighters on board).
(At Seacrest – photo by Carolyn Newman)
3:43 PM: Our caller from aboard Cathlamet reports they docked at Vashon and have transferred to another ferry which is now Fauntleroy-bound (looks like M/V Sealth, per tracker).
(Photo from Emily via comments – fire crew on Cathlamet car deck)
WSF says Cathlamet is “out of service until further notice” and describes the problem as “a malfunction in the reduction gear,” adding: “For the remainder of the service day, all #2 sailings are cancelled.”
6:30 PM: WSF now says, “The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is operating on a 2-boat schedule due to clutch repairs needed on M/V Cathlamet. M/V Kittitas will run in the #1 position and M/V Sealth will run as the #2.”
12:23 PM: If you were anywhere near Alki Point around quarter till 11 this morning, you might have heard cheering. It was for Melissa Kegler, the marathon swimmer who’s attempting to become the first to do a “double lap of the Amy Hiland Swim” right now. That means she’s swimming roundtrip between Bremerton and Alki, The rules permitted her to get out of the water for a few minutes at the halfway mark.
A small group of supporters including fellow members of the Notorious Alki Swimmers were there to cheer her on. The Amy Hiland Swim, named for the first person known to complete it (in 1959), is 10.4 miles – so Kegler is aiming for almost 21 miles of swimming today; she started at 6:17 am. The Northwest Open Water Swimming Association tells us she’s “an accomplished marathon swimmer who has completed the ‘Triple Crown’ of marathon swims: the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, and around Manhattan Island. She’s a regular at Alki Beach and has been training at Alki since 2014.” Today’s water temperature is in the mid-50s.
You can track Kegler’s progress here. This is the first of two big swims between Bremerton and Alki this weekend; as we reported Friday, six swimmers over 60 will swim the route as a relay tomorrow.
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: NOWSA reports Kegler finished the 20.8-mile swim in 10:35:13.
Three brief reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ARSON: A car fire early this morning in Admiral was arson, according to a preliminary police report, SPD says it was just before 5:30 am when “officers observed a car fire in the 2600 block of 42nd Ave SW. SFD responded. The victim was on scene. It appeared someone broke out a passenger window and set the vehicle on fire.”
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: In Gatewood, a Honda Element was left parked outside a home whose residents were away for a week. They just came back and discovered someone stole its catalytic converter while they were gone.
ATTEMPTED CC THEFT: Meantime, an attempted catalytic-converter theft was thwarted last night in Highland Park, This happened around 8 pm at 12th/Trenton: “Someone tried to cut off my catalytic converter; my wife yelled and they left quickly, in a white Dodge Durango with a black box with tools on the back.” The victim says the plate started with BKU (the full number/incident has been reported to police).
(The visiting Northern Elephant Seal, photographed Friday by Jonny Layefsky)
Welcome to the weekend! Here are (updated) 12 notes for the day/night ahead …
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Another weekend of work at West Marginal/Highland Park Way, scheduled until 1 pm today and again 3 am-1 pm tomorrow, with lane reductions, so avoid that intersection until later in the day if you can. Also, southbound Delridge Way remains closed between Holden and Trenton.
MUSIC AT C & P: Marco de Carvalho and Friends play at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) 10:30 am-noon.
LEMONADE & TREATS: Happening 11 am-5 pm at 42nd/Charlestown:
Hi! My name is Harper and me and my friend, Akemi, are 11 year old scouts who just completed our bronze award by making the inclusion fence at HPIC. We are having a lemonade stand this weekend to help raise money to go to Costa Rica in 2022 so we can learn about sea turtles and explore the amazing rainforests. Marine animals have always fascinated us and this trip will be an amazing experience, especially because Akemi wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up! Please help us reach Costa Rica by buying lemonade, iced coffee, or treats!
(Update: Postponed until next Saturday) BENEFIT BARBECUE: 11 am-4 pm outside West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor), get a fresh-grilled hamburger or hot-dog lunch and the proceeds go to Pencil Me In For Kids.
ART SHOW/SALE: West Seattle artist Linda McClamrock would love to see you at her driveway art show/sale at 5532 SW Lander Place, 11 am-5 pm
LOW-LOW TIDE: The tide is out to -3.2 feet at 11:40 am today. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Lincoln Park only, 9:45 am-12:45 pm, for questions and exploration advice (skipping Constellation Park because of the recent sewage leak).
LONG-DISTANCE SWIMMER: Somewhere between (updated) 10:30-11 am, marathon swimmer Melissa Kegler of Sammamish is expected to reach Alki Point, halfway on her planned “double lap of the Amy Hiland Swim (Bremerton to Alki and back to Bremerton),” according to the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association. You can follow the tracking here after she starts around 6 am.
VISCON CELLARS: The tasting room is open 1-6 pm at 5910 California SW – enjoy Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) wines by the glass or bottle, too.
(added) VIVA ARTS OPEN HOUSE: Thanks to Sara for the tip. Viva Arts is having an open house with tours, class previews, more, 1-3:30 pm, back parking lot at 4421 Fauntleroy Way SW.
ALL-CITY BAND JAM: No parades this summer but there IS a Band Jam – not in West Seattle this year, but Mark wanted everyone to know:
Even though there are no parades again this summer, there is one chance for everyone to get their All City Band fix this summer. ACB got together for a shortened season to work on a field show for their annual Band Jam at Memorial Stadium 2-4 pm Saturday. A few other groups will also perform. Here is the link to the information page: allcityband.org/bandjam
Masks and a completed Seattle School District Covid health screening are required for entry into Memorial Stadium seattlepsb2s.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MJ02N2Lv2lT5P0?Q_CHL
The stadium is downtown at 401 5th Ave. N.
MUSIC IN THE PARK: “Flutes in the Forest,” a free outdoor concert, is set for 3-4 pm in Schmitz Park – details in our calendar listing.
AT THE SKYLARK: Indie rock with King Sheim, Dining Dead, Rat Paws at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), doors at 7 pm, music at 8 pm, $10. More info here.
Something we’re missing? Text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Criminal cases often take many months to work their way through the legal system. In recent months we’ve received multiple inquiries about one case in particular, the rape charge filed in April 2020 against then-18-year-old Jackson U. Sullivan. He was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl who was incapable of consent, “intoxicated to the point of loss of motor functions … (during) what should have been an enjoyable high-school party” in November 2019. Both were West Seattle High School students at the time. As with many cases, there have been routine status hearings during those months. A notation appeared in the online case file recently, saying that a plea agreement was expected. We checked back on the case tonight and learned that Sullivan, now 19, pleaded guilty Thursday to a reduced charge, third-degree rape; the original charge was second-degree rape. The standard sentencing range is six months to a year; case documents say prosecutors are recommending a nine-month sentence. Sullivan has been out on bond since spending four hours in jail shortly after he was charged last year. His sentencing is scheduled before King County Superior Court Judge Josephine Wiggs-Martin on August 6th.
In case you also wondered about that temporary camera at 59th/Alki – it’s labeled as having been placed for an SDOT traffic study, but without elaboration on what’s being studied, so we asked. An SDOT spokesperson replied, “This camera on Alki Trail at 59th Ave SW is for the SDOT’s annual bike counting program, done at about 40 locations across the city and during the warm-weather months. More details about this type of count are available in our annual traffic reports on this webpage.” The most-recent report there, from 2020, cited a 2019 “average annual daily traffic” count for that spot as 340.
As previewed in our daily “what’s happening” list, Emerald Water Anglers in The Junction (4502 42nd SW; WSB sponsor) is open this evening for some shopping, socializing, and a celebration of art. It’s the shop’s first event post-reopening, with many more to come, says proprietor Dave McCoy. If you haven’t been to the shop, it’s dedicated to outdoor gear, particularly for fly fishing.
They’re showcasing blown glass by Martin Gerdin and wood-cut prints by Matthew DeLorme.
DeLorme is also a professional guide for EWA and is working on new in-shop art.
Tonight’s event is on until 8 pm.
SDOT‘s weekly update on the repaving-and-more project preparing for the RapidRide H Line is complicated this week – some continuing closures, some new ones, some reopenings. First the good news:
REOPENINGS:
*Southbound Delridge between Holden and Thistle, “by Monday,” and with that, the following:
*Long-closed SW Thistle east of Delridge – the project team says, “The east side of SW Thistle St will reopen as soon as we are done with upgrades on Delridge Way SW between SW Holden St and SW Thistle St. The final upgrades and subsequent reopening of SW Thistle St are planned to happen by Monday.”
*SW Henderson east of Delridge – this too is expected to reopen by Monday
NEW CLOSURES:
*Once the aforementioned work is done and southbound Delridge reopens between Holden and Thistle, southbound Delridge then will close between Thistle and Henderson (24/7)
*SW Trenton will close east of Delridge once SW Thistle has reopened
*26th SW northbound, between SW Barton and SW Roxbury “soon” (this is King County work, no start date yet, more info expected next week)
*”For the weekends of July 30 – August 1 and August 6 – 8, all travel lanes on Delridge Way SW between SW Henderson St and SW Cambridge St will be closed to people driving and taking transit.”
The full weekly preview for the entire project zone is here.
7/29 UPDATE: Jason was found safe in Oregon.
Earlier coverage:
Meet the Silver Seals of the Salish Sea, a group of swimmers whose members have all been on the planet for at least 60 years. This Sunday, six of them – including two West Seattleites – hope to become the first swimmers to swim a relay from Bremerton to Alki Point. One of the swimmers, Guila Muir, says, “We’ll set two records, because no one has ever swum this as a relay, much less swimmers over 60.” She will swim with West Seattleites Scott Lautman and Greg Rolnick, as well as Rachel Price, Zena Courtney, and Michael Palmer. They’re expecting to start from Bremerton around 6:30 am and hope to arrive off Alki Point in the 12:30-1:30 pm vicinity. As it’s a relay, they’ll each swim for half an hour, with each swimmer doing that at least twice. “The distance each swimmer covers during that time will vary, according to currents and their swim speed. Those lucky enough to be swimming in Rich Passage may have the time of their lives, swimming with a super-fast current. That will feel like flying,” Muir says.
She says the Silver Seals are “an ad-hoc team that I put together because swimming this with over-60’s has been my dream for two years.” They’re all veteran open-water swimmers who swim in Puget Sound and/or Lake Washington year-round; Muir herself is also an “ice swimmer.” (She says the Puget Sound temperature on Sunday will be a comparatively bathtubby 57 degrees.)
Side note: The Northwest Open Water Swimming Association tells us a solo swimmer is planning to take on the Bremerton/Alki route Saturday – Melissa Kegler of Sammamish “will be swimming a double lap of the Amy Hiland Swim (Bremerton to Alki and back to Bremerton). She will be starting in Bremerton around 6 AM, and is expected to make the turn at the Alki Lighthouse sometime around 11 AM – 12 PM.” (Kegler and Muir were featured here in 2019.)
You can track both swims – once they begin and the tracking boat is sending a signal – here.
(Thursday’s low tide at Duwamish Head – photo by Mike Burns)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.3 feet as of moments ago. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are ONLY at Lincoln Park today and this weekend because of the sewer break south of Alki Point; you’ll find them at LP until 12:30 pm.
FUN & FESTIVE FRIDAY: The Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) offers refreshments outside 11 am-1 pm and music inside 3-4 pm – today, steel drum! Details in our calendar listing.
LEMONADE & TREATS: Happening 11 am-5 pm today and tomorrow at 42nd/Charlestown:
Hi! My name is Harper and me and my friend, Akemi, are 11 year old scouts who just completed our bronze award by making the inclusion fence at HPIC. We are having a lemonade stand this weekend to help raise money to go to Costa Rica in 2022 so we can learn about sea turtles and explore the amazing rainforests. Marine animals have always fascinated us and this trip will be an amazing experience, especially because Akemi wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up! Please help us reach Costa Rica by buying lemonade, iced coffee or treats!
ARTIST NIGHT: Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW; WSB sponsor) welcomes you 6 pm-8 pm to socialize and enjoy art – blown-glass fish and wood-cut prints – plus, an artist will be working live. More in our calendar listing.
DJ NIGHT: The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way) features live DJs, starting at 5 pm, on Friday nights.
AT THE SKYLARK: Coup Contrecoup, Permian, Rob Young, doors at 7, music at 8, $10 cover, 21+. The Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
(What are we missing? Text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
King County Elections projects only a 40 percent turnout for the August 3rd election. That, despite a ballot including Seattle Mayor, two citywide City Council positions, City Attorney, County Executive, and a major levy. You can prove them wrong – get your ballot in! If you didn’t get your ballot yet but are registered, request a replacement here, or call 206-296-VOTE. If you didn’t get a ballot because you’re NOT registered, Monday is the deadline for registering online or by mail. After that, you can still register in person, but you have to go to King County Elections’ Renton HQ or a Vote Center.
Family and friends are remembering Marty Dirks, and sharing his life story with his community:
The extraordinary life of Martin (“Marty”) C. Dirks, family man, adventurer, and master storyteller who also made significant contributions to Seattle and King County infrastructure as a civil engineer, ended on July 16 in a Seattle hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was 87.
Marty split his time between Seattle, where he was born on April 9, 1934, and Camano Island, where he was raised. Highlights of his teen years were chronicled in the Seattle Post Intelligencer by his father, Clarence, a sportswriter-turned “City-Bred Farmer” columnist. Clarence frequently wrote about his oldest son’s raising of award-winning Holsteins, rearing chickens and sheep, pitching hay, learning to drive a tractor, and of Marty’s numerous exploits with friends on the island.
Marty once listed 34 duties he had as a youth, from farm chores to working summers as a boatman at Camano fishing resorts to logging and, at age 16, spending one summer in a gold mining camp near Fairbanks before working as a cook in a forest fire fighting camp. He drove heavy equipment during the construction of the Hood Canal Bridge and other road projects and worked briefly as a commercial fisherman around Neah Bay. He had owned 13 vehicles, all in various states of repair, by the time he hit 18.
Following his 1952 graduation from Twin City High School in Stanwood, where he lettered in football, Marty attended Central Washington College in Ellensburg for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attributed his years as an avid hunter to his excellence in marksmanship ratings while in boot camp. He finished top in his class in aviation radio repair school before his assignment to airfield duty in the Mohave desert. Sgt. Dirks later took part in the “Operation Teapot” nuclear bomb tests in Frenchman Flats, Nev.
After three years in the military, Marty earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington. He married his wife of 61 years, Ann K. Smith, on Oct. 16, 1959 in West Seattle. He landed his first professional engineering position with Western Electric in New Jersey, where their twin sons Greg and Brian were born, but then took a position with Boeing so they could return to their beloved home state of Washington, settling in West Seattle, where Ann was raised. The couple would have three more sons in Seattle over the next 11 years: John, Stephen, and Tom.
Marty left Boeing after a year to work at Metro Engineers, a consortium of consulting engineering firms deployed by King County Metro to address the badly polluted Lake Washington and other civic projects. That led to Marty’s long career as a principal officer (and eventually president) of the Seattle firm of Kramer, Chin and Mayo (KCM). At KCM Marty had strong leadership roles over the design of several noteworthy projects, including the original sewage treatment plant at West Point in Seattle and later its extensive upgrade, several fish hatcheries and wastewater treatment plants across Washington, Alaska and the United States, municipal sewage systems, lake restoration projects, and stormwater systems. Marty was KCM’s project manager for the Seattle Aquarium. One of his proudest professional moments was traveling with his teammates to Washington, D.C. to accept his professional association’s national Grand Conceptor Award for the aquarium’s innovative design. In 1974 KCM won a contract with China to design a prawn rearing operation, one of the first of its kind to be awarded after China-U.S. relations were normalized. Marty went to China on behalf of the company for a few weeks to oversee its initial construction, his first of several trips there for other jobs. He also made numerous project trips to Alaska and other parts of the globe. He is credited with bringing in much of the company’s work through his extensive relationships in his field.
Marty was known through his many professional and personal life circles as a trouble-shooter, artful negotiator, problem solver, and relationship builder. Marty was regarded as one of the region’s foremost experts in tunnels and sewer systems and his advice was sought even long after his retirement in 1995. He was a recipient of the Consulting Engineering Council of Washington’s Engineer of the Year award. Following his retirement Marty served on the boards of the Seattle Museum of History and Industry, the Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska and the South Seattle Community College Foundation, as well as a dispute-resolution board for major public-works projects. He kept in close contact with many of his high school classmates in Stanwood, even hosting a few class reunions on his property.
More significant to Marty than his professional life was his family and outdoor life.
In the 1960s Marty built a small cabin on Camano Island where the family spent most summer weekends and vacation time and lived for a year while he remodeled an older home in West Seattle. In 1972 Marty won the statewide, summer-long Seattle Sporting Goods fishing derby by catching a 44-pound chinook salmon off Camano and took home a boat as first prize. Marty helped his sons with their paper routes, became deeply involved in their Boy Scout activities, and often took them salmon fishing and hunting.
Marty made annual fishing trips to British Columbia over the years and in the late 1990s began taking his sons along too until mostly hanging up his fishing rod eight years ago. Marty was known for his quick wit and humor and was generous with his time (and stories) with his family, many friends and neighbors. He served as a mentor to many young people, and nurtured professional mentorships. After learning to snow ski in his late 40s, he co-organized annual ski trips of family and friends to McCall, Idaho.
He and Ann, who died in early January, enjoyed a long and fulfilling retirement. When not traveling to points around the world, Marty and Ann spent time with family and friends in their West Seattle and Camano Island homes and volunteered for Ryther and other non-profits. When Ann became infirm, Marty became her primary caregiver for several years.
Besides his sons and their spouses (Nancy, Dee, Ellen and Suzy), Marty is survived by his brother Mike in Spokane, 10 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, all of whom live in the greater Puget Sound region.
Arrangements are by the Emmick Family Funeral Home in West Seattle. A limited-capacity memorial service for Marty will be held at 11 a.m. on August 28 at the Fauntleroy United Church of Christ in West Seattle. The family is arranging for additional seating and online viewing at the Hall at Fauntleroy across the street, followed by a “Party for Marty” there. The service will also stream online – please send an email to marty@utsservices.net for details. The family suggests donations in his name to Seattle Ryther or to the Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation, which has posted a special link at the top of its web page at https://s-caf.org
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
6:07 AM: Good morning, Today’s forecast – more sunshine and another high in the 70s..
ROAD WORK
Delridge project – Southbound Delridge is still closed between Holden and Trenton. So is Henderson on the east side of Delridge. We should hear today if they’ll end within a few days as planned – but new closures are to follow.
SW Genesee – Genesee is scheduled to continue as one lane, alternating, between 26th and 30th, because of vehicles working on the nearby “pond.” As explained here, work hours are 7 am-6 pm.
Weekend reminder – Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection: Work will be 3 am-1 pm with lane reductions this weekend, as previewed here.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the Route 120 reroute because of the southbound Delridge Way work and the Route 128 reroute because of the SW Henderson closure east of Delridge. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries, regular schedule. Watch and @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
487th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? See the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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