Forks Washington on the Olympic Peninsula

Attn: Twilighters, Fishermen, Quilters, Hikers, Explorers and Travelers...

~ We have an exciting announcement from The Forks Chamber of Commerce ~

 


“It pays to travel to FORKS!”

Click here for all the exciting details
 

Forks has received 12-14 inches of snow causing school closures all week and getting around has been difficult.

Here are a few images of Forks showing this Winter Wonderland.

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of escorting Judith, a German Travel Agent around Forks.  With the help of a very kind translator (Christian at Hard Rain Cafe on the Upper Hoh Rd) I found out Judith was here to find out about Forks and the surrounding area for her company, and why their customers should visit this area.   She was looking for specific lodging establishments and couldn't find them so I offered to drive her.  There was a language barrier to say the least.  She spoke very little English and I speak only two languages - English and Texan.   After a lot of talking with our hands, pointing at things, speaking slowly and silence, we made it through the tour.  She was a very warm person and when we parted she gave me one heck of a hug.  

I emailed her after she left, using Google Translator and I heard back from her last week.  

Today we had a couple of visitors from Germany, a man and his daughter taking in the Twilight sites.  I asked him to translate her email and he did.  It was very emotional for me to hear him go on about how friendly everybody was that she encountered.  That even though she was alone, she wasn't lonely or bored.  And how beautiful everything was.  Judith hopes to return some day with her family for vacation and I hope I get to see her when she does. 

Below is the email I received...

Ich wünsche euch ein gesundes und erfolgreiches neues Jahr.Ich denke jeden Tag einmal an meinen Urlaub. Es war eine wundervolle Zeit.Es zu beschreiben ist fast unmöglich.Eines ist ganz sicher,ich komme wieder.Wie soll man etwas erklären,das sich mir jeden Tag neu und einzigartig gezeigt hat.Ich versuche gerade zu beschreiben was ich gesehen habe. Ich wurde oft gefragt ob es mir nicht langweilig geworden ist,so alleine.Nein,kein einzigesmal.Jeden Tag war ich aufs neue gefesselt von der Natur.Der Wald bot immer wieder neue Eindrücke und das Meer stand ihm in  nichts nach.Der Nebel veränderte immer wieder das Bild und so erschienen immer neue Bilder, die mich beeindruckten,auch die Sonnenuntergänge sind mir unvergessen.Es ist eben mehr als nur Twilight.Man sollte mit offenen Augen alles betrachten.Einen guten Eindruck hinterließen auch die Leute aus Forks bei mir,egal ob es beim einkaufen oder sonst einer Gelegenheit war,trotz meiner Sprachunkenntnis waren alle sehr nett zu mir.Danke Schön für die Herzlichkeit.Auch meine Vermieterin war ein richtiger Schatz und für die Hilfe von der Dame vom Müller Tree Inn bei meiner Ankunft,kann ich nur danke sagen. Ich hoffe ihr alle habt ein erfolgreiches neues Jahr,das wünsche ich euch und freue mich wenn ich eines Tages wieder einmal Urlaub machen kann.       

Judith

Forks Athletic & Aquatic Club is having their Grand Opening Celebration December 17^th – December 23^rd 2011. There will be specials on rates (monthly and yearly), juice samples from The Juice Bar, facility tours, membership orientations on weights and more. The membership rate during the Grand Opening will be $30 per month or $325 per year. This includes use of pool, weights, cardio equipment and classes. Located on Maple Avenue, the club will feature cardio equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes and step machines, free weights, resistance machines, spin classes, aerobics and more. The club will be open 24/7 and the pool will be open 5am – 9pm with lifeguards on duty. Locker rooms for men and women, baby sitting in the evenings and The Juice Bar are some of the amenities they offer.

Ruby Swagerty, owner of Forks Athletic & Aquatic Club, said family swim will be offered in the evenings to members. She is contacting local lodging establishments and for a fee will offer day use of the club to visitors to Forks. Ruby has been working in the fitness industry since she was 19 years old and loves teaching people about good health.

Click the picture below to find all the details about the Breaking Dawn V.I.P. Tour happening on November 17! Seats are limited so don't delay!

Don't miss a gala evening sponsored by the Forks Chamber of Commerce, which benefits the Visitor Information Center.

The evening includes a silent auction, wine & beer tasting along with soft drinks and snacks. Music is also included along with some great socializing while you are placing your bids on some unique items.

Cost is $10 per person which includes two drinks. Another highlight of the evening are awards given to the Citizen, Volunteer and Business of the Year for Forks. This year the theme is "Just say cheese..."

Winners from left to right: Willard Quinn (Bainbridge Island) 32.4 lb Chinook; Tom Torgeson (Fox Island) 31.9lb Chinook; Brian Short (Kingston) 28.3lb Chinook; Steve Brower (Forks) 12.9lb Coho; Don Sandstrom (Spokane) 12.4lb Coho; Wilson Easton (Port Angeles) 16.1lb Coho; Gary Keenan (Tracyton) 15.2lb bottom fish.
The Last Chance Salmon Derby was held on October 1st & 2nd at La Push. This fun event is co-sponsored each year by the City of Forks, the Forks Chamber of Commerce and the Quileute Tribe.

The Derby was well attended with 105 tickets sold.  The weather forecast wasn’t favorable early in the week so that probably kept some fishermen away.  The waves weren’t as bad Saturday as they were predicting, but still bad.  Sunday was calmer but colder and it did not rain which was most helpful.  As far as the leader board went, Wilson Easton stayed on top the whole time.  He and his dad, Dave Easton brought the first two fish in, the elder Easton with a Chinook.  They were the first two on the board.  The fish came in slow and steady and the leader board kept changing.  At one time a young lady, McKenna Minnoch (9 years old) was on the board with a coho.   She was presented with a special “Sportsman” award.

It was dramatic towards the cutoff on Sunday when Tom Torgeson brought in a Chinook at 11:59 knocking off the third place and putting him in second place.  The derby ended at noon on Sunday.

At the end of the derby there was a great drawing for ticket holders with many great donations from our sponsors and local merchants. It was most fortunate that the weather and current cooperated well enough that the derby went as planned without any cancellations or curtailments. Congratuations to this year's winners!

A highlight of the annual West End Business and Professional Association Heritage Days celebration is the Fish and Brew.  Each year attendees are treated to various smoke fish recipes and local brew creations.  Judges award prizes and people’s choice awards are also bestowed on the best fish and the best brew. 

Along with great Fish and brew musical entertainment will be provided by “Loose Gravel.”

Another regular feature of this event is a Jack Datisman faux beer label print, each year the print reflects the theme of that years Heritage Days.  The Heritage Day’s theme this year is “I Remember When…….” 

In keeping with that premise Datisman’s label this year is for “Old Times” Premium Quality Beer.  Label prints will also be available for sale.

The Fish and Brew is Saturday October 8^th from 1-4 at the Old Mill Roundhouse located just off Highway 101 at the LaPush Junction.   “When you are remembering when…don’t forget the Old Times.”

Are you tired of the same old Jack-o-lantern?  Your Halloween been in a rut?  Break out of the norm and treat yourself to a bumpy pumpkin!  These genetically engineered gourds add a little creepiness to your carved creations. 

Or they just look good sittin’ around. 

Check out the assortment at J & P produce.  One look and you will “Fall” for them!

Sixty years ago today a few hot spots remained from a forest fire near Camp Creek.  On September 20, 1951, the humidity dropped and a strong east wind gave life to those remaining embers.  Around 3:00 am on September 20, 1951 a forest fire began its devastating journey down the Calawah River Valley and the citizens of Forks awoke to a rapidly moving fire, headed right for them.  The fire burned 38,000 acres overnight and traveled 18 miles in less than 8 hours, and a desperate effort to save the town began.

Marge Walhgren, a mother of 2 small children, had learned from her mother that there was a forest fire burning.  She recalls going outside that morning and the eeriness of the dark sky during daylight hours.  She says she thought it was raining at first and then she realized it was not rain hitting her face, it was bits of bark, ash and needles falling like rain.  Preparing for possible evacuation she washed diapers and set out her “valuables” to take, her silverware, on the dining room table.  At around 2:15 that afternoon the State Patrol ordered evacuation of women and children.  Volunteers coming in to help fight the fire reported a steady stream of evacuees throughout the day but those remaining had about 15 minutes to pack up and leave before the highway to Port Angeles was cut off.  Wahlgren grabbed the children and the diapers but in the rush totally forgot about her “valuables” her silverware.  Walhgren’s father had just completed building a 40 ft fishing trawler, it sat a block off of main street, he and Walhlgren’s husband Richard stayed behind to save what they could, mainly the trawler.  Walhgren made it to Port Angeles and she remembers the most frustrating thing was trying to get information about what was happening in Forks.  There were rumors that “there was nothing left” “the town is gone”.

When the fire had burned to where Ron’s Food Mart is today, it looked like a losing battle, one witness said houses were exploding like matches.  Then sometime after 6 pm, a southwest breeze sprang up, in a matter of minutes the fire rolled back on itself.  While the danger was not over the town was spared.  Around 38 structures were lost but there was no loss of life. After the fire a state forestry supervisor said, “The saving of Forks was a miracle, made up of hard work, guts and luck.”

Baseball it's just a game, right? Well, on Saturday August 27th the Seattle Mariner's are celebrating Olympic Peninsula Appreciation Night! This is the 2nd annual Vampire Night at Safeco Field, the evening will also feature the Color Guard Presentation by Boy Scout Troop #1467 (Forks, WA). Vampires, Baseball and the Olympic Peninsula......hopefully, a winning combination? Go Mariner's!

Recently The Forks Elks Lodge on Merchant Road became the host of a little family, a very little family, and they were a happy bunch, always humming. Well, they were Hummingbirds.

Elks Lodge employee Chrystal King noticed the little nest in one of the Japanese Maple trees out in front of the Lodge and began documenting the blessed event with pictures.

On June 16^th the eggs hatched and the two little birds began to grow.

On July 7^th, the baby birds were overflowing the tiny nest, their fully feathered bodies were ready and they took flight.

From Emily Dickinson, Within my Garden, Rides a Bird

He never stops, but slackens
Above the Ripest Rose --
Partakes without alighting
And praises as he goes……

Forks just had a phenomenal Old-Fashioned 4th of July celebration. The weather was perfect...no rain and 80 degrees! It was a rare day due to the dry weather with record attendance at the parade. The parade was one that was full of color. Summer is here in Forks!

Forks High School entrance (LEFT PHOTO) - Summer 2010 Forks High School entrance (RIGHT PHOTO) (facade) torn down June 20, 2011

Forks High school is currently being rebuilt where the 1925 building once stood. The 1925 structure had been condemned and had not been in use for two years so most of it was torn down last summer (2010). Last week, the front entrance (facade) was removed to make way for the new structure. The new high school building will be completed by this coming late Fall of 2011.