Forks Washington on the Olympic Peninsula

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……

Most Twilight visitors to Forks usually post some kind of “My Trip to Forks” video on You Tube. Many are fun to watch and usually get viewed by friends and family.

But, I discovered a gem of a video posted by two Twilighters from Texas that will make you want to visit if you haven’t and if you live here it will make you glad you do.

Lexy Schultz and Monique Messman of Austin, Texas are avid Twilight fans. Lexy is the founder of the Austin Twilighters which is a meet-up group for local Twilight fans and Monique runs a Twilight blog dedicated to all things Twilight.

The two visited Forks at the end of April, to celebrate Monique’s birthday. Lexy said, “We booked the whole thing online right down to the rental car! Early AM flight from Austin to Dallas, then a direct flight to Seattle, and then four hours of driving to Forks. It was totally worth it! The drive there was beautiful and the scenery was Breathtaking.”

As you will see in their video they did all the regular Twilight things. They also spent two evenings at LaPush catching the sunset, which appears in their video in time lapse, the two also took a trip to the Hoh Rain Forest, which they describe as the most beautiful sites they have ever seen. As far as coming back? They are planning a trip for next year.

To view Lexy and Monique’s video go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lObb-zsu4I