By Christi Baron

Forks Forum Editor

It appears it is going to be a long three years of road construction around Lake Crescent if Monday was any indication. A video posted on Facebook by log truck driver Chris Fuhs showed the retaining wall, built at the rock wall, was partially demolished on the first day of work there. Another driver said her wait was over an hour.

In politics, it appears Mike Gilstrap and Joe Soha will face off for a Forks City Council seat in November. Both candidates for mayor, Ken Ayers and Tim Fletcher, are holding meet and greets, see ads in this week’s paper. Bios on all candidates to follow in the coming weeks.

On Monday morning a couple of masked individuals (raccoons) took up residence in the tree next to the Forks Forum office … they moved out that afternoon.

In Name the Babe contest, for the Forks Timber Museum mannequin in the Art’s Place display, I didn’t just get a suggestion I got the following letter:

Art’s Place: Nurse Betty

Back in the days when loggers came home from the woods and needed a cold beverage they would stop in at Art’s Place. It was a hopping place back when logging was logging. Everyone knew that the gal behind the bar did NOT like patrons hollering out, “Hey there, bring me another” or “whistling” was worse. So they would holler out “Nurse, bring me another,” since they were feeling “medicated,” that seemed appropriate.

All the fellas knew that babes were referred to as “Hello Betty” So, there lies the name Betty and the more “Medicine” they were served the more “Nurse” became “Betty.” Therefore the name “Nurse Betty.”

Back in the day … and when things got into full swing, as they often did at Art’s Place, you could often hear shouts of “Nurse! bring me another and fresh horses for my men!” Good times were had by all.

And this is the true history of what went on at Art’s Place … Back in the day! Our suggestion is Nurse Betty.

This letter was a collaboration by former Art’s Place patrons

Getting ready for the eclipse

A Forks Forum reader suggested the need for some information on the upcoming eclipse.

On Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun.

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight.

Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.

Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.

Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device.

Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury.

Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device. Note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens or other optics.

If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases.

Outside the path of totality, you always must use a safe solar filter to view the sun directly.

If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

The Forks Library was offering the eclipse glasses. The safest thing to do? Just don’t look at it.

I know I won’t be looking at the eclipse because Monday is deadline day — I don’t even usually get lunch.