
Forks south side welcome sign moved
Chris Cook photo
The City of Forks Welcomes You sign
located south of town was moved to a new location on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
City and state road workers placed new poles in place and relocated the
sign, working Tuesday and Wednesday. The sign, as well as similar sign
located near the Calawah bridge along Highway 101 on the north side of
town are popular backdrops for snapshots taken by visting Twilight
fans. Bill Sperry told Forks Chamber of Commerce members on Wednesday
that lights are being installed to highlight the signs at night. He
said the Forks Revitalization Committee and the City of Forks are
working together on the project.
The south side sign was
formerly located in a marshy area which lacked safe parking for fans to
pull over. The new location of the sign is located adjacent to the
Forks Timber Museum and near the Forks Chamber of Commerce's Visitor
Center. Both locations provide paved, off-road parking for visitors.
'Real' Forks High School students and staff take in 'New Moon' preview showing in Seattle
Photo by Chris Cook
By Chris Cook - Forks Forum Editor
Forks
High School students and staff led by Vice-Principal Kevin Rupprecht
braved stormy weather to attend a preview show of the Twilight Saga
film "New Moon" on Wednesday night, Nov. 18 at the Seattle Cinerama
Theatre.
Before the curtain went
up the students were introduced by a radio station DJ to the crowd of
600 media reps and fans invited to the pre-release showing. Many of the
lead characters in the Twilight books and films are Forks HIgh Spartans.
A
brick-walled high school probably in the Vancouver, B.C. area served as
Forks High School in the second Twilight movie in the four-movie
series. Besides a mention of Forks by actors in dialogue there was
little notice of the town in the film.
Chicago Ru's Pizza on W. A St. in Forks got a plug in the film when a pizza was ordered.
Beaches
in Vancouver Island, B.C. doubled for the Pacific coast at LaPush with
a "diving rock" special effects location the most impressive.
The
film (based on the mega-selling "Twilight" book series by author
Stephenie Meyer) is expected to match if not exceed the $350
million-plus gross of the film "Twilight," which was released almost
exactly one year earlier. "New Moon" was scheduled to open just after
the stroke of midnight, early in the morning on Friday, Nov. 20 at the
Lincoln Theater in Port Angeles (see photos below) and at special
late-night showings across the nation.
Twilight fans will not
be disappointed by the lingering scenes that portray the love triangle
of Forks High students Bella Swan and Edward Cullen intermixed with
Bella's attraction to Quileute school student Jacob Black. Director
Chris Weitz employs rock video type scene throughout the movie.

Chris Cook photos
"New Moon" Twilight fans lined up beginning Tuesday along First Street in Port Angeles
to be the first in line to buy tickets to the opening of the film
scheduled for just after midnight on Friday, Nov. 20. Employees of
Forks-based Dazzled by Twilight with Forks ties huddled in warm clothes
trying to stay out of the driving rain on Thursday morning, Nov. 19.
Forks featured on Today Show
Twilight
sites and people from Forks and Port Angeles are featured today on the
Today Show from New York. The Today Show crew were in Forks last week
to film location footage for the segment. Thanks to Don Grafstrom for
the alert.
Click here to watch the three-minute segment.
NBC-TV crew visits
Forks Chamber of Commerce
Mike Gurling photoAn
NBC-TV news crew visited the Forks Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Nov.
3 to do an interview and gather video footage for an upcoming morning
news Today Show national broadcast. Karen Lucht (left) and Lee Cowan
(right) from NBC News are pictured interviewing Forks Chamber of
Commerce Director Marcia Bingham.
Twilight blogger offers Forks perspective:
"I'm the real life Bella"
Twilight blogger Courtney Simmons Pooler might live in Southern California, but she knows Forks the town's ties to the Twilight phenomenon.
Her parents and grandparents still live in Forks and are very involved in the community.
Courtney recently told the Forks Forum about her blog in an email: "I have a blog, and have written about the Twilight Phenomenon and growing up in Forks. It has had an amazing response, and many locals and friends I have in Southern California keep insisting I submit it to the Forks Forum. Locals/Forks natives feel it properly represents us, and those who are not from the area and drawn into it."
The blog is titled "I'm the real life Bella" and it can be viewed at
www.flourishcourtneypooler.blogspot.com
Special Bella's Birthday 'Twilight' stamped envelope

The Forks and LaPush post offices are teaming up to offer a special postmark for "Twilight" fans to commemorate Bella's Birthday during the two-day celebration set for Tillicum Park in Forks on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13. Postmaters Ann Klepps and Laura Huling came up with concept.
The oversized 2x4 inch postmark will be available on special red envelopes with a generic 61-cent Happy Birthday stamp. The postmarked envelopes will sell for $5 each.
Look for the Forks Post Office booth at Tillicum Park during Bella's Birthday. Other mailing supplies will also be for sale at the booth, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
'Twilight in Forks: The Saga of the Real Town'
set for release
A documentary film shot on location in Forks earlier this summer will picture how the Twilight phenomenon has affected Forks and its people.
York Baur of Hecklesville Media is releasing the documentary. The DVD documentary is scheduled for release on October 15. A sneak preview is being planned for the Bella's Birthday-Stephenie Meyer Day celebration in Forks on Friday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. in the Forks High School commons.
Check out what MTV has to say about the film.
Twilight proms with Forks tie being held in England
Two "Twilight Proms" (unofficial English Twilight conventions set for mid-September, one in London and one in Birmingham), are featuring a "Forks High School Disco" on the second evening of each event.
The guests for the event are: Kellan Lutz "Emmett Cullen", Chaske Spencer "Sam Uley" and Jose Zuniga "Mr. Molina" from the film "Twilight."
Go to www.massiveevents.co.uk/twiproms/ to find out more.
Dazzled by Twilight to be only outlet for limited-run Stephenie Meyer comic

Dazzled by Twilight in Forks has obtained exclusive rights to retail a limited-run version of a comic book version of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer's biography. The book special edition will only be available in Forks at Dazzled by Twilight or online at www.dazzledbytwilight.com.
The 32-page comic book is due out in November to mark the release of the second Twilight film, "New Moon." The comic will be the latest in Vancouver, Washington-based Bluewater Productions' line of "Female Force" comics.
MTV is covering the story here.
Forks welcome sign moved by city crew

Chris Cook photo
Among the first Twilight fans to take photos in front of the
newly-moved City of Forks Welcomes You sign were visitors from
Barcelona, Spain: Francisco Vallverdu and his fourteen-year-old
daughter Diana Vallverdu. The popular sign was moved Wednesday from its
original location on a rise near the Forks Outfitters sign pictured in
the background. The move was made to make it safer for fans to take
their photos. New highway signage will also make is safer when drivers
pull over and park near the sign, which has become an
internationally-known landmark. The Forks Revitalization Committee is assisting with the move and plan to add landscaping to the sign area in the near future.
Prior to her Twilight excursion to Forks, Diana attended the Tamwood
English language summer camp for kids and teens ages 7-17 held at Simon
Frazier University in Vancouver B.C. Her father is an electrical
engineering professor at the University of Barcelona. Diana said the
Spanish version of the Twilight book are titled Crepusculo. Francisco
said his daughter and sixteen-year-old son are avid readers, and that
usually he recommends books to them. This time they recommended a book
to me! he said of the Twilight saga, which he has begun reading.
The Vallverdu family headed to the Sol Duc Hot Springs following the
Forks visit. The place is extraordinary, Francisco said of the rain
forest and Pacific coast environments of the West End. The family also
visited LaPush to see the coast and hike to beaches, plus hiked Ruby
Beach. He said the family enjoyed both aspects of tourism on the West
End.
Posted Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009
Forks High School Phys. Ed. Dept.
"...when you pull into town, you see a quaint Disneyland for Twilighters."

Twilight Territory Forks and LaPush guide book is released by Forks Forum
Twilight Territory - A Fans Guide to Forks & LaPush by Forks Forum Editor Chris Cook is being launched in Forks with a book signing.
A book launch signing is scheduled for Forks Outfitters on Saturday, June 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 96-page guide book published by the Forks Forum is an insiders guide for Twilight fans that thoroughly covers what to see, what to do, where to stay, dine and shop in the "Twilight Territory" of Twilights hometowns - Forks and LaPush.
Unlike the popular Harry Potter book series, which has fictional locations in Great Britain, Twilight locations are real places. A big draw for fans visiting Forks and LaPush is being able to see the actual sites and scenes of author Stephenie Meyers Twilight books.
The book enhances the experience of visiting Twilight fans, providing an accurate, first-hand, locally-generated guide to the actual settings that author Stephenie Meyer chose for her Twilight book series. Curious fans unable to make the journey are taken on a detailed armchair tour through the author's photos and descriptions of Twilight points of interest and more.
"Twilight Territory" readers are taken on a tour of popular Twilight locations in Forks and LaPush, learning about the local people and places that come to life for Twilight fans making the trek.
In addition, from his position as the editor of the local paper for Forks and LaPush, author and photographer Chris Cook provides the first-ever full account of how the Twilight phenomenon has rolled out and continues to grow on the West End of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.
Living in Forks, frequently driving down to LaPush for community events and beach going, and being the only on-the-scene news reporter based in the area provides me with unequaled access to local Twilight news and events, interviews with visiting fans and a personal relationship with the local community as they experience the Twilight phenom, the author says.
Twilight Territory features dozens of exclusive Twilight-related photos of Forks and
LaPush scenes taken by the author. Chris Cook provided local images for the prop department of the upcoming Twilight film New Moon.
The author interviewed Twilight film director Catherine Hardwicke at First Beach in LaPush during the directors location scouting for the film. His account published on the front page of the Forks Forum appears in Hardwickes book Twilight Directors Scrapbook.
He has also chosen Forks and LaPush locations for a where we would have made the movie section in Twilight Territory offering an alternative look at what an authentic Twilight movie would look like.
Chris Cook is the author of the Hawaii regional best-seller The Kauai Movie Book.
'Twilight' summer school in Forks
By Shyliah Justus and Cheryl Moore - Forks Forum Interns
On June 25 through June 28 The Summer School in Forks: A Twilight Symposium is being held at Forks High School.
Literature Inspired Fandom Events, Inc., which is run by three-women who are admitted book nerds and also organizers of Harry Potter seminars.
The Forks Chamber of Commerce, which is now greeting thousands of Twilight visitors each month, is helping out with some of the events.
The symposium is being held in the new building at Forks High School.
This is a chance for Twilight fans from all around the world to come to Forks and meet actors who had roles in the Twilight film, see the scenes, and experience a weekend in the shoes of their favorite characters.
Activities include breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; hanging out time, live podcasts, art displays, a volleyball tournament, speakers, a field trip to LaPush, a Twilight prom and other invitation-only events.
The Twilight prom is on Saturday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. in the Forks High School Performing Arts Center. A limited supply of prom-only tickets are available for $50.
A silent auction of Twilight items starts at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 28 and all proceeds go to Forks High School.
Students of Forks High School were not shy to speak out about this event.
Junior class parliamentarian, Brittany Leavitt, said, The Twilight conventions will be amazing and will bring significant revenue to the community and our school!
Forks Outfitters employee, avid Twilight fan and Forks High senior Lorena Silva told us that Twilight is great for local businesses and our economy. It has definitely boosted the income of our community and it is really interesting to hear where the tourists travel from. The only downfall is that our hidden town is not really secret anymore, and she liked the privacy.
Another thing the students favor is that local businesses and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to set up booths for free in the high school commons. This will give the visiting Twilight tourists fans an idea of what they can find in and around our community.
Forks High School ASB will be offering authentic Spartan gear to fans. Community members are very much welcome to come enjoy the events and hang out at one of the biggest events in Forks history. Hope to see you there!
Twilight effect on Forks going global
By Chris Cook - Forks Forum Editor
Twilight travelers from across the state, nation and globe are expected to arrive in the West End this summer.
Seattle-based representatives of Japanese tour companies Azumano International and H.I.S. toured Twilight sites in Forks and LaPush in January.
The Japanese-dubbed film version of the first book in the Twilight series was just released this month and a surge in interest from Japan in the West End is expected.
The tour companies are now looking to Twilight as an alternative to the popularity of Seattle and Mariners baseball star Ichiro.
Azumano is offering Twilight tours on Sunday only, with a four-person minimum, with stops along the now well-trod Forks Twilight route, and a meal at Bella Italia in Port Angeles.
Junglecity.com, a Seattle-based Japanese language Web site, has posted a lengthy, detailed Japanese language tour guide from Seattle to Forks with stops in between. Many Twilight sites in Forks are detailed with photos and Japanese text and Google.com maps for precise location directions, even to side streets in Forks.
Junglecity.com, a Seattle-based Japanese Web site offers detailed instructions in Japanese for visiting Twilight fans. The Japanese characters used to spell out "Forks" in Japanese are written in what's known as Katakana, a writing system that Japanese use to romanized words, using Japanese phonetics for English words...so Forks comes out as Fo-kusu.
Clipper Vacations has also launched a reasonably-priced Twilight tour, at the request of British Airways, to cater to British travelers. Pricing for the "Olympic Loop 'Twilight' tour featuring Forks & LaPush" begins at $130, double occupancy, per night. Overnight stops are at the Red Lion Inn in Port Angeles and the Kalaloch or Lake Quinault Lodge for the second night. Extra nights are available.
Jeannie Barresi of Beyond Boundaries travel in Colorado has scheduled several specialty Twilight tours with stops in Forks and LaPush. Her company is a leading packager of Harry Potter-related tours out of the U.S. to Great Britain. She expects a reversal, with overseas Twilight fans arriving here.
Last summer Barresi toured Forks with Diane Schostak, executive director of the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission. In pre-planning for this summers Twilight tours she carefully looked over the town and various sites related to the Twilight books.
Her three major Twilight trips for the summer go to Volterra and Florence in Italy; to Forks out of a base in Portland for the Vampire Baseball Adventure at $1699 per person double occupancy, airfare not included with stays at the Oceanside Resort in LaPush; and a Twilight-themed Passion for Fashion & Prom Party.

Chris Cook photo
The Japanese, two-volume version of "Twilight" is for sale in Seattle.