I don’t know about you but being a lifelong Forks resident I very rarely go the the Hoh Rain Forest, I don’t know why that is, maybe because I grew up with trees and moss and rain? People travel thousands of miles to see this beautiful place and me …hardly ever.

Last Friday I had an opportunity to go the the Hoh Rain Forest for the grand opening of the new exhibits at the visitor center. Driving there I saw something that I have always heard about but had never seen with my own eyes …the elusive free range cattle. As a child driving through Jefferson County I saw the signs along the highway and always feared we would hit one with the family car but we never did and never actually saw them even, so right there a new experience.

Driving further I was amazed at how many huge trees had fallen or snapped off right along the road! Getting to the parking lot it was hopping, people from all over the world, I heard many different languages and saw some local faces too.

The grand opening ceremony started at 1 p.m. and was short and David Hudson from the Hoh Tribe offered a song for those that attended. I soon saw that some locals were pretty excited and awaiting autographs from two people that I met before the ceremony, they were Jack Steward and Colton Smith and they create and appear in a Saturday morning television show on ABC called “Rock the Park.”

Later Steward, Smith and several others, including myself, walked one of the trails with a University of Washington scientist that is doing a study about noise in the park. Steward and Smith filmed and interviewed the scientist. They shared that the two of them have been friends since second grade and have a blast doing the show, they also were in the area to participate in the CoastSavers beach clean-up last Saturday morning.

I did not get their autographs but I did watch their show Saturday morning and it was great!

The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and daily beginning May 25. Normal park entrance fees apply. Maybe I will see you there?

Veterans Stand Down

The annual Veterans Stand Down will be held Thursday, May 3 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Rd., in Forks. If you have ever wanted to help a veteran this could be your opportunity!

Organizer Paul Hampton shared that volunteers are needed to assist with set-up, take-down and everywhere in between.

The day before Hampton and Glenn King have a truck load of items to set-up. There is clothing to sort and other items to get ready for the next day. On Thursday there will be representatives, from the VA, Social Security, Hospice, physical exams and haircuts will be offered and people are needed as personal shoppers to help veterans that need clothing, there are even donated new and used tools for vets that might need those and for veterans that might be homeless there are camping items. The veterans are also offered a hot meal.

Hampton said, “It is a big chore and some of us are getting old, but we keep going to support those that need it.”

“No questions are asked of the veterans, some don’t want to talk about what they did,”Hampton added. The Stand Down is open to any and all veterans and immediate family members.

So if you want to help a veteran, and have a few hours on Wednesday or Thursday that you can share you can just show up at the Elks or give Hampton a call if you have questions, 360-640-0296.

Christi Baron, Editor