Where to start …with the Governor’s recent Statewide Emergency Proclamation closing restaurants, bars and other recreational and entertainment venues to stop the spread of Covid-19 local businesses are scrambling to change the way they operate and survive this unprecedented order. In addition, pretty much anything and everything planned as far as meetings and events for the next foreseeable future has been canceled.
Most restaurants are switching to take out only. Subway will be in operation as normal; Home Slice Take N Bake will operate regular hours doing take out. Pacific Pizza will operate its normal delivery service with take-out only. Blakeslee’s Bar and Grill will be open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and add delivery service to a limited area with a $3 charge.
Cast Away Cafe will be doing take-out only from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Give your favorite eatery a call and see what they are doing, they will really need our support now!
Linda Middleton, Executive Director Concerned Citizens shared the following, “I am also closing my vacation rentals until May 1 to limit travelers to Forks. The Family Center is closed for events. Personal Care will continue for the most vulnerable people with every precaution in place. The Adult Family Home is in lockdown and won’t accept visitors. Daycare is open for working parents only and is assessed day by day.”
Residents at Long Term Care are also on quarantine in their rooms please take a moment to send a card even if you don’t have a friend or relative at the facility to LTC, 530 Bogachiel Way, Forks, 98331.
The Elks Lodge has suspended all activities and Bingo is canceled for the VFW and the Sportsmen’s Club, the Sportsmen’s club has also canceled their meetings. The Forks Hospital Foundation also canceled their meetings.
The Forks Visitor Information Center is helping travelers via the phone and the Forks Timber Museum, next door, will be closed as well.
City Hall is open as usual for now and making a decision soon about future City Council meetings.
The Forks Athletic and Aquatic Center is also closed. Forks Chamber meetings have been suspended as their meeting place is closed. At press time the West End Business group still had plans to meet on Wednesday morning as the usual number to attend is under the 50 person limit.
Some really big cancelations include the annual Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction, organizers hope to reschedule for the weekend of May 2 and 3. In the meantime, cash donations can be made at the PayPal account QVSA.ORG. The annual Easter Egg hunt, sponsored by the Elks, planned for April 11 and the annual Easter Breakfast planned for April 12 at the Forks Elks Lodge have also been canceled. Rainfest, the annual film festival, and the annual All-School Class reunion have also all been canceled.
With all schools being closed QVSD is offering a sack breakfast/lunch pick-up opportunity for all students weekdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Superintendent Diana Reaume also shared in a recorded message that teachers are working on lesson plans at this time and families will be notified as the plan progresses.
The Soroptimists Second Chances store on Spartan Avenue has temporarily closed. Most stores are remaining open as life goes on …Outfitters has had some empty shelves; toilet paper has continued to fly off the shelves. Also, rice, beans, and flour have been popular.
I also heard that Washington Driver License offices will be closed as they don’t have enough cleaning supplies to clean as often as needed!
The weekly Feeding 5000 activity every Tuesday at noon at the community center is offering sack lunches.
The NOLS Libraries will close … so all events and meetings there are canceled.
This past week I have received several emails from the Red Cross regarding a blood shortage and urging people to donate blood but … the planned blood drive in Forks on Friday has been canceled.
There are efforts in the works by several entities to provide help to businesses being impacted but for now, support for our local businesses will be greatly appreciated. And please as we head into unknown territory try to be reasonable in your purchases …leave some toilet paper for the next guy.
Christi Baron
Editor
