New interpretive exhibits on display at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center

The public is invited to join park staff as they officially unveil new interpretive exhibits at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center in Olympic National Park at 1 p.m. Friday, April 20. These artistic, hands-on exhibits offer multiple layers of discovery that interpret stories of the seen and unseen worlds of the Hoh Rain Forest, from the river and forest communities to the elusive canopy and soil ecosystems.

“Area artists and photographers wonderfully enhanced this project,” Janet Scharf, Olympic National Park Visual Information Specialist, said. “Incorporating the work of local talent is an ongoing goal for the park’s exhibit projects.”

One of the challenges of this project was sharing the many intriguing stories in a relatively small exhibit space. The solution was to create an exploratory experience for diverse audiences of all ages and abilities. Visitors will find an engaging array of hands-on models such as a river otter, banana slug and Townsend’s mole; an immersive nook with expansive hand-painted murals, and an interactive rotational feature depicting the rain forest succession from fallen trees to nurse logs to colonnades.

The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and daily beginning May 25. Normal park entrance fees apply.

For more information, call the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center at 360-374-6925 or the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 360-565-3130.

Rainfest is coming

The schedule for Rainfest is just about set and with one fun-filled weekend this year everyone should be able to find something to do! In addition to the quilt show and classes there will be an art show and sale, book sale and activities — including river float trips (new this year), River and Ocean film festival, music, dancing, umbrella parade, Quileute basket class and more. Look for the complete schedule at Forksforum.com and in next week’s Forks Forum.

FOFL Book Sale

You can never have enough books! The Friends of the Forks Library is holding a book sale from 4-6 p.m on Friday April, 20 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, at the Forks Library. Books are $2 a bag or $0.50 a book.

Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan

Jefferson County will host two opportunities for county residents to learn what is proposed and make comments on the county’s update to its Comprehensive Plan. The first Public Open House and Public Hearing will be Wednesday, April 18, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Tri Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, and the following evening April 19, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 US Highway 101, Quilcene.

For more information and to review draft documents, see co.jefferson.wa.us/578/Jefferson-County-Comprehensive-Plan.

Send comments or questions to plancomm@co.jefferson.wa.us.

Christi Baron, Editor