Forks Citizen, Volunteer, Business of Year awards to be presented Saturday

Published 12:01 am Saturday, November 8, 2014

FORKS — The Forks Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Business of the Year will be announced Saturday.

The awards will be given at the 20th annual Wine & Cheese “Sol Duc Dynasty” fundraising event at the Roundhouse, 110 LaPush Road, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets to the Forks Chamber of Commerce event are $13 pre-sale and available at Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave., and Chinook Pharmacy, 11 S. Forks Ave. They will be $15 at the door.

Those who attend are asked to wear camouflage or hunter orange.

Live bluegrass music by Loose Gravel, locally made wine by Harbinger Winery and homemade root beer will be featured, along with beer, cheese and snacks.

A silent auction will raise money for the Forks Visitor Information Center.

The nominees are:

Citizen of the Year

■ John Calhoun, who as Port of Port Angeles commissioner “does a great job representing the West End,” the nomination said, adding that Calhoun also is the Lions Club secretary and wheelchair ramp builder.

■ Marcia Bingham, former director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce who now is customer service manager, is “very knowledgeable of the community of Forks,” the nomination said.

“She has been a great asset in promoting this community.”

■ Edith Henry, who has served with the Boy Scout Troop 1467 for 22 years.

Early on, she was “instrumental in rescuing the program from extinction,” the nomination said.

She also is active in First Congregational Church and for several years organized the cashier function of the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction.

■ Susie Brandelius, who helps seniors through her work at the office of Senior Information & Assistance and who is an Elks Lodge officer.

“Susie is one of those people whose life rotates around her community and being involved,” the nomination said.

■ Bob Kratzer, owner of Anglers Guide Service, is president of the Northwest Olympic Peninsula Sport Fishing Coalition, “which helps to put fish in our rivers and is a driving force behind the betterment of the fishing industry of this area,” the nomination said.

Volunteer of the Year

■ Gordon Gibbs, who provides root beer at Fish N Brew and Wine & Cheese and who serves on Forks and county committees.

■ Mark Soderlind, who chairs the Fourth of July committee and “takes the Fourth of July float to 13 parades to promote Forks,” the nomination said, adding that he also serves on the Jefferson Community Hospital advisory board.

■ Dean Hurn, who “has been a major part of the Forks Lions Club for 50 years,” the nomination said.

Hurn recently received an award from the Lions district governor for “his ongoing and invaluable commitment to Lionism.”

■ Vern Hestand, who “has been the driving force that has kept West End Business and Professional Association moving forward,” the nomination said.

■ Jack Zaccardo, who “has helped keep the community’s history alive by researching its past and sharing the stories with local residents,” the nomination said.

■ John Glover, who “works tirelessly for the Forks Food Bank,” said his nominator.

“Get this: John chose to resign from the Forks Lions Club because his work at the Food Bank did not allow him enough time to do the community service work with the Lions Club,” the nomination said.

Business of the Year

■ First Federal, for its support of community events, including shred events twice a year, money for such celebrations as RainFest, raffles for the senior class and donations for the scholarship auction.

The business “expanded its building and staff to meet community needs when the Bank of America closed down,” the nomination said.

■ Quileute Oceanside Resort, which “provides support with volunteering and open communication bringing both communities together,” the nomination said.

■ Three Rivers Resort & Guide Service, an award for whom is “long deserved,” the nomination said.

■ Umpqua Bank, which has staff at the Forks branch that has “willingly taken on the job of assisting with counting money at the Wine & Cheese event,” the nomination said.

■ Dahlgren Logging, which has donated volunteer hours and equipment at the Forks Timber Museum and Loggers Memorial.

■ Home Slice Take N Bake, which provides “friendly, dependable service and support of local businesses,” according to the nomination.

For more information, phone Lissy Andros, chamber executive director, at 360-374-2531 or email info@forkswa.com.