FORKS — Two people will be given the Pioneer Logger Award today as the annual Hickory Shirt-Heritage Days festival begins.
The festival will continue through Sunday. A variety of events are planned. Admission will be free to the Timber Museum, 1421 S. Forks Ave., every day of the festival.
The West End Business &Professional Association award will be presented during a 7:30 a.m. meeting today at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave.
Jay Sarnowski, who provided lab and X-ray services at Forks Community Hospital for decades, and logger Ernie Nielsen will be given the award.
Sarnowski is only the third woman to receive the award since it began in 1981. Others are Eleanor Thornton in 2006 and Ingrid Dahlgren, who was awarded the honor posthumously in 2009. The award was originally given to pioneers; now it is presented in their memory.
After the award presentation, a short film, “Sheldon Remains,” will be shown. The movie, directed by Corbin Frost, was filmed in Forks.
From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rainforest Arts Center, the West End Historical Society meeting will feature items illustrating “what made life easier for women” in times past. Jack Zaccardo will give a slide presentation featuring logging in the area, highlighting “women in logging” stories.
Also today will be a Forks Chamber of Commerce open house at the visitor center and timber museum on South Forks Avenue from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A homecoming bonfire is planned at 7:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 941 Merchants Road. The Forks High School varsity football team will play Tenino at 7 p.m. Friday at the high school stadium, 261 S. Spartan Ave.
Thursday will be Movie Night, hosted by the West End Historical Society and timber museum beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Rainforest Arts Center. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
“Cuts,” a documentary film released in 1981 and filmed at the M.R. Smith Shingle Mill that was once located on the shores of Lake Pleasant, will be screened as well as “Big Trees” with Kirk Douglas, a story of a Quaker colony trying to save the giant sequoias of California from a timber baron.
On Friday will be the dedication of the Department of Natural Resources building at 411 Tillicum Lane. The ribbon-cutting will be at 1:30 p.m., followed by tours.
Live music is planned at the Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave., from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. will be the 20th annual Fish and Brew at the Rainforest Arts Center. A donation of $5 is suggested for admission to the event featuring smoked fish and local brews.
Dance instruction is planned from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the arts center, with an Aprons and Overalls Dance with Crescent Blue following until 10 p.m.
Admission to the dance is a suggested donation of $12 per family.
On Sunday, demonstrations by the Rainforest Council of the Arts will be presented from noon to 4 p.m. at the arts center.
Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave., will host the Little Logger Contest at 3 p.m. The contest is sponsored by the West End Business &Professional Association.
The Far West Art League Art Sale and Show will be in the arts center alcove from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
