FORKS ECONOMY: GAZING INTO 2009

By Chris Cook - Editor Forks Forum

The bail-out of financial institutions, steep drop in the stock market and other national factors are creating concerns about the state of the West End economy in the coming new year.

However, there are bright spots showing as 2008 ends.

The gas price pinch has eased by almost $1.50 per gallon over the past month.

This may be reflected in the steady stream of Twilight fans, mostly from the I-5 corridor in and around Seattle, traveling to Forks over the weekend.

A new business was among the local merchants greeting the visiting Twilight fans. The Dazzled by Twilight store opened on North Forks Avenue, in the former Artistic Gifts store.

The store is the first Twilight-themed shop to open in Forks. The opening comes several weeks prior to the national and international roll-out of the Hollywood film version of Forks-set “Twilight,” the first book in author Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling book series.

Annette Root, her mother-in-law Sharon Root, daughter Angie Deats and husband Tim Root are among the family members working together to make the store a success. The Roots reside in Vancouver, Wa., and Deats is in from Yakima.

Annette discovered the Twilight book series in early August when Meyer’s fourth installment, “Breaking Dawn,” was released. It’s been non-stop Twilight ever since. A glass case, which Root calls her Twilight shrine, is a centerpiece of the store.
Annette and family visited Forks the week prior to the Bella’s Birthday festival held Sept. 13.

“I thought ‘how much fun it would be to live this,’” she said.

The store was leased through Forks Avenue Realty, she said, following what she termed “a fierce bidding war” for the lease.
Tim Root said the family plans to add local crafts and art with Twilight themes and non-Twilight local themes to its inventory.
“Several people from Forks have already brought art in,” Annette said.

To start out, the store is open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. A grand opening is being planned for Nov. 22, the day following the movie release. “We’re looking at something special,” she said of an event tied into the opening.

“We’re trying to be respectful of other merchants in town, and not carry merchandise they are already carrying,“ she said.

City of Forks budget
At the City Council meeting held Monday night, Oct. 27, City of Forks Treasurer Dan Leinan said there is some uncertainty about the local economy in the upcoming year. One question he raised is how the temporary closure of the Hood Canal Bridge will affect tourism arrivals and transportation costs on the West End with drivers from Seattle and areas east of the bridge having to go alternate ways to reach Forks. The bridge work begins in May 2009 and is scheduled to last for about six weeks, dipping into the early summer tourism season on the North Olympic Peninsula.

On the positive side, Leinan said spending by Twilight fans traveling to Forks is a plus for the economy, and major roadwork is scheduled for Bogachiel Way next year.

He told the City Council there’s “a whole lot of unknowns” regarding 2009, and that he would be keeping a close track on the situation.

The City of Forks budget for 2009 comes to about $5.25 million. With budget hearings coming up at the City Council meetings set for Monday, Nov. 10 and Monday, Nov. 24 and a final vote on the budget set for early December.
The state of the timber industry was reported on in a financial report posted on Rayonier’s Web site. The report shows a continued slow down in housing starts being reflected in a downturn in the timber industry. However, there are some new international timber export markets opening up, with Russia turning to milling timber for lumber, rather than exporting unmilled logs. This could open up new markets for American logs in South Korea and other markets.

Don Moore, a resident of Beaver, told the Forks Forum of problems with filling older propane tanks used to heat his home, and of what he sees as the high cost of the fuel locally. Regulations requiring high levels of liability insurance forced some businesses to stop filling propane tanks several years ago.