Chris Cook – Forks Forum photo 

Carolers from Forks churches gathered outside Forks Outfitters/Ace Hardware following the big Santa Bucks drawing. 

A large crowd gathered at the outdoor patio of Forks Outfitters on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 22 for the annual West End Business & Professional Association Santa Bucks drawing. Cash and dining certificates were drawn from a crammed basket of blue tickets given away with purchases at Forks businesses. From the blue tickets certificates for $200 and $50 in Santa Bucks were given away plus a fist-full of dining certificates for Sully’s Drive-In and JT’s Sweet Stuffs. The blue tickets were cleared out and the rotating basket refilled with ticket stubs for the $1 per ticket drawing for a prize of $1,000 in Santa Bucks. Santa drew out the name of Ryland Smith, who lives at the veterans’ housing complex Sarge’s Place in Forks. WEBPA members told the Forks Forum that a larger than usual number of tickets were purchased this year for the top drawing.