FORKS — Marcia Yanish’s work to revitalize the city of Forks won her the Citizen of the Year award.
The announcement was made at the Nov. 13 Wine & Cheese Fundraiser for the Forks Chamber of Commerce.
The event — which raises money for the day-to-day operations of the chamber — drew about 150 people and raised roughly $7,000, said Marcia Bingham, executive director.
“We had wonderful community support,” she said.
Christi Baron, who writes the West End Neighbor column for the Peninsula Daily News every other Tuesday, was named the Volunteer of the Year for Forks.
Ken Bechtold Logging was awarded the Business of the Year award at the event.
Yanish has worked as a volunteer at the Forks Visitor Center and also works to improve the quilting community, Bingham said.
“She is an outstanding head of the Forks Revitalization Committee and an active Quilt Club member and of many, many other organizations,” Bingham said.
As part of Yanish’s work on the Revitalization Committee, the Welcome to Forks signs were moved and renovated, lighting downtown was added and planter boxes were added downtown.
She has also served on the Lutheran Church Council.
Yanish also helps to organize the annual quilt show as part of RainFest, Bingham said.
Baron has been a West End business and professional officer and co-chair of Heritage Days.
She is involved with the Forkestra, Friends of Forks Animals, Forks Timber Museum, Forks Chamber Wine & Cheese, Pioneer Loggers, Fish & Brew, Fourth of July Parade, Santa Bucks and Buy-a-Meal-for-a-Vet.
“Christi does so much, I can’t even begin to name everything,” Bingham said.
Ken Bechtold Logging has donated equipment and fuel to nonprofit organizations such as Forks Lions Club, Bingham said.
The company also donated one of its log trucks and a driver to deliver wood for the Wood for Food exchange with Quincy.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
