Forks Approves Beer Tent at Community Day

The Business and Commerce Association of Forks is hoping to bring a little more spirit to this year’s Community Day.
 
Brian Lokitis, Chairman of the association and head of citizens committee for Forks Community Day said research conducted last year to find out ways of attracting more residents and improving the overall event was done, and music and beer just may be the answer.
 
“The crowd that we got (in years past) was more of an older crowd or more of a younger crowd and didn’t stay,” said Lokitis. “They didn’t interact with vendors either.”
 
But the association is hoping to change all of that with more variety in the music that will be played all-day and the addition of a beer tent.
 
“I think this is great,” said Supervisor Erik Chuss. “For the month after community day that’s probably when I get the most feedback from residents of why don’t we get a beer tent.”
 
On Thursday, supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of allowing the tent. Casting the no vote was Supervisor Robert Egolf. Vice-Chairwoman Lilly Gioia was not present for the meeting.
 
“I hope this works out,” said supervisors Chairman David Billings. “I do have some reservations about it. Please make this successful so that we don’t undo something here.”
 
Community Day will be held Sept. 17 and Sept. 18 this year. Lokitis said the association weighed the options, both pro and con with having alcohol served at the venue.
 
“It (a beer tent) does bring out a different crowd and does tend to bring people at the event,” he said.
 
The tent will be located in an enclosed area with two levels of security. According to Lokitis, there will be one area where drinkers will be initially checked for identification and could mingle and another area where beer is served.
 
“We’re not just looking to have a beer jam,” said Lokitis.
 
No person under the legal drinking age of 21 would be allowed inside the tent. Additionally, there would be a two-beer per person limit. Details on how the two beer limit would be enforced has yet to be worked out, but Lokitis did say, it would likely be an armband of some sort that would indicate if a person’s identification was checked and how many beers they have been served. The beer will be provided by local business Forks Beverage.
 
Supervisor Robert Egolf suggested the association look into having workers be trained through the state’s Responsible Alcohol Management Program.
 
“I would strongly recommend that anyone you have in that capacity is trained in that program,” said Egolf.
 
Lokitis said everyone involved in serving and checking identification for the beer tent will be trained prior to the event and will work closely with local police for suggestions and tips.
 
“I’m comfortable with this,” said Forks Township Police Chief Greg Dorney. “We certainly will make some reference materials available to them and some training.”
 
The Easton Area Chamber of Commerce has done similar events at other festivals including Palmer Township’s Community Day.
 
Tent capacity has not been determined. The tent will be insured through the association and the township. A temporary liquor license would also be required for the event and township police said they would be able to assist at no additional cost or additional manpower for the event.
 
“I really don’t’ foresee that just because we have this that we’re going to have to hire additional officers,” said Dorney.
 
Lokitis said 70 percent of the profits from beer sales would be put back into commercial development. The remaining 30 percent will go towards administrative work for the association.
 
There will also be wine available during the weekend event. According to Lokitis, the wine will come from a local winery will be available for purchase. The association will look into having local wineries submit bids to sale for the day.