50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP
Visalia has had a sister city relationship with Miki, Japan since 1965. This year celebrates the 50th anniversary of that relationship. It has been at least 10 years since Visalia last sent a delegation to Miki. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, my wife Alisa and I will be hosting a delegation of citizens and city officials traveling to Miki, Japan, November 3 through 9, 2016. The planning for this event has been underway for quite some time, such that we can now start promoting this event.
Miki officials asked us to visit during this time frame because it coincides with their annual Hardware Festival. According to an article I googled, Miki is famous throughout Japan as one of their country's largest producers of hardware, from kitchen knives to hedge trimmers, almost every kind of hand tool is manufactured in Miki. This festival is said to attract 160,000 visitors annually. You can expect to see people pounding mochi (rice cakes), dance and drum performances, people in traditional costume, and stalls selling delicious festival food. Beneath the rows of brightly colored tents are tools of every kind. One can browse through metal rakes and hoes, saws, axes, nata (Japanese hatchets), scissors, thread cutters, Ikebana (flower arrangement) shears, shovels, saws and a plethora of knives. Produce from local farmers can be picked up for cheap. There is also an eclectic mix of other local handicrafts, baked goods and various products, and the nearby cultural center has flowers, bonsai and local art on display.
We plan to fly into Osaka International Airport on Thursday evening, November 3, where we will be greeted by a Miki sister city delegation, and transported by bus to Miki City Hall. From there, we will fan out to our host families' homes or to hotels. Accommodations may be either Japanese style, i.e., the use of futons on Tatami mats, or American style, with tables, chairs and beds.
On Friday we will visit schools and public places such as Shinto/Buddhist temples or factories. Saturday will be free time with the host families. Sunday will include visits to Miki City Hall, the hardware festival, and Horseland Park. On Monday, the group will be hosted on a visit to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Park, and on Tuesday to Miyajimi, a scenic island which is the site of one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, a Torii in the ocean, pictures of which you may have seen. The group will be bused back to Osaka Airport on Wednesday for the return flight home.
The cost for this trip will be the responsibility of each of the attendees. Likewise, my wife and I will be traveling on our own dime, with no cost to the city of Visalia. However, much of the price for this fabulous trip will be defrayed by Miki and the host families, who will assist with travel arrangements, food and overnight accommodations.
Visalia received a grant a number of years ago to build a Japanese sister city park, which park is now under construction on Mineral King Avenue, near City Hall just east of Redwood High School. We look forward to a reciprocal visit from a delegation of Miki city officials and citizens in Spring, 2017, as they come to attend the dedication of our new park. At that time, we will be looking for host families to help with their transportation and accommodation needs here.
If you are interested in being part of Visalia's delegation for this visit to our sister city in Japan, or being part of next Spring's celebration here in Visalia, please contact Gladys Ruiz at the City, 713-4314, gladys.ruiz@visalia.city.
Additional Kudos to Fire Department
During the public comment portion of our June 6 city council meeting, local citizen Larry Pruitt thanked the fire department for saving his house that afternoon! Apparently, there were problems with sparks caused by the transformer on his property line, which set his fence and trees in his backyard on fire. Three fire engines and a fire truck with a total of 13 personnel responded, and while the fence and trees were lost, no damage was done to his adjacent home. The fire was contained in 15 minutes and there were no injuries. Mr. Pruitt indicated that he shook the hand of every firefighter and thanked them for saving his home. He said he still smelled like smoke, the fire was so recent. During a break in our meeting, I spoke to Larry personally and told him that I was impressed that he had come to city council meeting the same day as the incident to thank the fire department. Larry replied that coincidentally he was planning on being at our meeting anyway for another agenda item, but wanted to voice his thanks to our fire department for a job well done.
