August 3, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 West Onomachi (continued from page 5) welcomed the people of Onomachi, told them that Glen Rock host families had worried about them, and that he and the other Americans were happy that Onomachi was not directly impacted either by the earthquake and tsunami or by the nuclear pall cast by the meltdown of the Fukushima power plant. Onomachi’s Yukio Senzaki, who has visited Glen Rock four times, spoke briefly in English, and later through Aral’s translation. Senzaki explained that because of its Left: Maori Aita and Haruna Senzaki think Americans are kind, happy people. Center: Tour Leaders Yukio Senzaki and Sumie Shiga, both veterans of previous tours, sum up the message of the Onomachi visit. Right: Claudio and Lori Liberti, Alex Liberti and Izzy Liberti welcomed Maori Aita and Haruna Senzaki to Glen Rock and their own home. location between two mountains, Onomachi was spared the worst of the radiation, and said the radiation count is now near normal. He thanked Glen Rock residents for their offers of help and their care and concern. “I want to thank the people of Glen Rock and the others for their kind words when the event happened,” Senzaki said in English. “I’m very happy to have the chance to study Glen Rock for the next 10 years…Thank you very much.” “Since the great earthquake and tsunami, we have felt the greatest warmth from the people of Glen Rock,” he told a translator. Glen Rock Council members Pam Biggs, Joan Orseck, Art Pazan, and Mary Jane Surrago joined Mayor van Keuren in welcoming the Japanese youngsters and chaperones when the bus arrived on July 27. Also on hand were Kristen Stewart O’Brien and her husband Steve O’Brien, who started the Onomachi/Glen Rock exchange tradition 20 years ago after Kristen taught English in the Onomachi school system. Kristen spoke to the assembly in Japanese, and her husband spoke in English. “Kristen and I started this 20 years ago when we were 21 years old and just out of college, and we never could have done it without the help of the people of Glen Rock,” Steve. “It’s great to see Onomachi in Glen Rock again.” The assignments of Onomachi youngsters to their Glen Rock host families was followed by a feast of pizza, salad, sushi, cookies, and watermelon at the Glen Rock Annex. The students and host families meshed as if they had known one another for years. The Onomachi youngsters toured Glen Rock’s municipal building, library, police station, and firehouse. Plans also called for the visitors to tour the United Nations and Statue of Liberty in New York City, and spend time with their host families and at the Glen Rock Pool.