Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • March 30, 2011 Glen Rock Borough sends best wishes to Onomachi, Japan by John Koster A special convocation of Glen Rock families who have hosted middle school students and chaperones from Onomachi, Japan recently gathered at the council chambers to show the people of Onomachi love, respect, and offers of help in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami. The special meeting at the council chambers, inspired partly by Glen Rock Planning Board Secretary Nancy Spiller, was supported by the borough council, administration, and the Stewart and O’Brien families. “What we’re going to do tonight is “What the people of Onomachi could use right now is some indication that we’re worried about them and that we haven’t forgotten about them,” the mayor said. “We want to tell them ‘All of your friends in Glen Rock are offering you our prayers and our best wishes for a speedy recovery.’” He added that no one in Onomachi had been killed or injured and that there was no substantial property damage. The main impact on the town was that many people in Onomachi had voluntarily opened their homes to people whose houses had been severely damaged or subjected to potentially dangerous radiation. “May you continue to provide a safe haven for all your countrymen,” the mayor told the people of Onomachi on camera. He unfurled a white flag with a red heart in place of a red rising sun and urged residents to sign and send their wishes to Japan. “We love you all and we’ll do everything we can,” Izzy Liberti said, holding up a placard showing Onomachi, the island of Honshu, and the words “We love you” in Japanese calligraphy. John Kennedy, Mary and Peter Weinstein, and a half-dozen other resident families displayed colorful homemade posters with good wishes for former guests and hosts. Kristen Stewart O’Brien, a Glen Rock High School graduate, originated the Onomachi tours when she was teaching in Japan. O’Brien and her husband, Stephen, tried to maintain a low profile, but they were pressed into service to be among the lead speakers. Both were so moved that they had trouble finishing their speeches. “Our strength and our spirit are with you,” Stephen O’Brien said. Kristen Stewart O’Brien spoke to the 100 people in the Glen Rock audience – some emigrated Japanese, mostly Americans of Top: Mayor John van Keuren with the signature banner. Above: Stephen and Kristen O’Brien. Right: Mary Weinstein with her family’s Onomachi placard with student names. Izzy Liberti’s sign says she loves Onomachi. create a sort of visual thinking-of-you card and send it to them,” said Mayor John van Keuren. Glen Rock Television filmed the portion of the council meeting at which residents who had hosted visitors from Onomachi held up homemade posters and told the people of the Japanese town just outside the earthquake zone on north-central Honshu that Glen Rock is thinking of them, praying for them, and ready to help. European ancestry. “The outpouring of support from all of you is so overwhelming – I am so blessed to have lived in Glen Rock and in Onomachi. There are no two better towns in the world,” she said. She then translated her words into Japanese. Ms. O’Brien said she had been in touch with Mayor Shishido of Onomachi, who asked that Glen Rock residents NOT send money or gifts to Onomachi residents, because Onomachi had not been impacted by the earthquake and tsunami. The mayor said, however, that Glen Rock hosts and guests of Onomachi were welcome to send “care packages” of personal necessities to Japanese people now staying in Onomachi because their own houses had been destroyed or exposed to major radiation. “One thing about the Japanese is that they are people with a heart,” said Jean Stewart, Kristen’s mother, who hosted chaperones with her husband Charlie and has been to Onomachi four times. “They believe everything comes from the heart…. they’ll rebuild. They’re very resilient people.” KEANE FIT & WELLNESS ��������� Sheila Keane per·son·al train·ing� (noun) a program conceived, created or devised specifically for you and your unique needs by an educated, certified, experienced individual MAT (Muscle Activated Techniques) Specialist • EXPERIENCED - 15 years one-to-one personal training, Former educator of NYSC trainers • EDUCATED - MA in exercise science • CERTIFIED - ACSM, NASM, Post Rehab Specialist, Summer Camps/ Schools Section Don’t miss out on showcasing your camp or school and the many activities, sports and services you have to offer. WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY April 6 March 30 April 13 April 6 April 20 April 13 April 27 April 20 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER May 4 April 27 The Villadom TIMES is your community newspaper, delivered by US mail to every residence in the following Bergen County towns, with a total circulation of 56,000. Zone 1: Midland Park, Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff Zone 2: Ridgewood, Glen Rock Zone 3: Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River Zone 4: Mahwah, Ramsey Publication: Deadline: Coming Soon Come experience the difference real personal training can have in your life. CALL NOW • 201-341-0183 Fitness, Weight Loss, Bariatrics, Geriatrics & Parkinson’s Programs ������������������������ 3-23-11 joan from janine SummerCampsSchoolswithDates3x6(3-23-11)