June 19, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Glen Rock Local hosts needed for visitors from Japan by John Koster Middle school students and adults from Onomachi, Japan will be arriving for a one-week stay in Glen Rock starting July 29 -- and a few additional host families are needed to facilitate this one-week stay in the borough. The Onomachi group -- typically three or four adults who speak some English and about 15 students who speak limited English -- will be arriving for their usual party at the Glen Rock annex on Monday, July 29 and staying with Glen Rock families for that week. Day tours of the borough and of New York City will punctuate their visit. Kristen Stewart O’Brien, who originated the tour more than 20 years ago in cooperation with the mayor of Onomachi, reports that most of the students and chaperones have been accommodated, but six openings still remained as of last week. Many people who have hosted students before do so every year as their schedule permits, and some Glen Rock adults have visited with the families of the guest students in Onomachi. Onomachi is located just outside the area impacted by the tsunami and radiation leak of 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear plant was flooded and exploded. The people of Onomachi hosted those residents of Sendai Province who had to be evacuated, and passed along the gifts of toiletries gathered in Glen Rock and forwarded to Onomachi families, who said they themselves did not need them. The community is invited to view the decorated Glen Rock High School gymnasium for this year’s Graduation Ball on Thursday, June 20. The doors of the gym will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. for family members of the high school senior class and their guests, along with trustees of the board of education, school administrators, teachers, staff, Glen Rock Borough Council members, borough officials, previous Community invited to sneak peek Anyone who wishes to host an adult or a pair of middle school students may contact O’Brien at (212) 765-1729 or at kssjapan@msn.com. Grad Ball chairs, senior citizens, and the general public. Young children will not be permitted to view the gym as the theme for the ball is kept secret from the high school seniors. Guests may enter through the high school courtyard entrance, which is accessible from the cafeteria loading dock gate. The high school is located at 400 Hamilton Avenue.