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Members of Bellingham Sister Cities Association are invited to the 2020 Shinnenkai Japanese New Years Celebration on Sunday, January 12, 2:30 to 5:00 PM at Bloedel-Donovan Park Gymnasium. Potluck, Customary Japanese Activities, and New Years Greetings to all. A suggested donation will be welcomed at the door.
As mentioned at our Member’s Dinner: The 2020 Peacegrant application deadline has been extended from its original date to Wednesday, December 11th, 2019.
The new deadline is fast approaching, but there is still time to apply.
Imagine the possibilities… Continue reading
Due to popular demand, we have extended the R.S.V.P. deadline for our Annual Membership Dinner!!
The R.S.V.P. Deadline is Sunday, November 17th at 10 pm.
You can R.S.V.P. HERE!
or by calling our Reservation voicemail box: 323-609-825
Over the next few months, we will be highlighting different things that the Bellingham Sister City is involved with and the programs it supports and sponsors.
We look forward to sharing with you some of the great international connections we have made and continue to foster and hope that you will consider joining us in our mission to promote world peace through the community to community relationships and experiences that can last a lifetime.
On Tuesday, November 19th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Squalicum Boathouse, we will be holding our Annual Membership Dinner.
If you have ever thought about joining the Bellingham Sister City Association, now is a great time to do so!
If your membership is current and paid, this event and your dinner are complimentary. If you are not sure of your membership status, you can renew or join at the door.
RSVP HERE to reserve your spot and renew your membership HERE to attend.
(Lifetime members never renew!)
As you already know, Bellingham’s Sister city in Japan, Tateyama, was hit by not just one destructive typhoon this season, but two: Typhoon Faxai and Typhoon Hagibis.
The first typhoon caused lasting damage and the second typhoon caused damage to repairs and caused delays to the already slow recovery of the city. Tateyama is still on the road to its recovery, but due to the extensive damage caused, a full recovery will take some time.
This photo shows blue sheets on damaged houses from the previous Typhoon Faxai in Tateyama, Chiba prefecture on October 11, 2019.
JIJI PRESS/JIJI PRESS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Kunio Okayasu, good friend and former colleague of BSCA Past President John Gargett reports from Tokyo on Saturday, October 12:
Here comes sunshine and blue sky and breeze.
No gusty wind last night in Tokyo.
We are all safe and well.
Tateyama again lost power in the midst of gust on coastal area.
There were some tornados in neighborhood city north of Tateyama.More than a couple of dozen rivers swelled and water over river bank, and dike swept away and inundated cities and farmland.
Defunct nuclear power plants are still there with no further damage.
Recovery ahead will take time but not for long.There will be world cup rugby game tonight, Japan VS. Scotland.
Thank you for your concern.
Kunio
Japan Beat Scotland 28-21 in that match.
The path of Hagibis is clearly heading up Tokyo Bay, and directly over Chiba Prefecture as of 0830 JST today, October 9, 2019. It looks like Saturday through Sunday will be a slow passing over Chiba until it heads into the North Pacific.
Our concern is for everyone in its path, with winds ashore in the 100 knots range (115 miles per hour) in Tateyama but perhaps dropping to 80 knots (92 miles per hour) in the Tokyo area.
Here in Bellingham, we are all hoping the typhoon will take a different course out to sea, or if not, we hope the impact on Tateyama will be manageable.
On September 9th 2019, our sister city of Tateyama in Japan was hit by a deadly and devastating Typhoon, Faxai, which was the 15th Typhoon of this season. Read more about its impact here.
We are happy, however, to report the two marathon runners from Tateyama will still be coming to Bellingham for the race this last weekend in September. The public is in invited to join our Mayor Linville meet them and show our support at Bellingham City Hall (210 Lottie St.) on Friday, September 27 at 12:30 pm.
Please join us in showing support for Tateyama and wishing them a quick recovery. We have created a flag for the community to sign with well-wishes for our sister city.
