2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsRepresentatives of Isesaki visit Springfield, donate money to rectify ice storm damage
Brad Boutaugh
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Features
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"We were very sorry that you suffered by the ice storm, from blackouts and other second rate disasters," International Relations Association Vice President Hiroshi Kaneko said through a translator to participants of the ceremony.
Isesaki officials, Springfield city and park board officials and Yuriko Mizumoto Scott, for whom the garden was named after, placed soil around a Japanese maple tree outside the stroll garden's tea house, highlighting the ceremony.
It served as a mark for stronger relations between both cities following a $17,000 donation from Isesaki to help in the replanting of the Japanese Stroll Garden.
"We were surprised, but we should have known as the people of Isesaki are very generous," Dianne Elizabeth Osis, incoming vice president of the Sister City Association, said.
About 40 percent of the stroll garden's canopy was destroyed alongside other damage from the ice storm, Cindy Jobe, landscape supervisor said. "$17,000 goes a long way towards correcting that."
Later on in the event, Park Director Jodie Adams and Assistant Park Board Director Bob Belote handed books as gifts from the city of Springfield to each of the Japanese officials. Soon afterwards, they also received small gifts from Yuriko Mizumoto.
The officials originally arrived on Nov. 7 touring the city of Springfield which included a formal welcome at the Busch Municipal Building on Nov. 8, before taking part in the planting on Nov. 10, Saturday.
Mika Logan served as main translator during the tree-planting ceremony.
Visiting officials and others from Isesaki stayed with host families, such as Psychology Department Head Robert Jones and his family, during their stay in Springfield.
Alternatively, Jones and other Springfield officials took part in the 20 for 20 trip to Isesaki and stayed with Japanese host families commemorating the 20 years of the sister-city relationship last year.
As well, dogwood trees were planted in Isesaki during the trip as a sign of the ongoing relationship.
Only a couple of weeks ago, a group of Isesaki gardeners worked with the park board in the replanting process at the Mizumoto garden.
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