Students give Ichikawa visitors warm welcome

PORT TOWNSEND — Konichiwa. Arigato. Tomodachi. The Japanese words for welcome, thank you, and friend were heard frequently in the halls of Mountain View Elementary School on Thursday.

The occasion was the first school visit by members of the Ichikawa sister-city delegation.

In town for a two-day visit, the visitors were greeted by a banner in Japanese Kanji characters, made by students Tristan Minnihan and Andy Hu, on the outside of the school, and more welcome signs inside.

In the office, they were presented with tulip bouquets, each topped with a paper crane made by Mikayla Gibson, and also with Mountain View notepads and pencils.

Then, the visitors walked down the main hallway, where students lined up to greet them.

Students in Leslie Schroeder’s class made “Welcome Ichikawa Visitors,” signs in Kanji, while other classes bowed to the visitors or waved colored streamers.

“I have never seen a greeting like this,” said Norma Wieman, a member of the Port Townsend Sister Cities Friends.

The visitors had lunch, while sitting at student desks, with Mary Manning’s fourth-grade class.

Manning visited Japan in 2004 as the recipient of a Fulbright Fund Teacher Program, which was designed to promote educational and cultural exchange between Japan and the United States.

More in News

Mike O’Brien of Port Angeles watches as his dog, Nara, left, catches a flying disc and his other dog, Copper, waits for his turn to fetch a ball on Thursday at Erickson Playfield in Port Angeles. O’Brien said catch and fetch are favorite activities for his canine companions. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Got it!

Mike O’Brien of Port Angeles watches as his dog, Nara, left, catches… Continue reading

40-week business program under way

Advisor training part of Recompete program

Port of Port Townsend may ask voters if they should increase term lengths

Commissioners could serve six years if ballot measure is approved

Coast Guard cutter changes its command

Potter takes over ship based in Port Angeles in San Diego ceremony

Maintenance workers, from left, Brian Phillips, Jeff Clark and Noah Mohmand, suspend a banner outside the Port Angeles Public Library to gather interest in the library system’s Summer Reading Program, which runs from Friday through Aug. 23. The program offers free books and prizes for avid readers at the system’s branches in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summer reading

Maintenance workers, from left, Brian Phillips, Jeff Clark and Noah Mohmand, suspend… Continue reading

Heritage projects awarded funding

Almost $2 million for Jefferson programs

Public comment period opens for cleanup at former Rayonier Mill site

Open house scheduled next month at Field Hall

History center declines Port Angeles’ offer for property

Letter cites inability to move inventory items

Cost-sharing pact approved for western Port Angeles Harbor cleanup

Potentially liable parties each to pay one-sixth of project

Sunrise Meats issues recall for smoked salmon

Sunrise Meats, Inc. of Port Angeles is recalling some… Continue reading

Candidate for Port of Port Angeles ends campaign

Nate Adkisson has announced he is ending his campaign… Continue reading

Port Townsend senior living center has COVID-19 outbreak

Twenty residents at Port Townsend Senior Living have tested… Continue reading