Happy New Year!

Members of the SCSO Honored  our Sister Cities Naka machi and Obninsk by ringing the Oak Ridge Friendship Bell to announce the New Millennium!

Members of the sister city support organization rang the Oak Ridge Friendship Bell on January 31, 1999 at 10 AM for the Naka machi New Year and 4 PM for the Obninsk New Year.  We wish our friends in Naka machi and Obninsk a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Millennium!  May our sister city partnerships continue to grow in new and unique ways in 2000 and beyond!

Herman Postma arranged with city council to permit ringing the bell from Friday to Sunday without restrictions.  SCSO thanks Mr. Postma for providing us with this unique opportunity to remember our sister cities during the New Millennium celebrations.

We gathered at 10 AM for Naka machi.	Some of the unique bell ringing techniques!	We rang the bell 108 times honoring  Japanese tradition.
Current Mayor Jerry Kuhaida and former Mayor Ed Nephew take their turn ringing in the New Year.		It was through the efforts of Herman Postma that were able to celebrate in this unique way.  Thanks Herman!
Councilwoman Pat Rush helping ring in the New Year for Obninsk.	Ken Luckmann and family also rang in the New Year for Australia at 8 AM honoring their daughter who was there representing Children's International Summer Villages.	Happy New Year Naka machi and Obninsk from the Oak Ridge SCSO!