Franklin, TN - The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville recently donated a Japanese Cherry Blossom Tree to the City of Franklin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from the people of Japan to the people of the United States.

The tree was planted in Pinkerton Park on March 23rd. In 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan donated 3,000 cherry blossom trees to the United States in an effort to “bridge” the two countries and to improve relations.The trees were planted on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The trees have been a symbol of the continued close relationship between the two countries.

In celebration of the Centennial, the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville and the Japan America Society of Tennessee donated 20 trees to various locations in Tennessee. These trees are the direct offspring of the Yoshino cherry trees from Japan donated in 1912 which are currently located in Washington DC. Franklin was chosen as one of the cities to receive these trees due to the City’s long-term friendship with the people of Japan.

“We are pleased to present a descendant of that cherry blossom tree to the City of Franklin,” says Consul-General Hiroshi Sato. “This community has a long history of welcoming Japanese businesses and families; so as we celebrate the Centennial of the Gift of Trees we are pleased that the City of Franklin will receive and nurture this Centennial Cherry Blossom Tree as the symbol of friendship for years to.”

Consul-General Sato has been working with Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County to develop a sister city relationship between a city in Japan and Franklin.

“The cherry tree has become a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan for over 100 years,” says Patricia Kriebel, president of Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County. “We’re thrilled they chose Franklin as one of only a few locations in the state to receive this wonderful gift.”

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County is a non-profit organization that works to build global relationships, to share cultural and educational experiences, and to inspire economic growth within the community. Current relationships include Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada and County Laois, Ireland.

Anyone interested in joining Sister Cities or assisting in their efforts, should visit their website at www.sistercitiestn.org.

Consul-General Sato will attend the City’s Arbor Day Celebration to officially present the tree. Arbor Day is scheduled for April 21st at 10 a.m. at Pinkerton Park. The cherry blossom tree is located in the park near the Sue Douglas Berry Memorial Pedestrian Bridge.

Free Series to Focus on India and Feature Discussion, Food and Dance

Franklin—Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County continues its second year of the highly successful series Passport to the World by traveling to India in April, at the Williamson County Library.

The discussion will be held Sunday, April 1, at 2 p.m. and feature Fox 17 morning news anchor Nick Paranjape.  Nick has invited a representative from Bombay Bistro Indian Restaurant to speak on Indian foods and serve some treats.  Nick, who is from India, will also bring his family for discussion of their experiences there.  In addition, an Indian dance teacher will perform, sing, and answer questions.

Passport to the World provides an authentic and personal look into the splendor of our continents around the globe. This series will walk you through the doorways of the world into our seven continents to experience the art, music, food, lifestyle, landscape, and heritage of our international neighbors without leaving the Williamson County Library.

Activities for children and adults are often offered during the presentation. Passport to the World is presented by Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County and co-sponsored by the Williamson County Public Library and the Townsend Institute for Global Competency at O'More College of Design. This is a free series.  If you are interested in learning more about the Passport Program please contact Sharon Bottorff at 615-790-5815 ext. 3. For more information on Sister Cities please visit www.sistercitiestn.org.

about Sister Cities

As a non-profit organization, Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County works to build global relationships, to share cultural and educational experiences, and to inspire economic growth within our community. In January 2005, the City of Franklin and Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada formally recognized each other as Sister Cities. Franklin/Williamson County established a Sister City relationship with County Laois, Ireland in March 2008.

about O’More College of Design

O’More College of Design is an institution of higher education that intellectually and expressively prepares students to become innovative artists and designers with the capacity to create authentic beauty—designers equipped with the skills, knowledge, ability, creativity, and desire to constructively benefit the local and global society and environment through purposeful design.

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County begins its second year of the highly successful Passport to the World series by traveling to France, with Amelie de Gaulle, from the French Consular Agency in Nashville as our guide Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Williamson County Public Library main branch.

The discussion will begin with a short history of Paris, a lesson on French wines and a taste of French cheeses with an expert from the Whole Foods cheese counter.

The Passport to the World series walks you through the doorways of the world into the seven continents to experience the art, music, food, lifestyle, landscape, and heritage of our international neighbors without leaving the Williamson County Library.

Passport to the World is presented by Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County and co-sponsored by the Williamson County Public Library and the Townsend Institute for Global Competency at O'More College of Design.

Courtesy www.franklintn.gov

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County begin their 2nd year of the highly successful series Passport to the World Series by traveling to France, at the Williamson County Library.

The discussion will be held Sunday, February 5, at 2 p.m. and feature Amelie de Gaulle, from the France Agency Consulate in Nashville.   The discussion will begin with a short history of Paris, a lesson on French wines and a taste of French cheeses with an expert from the Whole Foods cheese counter.

Passport to the World provides an authentic and personal look into the splendor of our continents around the globe. This series will walk you through the doorways of the world into our seven continents to experience the art, music, food, lifestyle, landscape, and heritage of our international neighbors without leaving the Williamson County Library.

Activities for children and adults are often offered during the presentation. Passport to the World is presented by Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County and co-sponsored by the Williamson County Public Library and the Townsend Institute for Global Competency at O'More College of Design. This is a free series.  If you are interested in learning more about the Passport Program please contact Sharon Bottorff at 615-790-5815 ext. 3. For more information on Sister Cities please visit www.sistercitiestn.org.

About Sister Cities

As a non-profit organization, Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County works to build global relationships, to share cultural and educational experiences, and to inspire economic growth within our community. In January 2005, the City of Franklin and Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada formally recognized each other as Sister Cities. Franklin/Williamson County established a Sister City relationship with County Laois, Ireland in March 2008.

About O’More College of Design

O’More College of Design is an institution of higher education that intellectually and expressively prepares students to become innovative artists and designers with the capacity to create authentic beauty—designers equipped with the skills, knowledge, ability, creativity, and desire to constructively benefit the local and global society and environment through purposeful design.

Four High School Students Will Be Chosen to Spend a Week in Canada

Applications are currently being accepted for the Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County Youth Exchange Program with Carleton Place, Ontario Canada.

Four students will be chosen based on essay questions, community involvement, and personal interview. Students will be accompanied by chaperones throughout the trip. Students will stay with host families that have been approved by Carleton Place’s Sister City Board. Students will take part in school activities as well as tour Carleton Place and surrounding areas (including Ottawa).  Students and their families will then host the students from Carleton Place in Franklin in August, 2012. Costs include a $600 fee (to help defray transportation expenses).  Students will need a valid passport to travel to Canada. .

Applications are due March 15, 2012. They can be returned by mail to Sister Cities, P.O. Box 977, Franklin, TN 37065  or  by e-mail to

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County is committed to building global relationships, to sharing cultural and educational experiences, and to inspiring economic growth within our community. The relationship with Carleton Place, Franklin’s first Sister City, was established in 2004. This will be the Seventh Youth Exchange between Carleton Place and Franklin.

For more information, please contact Sharon Bottorff at 615-512-9551 or .

Franklin—The giant mascot for Franklin’s Annual Pumpkin Fest weighed in at 1,100 pounds as guessed correctly by Jeff Coleman to win the City of Franklin's contest during the big fall festival Saturday.

The giant pumpkin from Carleton Place, Canada, arranged with Franklin's Sister Cities program, took some 20 hours to transport from Ontario to Franklin's downtown.

Coleman was one of two entries to correctly guess the huge orange orb's weight and won in a drawing. The contest drew 156 entries.

Coleman won a Franklin Family Fun Package, including 4 tickets to the Franklin Theatre, Dinner at Mellow Mushroom, ice cream from Baskin Robbins and popcorn from Popcorn Village.

For the last several years Franklin’s Sister Cities Group has arranged for the giant pumpkin to come from a farm in sister city, Carleton Place, Canada, and this year’s specimen promised to be a record breaker weighing from 800 to 1,500 pounds.

The massive pumpkin has traditionally been provided by Canadian grower Glenn Needham from his farm in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County is holding their fourth annual Celebration of Nations scheduled for September 17, 2011 on the campus of O’More College of Design at 423 South Margin in Franklin. The evening open air market will be held 4:00-9:00 p.m. and feature multi-cultural performances including music, singing and dancing. There will also be many international vendors.

Nick Paranjape from WZTV Fox 17 morning show will kick off the festivities on the main stage.  New this year are two performance stages featuring more than a dozen different performers representing several countries.  From Flamenco guitar and dance to Persian instrumental music there will be something for people of all ages at this international festival.

“This event has really grown over the last four years,” said Sister Cities President, Doug Sharp. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience other cultures through music, dance, food and friendship.  The event is open to all ages and weather permitting is a really good time.”

The Sister Cities organization has two sister cities, Carleton Place in Canada and County Laois in Ireland. One of the highlighted performers, Brea Lawrenson is a young Canadian singer/songwriter and recording Artist from Franklin's Sister City, Carleton Place.  She's recorded three albums and has travelled with her music around Canada, to Tennessee and even to the UK to Perform and Record.  Also performing is the Van Diva Dance Chinese Dance Team from Nashville

The City of Franklin, Embassy Suites, The Factory at Franklin, Tennessee Foreign Language Institute, Cheryl Wilson, PLA Media and O’More College of Design are sponsoring this wonderful event. Sister Cities is currently exploring relationships in Germany, China, Japan and France.

Special thanks to Massood Taj, Director of Arts programming, Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission for scheduling the entertainment for this event.

Courtesy www.franklintn.gov

Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County is holding their fourth annual Celebration of Nations scheduled for September 17, 2011 on the campus of O’More College of Design at 423 South Margin in Franklin.

The evening open air market will be held 4-9 p.m. and feature multi-cultural performances including music, singing and dancing. There will also be many international vendors. There are still spots open for anyone interested in participating as a performer or vendor.

“This event has really grown over the last four years,” said Sister Cities President, Doug Sharp. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience other cultures through music, dance, food and friendship. The event is open to all ages and weather permitting is a really good time.”

The Sister Cities organization has two sister cities, Carleton Place in Canada and County Laois in Ireland.

So far, the City of Franklin, Embassy Suites, The Factory at Franklin, Tennessee Foreign Language Institute, Cheryl Wilson, PLA Media and O’More College of Design have become sponsors, but more sponsorships are still available. If any business or private party is interested in sponsoring the Celebration of Nations or participating in the event call Sharon Bottorff at 615 512-9551.

Sister Cities is currently exploring relationships in Germany, China, Japan and France.