Eight students and two chaperones from Shimizu, Japan, arrive in Chelsea today for a weeklong visit.

They will be staying with Chelsea host students Jennifer and Julie Adams, Martin Bragalone, Jackie Daane, Greg Daniel, Allison Frayer, Keilor Kastella, Heather Neff, and Rachel Voicechovski.

The Chelsea-Shimizu Exchange Program is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The first visit of Japanese children to Chelsea took place in October 1994.

The exchange program was first proposed by Brian Oakley, a Chelsea High
School graduate who spent a year in Shimizu as an English teaching assistant. 

Oakley, who was impressed with the similarities between Shimizu and Chelsea and between Hokkaido and Michigan, brought together several Japanese school administrators and the late Joe Piasecki, superintendent of Chelsea schools at the time.

Until 2001, Shimizu and Chelsea students traveled back and forth yearly.
However, because of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome in China, trips ceased except for a Chelsea contingent traveling to Japan in June 2002.

Financial support has come from private organizations, donations, fund-raising efforts of students and their families who participate in the program.

This year’s fund-raisers include bake sales at Beach Middle School and Chelsea High School yesterday and today, and at South Meadows Elementary School today. Students are also selling candy bars to raise money. In addition, a dance will be held May 7 at Beach.

Ten Chelsea students and two chaperones — teachers Kristi Henry and Amy Doma — will visit Shimizu for 10 days at the end of June.

The students visiting Shimizu are Julie Adams, Kara Cremer, Sarah Holman, Mary Ottoman,
Sophia Pappas, Jeremy Richardson, Anna Schroen, Dawn Schulz, Liz
Spencer and Rachel Voicechovski.

Patricia Compton and Chris Frayer serve as coordinators and coaches.

Shimizu, on the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido, is of similar latitude to Chelsea. It has a similar climate and agriculture. Shimizu farmers raise cattle and grow sugar
beets, corn, apples, grains, and potatoes.

The Chelsea group is officially known as Sister Cities Association of Chelsea.  For more information, call Deborah Oakley at 475-1276.