October was a busy and festive occasion for the Fountain Hills Sister City Corporation. The successful fundraiser with the Oktoberfest strudel sale by Sister City members was a complete sellout. FHHS photography club took 140 Oktoberfest pictures for a contest sponsored by Fountain Events Inc.

Fountain Hills families welcomed 24 students and five chaperones from Poland and Germany. The students will experience life with host families during their two-week stay. Jennifer Ray and Bonnie Perkins of FHHS developed an excellent educational program combining the school experience with exploring Arizona sights and activities.

Dierdorf Mayor Thomas Vis and family arrived accompanied by two families; local families and friends hosted the visitors during their stay in Fountain Hills. Vice Mayors Magdalena Dolgan and Andrzej Zastapilo represent Zamosc, Poland, with the students. Elizabeth Horchem hosted a reception at Town Hall and Mayor Kavanagh read proclamations that honored the principles of Sister City programs during the recent Town Council meeting. October was proclaimed Polish Heritage month and Germany was honored with the reunification day celebrated each Oct. 3 and the German American Day celebrated each Oct. 6.

On October 19, Sister City member Mike Scharnow departed with a delegation from Thrivent Financial to El Salvador on a Habitat for Humanity project. Mike will deliver to our friends in Sister City Ataco a series of photographs taken by local students and a suitcase full of T-Shirts donated by Sister Cities Corp. Sister Cities President Jackie Miles and Jerry Miles hosted Fountain Hills Sister City members, host families and our international guests for a potluck reception at their lovely home on Thursday before the departure of the Dierdorf Mayor and friends.

On behalf of Sister Cities we thank everyone who has helped make this visitation and exchange program such a pleasant experience for all involved.