Fountain Hills Sister Cities (FHSC) recently welcomed special guests from the Town’s sister community in Poland.

It was the first time that Andrzej Wnuk, president of Zamość, Agnieszka Kowal, director of education and academy of Zamość and Jacek Podkoscielny, geographer and radio program director had the opportunity to visit Fountain Hills in person since establishing the sister cities relationship in 2014. It was a visit that President Wnuk declared was long overdue.

From Oct. 14-21, the trio enjoyed a busy week that began with a welcome dinner reception hosted at the home of FHSC Vice President Elizabeth Matej-Horchem and Bogumil Horchem, honorable consul-emeritus to Poland and FHSC Zamość committee co-chair.

The dinner was also attended by Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey, Arizona State Senator John Kavanagh, former Mayor Linda Kavanagh, former Mayor Jay Schlum, FHUSD Superintendent Dr. Cain Jagodzinski and many FHSC board members and guests.

During the rest of the week, the dignitaries and their FHSC guides embarked on a personal tour of the Arizona State Capitol with State Senator Kavanagh, a day trip to Apache Junction, Tortilla Flat and the Goldfield Ghost Town, a tour of Fountain Hills High School, a tour at The River of Time Museum & Exploration Center and a ride on Saguaro Lake aboard the Desert Belle.

Joining them on the lake cruise and the lunch afterward were Rotary Club members from Fountain Hills who forged new friendships with their Polish Rotarian counterparts.

The group also traveled north for a brief trip to see the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Flagstaff and watched traditional western bull riding at the Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek.

There was a reception at Town Hall as well where Mayor Dickey and President Wnuk exchanged gifts and promises of closer cooperation between the two Sister Cities.

At the opening of that evening’s Town Council meeting, Dickey issued proclamations to recognize October as both Polish American Heritage Month and German American Heritage Month. The night concluded with a celebratory dinner at All American Sports Grill.

For more information about Fountain Hills Sisters Cities, visit fountainhillssistercities.org and follow the Fountain Hills Sister Cities page on Facebook.