Saturday’s “Taste of Tsuruta” event helps mark a milestone year for the Tsuruta-Hood River Sister City Program.
The annual Taste of Tsuruta fund-raiser will be Jan. 27, 4 to 7 p.m. at Hood River Valley Adult Center. The dinner is a benefit for the Sister City Program between Hood River and Tsuruta, Japan.
Hood River-Tsuruta Sister City Program celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Call 386-3276 to make a reservation for the Taste of Tsuruta. Tickets cost $10 and are available at Waucoma Bookstore, Rosauers Supermarket and Annz Panz, or at the door.
The menu is a familiar one: yakisoba noodles, miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and dessert. Meals can be eaten at the Adult Center or taken out.
Anyone with donated items for the marketplace sale should deliver them to the Adult Center on the afternoon of Jan. 27.
Taste of Tsuruta started out as a Chinese New Year event. This is The Year of the Pig. In honor of that bit of history, this year’s “Taste” tickets bear the image of a pig. In its early years, Tsuruta supporters who were also members of Crag Rats held a “Noodle Party” fund-raiser, led by the late Ray “Chop” Yasui.
“They formed a close-knit group who remained quite active in our organization,” said program membership chairwoman Betty Carrithers.
“During those times, the Noodle Party was the highlight of our year.”
The Hood River-Tsuruta Sister City Program is seeking increased membership from individuals and local businesses. Businesses joining Hood River-Tsuruta will receive a window decal. Program organizers are hoping to see numerous such decals in windows in time for the anniversary celebration in April.
“We believe that we have an important connection with Tsuruta and that we need a broader base to fully develop our program,” Carrithers said. “Increasing our financial base is also a consideration.”
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