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Reedley College offers Japanese offers training in Kendo (Japanese swordsmanship)
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Welcome
to Reedley--our U.S. home!
by Dr. Bill
(Click Photos for larger images)
Since
August 1988, the Brown family has lived
in
Xiamen, formerly Amoy, in Mainland China's Fujian
Province. Dr.
Bill has taught MBA in Xiamen University
(we gave out China's 1st MBA degrees!), and Sue has been even busier than
me. But about a decade ago we adopted Reedley, CA. (30 miles south
of Fresno) as our stateside home.
After 30 years in Taiwan, Sue's
parents retired to Reedley's Sierra
View Homes. As we visited them over recent years, Sue and I fell
for this unique little town, which in 1988 celebrated 100 years of multicultural
heritage (4 Chinese restaurants in a town of only 20,000!).
California's
"Biggest Little Town."
I have been honored to represent 4 Chinese cities in the international
Livcom Awards (the "Oscar
of Livable Cities"), and we won the gold all 4 times. But I
think Reedley could also do well at Livcom. ...
The World's Fruit Basket
Reedley is halfway between San Francisco and L.A. in the central San Joaquin
Valley Reedley--the most productive agricultural region on the planet.
We enjoy fresh fruit year round (and a highlight is the Wednesday
Farmers' Market between May and August).
Natural Beauty Reedley
is only one hour from the Giant
Sequoias, close to Yosemite, and only 3 hours from Montery and the Pacific
Ocean. And right at home we have the Blossom Trail Scenic Drive,
the 2.6km nonmotorized Reedley Community Parkway, King's River and Reedley
Beach, and numerous parks. And only one hour away, in Three Rivers
at the base of the Sierra Nevadas, is the Sequoia
RV Ranch. A perfect retreat for a weekend or holiday, some folks
have come for the week and settled down permanently!
Historic Reedley Opera House at
1720 10th St. (yes, we do have 10 streets!),
puts on quality live theater performances. The Reedley
River City Theater Company has put on Androcles and the Lion, Little
Shop of Horrors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and others.
Ticket info: (559)638-6500 or (866)977-6500. (Note: the Opera House
is also the Reedley Visitors' Center).
The Kings River Arts Council
put on the well-received Fiesta Art Competition 2006. Visit their
offices at the Opera House for info on other programs.
Reedley Museum: 1752 10th
Street; open Tuesdays 10:00 AM-12:00PM, and Saturdays 9:30AM-12:00PM.
Reedley Historical Society Tel: (559)638-1913
Churches Reedley has about 25 churches,
including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian... The area also has over
40 organizations serving numerous ethnic groups. The Reedley First Baptist
Church sent a group to Xiamen (top photo).
They visited hospitals, schools, a fire department... So come
visit!
Armenian Apostolic Church Reedley: 1249 F. St. (559)638-2740
First Mennonite Church Reedley: Click
for FMC Website.
Reedley First Baptist
Church: Click
for RFBC Website
Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church:
1362 L. Street Click
for RMBC Website.
First United Methodist Church
Reedley: Click
for FUMC Website
Reedley Assembly of God Church:
519 E. 11th St. Reedley (559)638-2739
Cruising
for Jesus Last week
we enjoyed the cars, motorcycles, trucks and bicycles at the annual "Cruising
for Jesus" show, which is based here in Reedley. Click
Here for photos I took at Cruising for Jesus 2008.
Hillcrest Tree Farm and Hillcrest & Wahtoke Railroad The miniature train runs Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 PM, during the Blossom Trail Season (around Feb. and March. Also enjoy the nature walk, picnic areas, and gourmet snacks. Phone Sean and Melinda Bautista for more info: (559)638-2762. Add: 6943 S. Reed, Reedley, CA 93654
World
Handcrafts & Mennonite Quilt Center--exotic handcrafted delights
from all over the planet. The staff are volunteers, and profits
aid peoples in many countries. I'm trying to find a way to save
up enough for the Peruvian wallhanging! And they are proud partners
with "100% Fair Trade Just Coffee"--
"not just a market but a movement." Right next door to
the Handcrafts, by the way, is "Nearly New," a great little
"pre-owned" items shop with an excellent selection of used books.
Add: 1012 G Street, Reedley, CA 93654 Tel: (559)638-3560
Interesting
Fact: Reedley is one of the very few towns where citizens
voted against having a Wal-Mart Supercenter. In the end,
it was built in Dinuba, only five miles away, but that is okay.
We can go to Dinuba if we need a Wal-Mart, and Reedley made its point--that
our priority is controlled, sustainable growth, and quality of life.
And this is why Reedley is California's "biggest little town,"
and home to famous folk such as.....
Famous Reedley Residents
Vic Lombardi
(famous baseball pitcher)
Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (wrote "Cheaper by the Dozen").
Hideo Sasaki (architect born in Reedley)
Lacy Barnes Mileham (1996 Olympian, discus)
Arthur Eugene Livingston (Notre Dame University Professor of Physics)
Robert Lock (former NBA player)
Paul Hurst and Joel Hoffman (actors)
Visit Xiamen! I could go on and on about Reedley, but the best thing is to visit for yourself--or check out the official Reedley website. And for those of you in Reedley.... visit us in Xiamen, China!
Enjoy Amoy! Dr. Bill
And visit the Sierra Nevadas--just one hour East of Reedley...
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Readers'LettersLast Updated: May 2007
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