Guests Arrive for Sister City Visit

Twenty-two visitors arrived here Wednesday afternoon to keep alive a 35-year-old tradition of exchanging ideas, equipment and friendship between the city and Ocotlan, Mexico.

Called People to People, delegations from Oxnard visit Ocotlan one year, and residents of the Mexican city return the favor the next year.

It’s part of the America-Mexico branch of the cultural exchange program, which has about 250 sister cities, said Raul S. Guerrero, president of the Sister Cities Oxnard-Ocotlan.

Among the guests are Ocotlan Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Adilla and City Council members.

The visitors have a full schedule of activities, including the official welcoming ceremony today at 10:30 a.m., at Oxnard Plaza Park, as well as tours of a packinghouse in Santa Paula and the Procter & Gamble paper plant.

“It’s been outstanding,” Guerrero said of the relationship the cities have forged.

Oxnard City Clerk Daniel Martinez, an active participant in the exchange, said a special aspect of the exchange allows visitors to stay in the homes of Oxnard officials and residents.

The visits have nurtured a dialogue between the two cities over needs, wants and lifestyles.

Solutions to local problems have come out of these dialogues, said Guerrero. Oxnard has donated refurbished firetrucks to its sister city, which previously used pickup trucks with water tanks and bucket brigades to combat fires.

Oxnard has benefited from the relationship, as well, receiving books and art. Martinez said he is grateful for the trips he has made to Ocotlan.

“It was pretty exciting,” he said. “They’re very generous and they treat you very well.”

Guerrero agreed, adding the experience in Mexico can be quite emotional. “The whole city comes out to welcome the visitors,” he said.