The Culver City Sister City Committee played host to marathon runners from Mexico, Japan and Culver City and honored Sister City Committee Founder Syd Kronenthal last Wednesday evening at the Culver Hotel.
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Photo by Rodney Gottlieb
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Photo by Efrem Violin
The event was held to highlight the Marathon Runner Exchange Program between Culver City and Kaizuka, Japan, and Uruapan, Mexico.
Culver City Sister City Committee President Barbara Honig introduced Mike Cohen, the master of ceremonies. Mr. Cohen introduced Ms. Nana Terai from Kaizuka who ran in the L.A. Marathon on Sunday, March 21. Firefighter Daiki Nitti, also from Kaizuka, was also invited but could not attend because he remained in Japan to aid in the relief efforts after the earthquake and other disasters that struck Japan.
Veronica Reyes and firefighter Daniel Dobbs who represented Culver City at the Tokyo Marathon were on hand to praise the Sister Cities Program founded by Mr. Kronenthal, which now includes cities in Japan, Korea, Mexico and Japan. They had high praise for the hospitality shown by their hosts. The most rewarding experience of their trip to Japan was “experiencing the daily lifestyle of their host families.”
Representing Culver City's Sister City of Uruapan, Mexico, was runner Jesus Urbina.
Mr. Cohen fielded questions for Mr. Kronenthal, who spent 52 years at Culver City Parks and Recreation. He was Chairman of the Sister City Committee from 1964 to 1972.
Affectionately known as Uncle Syd to friends and admirers, Mr. Kronenthal served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was the Supervisor of Rehabilitation for the Veterans Administration, specializing in psychiatric and neuromuscular medicine. During his tenure with Culver City, he was one of the founders of the Western Hemisphere Marathon, which ran for 53 years and was a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.
Dan Cohen, former President of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce, and former Mayor Paul Jacobs personally thanked Mr. Kronenthal for introducing them to marathon running.
Also on hand for the celebration were Vice Mayor Mehaul O' Leary; former mayors Jozelle Smith, Steve Gourley and Ed Wolkowitz; former Executive Director of the Sister City Committee Alan Schreibman; Kathleen McCann, Kaizuka Chair from Culver City, and Sonia Karroum, past President and co-chair of the Uruapan Committee.
The Culver City Sister Committee is collecting money for the relief effort in Japan and is forwarding it to Kaizuka. Donations may be sent to:
Culver City Sister City Inc.
Japan Relief
P.O. Box 1072
Culver City, CA 90232
