Font ResizeKensington, California isn't hard to miss. Merely 1.1-square-miles in area, it's nestled between Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito and Tilden Park. Though small, the two shopping areas on Arlington Avenue and Colusa Circle draw both locals and visitors to popular eateries, specialty shops and Blake Gardens.
Across the Atlantic, there's another Kensington, a Royal Borough of London.
Larger and grander in scale, Kensington, U.K. boasts some of London's most exclusive streets and garden squares, and royal associations from William III and Queen Victoria to Princesses Margaret and Diana. Home to Harrods, Kensington Gardens and the Victoria and Albert Museum, it seems to bear little resemblance to its American cousin.
Despite these differences, a group of citizens have spearheaded a campaign to form a sister city relationship with Kensington, UK.
The idea is the brain child of Judy Hardin, owner of RabbitEARS. One year ago while Hardin was planning a Beatrix Potter event for her store, she learned from Judith Hedgpeth, of the Beatrix Potter Society USA that Potter was born in Kensington, England.
"I starting thinking about the link between Kensington and Kensington, UK," Hardin said. "I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to put together a sister city campaign."
Hardin researched the idea and contacted the office of Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia. Gioia explained that the campaign is citizen-led and does not
"This is viewed as an educational and cultural exchange," he said. "I think its purpose is to have a connection with another community across the world in a way that enriches the experiences of residents in both Kensingtons."
Part of the appeal comes from the fact that Kensington was named after Kensington, UK. "If you look at the history, Robert Brousefield, one of the original surveyors of Kensington, named it after South Kensington, a suburb of London where he lived," Gioia said.
Knowing that sister city relationships are dependent on full-blown community support on both sides, Hardin has begun to make the rounds of Kensington's various boards and agencies.
She has presented the idea to the Kensington Improvement Club and the Colusa Circle Improvement Association, where she has received unanimous support. "Establishing ties with a sister city allows us to soak up some of the wonderful breadth of experience a foreign city has to offer," said Anthony Knight, a 25-year member of the Kensington Improvement Club.
"Our names link us together. Being sister cities opens us up to mutual curiosity and that is enriching."
In the coming weeks, Hardin will make presentations to the Kensington Community Council, the Kensington Municipal Advisory Council and the police and fire departments. She is now in the process of forming an executive committee with representatives from each of Kensington's councils and various community members to develop ideas for cultural exchange.
When all is in place, hopefully by next spring, Gioia, as the highest-ranking elected official, will sign off on the paperwork.
For now, various events have been planned to get residents excited about the idea.
A Beatrix Potter event at RabbitEARS will kick off the campaign. On Sept. 27, Judith Hedgpeth will present an introduction to Beatrix Potter, her life in Kensington and the Lake District, and how her life and writing reflected her experience in the world of nature.
In addition, Hardin plans to run a contest for a rabbit "Mayor" since Kensington has none. "I'd also like to see the Kensington Improvement Council send a thousand daffodils over to be planted in a park there, the way they plant them along the Arlington and at Colusa Circle," Hardin said.
Growing Light Montessori School has agreed to launch a letter-writing campaign with children in Kensington, UK as a gesture of friendship, and the Kensington Circus Pub is on board to support a Pub2Pub exchange.
"I think it will be unique," Gioia said. "It will be fun to declare a sister city relationship after the community that you've been named after."
Introduction to Beatrix Potter and "Burrow to Borough" Sister City Campaign will be held Sept. 27, 2-5 p.m. RabbitEARS, 377 Colusa Circle, Kensington, 510-526-6155.
The event is free and appropriate for all ages.
