Community leader proposes healing wind phone for grieving families

During a recent government meeting, a proposal was made to introduce a \"wind phone\" to the village of Wellington, a concept rooted in grief and healing. The idea was presented by a resident who shared a personal story of loss, detailing how the wind phone, originally created in Japan by Itaro Sasaki, serves as a comforting space for those mourning loved ones.

The wind phone is an unconnected rotary phone housed in a booth, allowing individuals to \"call\" their deceased relatives, providing a symbolic connection that can aid in the grieving process. The concept gained prominence after the 2011 tsunami in Japan, which devastated coastal towns and left many families searching for closure. Sasaki's initiative has since inspired similar installations, including one located behind the Hillsboro Police Department.

The resident emphasized the therapeutic benefits of visiting such a space, recounting their own experience after the loss of their son to cancer. They expressed a desire to fund the project entirely in memory of their son, highlighting the potential positive impact on the Wellington community.

The meeting concluded with officials expressing support for the idea, promising to have staff investigate the feasibility of establishing a wind phone in the village. The proposal reflects a growing recognition of the importance of communal spaces for healing and remembrance in the face of loss.