Omaha adds a another sister city

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:03 am

Not only is Xalapa in the Mexican state of Veracruz... but it is the capital.

Omaha World Herald wrote: Sister city is Omaha's fifth

It's all over but the fiesta.

Hearing no objections during their weekly Tuesday meeting, Omaha's City Council members approved a sister city relationship with Mexico's Xalapa.

The vote followed three years of research and preliminary steps by the local sister city association. The Xalapa City Council already approved the partnership.

Xalapa, in the state of Veracruz, is Omaha's fifth sister city. Other relationships are with cities in Ireland, Lithuania, Germany and Japan.

Next, representatives from Omaha will travel to Xalapa to sign a formal international agreement.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:06 am

What are sister cities? Is it a ceremonial thing or is there a real purpose to it?

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:16 am

http://www.omahasistercities.com/

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:01 am

These things are primarily ceremonial in nature. I wonder if there's ANY tangible economic benefit (trade) that is a result of these sister cities?

They probably swap some city management techniques every now and then, but otherwise it's a trick pony.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:30 pm

DMRyan wrote:These things are primarily ceremonial in nature. I wonder if there's ANY tangible economic benefit (trade) that is a result of these sister cities?

They probably swap some city management techniques every now and then, but otherwise it's a trick pony.

You're a trickpony! I'll trick pony your face!

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:52 pm

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:08 pm

Shizuoka is without a doubt our closest sister city. There have been zoo exhibit exchanges... there is also financial/planning support being given towards the proposed Japanese garden at Lauritzen Botanical Gardens.

This sister city talk always reminds me of this unbelievable story from a visit by Shizuoka representatives a few years ago. The same week, an airforce B-29 squadron was having a reunion in Omaha. The squadron presented local officials with a picture which depicted a B-29 called appropriately named 'Omaha' on a bombing mission. Dropping bombs on, you guessed it... Shizuoka, Japan. True story.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:31 pm

Omaha Has New Sister City

WOWT wrote:Officials from city of Yantai, China have traveled to Omaha to sign an "Agreement of Friendship" required by Sister Cities International to recognize the relationship between the two. Yantai is Omaha's 6th sister city, others include Shizuoka, Japan, Braunschweig, Germany, Siauliai, Lithuania, Naas, Ireland and Xalapa, Mexico.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Aug 17, 2022 12:21 pm

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert will travel to Italy for three weeks to visit sister city

Mayor Jean Stothert is set to travel to Italy for three weeks as Omaha nears the addition of another sister city. Stothert will meet with the mayor of Carlentini, Sicily, and attend the annual Santa Lucia celebration in the city. In July, an Italian delegation visited Omaha and attended the city's Santa Lucia Italian festival.

The Omaha mayor will be joined by a travel party of around 80 people, including members of the Sicula Italia Foundation, Sons of Italy, the Santa Lucia Festival Committee, the American Italian Heritage and the Omaha Sister Cities Association. Stothert will leave for Italy on Friday and is set to return to the U.S. on Sept. 10. According to the city, Stothert will pay for her travel expenses and no taxpayer funds will be spent. In September 2021, Stothert and Mayor Guiseppe Steffio signed a Sister City Friendship Agreement, which recognized the century-old connection between Omaha and Carlentini, which has a population of approximately 17,000.

“It is a great honor and a great emotion to represent the citizens of Carlentini on this historic day to link the cities of Omaha and Carlentini,” Steffio said in September 2021. Three Italian heritage organizations in Omaha helped lay the groundwork for the friendship agreement. The first immigrants from Carlentini arrived in Omaha in the early 1900s. The Carlentini population led to the development of Omaha's Little Italy neighborhood with family-owned restaurants, shops and food markets.

“Omaha is proud of our vibrant Italian-American community and the strong ties to Carlentini,” Stothert said in September 2021. “I look forward to expanding and strengthening these important relationships. A Sister City partnership will show us what a small world it really is.” Omaha has six sister cities: Shizuoka, Japan; Braunschweig, Germany; Siauliai, Lithuania; Naas, Ireland; Xalapa, Mexico; and Yantai, China. In 2019, a Friendship Agreement was signed with Isigny-Omaha Intercom.

https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-mayo ... y/40918655

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Aug 17, 2022 4:20 pm

Omahans including Mayor Stothert are off to Carlentini, Sicily,
to advance sister city “friendship” bond

Nearly 100 Omahans, including Mayor Jean Stothert, will be converging upon Carlentini, Sicily, over the next several days to advance a sister city connection with the motherland of many local families of Italian descent. Stothert will be meeting with Carlentini Mayor Guiseppe Steffio, her counterpart in that Italian city of about 17,000, which is in the province of Syracuse, Sicily.

Carlentini Mayor Guiseppe Steffio greeted by Mayor Jean Stothert during 2022 Omaha Santa Lucia Festival. (Courtesy of Charlie Venditte)

The two mayors in a virtual ceremony last September signed the official sister city “friendship” agreement, recognizing a century-long bond between the two communities. Just last month, Steffio and a small Carlentini contingent visited Omaha to meet with various business and civic leaders — and to celebrate the 98th local festival honoring Sicily’s Christian heroine, Santa Lucia.

The event was born as Italian immigrants built new lives in Omaha. Early settlers such as Grazia Bonafede Caniglia wanted to recreate Carlentini’s annual Santa Lucia festival to help stay connected to heritage and traditions. The Omaha group, while in Carlentini, in turn will be guests at that city’s 401st Santa Lucia celebration.

Omahans to perform for Carlentini

Omahans (some already there and others arriving this week and next) include members of the local Sicula Italia Foundation, Sons of Italy, the Santa Lucia Festival Committee and the American Italian Heritage Society, as well as the Omaha Sister Cities Association. Many of the Omahans will be meeting with distant relatives, forging new partnerships and presenting gifts such as a painting by local artist Jeremy Caniglia. It is of Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) at an olive tree with her mother, and Santa Agatha appearing to tell her she will be the next martyr. Omahan Carmelita de la Guardia, whose family emigrated from the area, and her band will be performing at the festival celebration. Carlentini immigrants began to arrive in Omaha more than a century ago, largely to work in railroad jobs. They built a community centered at Omaha’s Little Italy, south of downtown Omaha. Sheri Kanger of the nonprofit Sicula Italia Foundation said nearly 100 Omaha area residents will be visiting Carlentini for the festival and to connect with their roots.

Mayor to pay her bill

Charlie Venditte at 2022 Santa Lucia Festival south of downtown Omaha with guests Eleonora Sindaco and Mayor Guiseppe Steffio, both of Carlentini. (Courtesy of Charlie Venditte)

Stothert said in a statement that she will pay her travel expenses and would not spend taxpayer dollars. She leaves for Italy on Friday and is to return to the U.S. on Sept. 10. “Sister cities build relationships that better our city, our country and our world,” Stothert said. “I am proud to serve as the honorary chair of the association and represent our great city.”

Omaha, under its Sister Cities Association flag, has established six sister cities in addition to Carlentini and one other “friendship” city. The relationships provides opportunities for cultural, educational and business partnerships and exchanges. The six sister cities are Shizouka, Japan; Siauliai, Lithuania; Yantai, China; Braunschweig, Germany; Naas, Ireland; and Xalapa, Mexico. The other friendship city is a region along the Normandy coast of France that includes Omaha Beach.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 8:47 pm

Mayor Stothert and 80 others from Omaha getting a taste of the original Santa Lucia festival in Carlentini

Welcomed with open arms. "The trip is awesome. The Italians, the Carlentini people, the Carlentini Mayor, they rolled out the red carpet for everybody from Omaha," said Mike DiGiacomo, Santa Lucia Festival. It is more than just a trip to Italy. It's a trip that connects Omaha families back to their relatives in Carlentini. The first time for many. “Many people on the trip, they are making connections with relatives that they never knew existed," DiGiacomo said.

As the friendship cities continue to pursue a sister city agreement, this trip was marked with ceremonies, traditions and celebrations. Including a park dedicated to the City of Omaha, now known as Omaha Park.

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