L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 9 Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association It was between September of 1991 and May of 1992 when Seattle Mayor Norman Rice and Perugia Mayor Mario Valentini s i g n e d a p a c t o f f r i e n d s h i p between their cities and since then that relationship has grown stronger and stronger. The origin of that pact resides in a desire of a Seattleite named Hans Lehmann, who had com- pleted his medical studies at the University of Perugia and who h a d f a l l e n i n l o v e w i t h t h e Umbrian city. Years after he had started his medical career, Dr. Lehmann returned to Perugia to visit his good friend Giuseppe Vicarelli Saluzzo and in that moment they decided to do something special: to crown their enduring friend- ship with a lifelong relationship between their two cities. What is a Sister Cities pro- gram? First of all, the Sister Cities program is intended as means for cultural exchange. A community decides to join with another country to exchange cul- t u r e , e c o n o m i c a n d h i s t o r i c aspects. The Seattle Sister Cities program sees 21 partner cities around the globe and Seattle- Perugia Sister City Association is one of the oldest and most well-established programs. It is not a coincidence that the pro- g r a m w o n t h e o v e r a l l b e s t S e a t t l e S i s t e r C i t y p r o g r a m a w a r d f o r 2 0 1 3 a n d f o r m e r Mayor Mike McGinn gifted the association with a plaque. The award showed recognition for its important contributions to pro- mote understanding, and friend- s h i p b e t w e e n t h e p e o p l e o f Perugia and Seattle. One relevant and important project of Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association is the scholar- ship program. Each year the Association grants four scholar- ships for one month of study in Perugia at the University for Foreigners aka Università per Stanieri. Each scholarship is worth approximately $1,200. Besides a month of intensive Italian language study, the grant also includes a stipend that can be used for room and board and general expenses in Perugia. The winners of the scholar- ship select the month to travel to Italy and the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association helps guide them with suggestions for accommodations and basic ori- entation. Important aspect of the schol- arship is that there is no age l i m i t o r p r o f i c i e n c y l e v e l required, so everybody can apply and the deadline is coming up on December 31 st . So interested candidates can easily download the application from the website ( h t t p : / / w w w . s e a t t l e - perugia.org/), complete it in and email it to the scholarship chair Jan Drago. These scholarships represent t h e s p i r i t o f t h e S i s t e r C i t y Association by valuing the bene- f i t o f c u l t u r a l a n d l a n g u a g e immersion in one of the most beautiful and charming cities in Italy. US citizens from Seattle can find fertile soil to develop cultural awareness, plant friend- ships and come back with an unforgettable experience. Besides encouraging travel and cultural immersion in the I t a l i a n c u l t u r e , t h e S e a t t l e - Perugia Sister City Association supports a number of causes since its inception. The events that Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association accomplished in the past years include: the installa- t i o n o f M o r e t t i c e r a m i c s installed at SeaTac Airport in January 2013. Here, forty stun- n i n g M o r e t t i c e r a m i c p i e c e s from the exhibition, Un Calice p e r A l v i e r o ( A C h a l i c e f o r Alviero) were placed, after being displayed at Seattle City Hall. In September 2013, interna- tional acclaimed, glass artist Giuliano Giuman visited Seattle. S e a t t l e - P e r u g i a S i s t e r C i t y Association took charge to take Giuman to visit the Pilchuck Glass School. One of the most important e v e n t s t h a t S e a t t l e - P e r u g i a Sister City Association makes possible every November, since 2006, is Cinema Italian Style at SIFF. "Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association is not just a s p o n s o r " , u n d e r l i n e d t h e President Alan Veigel, "it is a co-presenter, having an essential role in the success of this annual event". More than 74 films are staged on the big screen and 34 guests are invited at Cinema Italian Style in Seattle. This is an incredible accomplishment for this section of SIFF that is growing every year, becoming probably the most important Italian cultural event in Seattle area. If you are intrigued and fasci- nated by Seattle-Perugia Sister C i t y A s s o c i a t i o n a n d i f y o u want to be part of it, become a member and start to discover m o r e a b o u t y o u r s i s t e r c i t y , Perugia. MICHELA TARTAGLIA Dec. 16, Tues.-Iole's Famous Holiday Biscotti at PCC in Redmond. 6:30PM to 9PM - Members: $40, Non-mem- b e r s : $ 4 5 . F o r m o r e i n f o v i s i t a n d t o s i g n u p v i s i t http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/ Dec. 21, Sun.–2nd Annual Christmas Party, 2PM to 8PM, organized by Lega Italiana / Italian Connection at Val's Place. 11702 98th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA. For more info visit http://www.meetup.com/italian-seattle/events Jan. 6 - Mar 10 – Dante Alighieri Society of Washington Winter Quarter 2015. For more info and to register visit http://www.danteseattle.org/ or email info@danteseattle.org Jan. 6 - Feb. 24- TELOS - The Original Pinocchio at Bellevue College North Campus. Fee: $79.00. For more info visit http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ce Jan. 6, Tues.- Handmade Italian Gnocchi (with a twist!) at PCC Greenlake Village. 6:30PM- 9PM. Members: $45, Non-members: $50. For more info visit and to sign up visit http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/ Jan. 10, Sat., to Jan. 24, Sat. –Tosca by Giacomo Puccini at McCaw Hall, Seattle. For prices and more info call 206- 389-7676 or visit http://seattleopera.org/tickets Perugia - Palazzo dei Priori e Fontana Maggiore Perugia is one of four sister cities currently being featured in City Hall. We have items in a display case that illustrate the history, culture and products that are produced in and around Perugia

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