Touring Rome & Bullet Train to Toreno
Medford Students Travel to Italy
Early this morning (August 19th, 2023, at 5:00 am), 11 South and North Medford high school students and 2 chaperones from South Medford high school left Medford to visit our Sister City, Alba, Italy. This is an exceptional 2-week cultural exchange in Alba that includes living with and experiencing life with an Italian host family as well as touring and learning about Alba and the surrounding area.
They will spend 2 days in Rome, prior to their arrival in Alba.
When they arrive in Alba via a high speed train, they will be staying with the Italian families of the Alba students they hosted when Italian students came to Medford.
While in Alba, the Medford students and chaperones will enjoy the following group activities with their Alba hosts: visit the city hall, tour of Alba’s underground, tour the Ferrero chocolate factory, tour the surrounding area, tour a winery, watch a traditional flag throwing exhibition, visit castles, tour cathedrals, hiking, water park, visit Turin, and visit a school.
They will return to Medford early on the morning of September 6th (just after midnight).
They will spend 2 days in Rome, prior to their arrival in Alba.
When they arrive in Alba via a high speed train, they will be staying with the Italian families of the Alba students they hosted when Italian students came to Medford.
While in Alba, the Medford students and chaperones will enjoy the following group activities with their Alba hosts: visit the city hall, tour of Alba’s underground, tour the Ferrero chocolate factory, tour the surrounding area, tour a winery, watch a traditional flag throwing exhibition, visit castles, tour cathedrals, hiking, water park, visit Turin, and visit a school.
They will return to Medford early on the morning of September 6th (just after midnight).
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Welcome the 2023 Exchange Italians to Medford
Alba students, Alba chaperones and Medford families were excited to finally meet each other July 19 around 1 am! There were lots of smiles and excitement, even though they were so tired! They had been traveling for over 30 hours!
During their 2 week visit they will participate in a welcome party, city council meeting, Crater Lake visit, rafting, Rogues baseball game, fun time with families, & a Farewell party with a prom.
Alba students, Alba chaperones and Medford families were excited to finally meet each other July 19 around 1 am! There were lots of smiles and excitement, even though they were so tired! They had been traveling for over 30 hours!
During their 2 week visit they will participate in a welcome party, city council meeting, Crater Lake visit, rafting, Rogues baseball game, fun time with families, & a Farewell party with a prom.
Welcome Party July 19th, 2023 at Fitchner-Mainwaring Park
Medford Mayor, Randy Sparacino, has proclaimed July 26, 2022 as the Medford-AlbaTelstar Satellite 60th Anniversary.
Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Telstar Satellite Call Between Medford and Alba!
July 26, 2022 marked the 60th Anniversary of the historic Telstar Satellite call between Medford and Alba, Italy.
The United States launched the first telecommunications satellite, Telstar, on July 10, 1962. The satellite was capable of relaying both telephone and television signals. On July 26, 1962, the satellite was used to link twenty-three American cities with their European sister cities. Medford was the only northwest city chosen for this honor. Mayor Osvaldo Cagnasso of Alba and Mayor John Snider of Medford spoke with each other for the first time via satellite, two years after the Sister City connection started. A crowd of over 5,000 people gathered in the square outside of Alba’s City Hall to hear the historic phone call over a public address system. The Eugene Register Guard reported that, “The crowd was silent during the conversation but broke into a loud cheer when it ended.” The historic call strengthened the new relationship between the two cities and many lifelong friendships have developed over the past 60 years! 1962 Italian news story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdkuMOOPHdU
May 25, 1960 - May 25, 2020Today, May 25, marks the 60th Anniversary of the date when Alba, Italy, officially entered into the Sister City relationship with Medford. Here is a scan of Alba’s city council meeting record on May 25th, 1960, recognizing the acceptance of the Sister City relationship with Medford!
2020 was supposed to be a big year to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we had to cancel the Alba celebrations in April and our Medford celebrations that were scheduled to occur at the end of June. We are very sad that we were unable to celebrate the 60th Anniversary in person this year! However, we are planning an online celebration in the fall. We hope to celebrate the 61st Anniversary in Alba and in Medford in 2021! The bond between our two cities remains strong! Please continue to keep our family and friends in Alba in your thoughts and prayers! 
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Commemorating 2/18/60 – when Medford Officially Recognized the Selection of Alba as our Sister City
Happy Anniversary! Let the celebrations begin!
On this day, February 18, in 1960, Medford officially recognized the selection of Alba as Medford’s sister city!
Many events will be occurring in Medford and Alba in 2020 to honor the 60th Anniversary of this wonderful bond between our two cities! Alba’s official celebration will be in late April, and Medford’s official celebration will be in late June/early July. Delegations from each city will attend both ceremonies!
Medford and Alba became sister cities in 1960, as part of President Dwight Eisenhower’s “People to People” program, and is one of the oldest sister city connections! Medford’s mayor at the time, John Snider, selected Alba because of many similarities that he believed would help lead to deep and lasting bonds between the two communities. For the past 60 years, many personal relationships between the cities have been established through exchanges of city leaders, community members, business members, families, teachers, and students. Our friends in Alba have become part of our families!
Stay tuned for additional posts regarding upcoming celebration events and sister city historical information!
On this day, February 18, in 1960, Medford officially recognized the selection of Alba as Medford’s sister city!
Many events will be occurring in Medford and Alba in 2020 to honor the 60th Anniversary of this wonderful bond between our two cities! Alba’s official celebration will be in late April, and Medford’s official celebration will be in late June/early July. Delegations from each city will attend both ceremonies!
Medford and Alba became sister cities in 1960, as part of President Dwight Eisenhower’s “People to People” program, and is one of the oldest sister city connections! Medford’s mayor at the time, John Snider, selected Alba because of many similarities that he believed would help lead to deep and lasting bonds between the two communities. For the past 60 years, many personal relationships between the cities have been established through exchanges of city leaders, community members, business members, families, teachers, and students. Our friends in Alba have become part of our families!
Stay tuned for additional posts regarding upcoming celebration events and sister city historical information!
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