Medford-Alba Sister City Association Gianni Toppino and Pat Shute Memorial Scholarship 2021Congratulations to Ian Grady, a 2021 South Medford graduate, for winning the 2021 Gianni Toppino and Pat Shute Memorial Scholarship! This is a one-time Award of $1,000.00 for continuing education offered by the Medford Alba Sister City Association. Ian was selected through an application process which included a written essay about the impact cultural exchanges between countries can have on our world. Ian and his family also hosted Alba students in Medford during our 2019 student exchange!
Gianni Toppino and Patricia Shute were both involved early in our sister city pairing and were active, enthusiastic supporters throughout their adult lives. Both made significant contributions for more than 50 years to ensure that the bonds of friendship between the people of Medford and Alba grew and flourished. This scholarship is offered in memory of Mr. Toppino and Mrs. Shute to honor their enduring contributions to the Medford-Alba Sister City program and to perpetuate their belief in the powerful bonds of friendship. Mayor Gary Wheeler has declared July 2, 2020 Medford-Alba Sister Cities Day.
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! 
We just wanted to take a moment to share a quick update about the 60th Anniversary events. Last week, the Medford delegation had to make the difficult decision to cancel (hopefully, just postponing) our April trip to Alba for the 60th celebrations and participating in Vinum (Alba's 44th annual wine festival). This was the best decision to ensure we could keep our family and friends safe in Alba and our family and friends safe in Medford when we returned home. Then, after we made the decision, the situation in Italy and here in the states continued to decline as the week progressed.
At this time we are hoping and praying we can have our 60th Anniversary event in Medford at the end of June. We hope our Alba friends can join us. However, we know things are changing rapidly since there is so much uncertainty about COVID-19. We will continue to plan for the Medford celebration, including developing back-up plans, such as an online celebration or postponing the events until later in the year or in 2021. Everyone’s health and safety is our top priority! As you know, our family and friends in Alba and elsewhere in Italy have been confined to their homes. Please reach out to them via Facebook, WhatsApp, email, etc. to let them know we are with them, especially as we start staying home as well! The virus will not affect the deep sister city connection and strong friendships between our two cities! You can follow the City of Alba’s Facebook Page for information about Alba: https://www.facebook.com/Citt%C3%A0-di-Alba-1264395803623333/ Sending our love and prayers to our family and friends in Alba! Medford Alba Sister City Association |
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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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