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The city of Napa currently has "sister city" relationships with towns in other
countries. Delegations of citizens and local leaders travel back and forth between
the communities, and students visit and study in each other's towns. It's a
great goodwill activity that benefits all with increased international understanding
and interaction.
If you'd like to actively participate in one of these sister city relationships,
contact the person indicated for each city.
Napa - Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Napa Contact: Dr. Charles Ray - ray@nvc.cc.ca.us
Iwanuma, a city of about 30,000, has been a Sister City of Napa since
February, 1973. It is located about 200 miles north-east of Tokyo near the
largest city in northern Japan, Sendai. The Shinkansen (bullet train)
gives the area a high speed link with Tokyo. Iwanuma is also the home of
Sendai International Airport with frequent service to many Japanese cities
and to Korea.
Highly industrialized with paper, automobile tires and other manufacturing,
it still has a significant agricultural base of rice and other vegetables.
Because of the significant industrial base, Iwanuma schools have
above-average financial support.
The city is governed by a mayor and city council who are elected by the
people. About 30 people serve on the council.
In the heart of the city is the Takakoma Jinga, a Shinto Shrine which
receives visitors in significant number. Visitors to Iwanuma are usually
awakened by the chimes from the Shrine at 6:00 a.m. and a bit later, to the
beating of drums.
For visitors, there is a modern hotel in mid-town as well as a resort hotel
(The Green-pia) in the country-side.
In February 1997, our friends in Iwanuma will be sending a delegation to
Napa to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the sister city relationship. The
group will arrive in Napa on 14 February and be here for 2 nights. They will
stay in host homes while here and during the days will be fully occupied
with organized tours of our area. Organizers of the visit are seeking some
additional host homes. Contact Dr. Charles
Ray in Napa if you'd like to help.
No Web or email links in Iwanuma yet.
Napa - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Napa Contacts: Jim Ford at 255.5920 or Jerry Medlin - medlinsw@medlin.com
Napa - Telavi, Georgia
Telavi is a beautiful city of about 25,000 people nestled in the wine
country of the Republic of Georgia. It is located in the eastern part of
the country, three hours drive from the capital city of Tbilisi. From its
vantage point, one looks over the Alazani River, wending through the scenic
Kakheti Valley. The snow-capped Caucasus mountain range provides a
spectacular backdrop to this ancient city.
The Napa Valley - Telavi Sister City Project was created in 1987 in order to
promote contact between the premium wine-growing communities of the United
States and, what was then, the Soviet Union. Despite the dissolution of
the Soviet Union, friendships that have developed over the years persist
and the project continues.
Activities have included participation in official Sister City conferences,
visiting tourist delegations, organized medical relief efforts, youth
exchange, pen-pals, and a number of private entreprenurial connections.
Telavi's long history of wine country hospitality makes participation in
the Napa Valley - Telavi Sister City Project a most rewarding experience.
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