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"Beyond Boundaries: Celebrating 30 years of Seattle Perugia twinning" was the presentation made by the students of Liceo Scientifico Galileo Galilei in Perugia, highlighting our nexus of art, education, culture and friendship. Grazie mille Lorena Falcinelli, Lucia Neri and the students for your hard work strengthening our Sister Cities bonds of cultural exchange building global relationships.

Our Tutta Bella Easy as Pie fundraiser took place from Sunday, January 28, to Thursday, February 1. Participants dined in-person at any Tutta Bella location (Columbia City, South Lake Union, Wallingford, or Issaquah) or ordered online for curbside pickup or delivery using the coupon code EasyAsPieSPSCA. Thanks to everyone who participated, 20% of the proceeds went to support SPSCA. Several members of the SPSCA board were present to kick off the fundraising event. We appreciate everyone who shared the coupon code with family and friends to help fund our 2024 Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association projects!

In honor of our SPSCA's 30th anniversary celebration and during the Festa Italiana Seattle and the Cinema Italian Style, we raffle three of the exclusive limited edition plates designed by Native American artist Marvin Oliver and made at L'Antica Deruta in Perugia. The lucky winners were Chad Wilson, division Vice president of Tutta Bella; Tom Mara, Executive Director of the Seattle International Film Festival, and Joel Patience.

Complimenti e grazie mille to our 30th Anniversary Committee and the SPSCA members who organized and executed an amazing week-long welcome in October to our Perugia delegation to celebrate and commemorate Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association’s 30th Anniversary.

The celebration began in Perugia in early September with a gathering at the Sister Orca sculpture, which included Andrea Romizi, mayor of Perugia; Clara Pastorelli, deputy mayor of Perugia and head of sports and commerce; and Elisabetta Valentini, Perugia native and long-time SPSCA board member, along with other friends of the sister cities.

The anniversary activities picked up again in Seattle in early October when a 16-person delegation from Perugia came to town to continue the tribute. Among the Perugia guests we were honored to welcome: Clara Pastorelli, deputy mayor; Mario Valentini, former mayor of Perugia and instrumental in the formation of SPSCA; Olimpia Bartolucci, director of the Umbria Library System; Dr. Katia Perruccio, president of Perugia’s Lions Club; Marialucia Luongo, cooking instructor and author; Riccardo Spadolini, entrepreneur and longtime sister city friend. \Also joining the delegation was Giorgio Moretti, ceramic artist and artistic director of L’Antica Deruta, whose studio produced the limited-edition ceramic commemorative plate, hand painted with a Pacific Northwest image created by the late internationally renowned Native American artist Marvin Oliver, who also designed the Sister Orca sculpture in Perugia.

From a ferry trip to Bainbridge Island, a visit to the Pike Place Market, a stop at Piazza Perugia, a tour of Caffe’ Umbria’s roasting plant, an introductory meeting between Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Perugia Deputy Mayor Carla Pastorelli, intimate hosted dinners at the homes of former and current Board members, the celebration was capped off by the grand finale, a gala dinner with ~100 in attendance enjoying good food and wine, great conversation and connections at Women’s University Club, in celebration of our 30-year “sisterhood.” EVVIVA!

To read more, link here for an article authored by former SPSCA board member and a contributor to L’Italo-Americano publication.

Thank you to our members who turned out for our annual members picnic and annual meeting on Sunday, August 13. It was a lovely (and warm) afternoon filled with good food and conversation!

We had a great turnout this year and appreciate all the contributions to our “potluck” – albeit we ran out of a few items given the attendance! And special thanks to Dan Borracchini for the spectacular venue.