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Monongahela to Host Italians through Sister City Partnership

On September 12, 2012 the city of Monongahela fulfilled a dream of the people of Ono San Pietro, Italy. Ono, a small village in the province of Brescia, population 940, was adopted as Monongahela's "sister city."

Pictured are (l-r): Connie Russell, Giuseppe and Anna Domenighini, and Reed Vaira.

In August, Monongahela will celebrate this kinship, with 57 visitors arriving on August 19th. The three-day celebration will begin on Friday, August 22 and end on Sunday the 24th. "This is truly a heartfelt Italian invasion," said Giuseppe Domenighini, who visited Monongahela from May 1st to May 10th to help with the celebration plans. His daughter Petra, born in Mon Valley Hospital on November 18, 1984 has dual citizenship. It was Petra who brought the request from Ono Mayor Elena Broggi to Monongahela Mayor Bob Kepics, joining Monongahela and Ono San Pietro as "sister cities."

Many of the family names in "Ono" such as Vaira, Moreschi, O'Delli, Pizzutelli, Delmastro and Troncatti are still recognized in Monongahela and are related to half of the people in that Italian city.

Connie Vaira Russell, organizer of the three-day event, along with her committee, is proud to be a part of this history making celebration.

The program events for August 22, 23 and 24 will include a welcoming at Chess Park with the ceremonial exchange of the keys to the cities, a social at Ripepi Winery, a tour of the Monongahela Historical Museum, dinner at the Monongahela fire hall, a tour of the Monongahela Cemetery and a Roman Catholic Mass celebrated in Italian by Father Pierangelo Pederfoli of Ono San Pietro at St. Damien Park.

We hope to build new friendships, connect people with their ancestors and make Monongahela, the city that we love, proud.

Tickets will be available at Grilli's Studio in New Eagle. Contact them at 724-258-8419 for ticket availability as there will be a limited amount of tickets for the Ripepi Social and the dinner at the Monongahela fire hall. Further information can be found on Facebook at "Monongahela Sister City – Ono San Pietro." Any comments or questions, please contact Connie Russell at 724-258-8409.

Schedule of Events

Friday, August 22

3 p.m. - Welcome at Chess Park5:30 p.m. - Social at Ripepi Winery (tickets available)

Saturday, August 23

2 p.m. - Tour of Monongahela Historical Museum5:30 p.m. - Dinner at the Monongahela fire hall (tickets available)

Sunday August 24

9 a.m. - Tour of the Monongahela Cemetery

1 p.m. - Mass at St. Damien Park

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