Sister Cities Committee approves letter to Hungarian contact; discusses Sant'Arcangelo gift, Nichinan exchanges and 120th anniversary events

The Portsmouth Sister Cities Committee voted to send an edited letter to its contact in Solnak, Hungary, and spent the meeting reviewing several active and planned international exchanges, including a potential temporary public light installation gifted by Sant'Arcangelo, Italy, and student and teacher exchange activities with Nichinan, Japan.

The committee approved forwarding the edited letter to Solnak and considered whether the chair or the full committee should sign it. Members asked for cautious language because of questions raised in discussions with federal and state contacts about political positions of some foreign partners. The committee emphasized that forwarding the letter is a first, informational step and does not commit the city to any new agreement.

On Sant'Arcangelo, members described a proposed gift of a stringed lighting installation that displays lines of poetry in Italian one direction and English in the other. The committee discussed possible timing — tying installation to an October visit or the film festival in spring — and flagged logistical questions for the Department of Public Works and the fire department about mounting, safety and duration. Committee members volunteered to gather technical specifications from Sant'Arcangelo and to engage local public works staff if the city accepts the installation.

Committee members also provided updates on robust student‑exchange activity with Nichinan. Members reported recent and upcoming visits, with the high school hosting returning delegations and planning student travel and teacher exchanges to maintain continuity between visits. Committee materials circulated at the meeting noted operating costs associated with hosting students; one staff estimate provided to the committee was approximately $3,500 per week for busing, lunches and basic expenses. The committee discussed using the proposed trust fund and other resources to support exchange logistics and possible artist‑to‑artist or poetry exchanges linked to Sant'Arcangelo's gift.

Committee members outlined preparations for the centennial/120th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty: a bell‑ringing on Sept. 5, a planned public screening of an archival film, and a refreshed exhibit at the John Paul Jones House slated to open May 23. The committee also discussed outreach to the consul general of Japan in Boston and coordination with state and federal contacts for anniversary programming. Staff reported a press release draft and a packet of gifts, including city challenge coins and a mayoral folder, will be sent with a congratulatory message to Nichinan’s mayor and accompanying students.