Visit will explore patrimony, strengthen Sister City links
Mayor Maxime Bono of La Rochelle, France, will visit the City of New Rochelle on June 26-28. The historic visit- the first by a La Rochelle mayor in two decades- will center on building Sister City contacts and setting mutual goals.
Mayor Bono will arrive in New Rochelle on June 26 from Quebec, Canada after participating in
the province’s 400th anniversary celebration of settlement by Samuel de Champlain, a La
Rochelle native.
During his brief visit to New Rochelle, Mayor Bono will discuss the sister links between New
Rochelle and La Rochelle, learn the patrimony, and visit historical sites, including Trinity-St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church, Huguenot cemeteries, Paine Cottage and the Huguenot monument at
Hudson Park. Trinity-St. Paul’s Church and the City of New Rochelle both celebrate their 320th
anniversary this year.
In honor of the mayor’s visit, the public is invited to a formal welcome and flag raising
ceremony hosted by the City of New Rochelle and the La Rochelle-New Rochelle Sister City
Committee on Friday June 27th at 9 a.m. in front of City Hall. A special invitation is extended to those with Huguenot roots, who will be asked to introduce their family names during the
ceremony.
Mayor Maxime Bono has been mayor since 1999, succeeding the late long-time mayor Jean
Crepeau. Accompanying him on this visit will be Deputy Mayor for International Affairs, Jean-
Pierre Chantecaille.
Since it’s reactivation in 2006, the Sister City committee has hosted and supported a variety of
activities, including summer musical events, art show, Bastille Day ceremony and the La
Rochelle Mayor’s Cup race at Huguenot Yacht Club. The Committee seeks to encourage
exchanges in the business, cultural, educational and recreational areas, and building links
between New Rochelle institutions and those in La Rochelle, France. For more information on
the Sister City Committee contact Convenor Peter Korn at 235-1979.