OBRIGADO! Officials from Fairhaven and Lagoa Sister City sign agreement

By Beth David, Editor

Thank-you, thank-you, obrigado and obrigado, rang out in the banquet room at Fairhaven Town Hall as Selectboard members and officials from the town’s newest sister city, Lagoa, St. Michael, Azores, met to sign the Friendship Pact, exchange small gifts, and enjoy pastries and refreshments on Monday, 3/19. The group also included representatives from Lagoa do Algarve, which is on the mainland.

Mayor Cristina Calisto, the first woman mayor of Lagoa-St. Michael, told the board and the crowd gathered that she was pleased to be there and excited for the ceremony.

She said the two towns will maintain close contact. She noted that the towns have a lot in common, most notably the shore. The two places also share a deep Portuguese heritage.

Ms. Calisto said she made a good friend in Selectboard member Charles Murphy, who traveled to Lagoa and is the board’s representative on the sister-city committee.

Ms. Calisto said that she has felt very welcome on her trip.

“I thank you for the hospitality of your community,” she said. “I am so glad to be here.”

She told the crowd gathered and watching on cable access TV that she hoped they all could visit Lagoa.

“I will wait for you,” said the mayor who brought her young daughter with her on the trip.

“We look forward to a very nice, long-lasting relationship,” said Select­board chairperson Bob Espindola.

Mr. Murphy addressed the guests in Portuguese, noting that he is 25% Portuguese.

“Obrigado,” he said and noted that on his trip to Lagoa, Ms. Calisto showed much pride in her town, and the fact that she is the first woman mayor.

The two groups ex­changed gifts, including a Fairhaven decorative plate with its iconic buildings; and a small ceramic cup. Mayor Calisto said the pottery was from a factory in Lagoa that has been operating for 500 years. The box of gifts included some­thing to drink and music.

“Most important, you brought yourself,” said Mr. Espindola.

Representatives of the two towns are looking forward to a variety of exchanges that will enhance both towns, including cultural exchanges, business opportunities, and student exchanges.

Maria Tomasia said student exchanges are very valuable. Their perception of the “old country” is of a place that does not exist. Portugal has a “natural beauty,” she said, but is also very modern.

“They also get to live the culture,” said Ms. Tomasia, adding it has been “extremely positive” over the years for both the Portuguese students and the American students.

In the Azores, she said, the perception of America is largely from movies, so when they visit, they are “totally blown away.”

She said they learn not to limit themselves after they visit here.

“We are a global community,” said Ms. Tomasia. “And I think that’s going to continue.”

The towns will also keep in touch by Facebook, with the Lagoa contingent asking for lots of photos to be posted, especially of the Feast of Our Lady of Angels every September.

“We’re lucky to have such a strong tradition of Portuguese culture in Fairhaven,” said Mr. Murphy. “The Portuguese culture is….awesome.”

“We have many things in common,” said Lagoa’s Roberto Medeiros. “That’s why you should go.”

After the meeting, Anabela Simão, a councilor in Lagoa do Algarve, said it was her first visit to the US. The group visited the other sister-cities in the area, including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fall River, Taunton, and Rehobeth, in Mass., and Bristol, RI.

She said it was very different than what she expected. They get their perception of the US from the news, she said, and that is all negative.

“It’s different,” she said. “It’s not a very good impression about security,” that they get from news.

She said they felt very safe walking around.

“People are very friendly,” she said, adding they could walk everywhere and feel secure.

She said she also could see that people have an “open heart” for the Portuguese culture.

Ms. Simão said the two areas have a lot in common economically, and both sides are looking forward to some exchanges that will be beneficial to both. Both places are good tourist destinations. Lagoa St. Michael has 56 beaches.

Maria Inêz, the mayor’s daughter, said, with a little translation help from Ms. Tomasia, that she was fascinated with the snow. It was the first time she had seen snow. Unfortunately, she got here a day late and was not able to make a snow figure, but she did make snowballs.

Mayor Calisto said people on the trip were “very kind” and showed “great hospitality.”

She attended the Portuguese dinner at Cotali Mar Restaurant in New Bedford on Saturday, 3/17, with more than 250 people. She said she tried to connect with as many people as she could.

“We want to maintain contact in [the areas of] education, exchange of culture, and economy,” she said.

Mr. Murphy agreed that there are many similarities between Fairhaven and Lagoa.

He said people are “kind, very generous and really engaged in conversation, wanting to know about Fairhaven.”

He said the food was “out­standing,” the black-sand beaches were “amazing,” and the culture was progressive. The fish, whether served in a home or at a restaurant, was always fresh, he said.

“It felt like I was home,” said Mr. Murphy.

Mr. Espindola said he felt the agreement presented an “exciting opportunity,” and would like to see in increase in tourism come out of it.

Wayne Oliveira, the chairperson of the sister city committee, agreed that tourism was a given, but he also hoped the fishing industry could benefit from the relationship.

“I look foward to seeing [Lagoa] some­day,” said Mr. Oliveira.

The Portuguese contingent was scheduled to leave on Tuesday.

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