06/08/2026
To celebrate the 8th anniversary of the Borough of Dunellen’s Sister City agreements with Comune di Borgonovo Val Tidone and Comune di Castel San Giovanni, and the addition of Comune di Ziano Piacentino to the partnership in June of this year, the Dunellen Public Library is once again featuring a special display throughout the month of August!
Our Sister City partnership began back in 2017 during Dunellen's 130th anniversary celebration when the Coro Alpino ANA Valtidone visited our community to share its music, culture, and traditions. Those friendships led to the formal establishment of Sister City agreements with Borgonovo Val Tidone and Castel San Giovanni in 2018, creating a lasting connection between our communities.
This past June, while on a personal trip, I had the honor of returning to the Val Tidone region to join Mayor Monica Patelli of Borgonovo Val Tidone, Mayor Valentina Stragliati of Castel San Giovanni, and Mayor Manuel Ghilardelli of Ziano Piacentino as we officially welcomed Ziano Piacentino into our Sister City partnership. Having attended the original signing ceremony in 2018 during a personal trip while serving on the Dunellen Borough Council, it was especially meaningful to return as Mayor and welcome this exciting new chapter in our relationship.
Over the past eight years, our Sister City partnership has fostered cultural exchange, student pen pal programs, and lasting connections between our communities, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen these relationships for many years to come. I encourage everyone to stop by the Dunellen Public Library throughout August to see photos from the region, read the official agreements, and learn more.
Fun Fact: Chef Boyardee (Ettore Boiardi) was born in Borgonovo Val Tidone in 1897. After immigrating to the United States, he became a renowned chef and entrepreneur, creating the iconic Chef Boyardee brand that became a household name across the country.