Mayor ready to welcome Aviles delegation

Historic City News has received an announcement from Mayor Joe Boles today that St. Augustine will once again have the opportunity to welcome an official delegation from its sister city, Avilés, Spain.

The delegation members, including the Mayor of Avilés will be guests of honor at the annual Menéndez Noche de Gala during their visit.

While in St. Augustine, delegation members will tour the area and meet with community leaders from the fields of education and business regarding cultural exchanges and potential economic opportunities.

Joining the delegation as an honored guest at the Menéndez Gala on Saturday, February 28 will be the Consul General for Spain in Miami, Santiago Cabanas. The Gala, now in its 13th year, is an annual formal fundraiser for the City of St. Augustine Heritage Fund. This year’s fund project is the restoration of a Flagler-Era fountain to the west of Government House.

Leading the Avilés delegation is Mayor Pilar Varela Díaz, the first woman to hold the office of Mayor in Avilés. This is Ms. Varela’s second visit to St. Augustine, her first being when she led a seven-member delegation to the city last April. The other member of the delegation is Román Antonio Álvarez González, a member of the Avilés City Council whose areas of responsibility include cultural activities and sports. This is his fifth visit to St. Augustine as a member of a Sister City delegation.

Arrangements for the delegation’s visit are being handled by the Public Affairs Department. For more information call 904.825.1004. For more information about the Menéndez Noche de Gala, call the 904.825.5033.