March 2014 – fourteen boys (U18) and four coaches from the Santa Barbara Aquatics Club traveled to Kotor to train with the water polo teams from Cattaro Club and Primorac Club. The team received training and guidance from Olympic Champion and World Champion Coach Mirko Vičević of Kotor, Montenegro.
In 2012, Charles Fredericks, a professor in the Culinary Arts department at Santa Barbara City College, traveled to Kotor to teach a select group of students at the Resource Center for Children with Hearing and Speech Disorders. Chef Charles taught the students basic culinary skills to prepare them for entry level positions in some of the finest resorts and restaurants in Montenegro. One of these students, Semir Ćorović, was chosen to intern at Divino restaurant in Brentwood, California, which led to full time employment at the Aman Resort in Montenegro. Another student, Ermina Sumović, stayed in Kotor and, with help from the Resource Center, found herself well prepared for a career in the kitchens of Montenegro.
One of the goals of Santa Barbara – Kotor Sister Cites has been to help students with hearing and speech disabilities find meaningful employment. We’re delighted to share with you the success of Semir and Ermina, who began their journey with us in 2012, and are currently employed at the Hotel Splendid, in Budva, Montenegro.
Our sincere thanks to Nedeljko Moskov, Director of the Resource Center, for his cooperation over the years to the benefit of many of his deserving young students and to Goran Milić, owner and chef at Divino restaurant, for his unwavering devotion in helping these young chefs succeed.
Entertaining, informative, and a look to the future was what everyone experienced who attended the Santa Barbara – Kotor Sister City event at the Music Academy of the West, on Sunday October 2nd.
Guests enjoyed original music created and performed by musicians from the department of music UCSB and Montenegro, along with performances by celebrated guitarist MILOŠ and the Crown Prince of Montenegro, Nicholas Petrovich-Njegoš. A documentary exploring the history of the U.S. and Montenegro and an emotional look back at 13 years of Sister City exchanges between Santa Barbara and Kotor were the highlights of the evening.
Dignitaries from both Sister Cities were on hand as Santa Barbara’s, Dr. Ichak K. Adizes, was awarded the newly established American Montenegro – USA Friendship Award under the patronage of the President of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Djukanović.
Ratimir Martinović, along with Helene Schnieder, presented the ME&US Fund (Montenegro & United States) a project initiated by Santa Barbara – Kotor Sister Cities, KotorArt, the SJL Foundation and the Don Branko Sbutega Foundation. With its mission to strengthen the civil and cultural ties between the two countries and their citizens.
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro, composers from Santa Barbara and Kotor created original music, representative of their home countries, which was performed by young musicians from each of our Sister Cities. The performance was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Montenegro, Judy Rising Reinke, and Sister City Committee liaison, Vickie Williams.
As an encore, these young musicians will perform this program at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara on October 2, 2022. Also performing will be Montenegrin guitarist, Miloš Karadaglić, together with Nicholas Petrovic Njegoš, the Crown Prince of Montenegro, on flute. Other dignitaries from both Sister Cities will be on hand as Santa Barbara’s Dr. Ichak K. Adizes is awarded the newly established American Montenegro – USA Friendship Award under the patronage of the President of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Djukanović.