The Sonoma-Ukraine connection
The Sonoma Sister Cities Association hosted a farewell reception for Anatoily and Lyuba Leontyev, who spent a week in Sonoma representing Sonoma’s Sister City, Kaniv, Ukraine. Anatoily is the president of the Kaniv Friendship Society.
Sonoma League President Chip Allen, Executive Director Robert Demler, Sonoma Sister Cities’ President George McKale, and Vice President Stephanie Fine welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Sonoma League and the Sonoma Sister Cities. The event was held on August 8 at the Sonoma League’s Maysonnave Gardens.
Kaniv Committer, Sister Cities Director Kaeti Bailie presented a synopsis of the successful efforts of the Sonoma-Kaniv, Ukraine, committee in raising more than $130,000 to send to the city of Kaniv for humanitarian aid during the on-going invasion by Russia.
This aid has paid for food, lodging, transportation, fuel, and medical supplies. Much of this aid has gone to the displaced persons from Ukrainian cities that have been destroyed during the war and who have sought safety in Kaniv.
The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley has been indispensable in the local fund-raising efforts, and Byron Nichols hosted the Leontyevs at the weekly Rotary meeting.
Bailie also announced that the Sonoma/Kaniv Committee had received the Sister Cities International 2023 award for “Innovation in Humanitarian Assistance.”
The Leontyevs had spent a week in Sonoma and participated in a number of activities. Highlights of the week were the honoring of the Leontyevs and the Sonoma Sister Cities Association by the Sonoma Mayor Sandra Lowe and the City Council at its regular meeting on August 16, and a showing of the documentary 20 days in Mariupol later that evening.
The reception gathered an eclectic crowd of Kaniv supporters and provided another chance for Anatoily to express his gratitude to the Sister Cities and to the public for its continued support for the sister city in Kaniv. Sonoma Councilmembers Patricia Farrar-Rivas and Ron Wellander were present, as well as Ezrah Chaaban, chief of staff for Sen. Bill Dodd,
Dr. Andrew Sorokowski and Oksana Sorokowski, who are new to Sonoma, graciously translated for all events.
Kaniv is one of SSCA’s seven sister cities.
— Photo by William Murray
