Residents Enjoy Puppet Show on the Commons

"It's all about Eisenhower's idea of meeting people," Susan Vrotos said, as she explained her philosophy behind Winchester's Jumelage. Vrotos believes that it's important to connect with people from other cultures because it breaks down stereotypes and opens minds.

"People are people," Judie Muggia, the President of the Jumelage, said.

Coming to that understanding is one purpose of this movement, which began after World War II.  Winchester, which is celebrating its 20^th year of involvement, has it sister city in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which is located approximately 30 minutes from Paris.

The cities plan joint trips every year and alternate their destinations between the United States and France.

"It's a lot of fun for the French community," Tom Sevigny said.

But the Winchester Jumelage is also open to all.

"You don't have to be French, to know French or to study French to enjoy. All age groups and types of people can join," Muggia said.  "We also try to do something interesting and new for each event."

Last Saturday afternoon the group brought the game of pentanque and a puppet show to the Winchester Common.

Pentanque is a French game, similar to bocce. A small wooden ball is placed down on the ground and the participants must then toss metal balls as closely as possible to it. 

Everyone stopped playing pentanque though when Charlotte Dore, of Rosalita's Puppets, began her show. The spirited performance was done solo by Dore and was an original story about a mermaid, pirates and sea creatures.

"I love the reaction," Dore said.  "I never see it because I'm paying attention to the puppets, but I can hear it when people laugh and clap."

"The show was very entertaining," Peggy Roll said. "Very cute."

The Winchester Jumelage also has a close partnership with the French Library of Boston. It's one that has had a significant impact upon the community.

"Every three months the library here gets 40 books from the French Library," Muggia said.  "I've checked, and every single book has been checked out."

In Winchester though, people's awareness of the French culture has not been limited to books, as the Jumelage has set up exchange programs with Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Gardeners, firemen, sculptors, choral performers and others have experienced life in their sister cities.

In the end Muggia said, "It's all about the friendships."

This is something that President Dwight D. Eisenhower would have been pleased to see. After witnessing two World Wars first hand, and being President during the height of the Cold War, Eisenhower believed that breaking down the barriers of cultural and national boundaries was critical.

"Our faith is in the great promise of Sister affiliations in helping build the solid structure of world peace," Eisenhower said.

Over 50 years after his call, this promise has become a way of life for those in Winchester's Jumelage and the many organizations that help it to thrive.