Neb (KMTV) - A group of kids from Italy visit Omaha hoping to learn more about America; some discover relatives in South Omaha The local effort aims to strengthen ties in Carletnini Italy and eventually make it Omaha's sister city A local effort to strengthen ties between Italy and Omaha and even discovering potential family connections with locals in South Omaha "In the beginning he wasn't really quite sure what to expect um but this was great," says traveler Frederico Sfilio's translator Sam Troia and Connie Floridia found out they're related Frederico Sfilio "Federico and I are related," exclaimed Troia Connie Floridia is part of the Carlentini Omaha Association that helped plan the trip "This is probably maybe the only opportunity they may have to leave and experience another country," says Floridia Its their effort to eventually make Carlentini and Omaha sister city but they're gone so I'm making the connection," says Floridia Their goal is to strengthen the ties between Omaha and Italy "There's a big connection with Omaha and Carlentini Siciliy because most Italians in Omaha came from Carlentini," says Troia "We're half a world away but were still together," he says learn more about each other and keep in touch was the next step The association hopes efforts like this helps make Carlentini and Omaha sister city Live Cast Carma Jean and Fred were together for over 62 years – she was 14 and he was 15 when they started dating and they recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary Carma Jean was a 29 year breast cancer survivor and a 17 year pancreatic cancer survivor and dedication to breast cancer awareness was apparent as a Reach to Recovery volunteer and as a former coordinator of the Look Good Feel Good program at the Methodist Cancer Center She was also the inspiration for the Special Friends Celebrations that began in 1995 that hosted a luncheon for 50 survivors the inaugural Special Friends Luncheon grew in 1996 to include a golf classic and luncheon that featured Susan Ford Bales the daughter of former President Gerald Ford and Mrs In only four years the celebration grew to a three-day event that featured a “Breast Cancer Survivors Brunch” that drew over 800 guests a Celebrity Golf Challenge and “A Night with the Stars” that attracted 21 Hollywood celebrities (hosted by Marg Helgenberger and Alan Rosenberg) and almost 4,000 participants (which included more than 400 volunteers) $100,000 was used in a joint Special Friends Methodist and Jennie Edmundson Hospitals advertising campaign to promote cancer awareness when Carma Jean was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer she focused her efforts on volunteering for PanCan to help raise awareness and funds and will continue to be a motivation to everyone that knew her Most of all she was the most kind and respected person that anyone could know Mary Jane Carlentini Braeglemann; brothers in-law Nick Colanino; sisters-in law: Camille Colanino Johns Carol Carlentini Wilczewski; many nieces and nephews; Patty Berry Kennedy her most cherished and loyal friend since they were five (5) years old; many other relatives and countless friends In lieu of flowers memorials will be directed by the family To view a live broadcast of the Services, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click on the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page Carl and I were o sorry to hear about Carmajean I always enjoyed your Special Friends Celebrations.You were both so gracious and welcoming and made some very happy memories for me.She was a very special lady and we will pray for her and your family.Carl and Ann Marie Caniglia Randy and I are so very sorry to learn you have lost your beloved Carma Jean The world will miss her beautiful smile and loving heart I met Carm through PANCAN – and she was always so willing to help in any way and such bright light for those who were struggling with a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer Sending prayers and thoughts for a most beautiful woman Colanino) and growing up in Omaha in the 1970s My brother and I were friends with Scott and I will never forget the love and kindness that I experienced in the Colanino household…memories are forever Colanino and know you (and your loved ones) will always be in our hearts I think of you guys often and the fun we had in our old neighborhood That was the last time I’ve seen you Blessing to you as you take this next journey in your life Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler Mortuaries © 2024 All Rights Reserved Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Enel Green Power’s industrial platform will be used to accelerate the commercialization of this sustainable technology With a testing lab and a full-scale production plant NextHy will be a cornerstone of the Catania Innovation Hub&Lab Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Mayor Jean Stothert won her third term with a gigantic margin of two-thirds of the vote and was handed a commitment to the city of Omaha city records show that Stothert took about five-and-a-half weeks off for personal travel In 2022 Stothert has been out of town for 25 days It’s important to know that there are no limitations on how much time the mayor of Omaha can take off But the mayor must pass over power to the city council president when she leaves the city Stothert left the city Wednesday and won’t be back until Sept or eight-and-half weeks of vacation time by mid-September with three-and-half months left before the end of the year Stothert will have been out of the city for 63 total days by Sept Multiple itineraries shared with 3 News Now indicate Stothert will first visit Rome before meeting with an Omaha delegation heading to Sicily for a trip to further plans with government officials in Carlentini to become sister cities with Omaha The mayor plans to travel to several cities in Sicily and participate in Carlentini’s Santa Lucia Festival She’ll stay seven more days than the rest of the Omaha delegation 3 News Now reached out to City Council President and Acting Mayor Pete Festersen for comment and he did not respond The mayor has pushed the city council to change the charter so that the mayor would be allowed to work when they’re outside the city The 2022 City Charter Convention passed a measure that would allow the mayor to work five days outside the city without giving up power But the Omaha City Council has not taken it up with Festersen pushing back on the need for it The trip to Sicily is a chance for Omaha residents with Italian heritage to connect to their roots. Sheri Kanger, co-founder of Sicula Italia, said via email that about 70% of Omahans with Italian heritage can trace their heritage back to two Sicilian cities, including Carlentini Her organization and the Carlentini Omaha Association have worked to strengthen the longstanding bonds between Carlentini and Omaha and will be participating in the trip later this month 3 News Now Reporter Aaron Hegarty contributed to this report RELATED: Omaha welcomes Carlentini mayor for his first visit since the signing of the Sister City Friendship Agreement Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage. Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox.