30 years ago – June 2, 1989
The streets may not have been paved with silver bricks, but Central City rolled out the red carpet to welcome the mayor of Champagne-Vigny, France, Michel Belanger, earlier this week, starting with a welcoming cocktail party at the Golden Rose Hotel on Tuesday evening. Central City and Champagne-Vigny are international sister cities, the twosmallest communities participating in the nationwide program, and Mayor Belanger, in America on business, decided to include Central City in his itinerary. Michel, as he likes to be called, lives with his wife and three children in Bordeaux. In addition to his duties as Champagne-Vigny’s mayor, he is a professor of law. Earlier this year, Andre Rohrer, Beth Ensign, and Jeff Lorenz, seniors at Gilpin County School, along with science teacher Deb Benitez, paid a visit to Champagne-Vigny, stopping in Paris and Bordeaux on the way. They were treated to tours of the region’s historic and commercial centers, as well as spending time with French host families. A small, rural community in France’s grape-growing district, Champagne-Vigny produces not only wine, but also a special liqueur called Pineax, which, unfortunately, is not exported. Less than an hour’s drive away, the Hennessy cognac distillery turns the region’s fruit into a fine brandy. The visiting Americans were treated to a tour of the plant and have arranged a reciprocal tour for Mayor Belanger of the Coors Brewery in Golden, where this area’s spring water is turned into beer. Plans for the week include a walking tour of Central City, a banquet at the Teller House, a backcountry Jeep trip, and a visit to the Vail ski resort. Rohrer and Lorenz noted that one of the biggest differences they found in France was the food. Not only is it prepared differently, they commented, the manner in which it is served differs greatly from the American style. There are more courses in a typical family meal for example. Benitez noted that the bread is superior and appears in much greater abundance than on American tables. A western-style barbecue, to be held on the last day of Mayor Belanger’s stay, will no doubt provide a unique dining experience for the Frenchman.
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