In April, 2001, a contingent of Little League baseball players and parents traveled from Burlington to Bilwi/Puerto Cabezas and were given a stupendous welcome by the town and its residents. In the words of the boys, "We had an incredible experience; We played ball, traveled to schools to give aid, and made a lot of good friends."
        In a gesture of reciprocity the Vermonters invited a delegation of young Nicaraguan ballplayers to come to Burlington to play baseball in August. This is the first time in the 17 years of the Sister City Program that young people have traveled here from Puerto Cabezas. 
       Puerto Cabezas is one of the poorest regions in the Western Hemisphere so it was up to Burlington to finance the trip and transportation for a delegation of over 20 people. With help from parents and friends, and generous support from the Burlington community, Continental airlines, and several large doners, funds were raised and on August 7th the boys and their coaches arrived. 
       A great week of baseball ensued, along with the forming of friendships and interchange among the boys and the families who hosted them. 
       Special thanks go to Sam Osborne, who orchestrated the complicated arrangements, and his loyal aides Mary Kehoe, Gail Rafferty, and Sarah Courville. Also essential was the enthusiastic support of Mayor Peter Clavelle, without whose optimism in generating community support the exchange would not have happened. 
       Channel 17 documented the visit, producing video tapes for showing in both Burlingon and on Puerto Cabezas' cable tv.