NEIGHBORHOODS
What’s going on in your part of Greenwich
Greenwich
Volunteers will be busy working to keep Greenwich clean at two events next weekend.
Greenwich Green & Clean will hold its annual fall cleanup day on Saturday, Sept. 21, as volunteers fan out throughout town from 8 a.m. to noon to pick up trash. Volunteers from Skip the Straw, an organization dedicated to reducing plastic waste in town, will be on hand to help.
All residents are invited to participate.
Trash drop-off points will be set up at the firehouses in Byram, Glenville, Cos Cob and Old Greenwich, with another at Greenwich Point as well.
Also at those locations, Greenwich Green & Clean will provide work supplies as well as refreshments. And now that plastic bags are “out” in the state, volunteers will get reusable buckets for collecting trash.
Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own buckets as well as gloves because picking up trash can be messy work.
Participants can receive a community service certificate for their work. And everyone who dumps their trash at the firehouses by noon can get daffodil bulbs to plant next spring.
“Each of us can contribute to the future of our environment by acting locally to make a difference globally,” Greenwich Green & Clean said in a statement. For more information, visit www. greenwichgreenandclean. org/.
On the same day, the town Conservation Commission will observe International Coastal Cleanup Day with a cleanup at Great Captain Island.
Volunteers will meet at the Grass Island Marina at 12:45 p.m. to take the 1 p.m. ferry boat to the island. Dress appropriately for cleanup work and bring sunscreen and water. The ferry will depart for the return trip at 4 p.m.
Space is limited, and registration is required by calling 203-622-6461. No walk-ons will be permitted.
North Greenwich
Residents are invited to take a tour of northern Greenwich on Sept. 21 and enjoy all that Backcountry Neighbor Day has to offer.
The event kicks off with coffee and trail walks from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Greenwich Audubon Center at 613 Riversville Road.
The next stop is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company at 166 West Old Mill Road. Residents can thank a firefighter and learn more about their duties. Kids will have a chance to touch the fire trucks and maybe even climb onboard.
Next to the firehouse, check out the pollinator gardens and new trees on the open space that is protected by the Greenwich Land Trust. Then stop by the nearby Round Hill Store for a free cup of cider.
Also, the nearby GRTA Trails will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering a spot for a quiet walk. Drive north on Bedford Road to West Lake and turn left. Follow the road to the sign for Nichols Property/GRTA. Parking is limited.
Backcountry Barbecue will dish up free tacos at the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course at 1300 King St. And Augustine’s Farm at 1332 King St. will show off pumpkins and other homegrown fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut flowers and homemade pies.
Horse and pony rides will be offered at Kelsey’s Farm at 1016 Lake Ave. from 2:30 to 4 p.m. And don’t forget to swing by Banksville from 2:30 to 4 p.m. for complimentary cuisine at Happiness Is, a sample of wine at The Study and a tour of Stateline Fitness.
Glenville
Abilis Inc., a nonprofit that supports more than 700 people with special needs and their families, will open its doors for the annual job fair and open house.
The public is invited to the event, which will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Abilis headquarters at 50 Glenville St. Families of those with special needs can learn about Abilis’ therapeutic and life services programs at the event.
Information will be available about its early intervention programs, customized therapy and residential options. Abilis provides a variety of life services, including recreation, transition aid and job training.
Abilis manages more than 40 residential homes in Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk and also provides services for young adults in those towns as well as in Westport, Wilton, Ridgefield and New Canaan.
Attendees can also learn learn about employment opportunities at Abilis. There are openings in residential services and day program support as well as for pediatric speech pathologists and occupational pediatric therapists.
Jobs are currently available in Greenwich, Stamford, Wilton and Westport.
For more information, visit www.abilis.us/calendar and www.abilis.us.
Downtown
Greenwich will celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a flag-raising ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday outside Town Hall, with a reception to follow inside in the Mazza Room.
The celebration, now in its third year, is organized by town resident Ann Blumensaadt. She wanted to ensure the day is observed in town, which also holds flag-raisings for St. Patrick’s Day, Columbus Day and Bastille Day, as well as for the Fourth of July.
Blumensaadt grew up in Texas and enjoys sharing her lifelong interest in Mexican culture with other Greenwich residents. A representative from the office of the Consulate General of Mexico in New York City was one of the dignitaries in attendance at last year’s event.
On Sept. 16, 1810, Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church and gave the call to arms — known as the Cry of Dolores, or Grito de Dolores — that triggered the Mexican War of Independence.