CELEBRATIONS
Greenwich resident wins tractor contest
Greenwich resident Andrew Hanna has won another honor for restoring a 1942 Farmall M tractor. Chevron Products Company, a Chevron division, maker of the Delo brand of technologically advanced engine oils, lubricants and coolants, named him the Grand Champion winner of this year’s 26th Annual Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition.
Hanna is a 2023 Greenwich High School graduate who worked on the restoration as a senior project.
Teens from across the United States competed for the title in Indianapolis during the 2023 National Future Farmers of America Expo, which ran from Nov. 1 through Nov. 4.
Hanna won $10,000 for his first place showing; an additional total of $10,000 in prizes were awarded to the other winners.
“To see a teen restore a tractor four times their age and win our competition never gets old,” said Rachel Whitlow-Pullem, tradeshow specialist for Chevron, in a news release. “Congrats to our Grand Champion Andrew Hanna and all of our other entrants who put thousands of painstaking hours into their builds! You are restoring the rich agricultural heritage of America one tractor at a time, and we are grateful to play a role in that.”
Each tractor restoration project was graded on the overall process, safety precautions, results, documentation and their oral presentation. Judges are comprised of industry experts and former Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition champions with decades of hands-on experience and involvement in the industry.
Greenwich Hospital adds program for young people
Greenwich Hospital has crafted a new program for high school students who may face barriers to pursuing careers in health care. Youth Access is an immersive and interactive fiveday introduction to the field of health care, with teaching sessions and hands-on activities at Greenwich Hospital.
The new program, which will be offered in the summer to students from Port Chester High School, was designed by Greenwich Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Santucci, Greenwich Hospital Director of Volunteer Services Stacey Green, and the program’s founding donor, Dr. Felice R. Zwas. A multidisciplinary and diverse team of Greenwich Hospital healthcare staff will share their professional expertise with the students to expose them to all the multi-faceted inner workings of a hospital, a news release about the program said.
“Like our prospective students, our team comes from diverse backgrounds and will have the opportunity to share their stories about how they got into health care. We know they will be an inspiration,” said Green in the release. “In addition to introducing the students to various clinical areas, the program is designed to encompass all areas of the hospital, including food and nutrition, facilities, transport, environmental services, sterile processing, the medical library and volunteer services.”
The students’ program schedule will provide a broad overview of potential work and career paths. The launch of the program will take place next summer, and alumni will be encouraged to return as college interns, the release said.
A donation from Zwas, and her wife Sarah Gallen made the program possible. Their gift, in honor of Zwas’ parents, recognizes the importance of education with the goal to foster the career aspirations of today’s local high school students, the release said. Zwas’ parents were Holocaust survivors who were dedicated to creating opportunities for those facing disproportionate barriers.
Zwas is a gastroenterologist with Greenwich Hospital, where she also served as chief of staff. She attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, interned and completed her residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and earned a fellowship at Harvard Beth Israel.
Youth Access will accept applications from students at Port Chester High School who are interested in learning more about careers in a healthcare setting.
For information about selection criteria and applications, contact: Stacey Green, Greenwich Hospital Director of Volunteer Services, at stacey.green@greenwichhospital.org.
Kids’ boutique opens on the Ave
Petite Maison Kids, a premier destination for luxury kids’ fashion, had the grand opening of its flagship store at 71 Greenwich Ave. in Greenwich earlier this month.
Founded in 2018, Petite Maison Kids specializes in high quality traditional clothing for kids with a modern, elegant flare. The flagship store will offer a curated selection of clothing, shoes and accessories for children from birth to 10 years old.
Middle school raises money for breast cancer
Students at Western Middle School recently raised $1,450 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by selling pink accessories and promoting online fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The WMS community’s total was the highest in the four years that the event has been held.