NEIGHBORHOODS
What’s going on in your part of Greenwich
Abilis, the nonprofit organization providing services and support to more than 800 individuals with special needs and their families, is hosting a Project SEARCH Information Night for young adults with disabilities to learn about its employment internship program at 6 p.m. March 30 at Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road. Abilis operates two Project SEARCH programs in partnership with Greenwich Hospital and the Darien YMCA.
The free event will take
place in Greenwich Hospital’s Nobel conference room. Space is limited and registration is requested at abilis.us/calendar.
Project SEARCH is a national program often run at hospitals throughout the United States and is a nine-month internship and job training program for those age 18 to 30 with developmental disabilities. Abilis has been running Project SEARCH in partnership with Greenwich Hospital for the past four years, and in 2022, expanded the program to include the Darien YMCA. The program also is a partnership with the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services.
The Abilis Project SEARCH program at Greenwich Hospital offers hospital-related jobs. The program offers total immersion in the workplace and facilitates the teaching and learning process and helps develop employability and marketable work skills. Interns participate in three unpaid internships throughout the nine-month program and explore a variety of careers.
“Abilis has been successfully running the Project SEARCH program at Greenwich Hospital and at the Darien YMCA,” noted Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis in a release. “Our Project SEARCH graduates have successfully gained employment and developed skills and we are thankful that our partnerships with Greenwich Hospital and the Darien YMCA to have provided opportunities for our interns to experience a variety of jobs and learn new skills.”
To be eligible for Project SEARCH, the applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and eligible for Development of Disabilities Services or willing to pay privately.
Applications for both Project SEARCH locations are being accepted now and it is recommended that if you are interested, you apply, as enrollment fills quickly. Applications are in both English and Spanish and available online at abilis.us/project-search.
To learn more about Abilis’ Project SEARCH and register for the March 30 registration session, contact Nick Stewart, program manager with Project SEARCH at stewart@abilis.us or visit abilis.us/calendar.
Downtown
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and it’s a great excuse to celebrate with a sweet treat.
To that end, Barbara’s House, a human services nonprofit in Greenwich, will have a bake sale on Feb. 14 in the Greenwich Town Hall lobby. Town employees, visitors and anyone just passing through are invited to come and take part in the fundraiser by purchasing something homemade. The bake sale regularly raises more than $500 and benefits the kids who are part of the programming at the nonprofit. The items that are for sale have been baked by kids at Barbara’s House and the kids set the prices. The money raised by the sale will be used for an activity chosen by the bakers.
Hours of the bake sale are between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14.
Backcountry
Parkway School students and families participated in the ninth annual “Valentines for Vets” project sponsored by U.S. Rep. and Greenwich resident Jim Himes.
Families and students were invited to create valentines to be delivered to Bridgeport’s Veteran
Affairs Hospital, Home of the Brave, and various other veterans service organizations on Valentine’s Day.
Downtown
Do you know a teacher, guidance counselor, specialist, instructional coach, social worker, or any member of the Greenwich Education Association who touches a child’s life with dedicated support and gives selflessly to serve their students?
Nominations for the Distinguished Teachers Award are now open. For a nomination packet, visit the award’s web site, https://bit.ly/40NVsAv
Old Greenwich
The Stamford Museum and Nature Center is working with the Friends of Greenwich Point to hold an exploration activity known as a “quest” between now and Feb. 28. People can sign up at the Friends of Greenwich Point’s website and at the Holly Grove kiosk at Greenwich Point for the opportunity to explore Greenwich Point.
More information is available by emailing info@friendsofgreenwich point.org.
Downtown
The Greenwich Fire Department swore in two new firefighters on Feb. 6. Torrey Childs and Kevin Baird will soon head to the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks; Fire Chief Joseph McHugh said they will graduate around Memorial Day. The pair will float between different stations for a few months before receiving permanent assignments in July.