The Newtown Community Center is expected to open in early July.  Center Director Matt Ariniello says cafe will be staffed by the Newtown High School Transitions Program.  It's for special needs high school students 18 to 21 years old who have succeeded in all requirements to graduate high school.  The objective is to give students life and vocational skills. 

A $15,000 grant from the Gloria Gray Foundation, plus a $5,000 donation, will allow the business to start up. 

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal says this really speaks to the goals of the community center.  He added that this program will make the space inviting and adds incentive for people to patronize the cafe.  Rosenthal says the middle school had a similar successful program for a time. 

There are hours which won't be covered by the students.  Ariniello met with Bethel-based Ability Beyond to see if their clients could cover those hours.  He compared it to the model of the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, which employs individuals through a training program.  If the cafe takes off, they could put together a cart to take through the Senior Center and Municipal Center. 

A resident reached out to create a logo and working with the students in creating a name for the cafe.  He says the kids will feel they have an ownership in the business they're helping to start from the ground up.