Dates to Note
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Sunday, May 15 - Special Olympics Equestrian Regional Competition
Taylor, TX - Group hike
McKinney Falls
8am
Thursday, May 12 - JAM Session
(Just About Marbridge)
9:15am
Village Community Center
Invite someone to learn about Marbridge!
Thursday - Sunday, May 26 - 29 - Special Olympics State Summer Games
Arlington, TX
Tuesday, May 31 Saturday, June 11 - Save the date for the annual Marbridge Parents and Families Association Day. See message from MPFA President Donna MacKinney in this issue for further details!
Stay current on the month's calendar of events at
Marbridge Calendar |
Best Friends Forever
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Dana Mardaga and Harley
with resident Joe Adelman.
Dana Mardaga and Joe Adelman met in college in the 1970s. They used to enjoy scuba diving together.
"He was one of my very best friends," said Mardaga. So they kept in touch over the years, until Joe had a near-fatal heart attack in the 1980s that left him permanently disabled.
When Mardaga moved back to Austin three years ago, she learned of Joe's whereabouts and began visiting him along with her dog, Harley. It began a weekly tradition that has continued for the past three years.
"Just to know that Joe is happy to see me is enough to get me to go," said Mardaga. "When we get within minutes of Marbridge, Harley will get up and look out the car window and start panting in anticipation." |
A Fellow American
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Felix Sibrian
Congratulations to Felix Sibrian on attaining his U.S. citizenship! Felix works in our Facilities Department and is a valued employee.
"Talk about loyalty to our country," said his supervisor Jerry Nicholson, director of Facilities, "unfortunately Felix had a heart attack on a Sunday and left the hospital in a wheelchair to attend the ceremony on Tuesday." |
New! Digital Marbridge LIFE!
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Now you can subscribe to Marbridge LIFE, our print publication, in a digital format!
Simply email us and put "Yes--subscribe me!" in the subject line.
Check it out now! |
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New graduates
Project SEARCH wraps up another successful year of professional internship training
From left: Daniel Stevenson, Walter Hendrick, Barrett Minor, Gema Langford, Lynn Thomas and Michael Taylor.
Parents, friends and staff from both Marbridge and the Seton Family of Hospitals gathered in a grand hall at Seton Hospital in Austin on May 6 to witness the graduation ceremony of six interns from the Project SEARCH program. Project SEARCH is a professional internship training program partnership between Marbridge and Seton. This year marks the fourth year of the partnership, and to date, the Seton Family of Hospitals has hired 10 residents. Others have used the training to find employment elsewhere.
Congratulations to our newest Project SEARCH graduates--Daniel Stevenson, Walter Hendrick, Barrett Minor, Gema Langford, Lynn Thomas and Michael Tayor!
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| Mark your calendars for MPFA Day - June 11 | |
MPFA Update from President
Donna MacKinney
Summer is nearly upon us, which means we're deep in planning for our May and June events.
MPFA will host magic shows and a dance for residents during the fourth week in May. And the 2nd Annual MPFA Day is June 11. Our focus will be on Training and Education at Marbridge, with a full presentation by Jana Kay, director of T&E, and other staff members. After the meeting, we'll gather at a nearby church hall for lunch and fellowship time. If you are a member of the MPFA, please RSVP.
If you are not a member of the MPFA, please email us for information on how to join.
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Choose Wisely!
Admissions Coordinator Barbara Bush helps spread the word about The Bridges Recovery Center
Barbara Bush did a great impression of Harrison Ford and The Raiders of the Lost Ark at the Austin Case Managers Convention in April.
Plastic snakes, a formidable-looking gong, and a selection of various chalices set the stage for the Villa's reproduction of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at a recent convention of case managers in Austin. Convention organizers challenged exhibitors to come up with a movie theme for their exhibits, and Barbara Bush, our admissions coordinator, went all out. Posters advertised her booth as "Marbridge Villa and the Rehabers of Southwest Austin." Visitors to the exhibit were asked to "Choose Wisely" in selecting a chalice from among the many on her table. A correct choice revealed a sticker underneath reading "The Bridges" or "Marbridge Villa." The chooser learned about the unique care available at both and received a prize. Those who chose unwisely went away empty handed, but learned to choose wisely the next time.
Have you visited The Bridges Recovery Center?
Come see! It's truly unique in all of Austin!
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| Going to the dogs | |
Doggie Block Party!
Tom Raycraft found a new friend on Saturday, May 7, at the Doggie Block Party arranged by Dr. Kimberly Galusha, our medical director. The event attracted residents from all across the campus.They came to visit with the dogs and to watch their owners put the dogs through a series of agility trials, frisbee catch tricks and freestyle dance demonstrations. Wow, er, bow wow! What fun!
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LIFE Lines is published for family, friends, volunteers and staff members of Marbridge, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that provides training and residential care for adults with intellectual disabilities. 
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