OneManchester
Thursday, May 19, 2022
MANCHESTER NEXT. That's the name of the campaign to figure out what could, should and in many cases will unfold in town over the next decade or so. Questions about Manchester's future have been the subject of great scrutiny during a four-day 'planapalooza' that concludes tonight and we have more information below. And speaking of planning-- the calendar in our newsletter is as comprehensive as any you will find anywhere so if you want OneManchester sent to you by email each week, just click here.
The Senior Center. Cheney and Whiton libraries. Nathan Hale and Washington schools ...
(And economic development. And open space. And housing affordability. And ...)
A multidisciplinary team led by consultants from the Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative will be in the MHS cafeteria tonight (6-8 p.m.) for a broad-based presentation designed to help 'tie everything together." And there are lots of other threads, including:
- The ''dark side" of the Parkade, which has been mostly empty for 20-ish years
- The future of Buckland mall as brick-and-mortar retail reinvents itself
- Downtown, which could undergo a 'Complete Streets' redesign
- A proposed skate park and pump track at Charter Oak West
- Public transportation and much much more
Organizers say public input is crucial and welcome and that they are hoping for a good turnout tonight. For more information just click here.
Words Of Warning
Board of Ed News
Snapshots
Seventh graders in Mrs. Stepanski’s Family Consumer Science class at Illing are finishing up pillow projects made with sewing machines. At left is Leila Affini of the MHS girls tennis team, which won two of its three matches last week with the top four singles players -- Chayse Mercer, Dara Song, Carolina Mancini and Leila -- leading the way.
Spring Concerts
Next up is tonight's MHS Orchestra Concert with the high school Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Concert concert set for next Tuesday. School concerts are free and start at 7 p.m. at Bailey Auditorium. To see the schedule click here.
Other News and Notes
- Here's the third-quarter honor roll at Manchester High.
- The TLC Foundation is looking for a live-in residential supervisor (a couple would be ideal but not required). To learn more please click here.
Applications are being accepted from families interested in enrolling children in the district Early Childhood Education Program for 3- and 4-year-olds. Click here for more information.
For information about summer STEAM programming click here.
Grand Opening
That's Mayor Jay Moran at Sunday's Grand Opening of the Woodbridge Farmstead Visitor Center. Here's more about the event and the center itself.
This And That
- Last week the Board of Directors adopt a town budget of $201.6 million for the next fiscal year and the JI has the story.
- Manchester Patch previews the local farmers' market scene.
- Manchester Matters: Community Clean-up event on May 21; Charter revision Committee meets Monday, May 23 and the 1st Annual Trade/Construction Career Fair at Manchester High School from 4 - 7 p.m.
- Manchester Historical Society: Manchester ‘Then & Now' Exhibit is open to the public Wednesdays Through Sundays at 175 Pine St; free concert at the Bicentennial Bandshell tonight (May 19) at 7 p.m. and the Old Manchester Museum will be open on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Week Ahead
Thursday, May 19
7 p.m. -- Spring Concert at the Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell.
Friday, May 20
9 a.m. - 3 p.m -- The Manchester Landtrust tag sale opens at 330 Bush Hill Rd. and runs every day through May 28.
Saturday, May 21
9 a.m. - noon -- Community clean-up and shred event, 311 Olcott St.
9:30 - 11 a.m. -- Spring Tree Tour at Wickham Park.
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. -- Community Shred Event at 935 Main St.
10:05 a.m. -- The Spring Street Mile, Spring St. near the intersection with Tam Rd.
Noon - 7 p.m. -- The public is invited to celebrate the Bengali New Year Celebration at Northwest Park.
5 - 6:30 p.m. -- Family Paint Night at the Lutz, 247 South Main St.
2:30 p.m. -- Upcycle Planter Craft at Mary Cheney Library.
5 - 6 p.m. -- Family Paint Night at the Lutz, 247 South Main St.
Noon - 7 p.m. -- The public is invited to celebrate the Bengali New Year Celebration at Northwest Park.
Sunday, May 22
2 p.m. -- Story Time at Buckland Hills Mall - the first 25 children get a free book..
Monday, May 23
6 - 8 p.m. -- In-person Songwriters Group at 153 Spruce St.
6:30 p.m. -- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) In Their Own Voice at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- BOE meeting at Lincoln Center.
7 p.m. -- Charter Revision Committee meeting at Town Hall and via Zoom.
Tuesday, May 24
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Preschool Play Dough Party at Mary Cheney Library.
Wednesday, May 25
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Manchester Public School’s 3rd Annual Job Fair at Manchester High’s gym.
6 - 8 p.m. -- Middle School Nights at Mary Cheney Library.
The Manchester Landtrust tag sale runs for eight days starting on Friday May 20 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at 330 Bush Hill Rd.
Down The Road
Over the River and Through the Woods’ opens at Cheney Hall on Friday, May 27 and runs through June 12.
The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30 at the Army & Navy Club. (Here's a Manchester Patch story looking ahead to the holiday.)
The First Annual Trade/Construction Career Fair at Manchester High School will be held on Tuesday, May 31 from 4 - 7 p.m.
Youth Service Bureau’s ‘Family Circle 2022’ will be held on Wednesdays from June 1 to July 20. Space is limited. Click here to register.
The Manchester Woman’s Club Town-Wide tag sale will take place on Saturday, June 4 (rain date June 5) - $20 for sellers/buyers free.
On Saturday, June 11 there will be a Mini-Golf Tournament to benefit the Elisabeth M. Bennet Statue at Mar-Lea in Bolton.
All kids K-4 are invited to Cub Scout Pack 47’s Rocket Rally at Keeney School on June 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Commencement for Manchester High’s Class of 2022 will be on June 15. Click here for other important graduation-related events.
The Savage Brothers will be playing at Manchester’s fireworks celebration on Saturday, June 25 at the MCC bandshell.
AND THERE'S MORE
- Cub Scout Pack 47 has teamed up with Jersey Mike's for a fundraising campaign from June 5-9 (click here for coupons) that includes a special event on Thursday, June 9 (and here's info about that).
‘Together We Tee’ is a six-week golf program offered this summer at Manchester Country Club to local Black and Brown youth of all genders and their parents/guardians. Click here for more information.
The Off-Main Experience returns to Purnell Place on Thursdays in July from 5 - 7 p.m.
Sports Notes
- East Catholic grad Frank Mozzicato, drafted last year by the Kansas City Royals, made his pro debut in the minors yesterday and the JI has it covered.
- Manchester Soccer Club is holding travel team tryouts for the fall in June. Click here for more information.
Community Athletic Solutions will hold soccer camps for boys and girls ages 6 -14 at Charter Oak Park in July and August. Click here for details.
Manchester PAL is offering 3/3 basketball for youths on Friday night from June 17 - August 5. Click here to register.
Manchester Red Hawks Pop Warner cheer and football registration is open. Click here for more info.
Hundreds of Manchester kids from elementary schools throughout town were at a packed Dunkin Donuts Park on Tuesday morning for Baseball in Education Day. (The game was between the University of Hartford and Merrimack College.)
Clockwise from top left are Verplanck, Martin and Highland photos. For more check out this coverage from Fox 61 which includes an interview with Waddell Principal Aisha Florez (right).
OneManchester is compiled by Jim Farrell of the school district's communications office; he can be reached at b11jfarr@mpspride.org or 860-268-6377. OneManchester has been published since August 2017 and features the photography of Paul Ofria. Want to subscribe? Just click here.