OneManchester
Thursday, June 30, 2022
SCHOOL ENDED LAST FRIDAY and the town fireworks celebration was the next night so, yes, you could say summer vaca started with a bang. This week has brought the opening of camps and the start of swim lessons with summer school coming next week along with so much more. We have a summer preview below including a look at the free outdoor concert scene. As for OneManchester, this will be our last edition until September when we will be resume our efforts to bring you all the news and notes you need to know in one place. Til then, enjoy the summer!
Adult Ed Graduation
Board of Ed
- Monday, July 25, 2022 -- Featuring a Spring Data Update
- Monday, August 29, 2022 -- Featuring an Opening of School Update
Reminders:
- THE FIRST DAY of classes for the 2022-23 academic year is Tuesday, Sept. 6 for grades K4, 5, 7 and 9 with students in grades 6, 8 and 10-12 also reporting the following day. Head Start's first day is Sept. 12.
- HEAD START: Looking for information? Click here
Closing Ceremonies
The school year ended with lots of fun and special projects. At Buckley (above), kindergarteners made a ‘rocket ship’ out of a giant cardboard box while Waddell's last day celebration featured a fire truck ride to school for fourth grader Dhaanya Elango, Hartford County's Fire Prevention poster winner (shown below with Principal Aisha Florez) and the debut of the Waddell Dance team followed by a dance party for the entire school.
Free Meals for Children 18 and Younger
From July 5 through August 12, free breakfast and lunch will be available to children 18 years of age or younger at Manchester High School. Please use the Freshman Center entrance on the Summit Street side of the building. Meals must be consumed on site as there is no longer a Grab & Go option per USDA federal regulations. Serving times:
Breakfast: 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Music
Summer concerts return to the MCC Band Shell on Fridays starting with the Glenn Hansen Orchestra on July 8. Click here to see the full schedule.
The Beller’s Summer Concert will take place on Wednesday, July 14 at Center Memorial Park and will feature Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale.
The MARC, Inc Summer Concert Series will be back on Tuesdays in July - click the link for dates and lineup.
The Silk City Fest will be held on Aug. 27 at Purnell Place. Click here to see this year’s band lineup.
Other Notable Events and Activities
Second Saturdays are a big deal Downtown and here's what's happening July 9.
The Manchester Running Company’s Track & Field Series runs on four consecutive Thursdays starting on July 7 at Manchester High.
Manchester Art Association’s newest watercolor exhibit opens on Friday, July 8 at 41 Main St.
The second of three free golf days for Manchester residents at Manchester Country Club will be on July 11.
MARC Inc. Celebrates its 70th birthday at Northwest Park on July 11.
Cruisin’ on Main has been a Manchester staple for over 20 years and will be back on Main St. Aug. 7.
Thursday, June 30
1:30 - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
6-8 p.m. -- Summer Kickoff at Charter Oak Park
7 - 8:30 p.m. -- Conversations for Racial Healing on ZOOM.
Friday, July 1
10 a.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at Buckland Hills Mall, 194 Buckland Hills Dr.
Monday, July 4
Town offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day - curbside collection will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week.
7-8 p.m. -- Can and bottle redemption to benefit World-Wide Lighthouse Mission’s outreach program at 723 Main St.
Tuesday, July 5
3:30 - 4:15 p.m. -- Two Right Feet Storytime Series at Whiton Library.
6:30 p.m. -- Tremendous Tuesday: Zumba Kids with Tracy Brody at Mary Cheney Library.
Wednesday, July 6
4:30- 7:30 p.m. -- Spruce Street Farmers Market at 153 & 163 Spruce St. (Wednesdays through August 31).
6:30 p.m. -- Bollywood Dance Party at Whiton Memorial Library.
Making A Splash
In The News
- The Eighth Utilities District Board of Directors is looking into the possibility of merging its fire and sewer services with the town's. Read about it in the JI.
- The Courant has a story about the Spruce Street Market. Here it is.
ALSO OF NOTE:-
- COVID Vaccine Clinics: The town Health Department is sponsoring clinics on July 7 and July 28. Click for the flier.
- Manchester Greater Together Community Fund: They've issued an 'open call'' to apply for grants and the details are here.
- Manchester Historical Society: The Society is looking for parade photos from Manchester’s Sesquicentennial Parade in 1973 and a research project volunteer; read a few highlights from a June 1967 Manchester Herald; and see if you can solve this week’s quiz. Hint: think links.
Manchester Matters: Holiday schedule for next week; 2022 tax bill information; new landfill/transfer station hours; Veterans benefits counselor will be available at the Weiss Center by appointment.
We've published OneManchester weekly for five years now (with an additional 60-plus special editions during the early weeks of the pandemic) but will be taking this summer off. The newsletter will be back on Sept. 1 although during the next two months we will likely post occasional news and photos on social media, primarily Facebook. So keep checking the district page for school stuff, the OneManchester page for more general local content and OneManchester Sports. Have a great summer and see you in September!
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.