OneManchester
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022
TODAY MARKS THE START of National Hispanic Heritage Month and people sometimes wonder, why does this celebration start in the middle of September and not the beginning? We'll explain that below and also today bring back our popular 'Humans of Manchester' feature under a new video format. Plus, as you already know, we have the most comprehensive local calendar and collection of community content as you'll find anywhere.
WHY NOW?
September 15 marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries -- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua while Mexico (Sept. 16) and Chile (Sept. 18) celebrate their independence shortly thereafter.
What used to be Hispanic Heritage Week (starting in 1968) was expanded in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The Hispanic population of the United States was 62.6 million as of July 1, 2021, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority — 18.9% of the total population.
Humans of Manchester
Town celebration
Manchester will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day at Leisure Labs, Mahoney Rec Center on Saturday, Sept. 24. Read more here.
BoE and IEPs
- The Board of Education met Monday night and the agenda featured an opening-school update from Superintendent Matt Geary. To see a replay click here; the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26 and will include more Spring Data information.
The state Department of Education has a new data management system that offers an online portal where parents can access their child’s IEP as well as other related documents. The system will also have the option for an electronic signature for documents, a language translation function, and other features as well. Click for more.
More Notes
MUSICALLY
- "The President's Own" United States Marine Band will perform at MHS on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free but tickets are required and here is the link.
- Fourth graders can play selected band and orchestra instruments in school this year. Here is where to find a great deal of information.
Big Weekend Ahead
- The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is saluting First Responders and Military personnel at a second annual appreciation event tomorrow.
- An "Exploring Archaeology' program is being held on Saturday at the Pitkin Glass Works (see inste; it's at the corner of Parker and Putnam) and the info is here. (And here's the form to register.)
- The CCGC Fall Fest is the same day -- Saturday, Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
ALSO
Thursday, Sept. 15
1:30 - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
6 p.m. -- Cub Scout Pack 47 Open House at South United Methodist Church, 1226 Main St.
7 p.m. -- Manchester Art Association abstract art demonstration at 595 Tolland Tpke
Friday, Sept. 16
7 p.m. -- Pine Street Players Present: The Legend of Black Duck at Cheney Hall.
Saturday, Sept. 17
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. -- MACC Farmers Market in the Forest St parking lot.
10 a.m. - noon and 1 -3 p.m. -- Explore archaeology at Pitkin Glass Works (registration required - click here for the form)
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- CCGC’s Fall Fest at 1075 Tolland Tpke.
1 p.m. -- 145th anniversary of Manchester’s Civil War monument, meet at 41 Center St.
7 p.m. -- Rave On! The Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison Show at Cheney Hall.
Sunday, Sept. 18
1 p.m. -- Manchester Landtrust’s Lombardo property walk starting at 871 Hillstown Rd.
Monday, Sept. 19
6:30 p.m. -- Calpulli Mexican Dance Company for all ages at Whiton Library.
Tuesday, Sept. 20
7 p.m. -- Evenings @ 7: Creditors at Cheney Hall.
7 p.m. -- Boy Scout Troop 25 Joining Night at Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
4:30 - 7 :30 p.m. -- Farmer’s Market at Northwest Park.
6 p.m. -- Fall Equinox Sound Meditation at Whiton Library.
ALSO:
- Free Retro game nights will be held at Northwest Park on Thursdays Sept. 15, 22 and Oct. 20 from 6:30- 7:30.
ALSO ALSO:
In addition to the Pack 47 event tonight, there are two Boy Scout recruiting nights coming up:
- Boy Scout Troop 25 (Center Congregational Church) is also recruiting newcomers next Tuesday and their flier is here.
- Boy Scout Troop 27, which meets at St. Mary's Church, is welcoming new members next Thursday. Click here for details.
Next Saturday (Sept. 24) Will Be Busy Too
In addition to the Hispanic Heritage Day Celebration, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mahoney, there are two other big events that day:
The official Ribbon Cutting at Buckley School is at 9 a.m.
- And the Town Clerk's Office is hosting an Ancestors Road Show genealogy event at Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We'll have more on all three events in next week's OneManchester.
Further Down The Road
- Rotary in Motion is scheduled for Oct. 1 and will again be based at Charter Oak Park. There's music and more including different bike tours including a 30-miler to East Hartford. Click for information.
- The Downtown Scarecrow Festival will be Oct. 8—29 and all the info is here (including registration information).
- The town's Fall Festival at Northwest Park features pumpkin decorating on Oct. 11 and 13 and then a big (and scary!) event on Friday, Oct. 14. Check it out.
- Bark in the Park returns Saturday, Oct. 22. Details are here.
- The Manchester Road Race is Nov. 24 and online registration has begun. Click for more.
Also
- Six unique Manchester houses of varied vintages will be showcased at the Sculpture Project 2022 House Tour on Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here's more.
Library Updates
On Thursday, Sept. 29 there will be a free community-wide reading event with New York Times Best Selling Author Zakiya Dalia Harris at SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium at Manchester Community College.
- A referendum seeking $39 million to build a new library on Main Street will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8 and there's lot of info on the group's Facebook page.
Community Connections
The Change Collaborative of Manchester is looking to gather more information from parents, caregivers, and adults in Manchester on their attitudes and perceptions on youth substance use. Click for more.
- The latest Manchester Historical Society newsletter includes a 1927 story about the ‘shimmy house’ on Spring St. where curiosity seekers paid a quarter to experience … plus a list of upcoming events,and of course, a history quiz that is not easy this week.
- The Manchester Memorial Day Parade Committee is seeking committee members to help plan and prepare for the next parade and related activities. Click for more.
- Manchester Matters, the town's long-published newsletter, has a new look and you can see more (and find a link to subscribe) by clicking here. Plus check the town events calendar for more.
Indoor swim lessons and much much more. It's all in this guide and Fall program registration began for Manchester residents yesterday. Click for more.
In The News
- Manchester's was among 29 Rotary Clubs that joined together to fund a project that will bring fresh drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene training to three needy communities in Guatemala. Here's more on that.
- Better Manchester has a story looking ahead to a variety of events and programs.
Red Hawk Tickets
- All MHS athletic event tickets will be sold electronically this season. Tickets to tomorrow night’s football home opener against Wethersfield can be purchased here.
- Check out this interview with Jon Cohn, head coach of the Manchester High boys soccer team as well as Team USA's U-16 team that finished second at the Maccabiah Games in Israel over the summer.
- A reception for Marcy MacDonald in recognition of her 18th English Channel Swim will be held on Oct. 7 at WORK_SPACE. Details are here.
- Manchester Travel Basketball (boys and girls grades 4-8) has clinics scheduled for five Tuesdays starting Sept. 20. Click for more information.
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.