OneManchester
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024
It's that time of the year for some -- starting the registration process for children to enter kindergarten in August 2024. Beginning next school year, children must turn 5 on or before Sept. 1 in order to be automatically eligible for kindergarten but there are options for '-ber babies' (those born in September, October, November and December). Options for families with children born between Sept. 2 and Dec. 31 will surely be discussed at Saturday's Early Childhood Fair, which is from 9 a.m. to noon in the MHS cafeteria. Also this weekend is the fourth annual Souper Bowl (sponsored by MACC) and the 58th annual Super Bowl (featuring Usher singing, Taylor Swift cheering and two football teams).
In The Spotlight
Shayla Price, Caishaun Emilcar and Pam Woodruff are the latest entries in our "Humans of Manchester'' gallery, which you can find on both Facebook and Instagram. And parents and guardians, you can to let us know who you would like to see recognized. This form tells you how that works.
BoE Meets at HPS Monday
The next regular BoE meeting is scheduled for Monday at Highland Park School starting at 7 p.m. with a Highland Park update and the 2024-25 budget adoption on the agenda. To see replays of past meetings and budget workshops, click here.
News and Notes
- Illing Middle School's Eastern Division Junior High Honor Choir has a fundraiser at Sweet Frog tomorrow night (Feb. 9) from 5 - 8 p.m. Click here to find out more.
- The Student Equity Advisory Team at MHS is selling merchandise featuring the slogan "Ignite Change, Love Worldwide", a phrase that embodies the work they do in the community and what they want the community to embrace. Check out this flier and to learn how to order click here.
- Project Graduation has a fundraiser at Ben & Jerry's in Evergreen Walk. It's March 7 from 4-9 p.m. and 10% of proceeds will benefit project graduation class of 2024. Here's the flier.
- The MHS Class of 2025 is running a Popcorn fundraiser through Feb. 11 with proceeds used to lower the cost of prom tickets. Click for more.
Related:
Project Graduation is looking for volunteers to lead a few committees during the 2024-25 school year. Click for information.
Manchester’s Early Childhood Fair is free, open to the public, and provides a wealth of information on preschools, programs, services, recreation, and local resources available for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and young children up to age 8. It’s Saturday from 9-noon at MHS.
Note:
To see the school district kindergarten plan click here.
Calendar
Thursday, Feb. 8
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 8:15 p.m. -- Learn Counted Cross Stitch - Heart Design at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime for 2-5 year-olds at Mary Cheney Library.
Friday, Feb. 9
10 a.m. -- Preschool Playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
Saturday, Feb. 10
9 a.m. - noon -- Manchester’s Early Childhood Fair at the MHS cafeteria.
9 a.m. - noon -- MACC Charities’ 4th Annual Souper Bowl of Caring at 466 Main St.
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Spruce Street Farmers Market, 160 Spruce St.
10:30 a.m. -- The Lost Tribe Presents: An Exchange at Mary Cheney Library.
7:30 p.m. -- Women Soar with Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale at Bailey Auditorium.
Sunday, Feb. 11
3 p.m. -- Intro to UU, at Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 W Vernon St.
3 p.m. -- Afro-Semitic Experience concert at Unitarian Universalist Society East, 153 W Vernon St.
Monday, Feb. 12
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- ABC Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Tykes, Trucks & Trains at Whiton Library.
Noon - 1 p.m. -- Lunch with Lasso (Ted Lasso) at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
7 p.m. -- BOE meeting at Highland Park School.
6 - 8 p.m. -- Songwriters Group at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
Tuesday, Feb. 13
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. -- Chess Club for 6 - 9 graders at Mary Cheney Library.
6 p.m. -- Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Pancake Supper featuring Katz’n Jammers Swing Band at Second Congregational Church, 385 N Main St.
6 p.m. -- Focus on Cardiovascular Health with Dr. Daniel Korkmaz at John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center, 100 Haynes St.
6:30 - 8 p.m. -- Date Night downtown: Upcycle Cigar Boxes - A Galentine’s Special at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
7 p.m. -- BoD meeting at Lincoln Center.
Wednesday, Feb. 14
10 a.m. - noon -- Genealogy group roundtable discussion or possible special guest at the History Center, 175 Pine St.
3 - 4:15 p.m. -- Picture Bingo for all ages at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 8 p.m. -- Town Wide Block Watch at Senior Center, 549 East Middle Tpke.
Also:
The Blank Canvas: Unboxed art exhibit at WORK_SPACE opened last Friday (see pictures below) and runs through April 5. Click here for the schedule and info on W_S programming.
Little Shop of Horrors opens at Cheney Hall on Friday and runs on the weekends through Feb. 18. Click here for times and ticket info.
iCode is offering an early bird special (40% off) on summer camps to Manchester students who register before Feb. 10. Click here for more information.
Chicken corn chowder and tomato bisque are on the menu -- and all proceeds go the the MACC food pantry and community kitchen. Click for info.
Scouting
Troop 25 is having a grinder fundraiser and all the details are here.
Down the Road
YSB will present ‘What is Consent?’ on Feb 15 for teens to learn and discuss teen dating violence. Click here to learn more.
Manchester Public School will be closed Feb. 19 and 20 in observance of Presidents’ Day.
Little Theatre of Manchester’s 2024 Jukebox Music Series starts with 'The Ultimate Cher Experience' on Feb. 24. Click here for the full schedule.
Free Movie Nights at Nathan Hale Recreation Center continue on the first Friday of the Month through April. Next up on March 1: ‘My Neighbor Totoro’. Click here for show schedule and dates.
The Manchester Antique and Collectibles Show returns to Second Congregational Church at 385 North Main St. on March 15 and 16. Click here for details.
YSB and MADD collaborate to present The Power of You(th) on March 21 at 63 Linden St.
Manchester High’s Sock N Buskin will present Mama Mia! at Bailey Auditorium March 21-23.
MARC, Inc’s Bowl-A-Thon will happen at Hall of Fame Silver Lanes East Hartford on March 24.
Also:
- The Youth Service Bureau is offering mini-grants to local groups and organizations and the info is here.
Words Have Meaning
During Black History Month, the Manchester Public Library is each day featuring a book by a Black author and here are a few that have been shared so far.
Red Hawks on the Run
The MHS boys came back from a double-digit deficit on Monday to beat Enfield 66-60 and improved to 14-2 on the season. The Red Hawks will try to make it seven in a row tonight when they host E. O. Smith at 6:30 p.m.
ALSO:
- The Manchester Pop Warner Red Hawks Football & Cheer program is offering a speed and agility training on Saturdays starting Feb. 24. Click here for info
- The Manchester High Red Hawks Baseball Booster Club will be hosting its 2nd annual pasta dinner fundraiser on Feb. 25. Click here for more info.
- We have more sports pics on our OneManchester CT sports Facebook page.
WORK_SPACE's fourth annual Blank Canvas: Unboxed art exhibit opened Friday night and runs through April 5. Over 30 artists recycled cardboard boxes, cold-food insulation, paint cans, oil barrels and much more, transforming trash into art.
- NOTE: OneManchester is compiled by the school district's communications office but is dependent on contributions from people and institutions throughout the town and school district. So if you have something that you think people would want to know about, please let us know. Photos, fliers, links, tips, whatever -- please share with Paul Ofria at pofria@mpspride.org.
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