OneManchester
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN to a school holiday concert yet, you have two great chances left before 2023 comes to an end. Tonight the Illing bands will be on stage in Bailey Auditorium and next Tuesday it’s the big MHS event with the chorus, orchestra and concert band joined by other ensembles. We have more details as well as lots of other notes and note below during this busy time in the district and around town.
Note: OneManchester will be published next Thursday (Dec. 21) but then take a break, returning on Thursday, Jan. 4..
In The Spotlight
Holiday Concerts
lling chorale groups performed on Tuesday night; we have more photos on the district FB page. As a reminder, the holiday concerts at Bailey Auditorium are free and open to all and start at 7 p.m.
Here's what's ahead:
Tonight -- Illing Band Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 19 -- MHS Holiday Concert
Tuesday, Jan. 9 -- MHS Modern Band Concert
Wednesday, Jan. 17 -- MHS Mid-Winter Concert
Monday, Jan. 22 -- MHS presents the United States Coast Guard Band
Ensembles adding to the festivities at the Holiday Concert next Tuesday are the MHS Handbells, Woodwind Ensemble, Trombone Quartet, Double Bass trio, and vocal quartet. To see the flier (which is in Spanish too) please click here.
BoE Update
The next BoE meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8 at Lincoln Center with the superintendent's recommended 2024-25 budget on the agenda. The last meeting (held Monday) included the fall data report. For a replay of the meeting click here.
Also:
- The Manchester Preschool Center is still enrolling students from families that meet federal income guidelines into its Head Start program. Click here to see a Spanish-English flier for more information.
- If you haven't taken the district's fall family survey, here's the link.
That's junior Gavin Kane asking fellow Red Hawk students about class. You can see the latest edition of 'The Pulse' by clicking here. Below are co-anchors Sophie and Mickiyah of the most recent Illing News, which you can see here.
News and Notes
Fundraisers
- Bowers Elementary is holding a fundraiser at Jersey Mike's through Saturday. Click here for details.
- The Class of 2024 is running a cookie fundraiser for their senior prom and other senior events that can be purchased online with delivery by clicking here. This offer ends on Dec. 15.
- The MHS cheerleaders are doing a 'double good' popcorn fundraiser and the info is here.
The Illing Middle School Honors Choir has a fundraiser at Red Robin on Dec. 19 Click here for details.
The MHS Broadcast Journalism students are hosting a Bingo fundraiser at the Elks Club on Jan. 12 to help support their trip to the National Convention In California. No tickets will be sold at the door. Click here for more info.
Also: Researchers at UConn are seeking the parents of high school and middle school students to be part of a 90-minute focus group discussion on the impact of social media on their children's mental health. You’ll get a $25 gift card just for taking part and there’s more information here. (And even more here.)
The ‘Perspectives of Time’ art exhibit at WORK_SPACE opened with a special event on Friday night and runs through Jan. 26. That's WORK_SPACE manager Stacey Zackin greeting guests and (lower right) photographer/videographer Zack Carroll talking about one of his pieces at the opening.
The Week Ahead
Thursday, Dec. 14
10 - 11:15 a.m. -- Preschool Picassos at Mary Cheney Library.
12:30 - 5:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
6:30 p.m. -- Manchester Eats: Perfect Poundcakes at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
Friday, Dec. 15
4 - 7 p.m. -- Manchester School PTA Toy Drive at Mahoney Rec Center.
7 p.m. -- Elvis the King: Holiday Show at Cheney Hall.
7 - 8:30 p.m. -- Time & Other Illusions – Magic by Kody Hildebrand at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
Saturday, Dec. 16
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. -- Holiday in the Park at Northwest Park, 448 Tolland Tpke.
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Spruce Street Farmers Market Holiday Indoor Market, Nathan Hale Activity Center, 160 Spruce St.
10:30 - 11:45 a.m. -- Saturday Storytime for 2-5 year olds at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- Legends: Holiday Spectacular (Cher - Elvis - Diamond) at Cheney Hall.
7:30 p.m. -- Christmas Through the Ages with Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale at St. Bartholomew’s Church,736 Middle Tpke East.
Sunday, Dec 17
2 p.m. -- Charlie Brown Holiday Jazz featuring The Eric Mintel Quartet at Cheney Hall.
7 p.m. -- Project Choir One concert at Emanuel Lutheran Church.
Monday, Dec. 18
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- ABC Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Dino Time @ Whiton at Whiton Library
6:30 - 8 p.m. -- Fourth Wing Fan Paint Night at Mary Cheney Library.
Tuesday, Dec. 19
10 - 10:20 a.m. -- Baby Rhyme Time at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. -- ‘Solutions Not Resolutions’ led by Stacy Zackin, PhD at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St. (also offered on Jan. 5).
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Picture Bingo at Mary Cheney Library.
Wednesday Dec. 20
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- Toddling Tots at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- ABC Storytime at Whiton Library.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Dungeons & Dragons at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Happily Ever After Book Club at Whiton Library.
Also:
Santa’s Workshop at Wickham Park is open through Dec. 23. Click the link for the schedule.
The overnight parking ban between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. will be in effect until April 1.
The Manchester Fire Support Group’s 1st Annual Christmas Tree Lot Christmas tree sale at 18 Main St. (former 8th Utilities District) is under way and continues till they run out. Click here for hours and more details.
Manchester Police Department’s toy drive ends this Friday. Click the link for times and locations.
Down the Road:
Free Movie Nights at Nathan Hale Recreation Center will happen on the first Friday of the month through April starting with ‘Inside Out’ on Jan. 5. Click here for show schedule and dates.
Little Theatre of Manchester’s 2024 season starts with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Feb. 2 - 18 and you can see the full lineup by clicking here.
A Clean Sweep
The town’s leaf collection program is complete as of Wednesday. Everything you need to know about the program (including the full completed map) is here.
This and That
As part of a branding initiative, the town is seeking community input through a survey you'll find here. (For a flier in Spanish, click here.)
Also:
- The town is asking residents to share their ideas about and vision for a new 21st Century public library via a survey you'll find here.
- The Youth Service Bureau is offering mini-grants to local groups and organizations and the info is here.
A Pin for the Win
Illing eighth grader Lily Rogers pinned her opponent in her first-ever wrestling match to help Illing beat Beman Middle School (Middletown) Monday afternoon in the Kelley Gym. We have more pictures from the meet on our OneManchester CT sports Facebook page.
ALSO:
Red Hawk alumni update: Logan Tomlinson (right) played a fifth season as a graduate student at University of New Hampshire this year and we have his stats in a report on the OneMan Sports FB page. We also have updates on the brothers Jared and Noah Lindstrom (both at Wesleyan) and Adrian Parker (Franklin Pierce).
The Manchester Knights instructional basketball program for k - fourth graders runs on Wednesdays at Verplanck School through Feb. 14. Click here for details.
The town is offering co-ed basketball for high school students at the Mahoney Rec on Saturdays starting in December. Click here for sign-up information.
Making A Difference
Joe Battaglia, by day an English teacher at MHS, brought his 'Hip Hop for the Homeless' tour to the Main Pub last Friday night and the event raised more than $1,400. (That's Main Pub owner Keith Beaulieu passing the check.) Click here for more.
- 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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