OneManchester

THIRTY YEARS had passed since MHS last made it to the state football playoffs so while Tuesday night’s loss to Southington was disappointing this year’s Red Hawks had a great run and have a lot to feel good about. Also feeling good -- the 88 MHS students inducted into the National Honor Society on Monday night. We have photos of both memorable nights below as well as our calendar, news and notes.

On Monday night 88 students were inducted into the National Honor Society at Manchester High and a wide-angle photo of them doesn't t work in a newsletter like ours, so here are a few of them.

• The next BoE meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Lincoln Center with a fall data update on the agenda. The last meeting (held Monday) included an update on redistricting options next year, when a renovated and enlarged Keeney Elementary will absorb most of the Martin students. For a replay of the meeting click here.
• 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.
  

If you're curious, here's what the middle of that wide-angle photo looks like.

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.)

Fundraisers

• The MHS cheerleaders are doing a 'double good' popcorn fundraiser and the info is here.
  

• Help kids fighting cancer on PJ Day for the Kids on Friday, Dec. 8. Click here to find out more.

• MHS Project Graduation will hold a fundraiser at Urban Lodge on Dec. 8 from 3 -6 p.m.

...annnnd here are the rest. Check out the district Facebook page to see this photo in its original form as well as other pics from Monday's ceremony. And to see the program (with the names of all the inductees) click here.

All programs start at 7 p.m. in Bailey Auditorium

• Monday, Dec. 4 -- Bennet Holiday Concert - 6th Grade

• Tuesday, Dec. 5 -- Bennet Holiday Concert - 5th Grade

• Tuesday, Dec. 12 -- Illing Chorus Concert

• Thursday, Dec. 14 -- 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

From left are teacher Amanda Clark, MHS senior Juan Reyes Martinez and Student Engagement Specialist Michael Broome, who are among the latest additions to our "Humans of Manchester' gallery. We are spotlighting students and staff from throughout the district as part of our 3B Campaign ("Be Bold, Big Impact, Bright Future").

Manchester Land Trust’s Holiday themed tag sale will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 330 Bush Hill Rd. with a special preview today from 3-7 p.m. Click here for more details.

Thursday, Nov. 30

8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist, 300 Parker St.
2:30 - 4 p.m. -- Holiday Ornament Craft at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 p.m. -- Local author Hanna Marcus (“Sidonia’s Seam Binding: A Fitting End to the Sidonia’s Thread Trilogy”) visits Whiton Library.

Friday, Dec. 1
10 a.m. -- Preschool Playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.

Saturday, Dec. 2
8 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at Assumption Church.
7 p.m. -- 8th annual Manchester CT Jazz Fest at Cheney Hall.

Sunday Dec. 3
1 - 4 p.m. -- Cheney Homestead open house, 106 Hartford Rd.

Monday, Dec. 4
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Learn ski basics with Dave England at Mary Cheney Library.

Tuesday, Dec 5
5 - 6:30 p.m. -- Migraine Attacks: Ways to Head Off the Pain at Manchester Memorial Hospital, 71 Haynes St.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Manchester Youth Commision meeting at 41 Center St.
7 p.m -- BOD meeting at Lincoln Center.

Wednesday, Dec. 6
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. -- R.E.A.D. to a Dog Children’s Program at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 6:45 p.m. -- Self-Care Sound Bath Meditation at Whiton Library.

Also:

• The mobile mammography van will be at the Community Y today and you can find out how to make an appointment by clicking here.

• CAST Children’s Theatre presents Disney’s ‘101 Dalmations’ and ‘Madagascar Jr.’ starting tonight. Click here for dates and times.

• The overnight parking ban between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. starts Friday and will be in effect until April 1.

• The 8th Annual Manchester CT Jazz Festival returns to Cheney Hall on Saturday. Click here for ticket info.

• Manchester Police Department’s toy drive starts on Saturday and runs through Dec.15. Click the link for times and locations.

• 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.

• Borgida & Company’s 18th annual food drive to benefit MACC Charities is ongoing through Dec. 13. Click here for details.

Down the Road:

• Little Theatre of Manchester has ‘5 Festive Events That Will Fill Your Heart’ starting with ‘The Nutcracker’ on Dec. 9 and 10. Click this link to learn more.

• Help kids fighting cancer on PJ Day for the Kids on Friday, Dec. 8. Click here to find out more.

• The Hip Hop for the Homeless tour stops at the Main Pub on Dec. 8. All proceeds benefit MACC Charities.

• New River Church will host Kids Day Out on Dec. 9. Click here for online registration.

• The Tree lighting Ceremony at Center Congregational Church on Dec 9 starts with caroling in front of Silk City Coffee at 4:15 p.m.

• Santa’s Workshop at Wickham Park opens on Dec. 12 and runs through Dec. 23. Click the link for the schedule.

Also:

The town’s leaf collection program is powering through Zone I and everything you need to know about the program is here (including a map that is updated periodically showing which streets are done).

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.

If you have an event coming up and want the 10,000-ish people who read OneManchester to know about it, contact Paul Ofria at pofria@mpspride.org

Last Saturday MHS freshman Harper Shirley won the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Freshmen/Sophomore 5K race in Boston.

Harper (18:49) led the 65-runner race from start to finish and was 1:10 faster than the than the runner-up, bringing her freshman xc season to a magnificent end.

Click here for complete race results.

The Red Hawks 11U team won the New England Pop Warner D II Regional Championship last Friday in Worcester and will be traveling to Florida today to compete on the national stage for the second consecutive year. The team plays on Saturday against North Carolina and again on Tuesday against an opponent TBD. Want to help? They have a GoFundMe page.

Manchester High's first state football playoff game in a generation ended in a 47-20 loss to Southington at home Tuesday night. Senior Jullian Henderson (left) ran for 109 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns for the Red Hawks (7-4) and led the team in 2023 with 810 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

We will soon have more photos from these games and the entire fall season on our OneManchester CT sports Facebook page.

ALSO:

• 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.

• The Hartford Shockers are sponsoring a winter travel basketball program starting in December for players in grades 3 - 8. Click here for more info.

DONT FORGET THE ANNEX: This is our new spillover space to other newsletters , social media accounts and more, including the 'OneManchester Planner', which has even has more calendar listings for the months ahead. Plus we share a special flashback photo from Paul Ofria each week. To get to The Annex, click here.

• 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.
• To subscribe to OneManchester, click here.