OneManchester
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024
COMING BACK TO A SHORT WEEK after a longer-than-usual long weekend is always a bit jarring, with too much to catch up on and not nearly enough time to do so -- so today’s edition of OneManchester is a little thin but we have our usual comprehensive calendar as well as photos of the red hot Red Hawk boys basketball team and news of other all-state MHS musicians and athletes. Two upcoming events of note: an International Mother’s Language Day program tomorrow at Center Congregational Church and “The Stories We Tell” featuring Manchester youth Monday night at MHS. We start off with details about both:
INTERNATIONAL MOTHER’S LANGUAGE DAY: It’s a worldwide annual observance held on Feb. 21 each year to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism and will be recognized locally tomorrow from 5-8 p.m. at Center Congregational Church. Click here for more.
'THE STORIES WE TELL' : The African American and Black Affairs Council, Town of Manchester and MPS Dept. of Race and Equity are sponsoring an event on Monday (Feb. 26) at 6 p.m. in Bailey Auditorium that will feature Manchester youth as part of Black History and Manchester Bicentennial Celebration programming. For more info click here.
Other Events and Happenings
Thursday, Feb. 22
10:30 - 11:15 a.m -- Shake, Rattle & Roll at Mary Cheney Library.
6 p.m. -- Let’s Talk About Arthritis with Dr. Colin Burgess at Manchester Memorial Hospital.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime for 2-5 year-olds at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 p.m.-- Wanderlust Book Club at Whiton Library.
6:30 p.m. -- Cabaret Night at Manchester High School.
Friday, Feb. 23
10 a.m. -- Preschool Playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
Saturday, Feb. 24
10 a.m. - noon -- Serenity Hike at 330 Bush Hill Rd.
2 - 2:45 p.m. -- Hip Hop Dance with Gin Christy for 4 - 6 graders at Mary Cheney Library.
Monday, Feb. 26
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.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.-- Heart of the Matter with author Susan Staneslow Olesen at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- BOE meeting at Lincoln Center.
6 - 8 p.m. -- Songwriters Group at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
Tuesday, Feb 27
10- 10:20 a.m. -- Baby Rhyme Time at Mary Cheney Library.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. -- Take Apart Tuesday at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 7 p.m. -- Manchester Youth Commision meeting at Lincoln Center.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime at Whiton Library.
Wednesday, Feb. 28
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- Toddling Tots at Mary Cheney Library.
3 - 4:15 p.m. -- Picture Bingo for all ages at Whiton Library.
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Boys II Men group for young men ages 13-18 at YSB, 63 Linden St.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Teen Game Night at Mary Cheney Library.
Also:
CAST childrens theatre presents Newsies, Jr. at Bailey Auditorium tonight and Friday starting at 7:30. Click here for ticket info.
The town will be holding open houses for public feedback regarding the Downtown Manchester Improvement Project at WORK_SPACE on March 7 and 12. Click here for more info.
The Blank Canvas: Unboxed art exhibit at WORK_SPACE runs through April 5. Click here for the schedule and info on W_S programming.
Little Theatre of Manchester’s 2024 Jukebox Music Series starts with 'The Ultimate Cher Experience' on Saturday. Click here for the full schedule.
Down the Road
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.
A free in-person 8-week parent program focusing on dads starts on March 4 and you can learn more by clicking here.
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.
MHS Project Graduation is holding a comedy fundraiser at the Elks Club on April 4. Click here for details.
During Black History Month, the Manchester Public Library is each day featuring a book by a Black author and here are a few more that have been shared so far.
Youth Service Bureau
'The Power of You(th)' is March 21
- This program will provide research-based information for youth on the dangers of underage drinking and other drug use. Here's the flier.
- 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.
Related:
Project Graduation is looking for volunteers to lead a few committees during the 2024-25 school year. Click for information.
Mental Health Survey
Parents and caregivers of high school students: UConn is researching "Perceptions of Adolescent Social Media and Technology Use and Mental Health in Connecticut Public Schools." The study consists of a 90-minute virtual focus group discussion that will be held Monday, March 25 from 6:30-8 p.m. and there's more information here.
Tourney Tune-up
The MHS boys celebrated senior night on Monday with a 78-61 win over East Hartford and finished the regular season at 18-2. The Red Hawks are ranked #1 in Division 2 and will take a ten-game win streak into the CCC tournament that starts tonight at 6 p.m. when East Hartford returns to MHS for a first round matchup. Click here for the tournament bracket.
Track & Field State Champs
MHS sophomore Samiya Eady (left) won the girls 55 meter dash at last weekend’s state open and the relay team of Nasir Johnson, Adams Hamza, Jaiden Ryans, and Cian Gara Grady placed first in the the boys sprint medley.
The five athletes will be competing at the New England Indoor Track & Field Championship in Boston on March 2nd.
The MHS boys team finished eighth overall at the open while the girls finished 13th. Click here for complete results.
ALSO:
- The Manchester High Red Hawks Baseball Booster Club will be hosting its 2nd annual pasta dinner fundraiser on Sunday. Click here for more info.
- Manchester Little League Baseball and Softball's registration deadline is Monday. Click here for details.
- The Manchester Pop Warner Red Hawks Football & Cheer program is offering a speed and agility training on Saturdays starting this week. Click here for info.
- The CT Knights will be holding AAU basketball tryouts on Feb. 28 at Verplanck School. Click here for detrails.
- Manchester Soccer Club's spring travel team are forming now with a March 2 deadline. Click here for more info.
- Park's Taekwondo has training classes and an after school program and there are more details here.
Music Makers
Left to right: Stewart Keith, Caden Caruk, Owen Austin, Sam Luby, and Mercury Goulet will represent Manchester High at the 2024 Connecticut All-State Music Festival April 4 - 6 at the CT Convention Center in Hartford.
- 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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