OneManchester

MANCHESTER’S BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR is a week away, and more than 10,000 people have already registered for the annual Thanksgiving Day Road Race. We have details below and also a look ahead to Saturday, when the Little Road Race will be held at Manchester High in conjunction with a Health & Fitness Expo. In school district news, we have coverage of a computing challenge and a pilot’s visit and also a preview of a Friday night football showdown against East Hartford.

.

Note: We will not have a newsletter next week;

OneManchester will return on Dec. 5

The Road Race website has everything you need to know but here are some highlights:

Saturday, Nov. 23 at Manchester High

• MRR Health & Fitness Expo (8:30 a.m. -noon)

• LMRR check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. (pre-registered entrants only)

• MRR T-Shirt Sales (8:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm)

• Walk-in registration & bib pick-up for 88th MRR (8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

• Precision Sky Diving Team Exhibition at 9:40 a.m.

• Little Manchester Road Races (10:00 am - Noon)

Friday, Nov. 29 at Manchester High

• Annual “Ray Crothers Blood Drive” from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 28 (10 a.m. start on Main Street)

• This will be the 88th edition of the Manchester Road Race.

• Weini Kelati, who has won the women’s race for the past three years, is returning to defend her title.

• Defending men’s champ Morgan Beadlescomb won't be back but former winners Ben Flanagan (2021) and Sam Chelanga (2013) are entered.

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and state Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker were among the dignitaries at Bennet Academy for the launch of the Lt. Governor's Computing Challenge, is a statewide coding competition for Connecticut students.

In addition to this video, we also have photos from the event on the district Facebook page.

The Board of Education has a pre-budget workshop tonight at 6 p.m. at MHS (Room 293) and on Monday is at Bennet Academy for a regular meeting with a Bennet update on the agenda.

Also:

• The day before Thanksgiving -- Wednesday, Nov. 27 -- will be an early release day following the emergency dismissal schedule. That means the day ends at 11 a.m. for high schoolers with Bennet, Illing and MMA done at 11:45 a.m. and the elementary schools at 12:30 p.m. To see the district calendar click here.

• The MHS broadcast journalism bingo fundraiser is Saturday and they've updated their list of prizes -- as you'll see on this flier that has all the info you need to know. Also, the broadcast journalism program is also rolling out its annual calendar fundraiser, with prizes awarded every day in December. Click here for that flier. (Tickets can be purchased through broadcast journalism students or by texting 860-798-1060.)
• The latest "Pulse" is out and stories include a look at the MHS manufacturing program, IXLeration at Illing, and more Fly By sports. "The Nest" also has lots of student-produced news.

Thursday, Nov. 21
12:30 - 5:30 p.m. -- Red Cross blood drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
4 - 4:45 p.m. -- CheckMates for 2-5 graders at Whiton Library.
6 - 8:30 p.m. -- Veterans Coffee House at Army & Navy Club, 1090 Main St.
7 p.m. -- Manchester Art Association meeting at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Tpke.
7- 9 p.m. -- The Listening Room / Open Mic at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.for sign-up)

Friday, Nov. 22
11 a.m. -- Preschool playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Yoga for Food at Community Y Rec Center.

Saturday, Nov. 23
7:30 a.m. - noon -- Road Race Saturday at Manchester High School.
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Artisan Holiday Market at 153 Vernon St. West.
10 a.m. - noon -- Community Baby Shower at Manchester Memorial Hospital, 71 Haynes St.
8:30 - 3:30 p.m. -- Ray Crothers blood drive at Manchester High School.

Monday, Nov. 25
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Dino Time at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.-- Ovation Guitars at Mary Cheney Library
7 p.m. -- BoE meeting at Lincoln Center.
7 - 8 p.m. -- WWLM is accepting cans, bottles and all donations at the Donation Center, 11 Bissell St. (Donations can also be made M-Th, 10 a.m. - noon and 1 - 3:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Nov. 26
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Bingo for Kids at Mary Cheney Library.

Wednesday, Nov. 27
9:30 - 10 a.m. -- Baby Rhyme Time at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Preschool Fun with Math Storytime at Whiton Library.

.

• The Leaf Collection Program is under way and you can click here to see the schedule and here for the area map.

• If you are thinking about going back to school but need childcare, CT State Community College has convenient care on campus while you are in class. Click here for more info.

• CAST children’s theatre presents ‘Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS’ on Monday and Tuesday and ‘Oliver Jr.’ on Thursday and Friday. Click here for showtimes, ticket info and more.\

• Make friendship bracelets at Family Fun Night on Friday at 153 Spruce St. Click here to learn more.

• ‘Something Rotten!’ runs at Cheney Hall through Sunday.

• UR Community Cares Tech Center will host Parkinsons’ Disease Support Group sessions on the second Tuesday of the month at 153 Spruce St. starting this coming Tuesday.

Friday, Nov. 29
11 a.m. -- Preschool playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- Roy Orbison Tribute Show at Cheney Hall.

Saturday, Nov. 30
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- Holiday on Main, Main St.
1 p.m. -- Highland Park History Hike starting at the parking near the bridge/waterfall on Spring St.
7 p.m. -- Floydian Trip -the ultimate Pink Floyd Tribute at Cheney Hall.

Sunday, Dec 1
1 - 4 p.m. -- Cheney Homestead Open House, 106 Hartford Rd.

Monday, Dec. 2
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- What’s In and What’s Out: Recycling at Mary Cheney Library.
7 - 8 p.m. -- WWLM is accepting cans, bottles and all donations at the Donation Center, 11 Bissell St. (Donations can also be made M-Th, 10 a.m. - noon and 1 - 3:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Dec. 3
6 p.m. -- Manchester Youth Commision meeting at YSB, 63 Linden St

Wednesday, Dec. 4
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. -- R.E.A.D. to a Dog (pre-K - Grade 4) at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. -- East Side Neighborhood Block Watch meeting at 153 Spruce St.
6:30 - 8 p.m. -- Poetry at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.

• The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund announced a competitive grant opportunity for nonprofits proposing projects to benefit the residents of Manchester. Click for details.
• A coloring contest for children ages 5-10 who live in town will determine who gets to light the Downtown Manchester Christmas tree. The contest deadline is tomorrow and the tree-lighting event is Nov. 30 and there's more info here.

• The Youth Service Bureau is offering lots of opportunities of note. He are some in-school programs (FACTS, Girl Circles and Voices) and a list of Fall and Winter programs (employment readiness, cooking, birdwatching and much more).
• The Bennet Academy PTSA is holding a fundraiser at Panera on Dec. 11. Click here for more info.

• Town offices will be closed Nov. 28 and 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday and Thursday and Friday’s trash/recycling collection will be delayed by one day.

• Manchester Public School PTA’s 2nd annual Holiday Toy Drive will take place at Mahoney Rec on Dec 6. Click here for more info.

• Manchester The Manchester Land Trust will hold a special tag sale at 330 Bush Hill Rd on Dec. 6, 7, 8.

• The 9th annual Manchester-CT Jazz Festival will be held at Cheney Hall on Dec. 7.

• The Knights of Columbus will be hosting ‘Pizza with Santa’ at St. James Church on Dec. 8. Click here for details.

• CAST children’s theatre’s 14th annual Holiday Showcase Toy Drive will take place on Dec. 11. Click here for details.

• Santa’s Workshop opens on Dec. 12 at Wickham Park and runs through Dec. 23. Click here for details.

• Save the Friday, Dec. 13 for PJ Day 2024. Check back in two weeks for more details

The MHS football team (6-3) upset New Britain (7-2) on the road last Friday and will host East Hartford (3-6) in the traditional Thanksgiving game this Friday with a playoff berth on the line.

Senior captains Julian Ortiz (#33) and Josh Kwarteng (#9) have been a big part of the team's success on defense this season. Ortiz leads the Red Hawks with 37 solo tackles and 104 assists while Kwarteng averages 6.4 tackles per game and is the team leader with six sacks.

Also:

• The town rec department is running a free three-on-three basketball tournament (ages 14-17) at Waddell Elementary School on Dec. 19 and the info is here.

Ruben Ruiz, a Jet Blue pilot and Keeney parent, gave students insights into what it's like to fly a jet -- in his case an Airbus A321, which weighs more than 200,000 pounds.

DON'T FORGET THE ANNEX: This is our 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.