OneManchester

JUST ONE YEAR AFTER our Little League All Stars reached the World Series in Williamsport, Pa., Manchester has another youth team on a big stage as the Redhawks 10u football team is heading to Orlando for the Pop Warner national championships. We have the scoop below including a look at the nine proud dads coaching the team of fourth- and fifth-graders. We also have the town’s most comprehensive calendar, which includes a list of upcoming school concerts. Btw to subscribe to our newsletter just click here.

The Manchester Redhawks are leaving today for Orlando, site of the national Pop Warner championships. They beat Naugatuck last weekend to win the New England Region and begin play in what's called the 'Pop Warner Super Bowl' on Saturday against Addison, Illinois.

The Red Hawks are guaranteed to play two games at the Pop Warner Super Bowl, with a National Champion being crowned in various age-weight divisions and competition levels.

• Manchester families are traveling by plane, car or van to Orlando, with most leaving today. Donations to defray travel costs can be made through Go Fund Me.
• There's lots more information at this website.

On Tuesday night in Bailey Auditorium, members of the classes of 2023 and '24 were inducted into the National Honor Society.

Illing technology students visited the Manchester High woodshop to collaborate on a bat house building project.

• TOY DRIVE: Manchester Public Schools Building & Grounds Dept. is collecting toys for Manchester Children through Dec. 15. Drop-off info is here.
• HOLIDAY CONCERTS : They begin with Bennet Academy's sixth graders on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Bailey Auditorium and run through Dec. 20. Click here for the full schedule
• CLASS OF 2023 FUNDRAISER: Buy your poinsettias at Woodland Gardens and support Project Graduation. Details are here.
• PJ DAY FOR KIDS: The district's annual initiative to help kids fighting cancer is coming up on Dec. 9. Click here for details about how wearing PJs can raise awareness and make a difference.
• BOARD OF EDUCATION: The next Board of Education meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 12 and will be televised live on the district FB page. You can participate virtually and here's how that works.

Take the MPS Fall Family Survey -- it's just 10 questions and will help with future planning.

Thursday, Dec. 1
2 a.m. -- The parking ban on public streets or municipal parking lots begins today.
1:30 - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.

11:30 a.m. -- 1:30 p.m. -- 7th Annual Veterans Holiday Gathering at Elks Club, 30 Bissell St.
6:30 p.m. -- Living with Wildlife with Ginny Apple at Mary Cheney Library.

Friday, Dec. 2
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Yoga for Toys at Community Y, 78 North Main St.

Saturday, Dec. 3
9 a.m. - noon -- Can and bottle drive at in St.James Church parking lot, 869 Main St.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- Open house at the Old Manchester Museum, 126 Cedar St.

10:30 a.m. --2 p.m. -- CAST Holiday Vendor Fair Extravaganza at the Elks Club 30 Bissell St.
7 p.m. -- 7th Annual Manchester CT Jazz Fest at Cheney Hall.

Sunday, Dec. 4
Noon - 3 p.m. -- Support our Soldiers-CT with cookies, Hillstown Grange Hall, 617 Hills St, East Hartford.

Monday, Dec. 5

6:30 p.m. -- Alpine Ski Basics at Mary Cheney Library.
7-8 p.m. -- Can and bottle redemption to benefit World-Wide Lighthouse Mission’s outreach program at 723 Main St.

Tuesday, Dec. 6
2 p.m. -- Diabetes and Stress lecture at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- BOD meeting at Lincoln Center.

Wednesday, Dec 7
3:30 p.m. -- Graphic Novel Book Club for 2-5 graders at Whiton Library.
6 p.m. -- Holiday Gift Wrap Party for adults at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- 7th Annual Manchester CT Jazz Fest at Cheney Hall.

8 p.m. -- 'Hip Hop for the Homeless, Year 9' returns to the Main Pub

Also:

• CAST children’s theatre has performances of ‘And Then There Was One’ on Saturday and Sunday at 113 Summit St. and ‘The Grinch’ at Buckley School next two weekends. Click here for details.

• Manchester’s Leaf Collection program is near the end of Area 1; for details on the program, click here. And for a status map as of Nov. 30, click here.

• The Manchester Land Conservation Trust’s indoor tag sale will take place this weekend Friday - Sunday from from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the barn at 330 Bush Hill Rd.

Down the Road:

• 'Hip Hop for the Homeless, Year 9' returns to the Main Pub on Wednesday, Dec 7.

• Wickham Park’s 40th Annual Santa’s workshop opens on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. and runs through Dec. 23.
  

• CPR classes will be offered on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 75 Main St. (second floor of the fire station). Click here for more information.

• ‘The Nutcracker’ will be at both Cheney Hall and Manchester High School on Dec. 10 and 11. Click the links for showtimes and ticket info.

• Knights of Columbus’ 9th annual Pizza with Santa will be on Sunday, Dec. 11 at St. James Church Hall.

• Charlie Brown Holiday Jazz with the Eric Mintel Quartet at Cheney Hall on Dec. 16.

The rec department's Winter/Spring guide is available online (and was mailed home) and resident registration begins next Wednesday at 9 a.m. Click for more.

Are you a poet, speaker, essayist or digital artist?

In honor of International Mother Language Day (IMLD), the Town of Manchester’s Department of Leisure, Family and Recreation and Manchester Public Schools are seeking submissions for the International Mother Language Day: Language is Art Exhibit. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 23 and you can click here for more details.

• Manchester Historical Society: Learn more McClusky family history…The last open house at the Old Manchester Museum will be on Saturday..The Cheney Homestead will be open on Saturday and next Sunday (Dec. 11)...Check in with Manchester High’s class of ‘54 who recently held its 68th reunion…And down the road there will be a free history walk on the Great Lawn (Jan 1) and a Cheney Railroad walk on Jan. 21.
• Manchester Matters has important towns news and event calendar. Click here to subscribe.

Clockwise from lower left are Juan Rios, Brian Harlow, Kyle Thomas, Terrell Patterson, Shannon James, Darryl Thomas, Ed Hurst, Doug Bernier and Calvin Harris -- coaches of the Redhawk Pop Warner team. You can read about their special bond in 'Humans of Manchester', which is on Facebook and Instagram.

• NOTE: OneManchester is compiled by Paul Ofria of 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, anything, that you think people would want to know about, please let us know. Photos, fliers, links, tips, whatever -- please share with Paul at pofria@mpspride.org.