our past featured stories.

The Realities of High School
This is the third entry in a three-part series entitled How a Pandemic Changed Learning, which is focused on how COVID-19 has impacted local schools and how the affected have adapted to overcome new challenges. The series will focus on three of the most heavily-impacted groups in our schools: teachers, students & their parents. Read More!

Supporting Black-Owned Businesses Goes Beyond Black History Month
Following the summer of 2020, which was one of the most socially-active years ever documented in the history of the United States, people’s desire to help marginalized communities expanded tremendously. The whole nation was looking to support black-owned businesses, which was evident through Google’s reported 7000% increase in the search category “black-owned” from 2019.

Parenting Through Uncertainty
This is the second entry in a three-part series entitled How a Pandemic Changed Learning, which is focused on how COVID-19 has impacted local schools and how the affected have adapted to overcome new challenges. The series will focus on three of the most heavily-impacted groups in our schools: teachers, students & their parents.

Birthing a Legacy’ MLK Mural Inspires Local Community
The recently painted ‘Birthing a Legacy’ Mural at Manchester’s Mahoney Center has been catching the attention of people across the state. On this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, news stations flocked to see the beautiful, complete mural after a weekend of hard work and late nights by artist Ben Keller.

New Survey Results Show Manchester Parks & Facilities Needs
As a part of the Town’s collaboration with consulting company BerryDunn in the development of the new Parks & Facilities Master Plan, a survey was recently administered to Manchester residents by the ETC Institute.

Teaching In a Remote World
During an average school year, teaching can be difficult enough. Even in the best of times, teaching is full of early mornings, scrambling to manage dozens of hormonal students and long weekends packed with grading coursework. It is a job that is uniformly underappreciated, as society often fails to acknowledge the many sacrifices that teachers make to provide a quality education.

Fostering Connections
Volunteerism has been a historic part of American civic life, offering a way for people to reach out and serve others, helping to strengthen and build important ties across communities.

Stay Safe, Stay Home: Winter Storm Safety
The first true nor’easter snow storm of the season has already come and gone, leaving behind nearly a foot of snow and a chill in the air. While snowfall in Manchester brings many fun opportunities for children to break out their snowsuits and sleds, snow storms also come with a wide range of risks both at home and out on the roads.

2021 Winter/Spring Program and Event Guide
With the start of the December month, 2020 is beginning to come to a close and 2021 is on the horizon. After the seemingly insurmountable challenges culminating this year, 2021 stands as a beacon of hope and as a fresh start for many.

A Fresh Start for the Spruce Street Community Garden
The Spruce Street Community Garden was a vision of local professional gardener, Bettylou Sandy, who was seeking to create a place of peace and quiet on the busy street in the center of Manchester. Continue Reading!

Senior Center Adapts to a New Normal
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on communities throughout the globe, but one demographic in particular has been hit the hardest. According to the CDC, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age with older adults at highest risk.

Celebrate Halloween the Safe Way
Halloween. The spooky and fun-filled autumn holiday comes once a year, and this time round it comes with a whole lot of questions. Children and families all across the country who celebrate Halloween have been left wondering how to do so during a pandemic or if there are even any options for celebrating safely.

Trick or Treat for Our Parks
Calling all those who enjoy trick or treating and care about the future of the Manchester community! On Saturday, October 24th from 9:00-11:00 AM the Department of Leisure, Family and Recreation will be hosting Trick or Treat for Our Parks, an event taking place across town at four separate locations.

Fire Prevention Week is Serving Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen
As the leaves start to change color and temperatures begin to drop, many people begin heading indoors and turning on their heaters for the first time this fall season. Fire Prevention Week comes at such a crucial time, taking place each October.

Planning for the Future of Our Parks, Trails, and Facilities
After all of the ups and downs of 2020, it is difficult to even begin to imagine what the future will look like, let alone plan for it. While present challenges deserve attention, envisioning the future and taking steps toward that vision is essential to maintaining hope and building a better community for future generations. Read More!

Manchester Rotary Club to Dedicate Pavilion to Michael B. Lynch & Kick Off Rotary in Motion
On Saturday, October 3, 2020 the Manchester Rotary Club will be hosting Rotary in Motion, a community outing for people of all abilities, in addition to the celebration of the long-anticipated dedication of the Michael B. Lynch Memorial Pavilion at Charter Oak Park.

Change Can Be Hard
It is safe to say that 2020 has not been the year we anticipated. The start of a new decade is bound to bring about change, but the historic moments and challenges that have faced us this year have led to the need for significantly greater change.

Eagle Project Provides Outdoor Classroom for Ropes Course
One of the most important and meaningful projects undertaken in the Boy Scouts of America organization is the Eagle Project. It is a requirement for becoming an Eagle Scout, which is the highest honor and rank a Boy Scout can achieve.

Parkade Development Moving Quickly
By now almost all of Manchester’s residents (and residents of others towns) have heard the news of the town approving a plan to develop the blighted Broad Street Parkade. Manchester Board of Directors made the decision unanimously in early August.

Racism is a Public Health Crisis in Manchester
The Black Lives Matter protests currently sweeping the country have been labeled by many as part of the new civil rights movement. This broader national movement has brought long-needed change with it, from the removal of statues honoring racist figureheads to police reform and policy change.

Your Voice Matters
I’m not from Manchester. That feels like a good place to start before diving into what is going to be (spoiler alert) a pretty honest conversation about communication in this town. I might not be from here, but I am proud to be here.

Black Lives Matter – Next Steps
Protests in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement have taken place around the world, across the United States, and even Manchester, CT. With protests appearing to have peaked on Juneteenth, what happens now?

Spruce Street Market Opens July 1st
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly all aspects of daily life, especially weekly trips to the grocery store. Trying to avoid crowds, find all the items needed, and stay safe has made these grocery trips all the more stressful. Luckily, there is another option

Trash Talk
I may not be able to define trash but I know it when I see it. For most of us, this expression probably rings true. Beer cans, plastic bottles and other plastic debris have no place in our woods and around our public spaces, that much we can agree on.

As Illegal Fireworks Increase, Manchester Community Members Impacted
As a result of the boredom of quarantine and the cancellation of Manchester’s 4th of July Fireworks, many have been setting off their own leading to a rise in complaints. This has been occurring not only in Manchester, but across the country. New York Daily News reported that fireworks complaints had skyrocketed in New York City, with some blaming them on quarantine boredom.

A Socially Distant Summer Season
So here we are in June, I know it’s hard to imagine. In the event that you have been asleep since March let me bring you up to speed. April and May quit on us you guys, pure and simple. They just quietly slipped out the back door while we were all still watching Tiger King, and who can blame them really.

Equity in a Time of COVID
Though states around the country are slowly reopening, the impact of COVID-19 still affects us all, some more than others. Studies have shown that there are significant health and social disparities among ethnic and racial minority groups and those at lower income levels.

Prevention Week 2020
Our local coalition, Change Collaborative of Manchester, and youth campaign, FACTS, are excited to share the work that has been done in the Town of Manchester over the past five years.

“Walk the Walk” Promotes Social Distant Physical Fitness
Most people by now have been practicing social distancing, but many forget when they are outdoors. Warmer weather brings out groups to local parks to work out or enjoy the sun – read more about the “WalktheWalk” Neighborhood Walking Guide.

Artist Chalk Downtown Manchester Sidewalks to Support Local Businesses
The Manchester community is banding together to support local businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Several initiates are underway encouraging residents to shop in downtown Manchester including – Chalkbombing!

Well That Escalated Quickly…
Just when I thought I was getting used to the constant stress of a 24 hour news cycle, this happens…

Why Race Matters in Manchester
Race matters. It matters everywhere and certainly here in Manchester, affecting things that are sometimes obvious and often subtle and all sorts of things in between.