Thursday, March 21
Published weekly since August 2017
There's no place like home. Or, this weekend especially, MHS. And you can click your heels three times (tonight, Friday and Saturday) to see the spring musical, with performances starting at 7 p.m. and tickets $12. Scroll down to learn more and to meet Dorothy, our newest Human of Manchester.' Btw, you'd subscribe to this newsletter if you only had a brain. (Sorrry, couldn't resist.).
The Week Ahead
Read about Katherine in our 'Humans of Manchester' gallery, which is on both Facebook and Instagram and click here to see a flier for the show -- and check out this preview in the Journal Inquirer.

Fri-Sat (click link for times) -- Manchester Antiques and Collectibles Show at Second Congregational Church
Friday (5-6:30 p.m.) -- Peirogi and Golabki sale at St. John's Polish National Catholic Church
Friday (6-9 p.m.) -- Journey Found Art Auction at Cheney Hall
Friday (6-9 p.m.) -- Silk City Giveback Night for Manchester Free Libraries at Silk City Coffee
Friday (6:30-8 p.m.) -- Family Fun Night at Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center
Saturday (11 a.m.) -- Celtic Magic for Kids at Cheney Hall
Saturday (11 a.m.) -- Manchester Dog Owners Group’s (MDOG) Hike and a Pint at Case Mountain/Labrinth Brewery
Sat (8 p.m.) and Sun (2 p.m.) -- Celtic Magic: Irish Illusion at Cheney Hall
Tuesday (6:30 p.m.) -- St. James School Open House
Tuesday (7 p.m.) -- United States Army Jazz Ambassadors in Concert at at MHS
Wednesday (5-7 p.m.) -- Manchester Adult & Continuing Ed College and Career Fair at MHS Cafeteria
Wednesday (5-7 p.m.) -- Manchester Women’s Club 1st Birthday Party at Labyrinth Brewing
Thursday, March 28 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.) --- Senior Health Fair at the Senior Center
Thursday, March 28 (5-8 p.m.) -- Bennet Academy McDonald’s McTeacher’s Fundraiser at McDonald's on West Center St.
Thursday, March 28 (7 p.m.) --  Manchester Travel Basketball Fundraiser Game: Manchester Police vs. Manchester Public Schools Security Team at Illing Middle School

Free tickets are available for Tuesday's concert by the United States Army Field Band’s “Jazz Ambassadors” at MHS and there's more info here.
Library Listings (with this week's highlights): For the complete library schedule click here (or here for children and teens).
Meetings This Week:
Thursday, March 21 -- Redevelopment AgencyCheney Brothers National Historic District CommissionTown of Manchester Budget WorkshopAdvisory Recreation & Park Commission Meeting; African American and Black Affairs Council Meeting; Compassionate Friends; Manchester Land Conservation Trust Board of DirectorsNAMI Friends & Family Support
Saturday -- Historical Society Volunteer Meeting
Monday -- BoE Regular Meeting
Tuesday --  Mothers of Preschoolers; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion WorkshopTown of Manchester Budget WorkshopBoD Policy Briefing; Cornerstone Christian School Info Night
Wednesday -- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workshop; Food Share; 
Thursday, March 28 -- Pension Board Meeting; Land Acquisition and Historic Property Investment Committee;
Next Weekend:
Friday, March 29 (7 p.m.) -- Manchester in the Movies at the History Center
Friday, March 29 (8 p.m.) -- Simon and Garfunkel Tribute Concert at Cheney Hall
Saturday, March 30 (1 p.m.) -- History Hike of Highland Park starting at the Spring St. parking lot.
Saturday, March 30 -- 8th Annual District Invention Convention and Science Fair at Manchester High School
Saturday, March 30 (4-8 p.m.) -- Operation Ara Fundraiser Dinner at Hayden Fire Station in Windsor
Further down the road
High school students take note.

Thursday, April 4 (noon-2 p.m.) -- Career and Education Opportunity Fair at MHS
Thursday, April 4 (6-8:30 p.m.) -- Imagine Main Poetry and Reading Workshops at WORK_SPACE
Friday, April 6 (6-9 p.m.) -- 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament at Bennet Academy
Sunday, April 7 (registration 9-10:30 am.) -- Hockanum River Race, first boat off at 11 a.m. from Connecticut Golf Land in Vernon
Thursday, April 11 (7 p.m.) -- MHS Cheerleading Paint Night Fundraiser at Nomads
Mon-Fri, April 15-19 -- No school (spring vacation)
Saturday, April 27, 2019 -- Rebuilding Together Manchester
Sunday, May 5 (12-6 p.m.) -- Ray Beller Music All-Star Jam at Tomato Joe’s & Shea’s Patio
Tuesday, June 4 --  School renovation referendum
Thursday, June 13 (4:30-6:30 p.m.) -- 4th Annual Community Block Party & Cultural Festival at the School Street Courtyard, 1151 Main St.
Monday, June 17 -- Last day of school. (This was pushed back after snow days on Feb. 12 and March 5). See more here

Also: We've got even town events listed  in our 'OneMan Central' log (and the town events calendar is another trove of information).  As for the schools, you can also check out MPS Central, which lists future district happenings, half-days and more. And if we are missing anything, anywhere, just email b11jfarr@mpspride.org to add an item.
Of Note
Artistic Opportunities
  • The Manchester Arts Commission is reaching out to the community in search of those Individuals, Groups, and a 'Rising Star' to be nominated for the Arts Hall of Fame. Read more here. Also, for the third year Imagine Main is having a night dedicated to young (18 years and younger) artists in the community and you can learn more here.
Also:
  • CERT (which stands for Community emergency response team) has another training class that begins Monday night and you can learn more here.
  • Struggling to support a loved one struggling with behaviors that might include substance abuse? Have an old prom dress you can donate? Interested in free English classes or blood drive info ... it's all here.
In The News
The Journal InquirerHartford CourantManchester Patch and newcomer The Manchester Scoop all have regular town news coverage. (FYI: The JI and Courant have monthly free-read limits.)
MHS is working with Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS and the Ambulance Service of Manchester on a program designed to address the lack of diversity among emergency responders. The JI has the story.
Also:
Take a Dip
The first day of spring Wednesday coincided with a half day for Manchester students, resulting in long lines and big smiles at Dairy Queen on Hartford Road, where the occasion was celebrated with free ice cream cones.
Incidentally, the cones could be dipped for a $1 donation that went to charity. This is the third year the Manchester DQ has held such a promotion and last year it raised more than $500.
ONEMANCHESTER is compiled by Jim Farrell and Paul Ofria of the school district's communications office based on contributions from people and institutions throughout town. Jim, the district's communications director, can be reached at b11jfarr@mpspride.org or 860-268-6377 and he keeps a log of mistakes he makes in district-produced newsletters that you will find here.