Here's what's new in Manchester:

1. Employment Opportunities:
Current Town of Manchester job openings include: Assistant Budget Director, Environmental Health Inspector, Field Services Superintendent, Forestry Summer Help in Water & Sewer Division, Police Officer, Records Clerk I (Office of Town Clerk), Recycling & Community Service Coordinator, School Crossing Guard, and Social Worker (Human Services – Senior, Adult & Family Services Division). For details, visit: http://hrd1.townofmanchester.org/index.cfm/employment-opportunities/

2. Repurposed Schools Task Force Meeting
A public meeting of the Repurposed Schools Task Force is scheduled for Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 6:30pm and will be held in person at Leisure Labs at Mahoney Center, 110 Cedar Street, in the Culture Lab on the third floor. During this time, Meraj Consulting LLC will be introduced by the task force to discuss community engagement efforts. Please note that this meeting room location is accessible by stairs or elevator.

3. Friends & Family CPR ®
(AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION)
Community rescuers are a key part of the chain of survival for cardiac arrest victims. You CAN learn the skills needed to assist a friend, neighbor or family member. This course covers child and adult CPR, as well as choking rescue. Optional “Stop The Bleed”® training will be available after the CPR session is complete. Please inquire at Town Hall, the Community Y or another town recreation center if you need assistance with setting up a household account for online registration, or if you would like to take this class in Spanish.
Meets: W, 06/08/22, 6:00-8:00 PM, at the Community Y. Fee: $10. Register online http://recreation.townofmanchester.org/ or call 860-647-3084.

4. Manchester Trade Fair May 31, 2022
Ever wonder how to break into a trade? Find out by attending the 1st Annual Trade/Construction Career Fair at Manchester High School from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM!
Registered Apprenticeship Programs & Unionized Trade Readiness Programs exist! Industry experts will be in attendance to explain numerous employment/apprenticeship opportunities that are available as a result of the Bowers Elementary School Construction Project Labor Agreement.
Manchester High School Cafeteria; Please use the MHS Brookfield Street parking lot/entrance. View details here: https://ecode360.com/documents/MA2034/public/659304315.pdf

5. Emergency Replacement Program: The Town of Manchester runs a program to assist in situations where a boiler, furnace, water heater, water line or sewer lateral, etc. is beyond repair and is in need of replacement. Documentation of an inspection by a licensed contractor or CNG red-tag will be needed to prove it is beyond repair and must be replaced. To qualify, your household must meet specific income eligibility criteria, be up to date with taxes and fees due to the town and be current on mortgage payments. For more information on eligibility requirements or to request an application, please call (860) 647-3044 or visit http://planning1.townofmanchester.org/index.cfm/community-development-and-housing/community-development-block-grant-program/emergency-replacement-program/

6. 5th-6th Grade Social June 3rd
Join us for a fun way to spend your Friday night: pizza, ice cream, tie dye, DJ, dancing, and games!
Bring your friends and get ready to have some fun!
5:00-8:00pm at the Manchester Youth Service Bureau (63 Linden Street)
Registration is required and space is limited! Please contact Kellie Gauvin (860) 647-5262 or [email protected]

7. Check ‘Em Out Book Club
Monday June 13th, 2022 at 6:30PM, Manchester Public Library.
Copies of our June selection, The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, are available for check out at both library buildings.
The bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility and master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction returns with a stylish and propulsive novel set in 1950s America. This is a free in-person program for adults. No registration is required.
Visit our website at: http://library.townofmanchester.org or call our Reference Room at: 860-645-0821 for more information.

8. MARC, Inc. Celebrates 70th Birthday!
MARC, Inc. of Manchester is pleased to announce that it will celebrate 70 years of serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. A community celebration will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organizers request RSVP by June 1st at www.marcct.org/birthday where more details can be found.
Today MARC, Inc. supports close to 300 individuals with disabilities in Manchester and surrounding towns. It delivers a diverse array of individualized services to ensure that all people have the opportunity to live, work, and enjoy their community according to their individual choices.
Follow MARC, Inc. on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

9. The Spruce Street Neighborhood Blockwatch will be meeting on Wednesday June 1 at 6:30pm at the Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center at 153 Spruce St., located in the former firehouse, and everyone is welcome. This is an opportunity to meet with your neighbors and our local police area representatives regarding any issues concerning the neighborhood. Our PAR officers also share updated information each month. We meet the first Wednesday of each month except for August when we celebrate National Night Out with our Annual Ice Cream Social which is held on the first Tuesday in August. We hope you will consider joining us.

10. Downtown Manchester’s Art in the Park is back this year!
6/5/22: Manchester Art Association artists will have artwork of all mediums on display and for sale. We will also have interactive “Manchester-themed” artwork where you can add your artistic touch to help make a master piece! Join us on Sunday, June 5, from 10 am to 4 pm at Center Memorial Park on 586 Main Street, Manchester, for a day filled with fun and art! To find out more about Manchester Art Association, please visit our website at: https://www.manchesterart.org/

11. Support Our Soldiers-Connecticut will be holding a Fourth of July/summer collection event to support our overseas Troops on Sunday, June 12, 2022 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Hillstown Grange, 617 Hills Street, East Hartford.
Volunteers are needed on the day of the event to sort items, pack boxes, and draw letters and cards to add to the boxes. This is a perfect event for all ages! It costs about $900 to ship the packages, and we need donations to help defray postage costs. Checks should be made out to SOS Connecticut and mailed to: SOS Connecticut, c/o Frank Forrest, 165 Maple Street, East Hartford, CT 06118. Visit the calendar for details on donation items requested: https://calendar2.townofmanchester.org
For more information or to volunteer, call Frank Forrest at 860-690-2845, or email: [email protected]

12. Make A Powerful Impact! Blood donations are critically important at this time of year. NEW Summer Essential: Get a 20-oz. Red Cross water bottle and a limited-edition sticker set when you come to give blood by May 31!
Upcoming Manchester blood drives include:
May 27 from 11:00am -4:00pm at Buckland Hills Mall, 194 Buckland Hills Dr.
May 31 from 7:30am -1:00pm at Manchester Memorial Hospital, 71 Haynes Street.
June 2 from 1:30pm-6:30pm at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker Street.
June 10 from 11:00am -4:00pm at Buckland Hills Mall, 194 Buckland Hills Dr.
June 16 from 9:00am-6:30pm at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker Street.
For more info and to schedule your appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit us online to find drives in nearby towns:  http://www.redcrossblood.org