A previous year’s Manchester fireworks seen from Wurster Park. Mirror file photo.

by Marsha Chartrand

You don’t want to miss this year’s Manchester fireworks, widely considered one of the best in our area!

For the 45th year, the Manchester Men’s Club will host the annual Independence Day fireworks on July 3 (with a rain date of July 4) at Carr Park in Manchester. This year’s fireworks will celebrate 250 years of independence.

The park and food vendors open at 3pm. Come grab your favorite fair food and find your spot. Bring your own blankets and/or lawn chairs. The beer tent and music area opens at 6pm and requires a $5 cover to enter. This year, the Men’s Club will be trying out accepting credit cards (but bringing cash is always a safe bet). The DJ, Throw Yo Hands Up Entertainment, starts at 6pm.

Fireworks by Wolverine Fireworks will begin after sunset (between 10pm and 10:15pm) and will last about 20 min.

There is no fee to enter the park, but donations are collected at the entrance and Men’s Club members will also be riding golf carts around town collecting donations. Every dollar raised goes directly toward next year’s fireworks!

Thanks to this year’s fireworks sponsors, Worth Repeating and American One Credit.

Photo credit: Food Gatherers.

by Sara Swanson

Kids and teens 18 and under, regardless of what school district they live in and whether they are enrolled in public school or not, are eligible for free weekly meal boxes from the USDA. Each weekly box contains seven breakfasts and seven lunches for each child. There are no income limits and no registration or paperwork needed. Just stop by and pick up. There are two pick-up locations near Manchester!

The first location is Crusades for Christ Church, 6288 Mt. Hope Rd, in Grass Lake. Distribution happens 10am to 1pm every Thursday through August 13, except there will be no distribution on July 9. Enter the parking lot and follow signs for drive-through pick up. Questions? Call Kelly Bolton at 517-867-5597 or email Kelly.bolton@grasslakeschools.com.

The second location is Napoleon High School, 201 West St, in Napoleon. Distribution happens every Thursday from 11am to 12:30pm through July 23, except there will be no distribution on July 2. The drive-through entrance will be located on the south side of NHS, off Center Street. Questions? Email Andrea Haskell at andrea.haskell@napoleonschools.org.

Children do not need to be present for adults to pick up meals. Kids can pick up food for themselves and their siblings. A friend or neighbor can also pick up meals on behalf of another family who can’t make it. Meals will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

We do have other sources of free food help here in Manchester this summer:

Emanuel Church is serving free hot lunches every Wednesday through August 12 from 11:30am to 1:30pm in their fellowship hall, located through the door off of the parking lot in the rear of the building, 324 W Main St. These lunches are for everyone, not just kids!

Anyone of any age who needs help with food should call the Community Resource Center at 734-428-7722 or email info@manchestercrc.org. 

For after-hours free food, stop by the Manchester United Methodist Church’s blessing box. Pull into the driveway and go to the back of the building, 501 Ann Arbor St, located behind the building.

Photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

by Sara Swanson

Are you a deer hunter looking for somewhere to hunt in the area?

Legacy Land Conservancy announced that the application period for the 2026 hunting program at Iron Creek Preserve located at 11703 Noggles Rd in Manchester Township is now open. They state that interested hunters may now apply for the opportunity to help keep the local deer population in check as part of the program launched last fall.

Hunters may apply to hunt either/or both the fall archery period from October 1 to November 6, 2026, or the late firearm period from December 4, 2026, through January 1, 2027. (A third hunting period will occur November 15 to November 30 in partnership with the Black to the Land Coalition.) Two hunters will be selected for each open permit period by weighted lottery with preference given to applicants who intend to harvest more deer and spend more time on the preserve hunting. Hunters are required to take one doe before a buck and follow a list of rules specific to hunting in the preserve.

Legacy states, “Over the last two decades, white-tailed deer populations have increased dramatically. Because deer prefer to eat native over nonnative plants, a large deer population can significantly impact an ecosystem and reduce biodiversity by overbrowsing. This is a particular concern at Iron Creek Preserve, where it is important to protect species in the rare prairie fen, as well as the regeneration of oaks and other native trees.”

The preserve will be closed to visitors during firearm season, November 15 through January 1 during hunting hours (dawn to 11:30am) but will stay open during archery hunting. Visitors during archery hunting are encouraged to wear blaze orange or bright clothing and always stay on marked trails, keep pets leashed, and not to approach active hunters or tree stands.

See https://legacylandconservancy.org/hunting-and-foraging/ for more information. To apply, fill out the application linked on that page. Applications will be accepted until July 17 and hunters will be determined and notified by July 24. If you have questions or are unable to complete the application online, call 734-302-5263. 

Pictured delivering the donations are Tamara, Sue, Ryleigh, Anna, and Kim from Amcor, along with CRC Executive Director Carol Wotring. Photo courtesy of Manchester Community Resource Center.

submitted by Carol Wotring, Executive Director, Community Resource Center

The Manchester Community Resource Center (CRC) is grateful to Amcor Rigid Plastics for hosting a spring food drive that brought in 285.8 pounds of food and 208.7 pounds of non-food essentials. The drive brought in much needed items like laundry soap and dish soap, as well as pantry staples like flour and sugar.  

Spring and summer drives like this one make a real difference. Donations typically slow down during these months, even as need in our community continues.

Amcor employees went a step further, assembling “meal to-go” kits — complete with recipes and all the ingredients needed to make cheesy chicken soup and chicken cobbler. These ready-to-cook meals are a wonderful addition to our pantry shelves and give families an easy dinner option.

Thank you to everyone at Amcor for organizing this drive and for thinking of our neighbors in need. Donations like these help CRC continue serving the City of Manchester and surrounding townships.

Photo from an early Chicken Broil. Photo courtesy of the Manchester Area Historical Society.

submitted by Della Smith, Bethel Memory Cafe’s organizer

Join us at the Manchester Senior Center on Wednesday, June 24, at 1pm, for a special Memory Café presentation on the history of the Manchester Chicken Broil — one of our community’s most beloved traditions. Local historian Ron Mann will share the story of how the Chicken Broil became woven into Manchester’s history and culture, complete with photos from years past.

A Memory Café is a social opportunity for people with dementia or memory difficulties and their caregivers (this is not a drop-off event; caregivers must stay) to engage in activities, hear programs, and enjoy light refreshments in a low-key, safe atmosphere with easy parking and access with minimal obstacles.

The Manchester Senior Center is located on the lower level of 912 City Rd, off the rear parking lot.

Every fourth Wednesday of the month through October 2026, at 1 pm, Bethel Church UCC provides a Memory Café event at the senior center. On July 22 the program will feature Mary Lewis, a local artist who specializes in pet portraits.  She will talk about art in our life.

Questions? Call us at 734-212-3080. Come reminisce, learn something new, and enjoy an afternoon celebrating what makes Manchester special. We’d love to see you there.

Brad Frey. Photo credit Brenda Bancroft.

submitted by Brenda Bancroft, Friends of the Library

Join us on Thursday, July 2, from 7pm to 8pm, at Wurster Park, located at 215 W Main St, for an evening of free live music sponsored and hosted by the Manchester District Library. Brad Frey will entertain audiences with his keyboard talents and energetic performances of rock-and-roll classics, including songs made famous by legends such as Jerry Lee Lewis. Community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy a relaxing summer evening in the park. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at Emanuel Church, 324 W Main St, located kitty-corner from Wurster Park.

Reminder: This week’s free gazebo concert on Thursday, June 25, at 7pm, will feature Chef Chris and The Cast Iron MoJo bringing harmonica-driven, funky old-school electric blues.

by Melissa Yekulis

The monthly school board meeting for Manchester Community Schools was called to order on Monday, June 15, following the budget meeting. One board member was absent from the meeting.

The meeting began with the approval of the agenda. A request was made to add a committee discussion and goal-meeting discussion to the agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously with the new additions.

The board voted to unanimously accept and approve the Consent Agenda as it stood, consisting of the Board of Education Meeting Minutes, Business Office Report, and Personnel Report. Two staff members were acknowledged and thanked for their work, as they are exiting the district, before the Consent Agenda was formally accepted.

There was no Public Participation.

There was no Old Business.

Under New Business, a series of field trips, loans, and contracts was reviewed.  Each item was reviewed on an individual basis and the board unanimously voted to approve each item. Field trips for the high school band to travel to Nashville, Tenn., in March 2028 and Entrepreneurial STEAM to travel to Austin, Tex., at the end of July were both approved. A Resolution of State Aid Notice and the School Bond Loan Fund were each approved. Finally, contracts for Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) membership, Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) membership, the Co-Op Renewal lease agreement, and the Rehmann Engagement Letter for continued financial auditing were each approved for the coming school year.

Building department reports have been posted and made available for viewing on the district website. During that time, Sarah Mason, the food service director, presented an update on the program, including information on the end-of-the-year cookout at Klager and the end-of-year opinion surveys from the students.

Superintendent Head was next to briefly present to the board with a focus on updates from Bond Meetings and a review of academic data from Klager and Riverside with alignment to the district’s Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Plan.  

It was shared that work is now in full swing at Riverside with demolition and upgrades. Currently, everything is on schedule. Work is also being done on making plans for building designs for the Junior/Senior High School for next year’s bond updates.

A presentation was also made on the academic growth observed through annual NWEA testing that took place this last year at Klager and Riverside. All grade levels demonstrated significant growth within English Language Arts. Many grade levels demonstrated significant growth within Math.

Information was also shared in how growth was made in alignment with the MICIP goals. The implementation of Multi-Tiered Support Services, the districtwide implementation of Professional Learning Communities, and the continuation of professional learning with Dr. Dickey are all making progress and will continue next year.

There was no Public Participation.

There was a brief discussion around the last workshop the school board participated in. They are currently in the process of creating an ad hoc subcommittee to review the district’s entrepreneurial STEAM program.

An additional discussion was centered around the benefits of developing a strategic plan versus developing district goals. The board has a strong desire to have more community input involved in the development of what they create for the next school year. Due to summer vacations and holidays, it will not be possible to have groundwork prepared for the next board meeting. They hope to have a planning meeting before the August board meeting.

Two rounds of kudos were offered that evening. Jennifer Caszatt was recognized for the work she is doing to complete classes through MASB. The Riverside faculty and staff, Central Office, and the maintenance and custodial staff were recognized for the work they did in getting packed up and moved at the end of the year to empty Riverside for the bond upgrades.

The board voted to go into a closed session to review updates on contract negotiations and perform the superintendent evaluation at 7:06pm. The motion passed unanimously and public participants were dismissed for the evening.

The next public board meeting will take place on Monday, July 20, at 6pm, in the Junior/Senior High School Media Center.

Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve. Mirror file photo.

submitted by Geoffrey Cripe, Friends of Watkins Lake State Park

The Friends of Watkins Lake State Park (FoWL) invites you to its first Annual Meeting and Celebration Saturday, June 27, from 10am to 11:30am, at Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve (WLSPCP), located at 14801 Arnold Rd, between Brooklyn and Manchester. FoWL invites the community to celebrate a year in the books with a short business meeting and presentation of FoWL’s first fiscal year milestones and accomplishments followed by social hour with refreshments and an optional hike through the seasonally open waterfowl refuge and restored near-shore forest.

FoWL formed in the summer of 2025 to support the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in its implementation of the WLSPCP management plan. The organization’s mission is to provide stewardship, education, and advocacy to foster appreciation for WLSPCP and help sustain its natural and historical attributes. Since its inception, FoWL has hosted numerous family-oriented educational events, volunteer stewardship workdays, and community events while also conducting ecological research and providing multiple forums for user input and feedback.

Laura Watkins Koelewijn, FoWL vice president, stated, “We hope you will join us Saturday at WLSPCP, one of the most regionally significant amenities for wildlife and public recreation. Come meet and celebrate with others who share an appreciation for this incredible place and want to see it thrive.”

Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve was acquired by the State of Michigan and Washtenaw County Parks in 2016, and became Michigan’s 103rd state park. Among many unique attributes, the park includes areas of rare and high-quality wetland habitat, a rail-to-trail that is in process of connection to the village of Manchester, and a waterfowl refuge that is used by thousands of migratory waterfowl in the spring and fall, as well as for breeding during the summer months. Eagles, trumpeter swans, and a number of grassland sparrows nest on-site. The park also supports a diversity of unique plants, insects, songbirds, and other wildlife.

Information about FoWL can be found on its website, protectingwatkinslake.org. Connect, learn more, and get involved at Facebook.com/WatkinsLakeSPCP or via email at friends@watkinslake.online. 

Photo from a previous Legacy Land Conservancy moth night event in the Manchester area. Mothing group looks at insects attracted by the mercury vapor light bulb. Mirror file photo by Madelene Gackenbach.

from Legacy Land Conservancy

Discover the fascinating world of moths at Sharon Hills Preserve on July 10! Join local entomologist and educator David Cappaert for an evening of nighttime exploration as we observe and learn about the diverse moth species that call this preserve home on Friday, July 10, from 9pm to 11pm. Feel free to arrive 15–30 minutes early while it is still light out.

It is open to beginners, and no prior knowledge or experience is necessary. Bring a flashlight or headlamp dress for the weather and in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty — dark clothes are best for keeping insects off you and on the sheet. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes, regardless of the temperature. It will help protect you from poison ivy and ticks. Bring a water bottle and bug spray.

Registration is limited to 15 participants. To register, fill out the Google form at https://legacylandconservancy.org/events/ and scrolling down and clicking on “Preserve Event 7/10/26: Moth Night at Sharon Hills Preserve” then clicking “Register”.

Sharon Hills Preserve is located roughly between Grass Lake and Manchester in Sharon Township on Sharon Hollow Road between Walker and Washburn roads. You can easily navigate to the location using Google maps — but ensure you navigate to “Sharon Hills Preserve” rather than “Sharon Short Hills Preserve” or “Sharon Mills County Park”.

Klager Elementary School. Photo credit: Fritz Swanson.

by Melissa Yekulis

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Manchester Mirror, the children of Luther C. Klager Elementary School were invited to write for the paper: Describe a place in Manchester that is special to you. Each week this summer, one of the classes who chose to participate will be featured in the paper. At least two of the writings (more if space allows!) and their accompanying art from each class will be featured in the paper edition of the newspaper. All writings within each class that could be read are included in our digital edition of the paper and we invite you to see all of their wonderful reflections of Manchester there.

This week’s featured class is Mrs. Villarreal’s second grade:

Kaelyn Simmons

My favorite place in Manchester is Manchester Eye Care. Manchester Eye Care is my favorite place because you can get new glasses. If you have broken glasses, you can get them fixed. You can get your glasses adjusted. As you can see, the eye place is my favorite spot.

Colton L.

The soccer fields are the best place in Manchester. They have good bleachers. They can turn the soccer field into fairgrounds. You can see that the soccer fields are the best place.

Jane Brown

In my opinion, the library in town is the best because you can read Harry Potter. It’s close to my house. Next year, I’ll be able to walk to the library after school.  Clearly, the library is the best spot.

Theodore Helwig

I think Chi-Bro Park is a cool place. I go sledding with my family. I see people fishing at the pond. I take walks with my dad. I think Chi-Bro Park is a cool place.

Andrew Cunningham

Dollar General is the best place in Manchester. They have really cool toys. The employees are really nice. They have a lot of different types of candy to choose from. As you can see, Dollar General is the best place in Manchester.

Greyson Hanewald

In my opinion, the baseball field is the best place in Manchester. It has concessions. It is easy to get there. It is fun when we practice and play games. It is big and there is a home-run fence. As you can see, the baseball field is the best.

Kensie Stacey

The hair salon is the best, because how they do your hair and how they dye your hair. They wash your hair and blow dry your hair.

Gatlin Woolsey

The football field is my favorite place, because I played there when I was 6 years old. It has a long field so I can catch bombs. I go there to practice catching and throwing bombs. Now you can see the football field is my favorite place in Manchester.

Lucy Thompson

Manchester is a great place, but my favorite place in Manchester is the waste-water treatment plant. The first reason why I like it is because it is at the bottom of a big hill. The second reason why I like it is because my dad works in a little office. The third reason why I like it is because there are cool objects. That is why I like Manchester.

David Ervin

Over the Edge is the best food place. It is the best because it has good seats. You can touch them and it feels good. It has adult games. It has such great food. The people are nice there. You can have everyone you want there. As you can see, Over the Edge is the best.

Brady Mohney

The football field is a good place, because, if you like soccer, you can also play that, too! You make like the football field, because you can run on the track. The last thing on the football field is that you can get concessions. The football field is a great place to be at.

Savannah Kleinschmidt

The softball field is the best place in Manchester, because I like to practice there with my dad sometimes. There is a park so you can play. You do not need to bring chairs, because there are bleacher seats so it is easier. I think the softball field in Manchester is a good place. You should try it.

Aurora Wood

Riverside is a good place. It has a good playground. The playground is so much fun. I love the spinny thing. I like Riverside, because it has a stage in the lunchroom. Sometimes they play shows on the stage. The teachers are so nice. They teach about Riverside. I think Riverside is the best place. What do you think?

Emalyn Roth

Home Team Ice Cream is my best spot in Manchester. The reason is they have sooo much toppings. I feel like I am in Candy Land. Another reason is you can choose frozen yogurt or ice cream, too! Last reason is when I am hot we get to go sometimes! I really like Home Team Ice Cream. You should check it out sometime!

Oliver Sadler

I like Home Team Ice Cream, because it is close to my house.

Eleanor Brooks

I think the Ackerson Building is a good place to go to have fun and play. You can climb there. I like to try to get the ball in the hoops. What do you think?

Sydney Porter

I love Safety Town, because it is a school that my mom works at. Safety Town is cool. I go to work at Safety Town. I love Safety Town.