Business Expo Receives Healthy Turnout

The 7th Annual Manchester Business Expo had gorgeous weather and a good turn-out last Thursday.

Thursday afternoon, the Chamber of Commerce held its 7th annual Business Expo. It ran concurrently with the Manchester Farmers Market on Adrian Street and featured 24 booths, including health-related practices, banks, non-profits and civic groups, artists and vendors -- many of whom were business expo regulars. The Manchester High School Jazz Band provided live entertainment.

Ray Berg, organizer of the Expo, was happy with the business turnout and observed that the sunny, pleasant weather was easily the best weather they’d ever had for an expo. Some past participants, including representatives from the Manchester Public Schools and Manchester Early Childhood Center, were absent. Berg speculated that the extended school year may have been to blame. The long winter also impacted the presence of farmers at the expo. Typically the farmers market is in full swing by the Business Expo, but this year crops are weeks behind so the farmers market also saw a reduced number of vendors, mostly selling bedding plants, crafts and baked goods.

Berg explained that one of the benefits of the expo is allowing Manchester businesses located outside of the village a chance to connect with village residents. It also allows residents to explore non-profits and their services. Berg noted the expanded presence of the Manchester Wellness Coalition organizations, which sponsored booths for the Manchester Wellness Center, and the Library.

The Lions Club booth was one of the busiest. The Manchester Lions Club, working with the Lions 11B1 District (a 50 club group spanning a 6 county area), tested attendees' blood sugar levels on the spot. The Lions Club requires that the testers be licensed, so Barbara Baggerly, MSN, GNP and chairman of the 11B1 Diabetes Awareness Committee staffed the booth. She tested 36 people during the event. Notably, about 20% needed to follow-up with their doctor.

Barry Allen, the district Lions Governer was also present, speaking to expo goers about blood sugar, diabetes, and blindness, while steering them toward the test. Allen initiated this project about a year ago. Allen stated, “20,000 people became blind from diabetes last year alone.”

For many years the Lion’s Club has provided sight screenings for children at events. Last year, they added the adult blood-sugar screenings to the youth vision screenings and traveled to all area fairs. The Sight Mobile will be present doing blood sugar testing at the Manchester Community Fair on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of fair week.

The Manchester Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 734-476-4565 or through their website. 

Babara Baggerly MSN, GNP tests Manchester Lion Bruce Bates’s blood sugar. Bates’s wife, a pediatric nurse practitioner, will perform adult blood sugar tests at the Manchester Community Fair in conjunction with the Sight Mobile and child vision screenings.

Sharon Curtis was just one of the artisans who used the expo to connect with potential customers.

James Miller, director of the Manchester District Library, handed out copies of a Wizard of Oz picture book, talked to expo goers about the Summer Reading program, and answered questions about the upcoming library millage renewal.

Kayla, Kim, and Dr. Beaudion from the Manchester Veterinary Clinic discussed how heavy the tick and flea infestations are this spring and promoted a new oral flea and tick medicine for dogs called Nex Guard.

The Manchester High School Jazz Band provided live entertainment. Band director Jared Thornberry has been known to classify the expo performance as the jazz band’s “final exam”.

Gail Hamilton used a lull in the commotion to work on a crocheted mermaid. Her booth is stocked full of handmade towels, booties, purses, dish cloths, tea cozies, stuffed animals, clothing and more.

Erin Taulbee and Angie Peardon staffed the Healthy Smiles booth.

The farmer’s market's regular vendors benefitted from the increased traffic the expo provided.

Sharon and Shelly from the Manchester Wellness Center promoted the Center and their relay for life team.

Stephanie Johnson, with help from her sons Grant and Evan, tries to calculate how many grapes are in a jar for the opportunity to win a free month-long guest pass to the Manchester Wellness Center.

Geneva Walkowe and daughter Jane Long represented the American Legion Auxiliary. The Legion Auxiliary will ride in the fair parade on June 17th.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a Manchester Middle School group that promotes Healthy Eating and Exercising habits. Devon Kelly and Elijah Herron explained that “Fuel Up” means to eat healthy and “Play 60” means to exercise 60 mins a day. The program is in its 6th year. A 5K sponsored by the group here in Manchester recently raised $600 for charity. There were close to 100 participated.

Debbie Diedrich is a regular vendor at the Manchester Farmers market and sells beaded jewelry.

The bounce house was a popular attraction with the after-school crowd.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.