Stories of Wil: Stuck on you
submitted by Christie Taylor Wil is a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome. He is the little brother, by 20 months, to twin sisters, Katherine and Elizabeth. Wil’s mom, Christie, knew very little about Down syndrome when Wil was diagnosed shortly after his birth. It didn’t take long for Christie to realize how enriching life with […]
As Michigan ages, one woman has made it her mission to train family caregivers
By Ted Roelofs (Bridge Magazine) For Paula Duren, her one-woman mission to help families overwhelmed by caregiving is personal. For several years, the Farmington Hills resident assumed primary caregiving responsibility for her mother and father, as her mother struggled with Alzheimer’s and her father with another form of dementia in their Ferndale home. “I was […]
High school/college hybrid programs growing in popularity in Michigan
By Olivia Tucker (Bridge Magazine) Kyle Johnson never thought he was college material. “I was one of those middle-of-the-road kids — I wasn’t failing, but I was doing just enough to pass,” Johnson said. “At the rate I was going in my high school, I probably never would’ve gone to college after.” Now, the 21-year-old […]
Graduating class showered with awards
Graduation is a time of excitement, relief, and anticipation for both seniors and their parents. Though it often seems unlikely that 13 years have passed by in a flash, graduation day officially marks that the time has certainly gone by and those little kindergarteners we shepherded off to school just the other day are now […]
State approves Manchester’s “Social District”
On Friday, the village received approval from the state to establish a social district in downtown Manchester. “Now, we must hustle to get ready,” said Village President Pat Vailliencourt. Before the next DDA meeting on June 16, it is expected that the signage required within the district will be ready for DDA approval, in order […]
Family hopes to renovate ancestor’s burial site
Lois Pratt Mekkas, 85, of Hillsdale, has always been interested in family ties. For several years now she has been studying genealogy and ultimately began writing a book, “Vignettes of Little Miss Pratt,” about growing up in Washtenaw County, which she hopes to publish soon. Her most exciting genealogical discovery led her to a family […]
Manchester couple work to save the honeybees
by Tracy Stengel (reprinted with permission of the author) Today, there are approximately 115,000–125,000 beekeepers in the United States. Most are hobbyists, and two of them are Don and Nancy Hieber in Manchester, Michigan. They are doing important work to save the honey bees right in their own backyard. Honey bees are vital to humans […]
“Passport to Manchester” event tickets now available!
If you have been wondering when you could receive a “Passport to Manchester,” wonder no longer! Tickets are now available on Eventbrite to sign up to participate in this exciting summer program, co-sponsored by the Manchester Area Historical Society and Riverfolk Music & Arts Organization. The first event, 19th Century Industries and Living in East […]
Water tower painting project nearly complete
After a seven-week process, Manchester’s water tower is fully repainted and refurbished, ready to continue serving the community for years to come. “The tower itself was constructed in 1968 and has been painted a few times, both inside and out,” said Thomas Thompson, superintendent of the water treatment facility. “According to state inspections, which […]
Alumni association awards local scholarships
submitted by Paul Heinrich, Manchester Alumni Association The Manchester Alumni Association is honored to announce the scholarships for these outstanding students of the Class of 2021. The Alumni scholarships are made possible by the generosity of so many people with a connection to the Manchester community. Because of this, each year we are able to […]
