Obituary: Terry Ritter
Terry James Ritter, age 55 of Manchester, passed away, December 13, 2018. Terry was born on January 2, 1963 in Albion, MI to Kenneth W. and Ardis L. (Sonier) Ritter. He married the love of his life, Amy Jo Fulger on April 19, 1986 at Pilgrim Congregation Church, in Lansing. Terry loved spending time […]
New hosts for Crazy Ca$h Night
For 19 years, on the first Saturday in March, the Kiwanis Club of Manchester has held the hugely popular Crazy Ca$h Night. As a successful fund-raiser, the event has poured tons of money back into the Manchester schools, library, preschools, athletic department, and many, many more local organizations But in August, the Kiwanis announced that due […]
Welcome to David’s coat room
It was a random Facebook post that got Kim Blumenstein thinking about her last Christmas with her dad, David Gresham, in 1993. Kim was a college student and one of her friends came to visit during the holiday break. The friend did not have winter-appropriate attire to wear. Kim’s dad took her aside and insisted she […]
“Grand opening” and ribbon cutting at American 1 Credit Union
There was a bit of fanfare happening at the new American 1 Credit Union on M-52 just north of the village, last Wednesday. Residents, business owners, Village representatives, and American 1 Board members gathered for an official “ribbon cutting” ceremony for Manchester’s newest business Outgoing Chamber of Commerce President Ray Berg shared that the ceremonial […]
DIY Luminaries on a Freedom Township hill
A luminary tradition that’s a bit different from the “official” Manchester version, but equally treasured by those who participate, started in 1991 on the hill on East Pleasant Lake Road, between Esch and Fletcher Roads. “It started with just a few tealight candles lit in the driveway,” says Dolores Lindemann, one of the originators with the […]
Sweet surprises in store at the new “Q”
There’s not a new name yet, and they are still working on the new menu. But Jeff and Crystal Fahey have been envisioning their new venture, formerly the Manchester Dairy Queen, ever since making their announcement this past summer, and they are getting excited to see results. It’s a historic moment on Main Street as work begins […]
Luminaria Memories, from the Manchester Lions Club
Barry Allen, of the Manchester Lions Club, shared the club’s perspective on its 10-year involvement with this important community project. The club took over the Luminaria from the Historical Society back in 2008 “The MAHS had been doing the project for quite a number of years, using the Blacksmith Shop,” Allen recalls. “Their technique was labor intensive and […]
Village receives gift to River Raisin Park
On Tuesday, November 20, the Village of Manchester was the recipient of the first installment of a three-year gift pledge from the Hurst Foundation of Jackson. Founded in 1969, over a 50-year period the Hurst Foundation has granted more than $10 million in support of organizations to inspire the betterment of local, state, national, and […]
Lighting the way to Christmas
The Christmas Eve luminaria seems like a timeless tradition in Manchester–but do you know how it really began? People in Mexico and southwest US (areas originally known as “New Spain”) have lit luminaries on Christmas Eve to light the way for the Christ Child, for hundreds of years. The tradition appears to have migrated to New […]