Looking for volunteers? Looking to volunteer? 5HF can help
submitted by Matt Pegouskie, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation Volunteering in the 5 Healthy Towns service area just became easier, as 5 Healthy Towns Foundation (5HF) and One Big Thing unveiled a new volunteer portal on onebigconnection.org. Inspired by an earlier Chelsea Wellness Coalition– and 5HF-supported project called Volunteer Chelsea, the One Big Connection Volunteer Portal […]
Washtenaw Housing Alliance expands affordable housing options for older adults through Shared Housing Program
submitted by Amanda Carlisle, Executive Director, Washtenaw Housing Alliance The Washtenaw Housing Alliance (WHA) launched its Shared Housing Program in August 2025 to increase access to safe and affordable housing for residents of Washtenaw County and to help older adults age in place. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s most recent Out of […]
Washtenaw Health Project reports significant drop in marketplace enrollment as premium costs surge
submitted by Jeremy Lapedis, Executive Director, Washtenaw Health Project The Washtenaw Health Project (WHP) reports a sharp decline in health insurance enrollment during the 2026 Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period, reflecting growing affordability challenges for local families. WHP assisted 551 individuals in enrolling in Marketplace coverage for 2026—down from 804 enrollees the previous year, […]
Manchester Township holding public hearing on segment II of Watkins Lake Trail
by Sara Swanson Manchester Township is holding a public hearing on March 11 at 7pm at the Manchester Township Hall, located at 275 S Macomb St, to solicit public input on the remaining segment of the Watkins Lake Trail. (See public notice in this edition.) Currently, a completed county-owned segment runs from the Watkins Lake […]
MSCC successfully funding home repairs for area seniors
by Sara Swanson We reported back in September that the Manchester Senior Citizens Council is able to fund minor home repairs using Washtenaw County senior millage funding. Since then they’ve been able to provide funding and contractors for several city residents with plumbing, electrical, and heat tape problems. They’ve also added even more ways to […]
City Council hears from the 4-Corners Protectors
by Marsha Chartrand A small group of Manchester’s protectors attended the February 2 City Council meeting to ask how the City and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office plan to be proactive about the possibility of ICE appearing in the Manchester area. Their attendance coincided with heightened tensions in the county and around the state, and […]
Manchester Township Board meeting: Daubner recognized, WWRA, & Huron Valley Night Hawks
by Sybil Kolon All board members were present at the February 10 board meeting except John Seefeld and Mike Walter. Also present were fire chief Mike Kouba, planning commissioner Jim Carpenter and a few members of the public. Kouba provided the monthly report for January. There were 63 calls for service, including 33 EMS […]
Shakespeare Club: octopuses (NOT octopi)
submitted by Joan Gaughan, Shakespeare Club At the January 27 Shakespeare Club meeting, Linda Breight began her presentation with a physical description of an octopus. With a life span of 3–5 years, this amazing creature has a brain located between its two eyes, three hearts, and eight arms, each of which is separate, in constant […]
Luther C. Klager Elementary hosts second American Heart Association Assembly
by Melissa Yekulis On Friday, February 13, Luther C. Klager Elementary hosted its second American Heart Association Assembly. The children arrived enthusiastically at the gym with their stuffed animals, ready to learn how to save a life by practicing hands-only CPR. Margo Tramel, from the American Heart Association, was again on hand to walk the […]
Freedom Township delays gravel mine decision
by Keegan Sweeney Freedom Township residents packed the township hall on Tuesday, February 3, to weigh in on the Freedom Township Planning Commission’s discussion on renewing a gravel mining permit in the area. Stoneco is proposing that they reactivate a dormant gravel mine between Kothe and Esch roads on a 152-acre site. Several residents spoke […]
