Here's what's new in Manchester:

-The 37th Annual James “Dutch” Fogarty Independence Day Celebration will take place this Saturday, June 25th. (rain date is Sunday, June 26, 2022)  
“We are thrilled to be back once again for the annual celebration and are committed to providing an accessible event that everyone can enjoy.” said Bob Bycholski, Co-Chair of Committee.   The Celebration provides people of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to gather and celebrate our nation’s freedom and honor the men and women of our armed forces.  The day’s festivities will begin around 4:00PM on the grounds of Manchester Community College at the Bicentennial Bandshell,  and include a variety of food, organized activities for children and live music. Local sensation Whiskey Boulevard will begin their musical set at 5 pm and we are thrilled to have Savage Brothers headline this year’s music presentation beginning at 7:15 PM. Tickets for the famous “Chicken BBQ” Dinner are limited and are on sale in town hall until 2pm Fri. June 24.  The volunteer committee will also be selling hotdogs, cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream and The Manchester Lions Club will be selling hamburgers, nachos, and soft drinks.  Food Trucks from Thomas Smokey Pit Stop, Cousins Maine Lobster and Kona Ice will be onsite starting at 4 pm.  The evening will conclude with a spectacular display of fireworks beginning at approximately 9:30PM.  

-2022 Tax Bill Information

Tax bills were mailed Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Taxpayers may pay by mail, online, or via the drop box behind Town Hall. The Office of Assessment & Collection is open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Contact the Tax Office by calling 860-647-3018, or emailing [email protected].
To pay online, go to www.manchesterct.gov  and click on the link for online tax payments.
Convenience fees for Motor Vehicle tax payments by debit/credit card and E-check are currently being waived. Convenience fees for Real Estate & Personal Property tax payments of 2.95% for debit/credit cards and $.95 for E-checks apply. To avoid this fee, pay by check or money order. The return envelope enclosed with the bill can be used to mail or drop off the payment at the drop box behind Town Hall.

All tax payments listed as due on July 01, 2022 must be paid by Monday, August 01, 2022 (a US Postal Service Post Mark is acceptable) to avoid interest penalties. Interest will accrue on August 02, 2022 at 1.5% per month from the due date, July 1st, which cannot be waived. Minimum interest charge is $2.00.

-Gold Star Parents and Spouses Property Tax Exemption
Full details regarding eligibility for exemption, as well as the application, are available online, or by contacting the Assessor’s office at 860-647-3016. Application Filing Deadline is October 1st annually.
https://www.manchesterct.gov/Training/Miscellaneous-Assessment-and-Collection-Forms

-Employment Opportunities:

Current Town of Manchester job openings include: Deputy Assessor in Finance, Environmental Health Inspector, Forestry Summer Help in Water & Sewer Division, Human Resources Specialist, Part-Time Clinic Nurse, Police Officer, Public Safety Dispatcher, Recycling & Community Service Coordinator, School Crossing Guard, and Water Treatment Plant Operator. For details, visit:
https://www.manchesterct.gov/Employment-Opportunities

-Landfill/Transfer Station

Starting July 1, 2022, the new hours of operation are: Landfill/Commercial Customers: Monday – Friday 7:15am-2:30pm (closed Saturday and Sunday).
Residential Transfer Station: Tuesday – Saturday – 7:15am – 2:30pm (closed Sunday and Monday). Residents can apply for their FREE recycling permit online; visit our webpage for more information:
https://www.manchesterct.gov/Town-Facilities-Locator/Transfer-Station

-Manchester Board Of Education

Regular Meeting: June 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. – Virtual or in person option: Lincoln Center at 494 Main St.
Individuals who wish to speak at the meeting, must complete a Request to Speak form by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.  
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2qj6RfD49ovEnwfH_4YSFAhaC__SpXLV9rK1Fwxg-hDG90Q/viewform
Community members can submit questions prior to or during a Board of Education meeting by contacting Jim Farrell, the district’s communication director, by email (b11jfarr@mpspride) or Facebook message (via the district Facebook page).

Public access to view meeting live :
http://www.channel16.org/CablecastPublicSite/watch/1?channel=1
Live streaming on FaceBook : Link to MPS Pride FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/MPS-Pride-Manchester-CT-Public-Schools-1677756609137170
On demand after the meeting: http://www.channel16.org/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1
Agendas are available online: https://www.mpspride.org/Page/62

-The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on June 29, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., both virtually and in person in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room, 494 Main Street, Manchester, Connecticut.
Public hearing notices, agendas, meeting packets, actions and minutes can be found at:  https://www.manchesterct.gov/Government/Town-Leadership/Boards-Commissions-Committees/Zoning-Board-of-Appeals
To request Zoom login information to attend virtually, fill out the form at https://manct.us/7  
For more information, contact the Planning Department:   860-647-3044 or [email protected]

-Summer Pool Schedule

Pre-season began June 19 with the opening of the Marcy MacDonald Pool. The regular season starts June 27. Full details are online:
https://bettermanchester.com/2022/04/summer-2022-program-and-event-guide/

-Spring Water Main Cleaning – Final week!

To provide the Town of Manchester’s water customers with the best possible quality of water, we will be cleaning water mains through July 1, 2022. The cleaning is done to remove sediment in the pipe that has accumulated. The following streets are scheduled to be flushed:
June 27 – July 1: Adams St., Adams St. South, Ann St., Avon St., Bank St., Bidwell St., Bluefield Dr., Bremen Rd., Bridge St., Bunce Dr., Campfield
Rd., Carol Dr., Carver La., Case Dr., Center St., Chalmers St., Channing Dr., Chester Dr., Coolidge St., Cooper St., Cooper Hill St., Cornell St., Cougar
Dr., Courtland St., Cross St., Cyr Dr., Dougherty St., Dudley St., Emerson St., Ensign St., Fairfield St., Fairview St., Falknor Dr., Flint Dr., Foley St.,
Goslee Dr., Greenfarms La., Harding St., Hartford Rd., Hathaway La., Henderson Rd., High St., Hillstown Rd., Horace St., House Rd., Hyde St.,
Imperial Dr., Keeney St., Landfill Way, Litchfield St., Love La., Lucian St., Lyness St., Maxwell St., McCann Dr., McGuire Dr., McKee St., McKinley
St., Middlefield St., Moore St., North Fairfield St., O'Leary Dr., Olcott St. West, Olcott St., Oval La., Overland St., Packard St., Palm St., Pascal La.,
Peila Dr., Pioneer Cir., Portland St., Preston Dr., Proctor Rd., Queens Ct., Ramey Dr., Ruby Dr., Seaman Cir., Server St., Short St., Spencer St., Star
Farms Dr., Summer St., Thomas Dr., Thompson Rd., Thrall Rd., Trebbe Dr., Tyler Cir., Victoria Rd., Waddell Rd., Walnut St., West Center St. , West
St., Westwood St., Wetherell St., Wilfred Rd., Wilson Way, Woodside St.
Complete details & schedule can be found online:
https://www.manchesterct.gov/Government/Latest-News/Water-Main-Cleaning-Schedule-2022

-Join the Woodbridge Farmstead Committee for an open house on June 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Woodbridge Farmstead Museum.  The people from Aussakita Acres Farm will be bringing us some baby lambs to pet and watch.  You can also see our new Visitor Center with displays showing some of the history of the Manchester Green area.  Take a self-guided tour through our late 18th century barn.  Guided tours of sections of our 1830s farmhouse will be available.  Some games will be set up for the children.  Remember to submit a name for our new display cow in the old barn.  A $10 gift certificate to Shady Glen will be given in early July to the person whose suggested name is picked for our cow.  We are located at 495 East Middle Turnpike. Parking available off Woodbridge Street behind the barn and through the gate.  Please be careful entering and exiting our parking area.   Overflow parking is also available at the nearby Senior Center.

-Make A Powerful Impact! Blood donations are critically important at this time of year. Give by June 30 & get a $5 e-gift card, plus a chance to win a VIP trip for two to Memphis and Graceland!

Upcoming Manchester blood drives include:
June 30 from 9:00am-6:30pm at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker Street.
July 7 from 1:30pm-6:30pm at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker Street.
July 10 from 8:00am -1:00pm at Academy of Martial Arts & Personal Development, 1404 Tolland Turnpike.
For more info and to schedule your appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit us online to find drives in nearby towns:  
http://www.redcrossblood.org