On Tuesday, residents in the Manchester Community Schools District approved a $2.5 million bond proposal that will help the district pay for much needed expenses. With the uncertain future of public school funding from the state, it's nice to see the community stepping up and helping the school district with safety and technological updates.
Our children are our future and they need the educational tools to succeed in life. It is up to us as a community, despite these hard economic times, to help foster the education of students at MCS.
Despite the bond's passage, Superintendent Shanw-Lewis Lakin has mentioned budget cuts for the upcoming school year are still inevitable. I am interested to see what the community can expect in the coming months.
D.L.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Arts Alliance turns attention to Manchester
There is hope among the Washtenaw County Arts Alliance that the Manchester community will be included in its cultural enhancement plan.
Arts Alliance members Mark Palms and Deb Greer presented some of their hopes for the cultural plan during the Manchester Village Council’s regular meeting Feb. 16.
Palms, who is the director of the Riverfolk Music & Arts Festival, said that the Alliance’s cultural plan involves enhancing aspects of the community and seeing what value cultural arts have in communities.
“Each of the smaller communities in Washtenaw County participates and develops their own individual plan,” Palms said. “Riverfolk is initiating the leadership in developing a cultural plan in Manchester. We’d want to focus on the history of Manchester and what makes it unique.”
Palms also said that the Alliance will solicit opinions from residents to determine what types of artistic venues they’d like to see, then determine which direction to take.
Greer, who runs the River Gallery in Chelsea, has spent much of the past two years polling county residents on their thoughts of cultural activities and studying ways that the arts enhances communities.
In one of her polls, Greer found that 63 percent of the people in Washtenaw County live in the county because of its access to cultural arts, and that 75 percent of county business saw a “huge positive impact” by supporting the arts.
Another study showed that there are 823 students with degrees in music from the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. Eighty-eight percent of those were satisfied with the county’s accessibility to the arts.
Greer’s said that findings in regards to Manchester were unique to the county.
“People in Manchester don’t want to see any change,” Greer said. “They are proud of Riverfolk and its role as a ‘Mecca for music,’ and they’re proud of their other events like the Chicken Broil.”
She also reported that about half the artists in the county say that Manchester gives them a “strong base” for their art.
The cultural plan has six strategic areas it’s focusing on. The first is to make arts and culture significant parts of K-12 education in the county. Second, the Alliance hopes to provide services that support growth of creative economic development. It also hopes to increase the visibility of the cultural sector through collective marketing, and increase both public and private funding for arts and culture.
The plan also hopes to find ways to engage diverse populations into its programs and strengthen the Arts Alliances as a whole.
Greer is hoping that Manchester takes similar steps that surrounding communities took, such as starting an arts council and continuing its support of organizations like Riverfolk.“The arts can create fellowship in communities and bring the people to one another,” Greer said. “I love Manchester, and would like to see it be active with us.”
Arts Alliance members Mark Palms and Deb Greer presented some of their hopes for the cultural plan during the Manchester Village Council’s regular meeting Feb. 16.
Palms, who is the director of the Riverfolk Music & Arts Festival, said that the Alliance’s cultural plan involves enhancing aspects of the community and seeing what value cultural arts have in communities.
“Each of the smaller communities in Washtenaw County participates and develops their own individual plan,” Palms said. “Riverfolk is initiating the leadership in developing a cultural plan in Manchester. We’d want to focus on the history of Manchester and what makes it unique.”
Palms also said that the Alliance will solicit opinions from residents to determine what types of artistic venues they’d like to see, then determine which direction to take.
Greer, who runs the River Gallery in Chelsea, has spent much of the past two years polling county residents on their thoughts of cultural activities and studying ways that the arts enhances communities.
In one of her polls, Greer found that 63 percent of the people in Washtenaw County live in the county because of its access to cultural arts, and that 75 percent of county business saw a “huge positive impact” by supporting the arts.
Another study showed that there are 823 students with degrees in music from the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. Eighty-eight percent of those were satisfied with the county’s accessibility to the arts.
Greer’s said that findings in regards to Manchester were unique to the county.
“People in Manchester don’t want to see any change,” Greer said. “They are proud of Riverfolk and its role as a ‘Mecca for music,’ and they’re proud of their other events like the Chicken Broil.”
She also reported that about half the artists in the county say that Manchester gives them a “strong base” for their art.
The cultural plan has six strategic areas it’s focusing on. The first is to make arts and culture significant parts of K-12 education in the county. Second, the Alliance hopes to provide services that support growth of creative economic development. It also hopes to increase the visibility of the cultural sector through collective marketing, and increase both public and private funding for arts and culture.
The plan also hopes to find ways to engage diverse populations into its programs and strengthen the Arts Alliances as a whole.
Greer is hoping that Manchester takes similar steps that surrounding communities took, such as starting an arts council and continuing its support of organizations like Riverfolk.“The arts can create fellowship in communities and bring the people to one another,” Greer said. “I love Manchester, and would like to see it be active with us.”
Monday, February 23, 2009
JRC files reorganization plan
Journal Register Company has announced that the company and its subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the southern district of New York to implement a pre-negotiated plan of reorganization with its secured lenders designed to substantially reduce its debt.
JRC, parent company of the Heritage Newspapers and The Manchester Enterprise, intends to continue to operate as usual, and does not anticipate any business interruption during the restructuring.
“Journal Register Company has taken numerous steps to reduce its debt and strengthen its balance sheet through the divestiture of unprofitable newspapers and various other means. However, due to the numerous challenges facing the newspaper industry and the overall economic downturn, our board of directors has decided, after careful consideration of all available alternatives, that a Chapter 11 filing was a necessary and best course of action for Journal Register Company,” JRC chairman and chief executive officer James Hall said. “We intend to emerge from the Chapter 11 process stronger, leaner and more financially viable in the current environment.
“We are also pleased to have the support of our lenders in restructuring our debt obligations. Our business will continue its normal operations and we will publish content as usual throughout this process.”JRC expects to continue to generate sufficient cash flow to fund its operations. The company also said that it has filed motions with the court to continue to pay wages, salaries and provide employee benefits to its employees and that vendors and service providers will be paid under normal terms for goods and services provided after the filing date.
JRC, parent company of the Heritage Newspapers and The Manchester Enterprise, intends to continue to operate as usual, and does not anticipate any business interruption during the restructuring.
“Journal Register Company has taken numerous steps to reduce its debt and strengthen its balance sheet through the divestiture of unprofitable newspapers and various other means. However, due to the numerous challenges facing the newspaper industry and the overall economic downturn, our board of directors has decided, after careful consideration of all available alternatives, that a Chapter 11 filing was a necessary and best course of action for Journal Register Company,” JRC chairman and chief executive officer James Hall said. “We intend to emerge from the Chapter 11 process stronger, leaner and more financially viable in the current environment.
“We are also pleased to have the support of our lenders in restructuring our debt obligations. Our business will continue its normal operations and we will publish content as usual throughout this process.”JRC expects to continue to generate sufficient cash flow to fund its operations. The company also said that it has filed motions with the court to continue to pay wages, salaries and provide employee benefits to its employees and that vendors and service providers will be paid under normal terms for goods and services provided after the filing date.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Manchester 4-H students receive top honors
Several Manchester area residents were recognized at the Washtenaw County 4-H Recognition Program held on Jan. 18 at the Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds.
Washtenaw County Commissioners Mark Ouimet, D-Dist. 1 and Jessica Ping, R-Dist. 3, helped present the awards.
Katelyn Horning (beef and swine) and Emma Golding (fashion revue and wood science) were named 2008 County Project Medal Winners.
Fifteen Washtenaw County youth were inducted as 4-H Ambassadors for 2009: Shannon Bater of Chelsea, Molly Buis of South Lyon, Melanie Burchett of Chelsea, Ellie Burt of South Lyon, Meghan Carpenter of Stockbridge, Melanie Clark of Dexter, Courtney Cook of Dexter, Melissa Cousino of Manchester, Kimber Creteau of Dexter, Allison Ferguson of Ann Arbor, Alexandra Greaves of Saline, Riley Ravary of Ypsilanti, David Reynhout of Chelsea, Ashley Thomas of Ypsilanti and Malaika Whitney of Ann Arbor.
Club Spirit Awards for enthusiasm, involvement and sportsmanship were presented to Caroline Golding, Mason Horning, Natalie Horning, Robert Rasch and Erika Stetler.
Barbara Eversole, Dawna Rice and Amanda Walz received 4-H first-year leadership pins for their volunteer service. Virginia Litwin earned her five-year service pin and John Bihlmeyer earned his 25-year service pin.
Diane and Earl Horning of Manchester and Bill Lutz of Saline were recognized by the Washtenaw County 4-H Program as the 4-H Alumni of the Year, signifying their life-time 4-H involvement and service to the community.
Washtenaw County Commissioners Mark Ouimet, D-Dist. 1 and Jessica Ping, R-Dist. 3, helped present the awards.
Katelyn Horning (beef and swine) and Emma Golding (fashion revue and wood science) were named 2008 County Project Medal Winners.
Fifteen Washtenaw County youth were inducted as 4-H Ambassadors for 2009: Shannon Bater of Chelsea, Molly Buis of South Lyon, Melanie Burchett of Chelsea, Ellie Burt of South Lyon, Meghan Carpenter of Stockbridge, Melanie Clark of Dexter, Courtney Cook of Dexter, Melissa Cousino of Manchester, Kimber Creteau of Dexter, Allison Ferguson of Ann Arbor, Alexandra Greaves of Saline, Riley Ravary of Ypsilanti, David Reynhout of Chelsea, Ashley Thomas of Ypsilanti and Malaika Whitney of Ann Arbor.
Club Spirit Awards for enthusiasm, involvement and sportsmanship were presented to Caroline Golding, Mason Horning, Natalie Horning, Robert Rasch and Erika Stetler.
Barbara Eversole, Dawna Rice and Amanda Walz received 4-H first-year leadership pins for their volunteer service. Virginia Litwin earned her five-year service pin and John Bihlmeyer earned his 25-year service pin.
Diane and Earl Horning of Manchester and Bill Lutz of Saline were recognized by the Washtenaw County 4-H Program as the 4-H Alumni of the Year, signifying their life-time 4-H involvement and service to the community.
Local home vandalized
Hello readers,
On Feb. 19 at approximately 9 a.m., deputies with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the 9100 block of Sharon Hollow Road, in Manchester Township in response to a burglary call.The burglary occurred between Feb. 15 and Feb. 19. The house was completely ransacked and damaged. According to the police reports, the number of items taken is still unknown. The case is under investigation.
If you have any information about this, please call the Washtenaw County Sheriff's substation in Manchester 428-8829.
On Feb. 19 at approximately 9 a.m., deputies with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the 9100 block of Sharon Hollow Road, in Manchester Township in response to a burglary call.The burglary occurred between Feb. 15 and Feb. 19. The house was completely ransacked and damaged. According to the police reports, the number of items taken is still unknown. The case is under investigation.
If you have any information about this, please call the Washtenaw County Sheriff's substation in Manchester 428-8829.
Welcome
Hello reader,
Thank you for taking the time to check out The Manchester Enterprise's new blog. In an ongoing effort to engage the public with its community newspaper, my staff and I will post periodic messages, columns, news stories and other information on our blog. We look forward to any comments you may have. For submissions or breaking news, e-mail us at editor@manchesterenterprise.com.
Sincerely,
D.Lai
Editor
Thank you for taking the time to check out The Manchester Enterprise's new blog. In an ongoing effort to engage the public with its community newspaper, my staff and I will post periodic messages, columns, news stories and other information on our blog. We look forward to any comments you may have. For submissions or breaking news, e-mail us at editor@manchesterenterprise.com.
Sincerely,
D.Lai
Editor
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