Manchester Community Association Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2003

We will be sending you an 'issue' about once a month with news of the community and the MCA (that's Manchester Community Association NOT the Manchester Christian Academy).

HALLOWEEN WRAP-UP!

The Manchester Halloween event was success once again. All manner of creatures drifted through the Haunted Garden located at the corner of Colchester & Spruce and kids of all ages stopped by the Manchester Library to play games and make crafts.

The gang at the Haunted Garden location handed out about 5 gallons of hot chocolate to the trick or treaters and collected $35 in donations and sales of the glow in the dark bracelets.

About 100 kids and parents stopped by the MCA's main event at the library to get warm and have a little spooky fun. Thanks for including us in your trick-or-treating rounds! Among the activities offered at the library were bracelet making, puzzles, coloring and activity sheets, and a game called Cannibal Soup. Winner of the "Count the candy in the Alien Cup" was Brett V, with a guess of 37. Actual number was 38. Good guessing Brett!!

As usual, we were very impressed by the variety of original costumes we saw. Many of our visitors may find themselves immortalized in our online photo album, currently under construction. Check here to see if you're featured!

We, the MCA, would like to offer special thanks to a few volunteers who went out of their way to make "A Manchester Halloween" possible -- Brian, Becky & Connor Moore, Phil Paquette and Dee D'Haem for hosting the library event. Anne Cisney, Phil Rutschman and Christina Beck for manning the hot chocolate booth at the yard haunt. MANY thanks to Mark and Debbie Whitehead for allowing us to visit their Haunted Garden! Thank you to everyone for donating cash or supplies to make this event happen. AND finally, THANK YOU, to the Trick Or Treaters and parents who came by to enjoy our spooky hospitality.

VETERAN'S DAY REMEMBRANCE

The service at the Veterans Memorial at the Manchester Library on Tuesday the 11th was attended by 22 people who came to remember the men and women who served their country. Phil Paquette, a Coast Guard Vietnam veteran, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and gave a short speech.

For those of you who could not attend, the following is Phil's speech:

For those of you who had not or did not receive the impromptu email I sent out this morning I should explain that after an extremely long day yesterday I arrived home about 10:30 PM to find a message on my phone machine from the AMVETS Post 4 Commander, Glenn Skelton. Due to family circumstances and emergencies including sickness and seeing his son off at 5:00 AM this morning to his deployment to Iraq, Glenn canceled his portion of today's observance. Also, Ron Smith is currently in the hospital undergoing surgery for colon cancer. A majority of their members of the VFW honor guard that was scheduled to render a rifle salute and bugler were also stricken with illness and, therefore, forced to cancel as well.

I humbly appreciate those of you who have made the effort to witness me fumble for inadequate words to briefly remember the sacrifice of our Veterans this afternoon.

A good speech is succinct and BRIEF!

I would like those of us present at this humble assembly to reflect upon an article making its rounds through the internet and passed on to me by my fellow Manchester resident and Vietnam veteran who served three tours and is, among other deserved honors, the recipient of the Purple Heart, Cliff Blind.

It was reported by ABC news that because of the dangers of Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington, D.C., the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.

They refused the offer.

Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment; it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person.

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

Above me flies our national flag and the now familiar POW/MIA flag just below it. Now going into our third century as a nation, our flag, despite critics, has largely been known throughout the world as the standard for liberty and compassion. Thankfully, people like Albert Einstein and Werner Von Braun, recognized it as such. Today. history would have been much different if they had thought otherwise.

The two flags flying above me and over the markers below also represent incredible sacrifice by veterans willing to suffer hardship, wounds, and even death to preserve our heritage of liberty and the freedom we enjoy.

There is an old Chinese curse that goes something like, 'May you live in interesting times!' It is my considered opinion that in this day and age we have, indeed arrived.

Today, especially in Washington State today, that sense of sacrifice is being especially felt. Young men from our neighborhoods have been serving in severe circumstances in the Middle East and more are currently being sent over. Please wish them your best, as they are willing to do their best for you.

I would beg you to offer help and comfort not only toward the service people now serving, but also their struggling families that are left behind to bear the emotional strain that so naturally afflicts loved ones.

I would also encourage you to visit places like Retsil Veterans. Home and see if you can offer some comfort to those who sacrificed for your freedom.

Finally, when you're going about your daily routine in freedom, thank a Vet.

Thanks, Phil, for stepping in at the last minute and doing a great job.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

The next big event planned by the Association is the Manchester Community Christmas tree, which is shaping up to be more exciting this year than it was last. There will be plenty of opportunities to volunteer for this event, so if you are interested in participating in a community tradition, drop us a line at info@manchesterca.org.

The tree is scheduled to be put up on the 29th of November, as of this printing we have no tree. We are looking into possibilities but if you have or know of a tree that is between 20 and 25 feet tall...we're interested. We also need a way of safely felling and transporting the tree so it doesn't get damaged.

Fox Sprinkler has donated a steel pipe to support the tree. The Friends of the Library will be donating the electrical power to light the tree but we still need an auger to drill a hole to put the support pipe in, possibly a truck with a bucket so we can reach the top of the tree and lastly we need bodies to help with putting the tree in place and getting the lights on. If you would like to help please contact Brian Moore at brian.moore@charter.net or Phil Paquette at nucphil@earthlink.net.

If everything goes well the tree lighting will be on the 6th December. There will be hot chocolate and glow in the dark bracelets available. There will be another email newsletter with the details once they're ironed out.Whether as a volunteer or as a guest, we look forward to seeing you there.

AND POSSIBLY...

There has been talk and plans of having a bon fire on the beach! This will happen during the time Argosy Cruises Christmas Ships pass by Manchester. Details as soon as we have them! We still have to work out the tides, location, fire wood and fire permit. More on that as it happens.

NEWS AROUND TOWN

Go Figure is a new women's fitness business in Manchester. It is located at 8079 Main Street, Suite 2. It's situated right next to the Manchester Food Center. Jillene welcomes all ages, all body types and all women. Hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 am to 1pm and 3:30 pm to 7 pm. The business is closed on Saturday and Sunday. For more information call 360-871-9222.

LOCAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS