The history and ecology of the Flint Hills region was on full display Saturday at the Flint Hills Festival in Manhattan. “Flint Hills Festival is our one day of the year in which we bring everyone together to celebrate the Flint Hills Region,” said Stephen Bridenstine, director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. “The food, the music, the culture, the heritage. We kind of do it all.” To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local news.
Author: Bernie Fancella
A popular student food support program is likely coming to an end, its organizer said Wednesday. Konza Student Table, founded in 2021, has provided more than 100,000 meals to K-State students. Volunteers distribute the to-go meals weekly on campus, free of charge, to anyone who needs them. “Konza Student Table came to be because we had the opportunity to have a very large estate gift,” said Vickie James, coordinator for the Food and Farm Council of Riley County and Manhattan. “Then there were some people that saw the need during COVID and donated on top of that.” To view the…
By Bernie Fancella and Brandon Peoples Donors raised more than $1.9 million during the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation’s annual Grow Green Match Day on Tuesday, organizers said. The event supported 100 local nonprofit organizations. “Volunteers have been great help and our trustees and and the nonprofits certainly are showing up and around to answer questions,” said Vern Henricks, president and CEO of the foundation. Some donors gave online, while others came out to Colony Square to give in person to their favorite charitable organizations. Among the charitable organizations participating in was The Center of Hope Ministry. To view the full…
Protestors gathered near the edge of City Park on Saturday, to push back against policy decisions made by the Trump administration. Indivisible MHK planned the protest, called “No Kings,” and organizers said they confirmed that 350 people had participated. The protest was called by 50501, a grassroots organization that set out to have “50 protests in 50 states under one movement” challenging “the draconian policies of the Trump administration,” according to a news release. “We are gathered out here to celebrate our democracy,” said Kaidy Smith, chair of Indivisible MHK. “America is free, and we do not need a king.…
Construction at the new location of the Flint Hills Breadbasket is nearing completion. The new location for the local food pantry, at 2326 Skyvue Lane, is weeks from opening after a year of remodeling. Organizers said the previous location of the Breadbasket on Yuma Street had become congested and impractical. The new location will be similar to a small grocery store. Executive director Karla Hagemeister said the new facility will be similar to a small grocery store. She said the building became available at just the right time. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more local…
The two-legged and four-legged members of a Fort Riley unit will make history in May when they perform at the Kentucky Derby. Fort Riley’s Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard is set to participate in the opening of the Derby in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 3. The color guard performs mounted drill and weapons demonstrations for community events, parades, rodeos and military ceremonies at Fort Riley. This year it has been invited to open the 151st annual race at Churchill Downs. To view the full article visit theMercury.com. Click here for more Fort Riley news.
Saturday’s festivities began with a parade through Aggieville and back to City Park. Brad Everett, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn, drove a toy train engine in the parade for those with mobility issues. “I wanted to come out and help celebrate Pride Day with everybody and get kids out, get smiles going, and just bring a little bit of additional excitement to a special day,” he said. Community vendors were on hand providing community information inside the Wefald Pavilion. Kevin Bryant serves on the board for the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice. To view the full article…
Bootsies has opened at 1227 Bluemont Avenue, a site for several historically well known restaraunts. President of One-Egg-Group Evan Grier expresses his enthusiasm for the location. “We’re excited to be a part of the aggieville neighborhood, and we’ve had other restaurants here in town and do but never part of Aggieville, and we’re excited to be a part of what we believe to be an exciting time for the Aggieville neighborhood.” Bootsies offers an atmosphere different than the rest of Aggieville, focusing on hip hop and R&B from the 80s to the early 2000s. In addition, Grier says future plans…
Local philanthropy was recognized as the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation presented its annual awards Monday… KMAN’s Bernie Fancella reports… The Distinguished Volunteer Award was presented to Ronnie Grice, assistant VP and chief of the K-State Police Department. The Manhattan Optimist Club was presented with the Distinguished Service Club Award. The Business Philanthropy award was presented to WTC. This was the 12th year that the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation has presented these awards. This was also the foundation’s 26th annual meeting. To view the full article visit TheMercury.com. Click here for more local news.
The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation will honor the “best” in philanthropy Monday when it hosts its annual Community Foundation Awards. The program also serves as the organization’s annual meeting. CEO Vern Henricks said this year’s event will be somewhat scaled back. “A few less awards than we typically have given, but nonetheless, I think we’re going to profile the ones we got a little bit more,” he said. Award categories include the rising star volunteer, distinguished volunteer, civic philanthropy, business philanthropy and philanthropist of the year. The program will also highlight a community nonprofit. GMCF founder and event sponsor Jim…