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Manson: Meals at MAC

Community center, library are local hubs; street work ongoing in the downtown

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Mike McGregor, of Manson, looks through the stacks at the Manson Public Library recently. The library is a favorite spot for local residents.

MANSON — Chef Dave Johnston had a busy morning at the Manson Area Recreation Center recently.

As he loaded the meals he’d prepared for the day’s Meal on Wheels delivery, a simmering pot of his scratch-made chili needed stirring before the gathered seniors could enjoy their noon meal.

The delicious smell permeated the entire MACCenter.

The Meals on Wheels and Senior Meals were both added in December when the senior center in downtown Manson needed a new location, according to MACCenter director Dr. Josh Sturgis.

“They come every day for meals and Meals on Wheels is here too,” Sturgis said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Manson Area Community Center chef Dave Johnston stirs the days chili recently while preparing senior lunch. He also prepares meals for the local Meals on Wheels program.

The MACCenter offers a variety of exercise classes including Yoga as well as exercise machines and weights. Sturgis has his chiropractic practice in the building as well.

The center also sees a lot of use by students. Many of the Manson Northwest Webster teams practice there.

“We’ve really established a lot of good connections with the high school coaches,” he said.

Membership continues to grow — they’re currently at about 330 and they’re not all from Manson.

“We’re getting people from Twin Lakes, Pomeroy and other areas. It’s a very well used facility,” Sturgis said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Dr. Josh Sturgis, who manages the Manson Area Community Center, puts a weight lifting bar up on some of their newest weight lifting equipment.

He credits that to many things including the pride the staff takes in maintaining the center.

“We’ve got good equipment, it’s clean, anything breaks we fix it right away. We’re a good match to almost any family in the area.”

Manson Mayor Dave George is also proud of the MACCenter.

“There have been continuing improvements,” George said. “It’s been a huge asset to the community. The MACCenter has been an amazing place.”

He too is glad to see visitors from other communities.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The downtown street project in Manson is almost complete. The lights are back in service and it’s open to traffic.

“It’s an added plus,” he said. “It helps our community.”

One of the most visible signs of change in Manson has been the downtown street project. Two blocks of Main Street have been repaved, new sidewalks installed, new stoplights (the only stop lights in Calhoun County) put up and older decaying building awnings removed.

While weather has temporarily stopped work, it will be completed in the spring.

While the project has been the source of controversy, George said that it will offer several valuable benefits the community’s residents.

“The number one benefit when it’s completed is that we will have a gorgeous downtown,” he said. “It’s flatter so travel is easier and parking is easier. The curbs are lower which gives easier access and all of the accesses will be handicap accessible.”

George is also proud of some of the business developments in Manson.

“Fitzgerald Welding & Repair has relocated in the city limits,” he said. “He took over a building we had been trying to get occupied.”

“We also have the reopening of the bowling alley,” he said. “It had been closed for several years. It’s reopened and operational again.”

The Manson Public Library also continues to be a source of community pride and activity.

Library Director Laura Koons said they’ve recently applied for a Calhoun County Community Foundation grant to purchase new computers.

“We don’t know yet but we’re keeping our fingers crossed,” she said.

The replacement is needed because Microsoft will no longer offer security support for the current software past Jan. 2020.

“We decided it would be better to purchase new computers rather than incurring the expense of new software,” she said.

The library also continues to host events. A Tea Party for children 4-8 is one example.

Children’s Librarian Nicole Oswald hosted.

“They got to make a wand or a shield, play games and then hear a discussion about etiquette,” Koons said.

Thursday night continues to attract a steady crowd of regular patrons.

Each evening during the month features game night, needlecraft night or readers circle.

On March 28 at 6:30 p.m. the library will host Lori Vicker who will present at program about the Orphan Trains.

“It sounded really interesting,” Koons said. “She’ll have props during her presentation including clothing from the era. I’ve heard really good things about her presentations.”

She’s also proud of service they offer Manson residents.

“We do home delivery of those who are homebound,” she said. “We also bring books once a month to the Golden Meadows, that’s becoming popular.”

Regular library patron Mike McGregor likes it there.

“I can get more work done here than I can at home,” he said. “It’s a good remedy for cabin fever.”

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