In Cranberry Township, a groundbreaking turns award presentation
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP — What started as a ceremonial groundbreaking event for the 2024 Cranberry Township Community Chest’s Project of the Year ended with a surprise honor for the township supervisors’ chairman and Ryan Gloyer Middle School teacher Mike Manipole.
State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, presented Manipole with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives naming him Teacher of the Year.
“He is a spreader of joy and optimism in every aspect of life,” Scialabba said. “Anyone who meets him is immediately touched, and forever touched by his genuine compassion and excitement for life.”
Fellow Supervisor Karen Newpol said she’s known Manipole for more than 20 years and was thrilled to see her friend and colleague recognized for his hard work.
“Mike has been a dedicated and wonderful community advocate,” Newpol said. “He works in our parks; he works with our kids. When I taught Girl Scouts he helped with my troop. Mike Manipole is amazing. He’s an amazing asset to this community and the board of supervisors.”
Manipole said he felt both honored and surprised that he was being recognized with such a distinct honor.
“I’ve been a teacher for over 30 years and you know, the true love from the kids and the parents is amazing,” he said. “I’m just thrilled to be apart of it.”
The award was presented after Cranberry community leaders, members of the Cranberry Township Community Chest board and leadership from Armstrong ceremoniously broke ground on the Armstrong Great Lawn Project.
The Armstrong Great Lawn project will develop a gathering space around the township’s municipal building that will be focused on passive recreation and expanded pedestrian connections that will feature a playground, a reading garden, an urban fountain and an expanded story walk.
“I’m very excited about the groundbreaking celebration,” Newpol said. “This is going to be a beautiful area for the entire community to gather in.”
Work on the $2.5 million project is likely going to begin in a few weeks, according to Dan Santoro, township manager.
“We’re super excited to break ground on the Great Lawn,” Santoro said. “It’s going to be a great asset and great gathering spot for the community.”
Manipole said the Armstrong Great Lawn Project will be a place where residents can come and feel welcome and feel like they are “truly part of a community.”
“We want to make this the hub for all kinds of events throughout the year,” Manipole said. “Our goal is to wear the doors off the hinges and wear out the carpet with the residents of the community.”
