01/16/2026
🎵🎨 Meet Your Neighbors: The Manzellas 🎨🎵
Danny and Cheryl Manzella are celebrating their 60th birthdays this year, and their North Tonawanda home on Orchard is at the heart of their story. They found their perfect house in 2012, drawn to the canal walking trail and those beautiful 10-minute drives to catch sunsets by the river.
Their love story started with a blind date arranged by Danny's neighbor back in the early nineties. That first night at a backyard barbecue, they talked and sang by the bonfire until 8am the next morning! They married at Mayor's Park on September 5, 1998, and have been making music and memories together ever since.
Danny has become a well-known voice in the local music scene - he was the founding singer of 55 Main for a decade, performed Wednesday nights at Gateway Harbor with Eminence Front and Company, and now sings for the JT Baker Band. His music even made it to Amazon Prime in the film "Good Times Never Come," with scenes shot right here at Gratwick Park! Cheryl captures it all through her photography, selling calendars at Market in the Square (still "Budwey's" to her!) featuring local scenes and those gorgeous NT sunsets.
Their 26-year-old son Joe shares the family's creative spirit - he's an incredible artist, hockey enthusiast, and even creates original card games for family game nights. And let's not forget their four cats: rescue brothers Jack and Ozzy (who fetch like dogs!), Tesla, and formerly feral Knee High, who ran into their house two years ago and decided to stay.
You've probably seen Danny perform at Porchfest every year since it started. The Manzellas live by their motto: faith, hope, and love - and they're grateful for neighbors who help care for our community and its feral cats.
Here's to families who make North Tonawanda feel like home! 💚