January 11,2021 FridayMusings is your source for Livonia Cultural Happenings
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2020 was a difficult year. 2021 is not starting off any better as we face a degree of uncertainty leaving us unsure of what to expect from one week to the next. A trip to the dentist includes a discussion on what took place in Washington. A browse through Facebook to see who is celebrating a birthday or anniversary uncovers hatred, division, accusations. Conversations over the back 40 start off tepidly, not knowing which position the neighbor takes.
We are mad at our education. We find everything wrong with our hometown. We dislike our elected officials if they aren't supportive enough of our own views. Life becomes all about "me. My. Mine." No longer do we talk about the common good. About the exciting. The different. The possible.
Damn it. Not on these pages of FridayMusings. You can blame the Left. Blame the Right. FridayMusings is going to take between now and Valentine's Day and share your visions, missions, goals, aspirations. Share what is good about Livonia. About our hometown. Rant all you want on your own page about the negative views without offering up solutions. Without offering up what you like about the town in which you pay taxes, you benefit from stable home values. About why 3rd and fourth generations move back to the town in which they were raised.
In our community with all its stunning open space, cultural richness, we can and should gain a new appreciation during the pandemic. We have a hometown where our family connections run strong. Yes, let us look at what is changing but let us also look at how we can be a positive force for that change. Change without acrimony. Without hatred. Where we can combine what we have in constructive conversations, become determined to be engaged while offering solutions and taking ownership with clarity in the town we will continue to call home.
Let me know and let our readers know what parts of Livonia you have delighted in, have inspired you, will continue to comfort you in a year in which we are unsure of the outcome. But know one thing. We have a hometown of which we deserve to be proud.
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Click the image below and send your opinion to the typewriter. |
Musings reader poll
Favorite City Councilperson
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The results are in. After 7 days of voting the favorite City Council person has been decided. A slice of time. Only one moment at the start of a new year. But here are your top four as voted on over the past week.
Pictured on the left are the top two, McCullough and Jolly coaching this past summer, as selected by our readers:
Brandon McCullough 36.4%
Jim Jolly 29.0%
Laura Toy 11.2%
Scott Bahr 10.3%
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Livonia City Council Meeting Schedule
January & February
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Livonia's Alan Brooks
Virtual Art Show
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Alan Brooks shares his photography on his Facebook page and during the month of December shared a Virtual Art Show daily.
Day 23 of the virtual art show. MOON RISING. Infrared photo taken in the mountains above Sedona AZ.
The typewriter enjoys looking at some of his creative work. You might enjoy it as well.
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What will the decade of the 2020's hold for Livonia? |
Livonia:
the home for progress
2020 goal for Livonia offered by Brandon McCullough
As one of Livonia's elected leaders, I am very motivated with the prospects of the new “roaring” 20’s. Obviously, the decade did not get off to a great start, but I am optimistic that we will recover and be stronger than ever.
And being the optimist that I am, I am counting on the 20’s to be a banner decade in Livonia’s history, so I am picking three visions:
- Taking the Livonia Vision 21 Master Plan into reality; Livonia’s Plan will direct city-wide policy and future decisions for land use, transportation, neighborhoods, infrastructure and open space. Livonia has been built out for a long period of time and if we do not take aggressive steps to be innovative, we will continue to suffer economically. Three specific areas that come to mind for innovative planning include 7 & Farmington, 7 & Middlebelt, and the Plymouth Road Corridor. I could see a mixed use a development at the old K-mart that could create a walkable district connecting to the Joe’s Produce plaza. We have what I will call “Opportunity” at many locations that have the potential to completely revitalize areas that continue to rot away. If you haven’t seen the plan, visit livoniavision21.com.
- Enhancing Greenmead; the master plan is in process and is estimated to take roughly one year to have the findings. This is the jewel of our city and needs to be a priority. We have the opportunity to create something that provides our community an amenity for the ages. While my family travels to various locations in metro Detroit, I always think of Greenmead. I can hear the Livonia Civic Chorus singing Christmas Carols in a state-of-the-art amphitheater, checking out Chris Last and his sawmill that creates siding for building repairs from reclaimed lumber, watching a Shakespeare play by the Livonia Community Theater on a bandstand, and maybe playing an outdoor hockey game against the Red Wings Alumni on the outdoor staking rink! Some much potential, can’t wait to complete this master plan.
- Making Livonia a place for everyone; we need to continue providing mechanisms for real quantifiable change that will produce deliverable measures going forward. While this is a broad statement, it’s something we cannot ignore. I have heard stories that have provided me a different view of a place that I have called home for my entire life. We have made some small gains and progress, but we have to keep pushing forward.
Remember these are all visions, some visions that have been discussed and tried in the past. We need to start finally doing and pushing these ideas over the goal line, but let’s not forget, it will take a team or maybe a “city” to really make this happen. I am ready and motivated, are you?
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FridayMusings understands there will be plenty of time to discuss issues readers want to see emphasized as we move closer to an election. So much on social media is negative. During January & February Musings will be exploring issues residents feel can impact our hometown, which will define Livonia in the 2020s. The first three topics (Schwartz) were well-received January 4: R William Joyner, Volunteerism, January 6: Chris Last, Sustainability, January 8: Conrad Schwartz, Home of Art.
January 11: Brandon McCullough, Progress, January 13: Laurie Pohutsky, Young families, January 15: Chuck Dardas, Kindness, January 18: Liz Jarvis, STEM Center, January 20: Jim Jolly, January 22: Kellie Whitlock, January 29: Charlie Mahoney, February 1: Tim Klisz You can always refer back to an article you missed by going to our archive at Archive – Bill Joyner's Friday Musings.
On February 12 in a special edition we will offer up the opportunity for you, the readers of Musings, to tell Livonia what it is you love about the town you call home. That issue will have a special message to our readers from Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan.
We are looking for what you like/love about Livonia. Please.
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An update on Livonia Public Schools
In-person learning plans
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FridayMusings is pleased to share with you the latest update from Livonia Public Schools, pertaining to their return to in-person learning plans. This parent update was sent to parents on January 7th.
Stacy Jenkins, District Communications, says that "the school district is excited to welcome Pre-K through Grade 6 and special education students back into the classrooms on Monday, January 11, and middle and high schoolers on Tuesday, January 19."
Students have been on a pause in in-person learning since the week of Nov. 16. The fully virtual option, Livonia Virtual, continues to operate unchanged.
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Andrea Oquist, Superindent, Livonia Public Schools:
As promised, we would like to update you on the plans for the return to in-person learning for our students.
After review of current community and regional data, followed by discussion among the Board of Education last evening, the district will move forward with the Board’s determination to resume in-person instruction on the following schedule:
• Monday, January 11: All Pre-K, K-4, 5-6 and all Pre-K - Post Secondary students who are in special education programs (ECP, local center programs at Grant, Randolph, Johnson, Frost, Churchill and LTP, and our ASD, MOCI, Garfield Workskill and VI classrooms).
• Tuesday, January 19: All middle school and high school students.
• All school days will be full days, five days per week.
We look forward to welcoming our students back into our schools, and we appreciate the patience and perseverance shown by our students, staff, and families during this challenging school year.
Additional reminders about the safety mitigation measures which remain the same as they were prior to our pause in face-to-face learning:
• Masks are mandatory for all students and staff, at all times except while eating.
• All cleaning protocols and hygiene practices will continue in all schools. • Students and staff will continue practicing physical distancing as was in place prior to our pause in face-to-face learning.
• Students who ride a bus are required to wear a mask. Hand sanitizing dispensers are located on all buses.
• Volunteers and guests are not permitted in the schools at this time, per state guidelines.
• For more information regarding level-specific safety measures, visit www.livoniapublicschools.org/return and click on the documents posted under “Communications Log.”
We look forward to seeing our students back in school over these next two weeks and thank you for your continued partnership each step of the way!
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