January 21, 2022 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia
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Thanks to Vote. Run. Serve. Livonia for providing this synopsis of the Livonia Parks and Recreation 5 year plan. Click on the above image to access the online 5-year plan.
The Livonia Parks and Recreation 5 Year Plan is available for public review and comment now thru February 16th. It can be reviewed online or hard copies are available at the Recreation Center, Senior Center, and Bennett Library.
Feedback can be emailed to parks@livonia.gov or shared in-person at the front desk of the Recreation Center.
The document is the product of public feedback collected throughout 2021. Livonia has a population of 95,535 residents and approximately 3,600 people (residents and non-residents) responded to the call for action. It is expected that the final proposal will go before City Council in March.
Above is a visual summary of Parks and Recreation's current amenities and planned improvements. Approximately 90% of the Parks & Recreation funding comes from a perpetual millage, the rest comes from the City General Fund proposed by the Mayor and approved by City Council.
4 Goals were identified in the report and the Director of Parks & Recreation would also like to see the City work more collaboratively with community groups for park use and programming.
Build on the success and opportunities within existing facilities to provide quality of life benefits for City of Livonia residents
Pursue funding sources and develop partnerships and advocates to manage park needs
Increase awareness/use of park facilities and programs.
Support green initiatives, active living, and accessibility to recreation.
Make sure you let the City know what you would like to see happen at your favorite parks and recreation spaces.
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Jerry Tiernan. Thank you for your 14 years of leadership with the LJAL.
Musings is providing the words of Jerry Tiernan as he thanks the community for supporting the LJAL during his 14 years on the Board of Directors:
Today is my last day on the board for LJAL! Completing my 14th year as a director. With the last 5 or so as President. It’s all my kids know! But the time has come. The young guy on the block is the old man now…. These young parents have so much energy and have so many wonderful ideas!!! It’s time to pass the torch.
Looking at my Facebook friends list as I was looking to tag all the former directors I’m so proud of all the work we’ve done over these last 14 years. Thank you directors for all you do for the kids!
Also thank you to all the coaches I’ve worked with over these 14 years. Coaching football, basketball, and baseball with people is not always easy…from dealing with directors to parents and kids…but you all do it year in and year out! So many of you have become good friends with my family and me, thank you!
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Parents, we all get a bad wrap as parents! We are just trying to ensure our kids have a healthy experience. When I started with kid #1 in youth sports back in 2004, what I thought was the goal of youth sports participation vs how I feel about kid #4…. Not even close! If you can teach your kids to love to play a sport without the need to care about if they win or lost or even worst are “good enough”, but just having fun…they never lose!!! Never! No matter what! They will want to play/participate in that sport forever!
Players - hard to believe that when I started coaching Facebook was just starting. I mean we had to write the 1st LJAL social media policy. My point is it’s so great to be able to call you all “friends” when you get to college. I mean kids that I coached have kids now…they even coach! Seeing the success you’ve had makes all the bad parts of coaching seem not so bad. Thank you for committing to the team and seeing through what you started! Your families are beautiful and I cannot wait to see the rest of these kids grow up!
That’s a wrap! Not moving or anything so please know I’m still here in the city and am looking forward to the next opportunity!
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Welcome to
Ron Williams Jr. the new
President of the LJAL
"Last night I was elected to be the next President of the Livonia Junior Athletic League. I am extremely thankful to have been trusted with that responsibility. We are an organization of volunteers, giving back to the community that we love. If you feel like that is something you would like to be a part of, please reach out to me.
"A volunteer organization cannot function without... VOLUNTEERS. It may seem like an overwhelming responsibility. It is not. I'm not going to lie and say that every person you help along the way will thank you. There aren't many emails thanking us for the work we do; it's quite the opposite sometimes. But when you go to an LJAL event, and you see kids having fun; that is the moment that makes it all worthwhile.
"I've watched kids get their first-ever basket in a basketball game. I've watched kids get their first hit in a baseball or softball game. I've watched kids get their first tackle in a football game. Those moments make it worth it. Every smile. Every high-five amongst teammates. Every huddle broke with "Let's Go, Livonia!" For every one parent that has a complaint, there are 49 who don't. As a Basketball director for the past 5 years, I have met people whom I will be friends with for life.
"It takes a special kind of person to donate their time, especially over the last couple of years. But it has always been worth it. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. Would you like to know what that feels like? Reach out to me, or anyone else at LJAL and let them know. I can PROMISE you that they will help point you in the right direction.
"If you made it all the way through this, thanks for reading.
Now...LET'S GO, LIVONIA!"
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FridayMusings
readers poll results
Would you be supportive of Livonia hosting an MLK Day in 2023?
Yes 84.8 % No 15.2 %
Will you be ordering the 4 free at-home COVID tests?
Yes 89.1 % No 10.9 %
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This free drive-through event does not require pre-registration. If you’re age 55 or older, just drive on up and pick up some great hot chocolate and cookies to commemorate a tasty not-quite holiday while supplies last.
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Blowing in the Wind started the 56 year love of the music of Bob Dylan
The typewriters ultimate ballad by Bob Dylan, Blowing in the wind. Can listen to this and Mr. Tambourine Man all day.
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It may be early, but mark your calendar for
Livonia Historical Society this March 28th
On Monday, March 28, at 2:00 pm., the Livonia Historical Society will host noted author and retired Freep reporter John Gallagher at the Alexander Blue House in Greenmead Historical Park. Gallagher will discuss “Changing Detroit: What Detroit Can teach Other Cities.”Mark this down on your calendar now. Details to follow.
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David Knezek shares an update on Johnson & Johnson opioid settlement
Thanks to the incredible leadership of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, many local communities will soon receive their share of a multi-billion dollar opioid settlement against Johnson & Johnson and the three largest pharmaceutical distributors in the country.
I’m sharing some local communities of interest below whom I currently represent or have in the past (plus our sister-city of Dearborn).
Dearborn: $895,615
Dearborn Heights: $314,905
Detroit: $22,849,949
Garden City: $107,665
Inkster: $298,152
Redford Township: $378,576
Livonia: $1,385,824
I deeply appreciate the leadership of these communities as they have proactively completed the necessary paperwork to receive these settlement dollars.
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Postal Address
19514 Bainbridge 48152
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E-mail
rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com
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From Livonia to Raleigh. Tom Waring, a Franklin High School Graduate masters Creative Storytelling |
Q&A: Trailblazer Studios’ Tom Waring on 20 years of “thinking differently”
Reflecting on 20 years in business, Trailblazer Studios CEO Tom Waring says his production company has become best known for its professional, collaborative work, completed by passionate and kind people.
“We wouldn’t be celebrating our pivotal 20-year anniversary without the talent, dedication and vision of each team member – both present and past,” Waring said of the anniversary.
“Our commitment to creative storytelling coupled with the company’s mastery and pioneering of remote post-production has driven our success and further mapped our trajectory.”
The Raleigh-based Emmy-winning entertainment, production, post and sound studio celebrates two decades in business this year, and throughout that run, the company has delivered nearly 1,000 hours of content. Its work has been featured at festivals such as Sundance, DOC NYC and Tribeca, and in 2021 alone, the studio delivered nearly 100 hours of programming across its original and post divisions.
The team has also worked extensively in the unscripted genre with longtime client and friends Figure 8 Films to deliver multiple seasons of series like Jon & Kate Plus 8, Sister Wives and 7 Little Johnstons.
The company boasts a 20,000-square-foot facility, including a soundstage, production offices, edit suites, picture finishing and sound-mixing services, and has become a one-stop shop for production, post-production, and music and sound work.
More recently, Trailblazer launched the digital series on YouTube The Housley Life, a podcast initiative with American Sport and announced an adaptation of Reuters investigative series The Body Trade.
Realscreen sat down with Waring to discuss Trailblazer’s first 20 years in the film and TV industry.
What are some of the benefits and challenges that have come with being based in Raleigh, outside of a major hub for the film/TV industry?
It forced us to think differently. We had to develop remote workflows for our post and sound teams many years before COVID made that a norm. That allowed us to break down a lot of artificial barriers. From our development side, we could promote our location to find people and stories that resonate with the fly-over states.
What have been the biggest hurdles Trailblazer has faced in its 20 years?
Early on, the biggest hurdle was convincing the marketplace that there are passionate and creative people outside of the main entertainment hubs of New York and Los Angeles. We were able to leverage Raleigh, which is consistently ranked in “Top 5 Cities to Live” lists, to attract amazing talent to the area. Combined with all the artists and producers that have come from this state we’re most proud of that mix which has really solidified our culture.
What kind of advice would you offer to newer, similar studios about longevity in this industry?
This industry is not for the faint of heart. One has to be passionate, dedicated, have the ability to adapt to change and, most of all, continue to persevere. Above all, just be nice. Assume good intentions of others until proven otherwise.
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In-person meetings are Wednesday, at 7:30 AM at the Livonia Senior Center. Come and enjoy coffee and donuts with like-minded people. |
Michigan PTA joins the
Newtown Action Keep Kids Safe Coalition
Michigan PTA is proud to announce that they have joined Newtown Action Alliance's Keep Kids Safe Coalition, and added their collective voices to 40 other organizations across the country.
This Nationwide Coalition exists to push the President and Congress to pass H.R. 748, Ethan's Law, to require gun owners to safely secure their guns when kids are around.
Jenn Garland, Michigan PTA Vice President explains the action this way:
Since a 15-year-old killed four students with an unsecured gun at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021, the Newtown Action Alliance has acquired 44 additional cosponsors for HR748/Ethan’s Law to require gun owners to lock up their guns when kids or prohibited people are around. We now have a total of 186 cosponsors and we need 218 to pass the bill in the House of Representatives.
We urge you to register here to join Michigan PTA and the Newtown Action Alliance on Monday, January 31, 2022, at 12:00 PM EDT, to help us contact the remaining House Democrats to urge them to cosponsor Ethan's Law. Safe storage laws are supported by the majority of Americans and gun owners and Congress must act NOW to prevent childhood gun injuries and fatalities.
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