October 02,2020 Your Source for Livonia Cultural Happenings
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Madonna University students make a statement with BLM Memorial |
Several members of the Madonna University athletics department joined members of the Black Student Union and Campus Ministry to install a Black Lives Matter Memorial near the Franciscan Center on campus.
To create the Memorial, more than 50 crosses were assembled and driven into the ground, each bearing the name and photograph of someone who lost their life to police brutality or vigilante violence; more than 50 people who must be remembered.
Coordinated by Jesse Cox, director of Campus Ministry at Madonna, the Memorial highlights the struggles of the most vulnerable in our society. “It was meant to inspire all of us to be allies who make changes in our lives, and who advocate for change and justice in our communities and in our country,” Cox said. “Having this memorial on campus demonstrates the Madonna community's commitment to living out its Franciscan values of respect for the dignity of each person, and peace and justice.”
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Cox said the Memorial, which will be up through the month of October, was installed in just a few hours thanks to help from members of the Black Student Union, and student-athletes representing football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, soccer, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's track and field.
“As a department we want our student-athletes to have a productive way to be involved and express their voice,” said Madonna University Athletics Director Scott Kennell. “We were excited to be able to get involved with this memorial and to bring more awareness to the injustices happening in our country. We are committed to making a difference and will continue to look for ways to be involved and be a part of the change.”
Head Football Coach Brian Foos is shown here working with students to assemble the crosses for the Black Lives Matter Memorial.
A prayer service was held on Wednesday at the Memorial, for students, faculty, and staff members.
The University will loan the Black Lives Matter Memorial to interested organizations or businesses in the community, for the month of November, and then again beginning in April of 2021. Any group interested in borrowing the Memorial for a month, should contact Campus Ministry at CampusMinistry@madonna.edu, or 734-432-5839.
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Stevens asks CDC for data on spread of COVID in our schools |
U.S. Representatives Haley Stevens (MI-11), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), and Robin Kelly (IL-02) led 20 of their colleagues in a letter to Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Robert Redfield asking him to begin collecting and publishing COVID-19 data to track the spread of COVID-19 in schools and help researchers develop best safety practices to successfully continue reopening schools for in-person classes.
Currently, CDC has not engaged in formal tracking of COVID-19 cases connected to elementary, secondary, or higher education. States, school districts, and individual schools have been left to grapple with difficult issues of data collection and reporting because CDC has failed to lead this core public health responsibility at the national level. As CDC even acknowledges in its report released Monday, “Monitoring at the local-level could inform decision-makers about which mitigation strategies are most effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in schools and communities.” This essential public health function should not be left solely in the hands of local school districts or states.
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In the letter, the Members of Congress state that "Students, teachers, staff, families, and their broader communities deserve robust access to COVID-19 school data to help them understand the risks of returning to in-person instruction. Additionally, researchers and school administrators should have access to this data to better understand the epidemic’s impact in their own regions and to learn from the experiences of schools across the country so they can craft successful safety policies."
CDC should immediately begin formal tracking of COVID-19 cases in schools across the country so that every American family has the best information about the threat of this virus in schools and no school community is left in the dark. The lack of data leaves our schools less safe, our mitigation efforts less effective, and our reopening plans delayed. Beyond the safety of America’s students, teachers, staff, and communities, progress toward the safe reopening of in-person schools is an important part of getting our economy back on track.
The Members of Congress continue, "We need your help to advance the strategies that will help our families and educators return to school safely."
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Livonia School Board
Virtual Candidate Night
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Wednesday evening the 6 Candidates running for the Livonia Public Schools Board of Education participated in a Forum hosted by the Livonia PTSA Council. The Candidates answered 11 questions over ~90 minutes.
To learn about the Candidates, Musings encourages you to watch this Forum.
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Let's all check out the
Wilson Barn in October
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The Wilson Barn is a national historic site
with foundations dating back to 1888.
The current barn was constructed in 1919 as an industry leader in dairy processing and products. Using local resources and their own cows, the Wilson Family’s daily mission was to serve families in the community.
Check out the Hayrides, Pumpkins, Pony Rides, Crafts, Cider & Doughnuts --Weekends, October 3 through 25.
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Let's all have a coffee at
Anastasia and Katie's in October
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St. Mary Mercy Livonia Receives $16,928 grant to install two new community pool lifts |
to purchase and install two new self-operable lifts that allow people with limited mobility to more easily enter community pools in Livonia.
The grant is a continuation of the hospital's involvement with Healthy Livonia, a citywide collaboration to strengthen the health and wellness of everyone living and working in the community.
"With two new lifts in place, people who otherwise might not enter the pool will be able to do so independently and safely," said Dave Spivey, president of St. Mary Mercy Livonia. "We are incredibly grateful for the involvement of HomeServe Cares Foundation and for their support as we seek to increase accessibility so that more local residents can take advantage of a fun, healthy activity right here in our community."
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With this grant, Livonia Parks and Recreation purchased and installed a Spectrum Aquatics Motion Trek 350 battery-powered pool lift at Moelke Park (Botsford Pool), with plans for an additional lift to be purchased and installed at Shelden Park (Shelden Pool). The lifts are self-operable from the deck and water and will allow people with limited mobility to more easily enter the pool. The pool lifts, which replace older lifts at two of the city's three outdoor public pools, are fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and specially designed for lift stability and ease during transfer.
Although the lifts are easy to use, all pool managers and lifeguards at the Botsford and Shelden pools will receive training on how to use them.
“Improving the accessibility to our outdoor pools is another step in developing a welcoming place for people of all abilities,” said Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan. “We greatly appreciate the HomeServe Cares Foundation’s grant and the work of Healthy Livonia.”
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The first in-person meeting since the middle of March for the Livonia Rotary Club was held at Rotary Park with lunch from Zukin's.
Can some things in Livonia be returning to normal for our service clubs.
Wake me up after my six month nap.
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More on our Livonia Symphony Orchestra |
Let's acknowledge and express appreciation to the leadership of the Livonia Symphony Orchestra
Executive Committee
President Robin Whitfield (Pictured above)
Vice President Finance William Fried
Secretary Heather Hartwick-Gladden
Treasurer Ronald Laing
Directors
Julie Antishin Emily Bauman
Diane Bencik Carol Bonamici
David Booker Veronica Cruz
Marguerite Erpelding Patricia Fisher
David Giandeletti Katie Jolly
Rose Kachnowski Eric Ladwig
Charlie Mahoney Paul Michalsen
Robynn Rhodes Sister Mary Ann Smith
Susan Parker Stewart Kate Walrad
Board Member Emeritus
Honorable Robert Bennett
Former Mayor, City of Livonia
Honorary Board Members
Honorable Jack Engebretson-Former Mayor
Honorable Jack Kirksey- Former Mayor
Ken Kelsey
Honorable Dennis Wright- Former Mayor
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Rose Kachnowski, Past President of the Livonia Symphony Orchestra: Thank you Bill for taking the time to put together the wonderful issue of MUSINGS featuring the Livonia Symphony Orchestra. Finally the Symphony has gotten the recognition it truly deserves.
An awful lot of hard work goes into putting on a concert which includes countless hours of practice by our 65 plus musicians and conductor in addition to the roles of the board members who do the logistics to make things happen.
It is truly a labor of love for the "Love of Music" which has become our signature and the "why" we do what we do. I hope that Your readers will do what you do and experience MUSIC for relaxation, stimulation and motivation. Music is Life..take time to enjoy it...we will be back, till then visit us on the Livonia Symphony Facebook page for all kinds of musical gems for your listening, watch us perform on Livonia Cable channel, and don't forget to "like" our page.
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Your vote for School Board is crucial
FridayMusings remains solidly behind Dan Centers, Tammy Bonifield, Karen Bradford and Crystal Frank.
These 4 community minded and community involved Trustees are committed to public school education and working to insure that there is adequate funding for historic public schools.
Livonia benefits from the continuity of leadership in a time when events are constantly swirling around us with changes daily.
There is not a school board in any hometown that will please everyone.
Tammy Bonifield is an active member of the Rotary AM Club, a trustee that is caring about her community beyond the walls of the classroom.
Crystal Frank and Karen Bradford make it a point to be at community events, making themselves accessible. Standing out among our community elected officials regardless of the position elected to.
Dan Centers provides access to information from Lansing, letting the board of education know what is happening and what is coming down the road. Invaluable information.
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Pohutsky gets endorsement: Regional Chamber of Commerce
Incumbent State Representative Laurie Pohutsky has added the endorsement of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“We selected candidates who can effectively balance supporting businesses while addressing important policies and social issues that are holding back our region,” said the group's political action committee's Chair Hank Cooney. “This a strong slate of bipartisan candidates we feel will best serve their communities and position Michigan to create jobs and accelerate economic growth as we deal with the impact of COVID-19.”
Pohutsky responded that she is "thrilled to have earned the endorsement."
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Light Up a Life event Thursday, November 12 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM.
to view all of the wonderful raffle and auction items.
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