December 01, 2021 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia
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Livonia and Clarenceville Public Schools React to the tragedy in Oxford |
Clarenceville Public Schools Superintendent Paul Shepich issued the following statement on his Facebook page in response to the tragedy in Oxford:
I am so saddened by the tragedy that took place today at Oxford HS in Oakland County. My friend & colleague, Superintendent Tim Throne, is leading through every educator’s nightmare. My heart breaks for all of the Oxford community but especially for those who lost their loved ones & had their loved ones injured. Trauma like this for all involved is not overcome easily if ever. Please lift up all in the Oxford community & school district through your positive thoughts & prayers. I continue to be proud of my profession & today only re-emphasizes the heroes our teachers, staff & administrators are when faced with an unimaginable situation of life & death. Hug your loved ones & thank an educator next time you have the chance.
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The Livonia Public Schools issued this statement in response to the tragedy in Oxford:
Our hearts and prayers are with all those in the Oxford school community as they experience the unthinkable tragedy of today. We send our strength, compassion, and care to all who have been impacted. We stand beside you, Oxford.
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Livonia Public Schools Superintendent, Andrea Oquist sent an email to families Tuesday of this week. This is a part of the message outlining emergency crisis plans:
At each of our schools is an emergency crisis plan, procedures for security lockdowns, and the use of a secure school vestibule (door access controls), in addition to police liaison officers and Blue Line security at our middle and high schools, due to the size of their campuses.
These procedures have been present for many years, and are reviewed with staff and students via training sessions and practice drills. At a district level, we conduct thorough reviews of these plans and make modifications based on recommendations from the Department of Education, FEMA, and our local law enforcement professionals.
Most importantly, we are so very proud and grateful for our school leaders and staff in LPS who are such highly committed, caring individuals who work with our students each day. Additionally, there are staff members available to individually assist students who may experience anxiety, fear, or uncertainty due to this event and we encourage students to access this support if needed. The district has a social-emotional assistance hotline at (734) 744-2737 and email SES@livoniapublicschools.org.
We recognize that even with these safety procedures in place, security issues can still arise; therefore, we ask that anyone in our school community—students or adults—report any concern or threat to an LPS staff member.
We also want to remind parents and students about the mechanism in place throughout our state to do so: the “OK2SAY” Tip Line. It is a 24-hour program designed to empower students, parents, and the community to report these concerns so that appropriate local personnel can respond. Find information at
This information for parents, which may be helpful as you support your child and family in discussing tragedies of this nature.
Although this tragedy did not happen in Livonia it will inevitably impact the teachers, students, and families in our community.
Check-in on people you know, consider sending notes of love and encouragement.
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Livonia's David Stechholz new book is on the shelves
Former Bishop and President of the English District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Reverend Dr. David P. Stechholz provides a rich vantage of the English District's history within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America.
Let's not fail to mention that he is past President of the Rotary Club of Livonia.
The English District Saga - is on sale and is available directly from Stechholz (with author signing), Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.
He describes the final writing of the book, "The COVID shut-down gave me time, and my wife and son, Janet and Andrew, gave me encouragement to get this 400-page book done, finally!"
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The Kirksey Recreation Center is hosting two three-day American Red Cross lifeguard certification courses from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, each Dec. 20-22 and separately Dec. 27-29.
The minimum age to be a lifeguard is 15 and we are still hiring lifeguards for the winter and beyond. The registration fee is waived for future Kirksey Recreation Center lifeguards.
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We must stand up for our Livonia public schools.
This typewriter is troubled and concerned over the attacks on our public education system in Livonia. And I am not alone.
To a large extent, our hometown was built upon a pride in public education and in the spirit of cooperation between our schools and our city government.
Cooperation that saw City Planner Dan Andrew and assistant school superintendent work together to bring a YMCA to Livonia.
City and schools help define the quality of life. Together.
Today we have our public schools under attack and need our city government officials to join with our school board members to stand up for public school education, recognizing that a strong public school system helps define the quality of life and enhances public safety.
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With the establishment of a Moms for Liberty chapter in Livonia within the past month holding their inaugural meeting at the new Four Winds Church on Seven Mile, an organization based out of Florida, we can see the fomenting of a crisis in Livonia where there is none.
"The organization has campaigned against COVID-19 restrictions in schools, including mask and vaccine mandates, and against school curriculums that mention LGBT rights, race, and discrimination. Moms for Liberty has been criticized for harassment from its members, deepening divisions among parents, making it more challenging for school officials to educate students."
We have parents involved in our schools, from buildings to committees to our school board. Calls for the resignation of individual board members are only the precursor to running slates of candidates with partisan, trumped-up accusations that tend only to tear down our community, our city, and our quality of life.
Those supporting our public school education need to speak up and speak out.
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Greenmead holiday gathering takes next step with more lights, activities
The Livonia Night of Lights program initiated last winter to brighten the Greenmead Historic Village will grow to provide more lights, more activities, and more fun this upcoming holiday season.
Thanks to business sponsorships, the Alexander Blue House and surrounding yards were colorfully decorated throughout December which created a great stage for Santa to meet people on the porch of the House for Saturday and Sunday evening.
This December, the effort will expand to add lights to five more historic structures and numerous trees on the Greenmead campus, located on Newburgh south of Eight Mile.
There will be new weekend activities designed to entertain people of all ages. New this year will be children’s arts and crafts inside Newburg School, and a heated hospitality tent with outside firepits for sales of alcoholic beverages, snacks, warm beverages, and soft drinks for public gatherings on the weekends. There will be street hockey rinks in the parking lot, and choir performances at Newburg Church at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays.
Admission will be a $10 suggested donation per vehicle for the activities during the weekend evenings of December 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19. Some event proceeds will be used to support Friends of Greenmead and the Livonia Anniversary Committee. The activities will be open from 5-10 p.m. on the Friday and Saturday dates and 5-8 p.m. on the Sunday dates.
The community holiday festivities will shift to the Livonia Civic Center area on Sunday, December 5, starting with the annual parade at 4 p.m.
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Our Livonia hometown returns to a better normal with
Civic Chorus,
Symphony Orchestra, Holiday Parade
So much to do between now and 2022. Starting this weekend with the Livonia Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting, Sunday, 4:00. Move away from the TV, push away from the dining room table and head on over to Farmington Road and wave to your favorite community group, and cheer on Santa and Mrs. Claus. Embrace a Livonia holiday gathering sponsored by our Livonia Parks and Recreation, Livonia Rotary, and Livonia Community Foundation.
The big holiday weekend is December 11 and 12 when our two signature cultural groups showcase appreciation to their hometown with two free concerts, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, both at 3:00.
Saturday, December 11, 3:00, Bennett Civic Center Library, a free "Joy to the World" concert sponsored by the
Ford Fund, Livonia Community Foundation, and Bennett Civic Center Library.
Sunday, December 12, 3;00, Christ Our Savior Luthern Church, a free "Welcome to the Holidays" Concert sponsored by Livonia Parks and Recreation, Robert Hardies Trust, Livonia Community Foundation, AlphaUSA, Financial & Portfolio Advisors.
These two concerts are the first two public performances for both of these hometown favorites. They are telling their hometown that they are back. And back in a big way.
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Seedlings Spotlight
“My name is Shaleah. I am 18 years old. I have been blind since birth. I really love Seedlings books because they bring me into a whole new world. I get to experience different cultures, worlds, and sometimes, different planets. Overall, Seedlings is amazing.”
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Santa Mailbox:
two days to drop off
your letters
A magical mailbox has appeared just inside the Kirksey Recreation Center.
Drop off a letter in Santa's Mailbox by Dec. 3 and we'll make sure it gets delivered in time for a response before Christmas!
There is no cost to mail Santa these letters, but make sure the child's name and address are on the letter to Santa so he can get a response to the correct location.
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Livonia Community Theatre announces
its 2021 Holiday Performance:
Home for the Holidays
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Livonia-based nonprofit organization Livonia Community Theatre announces its 2021 holiday performance, Home for the Holidays.
On December 12, 2021, LCT will offer a live, in-person holiday concert with proper safety protocols in place for actors and audiences.
Home for the Holidays will feature a live performance by the award-winning a cappella group known as TBD A Cappella. TBD will be singing a mixture of favorites from throughout the decades and special holiday music. Audiences can expect to sing along and interact with this engaging performance.
Local choirs including Stevenson Symphonic Choir directed by Byron Turner, the Northville Singers and Northville Middle School’s Remix A Cappella singers will also participate.
As part of Livonia Community Theatre’s 2021-2022 Season, Home for the Holidays will take place on Sunday, December 12th at 4:00pm on the stage at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church located at 27475 Five Mile Road, Livonia.
The concert will benefit LCT’s Summer Youth Program. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or in advance through the LCT website’s box office at www.livoniacommunitytheatre.org. Additional donations to directly benefit the summer youth programming will be kindly accepted.
TBD a cappella is a professional men’s a cappella group in the metro Detroit area. The group has performed for events large and small like corporate parties, school events, workshops with choirs and a cappella groups, and has opened for International groups like The Swingles.
Members of the group come from all walks of life and many are educators and/or have music degrees. They recently won a CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award) for the best semi-professional album for their debut album THE ANSWER’S 42 featuring a mix of favorite songs from various decades and their TBD theme song.
Livonia Community Theatre was founded in 2011 and is a non-profit organization whose mission is to offer quality theater experiences that will entertain, enrich and educate people of all ages in the Detroit metro area. LCT hosts annual youth summer workshops, a full academy of online and in-person classes, and a regular theatrical season.
Contact:
Livonia Community Theatre
27475 5 Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48154
248-934-0632
info@livoniacommunitytheatre.org
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