Bill Joyner's FridayMusings 12.06.21

December 06, 2021 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia

Add Livonia's Fine Art Gallery to your "to do" list in December

The current exhibit at the Fine Arts Gallery in the Bennett Civic Center Library features the photography of Tim Haber. During the month of December, you are invited to visit the Fine Arts Gallery and enjoy this art as you stroll through the holiday season in Livonia.

Tim Haber enjoys exploring compositions in nature and life. Light, shadows, colors, and reflections that catch his eye, playful juxtapositions and contrasts that can be something fun or something sobering, something to tell a story. He tries to express what he sees through his mind’s eye.

His images in this exhibit are of a variety of subject matter. Light tends to be his underlying theme. In many ways, the natural light has spiritual symbolism for him as the Light… the Light of God, the Spirit of All.

The Light can help us see a person’s smile or look of disquiet; show us the colors and textures of plants, trees, and rocks; and the patterns of clouds that come and go reflected on a calm lake.

He recently began exploring portfolios of images that convey a common subject matter and underlying subjects—like lily pads floating between the light from above and the depths beneath -- and collages of his images that play upon his original lily pad subject matter to develop a more creative interpretation. By blending passages from several images he can present a deeper story.

FridayMusings Best of 2021 and Livonia's Return to a Better Normal

As Livonia winds down 2021, winds down in a return to a better normal, FridayMusings has talked with dozens of our neighbors, been collecting names for several months in an attempt to compile the Best of 2021.

This certainly is not the only Best of 2021 as I am sure that you have your own. But what is important is that we take a step back, consider the road we have traveled and offer congratulations to those who have helped make this return to a better normal not only possible but have raised the bar of excellence even higher.

Congratulations to the FridayMusings Best of 2021. And to all in Livonia who made a mark and left a legacy of building a hometown of which we can all be proud.

2021 Service Club of the Year

Livonia Rotary AM Club

There was not a week gone by that this breakfast club meeting at the Senior Citizen Center wasn't planning an event, working on an event, accepting grant applications to reach out and support a Livonia program or project.

Organizing the successful Touch a Truck, bringing in hundreds of residents from neighboring communities and thousands from Livonia, providing beverages for the Good Old Fashioned Corn Roast, putting together Livonia's only carnival this year helping them raise funding to enhance their grant program, increasing their communication network to let others in the community know of their outreach, working with the Rotary Interact Club at Churchill.

Livonia has a number of successful service clubs and it was difficult choosing just one of many; the Early Risers Kiwanis Club chief among them, but FridayMusings is proud to call the Livonia Rotary AM Club its 2021 Best Service Club of the Year.

2021 Elected Official of the Year

Brandon McCullough

This was a difficult selection as Livonia has a number of outstanding elected officials: Clerk Susan Nash and the quality elections overseen by her office, Mayor Maureen Brosnan and her implementation of Vision 21 and her steady steering of a hometown during the pandemic, Councilman Jim Jolly and his engagement of a wide range of residents in living the quality of Livonia life.

But what it came down to is the willingness of McCullough to establish relationships with the totality of Livonia, talk and listen while engaging residents in working together on solving issues as they come up, talk and listen attempting to make Livonia work while seeing that government services reach all corners of his hometown.

His social media postings showcase not just himself, but his family, his friends, his neighbors. Brandon McCullough as an elected official serves not just himself but all of Livonia. This is what separates his service and causes him to be selected as the 2021 Elected Official of the Year.

2021 Non-Profit Organization of the Year

Hardies Family Trust

When Bob Hardies passed away he had arranged for a Family Trust with proceeds going to several of the organizations that he loved and loved to support.

Seedlings was able to purchase a much-needed piece of equipment. Our Livonia Youth Choir performed the national anthem before a NASCAR race to a national audience. The Livonia Civic Chorus was able to record and distribute an online concert to thousands during the stay-at-home pandemic. Monies were provided to the Livonia Symphony Orchestra. The Clarenceville Wrestling team purchased new mats for their competition replacing decade-old mats worn thin. Just a few of those his Trust helped.

The largess of Bob Hardies heart continues to make an impact in the community that he loved and that the community of Livonia continues to appreciate. Hardies Family Trust is deserving of the Non-profit organization of the year.

2021 Woman of the Year

Veronica Cruz

More often than not Veronica Cruz works quietly behind the scenes coordinating a number of giving programs that we all know about but never see the work being put in to make it happen.

These programs that she is involved in range from Livonia Kids & Families, the Franklin High School, previously housed at Emerson Middle School, food pantry, Livonia Symphony Guitar raffle, the Novi/Livonia Business Women's Association, Livonia Symphony Orchestra, Livonia Book Club at the Senior Center, just a few receiving her assistance over the past year.

There is so much more as the Director of Human Resources has her hands full, including just finishing her Master's Degree.

So many women are involved in leadership positions helping build a Livonia of which we are proud, but few take on the amount of community spirit, recognize the importance of higher education, and works for the most community-integrated and giving company, AlphaUSA. FridayMusings salutes Veronica Cruz as its 2021 Woman of the Year.

2021 Man of the Year

Dan MacIver

Many stand out and share the honor of being the Man of the Year 2021. On any list would be Matt Collins, Mike Ladwig, Dan West, and Ted Davis. But one seems to be there time and time again, offering advice, personal time, financial support.

Dan MacIver, President of F&PA, makes an impact beyond merely showing up, writing a check; He supports Seedlings Braille Books, Livonia Civic Chorus, Livonia Symphony Orchestra of which he continues to be the lead sponsor for their annual golf outing, Clarenceville Education Foundation.

You will find him working the sidelines or in the concession stands for Clarenceville Football games, attending Clarenceville Education Foundation meetings, spearheading their annual fundraising at Corsi's Banquet Center.

For the past two years, he has spearheaded, by financing the banners hanging along Five and Farmington congratulating the graduating seniors in the Class of 2020 and 2021.

His question is never how much do you need but rather what can I do to help. An attitude that has endeared him to the community he has worked in since graduating from Clarenceville High School.

FridayMusings is pleased to announce Dan MacIver as the 2021 Man of the Year.

2021 Best New Project of the Year

Red Wing Alumni v Livonia All Stars

The stands were filled with families, hockey fans, young children.

The Red Wing Alumni spent time for pictures, chatting up their fans, and showing Livonia a good time.

The Detroit Red Wings Alumni versus the Livonia All-Stars was a welcome addition to the Livonia scene with Livonia Kids and Families benefiting by $10,000 with sponsors and fans contributing to make this an afternoon that showcased Livonia coming back better after the pandemic shut down.

Sure Livonia Kids and Families benefited, the Livonia Rotary AM Club greeted attendees, Mayor Brosnan dropped the opening puck, the Civic Chorus sang the national anthem. Cole, Newton, Duran joined with Financial & Portfolio Advisors, FridayMusings, UPS Store, and AlphaUSA all came together to create what surely will be an annual event, new and refreshing. A good time.

FridayMusings is pleased to announce the Red Wing Alumni v Livonia All-Stars as the 2021 Best New Project of the year.

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We are excited to share the following video, created by our broadcast & cinema arts students and faculty, that highlights this year's homecoming. Events included the interfaith prayer service, art lab dedication, performing arts showcase, 50th alumni reunion dinner, pep rally, and the Homecoming football game as part of the Madonna Crusader's inaugural football season.

Livonia has a Teen Art Club

The meeting is this Tuesday

Teens, join in on the fun at the Carl Sandburg Library this Tuesday, December 7 at 5 p.m. for Teen Art Club! Take a break during this hectic season and come get creative. All materials will be provided.