May 5, 2021 FridayMusings is your source for what we love about Livonia
|
|
Livonia Public School voters turned out in large numbers with the results showing strong support for our hometown
public schools. The vote was 10,977 Yes (71.5%) and 4,377 No (28.5%)
|
|
56th Annual Schoolcraft College Gradation
Dr. Glenn Cerny, President, and Joan Gebhardt, Board Chair presided over Schoolcraft College’s 56th Annual Commencement on May 1. Marking the return to a rite of Spring one year after the cancellation of the 2020 Commencement because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 925 students were recognized and honored.
Students were offered the opportunity to attend in person with mask and spacing protocols or participate virtually. Livonia Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan was the Commencement Keynote Speaker, and Mathew Fular offered remarks on behalf of the graduates.
Brosnan and Alan Helmkamp received Honorary Associate in Arts and Sciences Degrees in recognition of outstanding contributions to the College or its Communities. Board Vice-Chair Carol Strom, Secretary Brian
|
|
Broderick, Treasurer Terry Gilligan, and Trustees Dillon Breen, William Erwin, Jr., and Brett Gierak also participated.
Brosnan shared with the students that:
“You are more than enough. You are now the second class that has graduated into a pandemic, that’s had to adapt as you enter the next phase of your life. You know better than anyone how to harness the ingenuity you’ll need to succeed. You are more than enough. You are beautiful, brilliant, kind, justifiably skeptical, inquisitive, diligent resourceful, resilient and so much more. And you are headed into a world that doesn’t have enough — enough beauty, brilliance, and kindness, enough justifiably skeptical, yet inquisitive minds, enough resourcefulness, and resilience. You are headed into a world that desperately needs you — for you are more than enough."
The Mayor's full commencement address is provided below right.
|
|
LIVONIA VISION 21, the City's Comprehensive Master Plan!
"One of the definitive elements of many great communities is the existence of a recognizable downtown area. Research produced during the master planning process has indicated that Livonia does not have a discernible ‘center’ or downtown. This special planning area was identified as it represents an opportunity to evaluate and envision how future improvements to the existing city campus can evolve into a central gathering point for community and commerce in Livonia." Livonia Vision 21 City Center
|
Let' get started with envisioning a new Senior Center
As Livonia moves into the post-pandemic world efforts to ramp up our hometown master plan envisioned in Livonia Vision 21 are taking shape. None of the efforts are drawing more attention than the Civic Center.
FridayMusings is sharing exclusively with our readers just how concrete steps are being undertaken to re-imagine the civic center, and specifically how renderings of a new senior center attached to the Recreation Center will help transform Five and Farmington and as a result our Recreation Center. Synergy is in place.
The possible investments in a transformation of the civic center will allow the city to move the Senior Center and City Hall into new facilities possibly with the Library or Schools.
These renderings of a possible senior center to be constructed on the east side of the Recreation Center will start to allow a mix of civic, residential, and commercial uses with activity at Five and Farmington throughout the day; establish an identifiable and defined City Center for the residents of the City of Livonia including a critical mass of full-time residents on the property. All starting with a new senior center. Synergy is in place.
|
The new Civic Center area will, under the Vision 21 plan create outdoor space for community activities including, festivities, galas, entertainment, and a variety of other city gatherings.
One of the first steps will be to move the senior center to a new location east of the recreation center connecting the two with interior walkways seamlessly allowing seniors to connect one to the other. Synergy is in place.
In the annual State of the City address, Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan previewed the year ahead which included the City's advocacy to secure funding to advance Livonia Vision 21. As the funding issue is being addressed plans are already shaping up, plans to have Livonia come out of the pandemic raring to go with all the elements of Livonia Vision 21.
If preliminary renderings are any indication Livonia is moving forward. Synergy is in place
|
|
An energized typewriter
One of the elements missing in the past 15 months has been the energy that has for decades enveloped Livonia. Things happening, people gathering, action not just talk.
In the past week we have had an energetic State of the City and this week graduation of the Schoolcraft College Class of 2021.
Next week the Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Leadership Celebration.
Banners are about to go up celebrating our public school graduates.
Oh, and Livonia voters turned out in record numbers in support of our Livonia Public Schools.
Next Monday several announcements will be made about partnerships for the Good Old Fashioned Neighborhood Corn Roast in September.
Oh, and the Touch-a-Truck is back on and there will be plant sharing at Greenmead.
Add to that the typewriter heading off to Colorado for the birth of granddaughter Maya.
Normalcy. It is beginning to look like "a new day." Livonia is ready. Are you?
|
|
 |
Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Celebration
|
Community leaders, Chamber business members, and honorees will gather for one of the Chamber’s signature annual events, the Leadership & Awards Celebration. This event is a celebration to honor those who make a difference in Livonia, making the community a great place to live, work, learn and play!
The May 11 registration is $10 and available at:
https://livonia.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/2191
|
|
|
|
Esther Friedrichs
will be missed
This past week our hometown lost another Livonia giant in Esther Friedrichs, May 16, 1921- April 24, 2021. She helped shape a hometown of which we are all proud, creating and volunteering in so many of the programs and organizations that defined Livonia's quality of life. A friend of so many. Mom often said that if you "want to be around an optimist call Esther."
Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan responded to the news by saying that "The legend of Esther Friedrichs is rich for its breadth of service. It is vast for the people she influenced. I was one of them. She was an early and ardent champion and I am still so honored to have had her support in every campaign I ran. Her spirit will remain vibrant, for she left a piece of herself with all who knew her."
Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki calls "Esther a wonderful person. First met her when I was in high school. I am so sorry to see this.
Mary Ann Naboychik a long-time city employee says that "Esther was our first volunteer for the Senior program doing exercise she was loved by all."
Devoted to all things 'Livonia', an ardent supporter of civil and voting rights, and non-violence. Esther and husband Donald E Friedrichs (d. 2006) are survived by their six children and their families: Thomas (Kathy Solley) Atlanta, GA; David (Kathy McPhail) Ann Arbor, MI; Anne (Stephany Smith) Middlebury, VT; Mark (Julie Saulnier) Bethesda, MD; Sarah (Rob Collins) Lake Forest, IL; Linda (Craig Nelson) Nashville, TN. Their 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren are widely dispersed across the country.
Esther was an active civic volunteer as the children were raised, and as Don made his career in Livonia Public Schools, first as Principal of Livonia Bentley then Assistant Superintendent, and finally Director of Community Education. Esther went on to teach senior swim and water aerobics at Schoolcraft College for 22 years, until age 83, as well as lead exercise at the Livonia Senior Center. By doing so she resumed teaching Physical Education (PE), her first job after college in 1942 (Univ of Wisconsin).
Esther earned the First Salute to Women as a founding member and President of the Livonia League of Women Voters, an active member of Livonia Rotary-Ann's, Livonia Town Hall, and a volunteer probation officer for the Livonia District Court. Esther served as a member of the Livonia City Planning Commission and was an active member of the American Field Service (AFS) chapter providing host homes to international students and establishing lasting relationships with many foreign students over the years.
A devoted Book Group member for decades, as her role as a grandmother evolved, she said to her grandchildren: "I'll always be curious about what you're reading, and hope you'll share your favorite books with me."
In later years, she and Don enjoyed traveling extensively, visiting over 35 countries. They were founding members at the Livonia "Y" and served on planning committees for the Livonia Rec Center and the Senior Center. Well into her 90's, she volunteered at the used bookstore in the lobby of the Civic Center Library. Annually, she helped lead the AAUW used book sale, even storing books awaiting sale piled high in the family garage. Always looking for 'the sunny side', Esther was a vibrant force of optimism.
Gifts in memory of Esther can be sent to the Universalist Unitarian Church of Farmington, 25301 Halsted Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48335; the League of Women's Voters, P.O. Box 51502, Livonia, MI 48151; or the Livonia Public Library, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154.
|
Keeping up with the candidates |
Last weekend council candidate Ken Overwater signed up in support of two Livonia campaigns. Well three if you count his own.
Overwater posted a BeKIND Livonia sign right next to his Vote YES on his front yard.
Gotta love it when candidates speak up and speak out in support of the town they hope to serve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
