May 26, 2021 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia
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This Saturday, May 29th at 9 am there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at Veteran’s Park Memorial Plaza,
Five Mile/Farmington to honor Livonia's fallen heroes.
This moving event will be a tribute to our Veterans – complete with military salutes, a wreath-placing ceremony, special guests, and music. Afterward, visit the Memorial Wall that honors those Livonia veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, were Killed in Action, Wounded in Action, Missing in Action, or a Prisoner of War. Their names are etched forever on its rich black granite surface and are listed by the war in which they served, beginning with the Civil War.
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Livonia Symphony Orchestra set to host the successful Bennett Memorial Classic |
For 29 years the Chip in for the Arts Livonia Symphony Orchestra golf outing has been one of the go-to events for those wanting to support the arts.
This year is no different as the June 4th Bob Bennett Memorial Golf Outing, named after the late Livonia MayorBennett, as the outing is sold out with 128 golfers.
The Symphony again this year has Financial & Portfolio Advisors, as the headline Sponsor. Dan MacIver feels that it is important to give back "to the community that we live and work in." His $7,500 donation is the largest single donation supporting the golf outing.
The other main sponsor is the Leyton Football Club established in 1881 in London England whose owner is Nigel and Joanna Bennett Travis. Joanna is the daughter of the late Bob and Janet Bennett.
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Over 100 business and elected officials have sponsored signs that will be placed at each of the greens through the Whispering Willows Golf Course.
Terry Gilligan arranged for the Pipefitters Local Union 636 to sponsor the golf carts. The Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees is sponsoring the putting contest. Edward Jones, Robin Whitfield, is sponsoring the box lunches each golfer will get when they register.
When the time comes for the shotgun start Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan will offer welcoming remarks. And then the fun begins.
Charlie Mahony, Chairwoman of the Bennett Memorial Classic met up with Dan McIver, President of Financial and Portfolio Advisors, to thank him for his continued sponsorship of the golf outing. "So many in the community stand up in support of our Livonia Symphony and we appreciate all of them. Knowing that the pandemic has slowed fundraising for the arts, Dan increased his donation from $5,000 to $7,500 this year making a big impact for us going forward. Thank you Dan and FP&A for supporting us in a big way."
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Anna K. Bonde CAPA Scholarships
Bringing the total to over $100,000
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The Anna K. Bonde CAPA Scholarships are given in memory of Anna who, from the time she was born, had a passion for singing, dancing, and acting, and treasured her experience in the CAPA program at Churchill High School from 1995-1999.
For the past 20 years since her passing, scholarships have been given to deserving CAPA seniors, in the hopes of helping them with their college expenses and also hoping that they would carry with them some of Anna's loving spirit and her passion for performing.
This year, scholarships were awarded to Sarah Alfonsi and Fiona Johnston. Both are extremely talented artists and excellent students. Sarah will be studying film and possibly also Special Education at Eastern Michigan University, and Fiona will attend Alma College with the goal of becoming a child psychologist.
These scholarships brought the total awarded to the CAPA Program to $105,000 over the past 20 years. Debra Bonde acknowledges that "This would not have been possible without the generous donations of hundreds of people, many of whom never knew Anna. Of special note were the annual fundraising events put on by Anna's dear friends in the Murder Mystery Company!"
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Does it seem to you that things are returning to normal more quickly than you could have thought possible just a few months ago. Well it sure does to me.
While I was in Colorado I was chatting up a Grand Rapids resident about our historic village. I had barely started the conversation when he said "Newburgh and Eight Mile. Greenmead."
He said he has come to Livonia for many years to be a part of the Highland Games. Just loves the weekend and the fun that goes along with attending the Games.
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I immediately went to the website of the St. Andrew's Society of Detroit and there on the site is the statement that we should "Stay Tuned! Details of our 2021 Ceilidh Highland Games are coming soon!" It says that the Games are scheduled for August 6 and 7.
The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit was founded in the year 1849, and is the oldest benevolent organization in the State of Michigan.
Their mission is to provide assistance to fellow Scots and to encourage the love of Scotland through its history, customs, music, literature and national games.
Okay, so if the folks in Grand Rapids are marking their calendar. then here goes. It is now on my calendar, in pencil but hopefully soon in ink.
Thanks Grand Rapids for visiting our city.
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The Challenge started on Friday, May 21 and runs for eight weeks. You'll receive daily emails featuring articles, videos, charts or infographics that will help us develop a more inclusive and equitable Southeastern Michigan.
For more information, visit the United Way of Southeastern Michigan’s website: unitedwaysem.org
One school trustee has signed up to accept the challenge. Dan Centers offers his appreciation to Mayor Brosnan "for leading the charge on examining equity in our community. I have signed up for the 21 day challenge, and I am excited to participate."
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Livonia Run 2 Save Our Youth is set for June 12
This year will see the return of Run 2 Save Our Youth, June 12, 5k Run and Untimed Walk, sponsored by Livonia Save Our Youth Coalition and our Livonia Police Department. The event will have a unique vibe, with the same foundation of substance abuse prevention, but with respectful planning to Covid protocols. Due to fast-moving changes, only the run/walk will be held, but the Family Fun Fest and Sponsor Tent will return next year. Please consider gathering a group of friends and family to run or walk in the 5k! Check out this link today for available registration discounts: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Livonia/Run2SaveOurYouth
Not having this important fundraiser in 2020 left a deep financial gap in their small nonprofit budget. To help offset their costs you are being asked to consider a sponsorship - big or small - for this event. This year, your sponsorship will be used to purchase resources for Talk. They Hear You, a campaign to reduce substance use among youths by providing information and resources to parents and caregivers. See the attached sponsor letter/form for more information.
Also, help will be needed for the following tasks: early packet pick up (6/11), day of packet pick up, water station, the finish line. Please let me know if you're interested in volunteering. Contact Karen Bonanno, Executive Director, Livonia Save Our Youth Coalition, 734-338-9580.
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A partnership benefiting students
is underway
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The successful food pantry in the Franklin Triad sponsored and arranged for by Livonia Kids and Families is looking to expand.
LKF is making plans, thanks to a grant from the Livonia Community Foundation, to establish a food pantry in the Clarenceville High School once teachers are back in the clasroom this Fall.
This will continue the impact with students in need of nutritional offerings at home.
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On behalf of the Vote Yes for LPS 2021 Committee, we would like to thank you for your generous endorsement of our campaign. Thank you for getting the word out through Livonia Musings encouraging citizens to vote. We could not have had this successful campaign without your support.
The LPS community will greatly benefit from the many upgrades which will occur in the near future.
Chris Flannigan and Karen Bradford
Co-chairs, Vote Yes for LPS 2021 Committee
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YMCA Building set to become
Livonia Athletic District
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To answer questions that have been burning for answers since March 2020 and the sale of the 9-acre YMCA property on Stark Road the typewriter took a tour today with Kirstie Hardy, Development Project Manager of Detroit Rising Development of what will become of the new Livonia Athletic District (LAD) which is currently pre-leasing the various gyms, offices, and wellness spaces to local and regional groups.
Detroit Rising Development has partnered with three others to acquire the roughly 9-acre property and will invest approximately $1 million into minor repairs and upgrades including installing astroturf for soccer fields in what are now tennis courts.
More on Friday in FridayMusings, your source for Livonia happenings.
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Livonia First Responders Foundation Established with major fundraiser |
Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan has unveiled the Livonia First Responders Foundation and with it, "the chance to win this beautiful bike.
"Only 500 tickets, now 498... I bought two, which will be sold at $50 each and the winner will be drawn on July 5.
You can get yours at the Livonia Treasurer’s Office, Parks & Recreation, or at Alpha USA. Big thanks to Chuck Dardas and his big-hearted donation.
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Touch-a-Truck bigger and better than ever |
Touch a Truck is back on for August 28, Saturday from 8:30-2:00 at Greenmead. This time the trucks will be distributed around in the village among the houses That way more visitors will get to see the houses and churches of Greenmead.
Thanks to the Governor, our outside events are now free of masks if folks have had the vaccine or covid. Also since there is no limit on outside attendance, pre-registration is no longer necessary! No more limits on the number of attendees.
Again no ticket price, just a suggested parking donation of $2.
Though we have been fortunate to have a helicopter for part of the time the last two events, this year something special! We have the Yankee Air Museum bringing their recently purchased and restored Vietnam-era Huey H-1 helicopter. to Touch-a-Truck, which will be there from about 9 am to the close at 2 pm! And the kids will be able to get in the helicopter.
There is hope the Churchill Rotary Interact Club will be able to raise money for the charities they support. They have raised over $3000 this year for ShelterBox, a Rotary-related charity that provides temporary shelters, completely outfitted, at no cost to disaster areas around the world. A sample of ShelterBox will be set up at the Touch a Truck event.
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