June 15, 2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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With apologizes for being late this Monday morning. Constant Contact has a new platform for editing and this verbal communicator had some trouble with the digital form of communication. I am still working on the calendar so bear with me.
One important note. Please check the last item on the right hand column. I can't play this parody by our upper elementary staff. It made my day and should make yours as well.
Bear with me. I will have this down pat by Wednesday. Promise.
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Livonia will vote on two Wayne County Propositions
FridayMusings reluctantly endorses a YES vote
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Livonia Voters will have the opportunity to vote on two Wayne County millage issues.
One will be to renew the operating millage of .9529, which is about 95 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, for ten more years. These proceeds will be used to continue existing County services, including programs for the arrest, detention and prosecution of criminals, juvenile court, public health, recreation, County parks, job training, senior citizen services and programs for meeting medical needs of the poor, the disabled and the aged.
If approved, on the ballot as Proposition O, by the voters of Wayne County the renewal is projected to generate $42,129,703.
The second proposal, Proposition P, is to renew a millage authorized in 2016 which this year will generate $10,871,753 to continue to improve and operate several parks and related facilities, including Hines Park, Elizabeth Park, Chandler Park, and improvements to municipal parks in the 43 communities in an annual allocation by commission district of either $50,000 or 15% of the total funds generated from that district with certain conditions relating to prior fiscal year expenditures for the parks.
FridayMusings is not satisfied with the services or the funding provided to the City of Livonia. We are a donor community in that we give more to the county than we receive in benefits. This was an issue in the previous mayoral election as it well should have been. But to vote no would be a disservice to any attempt we might have to rectify this gross inadequacy.
We need to negotiate from strength by voting yes to both proposals and demand, that's right, demand that County Executive Warren Evans pay more attention to Livonia and western Wayne County. Piecemeal paving projects will not satisfy what we need and what we deserve.
With reluctance FridayMusings is supporting a YES vote on Proposition O and Proposition P this August 4th.
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Schoolcraft College Announces Finalists for Next President
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Schoolcraft College has announced three candidates as finalists for the position of president of the college after a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, June 11. The three finalists are:
- Dr. Glenn Cerny, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan
- Dr. Paul R. Watson II, Vice President of Instruction of Kellogg Community College, Battle Creek, Michigan
- Dr. Sherry Zylka, President and CEO of Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Prestonsburg, Kentucky
“We had an extraordinary, diverse pool of qualified candidates interested in the position of President of Schoolcraft College,” said
Brian D. Broderick, Chair of Schoolcraft College’s Board of Trustees
and leader of the search committee for the school’s next president. “A rigorous, extensive screening and interview process led us to these three finalists. We are excited to introduce them to the Schoolcraft College community.”
Details are still being finalized, but the goal is to bring each finalist to campus individually the week of June 22. Schoolcraft College employees, students and community members will have the opportunity to engage with each candidate through video conferences.
“As part of our due diligence, we will conduct a second round of interviews and solicit feedback from college stakeholders and the community as we work to find the best leader to lead Schoolcraft College as we begin our next chapter,” Broderick said. “We remain committed to our timeline of having a new president in place later this summer.”
Dr. Conway A. Jeffress, who led Schoolcraft College to unprecedented growth in enrollment and physical size during his tenure as president, announced on Jan. 10 that he is retiring. Jeffress has served as president of the two-year community college since July of 2001.
Brief bios of each finalist:
Dr. Glenn Cerny
has spent nearly his entire career in higher education in the business services area. Before coming to Schoolcraft College in 2010, Cerny had worked for North Central Michigan College, Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Lansing Community College and the University of Michigan. Cerny and his team are responsible for Schoolcraft College’s $90 million budget.
Dr. Paul R. Watson II
has 13 years of teaching experience at the secondary and post-secondary levels, plus another seven years of experience as an administrative leader in higher education. He was at Pennsylvania College of Technology from 2011 to 2018 as a director, assistant dean and dean. Prior to that, he was a high school math teacher in Jefferson, New York, and an assistant professor of mathematics at Houghton College in Houghton, New York.
Dr. Sherry Zylka
began her lifelong career in community colleges as a student, earning two associate degrees from Schoolcraft College, and has held numerous higher education leadership positions. After completing her coursework, she transferred to the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Prior to her position at Big Sandy Community and Technical College, she was provost of Wayne County Community College District in Detroit.
“Dr. Jeffress created an incredible era at Schoolcraft College and set the stage for continued success,” Broderick said. “We expect our next president to build on that success as an outstanding educator, excellent communicator with faculty, students and staff, and thoughtful collaborator with local, area and state community and business leaders, positioning Schoolcraft College for even greater success in the coming years.”
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A few comments from our Musings readers
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Conrad Schwartz:
Thank you for publishing the news on the Hines Park parcel. I, like you, am opposed to the transaction. The $ 750 annual lease translates to an equivalent sales price of $ 7000. Why does Wayne County continue to try and chip away with Hines Park. I can only guess that the answer is; it’s easy to develop valuable parkland and to demonstrate that the Economic Development Department is a functioning unit within Wayne County Government. Here is a suggestion, leave Hines Park alone and develop some of the eyesores in Wayne County. Keep up the great work Bill.
Timothy Sutton
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I went to Schoolcraft just after my Marine Corps tour. One of my first assignments was interviewing President Jeffress ! Well done!
Connie Vokal
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I am so glad that Anastasia & Katie's Coffee Shop are able to be open again. I will be by soon!
Charlie Mahoney
:
Laura is a dear friend and amazing woman - so proud to know her.
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August 4
Friday Musings has endorsed a yes vote on the following Wayne County propositions
Proposition O
Wayne County Millage Renewals
Prosition P
Wayne County Parks Millage Renewal
Donald J. Trump (I) (R)
Joe Biden (D)
United States Senate
Gary Peters (D-I)
Bob Carr (R)
John James (R)
United States House of Representatives
Haley Stevens (D-I)
Endorsed by:
Michigan Education Association
Frank Acosta (R)
Kerry Bentivolio (R)
Whitney Williams (R)
Endorsed by:
Eric Esshaki (R)
Michigan House of Representatives
Laurie Pohutsky (D-I)
Endorsed by:
Sierra Club
Clean Water Action
SEIU
Emily's List
UniteHere! Local 24
Iron Workers Local Union No. 25
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
Michigan Council of Carpenters & Millwrights
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
Michigan Teamsters Joint Council 43
Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union
Michigan Nurses Association
Endorsed by:
Former State Senator Patrick Colbeck
Former State Representative Jerry Vorva
Former State Representative Kurt Heise
Former State Representative Jeff Noble
George Dimopoulos
Lynn Mills
Canton Township Supervisor Pat Williams
Roger Little, owner of Shooters Service
Former State Senator Mike Kowall
Martha Ptashnik (R)
Endorsed by:
City Council President Kathleen McIntyre
Former State Representative John Walsh
Former Livonia City Councilman Brian Meakin
Former State Representative John Pastor
Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki
Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP)
Michigan Freedom Network
Former State Senator Mike Kowall
Wayne County Commissioner
Terry Marecki (R-I)
Nancy Darga (D)
Endorsed by
Former County Commissioner Lyn Bankes
Schoolcraft College Trustee
Brian Broderick (I)
Joan Gebhardt (I)
Terry Gilligan (I)
Livonia Board of Education
FridayMusings endorses the following 4:
Dan Centers (I)
Karen Bradford (I)
Tammy Bonifield (I)
Crystal Frank (I)
Clarenceville Board of Education
Matt Boettcher (I)
Brenda Uren (I)
Shari Krazel (I)
Jeffrey Bunker (I)
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June
15
In light of the ongoing COVID19 crisis, the Pohutsky in-person coffee hours for the month of June are going digital. Please join her via Facebook live, from 6:30 -- 7:30, June 15, to discuss the issues affecting our community, updates to the state's coronavirus response, and other questions you have about your state government.
Questions? Feel free to contact her office at LauriePohutsky@house.mi.gov
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June 16
Haley Stevens TOWN HALL:
Join in on Tuesday evening for a telephone town hall on economic recovery and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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June 18
Kate Shishkovsky. is President of the Livonia Democratic Club (LDC).
They currently have 200 members in the LDC, and we can certainly use more. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we have not been able to fund-raise and meet new people as we normally would, but we have many things planned for 2020.
Also, our next membership meeting is this week (3rd Thursday), at 6:30 PM (click on our "Events" tab to get the Zoom link). Please join us this Thursday if you can! Our guest speakers include Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, and Livonia Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan.
If you have any questions, please PM me or call the LDC phone line at 734-466-5140, leave a message, and we’ll get back to you!
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July 6- Aug 21
Friday Musings is happy to report that normalcy is moving on up with the announcement that Camp Swoosh is back July 6 Aug 21
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Dan MacIver offers up another slice
of Livonia history
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Livonia Parks and Recreation work to make and keep our playgrounds safe this summer
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Musings Follows our Livonia Elected Officials
City Council Study Meeting June 8
City Council Meeting June 8
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Thank you Ted Davis and our Livonia Parks and Recreation folks for adding a little humor to a serious subject for our parks
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Check out this parody by Livonia's talented upper elementary teachers!
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