July 27,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
|
|
With the flourish of a presidential pen, years of hard work by an army of Americans bore fruit and a new law forever changed a nation's landscape. It was July 26, 1990 when over 2,000 people, many in wheelchairs, watched George H.W. Bush sign the American Disabilities Act into law.
On this day I smile thinking of my mom, Geraldine Jo Wood Joyner, who for 87 years wore a leg brace after being diagnosed with polio at the age of 3. She was a fighter all her life, from the time in 1959 when the library said she owed for a book never returned. She left the library in tears vowing to never pay for something she had returned. Two weeks later they called and apologized. The book had fallen between counters. This was her mantra throughout her life as if she was channeling Eleanor Roosevelt, "Do what you feel in your heart to be right for you will be criticized anyway." She held a place in her heart for special needs children, children in a wheelchair. For children. She never talked about the ADA but through her actions I always knew what it meant to her.
|
|
St. Mary Mercy Livonia receives $50,000 grant to support construction of biking and walking path
|
|
St. Mary Mercy Livonia announced that it has received a $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, to help fund construction of the Stark Road Pathway. The planned biking and walking path along Stark Road is part of Bike/Walk Livonia, the city's non-motorized transportation plan, and would connect Hines Parkway and the Stark Road recreation area. The grant is a continuation of the hospital's support for Healthy Livonia, a citywide initiative to strengthen the health and wellbeing of everyone living and working in the community.
"We are excited to connect areas of our community with safe, dedicated pathways so that local residents can move and exercise with more regularity," said Dave Spivey, pictured left, president of St. Mary Mercy Livonia. "With the support of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, area residents are being given the tools and opportunities they need to make healthy choices for themselves."
The proposed Stark Road Pathway is a north-south route between Stark Road recreation area and Hines Parkway. The Stark Road recreation area is located just north of I-96 and west of Farmington Road. It includes the Ford Field Complex, Eddie Edgar Ice Arena, the Livonia Family YMCA, Frost Middle School, and Stymelski Veterans Park. Hines Parkway weaves through the southwest section of Livonia. It is part of a larger Wayne County recreation greenway that connects Livonia to Dearborn Heights and Plymouth.
“This is a great step for our Bike/Walk plan,” said Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan. “Providing a safe pathway for people in Livonia to enjoy the Hines Parkway has been a priority for our community. We appreciate this grant for essentially expanding Livonia’s park system with new accessibility to Hines Park.”
|
|
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established the endowed Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation to provide support to issue areas that were important to Mr. Wilson during his lifetime: Caregivers, Design and Access, and Youth Sports across the region, and Grosse Pointe Community Assets, to support projects in Ralph’s hometown. Endowment funds are designed to grow over time and provide funding in perpetuity for charitable causes according to the Wilson Foundation’s wishes. Since 2016, over $5.5 million in 234 grants have been awarded to nonprofits in southeast Michigan.
Ou
Healthy Livonia is a collaboration that leverages resources of the City of Livonia, Livonia Parks and Recreation Department, the Chamber of Commerce, Livonia Public Schools, and St. Mary Mercy Livonia hospital. This citywide initiative is intended to reach beyond the walls of any one organization to strengthen the health and wellness of everyone in the community. Started in July 2016, Healthy Livonia seeks to "Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice," with the mission, "To energize a community-wide focus on healthy living in Livonia, Michigan," and the vision, "To be the healthiest city in the United States."
|
|
This is the type of discussion that progressive communities
understand and encourage residents to be a part of.
A civil discussion with Tamara Oliverio and Del Shaw on Facebook
|
|
I try to stay up on current Livonia activities through Facebook. Many postings devolve into sophistry with little attention paid to what the discussion is actually about. This discussion caught my attention as it embodied how two mature, I hope neither of you object to that adjective, residents can discuss while listening and learning. So I share it with you today.
Tamara Oliverio
responded to the typewriters commentary on Livonia supports Black Lives Matter and Livonia supports our Livonia Police Department says
that "You are 100% that progress takes time. I do think it is important to point out that progress did not begin in 2020...it’s been quietly happening all along. History is important. And it is important to recognize policies and practices of the past - the good and the bad. It is equally as important to recognize how the policies and practices have changed (quietly or not quietly) and the direct results from them.
"Livonia is a community comprised of residents, workers, worshippers, volunteers, and students- not Facebook groups. And it is comprised of many ages, genders, races, religions, incomes, jobs, causes, passions, etc. Any/all examination of the city’s progress should be done with a full picture of the entire community over time.
"Often times the the 4% black resident data point from the Census (which is an estimate based on growth trends from 10 years ago when that number was 0.2%) is used as evidence of Livonia being a racist, unwelcoming community. We will have updated data soon with Census2020 but until then I challenge people to look at some other data points and how they have changed over time for a complete picture:
*22% of LPS students are people of color...majority black (according to
Niche.com
)
*About 1000 businesses in the city are minority owned (based on older Census data)
*Demographic breakout of the workforce? Churches? Organizations? Leaders in the community (not just elected leaders)? Neighborhoods?
"Anyone who looks into those numbers I believe will find they are - and have been- going up. To your point, progress takes time. But to assume progress is beginning now and hasn’t been happening all along would be inaccurate.
"As human beings, our actions are a direct result of what we believe. And those beliefs are formed based on past experiences and perceptions of what we believe to be true. This isn’t my opinion, it’s rooted in basic behavioral psychology and neuroscience.
"Perhaps Livonia needs to be louder about the progress that has already occurred. Build upon that to inspire more progress- because more progress is needed."
|
|
Del Shaw
one of the founders of Livonia Cares Black Lives Matter responded by writing
"
Tamara Oliverio
these are good points. It’s also critical to have a solid understanding of the differences between diversity, inclusion, and equity. Our school system is a great example. 22% of students at our schools are POC. That’s a great “diversity” or “representation” statistic.
"An increase in diversity numbers tells us little about our success with creating an inclusive environment. Listening to our children, parents and the adults who work with our children daily tells us.
"What does inclusion in our school system mean?
"What does being included mean for those “diverse” students. What does their “inclusion” mean for their peers in dominant demographics? How do those “diverse” students view their participation in our school system? And how is their participation viewed by other students, teachers, administrators, community members.
"Answering these questions requires listening to the experiences of others with open minds.
"If we’re not clear on the difference between diversity, inclusion, and equity (whether as ideals or initiatives) we could easily emphasize the wrong efforts and suffer the consequences."
|
|
Tamara Oliverio
responded to
Del Shaw
with "all excellent points. All underscoring that progress takes time...it is linear AND multidimensional. We should look at ALL to measure and learn from past progress AND future progress."
|
|
All Summer long enjoy the culture of Livonia
|
28
Drive in Movie @ 7:30
Livonia Parks and Recreation
30
Toppermost Beatles Tribute
Music from the Heart
August in Livonia
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Wilson Barn Farmers Market
4
Primary Election--vote early and often by taking a neighbor to the polls
6
Sinjon Smith
Music from the Heart
13
Devin Scillian and Arizona Sun
Music from the Heart
17
2020 Golf Outing Benefitting MiWorkMatters @ Idyl Wyld Golf Course
20
Cruzin Jupiter
Music from the Heart
27
Cosmic Groove Band
Music from the Heart
30
The ARC NW 2020 Golf Outing
Fox Creek Golf Course
September in Livonia
5, 12, 19, 26
Wilson Barn Farmers Market
12
Thomas A. Dooley Knights of Columbus Golf Classic @ Fox Hills $100 includes dinner and prizes. To sign up call John Glennon 734-968-2286 or Lou Fiorentino 248-808-3834
October in Livonia
1
1835 Livonia City Hall of Fame
Rosedale Presbyterian Church
Presenting Sponsor: Dan MacIver Financial & Portfolio Advisors
|
Let's go golfing and support those supporting others.
|
|
Our Livonia School Board race just got taken up a notch with candidate number six filing
|
FridayMusings is ready for one heck of a school board race with yet another candidate running. Nichole Hoskins-Goudreau, pictured on the right, writes on her website says "after working as a professional in the fields of law, business, and education, Nichole has applied her knowledge of communications to help men and women in all industries create a professional Image that represents who they really are."
And now there are six running for four positions on the Livonia Board of Education. Dan Centers, Crystal Frank, Tammy Bonifield, Karen Bradford running as incumbents,
Madeline Acosta
and Nichole Hoskins-Goudreau (bottom left) as challengers.
|
1954 Livonia's first Traffic Commissioner
|
This badge shown below was presented to Rick Hayes' father, Halley "Al" Hayes in 1954 as he became the first director of the newly commissioned traffic commission.
Rick says that his dad "was named to the post by the second mayor of Livonia Elbert M Hartom, who by the way has nothing named after him in the city. Are there any old timers out there that remember this back in 54?"
|
Elbert Hartom, second from the left above, and Halley "Al" Hayes, far right, both served on the Clarenceville Board of Education. Clarenceville has given this community a number of hometown leaders including a former Clarenceville Superintendent who went on to become a State Representative for the City of Livonia, Louis Schmidt.
A Mayor of Livonia and a State Representative from the oldest school district in the State of Michigan. Not bad.
And thanks to Rick Hayes for passing along this information.
|
Feedback from Musings readers is appreciated
|
Reaction to article (s) on Livonia School Board Campaign
Crystal Frank, School Trustee:
Thanks so much for your kind words of support, Bill! I do not take it for granted. The educational landscaping has been shifting for a while but this new normal brings incredible challenges.
I would love to talk with you more in depth at your convenience. Miss seeing you at events...I miss large social/city/school gatherings more than I thought I would. Hope you are staying well and safe!
R
eaction to Musings Commentary on Black Lives Matter
Kathleen Bilger
Agreed. Livonia has worked to change from the city it was thirty, forty even ten years ago. Yes, we had a few mayors who sought to keep Livonia a white city. They were men of their times and short sighted. Thankfully times, mayors and we all have changed.(I wouldn't mind the names off the buildings). Our Mayor Brosnan is setting a time that I hope will make Livonia an example for other cities on inclusion.
Liz Jarvis
Beautifully written, Bill. 1 step down, the rest of the way to go. May we never tire, never grow faint or weary!
Sherry Klisz
So like you Bill to put into words what many of us feel. I wish your exact words and thoughts could be in every local newspaper and TV channel. You live and breathe Livonia! Thank you for all you do!
Reaction to 2020 Good Old Fashioned Corn Roast postponed to 2021
Jonathon Wennstrom
We were just discussing this at our Rotary Board Meeting. The Corn Roast will be missed this year!
Rose Kachnowski
Had some corn the other day from Westborn....was delicious. Will miss the corn roast. Let's all do our part to get rid of this virus....we want to party at the corn roast next year.
Karen Anleitner
I’ll miss the corn roast too! So much fun playing with Livonia Youth Symphony Orchestra and the corn is the best!
|
Dan MacIver offers up a slice of Livonia
|
Welcome Kathleen Chichester.
New President of the Livonia Civic Chorus.
|
The 72 volunteer members of the Livonia Civic Chorus, now in their 56 th Season of Choral performances for the Livonia Community, are pleased to announce that Kathleen Chichester, a member since 2011, has become the President of their Board.
Kathleen has been an active musician since the age of eight when she started singing with her church youth choir. Since then she has appeared on stage around the country and has been involved with Church Choirs in three states, including a stint as Music Director at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Novi, MI.
Members of the LCC Board are elected by their peers to facilitate the day to day operations of the organization along with their involvement as avocational singers in the group.
Kathleen has been active in the Chorus as a singer(alto), dancer, concert show coordinator, set designer, choreographer, Vice President and President-Elect.
As a Purchasing Manager for an International carbide company, Kathleen has developed skills that help her support the Chorus in their day to day operations as well as assist the Board in all that they do.
Kathleen’s love and excitement of choral singing extends to her family since in the Spring of 2012 her husband, Steve Akey, joined the Chorus as well. They currently make their home in Northville and have three daughters and a son-in-law.
According to Kathleen, “The strength, commitment, and love of singing will contribute greatly to new ideas being considered for the Livonia Civic Chorus to meet its MISSION, nurturing the vocal skills of its members through performances, for the 2020-2021 Season.”
The remainder of the Livonia Civic Chorus Board includes Jennifer Perry, Vice President,
Cynthia Windecker, Secretary, Suzanne Cassady, Treasurer, and Kim Alderman, Librarian.
Music Director Jeff Swan is an ex officio member of the Board.
|
Livonia Kiwanis Early Riser
Fernon Feenstra Scholarship Winners
|
The typewriter will be sharing an essay from one Livonia Kiwanis Early Riser Fernon Feenstra Scholarship Winner each issue over the next two weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
