August 5,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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The votes have been counted. The challenge is on. |
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Republican candidate for State Representative Martha Ptashnik With support arriving almost daily in mailboxes mostly paid for by the Great Lakes Education Project and with support from the dominant paradigm that ran Livonia for over two decades Martha Ptashnik was the clear winner over Penny Crider, former aid to Senator Patrick Colbeck.
This seat is a priority for the Michigan Republican party and has been since former city councilman Brian Meakin was defeated by newcomer Laurie Pohutsky.
Questions that Ptashnik, a Churchill math teacher, will have to answer center around her advocacy of for-profit charter schools as shown by her endorsements in the primary by several conservative groups that each have as one of their major platforms the support of schools of choice/charter schools.
But for now Martha deserves a hearty congratulations and best wishes as she takes on an incumbent and takes on the pandemic affect on her school. Well done Martha. Looking forward to the Fall campaign.
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Incumbent Democratic candidate for State Representative Laurie Pohutsky With no primary campaign Pohutsky has been able to line up support from a number of groups that helped propel her to what only can be described as a stunning victory over Brian Meakin. She has been targeted by the Michigan Republican party since that victory and she will have a tough re-election campaign.
One of her strengths two years ago was that she had a science background and put environmental issues at the top of her priorty list, that along with her strong advocacy for our historic public schools gave her the slight edge that she won by. She has continued her support for the environment and education which should be the cornerstone of her campaign, that and her two years of knocking doors which has introduced her to thousands of voters on a personal level.
She has a tough opponent, perhaps tougher than 2018 but she says she is up to the challenge. Get your popcorn ready as this will be a barn burner.
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Incumbent Democratic Candidate for United States Congress Haley Stevens Haley Stevens stands in stark contrast to he member of congress she replaced. It seems that not a day goes by that she is not in the community, meeting people, saying hello to those she met the week before. This strong grass root awareness of the hometowns in her district should pay dividends and make her a prohibitive favorite in what was expected to be a targeted district by the Republicans.
Prior to serving in Congress she Most recently she led a job training program and created the country’s first online certification program for digital manufacturing. She has led innovation programs across the country, helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow. She launched a STEM education program which has exposed over 200 middle and high school students to digital manufacturing concepts and processes with hands-on teaching.
Earlier in her career, Haley played a key role in setting up two federal offices critical in creating and retaining Michigan jobs: The Office of Recovery for Automotive Communities and Workers and the White House Office of Manufacturing Policy. She also served as a policy advisor in the Economic Development Administration, where she helped create advanced manufacturing job opportunities located around southeastern Michigan.
A gerrymandered district would cause headaches for most candidates or incumbents but Stevens has mastered the need to know this district first hand and makes her a prohibitive favorite in November.
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Republican candidate for United States Congress Eric Esshaki A Birmingham resident who was well known enough to win the Republican primary defeating Carmilita but is not as well known in Livonia. Rest assured Esshaki will start making the rounds including western Wayne County in the coming 90 days.
Esshaki has a varied career working as a nursing assistant at a local hospital, earning a certificate degree in practical nursing. He worked at a nursing home quickly becoming a manager where he found violations posing risks to the patients. He reported them to the State and was terminated. He moved to Oakland County where he earned his associate degree in nursing working as a home care nurse, an emergency room nurse.
He then earned a bachelor's degree at Oakland University and then became a law student earning his degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He and his wife Heather have two children. Get ready to meet Eric Esshaki on the campaign trail.
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Republican Candidate for Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki Marecki brings to this re-election strong name recognition after years of service as a Trustee on the Livonia Board of Education (2001-2003), Livonia City Council (2004 - 2010), Livonia City Clerk (2010-2014) as well as Wayne County Commissioner. She currently is chair of the Committee on Public Services and serves on the committees on Health and Human Services and Ways and Means. She also serves on the Special Committee on the Criminal Justice Center.
She was first elected in 2014 to represent the city of Northville, Northville Township and most of the city of Livonia. She is a lifelong Livonia resident having graduated from Bentley High School and then Madonna University with a bachelor of science degree in dietetics. She is a registered dietitian who worked at the University of Cincinnati and University of Michigan medical centers in the cardiac surgery and rehabilitation departments.
She goes into this re-election campaign as the favorite based primarily on calling Livonia her home for most of her life and having been an elected official since 2001. But she does have a formidable opponent for the first time in 19 years.
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Democratic candidate for Wayne County Commissioner Nancy Darga Darga is expected to give Marecki the toughest re-election she has faced but she has a need to introduce herself to the Livonia voters after two decades of leadership in the Northville community including serving as a member of the Northville City Council since 2007, and serving as Mayor Pro-term from 2007 to 2019.. She says that she used "this experience to empower residents to help guide the community’s future, especially concerning preservation and sensitive development."
She has served as Treasurer, Northville Art House, Former Managing Director, Motor Cities National Heritage Area 2008-2013
Former Executive Director, Ford Piquette Plant National Historic Landmark 2013-2019, Chief of Design, Wayne County Parks 1978-2003.
Not having an opposition in the primary it remains to be seen how adept she is at raising money and organizing an awareness campaign, of who she is and what she has done.
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Help Livonia Kids and Family and can get one of the graduation banners |
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On Monday FridayMusings reported on two innovative projects that you can become a part of:
1) Councilman Rob Donovic and community advocate Dan MacIver arranged for these 32 Congratulate 2020 Graduate banners to adorn Five and Farmington Now with the new year right around the corner they are available for you to have as a keepsake. Want one? Real simple: make out a check for $50 to one of three community non-profits, Friends of Greenmead, Clarenceville Education Foundation, Livonia Kids & Families. Mail the check to Bill Joyner, 19514 Bainbridge, 48152. After August 15 the banners will be ready to pick up at the office of Dan MacIver, Financial & Portfolio Advisors, 15855 Farmington Road. The checks will be bundled and presented to the non-profits by Donovic and MacIver.
2) Livonia Kids and Family made a $52,000 donation to the Clarenceville Public Schools which was called by Dave Bergeron, Business Manager, "the largest single contribution I have seen in my 23 years at Clarenceville.
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The funding will provide each teacher with a new upgraded computer that will enable them to have all that is necessary to access resources, prepare plans and share those instructional materials with the students in their classes.
The current Chromebooks used by the teachers will now be available to give to students (100 teacher Chromebooks).
A challenge is being issued to the community to help donate an additional $22,000 to purchase the final 100 Chromebooks To help Livonia Kids and Families reach this additional goal click here and follow the links in the upper left corner.
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A Livonia Wednesday Smile |
You gotta love Livonia when so many smiles are brought to you by our expansive art organizations. This time it is online with the Livonia Community Theatre:
Broadway Bound Online is a GO!
Ellie, Kat, and Alle all began as campers during the very first Broadway Bound and eventually moved their way up to staff members over the years. But they have never done anything like this!!
This week we are taking our popular Broadway Bound camp online. Campers will spend this week learning songs, dances, and speaking parts that we will then transform into a video that we will premier live on YouTube later next week (keep an eye out for a Facebook event soon!)
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All Summer long enjoy the culture of Livonia |
August in Livonia
1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Wilson Barn Farmers Market
6 Sinjon Smith
Music from the Heart
11 Summer Fun Series @ 6:30
@ Kirksey Recreation Center
13 Devin Scillian and Arizona Sun
Music from the Heart
17 2020 Golf Outing Benefitting MiWorkMatters @ Idyl Wyld Golf Course
17 & 19 School Supply Drive
@ Journey Church, 31100 Plymouth Road
20 Jupiter of Cruz
Music from the Heart
21 Summer Fun Series @ 6:30
@ Kirksey Recreation Center
22 Grab and Go Backpack and Supplies
Details coming up in Musings August 3
27 Cosmic Groove Band
Music from the Heart
30 The ARC NW 2020 Golf Outing
Fox Creek Golf Course
30 St. Baldrick's 10th Annual Shave-a-thon
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
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You gotta Love Livonia and you gotta love our creative Musings readers. Family activites in August offered up by Carrie Budzinski.
Thank you Carrie.
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Keeping up with our Livonia Mayor
Maureen Miller Brosnan
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Musings and the typewriter likes to discover some of the activities and places visited by our hometown Mayor. Caught up with her on Facebook and wanted to share:
This morning (Sunday) Police Chief Caid and I were invited to talk with Pastors Willie and Yvette Warren at Livonia-based Increasing Your Faith Ministries Church about racial justice. This is a tough topic that will require more courageous conversations like this.
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Comments and musings from our readers |
Reaction to Livonia Kids and Family article
Debra Stewart Bonde What wonderful news about the partnership between Livonia Kids & Families & Clarenceville Schools ... and how the community can help too! Count me in!
Virginia Bosak Yay to Livonia Kids and Family and FridayMusings for putting this together.
(The Clarenceville Board of Education approved Monday night the $52,000 donation and committed an additional $16,000 so every teacher will receive an upgraded computer and an additional 100 students will receive a computer as well bringing Clarenceville to .9 to 1 ratio of computers to students. Wow.)
Reaction to graduation banners article
Brandon McCullough The McCullough’s are in for one of the banners! I will drop a check by in the coming days!
Reaction to Chris Crawford seeking state Jaycee office article
Chris Crawford Thank you for your support! The Livonia Jaycees look forward to doing so much more in the future. (FridayMusings) is the leading news source in Livonia. Their support is greatly appreciated.
(All the best Chris. The typewriter was Vice President of the Michigan Jaycees when we had 20,000 members. Made 180 in-person chapter meetings. I know you can take the state to new heights.)
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Matthew (pictured) is one of Seedlings’ “kids!” Here is a nice quote from his family:
“Matthew is 17 months old with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. His vision is impaired due to a brain bleed he had at 2 months of age. We love the touch and feel books from Seedlings.
Seedlings gives him a chance to learn how to read books and improve his sensory skills since he is developmentally delayed. We read Seedlings’ books during play time and right before bed. It's a great way to have him interact and focus on what's in front of him.”
We are so happy to be a part of Matthew’s reading journey! Thank you for sharing with us!
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Let's tee it up for a more inclusive world |
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