August 17,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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Our Livonia Public Library is hosting an Outdoor Story Time this Thursday, 10:00 - 10:30. All ages welcome! Join us outside (weather permitting) at the Bennett Civic Center Library for 1-2 stories and a lot of movement activities. We will meet on the grassy area behind the parking lot. Please bring a blanket, maintain social distancing, and wear a mask.
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Pick up school supplies this coming Saturday, August 22 |
Tracey Stevenson
Educational Ministry Leader at
EL BETHEL
Baptist Church who also happens to be Assistant Principal at Clarenceville High School announces that one more Livonia business has just made a huge donation to the Back to School Curbside Distribution of Backpacks and Supplies set for August 22nd to any and all students.
They have arranged to donate:
300 sharpeners, 1,200 bic pens, 360 erasers, 4,800 pencils, 600 glue sticks, 240 backpacks, 480 24-packs of crayons, 360 rulers. And 1,000 masks.
All of this in addition to the large amounts of additional supplies and backpacks already donated.
The distribution takes place at Northville High School, Novi United Methodist Church and El Bethel Baptist Church.
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Please consider becoming a Election Day poll worker on Tuesday, November 3rd. You can also encourage your 18 year old students to serve in this unique role. They must be registered. Any registered voter is eligible and will be paid for their time.
Michiganders who are not registered to vote can do so at michigan.gov/Vote before signing up. for more info, email DemocracyMVP@Michigan.gov
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson continues to call on Michiganders to be MVPs in the team sport of Democracy. “Election workers are the most valuable players in our democracy, and we can’t have successful elections without them,” said Secretary Benson. “The number of people we’ve already seen apply to serve is inspiring and reinforces how committed the people of Michigan are to ensuring we have safe, secure and accessible elections, even in the midst of a pandemic.”
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Little Black Detroit Girl-Homecoming is hot off the press and the typewriter has the first autographed copy.
Five to donate to our readers.
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She walked into the room with a box of the first editions. The Adventures of a Little Black Detroit Girl-Homecoming.
Not sure what to expect at first but was absolutely blown away with her, the person, the writer, the businesswoman, the activist for social justice.
I just knew that when I left that meeting, sitting in the office of Veronica Cruz and Chuck Dardas at AlphaUSA, that I would put down the Dan Silva book that afternoon, not an easy decision for the typewriter, and pick up the autographed book from first time author Erica Robertson.
You know how it is when you first meet someone and you can just tell that they are going to make a difference. This was one of those moments for the typewriter.
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Robertson set there and explained her virtual book club for middle school students. Her upcoming virtual writers club, for middle school students. Her story.
Her story that wants to reach out and envelope boys and girls of all colors. Teaching them, showing them how they need to embrace the trauma in their life, to learn to trust, to seek help and to understand that they are not alone.
This is the story of one woman but yet it is the story of desire to reach out to others and hopefully help them understand how to believe in themselves.
She explains that "the book, the companion guide with standards aligned curriculum and the virtual book club supports the governor’s recommendation for schools to incorporate communication related to general best practices of talking through trauma with children and positive self care strategies that promote health and wellness."
She serves on the Board of Directors of Goodwill, has traveled nationally and internationally but in her words "returned to her hometown to help break the cycles of intergenerational poverty."
This typewriter was smiling while picturing middle school students being captivated by reading, by sharing their stories, by venturing out and writing on their own with the help of mentors. 13, 14 years of age. Picking up a book and reading. Like wow.
Middle school. To me that is one of the last ages for hope, to take the minds of our future leaders and let them know that someone cares about them. Someone knows of their value.
As she describes the book it is "a story of my childhood, to heal the relationships with my daughter, with myself and with my community."
Let Erica's own words describe this book. "The Adventures of a Little Black Detroit Girl is an uplifting, courageous story of love and healing, this book, inspired by my own life, speaks directly to all the resilient, brilliant and beautiful young adults." It is told in layers of flashbacks that reveal both the trauma and the healing that creates a formidable character to root for.
This typewriter is rooting for Erica's success in telling the story while motivating and encouraging. And yes, the book is a good read to boot.
Musings has five copies and will make them available to the first five readers who email me at rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com. You can also purchase the book on Erica's website at www.littleblackdetroitgirl.com
I hope you read it and tell me what you think.
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WJR shares story of Livonia Kids and Family computer donations |
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We discussed the $52,000 donation from Livonia Kids and Family for the purchase of computers for the staff in the Clarenceville Public Schools which allowed for 100 Chromebooks to be used by students. A win/win all around.
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If It's Monday
Livonia's Gotta Smile
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Found this on Liz Jarvis' Facebook page and I just could not stop smiling picturing 40,000 homes in Livonia hosting 40,000 front porch concerts. How cool would that be?! |
August in Livonia
22, 29 Wilson Barn Farmers Market
17 2020 Golf Outing Benefitting MiWorkMatters @ Idyl Wyld Golf Course
21 Summer Fun Series @ 6:30
@ Kirksey Recreation Center
22 Grab and Go Backpack and Supplies
30 The ARC NW 2020 Golf Outing
Fox Creek Golf Course
30 St. Baldrick's 10th Annual Shave-a-thon
@ 12:00 -- 5:00 One Under
September in Livonia
12, 19, 26 Wilson Barn Farmers Market
There is no Farmer's Market September 5
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
21-27 Livonia Symphony Orchestra Week
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Livonia 1832 and 1887. 2020 isn’t Livonia’s first pandemic. But it is one of the worst. |
The following material was prepared by Livonia's historian Kathy Bilger, shared on her Facebook page and in FridayMusings:
There was the big cholera epidemic in 1832. Livonia lacked the usual church with graveyard attached. Union or public cemeteries soon followed. Up until 1883, you could bury the dead in your backyard and people did. There are still quite a few tiny little cemeteries in corn fields. Cholera came through a few times, as did the flu, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, and diphtheria.
Cholera was nasty and could kill rapidly. It spread by water containing human waste. Our municipal water systems are literally life savers. Imagine that the town upriver dumps garbage in the river and families downriver use the water to cook and clean. Northville’s garbage dump was Ford Field. People dumped the trash over the cliff into the field. When the river flooded the field, it took away much of the smell. Problem was that Livonia and Plymouth were downriver. Modern science and medicine have removed the death sentence thankfully.
There was the great Diphtheria epidemic of 1887 in Livonia. The symptoms are not too different from Covid: the sore throat, respiratory problems, fever, chills, swollen glands. It was spread the same way, airborne droplets. Some people had mild symptoms, others had organ damage, and many died. Pasteur argued to find the germ and for vaccination. February 1889 Detroit Free Press, Dr. McGraw said,” I do not want to disparage Pasteur, but I think he is a bit wild in this instance.” Radway’s Ready Relief promised to cure the diphtheria along with your toothache, asthma, bumps, and bruises. It took a vaccine in the 1920’s to end the repeat diphtheria epidemics.
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There were many victims of the Diphtheria epidemic in Livonia. The Kingsley family, shown here on their farm at Five and Farmington, lost baby Ivy, Mamie, Oren and Wallie. Only Gertrude survived. The Kingsley children were the grandchildren of the house at Greenmead. They lived across the street from it. Horace and Charlotte Kingsley lost 7 of their 9 children. Only their oldest and youngest survived childhood. Charlotte died in Eloise Asylum. The Turnbulls lost 4 children. Over 15 children in Livonia Center school would die before the Diphtheria was over. Volney Gunning, the township treasurer noted in his diary that he went to a memorial for the children. Children weren’t the only victims. Livonia had about 1700 residents in 1887 and lost over 2% of its population that year from diphtheria. The Detroit Free Press published the death count.
The people of 1887 could not fight a villain that they could not see. Herd immunity helped but there were always fresh victims to be had. We have had 133 years to learn from the past.
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Dina Dubuis named Lion of the Year |
Last week, the Livonia Lions Club named Lion Dina Dubuis, Madonna assistant vice president for enrollment services and registrar, the 2019/2020 Lion of the Year.
Lion Matt Collins defined the Lion of the Year as someone who accepts a leadership role and exceeds expectations, actively participates in many club functions, takes on a challenge and moves it forward, and goes the extra mile.
As vice president for the Club, Dubuis provides valuable perspective and support. She also regularly participates in fundraisers, business meetings, and club activities, including lining up volunteers and managing registration for the Kids Coalition Against Hunger annual meal-packing event. She also found time to lead the redesign of the Club's new website.
In addition, the Club awarded Dubuis the Melvin Jones Fellowship for humanitarian service. The first Lions Club was established by Melvin Jones in Chicago in 1917. The Melvin Jones Fellowship Award recognizes Lions who, over an extended period of time, exhibit the ideals of service to the community as demonstrated by the Founder of Lionism.
"Lion Dina epitomizes what it means to be a Lion, to serve those in need in our community, to represent and promote the ideals of Lionism to those around her, and to make a difference as a member of the Livonia Lions Club," said Collins.
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Hey Livonia, It's time for Pickleball |
Calling all Pickleball Players! We are hosting a tournament to celebrate the opening of the Pickleball courts at Bicentennial Park on Sat. Sept. 12. More information and registration can be found at https://secure.rec1.com/MI/livonia-mi/catalo
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Let's get your opinion. Part two. |
Last week Musings asked your opinion on our local hometown races, US Congress, State Representative, County Commissioner. You spoke up in large numbers while asking for a poll on our hometown support for President and United States Senate. |
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If the election were held today who would you be supporting for President of the United States?
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If the election were held today who would you be supporting for United States Senate
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