September 18,2020 Your Source for Livonia Happenings
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Mayor appoints Thomas, Sabo
New Department Heads
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Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan is announcing that she has appointed two new city directors: La Shawn Thomas as Director of Legislative Affairs and Josh Sabo as Director of Community Resources.
The appointments follow the retirement of two longtime, dedicated department heads, Linda McCann in Community Resources and Judy Priebe in Legislative Affairs. “We wish the best to Linda and Judy and appreciate their service to the community,” Mayor Brosnan said.
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The retirements, and a simultaneous reorganization plan, provided the opportunity for the Mayor to refocus both departments. “I’m excited to make these appointments after considering recommendations by members of the City Council,” Mayor Brosnan said. “La Shawn and Josh will bring new energy and skill-sets as we reset our priorities to more closely align with the original purpose of these departments. They will enhance our exceptional leadership team and improve how we serve the community.”
La Shawn Thomas brings experience as an Advocacy Analyst at Trinity Health in Livonia, where she served as both a liaison and resource to the health care system’s advocacy and public policy leaders, working with regional advocacy leaders and ensuring that critical projects met deadlines. Thomas’ experience at Trinity Health began in 2009.
As Legislative Affairs Director, Thomas will serve as lead administrator in the office of the Livonia City Council. “La Shawn brings experience in the administrative side of the position,” said Mayor Brosnan. “Additionally, La Shawn has been part of successful advocacy efforts. As we look to expand the role of this position and increase Livonia’s profile and influence with lawmakers, she will be a great asset.”
Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from West Virginia University. She lives in Redford Township with husband, Larry, and their son, who attends Michigan State University, and their daughter, who attends Clarenceville Middle School.
Her hobbies include community service and volunteering, focused especially on serving with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Iota Omega Chapter in Inkster, where she developed and executed plans for national community program initiatives, including Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention, Heart Health, and Care for Caregivers.
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Josh Sabo has served as a Technical Specialist for Economic Development since January, also proving a valuable addition to the communications team that produced updates on services and facilities during the pandemic. He has also represented the Administration with lawmakers and coordinated City commission and board assignments.
His previous work experience ranges from communications and constituent outreach in the Michigan House of Representatives, to serving as a communications consultant and teaching social studies at Cody High School in Detroit. He earned a degree from Xavier
University and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan. He lives in Northville and is an avid soccer fan.
Sabo will lead a Community Resources Department that has been reorganized to better meet the growing, ever-changing communications needs of the community. “Josh’s exceptional communications background will mesh perfectly with the need to
develop and unify the marketing and branding of our community, especially as we move forward on the City’s master plan, Livonia Vision 21,” Mayor Brosnan said.
Sabo’s team will include the City’s Public Information Officer Kristin Houchins, a communications coordinator, and the Livonia Television staff. They will focus on improving the quality and identity of all types of information sharing by the City.
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Census deadline approaching |
Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday in support of Danny’s Law, bipartisan legislation to address bullying in schools. The legislation was adopted unanimously.
In August 2016, 13-year-old Daniel Fitzpatrick took his own life as a direct result of bullying at school. His family became outspoken anti-bullying advocates and established the foundation Danny's Angel Network Nurturing Youth (D.A.N.N.Y.) Inc., which seeks to raise awareness and end bullying in schools.
Congresswoman Stevens joined Reps. Max Rose (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY), and Tom Reed (R-NY) to introduce Danny’s Law in July 2019. The bipartisan legislation would direct the President to establish an “Anti-Bullying Roundtable,” a commission tasked with studying bullying in elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
The Roundtable is to consult with State and local educational agencies regarding policies on bullying, stakeholder education, and instances of student violence and self-harm as a result of bullying.
“One out of every five kids in this country experiences bullying,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “The problem has grown and moved from beyond the playground to the Internet as students spend more and more time online. Bullying contributes to emotional and mental health problems for children across this country, and in far too many cases has driven kids to suicide.
"In fact, a recently released CDC report stated that suicide among youth ages 10 to 24 has increased nearly 60 percent in the last 10 years. This an issue that deserves our consideration, deserves research, and deserves action. We simply must do more to prevent bullying and its devastating consequences.”
The Roundtable will produce both a best practices report and a final report:
- The best practices report would identify and recommend best practices concerning bullying in elementary and secondary schools in the United States. This report is to be submitted to Congress no later than 270 days after the Roundtable is formed.
- The final report would detail the findings and conclusions of the Roundtable and recommend legislative and/or administrative actions to be taken. This report is to be submitted to Congress no later than one year after the Roundtable is formed.
The Roundtable is to be composed of 13 members, including one chairperson, appointed by the President for the duration of the Roundtable. The members, who would serve without pay, are to be stakeholders, such as teachers, parents of school children, and guidance counselors.
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It's time for a
Friday Smile
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The typewriter is getting ready for the annual Pumpkin Fest at the historic Wilson Barn complete with Hayrides, pumpkins, pony rides, crafts, cider and doughnuts,
October 3 through 25.
In the meantime there is always the weekly Open Air Market on Saturday with the typewriter's favorites the Paris Bakery and Knot Bakery.
See you this Saturday while I munch down on a Knot Bakery pretzel and a Paris Bakery cinnamon roll. All while the bodyguard gets the healthy stuff like lettuce, corn, beans.
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Livonia Parks and Recreation |
Are you looking for a fun youth activity? Activities will consist of group games, sports, arts and crafts, nature walks, and more. Activities are designed for specific age groups, but siblings can be placed together. This is a drop-off program.
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Last day for pumpkin patch registration |
HURRY ALL BUSINESSES: Wilson Barn Annual Pumpkin Patch coming soon.
Opportunities for businesses to compete in "best scarecrow" exhibit. Entry closes THIS Friday Sep 18th. Details here:
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Hometown news supports our hometown community |
The typewriter was asked and the typewriter is responding.
You asked for more Love Livonia bumper stickers. Thanks to our readers they are in. And they are yours.
This week you can stop by the Musings Estate, 19514 Bainbridge, N of Seven and E of Merriman. On the front porch. In a Wolferman's box. Simply take one or two. Leave a dollar if you want and I will order more. Otherwise they are yours. Free. Gotta Love Livonia. I do.
Thanks to two more of our friends for making this possible:
Nancy: Thank you very much for not only keeping us informed but for all the positive energy you convey for community building.
Meta Musings is the first thing I do on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. I look forward to reading it and seeking what is going on around Livonia.
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Schoolcraft College Honors Program invites you to participate in an important discussion |
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Laurie Pohutsky honored by Clean Water Action |
When FridayMusings endorsed Laurie Pohutsky two years ago she was running a campaign based on protecting Michigan’s rich water resources while protecting the health of our environment. She has held true to her word and as a result is being honored tonight at Clean Water Action's virtual Great Lakes Awards Celebration! They will be honoring Michiganders working to protect Michigan's water and Michigan's future, including Representative Laurie Pohutsky!
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As the climate crisis continues to advance, you might often find yourself wishing that lawmakers would just listen to the scientists and act accordingly. In 2018, Michigan voters in Livonia did even better and elected a microbiologist to represent them in Lansing!
In her first term, Representative Pohutsky introduced bills to repeal Michigan’s No Stricter Than Federal Law, strengthen public trust protections for our water, co-sponsored a bill to restore Michigan’s polluter pay law, and advocated for shutting down Line 5.
Rep Pohutsky's science background, combined with her outspoken advocacy for our water, has made her the only first term lawmaker in years to receive the Great Lakes Champion award.
Congratulations Laurie Pohutsky for being honored at the 2020 Virtual Great Lake Awards Celebration. Livonia elected a State Representative true to her word.
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From Franklin to North Carolina with an Emmy in between. Gotta love Livonia FHS graduates. |
Livonia is acknowledged as the cornerstone of art and culture in southeast Michigan and not a day goes by when that is not driven home.
The typewriter enjoys following the life and travels of Franklin High School Class of 1967 fellow graduates. Recently it was smiling at Nancy Waring as she and her husband traveled to New Zealand.
Nancy lived behind me on Hees, my family on Indiana. She recently mentioned on Facebook her brother Tom living in Raleigh. Curiosity led me to his Facebook page. He was after all Franklin High School Class of 1971 and he was involved in the creative industry--and in my home state of North Carolina.
And yes, another creative type. Seems he is CEO of Trailblazers Studio in North Carolina. Learned that "Tom subscribes to this simple business philosophy: Have a vision; get talented people; get the best gear; and get out of the way. This belief, along with creating a fun and welcoming environment, has become the foundation of Trailblazer Studios®, and the reason for its success."
Before founding Trailblazer Studios®, Tom was CFO of Lyrick Corporation, the parent company of Barney the Dinosaur and Wishbone on PBS.
Trailblazers is an expert in their field with a passion for creativity and a gracious way of conducting business. They utilize diverse talent and experience to discover, develop, and produce stories–partnering with their clients throughout the entire process. And have won a number of awards along the way including the Emmy-winning PBS series TWICE BORN STORIES FROM THE SPECIAL DELIVERY UNIT which is now streaming on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel!
From Livonia Franklin to the University of Detroit to the University of Michigan to Raleigh North Carolina. Tom, the typewriter did not know you in high school but am damn proud of your Livonia heritage now.
And Nancy didn't do too bad in the arts either as a 24 year Associate Director of Bands, Orchestra plus Music Technology at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor.
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Meeting candidates for State Representative:
This week, Martha Ptashnik
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Last week we re-introducee Democratic challenger Laurie Pohutsky. This week we bring you Republican challenger Martha Ptashnik.
Martha grew up in the Old Rosedale neighborhood in Livonia and when Martha and her husband of 27 years, Brian, decided to start a family they decided that they wanted that same Livonia style upbringing for their own family. They have two children, David and Kate, both graduates of Livonia Public Schools.
Martha is a teacher for Livonia Public Schools and is committed to the education of all of Michigan's children. Martha is currently the mathematics department chairman at Livonia Churchill High School.
Martha earned a Masters in Educational Technology from Livonia's Madonna University, and her Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University.
She has spent the past 13 years teaching in Livonia Public Schools. Prior to teaching, Martha worked as a retail buyer for Marshall Fields, Dayton-Hudson & Montgomery Ward's. Martha's business experience as well as her teaching experience give her a unique view on many of the challenges Michigan is facing.
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Pohutsky continues to pick up endorsements |
Laurie Pohutsky continues to pick up the support and endorsement both here in Livonia with the support added by City Councilman Brandon McCullough and across the state with the endorsement by the American Federation of Teachers and the Michigan Education Association.
"This is a challenging time for students, parents and teachers to be returning to school. Now more than ever, I am proud to be an ally for our public schools and educators, and I couldn’t be more honored to have their support."
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