View as Webpage

Each year, early in December, FridayMusings acknowledges the role many play in developing and maintaining a hometown of which we can all be proud.

Non-profit of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Man of the Year are three examples this year of people making a difference.

They are not the only ones defining or redefining Livonia, but they are indeed setting the landscape to improve the lives of others. Some, like the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation, are indeed a Livonia "Best Kept Secret."

Livonia is fortunate to have a depth of community-minded people and organizations, certainly not only limited to the three who stand out this year to FridayMusings. Musings makes a point to promote and encourage support for the non-profit and volunteer sector making a huge difference all year long.

It is never easy for this typewriter to select three when there are literally dozens reaching out and touching the lives of our neighbors. Take time to thank those you think are making an impact. Musings says thank you to all who make me realize that earth's great treasures can be found in human personality.

On Wednesday in keeping wth our tradition Musings will thank our Elected Official of the Year.

Nour, age 5

Marlee, age 12

Luka, age 3

Meet the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation.

FridayMusings Non-profit of the year 2024

Thank you for bringing Joy to Special Needs Families.

Establishing a charitable foundation honoring a loved one is a noble enduring way to pay tribute to their life. It keeps their memory alive and creates a legacy that can impact countless lives. 

Over 20 years ago when Emily Ann Griffin passed away in infancy Inger and Matt Griffin set up a Foundation, to honor their daughter. The goal was to assist children in achieving their utmost potential and to alleviate the financial burden of expenses not covered by insurance or unable to be covered by families.

The Emily Ann Griffin Foundation offers financial support for equipment and enriching experiences for children with special needs. This meaningful legacy offers many opportunities to improve the lives of young children and helps put smiles on the faces of children and parents in memory of their daughter, Emily Ann Griffin.

Here are just some of the ways the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation helps:

Adaptive tricycles, pictured with Marlee above. The extra support cost makes these bikes unaffordable for most families. Riding a bike gives these children joy, provides exercise, and strengthens muscles. The Foundation partners with Rifton Equipment to help the Foundation donate these bikes by providing discounts.

An adaptive van or modifying an existing vehicle. for parents needing mobility for their children

Support while sitting, pictured with Nour above. Children are provided with the types of seating that suit their needs.

Grants to help keep children communicating and learning by providing the opportunity to attend speech therapy.

When a child is dependent on a ventilator, they require special assistance and the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation provides this life-saving equipment. Examples of this type of assistance provide Tiscareno, age 2, and Jennifer, age 15, with generators as a safety backup during power outages.

William, age 2, with Menkes Disease, was provided with a crib with a drop-down side.

The annual Foundation newsletter is replete with examples of how this Livonia-based Foundation is reaching out, putting smiles on the faces of children and parents, of how life-saving donations enrich the lives of so many children.

Take a minute and look at how the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation has touched the lives of those in need. See if your smile is as wide as mine each time I read this newsletter. Read it here.

FridayMusings is proud to acknowledge the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation as a hometown gem that has made a difference for over 20 years, creating a legacy in a way we should all be proud of.

Meet Liz Jarvis, FridayMusings Livonia Woman of the Year, 2024.

As a School Board Trustee, Liz Jarvis collaborates with six other Board of Education Trustees to enhance education in a community founded on quality education. As a Livonia resident, she works with community leaders to promote progressive ideas that encourage a positive image centered around the engagement of hometown citizens.

For over two decades, Liz Jarvis has been the definition of an engaged citizen both as a parent and volunteer in Livonia. She has volunteered in classrooms and collaborated with school administrators. Liz Jarvis has been active in the PTA, serving as a local leader and as a member of the Board of the Michigan PTA. She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Livonia Educational Foundation.

Since first meeting Liz Jarvis, this typewriter has recognized her as a forward-thinking community leader. She understands that for Livonia to continue being the hometown that other communities look to for innovation, our schools must maintain their status as a premier public district through diverse programming, empowered educators, and the personal commitment of students, staff, parents and citizens who are either graduates or empty nesters.

Her smile is contagious, her love for the town she calls home, her creative approach, and her can-do attitude define the template of community involvement and Musings is proud to acknowledge and share her leadership role in the town we all love.

Meet Steve Alexander, FridayMusings Livonia Man of the Year, 2024

Citizen engagement is essential in defining a hometown. Taking ownership of issues, offering solutions, and participating in the implementation of programs and projects can significantly impact the lives of neighbors, both familiar and unfamiliar.

Steve Alexander epitomizes a person who understands what needs to be done and takes on the leadership role to make things happen.

He wears many hats and has worked diligently over the past several years to contribute to the town he calls home. He has served as President of his homeowners' association, President of the Livonia Moose, member of the Livonia Rotary AM Club, co-chair of the Livonia Veterans Connection, spearheaded the collection of thousands of canned foods for Livonia food pantries, and has worked to promote and facilitate the idea of one Livonia Veteran who wanted to create raised garden beds at Greemead. Additionally, he has raised funds for charity through his participation in the polar bear plunge.

Steve Alexander helps shape and define the template for community engagement. By helping others open doors, and suggesting how to improve the community are traits that I enjoy thinking about each time I have a conversation with Steve. Musings is proud to acknowledge and share his leadership role in the town we all love

Why I want to go to Christmas Concerts, singing silently along and tapping my feet

"I don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need." You likely know the next line, even if it's the only Mariah Carey song you've ever heard.

Come December, it's hard to avoid her music or resist the urge to sing along to those high notes.

Artists ranging from Carey to AC/DC to Zendaya have released holiday tracks; in 2020, over 15 million people requested holiday music from Amazon's Alexa.

Besides Carey's enduring hit, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," tunes like Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" are inescapable before the season's eggnog and coquito run out.

It's that time of year when we're ready to revisit our youth, with memories flooding back with each lyric. Livonia offers up many opportunities to sing along or tap your feet, browse some crafts or visit the Library.

If you see this typewriter with eyes closed, feet tapping, and a big smile know that I am revisiting Christmas in Farmville North Carolina, sitting on the top stair straining to see if I can tell what is under the tree and if Santa drank his milk and ate his cookies.

All I want for Christmas is more memories just like that one. Take your pick of Livonia offerings this holiday and see if they bring back your childhood memories.

Thank you Livonia for the upcoming weekend holiday events

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib invites you to her Telephone Town Hall on December 12

This is an easy way for our Livonia hometown neighbors to stay in touch with what is happening in Congress, specifically what the Congresswoman is doing for you and your family.

When Congress is not in session, it's possible to meet with our representative throughout her 12th Congressional District. This provides an additional avenue for her to communicate with the constituents she serves.

Dial 855-962-1056 at 6:00 December 12th

Mail Address

19514 Bainbridge 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

Cell address

734-674-5871

Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings

The typewriter is not available for phone calls or emails Saturday and Sunday. Mental health and rehabilitation time. Out and about enjoying life.

What motivates FridayMusings:

We can't only define Livonia as taking small steps toward maintaining the way things were. That will give us mediocre outcomes. Our goal needs to be innovative and transformative.