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Churchill HS Interact Club's Presentation Of Checks

The Churchill HS Interact Club's leadership team met with Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan at City Hall last week to present checks to groups they are committed to supporting.

The funds were raised from the group's successful 2023 Touch A Truck event.

Rotary AM Club members Dave Burton, Bob Carris, Susan Paluchniak, Dave Stechholz, Pat Zucal, Eric Ladwig, and President Claude Kendrick were on hand to watch the ceremony.

The donation recipients included - The Livonia Police Department, The Livonia Fire Department, Restore the Horse, VT Seva, and Shelter Box.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy was shared Monday over breakfast leaving those in attendance with contemplative thoughts about how we can make a difference

Over 100 gathered at Madonna University on Monday in recognition of Martin Luther King Day and in celebration of his legacy.

Gathered in Livonia were a number of our hometown leaders including Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, State Senator Mary Cavanagh, State Representatives Stephanie Young and Laurie Pohutsky, and City Councilwoman Carrie Budzinski.

Human Relations Commissioners Haitham Fakhouri, Denise Collins-Robison, and Pastor Yvette Warren.

Greenleaf Commissioner Betsy Calhoun brought her son and daughter, sharing a table with Steve Alexander, who shared that he was preparing for the Moose Polar Plunge, on January 27th. The temperature Monday at 8:00 was 4 below zero, here is hoping that on the 27th it warms for the big dip at the Polar Plunge.

Before breakfast moderator Delisha Upshaw introduced Steve Spreitzer for purposes of offering an invocation.

Moving songs from a talented University of Michigan music student was beautiful and provided a creative element to the breakfast. Mercedes Williams shared the story of Sarah Elizabeth Ray who in 1945 was denied admission to the Boblo Boat. When she sued the case went to the Supreme Court, where she won, and the case became the precursor to the landmark Brown V Board of Education.

Here is hoping that this event becomes a tradition and continues to build year after year. The day was started out for this typewriter in such a positive light that kept me smiling all day as I realized that the legacy of Dr. King continues to improve the lives of so many.

Will you join me at the Phoenix Theatre Thursday, January 25 as Livonia again proves that it is the cultural heartbeat of southeast Michigan

Screenwriter Rob Turfe, originally from Dearborn with family in Livonia and a graduate of West Point will be flying in from California to showcase his newest film

“I Love This Country” is a short film that reflects on democracy and fallen soldiers who have sacrificed their lives. The film’s theme is that pluralism thrives when mutual respect, compassion, and teamwork are present, as we all yearn to live the American dream. The film’s message is that love, diversity, and solidarity are foundational to truly embracing duty, honor, and country.

Rob Turfe, an independent filmmaker in Pacific Palisades, California, is partnering with FridayMusings and Livonia’s Phoenix Theatre, after being introduced to Rob and his filmmaking background by Steve Spreitzer, for the Michigan premiere of “I Love This Country” on January 25, 7:00.

He is showcasing the film free of charge in Livonia before it is entered into a series of film festivals during the month of February, and will include introductory comments by Turfe, followed by the film, and a panel discussion immediately afterward.

Turfe’s grandfather was an immigrant who came to the United States from Lebanon in 1919 by way of France. On board the ship crossing the Atlantic, he met an American officer, General John L. Hines (USMA 1891), who provided him with a letter of introduction that helped him get through U.S. Immigration on the East Coast. This instilled a family passion for helping immigrants.

Rob and his siblings grew up with this sense of duty and were the first two practicing Muslims to attend West Point. After graduating from West Point, Rob became an Engineer Officer and was stationed in Germany. While in Europe, he was deployed to Southern Turkey, Northern Iraq, Bosnia, Croatia, and Macedonia, and was frequently able to use his knowledge of Arabic in real-world situations.

Turfe is currently working on the four-part miniseries Kleptocracy, about a high-ranking military officer involved in a United States military intervention in Iran.

Please respond to rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com if you want to join us on January 25th. 

Mail Address

19514 Bainbridge 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

Cell address

734-674-5871

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.