Bill Joyner's FridayMusings March 13, 2024

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FridayMusings since 2003

Wednesday March 13, 2024

Helping define Livonia's Quality of Life

Yesterday is over. Change is the essence of life.

20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias but not without opinion

Bíodh lá maith agat. Let the shenanigans begin!

Mayor Brosnan greets Livonia residents and Grand Marshall's for the Annual Corktown Irish Parade Maureen & Norm Root.

On Sunday Mayor Maureen Mille Brosnan joined St. Patrick's Day Grand Marshall's Maureen & Norm Root at Irish Plaza in Corktown for the Annual Painting of the Shamrocks.

"It's a chance to mark the parade route and remember those who are no longer with us. This year's Parade Chairman is Mike Kelly. All are Livonia residents, which is no surprise, as Livonia is home to the largest number of Irish people in the County and the second highest in the State.

"I'm thinking they'll be moving the parade this way as soon as our downtown is built."

An Irish saying for the readers of FridayMusings:

May you get all your wishes but one so that you will always have something to strive for!

LSO Celebrates St. Patrick's with annual Shamrocks and Tea Luncheon

The celebration of our Livonia Symphony Orchestra continued its celebration of the 50th Anniversary Year this week with its annual Shamrocks and Tea Luncheon at the Livonia Marriott.

Door prizes, raffle prizes, conversation, and smiles all around as lunch was served with Linda Ignati along with the string quartet entertaining the room full of symphony supporters.

Great to see the go-everywhere members of the City Council Carrie Budzinski and Martha Ptashnik chatting up old friends and making new friends. Caught up with them sharing a conversation with former State Representative Laura Cox, a regular every year at the Shamrocks and Tea Luncheon.

Charlie Mahoney and the team of Carol Carol Bonamici and Susan Stewart made the Symphony proud with another outstanding outing. A relaxing, engaging luncheon every year.

This typewriter shared a table with Volodymyr Shesiuk, who for 30 years has served with distinction as the Music Director for the Livonia Symphony Orchestra. He and his wife are hoping to visit relatives in his home country of Ukraine. Will fly to Warsaw, Poland, and take a train across the border to Ukraine. He wants to visit as it has been a long while since he last was able to visit and spend time with his family.

The 50th Anniversary of the LSO Continues.

Livonia has the best cultural scene in all of southeast Michigan

FridayMusings endorses and encourages support for Candy Little for

Schoolcraft College Trustee

There will be two categories to consider for Schoolcraft College Trustee. Two positions with incumbents Dillon Breen and Angela Jaafar seeking re-election and are thus far running unopposed. Musings has endorsed both Breen and Jaafar for these two seats.

One seat on the Schoolcraft Board is for the remaining unexpired two year position resulting from the resignation of Northville's Joan Gebhardt a year ago. At the time of Gebhardt's resignation Candy Little, of Livonia, was unanimously appointed.

Gebhardt has refiled seeking the position she resigned from and will be running against Little to retain her once-held Trustee seat.

FridayMusings finds Little, pictured here with three Schoolcraft Trustees who endorse her- Brian Broderick, Brett Gierak, and Carol Strom- to be an outstandingly qualified Trustee with the unanimous endorsement of all other Schoolcraft Trustees.

Additionally, Little has been endorsed by Livonia Council President Brandon McCullough, Senator Dayna Polehanki, Michigan Building Construction Trades and Bricklayers Local 2.

Little has been a committed and active member of the Livonia community since she and her daughter moved into Livonia 16 years ago. She has dedicated her time to various local efforts, including serving in the PTA for Coolidge Elementary and sitting on various Livonia Public School District committees.

Little says "Working with the PTA and other committees as my daughter progressed through Livonia schools instilled in me the importance of supporting local education. I’m so excited to again lend my passion to students and local communities as part of the Schoolcraft team. I have followed the college’s work to expand opportunities for all students and am thrilled to now be a part of the team to do even more for this community.”

Little graduated from Wayne State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Chemistry. She then immersed herself in the pharmaceutical industry, holding positions at several pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations. She is currently a Senior Clinical Research Specialist and Institution Lead Clinical Research Associate at Merck.

In addition to her pharmaceutical and educational background, Little has served on the Livonia Water and Sewer Board since December 2020.

FridayMusinigs is proud to endorse an outstanding candidate, Candy Little, for Schoolcraft College. She deserves our support for the balance of the term left vacant with the resignation of Gebhardt. A team player with the endorsement of all the current members of the Board she will continue to work for the betterment of our education community.

We all know someone who is a cancer survivor and someone that we pray will join that group of survivors. Let this typewriter share one Livonia success story with you.

On the 5th Anniversary of recovery from his fight with leukemia Livonia resident Ryan Malosh, acting Director of the Michigan Department of Immunizations, father of three, and husband of Michelle, founder of Friends of Livonia Arts, is raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphona Society on the re-birthday of 5 years cancer-free.

He was diagnosed with leukemia in November of 2018 and underwent about three months of chemo and then a bone marrow transplant. "Battling leukemia has focused my attention in terms of preventing infections for those who might have the most serious problems or serious complications from an infection."

Ryan Malosh offers his thanks to all who "have donated so far! I'm so inspired by the people who have joined our effort.

"We are just 3 days in I want to keep this momentum rolling. Michelle and the kids surprised me with a 5th birthday party and I couldn't be happier to have crossed that milestone and to be able to help LLS make sure as many people as possible get more birthdays. "

On his 5th re-birthday when asked what he wished for his answer was simple…more birthdays.

LLS-funded research gave him the gift of more birthdays, for himself and his family.

If you want to join in with FridayMusings and Ryan's family, pass that gift on by throwing in a few bucks. You can donate here:

https://pages.lls.org/voy/mi/detroit24/rmalosh

Ryan is proud to participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Visionaries of the Year campaign, working to make the largest impact possible for LLS's mission.

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. For more information on LLS, please visit www.LLS.org

Ryan comments "On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support."

A Conversation on Investing in our Public Schools hosted by Senator Dayna Polehanki

Join Senator Dayna Polehanki for an Investing in our Public School Teachers Town Hall Listening Session.

Special guests include State Senator Darrin Camilleri (District 4), State Representative Matt Koleszar (District 22) and State Representative Regina Weiss (District 6).

Former teachers and current chairs of the education committees in Lansing want to hear your concerns to continue to create a supportive environment for our teachers and, ultimately, increase the success of our students.

This town hall will take place Monday, March 18th, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Madonna University's Franciscan Center for Science and Media.

Reading month brings out the best. Gotta love to read.

Just ask Councilman Carrie Budzinski and Representative Stephanie Young

Carrie Budzinski writes that "March is National Reading Month and I was thrilled to be invited to American Montessori Academy to be a guest reader.

"The kids and teachers were wonderful and I had a great time.

"I brought my favorite book 'Sofia Valdez Future Prez' by Andrea Beaty. It's a story about a determined girl who conquers her fears and goes to City Hall to help create a new park for her community. I love that it teaches kids they're never too young to make a difference."

Representative Stephanie Young says she "had a lively time reading to second graders at Cleveland Elementary. The teacher had the students ask me questions to try to find out what my profession was. One student asked what was my favorite color. Another student asked if I played for the Detroit Tigers because I had on my Old English D earrings. Gotta love our babies!

"I'm looking forward to spending reading time with more students before this month is over. However, let's be reminded, that it's always a good time to read out loud to young learners and encourage them to do the same."

The MacKinac Bridge:

Connecting Two Peninsulas and

One People

The Livonia Historical Society, sharing history in Livonia since 1958 presents on Monday, March 18th, 2:00, Jim Cameron, the History Hero for 2033 named by the Historical Society of Michigan.

He will be discussing and sharing interesting facts on the Mackinac Bridge at the Blue House at Greenmead.

In addition to providing interesting topics throughout the year the LHS is responsible for gaining approval from the State of Michigan for the Bentley High School Historic Marker which will be installed and dedicated at 2:00 on September 15th and for reviving the Day at Greenmead for 450 2nd grade students.

Mayor Brosnan celebrates International Women's Day

Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan says that on "International Women's Day we celebrate the incredible achievements of all the women who work in the City of Livonia."

Over 500 women, including our first-ever female Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan, work for the City! Your hard work and dedication make our community a truly special place. Thank you for all that you do!

Here are just a few file photos of the women who work in the City of Livonia. Wish we had all 500 for Musings but the thought is there as we celebrate the 500 women who help make our hometown one that we can be proud of.

Livonia Arts Commission $2,000 scholarships available

Details can be found here

Livonia-Arts-Scholarship-Application-Fillable-2023-PDF

Livonia Kiwanis announces

The Fernon Feenstra Scholarship

Details can be found here here - https://www.livoniakiwanis.org/scholarships.htm

Community Financial Credit Union Scholarship Application

Details can be found here

Credit Union Scholarships in Michigan | Apply Online at CFCU - Community Financial Credit Union

Livonia Lions announce their annual Scholarship for Livonia and Redford Students

Details can be found here

Microsoft Word - Scholarship Lions 2024 Form FINAL.docx (livonialionsclub.org)

Livonia/Westland Chamber provides scholarships

Details can be found here

2024 High School Scholarship - Livonia - Westland Chamber of Commerce (livoniawestland.org)

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.