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FridayMusings since 2003
Wednesday,August 14, 2024
Helping define Livonia's Quality of Life
20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias
but not without opinion
Ask the typewriter how you can win a Porsche eBike with funds going to Livonia Kids & Families. $20 Raffle tickets are available at the Chamber office and from FridayMusings.
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Touch-a-Truck is back. Saturday, 8/24, helping Livonia celebrate families. Innovation continues to define our hometown. | |
Touch-a-Truck is such a great day | |
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Claude Kendrick, Past President of Rotary AM Club pictured here with Grant Sobczak, the originator of Livonia Touch-a-Truck, which was started when Grant was a student at Churchill High School, describes Touch-a-Truck as "a testament as to who we are and what service above self means to each of us in Livonia AM Rotary. Parents are so grateful, children are so enthusiastic, and the volunteers are so dedicated. Rotarians are smiling around our district because of this world-class event. Families continue to support this event year after year. Thank you (Rotarians and volunteers) for the extra effort to ensure everyone who participated looked forward to next year!"
Next year is here and on August 24th over 7,000 of Livonia family and friends will descend on Greenmead Historical Village.
| The Mayor made a day of it in 2023 passing out Mattel Hot Wheels with 30 volunteers | |
Mayor Maureen Brosnan, pictured with Rotarian Bob Carris, was on hand for several hours last year passing out Hot Wheels, with two happy recipients pictured left. She described Touch A Truck as being "on course to break attendance records once again with over 7000 people enjoying the day at Greenmead touching all sorts of vehicles and meeting the professionals who keep our city safe, clean and one of the best places to live, work and raise a family. Special thanks to Bob Carris who coordinated much of the day with the Rotary Interact Club and all the volunteers, who along with Bill Joyner, made the day extra special and the helicopters arriving at the perfect time."
CERT team pictures pictured below left were a part of making the day run so smoothly.
| The typewriter reacted to Touch-a-Truck 2023 | |
This typewriter felt like a kid again and wanted to climb into the AlphaUSA race car. So much. But the line of younger children had a priority so maybe next year.
I wanted to explore the food at all the food trucks. But with so many filling through the gates, I had to do with the 3 doughnuts brought to me at just the right interval. And the sweet tea I brought from the Estate.
I had hoped to ride a horse as the last time was at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico,
The Sheriff's deputies were wise not to let me up on one of the horses they brought. I did enjoy watching the children in awe seeing and petting the horse, perhaps for the first time.
| I wanted to go up to every Rotarian and Interact student and say "thank you" for the vision, the planning, and the implementation. I am in awe at the volunteerism and partnerships that go into making this event happen. | | | |
The following volunteers, following in the footsteps of Touch-a-Truck founder Grant Sobczak, will be working with the Interact Club and Rotary AM Club to distribute 5,000 Mattel Hot Wheels donated by two community anonymous benefactors: | |
Lori Miller
Liz Jarvis
Livonia Kiwanis
Drew Buatti
Steve Alexander
Jim McConnell
Susan Nash
John Larkin
Crystal Frank
Brandon McCullough
Madeline Acosta
Karen Bradford
Soraya Larkin
Dave McFarland
Glenn Anderson
Jim Baringhaus
Kate Shishkovsky
Stephanie Young
Mary Cavanagh
Kathy Ventittelli
If I left your name off my bad. Not intentional but do let me know.
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Meet Grant Sobczak who with one idea working through partnerships established Touch-a-Truck. | |
When we first met up with Grant Sobczak it was at the first Touch-a-Truck held at Rotary Park. He took an idea he had to the Rotary Club, of which he was a member and as they say "the rest is history." Here is a brief backstory on Grant, a Livonia student who makes all of his hometown proud.
Grant Sobczak was at one time a student at Churchill High School and at the age of 14 became the youngest member of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce with his business Modern Mind Technology, offering services such as social media management, Web design, and app design.
His interest in the subject began during his time as a member of the Emerson Middle School Technology Collaboration, where he had a group of friends who did technology work at the school.
From there he was introduced to the Livonia Rotary Club where he became a member, again the youngest ever in the club.
When writing a business plan at the time he had one drawback. As CEO there was a transportation issue. A major issue. He had no car and he was too young to drive.
So when looking back at memories of Touch-a-Truck and children having fun, families, parents, and grandparents alike enjoying the atmosphere at Greenmead Historic Village let's give pause to thank a young man, who engaged in creative thinking, active in his hometown who understood that partnerships help take innovative ideas from the pages of a computer into reality, not for one year, but for many.
Thank you Grant.
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Following the August 24th Touch-a-Truck, Livonia moves into September with activities contributing toward helping define hometown innovation while enhancing quality of life. | | |
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Tour de Livonia raising funds for Kids & Families. Good Old Fashioned Corn Roast hosting Fun for families. Shave-a-thon raising hope for children with pediatric cancer. | |
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Another neighborhood library is ready to spread the word about reading
Thank you Barb Iovan for the fun ribbon cutting and of course my sweet tea
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Livonia, known for its numerous small neighborhood libraries, has welcomed another one. The latest addition is at Barb Iovan's home, where community members came together Saturday for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, bringing the joy of reading to yet another neighborhood on Auburndale, south of Five Mile Road. Barb was honored to have former Library Commissioner Carrie Budzinski on hand with her two boys. Well done Barb. | | |
Mayor Brosnan congratulates The Ardan Academy for 30 years of Irish Dance Instruction across Michigan and Canada |  | |
A note posted by Maureen Miller Brosnan:
The Ardan Academy of Irish Dance, founded by Livonia residents John and Liz Heinzman, celebrated 30 years of Irish dance instruction in 11 cities in Michigan and Canada.
They create National Champions out of kids who don't know their right foot from their left, but what they've brought to hundreds of families goes so much deeper than that. The room was filled with more love than this photo could hold.
As a former dance mom and booster club president, I want to thank the Heinzman Family, including its matriarch Kitty, for teaching us more than just dance.
You've taught my children what it means to be a champion, how to stand tall in the face of challenge, that there is always a community of people who are proud of them and want them to succeed. You made me a better parent and brought me friendships that will last a lifetime. I will be forever grateful.
| Fine Arts Gallery: Another reason to visit the Bennett Civic Center Library | Only 41 days left until Livonia goes bald for a cause! | |
Join your neighbors and friends on September 22nd, at One Under Craft Beer & Eats for the Metro Detroit St. Baldrick's Shaveathon—where heads are shaved to raise funds for childhood cancer research.
A huge shoutout to the top 8 participants who are leading the way with their incredible fundraising efforts:
Vince Austin - Raised $3,983.80
Matthew Kulacki- Raised $3,557.56
Derek Grace - Raised $1,450.00
David Lee - Raised $1,050.00
Bruce Amble - Raised $1,000.00
Simon Kulacki - Raised $848.20
Dan Love - Raised $806.28
Heather MacDonald - Raised $637.78
See someone on the list you know? Make sure to TAG THEM and congratulate them for making a difference!! Let’s keep the momentum going—every donation counts.
Ready to join in or support? Visit here:
https://www.stbaldricks.org/.../metrodetroitbaldricks2024.
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Community support continues to come in for the Bentley Marker Dedication
The Bentley High School Marker Dedication continues to influence the community positively as we welcome another supporter to the Marker Dedication Program. Jim McConnell, President of the Livonia Historical Society will continue in each issue of Musings to share the community feelings about Bentley High School.
Today, he extends his gratitude to Brandon McCullough, President, Livonia City Council, for his support of the Livonia Historical Society Marker Dedication Program, scheduled for September 15th at 2:00 PM, with the celebrations starting at 1:00 PM, the program beginning at 2:00 PM, at the former site of Bentley High School, presently the Kirksey Recreation Center.
Other supporters of the marker dedication include Martha Ptashnik, John Larkin, Bill Brown Ford, Ben Tiseo, Jim Jolly, Laura Toy, Terry Marecki, Stephanie Young, AlphaUSA, Drew Buatti, Don Cortez-GPI Printing, Dan MacIver-F&PA, Mary Cavanagh, Alan Helmkamp, Robin Persiconi, Class of 73, 73, 76, 77, Wayne Kenny-Rockout Entertainment.
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Seedlings Braille Books for Children is hosting its first in-person event since before 2020!
This is a special one to honor their 40th anniversary, as well as their founder and Director, Debra Bonde.
The event will feature dinner, refreshments, and some light remarks.
Tickets are $20 per person.
Mark your calendars! OCT. 2nd, 5:30-8:30 PM at the VistaTech Center.
Follow Seedlings event page on Facebook for more details!
https://www.facebook.com/share/Ru9kX4FsdzeBptts/
To purchase your ticket, visit:
https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action..
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Or you can call their office at 734-427-8552 to purchase tickets directly.
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Mail Address
19514 Bainbridge 48152
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Cell address
734-674-5871
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Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings | |
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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.
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