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All of Livonia joins children around the world in thanking

Deb Bonde for the gift of reading.

On October 2nd our hometown will have an opportunity to celebrate 40 years providing a total of 750,000 braille books worldwide.

In Debra Bonde's own words, she announces her retirement:

It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to retire after 40 wonderful years of service. This was a difficult decision because I love what we do here at Seedlings, and I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this amazing organization from the very beginning.

Seedlings got its start in my basement 40 years ago after I heard that braille books were scarce and expensive. My young daughters had dozens of books so it didn’t seem right that children with vision loss lacked the same opportunities to learn and grow through reading. Our goal was to make more braille books available while keeping the prices low. With just 12 titles in our catalog and a small braille printer that my father made, we were able to send out 200 low-cost braille books that first year. And then the word began to spread!

Fast forward to the present: we now offer over 1,100 low-cost braille titles. In the past year, we distributed over 48,000 books, two-thirds of which were made available for free, and we reached a total of ¾ of a million books placed in children's hands worldwide since 1984!

None of this would have been possible without all of the generous and dedicated people who have supported Seedlings’ mission throughout the years. Thank you so much! As I transition into retirement, I am confident that Seedlings is in good hands for the next chapter: Seedlings 2.0!

I assure you, this decision was not made lightly. Seedlings’ Board of Directors developed a multi-year plan leading us up to this point for the smooth transition.

We hope you will continue to support Seedlings, especially during this time of change. I look forward to spending more time with my family and to my new role as a super Seedlings supporter! I know that Seedlings will do great things in the future and will be giving many more children the life-changing gift of literacy!

Seedlings Braille Books for Children is hosting its first in-person event since 2020! This is a special one to honor their 40th anniversary, as well as their founder and Director, Debra Bonde's legacy at Seedlings.

The event will feature dinner, refreshments, and some light remarks. Tickets are only $20 per person.

Mark your calendars! OCT. 2nd, 5:30-8:30 PM at the VistaTech Center on the campus of Schoolcraft College, and then follow their event page on Facebook for more details!

https://www.facebook.com/share/Ru9kX4FsdzeBptts/

To purchase a ticket: https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action...

You can also call their office at 734-427-8552 to purchase tickets directly if you do not wish to use the website.

Just one reason we all smile when thinking about Seedlings

Jolene is one of the young readers benefiting from Seedlings' Braille Books.

Check out how Jolene's mother feels about the world opening up for her daughter:

"This is Jolene. She is my daughter and she is 14 months old. Jolene is full of sass! She loves it when I read to her. She loves to flip the pages by herself and also likes to feel the book with her mouth. I love that Seedlings’ books offer braille for any child with a vision impairment. Jolene has Lebers disease, and was born blind at birth, but it doesn’t stop her from being the happiest little girl! I’m thankful for this company that provides books in braille for Jolene to learn at a young age. "

Help Livonia take the first step toward a community embracing outdoor art.

Are you an artist who would love to create a piece of art to be on display in one of four local Livonia parks for the next five or more years?

Check out details at Livonia.gov/1980 on our Art in the Park contest that will do just that.

The final application deadline is Sunday, Sept. 1, to have your artwork featured and receive a $1,000 stipend if selected and once the project is complete.

Both groups and individuals are welcome to apply!

Send this to all the sculptors and artists you know!

An update on solid waste/recycling with a contract renewal and a new company replacing GFL

As mentioned in several previous editions of Musings Carrie Budzinski and her Vote. Run. Serve. online synopsis of City of Livonia meetings provides a real service unique to the concept of public service.

Musings is providing an update on the solid waste/recycling contract provided by Vote. Run. Serve:

On Monday, August 12th, the City Council held a Capital Outlay and Infrastructure Committee meeting to discuss the solid waste/recycling contract.

GFL sold its municipal business (approx. 74 communities) to Priority Waste, a Clinton Township-based company.

The City’s waste contract was set for renewal this year and before the buy-out there were only 2 responses, GFL and Priority Waste.

The current contract goes thru Nov. with a new contract needed by Dec, 2nd.

Council approved motions to accept the bid of Priority Waste for a solid waste/recycling contract and a contract with Toter to purchase 95-gallon carts for residents (two carts per household - one for trash and one for recycling).

Automated service is the new standard for trash/recycling collection and Livonia will be transitioning to a standard cart size for all households. The carts are ergonomic and durable, create less debris, and help with rodent issues.

During a 4 to 5-week selection process this fall, each household will be allowed to select the size of their trash/recycling bin - 64-gallon or 95-gallon. Following that period the default size will be 95 gallons for both trash and recycling. The City will purchase and provide carts for residents at no cost (and will apply for a grant that could defer costs by approximately $600k).

There is a refuse millage that has a .5 mil available to leverage; however, it will not be necessary to use that option for this project because the fund balance is $8M.

The City will set forward an information campaign in the weeks ahead that will include an FAQ website, public displays of the new carts, and information included in a variety of city-wide mailings.

Laurie Pohutsky and Nathan Triplet send regards from the Democratic Convention Floor

Dillon Breen sent his regards last month from the Republican National Convention

Dave Laycock invites you to the 9-11 Ceremony honoring Police and Firefighter of the Year

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's feelings about Bentley High School.

Today, he extends his gratitude to Terry Marecki, for her 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.

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.