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FridayMusings since 2003
Monday,August 26, 2024
Helping define Livonia's
Quality of Life
20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias but not without an opinion.
The Joyner family has called Livonia home since 1959.
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Programs like Touch-a-Truck, offered last Saturday by the Churchill Interact Club and Rotary AM Club, play a crucial role in community development by offering opportunities supporting individuals' and families' growth and well-being.
Through diverse outreach initiatives, communities can experience enhanced engagement, resulting in a profound effect on the lives of individuals and families.
Sound a little over the top? Well, tell that to the 10,400 who attended the 7th Annual Livonia Touch-a-Truck. Smiles on the faces of children as they got to sit in a NASCAR racing car, sit in the police car and turn on the siren, or were handed a Mattel Hot Wheel as they entered Greenmead.
Tell that to the parents who in mass turned and watched the Huey Helicopter circle Greenmead and then landed where children, and parents, got to see inside up close and personal.
This was an event bringing parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles along with children to Greenmead. They came from throughout Livonia, Northville, Plymouth, Farmington, and Novi. Over 10,000 enjoyed another reason why Livonia is home to a thriving community service sector, a leadership corp of High School Students, and a historic gem administered by an outstanding parks and recreation department.
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Dave Stechholz Rotary AM President says that Touch-a-Truck 2024 is in the books with a record of over 10,000 in attendance. "Most importantly, all the volunteers touched the lives of many children, families, other volunteers, "truck" participants, police and fire and vendor folks, and more.
"Emily, Alison, Shayna, and Rachel, convey our praise for your Interact Club on an outstanding fund-raiser, and community project; your tremendous organization to great detail and flexibility to adapt to make the Touch-a-Truck run even more smoothly is to be commended."
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Emily Davis, Churchill Interact and chair of this years Touch-a-Truck, says that she "would like to say thank you to all who helped at and attended this weekend! We are so beyond grateful for every one of you. We had a great turnout, set a new attendance record, welcomed new vehicles, and had so much fun!
"Allison, Lauren, Shana, Gretje, Rachel, and I will be graduating and heading off to college this spring. We are all honored to have spent the past two years planning and coordinating Touch-A-Truck. We are so proud of how far we have come, growing and improving the event, and we will be sure to leave you in good hands with the rest of this year’s planning committee: Oviya, Reyhan, Nithin, and Angel."
Mark your calendar for the end of August 2025 and hope to see you all then.
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As the day of Touch-a-Truck approached, this typewriter buzzed with energy. Anticipation built for the sight of children's wide-eyed smiles and parents' awestruck gazes as helicopters circle and land.
The committed students who volunteered were ready to guide and direct, taking charge with determination.
Rotarians were actively assisting, fielding questions, and pointing towards the Interact Club—the emerging leaders of Livonia.
The event showcased a tapestry of families, a mosaic of ethnicities from numerous nationalities.
It was heartwarming to see familiar faces like Superintendent Andrea Oquist, Judge Sean Kavanagh, Karen Sanborn from Madonna, and Dave Veselenak from Schoolcraft.
Engaging in conversation with Dave Burton about the Rotary October Spaghetti Dinner aimed at eradicating Polio, a testament to the solid partnership between the Rotary clubs.
Regrettably forgetting to wish Terry Marecki a Happy Birthday—so here's a belated wish: Happy Birthday, Terry!
The Corn Roast, Tour de Livonia, and Bentley Marker Dedication will have to wait. Today calls for reflection over lunch at the Stage Deli with Cory Jacobson, appreciating the Rotary AM Club and Churchill Interact Club's impact.
A heartfelt thanks for instilling such pride in the residents of Livonia. Your efforts in shaping the quality of life and forging meaningful partnerships bring the community's aspirations to life.
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Anastasia and Katie's showcase a perfect venue to close out a summer of Friday afternoon entertainment | | | |
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Kicking off the weekend couldn't have been more ideal. Enjoying iced tea, and a ham and cheese sandwich, engaging in conversation with the Manager, Mary at Anastasia and Katie's, and soaking up the music in the courtyard was perfect.
This event marks the culmination of a summer filled with Friday afternoon melodies, featuring everything from acoustic guitar sessions to original compositions and beloved classics. Even hosting an Elvis impersonator.
It's all part of a gesture to support the creative and distinctive coffee shop located at Seven and Merriman.
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Thank you to the Volunteers who were there to distribute over 4,000 Mattel Hot Wheels donated by Community Anonymous Benefactors | |
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Thank you to the volunteers helping to greet young Touch-a-Truck fans with a Mattel Hot Wheel:
Colleen Burton, Madeline Acosta, Drew Buatti, Robin Persiconi, Karen Bradford, Crystal Frank, Addison Frank, Dave MacFarland, Rose Dillon and granddaughter Mattie, John Larkin, Soraya Larkin, Glenn Anderson, Terry Marecki, Susan Nash, Liz Jarvis, Mitsy Morris, Kate Shishkovsky, Brian Weiss, Kathy Ventittelli, Jim McConnell, Annette McConnell,
Candy Little, Frank Nikodem
Thank you to Claude Kendrick for letting us use his canopy, and a special thank you to the Interact Club for bringing the typewriter his required two doughnuts. next year we put in a request for a sweet tea as well.
| Livonia is not done with creative events defining our hometown quality of life | |
Livonia Good Old Fashioned Neighborhood Corn Roast bringing people together
September 8
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Tour de Livonia continues to make an impact celebrating 20 miles biking through Livonia with proceeds benefiting Kids & Families
September 8
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Recognizing History and the role
Bentley High School Played
September 15
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The Emily Ann Griffin Foundation reaching out to help families with special needs children
September 20
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Fighting pediatirc cancer with leadership and programming homegrown in Livonia.
$1.2 million raised.
September 22
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Many volunteers helping pass out Hot Wheels made a point to bring their family, like Dave McFarland with his wife and two children. | John Larkin making sure this young man got the Hot Wheel he really wanted. | So many workiing together as volunteers, Madeline Acosta, Robin Persiconi with her daughter, and Jackie representing Senator Mary Cavanagh. | Drew Buatti, a new member of the Livonia Historic Society volunteering here with Brian Weiss, President of the Livonia Kiwanis | Mattie who was first to arrive and one of the last to leave, was our awesome volunteer who in this case teamed up with Annette and Jim McConnell. | Crystal Frank and her daughter joined teamed up to pass out Hot Wheels with Karen Bradford. | Terry Marecki and Susan Nash made for a team talking and sharing time with folks arriving for the Touch-a-a-Truck. Quite a group when they joined up with Karen Bradford. | Schoolcraft Trustee Candy Little joined up with the typewriter in passing out Hot Wheels | The Livonia Lions were providing diabeties eye screening and youthful screening as they continue their community outreach. Even taking time to meet up with Karen Bradford and Colleen Burton. | The bodyguard on loan working with Rose and Mattie to unload and organize 5,000 Hot Wheels. | |
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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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