Bill Joyner's FridayMusings July 1, 2024

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Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings

FridayMusings since 2003

Monday, July 1, 2024

Helping define Livonia's Quality of Life

20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias but not without opinion

Happy Birthday Livonia

See you next year

Community Spirit was alive as thousands said YES to Livonia Spree

Spree is over for the year and now families while sharing memories of attending some of the many Spree events are marking their calendars for 2025 as next year Spree will celebrate the 75th Anniversary since Livonia was founded in 1950.

The Ed McNamara Pancake Breakfast brought out volunteers and smiles

Spree was a defining sucess that embodies a sense of community

Events like the Livonia Spree, an inductee in the Class of 2023 Livonia City Hall of Fame, are crucial in defining the essence of our hometown. They cultivate a sense of community and reinforce social connections, enhancing the well-being of Livonia's residents.

Community events bring people together, providing opportunities to meet neighbors, exchange stories, forge friendships, and consider how we can shape Livonia's quality of life.

A year ago, the Livonia Spree made a significant move by appointing Kayleigh Reid as its first full-time Executive Director, just weeks before Spree 2023. In addition, the Spree welcomed a new President of the Anniversary Committee, Sam Caramago, succeeding the long-serving and committed volunteer Dan Spurling, himself an inductee in the Livonia City Hall of Fame.

Spree, reflecting Livonia's spirit, embraces the reliable successes of our community, recognizes the necessity of change to avoid idea stagnation, and adopts forward-thinking changes. This is not about

reshaping Livonia but about fostering a new perspective that prepares us for what lies ahead.

As the typewriter made my exit from the Ed McNamara Pancake Breakfast, the Fun Run 5K participants began to arrive, forming a line that stretched from the ice rink, through the lobby, and almost to the parking lot.

Old neighbors reconnected with young ones, sparking conversations about the car show and inquiring about Steve King's performance time. Notables like Laura Toy, Mike Reiser, Brandon Kritzman, Jim Jolly, Kathleen McIntyre, Brandon McCullough, Terry Marecki and countless others whose path I may have missed, started to make their appearances.

The John Larkin family, continuing a long-standing tradition of candidates, took to the task of refilling coffee cups and introducing themselves to the residents of Livonia.

This scene revived cherished memories of early mornings, picking up my parents at 7:45 to beat the breakfast rush, my mother engaging with numerous friends, and my father savoring sausage and pancakes—a longstanding tradition for many, certainly mom and dad.

Spree embodies this advancement of community spirit, and the positive feedback from numerous attendees confirms its value and impact.

Former Governor Jennifer Granholm and Congresswoman

Haley Stevens visit Livonia to open the Biden Livonia Headquarters

The Livonia headquarters for the Biden for President campaign has officially opened, with the event marked by a visit from former Governor Jennifer Granholm. She was introduced by her long-time friend, Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan, and welcomed by an eager crowd. Attendees included Ed Duggan, former Livonia resident and state chairman of the Biden campaign pictured on the left with Livonia Democratic Club President Kate Shishkovsky, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, and State Representative Laurie Pohutsky.

The office is on the southwest corner of Newburgh and Five Mile, two doors down from the Livonia UPS Store. Immediately after an energized talk several attendees headed out to canvas neighborhoods throughout Livonia.

Congratulations to the Livonia Chamber of Commerce

2024 scholarship recipients:

Tino Acosta, Chase Adams, Aubree Allie, Colin Anderson, Derek Buchanan, Justice Cato, Connor Curtis, Jordan Davis, Jacob Koziel, Pradham Kuchipudi, Katie Meyer, Aryan Patel, Kaari Peecher, Jaden Reji, Lydia Rowe, Gracie Shahu, Kaylie Sheppard and Ava Whell.

Congratulations Aryan Patel recipient of the Ian Clemens Foundation Scholarship

The Ian Clemens Foundation and scholarship committee are very pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Ian Clemens Foundation Scholarship.

The 2024 winner is Aryan Patel, a 2024 graduate of Livonia Churchill High School who will be attending the University of Michigan - Michigan Engineering this fall.

All the best to Aryan as he begins the next chapter of his life.

The Ian Clemens Story as told by his family

as they reach out to impact the lives of

others in memory of their son:

Our son Ian wanted to be a Wolverine since he was 3 years old. So, when the acceptance letter from the University of Michigan College of Engineering came, along with the other acceptance letters, we knew his decision had already been made.

Ian had a passion for learning and enjoying life. He loved spending time with his family, and his wonderful friends. He excelled academically and surrounded himself with like minded friends who over the years have become part of our family.

He wanted to become an engineer so he could develop something that would vastly improve the quality of people’s lives all over the world. His challenge, and mission was to figure out what that something would be.

As he moved into his dorm in August of 2012, he was so excited to begin working on figuring out that "something" and participating in all that the University had to offer. Three and half weeks after Ian started classes at the University, he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Upon being diagnosed the doctors suggested that Ian withdraw from school with a plan to return in the second semester. Hearing this, and making this decision was harder for Ian than hearing he had brain cancer. He wanted to be able to do it all, but realized he needed to focus on one thing at a time in order to have the strength to fight.

He remained driven, positive, and so brave through all the unpleasantries he had to experience. Ian was always looking for a shred of humor in order to lighten the mood. We never saw a moment of “giving up”. Fighting every step of the way, and always making sure everyone close to him were handling things okay.

In typical Ian fashion, he had a plan: Now that he knew what it was, lets get it taken care of and let me get back to school. Unfortunately that was not to be and 32 days after being diagnosed we lost him at the age of 17.

Our world, and the world of his dear friends forever changed that day. We do not understand why this had to happen and we believe we never will.

Ian’s final act of charity was providing the gift of sight to two people. In life, and in death, he did change the world. As a family we decided to do more to continue his vision.

Initially we started The Ian Clemens Memorial Scholarship at the University of Michigan – College of Engineering. This allowed Ian to forever remain a Wolverine.

Once this scholarship was in place we knew more could be done to continue Ian’s mission. This is why we started The Ian Clemens Foundation. We have expanded our mission and will now be able to vastly improve the lives of many others. Through this foundation Ian’s memory lives on and allows us to get up everyday and focus on the positive.

There is a saying that reads “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world”. We hope that through our foundation we may be the world to those we help in Ian’s memory.

As Paul Shepich moves into retirement after 41 years in education he thanks those he has met on his journey

A note from retiring

Clarenceville Public School

Superintendent Paul Shephich:

I will be beginning my retirement from public education tomorrow, Thursday, June 27, 2024, after 41 years as a teacher, coach, AD, Community School Director, middle school principal, high school principal, and superintendent. Serving in all of those various positions allowed me to grow as a person and leader due to all that I learned from the people I worked "with" and "for."

The list of "thank you's" is too long to list so I will say "THANK YOU" to each and every one of you who I have met along my journey! You all have blessed me with so much in so many different ways over these past 41 years and my final 20 years in the Clarenceville School District as high school principal and the last 10 years as superintendent which have been some of the very best years of my career!

I will always be filled with Trojan Pride and carry it with me into the next chapter of my life. I will be forever grateful to those who gave me the opportunity to serve this awesome school community. I have done my best to make things better for other people in every district I have served and am proud of the legacy I leave behind as an educational leader.

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.

September is another happening month in Livonia

Tour de Livonia, Corn Roast, Bentley Marker Dedication, St. Baldrick's Shave-a-thon.

Three weekends defining helping define quality of life

September 8

Tour de Livonia

Old Fashioned Corn Roast

September 15

Bentley High School

Marker Dedication

September 22

St. Baldrick's

Shave-a-thon