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Livonia 75 is ready to move forward to celebrate hometown history

Congratulations to Carrie Budzinski for designing the winning logo in a contest sponsored by Livonia Historical Society, Friends of Livonia Art, FridayMusings

Jim McConnell, President of the Livonia Historical Society, joined with Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan, the typewriter, Robb Drzewicki, and Michelle Nixon, President of Friends of Livonia Arts, to accept the winning design for the Livonia 75 Logo from Carrie Budzinski, who created the logo and submitted it along with 25 other entries.

Jim McConnell, whose idea was to host a citywide competition, appreciated the idea Budzinski conveyed in her winning design. "For the next year Livonia will highlight the progress made by our hometown and on many if not all of the activities to be scheduled this logo will be front and center. Thank you Carrie for sharing your creativity with your hometown."

Another food truck announcement! Along with having The Great Greek Food Truck - Michigan for each of the Friday performances, they will also have Motor City Street Treats on hand for the Saturday performances! So, grab your blanket or chairs, experience LIVE and FREE performances by Livonia Shakespeare in the Park and dine at the park! What a great way to spend a July evening at the beautiful John Stymelski Veteran's Park on Stark Rd.

Schoolcraft College since 1999 bringing jazz to Livonia

Michigan Jazz Festival. This is a totally free day-long event from 12 noon to 9:15 pm. Held on the third Sunday in July. Lots of great straight ahead jazz.

In 1991, two big band leaders, John Trudell and Emil Moro, felt that many jazz festival organizers believed only nationally celebrated artists should be invited to play. They attended the Elkhart Jazz Festival in Indiana and met with bandleader Tom Saunders, who had experience producing festivals. This meeting led to the creation of the Michigan Jazz Festival, with the first event held at Freedom Hill in 1995. Although attendance was sparse, they remained hopeful.

They recognized that many of Detroit's jazz musicians had to leave the city to gain recognition. The late Detroit drummer J.C. Heard once remarked, "Local? What does that mean? Everybody has to live somewhere."

The Michigan Jazz Festival aimed to showcase local talent and offer free admission, exposing young musicians to jazz and bringing the music into schools whenever possible. This annual all-day event featured musicians dedicated to promoting jazz and willing to play for union scale.

Jazz promoters Midge Ellis and Eileene Standley were invited to bring their organizational skills to the festival. The event moved to the historic Botsford Inn and grew annually from 1996 to 1998 until the Inn was sold to Botsford Hospital. Schoolcraft College was then approached to co-sponsor the festival and host it on their campus. Dr. Conway Jeffress, then Vice President for Instruction, supported the idea, and the festival has been held at Schoolcraft College since 1999, enjoying growing success and acclaim.

With the passing of Dale Coller Livonia has lost another champion who helped build our public school system

With great sadness, this typewriter passes along that Dale Coller passed away on Saturday morning, July 13, 2024, at St. Mary's Hospital where he had been for the past several weeks.

When Dale was hired as an assistant principal at Stevenson High School in 1967, the Livonia school system was starting unparalleled growth as families moved to a growing hometown that promised quality K-12 education. After 6 years at Stevenson, he was promoted to principal at Franklin High School in 1973 and then moved back to Stevenson High School in 1979 as Principal where he remained until his retirement in August 2000.

One area he did not retire from was his involvement in the Livonia Rotary Noon Club where he remained active attending most every Monday luncheon until his passing. He was a member for over 50 years.

Livonia, those who knew him personally, and those in his hometown who benefited from the Rotary motto--service above self--wish his wife, Betty, son Dale, daughter-in-law Jodi, and grandsons Logan and Branden all the best with our heartfelt prayers.

Musings will pass along information about funeral arrangements as they come available.

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.