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The countdown is underway. Seven Weeks. September 15.

Bentley High School Historical Marker Dedication

Commentary from Bill Joyner, Franklin High School Class of 1967, on the dedication of the Bentley High School Historic Marker. This picture is the

cover designed by Kathy Ventitelli

for the program book to be distributed

at the dedication.

Many view history as a dull or pointless subject, yet there is more to it than initially apparent. 

History is the accumulated knowledge and examination of the past. It's the narrative of our collective past and memory. History tells us who we are, our origins, and, possibly, our future direction. 

Grasping history equips us with vital decision-making abilities, cultural insight, and the capacity to predict future trends from historical patterns. Studying historical events teaches us important lessons, helps us avoid previous errors, and informs our choices, which benefit our personal and professional growth. 

Understanding the history of Livonia, especially how education shaped the town we call home, is crucial because it is fundamental to understanding ourselves. 

On September 15th we will gather to recognize the role Bentley High School has played in the growth and evolution of Livonia—from helping to attract new families to developing a framework of parks, to spurring the community college extension of K-12 to K-14, to nurturing our future leaders as they developed their skillsets only to return the favor to the community by staying and raising their own families. 

With this commemoration of Bentley High School, we continue the long tradition of Livonia’s pride in its history. 

Hopefully, over time, this marker will serve as a catalyst for shared memories, provide a talking point for parents and children, and be a reminder of the importance we Livonians place on an educated community.  

September 15th is not just the planting of a marker, it is the acknowledgment that in our past we find our future.

Shakespeare in the Park's third year epitomized theater

in its most elemental form, emphasizing that the

entire world is indeed a stage.

The notion that 'all the world's a stage' lends itself beautifully to outdoor theatre. Livonia's Shakespeare in the Park offers the ideal backdrop, with sets that harmonize with the environment.

The audience experiences more than the confines of a theatre's four walls; they become an integral part of the production under the open sky. On Friday night, it was truly magical to be amidst the trees, witnessing actors deliver their lines with precision, engage in blocking that included the audience, and hear the laughter and applause of the people enjoying an evening out.

From the moment Joe Johnston, Director, welcomed the audience and walked off the stage this typewriter watched actors filled with energy delivering their lines, moving about the stage, and showcasing theatre at its best.

William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream produced by the Livonia Community Theatre with the delightful adaptation by Director Joe Johnston transports the play to the 21st century. Amid guitar-playing rock interludes, the mischievous Puck, played by Tabitha Porter, anoints the eyes of sleeping lovers with magic potions. And the result is what you would expect with confusion blending with love triangles, and even the Fairy Queen Titania, played by Kelly Boczek Petrie, falling for an Amazon warehouse assistant manager played by Wyatt Woodside.

This play captures the lyrical poetry of Shakespeare in his original work giving us all a smiling and offbeat experience. So many actors raising the standard of community theatre that collectively they should all be proud.

Johnston brings through his direction a fresh energy giving the audience a good time even though it is not your typical staging and interpretation of Shakespeare's story.

Tabitha Porter's portrayal of Puck, a Howell native and Valparaiso University engineering student aspiring to be a screenwriter, cements Livonia's Shakespeare in the Park as a hallmark of cultural excellence. It attracts audiences and performers from across the region, enhancing Livonia's esteemed reputation in the arts.

Livonia Shakespeare in the Park Year 4 will feature Comedy of Errors. Stay tuned for all the details.

State Senate District redesign leaves Livonia with a changed political landscape. In 2026 Cavanagh loses her portion of Livonia while Polehanki returns to representing all of Livonia.

Livonia will go from having two State Senators to one when the new State Senate elections are held in 2026. Currently Senators Dayna Polehanki and Mary Cavanagh each represent a part of Livonia. That is about to change.

A federal three-judge panel has given the green light to a new Michigan Senate map. This decision comes after the panel had previously declared several metro Detroit voting districts unlawful. The state's redistricting commission was found to have predominantly used race as the basis for drawing district lines, according to the court's findings.

The judges involved in the case ruled seven state House districts and six state Senate districts invalid. They determined that the map creators had violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by using race as a primary factor in the design of these districts.

Here is the new configuration for Livonia's State Senate representation:

Senate District 6: Includes part of Detroit and all of Redford Township. State Sen. Mary Cavanagh, D-Redford Township, lives in this district. She loses the major portion of Livonia that is currently in her District.

Senate District 8: Includes most of Novi, along with all of Farmington, Farmington Hills, Livonia, Northville, and Northville Township. State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, lives in this district. She loses Westland, Canton which is currently in her District.

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.