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FridayMusings since 2003

Wednesday, July 31, 2024 


Helping define Livonia's Quality of Life


20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias but not without opinion



You can start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Francis of Assisi

Partnerships continue to make a difference as Livonia Rotary AM joins with Livonia Kids and Families to fund a walk-in cooler at Clarenceville High School as an addition to the food pantry they organized and implemented last year.

Livonia Kids and Families has been instrumental in setting up a food pantry at Clarenceville High School. They've gone a step further by collaborating with the Livonia Rotary AM Club to supply a walk-in cooler and protein-rich food items. The installation of the cooler eagerly awaited for months, was scheduled for Monday.


The day of the cooler's installation brought together Veronica Cruz, Director of Livonia Kids and Families; Vanessa Zverotic, Wellness Director at Clarenceville School District; Claude Kendrick, former President of the Livonia Rotary AM Club; Kevin Murphy, Athletic Director at Clarenceville School District; and R. William Joyner, representing the Hardies Family Trust.


The community's joint effort to fund this $30,000 project drew support from a diverse group of Livonia's benefactors, ranging from individuals to corporations: Bill Brown Ford, Heritage Bakery.

Schoolcraft College, Hardee’s Family Trust, Livonia AM Rotary Club, Public Service Credit Union,

Vibe Credit Union, Jeff Wayne Adams, Community Financial Credit Union, Essex Rotary Club,

Zeal Credit Union, Tiseo Architechs, Plymouth Rotary Foundation.



The true achievement lies in the community uniting once more to fulfill the need for a walk-in cooler, enhancing the food pantry's offerings with protein options.

Primary Elections August 6. FridayMusings Endorsements.


Musings endorsed these candidates earlier in the election cycle. They have primary opponents so we are sharing our endorsements as they each deserve our support.



John Larkin for Wayne County Circuit Court


Three qualified candidates are vying for a single open seat on the Wayne County Circuit Court Bench. Among them, Nicole Leighanne Castka, John Larkin, and Adrienne G. Scruggs, FridayMusings endorses and encourages support for John Larkin.


One candidate will be eliminated, with two moving forward to the General Election in November. You have one vote on August 6th for this non-partisan role.


John Larkin, a candidate for Wayne County Circuit Court Judge, offers a wealth of experience and a dedication to justice, impartiality, and fairness. His presence at numerous local events in Livonia and his comprehensive background are key reasons why FridayMusings endorses him.


A lifelong Wayne County resident, John Larkin's principles of justice, fairness, and empathy have been honed over time. His membership in the Livonia Rotary Noon Club shows a commitment to community public service.

With 33 years in legal practice, John has dedicated himself to assisting individuals through their toughest moments, whether they face legal, financial, injury, or employment challenges, advocating for those in need.


Retired Chief Judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court Tim Kenny, in endorsing John Larkin described Larkin as a man of “character, patience and heart.”


John's contributions extend beyond the courtroom. He has provided legal aid at the Most Holy Trinity Legal Clinic for over two decades and has held leadership roles in the Livonia Bar Association. His community service includes volunteering for the Ark Food Bank, Trumbull Soup Kitchen, and Livonia Rotary.


John's campaign has the full backing of his family. His wife, Soraya, also a lawyer, and their three children, pursuing careers in law and business, support him.


In discussions, John's commitment to fairness is evident. If elected as a judge, Musings is confident he will apply the law with fairness, justice, and reason.

Raphael Washington for Wayne County Sherrif


Livonia boasts a rich history of housing Wayne County's partisan elected officials, with notable names like Ed McNamara, Bob Ficano, and now Raphael Washington. 


Sheriff Washington takes pride in residing in Livonia, often seen at Mies Park picnics, pictured left, or cycling in the Tour de Livonia.


With nearly four decades committed to law enforcement excellence, Sheriff Washington leads the Sheriff's Department, overseeing three jail facilities, Road Patrol, Marine and Mounted Units, and supporting law enforcement across 43 cities and townships spanning 673 square miles.


A lifelong Wayne County inhabitant, Washington actively participates in the community and serves on various boards.


He advocates for discerning yet compassionate decision-making in law enforcement, impacting personnel, inmates, and the public. His extensive background encompasses supervising jails and court operations, managing inmate populations, developing policies, ensuring compliance, and enhancing operational efficiency.

Before his tenure with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Washington had a distinguished career at the Detroit Police Department. Post-academy in 1985, he progressed from Patrol Officer to Investigative Officer in Narcotics, Violent Crimes, Traffic Enforcement, and the Gang Squad, then ascended to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Inspector of Traffic Enforcement, collaborating with all law enforcement ranks locally, statewide, and federally.


Sheriff Washington, a product of the public school system, champions higher education and continuous learning. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Cleary University. earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management. He is also a graduate of Eastern Michigan University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Graduating from the National FBI Academy, Sheriff Washington has also earned an Executive Certificate at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School in State and Local Government.


Sheriff Washington is married to Keysha Washington, a veteran law enforcement professional. They have two children and four grandchildren.


Wayne County benefits from his continued leadership and encourages voters to add their endorsement to Raphael Washington for Wayne County Sheriff.

Wayne County Commissioner

Glenn Anderson


For more than ten years, Livonia has been competently served by Glenn Anderson, initially as a Michigan State Senator and later as Wayne County Commissioner. Anderson remains active and approachable in the community, always ready to lend an ear and respond when needed.


With extensive experience in both local and state government, Anderson has served as a State Senator for eight years (2007-14), a State Representative for six years (2001-06), a Westland City Council member for nine years (1991-2000), and a member of the Wayne County Ethics Board.


His legislative efforts were dedicated to ending bullying in schools, child protection, redistricting reform, and enhancing consumer protection and government transparency. His service earned him recognition from various organizations, including being named Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Chiefs of Police and the Police Officers Association of Michigan. He also participated in the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and the Council of State Governments Great Lakes Caucus.


Beyond his elected roles, Commissioner Anderson has been actively engaged in the community, participating in numerous civic groups, including the Westland Goodfellows, Western Wayne NAACP, Churchill High School PTA, and other charitable organizations.


Before entering elective office, Anderson worked for Ford Motor Co. and has been a United Auto Workers member since 1972.


Livonia continues to be represented by individuals who cherish the community, volunteer proactively, and embody the spirit of a citizen servant. That is a definition of Glenn Anderson.

More 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. We will continue with each issue Musings share the community feelings about Bentley High School.


Today, we extend our gratitude to Don Cortez, GPI direct-Print & Imaging, for his 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.

Livonia leaders cooking up new ideas.

Livonia is bustling with activity. Schoolcraft College recently welcomed the City's Leadership Team and Livonia City Council members for a team-building culinary class.


Together, they cooked, gained new knowledge, shared laughter, and thankfully, didn't burn anything. It was a delightful experience.


Mayor Maureen Brosnan offers "A heartfelt thanks to Dr. Cerny and the entire team at Schoolcraft College for fostering the connections that propel Livonia Vision21 to greater heights and speed."

Sign up for Senator Dayna Polehanki's District Newsletter

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Mary Cavanagh appreciates interns

Senator Mary Cavanagh is thrilled to celebrate her two, what she describes as "fantastic Interns!"


Joelle began her internship in late January. She is a senior at Western Michigan University, double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy, and is starting her Master’s degree during her last year of undergrad through WMU’s Accelerated Graduate Degree Program in Political Science.


Joelle excels in assisting our staff with social media, constituent services, and legislative research. Looking ahead, Joelle plans to further her studies after completing her MA by pursuing a PhD in Political Science, with aspirations of becoming a professor as well as running for public office.


Outside of her professional and academic life, Joelle has been a barista for over two years, balancing many responsibilities with grace. She is also an avid non-fiction reader, a Diet Coke lover, and a proud Scorpio.


Lola began her summer internship in early May. She is a senior at Michigan State University, studying Political Science and Social Science Quantitative Data Analytics.

Additionally, she is part of the esteemed Political Science Scholars program at her college.


In our office Lola provides exceptional support assisting with constituent services.


Looking forward, Lola plans to pursue a PhD in Political Science with a focus on quantitative methods and reproductive health policy. Impressively, she also teaches high school students how to use RStudio for coding and is a policy fellow and research assistant at the Institute of Public Policy and Social Research.


Outside of her work and studies, Lola enjoys the outdoors, good coffee, and playing her mandolin.


Their commitment to our office, District 6, and the state is deeply appreciated. Thank you, Joelle and Lola, for your exceptional service and dedication.

Arts Commission offers up Kids Art From the Heart

Kids Art from the Heart is a free event hosted by the Livonia Arts Commission and geared towards children ages 2-12!


This event will be at the Kirksey Recreation Center. There will be multiple crafts, a bounce house, live entertainment and more!


Bring the family and have a great time! No preregistration is required.

Tour de Livonia

Year Three

Let's get ready for a 20 mile tour of our hometown

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.