Bill Joyner's FridayMusings June 24, 2024

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Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings

FridayMusings since 2003

Monday, June 24, 2024

Helping define Livonia's Quality of Life

20 years publishing FridayMusings without bias but not without opinion

Happy Birthday Livonia

Celebrate Community Spirit at our Hometown Livonia Spree!

Hey Livonia! The Livonia Spree has arrived, and it's the perfect time to come together and celebrate our amazing community.

From June 25th to June 30th, come meet some of our local organizations reacquaint with old friends, make new ones, and have some hometown fun.

Small homes. Big Hearts. From Livonia to California.

This past week the 2024 Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church Youth Caravan Mission Team assisted with the incredible Alyssa Hoffman and the Tiny Pine Foundation in Oroville, California. Tiny Pine was founded by Alyssa with the mission of building tiny houses for those who have lost their homes in wildfires- particularly the survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise.

Alyssa lost her own home to a wildfire in 2008, and since 2018 she has been rebuilding lives and blessing her community ever since.

The Time Has Come. . .Almost. . .another week or two and the sign will go up. . .but Archie's is open at Laurel Park Mall

I visited Archie's for lunch last Friday with Mark Jones from the DTE Community Relations Team. Amidst our discussion about his plans to host an Open House in September, aimed at updating Livonia residents on the ongoing improvements to services, past achievements, and future endeavors, I also had the chance to converse with Archie's owner, George.

Archie's, now situated in the space that Grand Tavern once occupied at Laurel Place Mall—where the sign still hangs but is soon to be updated—is preparing the beloved menu that patrons enjoyed for nearly four decades at its previous Plymouth Road location.

On Friday, this typewriter savored the fish and chips, consistent in quality with what was served for years at their former location. The moment the fish touched my palate, I was assured that all was right in the world. Coupled with a refreshing glass of freshly brewed iced tea sans lemon, the only element missing was freshly brewed sweet tea.

Stay tuned for further updates on DTE's ongoing efforts to enhance stations, install new poles, and persist with tree trimming. Equally noteworthy for this typewriter is the impending announcement of the official grand opening of Archie's Tavern.

West Fenkell Bakery stays the same while getting better every year

In 1974, my father-in-law, Paul Hennis, invited me to join him one Saturday morning to pick up some bread at a place on West Fenkell. I agreed, assuming we were going to Detroit. We traveled from Nottingham Woods, Hubbard, and Six Mile to West Fenkell Bakery, Middlebelt at Five Mile.

Since then, I have frequently revisited this distinctive bakery on many Saturdays, bringing back memories of Detroit in the '60s where West Fenkell Bakery was established before moving to Livonia.

The bakery remains successful today, offering a wider selection than ever. I recently picked up a container of pasta for dinner, which was delightful.

With so many bakeries open in Livonia, at last count it was over 20, I will occasionally desire a trip back in time attempting to reconnect with what was once so good and still is 50 years later. Do yourself a favor, stop in, breathe deep, open those eyes wide with a display that makes you want to pull up a table, if they had one, and sample everything on the shelves, bread, pies, pastries, fresh cooked-to-go lunches.

If I miss an issue of Musings come and look for me at West Fenkell Bakery, roll me out to the car as I indulge in yet another tasty best-kept bakery secret in Livonia.

Touch a Truck is right around the corner. August 24, 8:30-2:00

The Churchill High School Interact Club, supported by the Livonia AM Rotary Club, is set to host the 2024 Touch A Truck event.

This family-friendly event offers a unique chance for children and adults to explore a variety of vehicles—ranging from public service and emergency to utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, delivery, and more—all gathered in one location.

Children will be able to sound horns and sirens, climb on construction equipment, and learn about how these machines work, all in a hands-on environment. They are encouraged to interact with their favorite vehicles, take the driver's seat, and meet the community members who build, protect, and serve.

To accommodate visitors who are sensitive to noise, Touch a Truck will provide a "quiet time" from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. During this period, participants are requested to avoid using loud sounds such as horns and sirens.

FridayMusings has collaborated with various anonymous community benefactors to provide Mattel Hot Wheels, which will be given to children as they arrive, thanks to the generosity of numerous volunteers.

Additional volunteers are still needed to distribute the Hot Wheels, as last year's event, favored by residents, attracted over 7,000 attendees. If you can help out, please inform the typewriter.

Halfway to volunteer goal to help pass out

4-5,000 Mattel Hot Wheels:

Lori Miller, Glenn Anderson, Madeline Acosta, Liz Jarvis,

John Larkin, Soyara Larkin, Duane Buatti, Dave MacFarland, Crystal Frank, Kathy Ventittelli, Brandon McCullough,

Kacie McCullough, Harper McCullough, Brian Weiss,

Kelli Childers, Ryan McCullough

Michigan's Official Rock Band

hails from our hometown Livonia

Every year, people eagerly anticipate Spree and its vibrant, thrilling fireworks display. Preceding the fireworks, the ballpark's staging area showcases Livonia's beloved Steve King and the Dittilies. Let's delve into one of Dan MacIver's Best Kept Secrets—unveiling the identity of this legendary Livonia band.

Livonia Civic Chorus Spring Concert

In case you missed the LCC Spring Concert, or if you want to see it again here it is! The typewriter missed my first LCC Concert in over a decade, traveling to Colorado, so having the Chorus post their Concert on YouTube gives all of us an opportunity to enjoy their excellence.

Sit back and enjoy.

Save the date to celebrate the Inauguration of Dr. Christoper Dougherty

Michigan Senate Passes Cavanagh Resolution Commemorating Grassroots Week from June 23-29

The Michigan Senate voted to pass the Senate Resolution

sponsored by Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), honoring June 23-29, 2024, as Grassroots Week in the state of Michigan.

“This week, we honor and celebrate grassroots movements and the opportunity for everyday citizens to be catalysts for change. Here in Michigan, we are proud of our deep history of successful grassroots movements, which have long made an indelible impact on our state’s progress. When local leaders mobilize their communities to participate in our democracy, some of our greatest changes are realized,” Sen. Cavanagh said. “This resolution serves as a symbol of appreciation and respect for Michigan's grassroots organizers, precinct delegates and other local leaders, and the invaluable contributions they make to our great state.”

Sunday, June 23 commemorates the beginning of Grassroots Week in recognition of the 61st anniversary of the Detroit Walk to Freedom, when civil rights leaders joined Detroit city officials and community leaders to protest widespread racial injustice. Led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and then-Mayor of Detroit Jerome Cavanagh, grandfather of Sen. Cavanagh, the march was one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in not only Michigan history, but in our entire nation’s history, engaging an estimated 125,000 participants. During a time of tension and public opposition to the Civil Rights movement, Detroit grassroots leaders worked from the ground up to rise above the obstacles and bring community members together to advance their shared goal of equity and freedom.

Senate Democrats recognize Grassroots Week in celebration of victorious grassroots movements in Michigan’s past, present, and future, recognizing the power in collective action to build awareness and bring about fruitful change for the good of our communities.

Rainbow Trunk or Treat 2024 is in the books!

Our Livonia PFLAG organization offers "Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who helped to make it a memorable day for our 75 guests."

They also offer up a "Thank you to the Newburg Endowment Fund for financial sponsorship of the event."

Nationally for fifty years, PFLAG has been where LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies have come together in pursuit of justice and affirmation—and always leading with love.

What began as a letter led to a march birthing a movement of millions.

Since its earliest days, PFLAG has been the connector for LGBTQ+ people with community, parents with resources, and allies with tools, bolstering the LGBTQ+ movement with strength, power, and love.

There are over 400 PFLAG chapters across the nation and Livonia is proud to be one.

Drew Buatti partners to preserve a part of Stevenson history

This week marked the completion of the new Stevenson sign. Roughly a year ago, Stevenson teacher Mr. Bryden and Drew Buatti, a Stevenson graduate, were tasked with creating an industrial-style sign using the original letters from the front of Stevenson High School (SHS).

These letters had been removed and stored in the art room at SHS during past renovations, including the installation of the new auditorium.

The project commenced in the summer of 2023, and significant progress was made. Throughout the past school year, shop students had the opportunity to contribute to the sign's construction. With the school year's conclusion, they managed to finalize the sign this week.

Buatti says he is "thoroughly impressed with the outcome. It is set to be mounted and displayed at Stevenson, where it will stand as a proud testament to the school's history for many years.

"I am delighted to have played a role in preserving this element of Stevenson's legacy."

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.