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It's impossible to remain indifferent to educational initiatives such as the Garfield Skill Center Greenhouse.

The call came from Veronica Cruz just as I was about to leave the Tuscan Cafe in downtown Livonia West. "Would you like to see the progress at the Garfield Skill Center Greenhouse?" she asked. Many volunteers are working diligently, preparing the flooring for the raised beds, planting fruit trees, and much more. If you come over, you'll get a real sense of the progress being made.

I've learned that when Veronica Cruz, President of Livonia Kids & Families, calls, it's time to hang up the phone, get in the car, and head over. Livonia is full of stories, but some touch your heart more than others, and hers are always of the latter kind.

The vision of establishing a greenhouse began to take shape in May 2021 with a unanimous vote by the Board of Education, to allow students at Livonia's Garfield Community School to discover their gardening talents upon the completion of a 35 x 60-foot structure. 

The construction was estimated to cost $133,000, with anticipated funding from grants as well as donations by Healthy Livonia.

As I arrived at the structure behind the school today, I saw numerous Livonia Constrution Trades students, volunteers from Consumers Power, parents and staff members, including Principal Lauren Feigel and School Board Member Karen Bradford, though I just missed Madeline Acosta, Colleen Burton and Superintendent Andrea Oquist.

I arrived a tad late to watch the Superintendent high fiving her way through the tree planting.

Students were actively planting fruit trees, collaborating with staff members, while inside the greenhouse, a student and a teacher, assisted by Karen Bradford, laid down heavy-duty plastic for the raised planting beds. In essence, there was no idle onlooker; everyone was engaged in work.

I stood there, awestruck by the project and the partnerships bringing it to life: Healthy Livonia, D&B Landscaping, Livonia Kids & Families, Livonia Public Schools, and Masco, with today's volunteers including Consumers Power employees, parents, staff, Trinity, Healthy Livonia, AlphaUSA, and Livonia Construction Trades students.

Thank you Stacy Jenkins, Administrator of District Communications Livonia Public Schools for providing these pictures which really helped me tell the story. And a great story it is. This is one heck of a program and yes Veronica Cruz you can interrupt m writing at the Tuscan any day and any time.

What is the Garfield Skills Center and how is it funded?

The Garfield Skills Center (GSC) is a school that emphasizes soft skills curriculum, daily living skills, career awareness, and work experience.  The program provides full-day educational programs for post-secondary students with disabilities to the age of twenty-six. It is available to students living within the school districts served by the Western Wayne Region and meets the eligibility criteria to attend the Garfield Skills Center. 

The major emphasis of the program is on daily living and employability skills rather than specific technical training. Classes are designed to be as close to an actual work setting as possible; many are out in a community setting, or have a community component for the class. Functional skills are emphasized. The functional academic approach is demonstration and "hands-on" whenever possible. The school is designed to be a transition program for independent living, rather than a pure academic school.



The Garfield Skills Center is funded through Wayne County via the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. The school program is administered through Livonia Public Schools. Our staff includes highly qualified teachers, highly skilled paraprofessionals, licensed educational support staff (occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologist, social worker) and specialized office staff.

One can never predict who will appear to shave a head at the Annual St. Baldrick's Pediatric Shave-a-Thon. This time, Robb Drzewicki enlisted the Mayor.

The event is consistently enjoyable, starting with the Bagpiper leading the volunteers into the room, through the first head shave, the array of raffle prizes, and the sheer fun of the afternoon.

Livonia in just 14 years has taken the lead in raising over $1.2 million for the battle against pediatric cancer.

Make plans to visit One Under on Sunday, from 12-5, September 29.

Whether it's for 5 minutes, an hour, or the entire afternoon, your support for this local volunteer effort is invaluable.

Livonia truly makes a difference.

Livonia joins the fight to eradicate polio and you are invited

to a Spaghetti Dinner to join the cause. October 23.

Locally polio has affected some of the leadership in western Wayne County, Northville City Councilwoman Nancy Darga, the late Livonia City Councilman Bob Bishop and the late Livonia School Board Trustee Geraldine Joyner.

For years the Livonia Rotary Club, both Noon and AM, have been a part of a world wide effort to finally eradicate polio.

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for over 30 years to rid the earth of this disease. They started in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic. The best way to keep the United States polio-free is to maintain high immunity (protection) in the U.S. population against polio through vaccination. 

An absolutely fun way to gather friends and family, enjoy the best secret spaghetti sauce, and support the combined efforts of two of Livonia most dynamic service organizations, Rotary Noon and AM.

Use the QR code to pre-purchase your tickets or click here. Regardless, the bodyguard and this typewriter will be there for sure. Rotary makes having fun turn into making funds. . .for a great cause.

This typewriter just can't get enough out of my system for the exciting Bentley High School marker dedication so allow me one more picture of our hometown leaders sharing the day

Because so many readers asked for the wording of the Bentley High School Historic Marker here it is

Side One

BENTLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Livonia Township was served by seven small school districts at the time of the United States’ entry into World War II. None of these districts had a high school. Children were sent to larger neighboring districts that some times refused their admission due to overcrowding. Seeking its own high school, in 1943 Livonia Township began discussions about consolidating the small districts and accessing federal and state funding available for larger school districts. Voters approved the consolidation on April 22, 1944. A 5 percent millage increase passed the next year provided additional funding for the construction of a high school. Construction began on November 8, 1946. Bentley High School, named after school board president George N. Bentley, hosted its first classes on September 15, 1947, in spite of ongoing construction.

SIDE TWO

BENTLEY HIGH SCHOOL

On June 15, 1950, a few weeks after Livonia was incorporated as a city, ninety-five students made up Bentley High School’s first graduating class. Livonia’s unprecedented growth led to the construction of three more high schools between 1962 and 1969. Expansions to Bentley High School in the 1950s and 1960s included an auto shop, a woodshop, band rooms, a library, and a swimming pool. By 1982 Livonia’s student enrollment was

falling as population growth slowed and the average age of the city’s residents increased. In 1983, citing declining enrollment, high maintenance costs, and overdue renovations, the superintendent recommended the

closure of Bentley High School. The school closed following the 1984-85 school year. The building served as a

community center until 1999 and was later demolished.

School Board Candidate Night

September 26 @ 6:00 PM

Koleszar joins with Steve Kiefer to remember those who were victims of distracted driving

Sunday was the annual Play with a Purpose game at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth. Team USA Hockey took on the Youngstown Phantoms in a game where we remember those who were victims of Distracted Driving.

Representative Matt Koleszar joined his friend, Steve Kiefer, head of the Kiefer Foundation, whose mission is to end distracted driving. Last year, we worked together to get my bill signed into law, making Michigan the 26th hands-free state, banning phone use while driving. This law prevented over an estimated 3,300 crashes in the first year alone.

October and Fall brings it home to Livonia after an activity filled Summer

October 2nd @ 5:30

Vista Tech Center

A special 40th Anniversary Celebration including a special acknowledgment of Founder Debra Bonde as she announces her retirement.

October 3rd

Rosedale Presbyterian Church's Historic Chapel

October 4-6

Bennett Civic Center Library

October 6th

Briggs-Union Cemetery

October 8th @ 1:00

RealJoy Yoga

October 12th @ 11:00

Nehasil Park

October 13

Bennett Civic Center Library

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.