livonia spree 2016

2 • LIVONIA SPREE • JUNE 2016

LIVONIA SPREE 66 • JUNE 2016 • 3

Hey, Livonia: You’re invited to comeout to celebrate Livonia’s 66thbirthday!

Spree 66 is our annual six-day flurry offun that marks the birth of Livonia as acity back in 1950. This year’s event willtake place June 21-26 at Ford Field.

I hope you’ll take advantage of thewide number of free events during theweek, such as musical performances byRare Earth (“Get Ready” and “I’m LosingYou”) Steve King and the Dittilies, KillerFlamingos and much more. There’s alsofamily entertainment like magicians andclowns, pig and hot dog races, Family FunDay, a pie-eating contest and, of course,the grand finale 30-minute Livonia SpreeFireworks spectacular Sunday night.

Along with the free activities, there’salso a midway of more than 50 rides (anew, taller roller-coaster arrives thisyear); old-fashioned and new-style carni-val games with stuffed animal prizes; anda wide variety of food and drink sure toplease. (I recommend the chocolate éclairice cream and elephant ears!)

This is my first Spree as mayor andI’m looking forward to joining my family,friends, co-workers and fellow citizens at

BILL BRESLER | STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHER

Madison VanAmburgjumped for joy on thefirst day of Spree lastyear. Spree runs June21-26 this year.

Get your KICKS at SPREE 66!

4 • LIVONIA SPREE 66 • JUNE 2016


many of the events of the festival. Ourcity’s birthday is definitely worth cele-brating.

I want to thank the army of volunteersof the Livonia Anniversary Committee,whose spirit helps make this event such afestive occasion. Their hard work comesthrough in the wide number of eventsthat require planning over anentire year. These volunteersdirect traffic, work beverageand food sales, run FamilyDay games and help with theFamily Pizza Night and Tasteof Spree.

Their work also helpsprovide funding for the city,for Spree scholarships, themany nonprofit groups thatparticipate and pay for thehuge fireworks show.

Spree 66 is dedicated to the people thatmake it happen – that army of volunteers.Know that your efforts are appreciated!

Happy birthday, Livonia! I look for-ward to seeing you at Spree 66.

Dennis Wrightmayor of Livonia

BILL BRESLER |

STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHER

Mayor DennisWright.


What goes with pie? Why coffee and icecream, of course!

Blazo’s Pie Shoppe in Livonia has itall at its retail store at 34365 Plymouth Road,where it is selling premium coffee and icecream to go with its old-fashioned homemadepies.

Blazo’s is a co-sponsor of the Livonia Ob-server’s pie-eating contest at Livonia Spree.

Larry Nygard, president of Blazo’s, saidthe store helped diversify beyond the compa-ny’s pies, available in 30 flavors.

The new retail store also has a new line ofBlazo’s house jams and fresh European-stylebread. Most of the products are Michigan-made.

The ice cream – an artisan gelato madefresh to order – is made by Palazzolo’s inFennville, the coffee is roasted by CoffeeExpress in Plymouth and ground fresh atBlazo’s and the bread is from Superior BreadCo., in Livonia.

Blazo’s continuespie-eating

sponsorship

FILE PHOTO

Larry Nygard, president of Blazo’s Pie Shoppe, saidthe store likes participating in Spree.

See BLAZO’S, Page 32

Are you a returning cham-pion, hoping to retainyour bragging rights, or a

newcomer eager to test yoursweet-eating prowess?

All kids ages 7-12 are in-vited to compete in the LivoniaObserver’s annual pie-eatingcontest at 5 p.m. Wednesday,June 22, in the Bright HouseKids Tent.

Prizes will be awarded tothose who can devour the mostpie in the span of a minutewithout using their hands.

First- through third-placewinners will be chosen inthree age divisions.

Co-sponsor is Blazo’s PieShoppe in Livonia, which isdonating dozens of six-inch,handmade cream pies, in va-nilla and chocolate.

Registration is 4-5 p.m. Youcan register at the tent.

BILL BRESLER |

STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHER

Sadie Yesslertook secondplace in herage division atlast year’sSpreepie-eatingcontest.

Kids, sign up for the contest



While most people think of Spree as afun event that happens each yearat the end of June, a special group

of Livonia residents has a very differenttake on this annual celebration of Livo-nia’s founding as a city.

The members of the Spree Board andCommittee (and, in many cases, theirspouses and friends) work year-round toproduce a memorable festival each year.The work involved is similar to running asmall business and each June, rain orshine, the show must go on.

Board members are Rich Skaggs,president; Dan Spurling, first vice presi-dent; Jeff Nork, second vice president;Dick Nogas, secretary; Linda Grimsby,treasurer; Mayor Jack Kirksey; councilrepresentative Susan Nash; Keith Appel;Bob Biga; Doug Couts; Jeff Danke; BillFried; Karen Kapchonick; Paul Mallie;Linda McCann; Lee Morrow; KeithSchoen; Harry Tatigian; Joe Taylor; andGeorge Trejo.

Committee members are MaryBaeske, Jason Claypoole, Jessie Clay-poole, Chris DiPonio, Brian Duggan, JohnGrzebik , Sue Hand, Jim Keller, KathyLegowsky, Andy Mehelich, Mike Reiser,Todd Rogman, Carrie Spurling, ChrisSkaggs and Sue Skaggs.

The Spree Board and Committee pub-licly thanks and acknowledges the hun-dreds of volunteers who drive the shuttlevans, sell and serve the beer, help withset-up and take-down, assist in the Spreeoffice, flip the pancakes, corral the kid-dies and do a zillion other things that areso very necessary.


PHOTOGRAPHER

Board members are RichSkaggs, president; DanSpurling, first vicepresident; Jeff Nork,second vice president; DickNogas, secretary; LindaGrimsby, treasurer; MayorJack Kirksey; councilrepresentative SusanNash; Keith Appel; BobBiga; Doug Couts; JeffDanke; Bill Fried; KarenKapchonick; Paul Mallie;Linda McCann; LeeMorrow; Keith Schoen;Harry Tatigian; Joe Taylor;and George Trejo.Committee members areMary Baeske, JasonClaypoole, JessieClaypoole, Chris DiPonio,Brian Duggan, JohnGrzebik , Sue Hand, JimKeller, Kathy Legowsky,Andy Mehelich, MikeReiser, Todd Rogman,Carrie Spurling, ChrisSkaggs and Sue Skaggs.

Board,committeemembers

ensure theshow

continues


West Bloomfield resident and RareEarth band member Gil Bridgesloves doing shows in Michigan. He

said playing the Livonia Spree this yearwill be a treat for not only the band, butfor their families, who plan to be at theshow.

“We’re just happy to do concerts. It’sreally to me, a blessing to still be doingthis,” Bridges, who plays saxophone, toldthe Observer. “This is what we love to do.”

For the second year, Rare Earth is thebig headliner at the Spree, scheduled toperform Saturday night at the south stageat the event. The repeat booking comesafter the band was rained out of its ap-pearance last year.

The group is the first national act toplay the Spree in decades, said Joe Perai-no with Lorio-Ross Sterling Entertain-ment and a Livonia resident. Perainoworked at Motown when Rare Earthsigned on and worked with the groupclosely in the early 1970s.

“It’s the only national act they’ve had in20-some years,” Peraino said. “It’s a pret-ty good show; they’ve got a couple of bighits.”

Rare Earth, which signed to Detroit’sMotown Records in 1969, had several hits,including “I Just Want to Celebrate,” “GetReady” and “Hey, Big Brother.” Theycontinue to play several shows a year,

Rare Earth back for second shot

David VeselenakStaff Writer


PHOTOGRAPHER

Karin Elizabeth andthe Remedy Band

had them updancing last year.


including two in Michigan this year. Theband members continue to live in Michi-gan, both in metro Detroit and near Lan-sing.

Admission is free.Their families are expected to be in

attendance for the show at the Spree,something that is always a treat, Bridgessaid. He plans on bringing his grandson,who is 7, onto the stage with him to helpsing “Celebrate.”

The same grandson went on stage afew years ago in metro Detroit to helpsing the hit with Bridges, but he’s hadsome time now to prepare for the Livoniacrowd, he said.

“He’s been practicing the song with hiskaraoke machine,” Bridges said. “I’mlooking forward to it. It’s going to be a funfamily thing for us.”

Other groups Several other acts are performing on

the Spree stage this year, including BigRay and the Motor City Kings, Remedyand Simone Vitale.

Other local favorites will make theirreturn to Spree this year, including SteveKing & the Dittilies (Sunday on the balldiamond stage), Major Woody (Friday onthe Main Stage), Parallel Fifth (Saturdayand Sunday), and Remedy (Tuesday onthe Main Stage).

[email protected]

BILL BRESLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

It’s not Spree fireworks night without Steve King and theDittilies.

FILE PHOTO

Big Ray and the Motor City Kings, a group that performsblues, Motown and classic rock, will play Thursday night.


The warm weather and looming highschool graduations mean one thing:Livonia Spree is here.

This year’s event, Spree 66, is sched-uled to take place June 21-26 at Livonia’s FordField, near Farmington and Lyndon. The an-nual celebration of the city’s incorporationwill be bringing back many of the favorites,such as pig races, rides, tasty concessions

and, of course, thefireworks.

Spree chairmanRich Skaggs saidthere’s not a lot newthis year, though he’sbeen informed by WadeShows a new, tallerroller-coaster is expect-ed to dot the Spreegrounds this year.

“He said it’s twice asbig as any carnival(roller-coaster),”Skaggs said.

The main musical act coming this year willbe Rare Earth, the Motown band originallyscheduled to play last year, but was rainedout. Karen Kapchonick, who oversees themusic groups playing Spree, said they areexpected to come back to perform this timearound, weather permitting. They’ll play at 9p.m. Saturday, June 25.

Other groups performing include SteveKing and the Dittilies, Big Ray and the Motor


PHOTOGRAPHER

Spree officials hint thisyear’s carnival willfeature the largestcarnival roller-coasteraround.

Warm weather ushersSpree back to Livonia



PHOTOGRAPHER

Kiwanis volunteers Jerryand Denise Kwas sold

fresh-squeezedlemonade on the last

day of Spree 2015. Theproceeds help fund thelocal club’s community

projects.


City Kings, the Killer Flamingos and ParallelFifth, among others.

All the traditional food vendors are return-ing as well, Skaggs said, bringing with themthe tasty treats Spree attendees always enjoy.The Livonia Observer pie-eating contest willalso continue this year, taking place at 5 p.m.June 22.

The grand finale fireworks will take placeat dusk June 26, closing down Farmingtonfrom Schoolcraft toFive Mile and bring-ing thousands of peo-ple to the area.

Unlike the I-96construction twoyears ago, the I-275construction isn’texpected to make abig impact on gettingto Spree this year,Skaggs said. The bestbet for those lookingto park to attend isgoing to Livonia CityHall at Five Mile and Farmington and taking ashuttle to Ford Field.

“The best deal you can do is park at cityhall and take the bus over,” Skaggs said.

More information on this year’s Spree canbe found at livoniaspree.com.

[email protected]: @DavidVeselenak


PHOTOGRAPHER

The crowd danced toSteve King and theDittilies, who maketheir annualappearance Sunday,June 26.


PHOTOGRAPHER

Grandfather Mark Jonessteadied his

granddaughter LillyCurtis during a ride onthe carousel last year.


SIGHTS OF SPREE


PHOTOGRAPHER

The Big Slide is a quick ride— and a popular one.


Joe DiVietri details his street rod,based on a 1940 Chevrolet.


Mark Maze grew up in Livonia, sohe has been to Spree many times.This year, he returns for his sec-

ond year providing entertainmentthere.

The 1985 Livonia Stevenson HighSchool graduate is a full-time entertain-er who regularly performs at resorts,cruise ships, corporate events and fam-ily events.

He will present The Maze FamilyFun Show 8:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Sat-urday and Sunday, June 24-26, in theKids Tent.

“I am excited to bring my custombrand of entertainment to the Spree,”he wrote the Observer in an email.

Maze will bring a trivia game showexperience to Spree in the style of“Family Feud,” “Jeopardy,” “Minute ToWin It,” “Name That Tune” and “Ex-treme Bingo.”

“Most of my games use wirelessbuzzers that give players a feeling ofplaying on a real game show,” he said.

Maze said his custom version ofbingo does not use traditional bingonumbers, but well-known cartooncharacters, mascots, etc. “Extreme

Bingo” is high-energy, fast and fun,according to Maze’s website, mark-maze.com. “Once you play ‘ExtremeBingo,’ you will never want to stop,” thewebsite says.

Prior to Sunday’s Maze Family FunShow, another veteran Michigan enter-tainer, Eugene Clark of Oxford, willpresent the Amazing Clark Puppets.Clark performs 7-8 p.m. Sunday, June26.

Clark studied puppetry with JimHenson’s Muppets in New York City.He has performed throughout the Unit-ed States and Canada and has madeappearances on the CBS-TV show “LateNight with David Letterman” and Foxtelevision.

Brad Lowe’s Puppets also has shows,5-6 p.m. Friday, June 24, and 7-8 p.m.Saturday, June 25.

Zeemo the Magnificent will demon-strate his expertise with juggling andmagic 5:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday andSunday in the Kids Tent. More than 20years ago, Paul Kyprie started ZeemoProductions to develop a variety ofshows, which he has been performingthroughout Michigan and Ohio.

Family game show, puppets, jugglingwill take center stage in Kids Tent

Maze

Zeemo

Clark


Spree-goers hoping for some excitingnew rides at this year’s festival may begetting their wish.

Spree chairman Rich Skaggs saidhe’s been informed by Wade Shows a new,taller roller-coaster is expected to dot theSpree grounds this year.

“He said it’s twice as big as any carnival(roller-coaster),” Skaggs said.

That would be another new ride afterBeach Shack, which “simulates a structurethat gets caught in a tornado,” made its debutlast year.

The family ride rises up and spins around,but it’s not so violent that kids won’t want toride it, he said.

For more advanced thrill-seekers, TheMega Drop, a 135-foot drop tower, is returningto Livonia Spree after a year’s absence for

FILE PHOTO

Beach Shack shookup Spree-goers atlast year’s carnival.

Rides are popular at Spree

New roller-coaster among the ridesexpected for midway this season


PHOTOGRAPHER

Tristin Thompson ofDearborn Heights won

the big stuffed bearplaying Break a Bottlefor Lyndsey Wiewiora

of Plymouth.


refurbishing..Beach Shack and Mega Drop are

among the approximately 40 kiddie,family, thrill and spectacular ridesthat will be at Livonia Spree this year.Other potential rides for children andfamilies will be Mighty Mouse, Hum-mers, VW Bus and Monster Truck.

Prices for all-day wristbands arethe same as last year: $16 when pur-chased in advance and $25 on-site.Tickets are four for $5 or $1.25 each— also the same as last year — or get25 tickets for $25.

Pre-sale wristbands are availablefor purchase through Friday, June 17,

at Community Choice Credit Union,Livonia Parks and Recreation and thecity of Livonia treasurer’s office andthrough Saturday, June 19, at Inde-pendent Bank, Livonia YMCA, Catho-lic Parishes Credit Union and LivoniaChamber of Commerce.

The midway will be open 4-11 p.m.Tuesday, June 21; 2-11 p.m. Wednes-day, Thursday and Friday, June 22-24;and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday andSunday, June 25-26.

At press time, no ride listing wasavailable. For the latest informationon rides and their height require-ments, go to wadeshows.com.

FILE PHOTO

The Monster Truck ride is a big hit among the younger set.


TUESDAY, JUNE 21

Spree & Carnival

Opens 4-11 p.m.

Spree Grounds events

Petting Farm , 4-9 p.m.

Hot Dog Pig Racing and Wacky Rubber Duck Races, 5 p.m.,6 p.m., 8 p.m.

Main Stage

Wines, Brews & Tunes, 7-10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

Spree & Carnival

Opens 2-11 p.m.

Spree Grounds events

Petting Farm, 2-9 p.m.

Hot Dog Pig Racing and Wacky Rubber Duck Races

3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m.

Sunshine the Clown, 3:30-7:30 p.m.

Kids Tent

Pie Eating Contest, sponsored by the Livonia Observer, ages7-12, 5 p.m.

Eddie Edgar Arena

Checker the Clown, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Costumed Characters (Dora & Diego) 6-9 p.m.

Family Pizza Night, 6-8 p.m.

Main Stage

Remedy and Simone Vitale Bands, 7-11 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

Spree & Carnival

Opens 2-11 p.m.

Spree Grounds Events


Hot Dog Pig Racing and Wacky Rubber Duck Races, 2:30p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m.

Sunshine the Clown and Checker the Clown, 3-7 p.m.

Costumed Characters (Red & Blue Monster), 7-9 p.m.

Eddie Edgar Arena

Taste of Spree, 6-8 p.m.

Main Stage

Big Ray & The Motor City Kings and Killer Flamingos, 7-11p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

Spree & Carnival

Opens 2-11 p.m.



Hot Dog Pig Racing and Wacky Rubber Duck Races, 2:30p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m.

Sunshine the Clown, 3-8 p.m.

Checker the Clown, 3-7 p.m.

Costumed Characters (Doc McStuffins & Minion), 7-9 p.m.

Kids Tent

Brad Lowes Puppets, 5-6 p.m.

Maze Family Fun Show, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

SPREE schedule of events


The annual fireworks show goes off at dusk Sunday, June 26.

Earth Angels, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Main Stage Entertainment

Major Woody, 7-11 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

Spree & Carnival

Opens, noon to 11 p.m.


Petting Farm, noon to 9 p.m.

Bike Parade, 12:30 p.m.

Family Day, 1-3 p.m.

Hot Dog Pig Racing and WackyRubber Duck Races, 1:30 p.m.,3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9p.m.

Sunshine the Clown, 3-8 p.m.


Costumed Characters (Elsa & Olaf), 7-9 p.m.

Kids Tent

Zeemo the Magnificent, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Brad Lowes Puppets, 7-8 p.m.

Maze Family Fun Show, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

Main Stage

Parallel Fifth, 7-9 p.m.

Rare Earth, 9-11 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

Spree & Carnival

Opensn noon to 11 p.m.

Spree Run

Registration /Rotary 5K at SPREE& 1-Mile Fun Run (city hall),7:30-8:30 a.m.

Eddie Edgar Arena

Pancake Breakfast, 8:30-11 a.m.

Worship Service, Catholic (8:30a.m.) and Protestant (11 a.m.)

Sunshine the Clown, 9-11 a.m.

Spree Grounds

Classic Car Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Petting Farm, noon to 9 p.m.

Hot Dog Pig Racing and WackyRubber Duck Races, 1 p.m., 3p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m.


Costumed Characters (Mr. & Mrs.Mouse), 5-9 p.m.

Costumed Characters (Spiderman& Sponge Bob), 7-9 p.m.

Kids Tent

Zeemo the Magnificent, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Amazing Clark Puppets, 7-8 p.m.

Maze Family Fun Show, 8:30-9:30p.m.

Main Stage

Parallel Fifth, 7-11 p.m.

Ball Diamond

Steve King and The Dittilies

Grand Finale - Fireworks

Dusk (approximately 10:15 p.m.);30-minute show presented bythe Livonia Anniversary Commit-tee.


Taline Caliskan, 8, and TeaGrenillo, 6, rode a camel duringlast year’s Spree.


Craig Macshara and Tina Klein ofDearborn Heights tried to win a

prize shooting hoops last year.Sean Flynn offered pointers.



Thousands expectedto watch fireworks


The fireworks show is the grandfinale of Spree.


Tens of thousands of spectators are ex-pected to turn out for the annual Sundaynight fireworks show that serves as the

traditional end to Livonia Spree.“The challenge is to try to raise the bar,”

said Roberto Sorgi, fifth-generation owner ofThe American Fireworks Co. of Hudson, Ohio,which has been putting on the fireworks showat Livonia Spree for about 30 years.

Sorgi said each year the company retiressome shells and introduces new ones, pickingand choosing the best new products fromvarious manufacturers.

“There’s a lot of devices within them,” hesaid, adding they break multiple times, oftenin different colors.

The soundtrack is ... just a little bit of ev-erything,” he said, including patriotic songs,rock ’n’ roll, classic and country.

“The entire show is shot and scripted tomusic,” he said, with shells timed to go offwithin one-hundredth of a second to the beatof a song.

The 25-minute pyro-musical show, which isfree to attend, is the grand finale of Livonia’sweek-long birthday celebration.


PHOTOGRAPHER

Spree fireworks.


SIGHTS OF SPREE


Tim and Ewa Forfinski, with kids Tomek and Ania, tried their hands at games of skill last year. They are fromLivonia.


SIGHTS OF SPREE


Dusk falls Sunday and the crowds just get larger, waiting for the fireworks show.

Bring that appetite to the Livonia Spreefairgrounds this year.

A whole host of favorite food optionswill be available during the festivities, hap-pening June 21-26 at Livonia’s Ford Field.

Many favorites are returning this year,including Billy Sims BBQ, a restaurant chainthat has locations across metro Detroit; Novi’sOn The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina andthe stand for St. Matthew’s United MethodistChurch, among others.

The newest vendor will please the Polishcrowd: Livonia’s own Lila’s Pierogi will makeits debut at Spree this year. Located at 27811Five Mile, just west of Inkster, the pierogishop will be serving Polish fare to hungrySpree-goers.

Brian Duggan, who oversees the food se-lections at Spree, said he wanted to continuefinding unique foods from around the globe topopulate the annual event.

“We have tons of food, but I like to getdifferent kinds of ethnic backgrounds,” Dug-gan said.

He said the pierogi shop has donated foodfor Music From The Heart in previous sum-mers, so it was a natural selection to join theSpree crowd.

Antonio Calimazzo, co-owner of Lila’s Pie-rogi, said this will be the first festival theshop has done in its 12 years of existence. Hesaid he’s excited to serve several kinds ofpierogi to Spree-goers, including potato, pota-to and cheese, farmer’s cheese and sauer-kraut.

“We’re anxious, that’s for sure. I’ve neverdone anything like this. We still peel the pota-toes by hand,” he said. “Still done the old-fashioned way.”

In addition to the new food stand by Lila’sPierogi, another new addition will come onthe row for food this year for a few days,though will be more to fill one’s soul ratherthan tummy.

Duggan said he’s arranged for a smallerthree-piece band to leave the stage and playnear the food stands Wednesday and Thurs-day during Spree for attendees enjoyment.

“This one, I’m going to lead out in the open,so people sitting at the table can hear someentertainment,” Duggan said. “Dinner and ashow.”

[email protected] | Twitter: @DavidVeselenak

FILE PHOTO

St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is back with its food tent this year.

Tasty treats returning

this year to Spree


You know what the Lions Club sold last year. Caroland Steve Lawrence wore some corny headgear.




SPREE VENDORS

» Lila’s Pierogi» Livonia High Nooners Lions Club» Randy Paradise» Livonia Elks No. 2246» Livonia Fire Fighters Union 1164» Oakwood Concessions» Gazella’s Fine Food» Jack Bain Family Concessions» St. Matthew’s UMC» Mike’s Popcorn

» Livonia Kiwanis Early Risers» Your Just Desserts» Different Twist Pretzel Co.» House of Kabob» On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina» Terry’s Tastee Treats» Rainbow Ice» Happy Iceman, Inc.» Grandma’s Ice Cream.» Billy Sims BBQ

FILE PHOTO

The sloppy joes inthe St. Matthewtent are popularchoices.


The following history ofLivonia’s birthday cele-bration was compiled by

Spree historian Fernon Feen-stra. Contributors includedHerman Kluver, Mike Reiser,John Nagy, Joan Duggan, LeeMorrow and Sue Wisler.

The history, published onlivoniaspree.com, is being re-

printed here with permission.

The foundationApril 1970 – Edward H. McNamara had

just been elected mayor of Livonia. It wasalso the 20th year of the incorporation ofLivonia as a city from its township days. Inone of McNamara’s staff meetings, he is re-ported to have stated that he wanted to haveLivonians share his vision of Livonia as a city.Heretofore Livonia’s 36 square miles hadbeen influenced by and identified by the vari-ous subdivisions and, of course, by the vari-ous subdivision officials.

McNamara stated that to bring the city tomaturity, we needed to think like a city andsocialize like a unified city. Asking for staff-ers’ suggestions, a citywide party was orga-nized to be held at the city ice arena withentertainment and chicken dinners. Much ofthe planning was influenced by the LivoniaJaycees carnivals with their fireworks andthe Livonia Show Train at the race track with

its fireworks. However, these were fundrais-ers or commercial exhibits. The mayor want-ed a volunteer group to organize a familyaffair. He appointed some of his staff as vol-unteers. No one was paid and volunteer ener-gy would be what made it successful.

Year 1970 – Bob Osborne was the mayor’sappointed mover of the group. Paul Kugler,chair of the Water and Sewer Board, and StanTelman of the Chamber of Commerce wereco-chairs. Mike Reiser of the Water and Sew-er Board; John Nagy, planning director; DanAndrews and Dan Gilmartin of the IndustrialDevelopment Office; Herman Kluver of Bur-ton Hollow; Tom Mitchell, beer distributor;Hugh Gedrich, restaurateur; Joan Duggan,Moms for McNamara; Sue Wisler, Moms forMcNamara; H. Dow Tunis, Ford Motor Co.;and Ken Kunkle, Plante and Moran, were thefirst committee. The committee had many,many volunteers.

So on that Sunday, Aug. 2, 1970, the cityinvited the subdivisions to come to a freeparty. Hugh Gedrich planned for 5,000 chick-en dinners; 15,000 came. Food ran out to adisappointed crowd. Livonians came together,volunteers planned and put on a party, cityservices were provided, but the food ran out!

Year 1971 – All the planning done in 1970was in place, the site, the entertainment, thefree party was in place. Hugh Gedrich andthe mayor were adamant that the food couldnot, would not, run out. Chicken dinners were


Big winners at games of skill last year were Rico Ray of Canton, Nadine Salamey of Plymouth, Scott Demorestof White Lake and Kyle Gruich of Wayne.

Livonia’s birthdaycelebration history

Feenstra


planned for 12,000; only 5,000 came. The plan-ners believe the disappointed stayed home.The financial losses were many.

State papers for incorporation were filedMarch 23, 1971, for the Livonia AnniversaryCommittee Inc. by Stanley Telman with Trust-ees Kenneth Kunkle, Carl Demek and DanielGilmartin. The purpose for which the corpo-ration is formed is as follows:

“To conduct business pursuant to and inconnection with celebrating anniversaries ofthe incorporation of the city of Livonia, Michi-gan; further, by way of example, but not limi-tation: to conduct picnics, dinner-dances,sports events, parades, carnivals and to selltickets for all of the foregoing; to promotepageants; to hire bands and orchestras; torent any premises necessary for the stagingor holding any civic function connected orrelated to any of the foregoing; to purchasenecessary supplies, merchandise, food andbeverages; to sell and dispense souvenirs,food, soft drinks and beer.”

Year 1972 – The Livonia citywide partywas not held to enable the committee to as-sess the wrongs and keep the efforts for acitywide, free party, staffed by volunteers,with assistance from city resources thatwould be a success.

The party startsLivonia’s party in 1973 was coined Spree 23

by Industrial Development coordinator Dan-iel Gilmartin as a befitting name for Livonia’s23rd birthday. Kiddie rides were added, civic

groups were involved as food vendors, enter-tainment was added to the existing groupsand massive feeding was gone. Spree 23 wasan entertainment success, a monetary suc-cess, and having the core of energetic work-ers, a tribute to the city coming together.

The party continuesMore than 40 years later, the Livonia Anni-

versary Committee continues to bring ourcommunity together every year to celebrateour great city.


Many people stop, sit down where they are andwatch the fireworks every year.


Parents: You don’t need to take your kidsto Disney World to meet Mickey andMinnie Mouse – or Elsa and Olaf, either.

You can take them to Ford Field in Livonia.The popular costumed characters will be atLivonia Spree again this year.

“They were a big hit last year,” said Livo-nia resident Joe Peraino of Lorio-Ross Ster-ling Entertainment, which has been bookingSpree entertainment for more than 15 years.“They have authentic costumes. They’re thatgood, like you would see at Disney World.

“They make spectacular photo ops for thefamilies.”

Other characters scheduled to be at Spreeare Dora and Diego, Blue and Red Monster,Doc McStuffins and Minion and Spider-Manand Sponge Bob.

The characters will vary by day. Followingis the schedule:

» 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dora and Diego» 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Red and Blue Mon-

ster» 7-9 p.m. Friday, Doc McStuffins and

Minion» 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Elsa and Olaf» 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Minnie and Mickey

Mouse; 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Spider-Man andSponge Bob.

Characters provide classicphoto ops during Spree

FILE PHOTO

Doc McStuffins is one of several costumed characterswho will be on-hand for photos during Spree.

FILE PHOTO

Spider-Man will be available 7-9 p.m. Sunday, June26.

FILE PHOTO

Costumed characters make for great photo ops forkids during Livonia Spree.


Where things are


The jams are made outside Michigan, butthey are all-natural and gluten-free with noGMO (genetically modified organisms), Ny-gard said.

Nygard said Blazo’s founder, Ed Blazo,who’s now deceased, “created high standardsfor a simple, good quality pie.”

The company still makes pies the way itdid more than 50 years ago, using only name-brand ingredients and fillings made fromscratch, usually with Michigan fruit. “Wedon’t add any artificial flavorings or preser-vatives,” said Nygard, a graduate of the Culi-nary Institute of America. All pies are bakedindividually, not on a conveyor belt, and takenout of the oven when they are ready.

Now Blazo’s is applying those same highstandards to the other foods it is offering atits Plymouth Road location, which opened inNovember 2014.

Blazo’s used to own about 12 family-stylerestaurants, including one in Westland, thatwere known for their pies. The restaurantsoperated from the 1960s through the 1990sand were popular hangouts for high schoolstudents after the big game.

The company then transitioned into awholesale operation, making pies for otherretailers – something it still does. Now it also

has its own retail store.The company also wants to expand more

into fundraising, selling pies or gift certif-icates for pies.

Co-sponsoring the pie-eating contest is away to get the Blazo’s name out in the public,Nygard said, adding some people don’t realizethe company has a new retail store.

Blazo’s is donating 80 six-inch handmadecream pies, in vanilla and chocolate, to thecontest.

“We appreciate the involvement in Spree,”he said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

BLAZO’S

FILE PHOTO

Blazo’s president Larry Nygard and his staff cut the ribbon on a retail store on Plymouth Road in November2014.

The company still makes piesthe way it did more than 50years ago, using onlyname-brand ingredients andfillings made from scratch,usually with Michigan fruit. Allpies are baked individually, noton a conveyor belt, and takenout of the oven when they areready.

Continued from Page 6


SIGHTS OF SPREE


Eight-month-old Henry McIntire, held by grandmother Susan Bresler, met his first goat at the Spree petting zoolast year.


SIGHTS OF SPREE


The Killer Flamingos rocked the house last year.

LIVONIA SPREE • JUNE 2016 • 35

36 • LIVONIA SPREE • JUNE 2016

livonia spree 2016

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