Manor Ink July 2020

8 | JULY 2020 | MANOR INK
GRADUATION 2020
POLE PORTRAITS Banners depicting members of the Class of 2020 fly along Main Street in Livingston Manor. Created by graphic
artist Carolyn Bivins, they celebrate LMCS seniors who graduate this year under restrictions imposed by the coronavirus.
Seniors given hang-ups of the best sort
By Carolyn Bivins | For Manor Ink
2020
LIVINGSTON MANOR FREE LIBRARY
As the proud grandmother of a graduating member of
the Class of 2020, I wanted to do something special for
my grandson Jonathan. I designed a three-by-five foot
outdoor banner and shipped it to him so he could hang it
outside his home in Utica. It was such a hit with him that
I designed one for all the seniors in my life, including a
niece in Tri-Valley, a niece in Albany and a cousin in Connecticut.
I posted a flyer on Facebook and offered to make them
for anyone else who wanted to congratulate their graduate.
A comment from Susan Carlson offering to “sponsor”
a senior started an avalanche of offers from
other local community members. Because
of their generosity, I was able to create 27
individual banners for every Livingston
Manor senior, as well as a large banner
prominently displayed at Headquarters
Carolyn Bivins
Salon in the center of town.
I would like to thank all those who
contributed to the LMCS senior banners project: Jess
and Chuck Amback (for volunteering her prime window
space in the center of our town to display the group
banner); Rhonda and Dan Bischert; Carolyn and Larry
Bivins; Andrew Carlson; Rene Carlson; Susan and Gary
Carlson; Cecilia Cumino; Julie Diescher; Naomi Durkin;
Julie Edwards; Debra and Pete Feinberg; Diana and Guy
Fredenburg; Denise and Bruce Fulton; Shirley and George
Fulton; Michele and Chip Hemmer; Susan Lavelle; Amy
& Gordon LeRoy; Lena Lundquist; the Livingston Manor
SRP Union; Mari Martin; Anne Miller; Sandra Owen-Kelly;
Brenda Parks; Laura Pasquale; Diane and Art Riegal;
Barbara Roser; Jeanne and Doug Smith; Kathleen and
Randy Smith; Jill and Dan Smith; Diane Sprague; Carmen
2020 PRIDE Bivins also made banners to be displayed at
graduates’ homes. Above, one for Marlee Madison hangs on
her family’s deck. Carolyn Bivins photos
and Rob Staudt; Dale Taggart; Jennifer Tolbert; and Jen
Wood.
And, finally, a huge and heartfelt thank-you to Rhonda
Bischert for coordinating all the student addresses and
donations for this project.
To view a full photo album of individual senior banners,
go to the Livingston Manor Seniors Album on my
Facebook page at facebook.com/carolyn.bivins.
Congratulations to the LMCS Class of 2020.
Just a little about the Senior flags. I designed and
printed them for the Class of 2020, working with the Class
of 2020 Advisor Joyce Hoag and LMCS High School Principal
Shirlee Davis.
Carolyn Bivins is a Livingston Manor resident and Manor
Ink’s former Production Manger.