January 1, 2020 Your source for All Livonia news. All the time. All ways positive.
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| In Livonia it is guaranteed that partnerships work. Police. Fire. Faith Community. Volunteers. |
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This is the 3rd year Mayor Dennis Wright, Livonia Police Department, Livonia Fire Department and Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church has teamed up for the annual "Livonia Blessing Bag Project!"
Local Livonia businesses and sponsors gave generously each year to cover the cost of 155 bags delivered to disabled veterans in our hometown. 5 families in need were also blessed with bags and gift cards. Another 30 bags were given out to those in need through the Police and Fire Departments and the church.
Due to the generosity of the sponsors and donors our Livonia Fire and Police Departments on Christmas Eve were able to give away small monetary gifts to Livonia citizens they encountered on their shift!s.
From the looks of it volunteers had a good time putting their own smiles on the faces of gift bag recpients, They had a fun time volunteering while reaching out and extending the hand of friendship and caring to those who have served, those who are disabled and those who are lonely on Christmas Eve.
What a great project. Livonia certainly should be proud of this annual event spearheaded by Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church in partnership with our Livonia Police and Fire.
In Livonia
partnerships work
Livonia Police
Livonia Fire
Faith Community
Volunteers
How great it is.
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| 2020 campaigning in Livonia is ready to kick off and we have barely finished 2019. |
Pensions and staffing continue to be discussed through social media.
Livonia's #1 campaign issue continues to resonate. |
Rob Dorton:
Dearborn was the desired go to because they worked 12 hour shifts and had a pension. Livonia isn't understaffed due to budget. They're hiring. People make it sound like a budget issue. It's simply a numbers issue. More retiring than coming in. It'll level out.
Fire pads their numbers. That's a verifiable fact. No ambulance runs go out without a fire truck as well. That's plain and simple verifiable. It's for funding. Educate yourself on that one. Why in Earth would you send a ladder truck to a heart attack call in a park? Because you can consider that a run. Boom. Now sleepy no fire having Livonia can get funding because it shows they're busy. It's bureaucracy. They play the game right.
 Nathan Lee, Livonia citizen and President of the Livonia Professional Firefighters:
Rob Dorton Unfortunately this is a very late reply, but I was just recently made aware of it. Your Livonia Fire Department in no way "pads" its run numbers. Each call receives one single run number regardless of if one paramedic ambulance staffed with 2 Firefighter/Paramedics shows up, or if a medic truck and an engine shows up. In fact, we could have 5 medic trucks and 5 engines show up and it would still only be one single run number. Also, all but one of our comparable communities offers a traditional defined benefit pension plan.
Our issue at our police and fire departments is not a "retiring" issue. We have an extremely limited number of applicants (in fact we have no qualified applicants to fill any of our 9 firefighter/paramedic vacancies currently) and we have an abnormally high # of those we do hire leave for other departments with better benefits/compensation. The city has spent the last 20 years attacking and eroding our collective bargaining agreement to the point that we are no longer remotely competitive with surrounding communities, all while our run volume has increased by almost 5,000 calls per year, with less than half the national staffing average. Our Firefighters have spent 10's of thousands of our own personal dollars attempting to defend ourselves against the cities attacks.
What we have is a major recruitment/retention issue. An issue that has severely negatively impacted our fire and police departments ability to protect the safety of our great citizens. We have fought for years for the city to address this issue with no success. That is why we finally had to go to the public with our issues. That is something we did everything possible to avoid having to do.
I would be happy to answer any further questions you may have regarding these issues. Thank you,
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Part Four:
Get Ready for Taxes.Be Prepared to File Electronically
and Use Direct
Deposit for Refunds
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The Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to act now to avoid a tax-time surprise and ensure smooth processing of their 2019 federal tax return.
This is the fourth and final tax tip of a four-part tax series of reminders offered by Livonia's Cole, Newton & Duran to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. To that end, a
special page
, newly updated and available on
IRS.gov
, outlines things taxpayers can do now to prepare for the 2020 tax season ahead.
Filing electronically
is easy, safe, and the most accurate way to file taxes. There are a variety of free electronic filing options for most taxpayers including using IRS
Free File
for taxpayers with income below $66,000, or Fillable Forms for taxpayers who earn more. Taxpayers who generally earn $56,000 or less can have their return prepared at a
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site. Tax Counseling for the Elderly
sites offer free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older.
Combining
Direct Deposit
with electronic filing is the fastest way to get a refund. With Direct Deposit, a refund goes directly into the taxpayer's bank account. No need to worry about a lost, stolen or undeliverable refund check. This is the same electronic transfer system used to deposit nearly 98% of all Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits. Nearly four out of five federal tax refunds are deposited directly.
Direct Deposit is easy to use. Taxpayers select it as their refund method through tax software or let their tax preparer know they want direct deposit. Taxpayers can even choose Direct Deposit on a paper return. Be sure to have bank account and routing numbers handy and double check entries to avoid errors.
By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds for people claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law requires the IRS to hold the entire refund − even the portion not associated with EITC or ACTC. This law change, which took effect in 2017, helps ensure that taxpayers receive the refund they are due by giving the IRS more time to detect and prevent fraud.
The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer. For example, the IRS, along with its partners in the tax industry, continue to strengthen security reviews to help protect against identity theft and refund fraud.
Start with
IRS.gov
for help that includes tools, filing options, and other services and resources. Taxpayers increasingly use IRS.gov as their first resource for tax matters. Information in languages other than English is available under the "Language" tab on IRS.gov.
For questions about filing electronically or using direct deposit for your refund, please contact a tax professional at Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs at 734-427-2030. You can also visit our website at
www.cndcpa.com
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Click on this image for all movie times at the Phoenix
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January in Livonia
Dickerson Art Gallery will be presenting recent works from the following artists at the Bennett Civic Center Library during the month of January:
Durwood Coffey, Barb Gibson,
Mark Krecic, Jon Lange, Vic Leo,
Kay Masini,
Marcia Polenberg,
Ted Ramsay, Mireille Ripley,
Gwen Roth,Tim Tonachella,
Paul Zenian, and guest artist,
Danny Rebb
January 5
Healthy Livonia's 100 Days to Health begins at 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Kirksey Recreation Center. The kick-off event will feature keynote speakers, raffle prizes, refreshments and a free workout.
For more information, call (734) 466-2912.
January 7 @ 6:30 meet/greet
@7:00 meet
Livonia Garden Club
Civic Park Senior Center
Program: Vertical Gardening Ideas
January 13
Official launch of the
Tour de Livonia
January 18 @ 11:00 - 2:00
Franklin High School
PTA DADS Chili Cook-off
January 20 @ 2:00
Livonia Historic Society @ Greenmead's Blue House
"Shanty Boys, Peaveys, and River Hogs-
Michigan's Lumbering Days"
January 21 @ 8:30 pm
CLARENCEVILLE Senior All Night Party
BOWLING FUNDRAISER @ MerriBowl
January 23
Senior Center Book Club: Failures of Presidents
A Project of AlphaUSA
Moderated by Chuck Dardas and the typewriter
February in Livonia
February 1 @ 2:00 - 4:00 or 6:00 - 8:00
Daddy-Daughter Dance
Elk's Lodge 31117 Plymouth Road
For more information, call (734) 466-2900.
Co-sponsored by Livonia Elk's Lodge and
Livonia Parks & Recreation
February 4 @ 6:30 meet/greet
@ 7 meet
Livonia Garden Club
Civic Park Senior Center
Program: Tips for preparing for a flower show
February 16 @ 1:00
Cardboard Boat Races
Jack Kirksey Recreation Center
Registration begins on Monday, Jan. 6
February 22 @ 4:00
PASSPORT TO SCANDINAVIA
Livonia Symphony Orchestra
Clarenceville's Historic Louis Schmidt Auditorium
February 23 @ 4:30 - 8:30
The Ian Clemens 4th Annual Trivia Night
Hosted by The Ian Clemens Foundation
St. Mary's Cultural Center
March in Livonia
March 14
33rd Annual Bowling for Braille Bopoks
Novi Bowl Family Fun Center
March 3 @ 6:30 meet/greet
@7:00 meet
Livonia Garden Club
Civic Park Senior Center
Program: Four seasons of garden interest
June in Livonia
June 7 @ 3:00
Livonia Civic Chorus Spring Concert
Churchill High School Performing Arts Center
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United States Senate
Gary Peters (D-I)
John James (R)
United States House of Representatives
Haley Stevens (D-I)
Whitney Williams (R)
Eric Esshaki (R)
Michigan House of Representatives
Laurie Pohutsky (D-I)
Martha Ptashnik (R)
https://www.facebook.com/ElectReginaGargus2020/ |
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INDOOR TRIATHLON REGISTRATION UNDERWAY
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Registration is underway for the
annual Indoor Triathlon Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center, 15100 Hubbard.
Participants compete in a 20-minute swim, 20-minute bike, and 20-minute run with 10-minute transition times between each event. Swimming takes place in the 25-yard lap pool. Biking will be on upright stationary bikes. Running will be done on treadmills in the fit hub. Scoring is determined by the total distance covered in all three events.
"If you are looking to take part in your first triathlon, this event provides a great experience in a motivating and encouraging atmosphere," commented Ted Davis, Superintendent, Livonia Parks and Recreation.
The registration fee of $35 includes a participation t-shirt and refreshments. Awards will be given to the top male and female in each of the following age groups 18-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61 and over.
Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 14. For more information, please call (734) 466-2900 or visit
www.livoniaparks.org
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| Livonia's State Representative Pohutsky and State Senator Polehanki report on active year in the community |
"Shanty Boys, Peaveys, and River Hogs- Michigan's Lumbering Days" presented by the Livonia Historical Society
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 Join the Livonia Historical Society on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 at 2 p.m. for their meeting and a presentation by speaker Rochelle Balkam. This event takes place in the Alexander Blue House at Greenmead, 20501 Newburgh Road.
All are welcome to attend this free event. Membership information will be available at the meeting. For more information, please call (248) 477-7375.
Late in the 19th century, Michigan had more millionaires than nearly every other state. The names of those lumber barons are part of Michigan's story: David Whitney, Arthur Hill, Henry Sage, William Atwood, Charles Hackley and Henry Crapo.
Lumber was "green gold", worth more than the gold from California's Gold Rush. The way of life for the lumberjacks or shanty boys as they called themselves was unique to them. Everything at the lumber camp had a name: widow-maker, Gabriel's horn, river hogs, swampers, skidders, big wheel, log mark, and the most important person, cookee (cook.)
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Livonia Community Foundation giving back while
working with the community |
 If you are involved with a charity that is qualified to apply for a grant from the Livonia Community Foundation, please remember that this is the first year we
will only be accepting applications through our new online process and all grant applications must be completed prior to midnight on January 15th.
Annually the Livonia Community Foundation reviews grant applications submitted by 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations serving the residents of the City of Livonia for programs and projects which they believe meet the mission of the Foundation. Generally, the Livonia Community Foundation does not provide grants for administrative or operational activities. The applications due to the Foundation by the 15th of January.
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What is the talk circulating throughout Livonia about this
one-of-a-kind guitar being raffled off by the Livonia Symphony? |
  Susan Parker Stewart had promised to post some detailed pictures of the Alembic bass guitar on facebook that the Livonia Symphony Orchestra is raffling off.
So what is all this talk circulating through our hometown about this one of a kind guitar that has so many people really excited about the opportunity to win while helping our hometown Symphony.
Let's let Susan Parker Stewart tell you a little about it:
So I believe that this is a Mark King Deluxe model with a bunch of upgrades. It is a hand built custom 4 string bass guitar with a gorgeous buckeye burl wood top and back with the electronics covers on back being continuous (cut from the same piece of wood).
The core body wood is mahogany and the pick-up's are Alembic custom wound active type.The neck is maple with purple heart wood stripes, the fingerboard is ebony with abalone oval inserts.
Another custom feature is that the side marker dots are blue and red LED's. They are gorgeous when illuminated on a dark stage.
These instruments typically take months to complete and cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
This one was donated to the Livonia Symphony Orchestra for a fundraising raffle with 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales funding LSO operations.
300 tickets are being sold for $100 each and the drawing is to be held on Saturday May 9th 2020 at a Symphony concert between 5:00 and 5:30 at the Clarenceville High School Schmidt Auditorium.
These raffle tickets will make excellent Christmas gifts! You need not be present to win!
For raffle tickets please contact LSO board member Emily Bauman [email protected] or call (248) 509-4744. |
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