October 04,2020 Your Source for Livonia Cultural Happenings
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Phoenix Theatres Laurel Park Place will Re-Open this Friday, October 9th, returning to with Confidence.
Just in Time for their 20th Anniversary.
Movie fans our long intermission Is over with Coming Attractions to include on October 9th Marvel’s “New Mutants,” Solstice Studios’ new Russell Crowe film “Unhinged,” 101 Studio’s family comedy starring Robert DeNiro “War with Grandpa,” Magnolia Film’s thriller “Alone,” RSA Film’s powerful family drama “Words on Bathroom Walls,” Warner Brothers’ 10th Anniversary Exclusive Showing of Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” and Christopher Nolan’s long awaited “Tenent.”
Michigan based Phoenix Theatres’ humble beginnings took root in August of 2000, and in the two decades since they have risen above more than their fair share of difficult challenges that are typical to a small business. However, none of these problems have been as serious as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“This challenge was completely unexpected, and affects literally everyone in the world,” explained Cory Jacobson, owner of Phoenix Theatres. “We have faith in the human need to interact with one another and the art we present at the movies. It is unique to our American experience, as movies are one of our greatest cultural contributions to the world. Our business is both local and very social by nature and uniquely disadvantaged in a pandemic crisis.”
The movie industry is not only closed at your local theatre, but all production has stopped on new feature films as well. The film studios have responded by rescheduling all films beginning later this year and in many cases 2021. As the film industry grapples with these unprecedented problems, Phoenix Theatres decided to proactively shift their focus to offer solutions that could make a difference.
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“Our management group has spent the past six months working on developing a comprehensive plan with the help of the National Association of Theatre Owners and their epidemiologist, Dr. Daniel Z. Uslan of U.C.L.A., and CDC guidance to carefully re-open our theatres. They developed the CinemaSafe guidelines that our company will be following. We then took the added step of validating the national protocols and the science behind them by having the Director of Infectious Diseases Research for Beaumont Health, Dr. Matthew Sims review the operational protocols,” Jacobson said.
Dr. Sims’ concluded “I believe allowing the movie theaters to reopen while enforcing these guidelines is at least as safe, or safer, as any other comparable businesses currently permitted by Governor Whitmer to open, such as a shopping mall and likely safer than indoor restaurants, where people might have masks off for a significant amount of time and which are employing far less aggressive risk reduction strategies.”
To take the challenge away from implementing social distancing, the Phoenix installed a new reserved seating program in their computer system that allows guests to select their seat in advance either on the web site or newly developed mobile app. The computer will automatically remove two seats between each pair sold, creating a checkerboard style pattern. This will provide six feet of separation between guests to safely social distance while watching a film.
"Prior to our re-opening, we will be meeting with a small specialized training group to individually work with every employee in the company,” said Sheena Hohman, Director of Employee Training and Development. “This will ensure a complete understanding of the importance of following our CinemaSafe established guidelines for operations. By providing our employees with the tools and training necessary we can establish a safe movie-going environment for our employees and guests.”
Working closely with the National Association of Theatre Owners and with the help of management and employees the Phoenix has established new safety protocols for every aspect of the theatre:
Each employee will wear masks and other protective equipment. Guests will be required to wear face masks when moving about the theatre. They have streamlined transactions at the ticketing and concession stand to further minimize touch points. They will use a food grade disinfectant spray on all seats that removes 99.99% of all viruses on surfaces within 30 seconds. Each seat will be labeled with a “clean and sanitized” sticker to verify the cleaning procedure between showings as taken place.
They will be using this disinfectant spray on high touch points throughout the building including the restrooms and concession areas. Hand sanitizer stations will also be provided for customer use throughout the theatre.
Detailed Video Re-Opening Plan: “In order to help easily demonstrate these new policies, we developed a video to help illustrate what you can expect to see during your next trip to the movies,” said Tearis Reid, Vice President of Operations. “The cinema has always been a way for people to escape reality for a few hours. It is our job now more than ever to provide this experience to our guests while keeping them safe.”
To view Phoenix Theatres re-opening video plan and a complete listing of safety protocols, please visit our web site in advance at: www.phoenixmovies.net/covid
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The typewriter and bodyguard headed out to Livonia West (aka Northville City) for a Fall
Skeleton Tour. Rain. Empty street. Chill in the air. But it sure was fun.
Smiles all around.
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Movie Night at Ford Field |
Looking for some spooky Halloween fun?
The event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Ford Field.
Mark your calendars for two more Halloween-themed movies on Saturday, Oct. 17 for Hotel Transylvania and Saturday, Oct. 24 for Ghostbusters!
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Let's all have a coffee at
Anastasia and Katie's in October
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Clerk's Office extended hours |
On Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout October, the City of Livonia Clerk’s Office will be open until 7 p.m. for election business. Residents can come to City Hall or call (734) 466-2230 for assistance. |
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Steve King and the Dittilies are back for a "Start of Fall" concert |
Join your family and friends on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 6-8 p.m. for a special fall edition of Music From the Heart! The Livonia Arts Commission is proud to present Livonia's own Steve King and the Dittilies! Steve King and the Dittilies is a Motor City Legend and official Band of the State of Michigan! Showcasing hit songs from the 1930s through the present. Traditionally an 'oldies' band, the Dittilies' repertoire focuses on 30 years in the past, spiced with current topical comedy and delivered with world-class sizzle.
Music From the Heart has a new location this year!! All concerts will take place on the east side of the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center. Please plan on parking in the Five Mile lot. Alternate parking is available in Rec Center parking lot.
Events are subject to change, cancellation and social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19. There is a maximum of 1,000 people. Registration is not required. Look for the social distancing circles. For more information, call (734) 466-2540.
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Your vote for Laurie Pohutsky is crucial
Since 1960 the Joyner family has made support for our historic public school systems our number one priority every election, including the 12 years served on the Livonia Board of Education and an additional 8 years on the Wayne County Intermediate School Board (RESSA).
This election is no different. I am proud to add my support to the re-election of State Representative Laurie Pohutsky. I have gotten to know her since she was elected in 2018 having found her to be consistent in her views, offering integrity by following through on her campaign promises.
She stands in stark contrast to her opponent who wants to spend our education dollars on for-profit charter schools and in stark contrast to her opponent who is on record to allow teachers to bring guns into schools.
Add to that her endorsement by significant environmental groups, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Firefighters, Livonia City Councilman Brandon McCullough and Laurie Pohutsky is a candidate deserving of our Livonia support.
The contrasts are too great. I find the issues and values of Pohutsky more closely aligned with Livonia values.
You can check out her positions on the Pohutsky website:
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Detroit Free Press joins FridayMusings in endorsing Haley Stevens |
FridayMusings was the first media outlet to endorse Haley Stevens and is now followed by the Detroit Free Press, offering up many of the same reasons Musings offered but in more detail:
"Haley Stevens, who lives in Troy, was still in her 20s when she was tapped as chief of staff for the team of experts President Barack Obama tasked to rescue Detroit's collapsing auto industry. The group's efforts came to fruition in the resurrection of General Motors, Chrysler, and the complex supply network they supported.
"By 2017, when she became the first Democrat to challenge incumbent GOP Congressman David Trott in 2017, only a handful of Washington lawmakers could claim a more sophisticated understanding of the U.S.manufacturing industry and its challenges.
"Trott's abrupt withdrawal from the 2018 race was a tacit nod to expanding Democratic footprint in his district, and the Trump apologist Republicans nominated to replace him was even more out of sync with the 11th's well-educated constituents. Stevens emerged from her own crowded Democratic primary with a finely tuned campaign, and she went on to win the general election by a comfortable 7% margin.
"Stevens has focused on the bread-and-butter issues important to constituents in her moderate district, which has tended steadily bluer since Trump carried it by a 4% margin four years ago. She eschews Medicare-for-all in favor of the expanded public option favored by her party's presidential standard bearer, and her efforts to shape trade policy betrays a pragmatic focus on the day-to-day challenges facing Michigan manufacturers.
"Republican efforts to caricature Stevens as a left-wing socialist were dealt a significant setback last month when she was one of just 24 House Democrats endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has historically backed Republicans almost exclusively. Her opponent dismisses that endorsement as a cynical ploy to hedge the business community's bets in a rapidly changing swing district, but it also demonstrates the chamber's respect for Stevens industrial and trade policy chops.
"Eric Esshaki, the nurse-turned-attorney Republicans chose in a five-way primary to represent them in the 11th, is a dramatic improvement over the under-qualified GOP nominee Stevens dispatched in 2018. Personable, intelligent and candid about the Trump administration's failure to effectively manage the pandemic, he is the sort of conventional Republican — pro-life, anti-tax, and suspicious of government regulation — the district's voters might have have embraced a decade ago.
"But like his GOP counterpart in Michigan's 8th Congressional District, Esshaki simply can't make the case that he as well-prepared, or as simpatico with his changing district's needs and priorities, as the incumbent Stevens."
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