Bill Joyner's FridayMusings 10.18, 21

October 18, 2021 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia

A toast to Livonia and a

return to normalcy

It felt so normal. 175 people having dinner at the Italian American club. Women dressed to the nines. Men in suits and ties.

It just felt good to be out for an evening. No rush. Pleasant conversation.

It was the re-establishment of what was at one time a staple on the annual calendar. Livonia's Mayoral Ball.

Maureen Miller Brosnan had planned an Inaugural Ball in 2020. Pandemic.

Moved it back, moved it to this year. Changed the date 4 times. And the 4th was the charm. There was Clerk Susan Nash. Council folks Laura Toy, Jim Jolly, Brandon McCullough, Cathy White, and Rob Donovic. School Board Trustee Dan Centers. District Judge Kathleen McCann.

Political differences are set aside. In fact, what differences. Talking with someone you were working to defeat. Dancing with someone on the opposite side of the political spectrum.

It felt so normal.

There was Steve King and the Dittilies. Turn the clock back. A timeless band. The best there is bar none.

Brosnan up on stage introducing the elected officials with praise all around. And then the highlight of the night for this guy looking for a return to normalcy. Brosnan invited her fiance, her children, his children all up on stage for a toast to Livonia.

A smile on my face and a couple of tears at the same time. For how happy Maureen and Greg looked, and you should have seen them on the dance floor, how handsome their newly blended family looked.

And when Maureen spelled out her goals, Vision 21, new senior center, non-discrimination ordinance, new zoning ordinance opening up new visions for the city, you had to think that yes, Livonia came out of the pandemic ready to move ahead, to unite, and to return to normalcy with opportunities knowing no boundaries.

One more weekend left for the

Haunted Wilson Barn

This Thursday for the best community spaghetti dinner-and eradicating polio

Will you be there? I know I will be.

Livonia comes together with a

community spaghetti dinner

Small city with a big heart

Time to move on to another special Livonia event. The Rotary AM and Rotary Noon Clubs have joined forces to host a community fundraising spaghetti dinner to help eradicate polio.

Tickets can be purchased from any Livonia Rotarian, FridayMusings, Cole, Newton & Duran, CPAs, CND Financial, 33762 Schoolcraft Rd., 2nd Floor, Livonia, or, Click on this image to purchase your tickets online. $12 adults $5 children up to 12.

Just who is the typewriter?

Who is the typewriter?

I am 72 years old. A graduate of Franklin High School 1967. BS Degree, Central Michigan 1972. Masters Degree Eastern Michigan 1981.

Served as a Wayne County Commissioner for three terms, 1976-1982 representing Northville, Plymouth City, and Township, Canton, Belleville, Van Buren, Sumpter, Wayne, and Westland.

Moved back to Livonia in 2003 after 25 years in Plymouth Township.

One son Paul, one daughter-in-aw Raquel, two grandchildren Leonardo and Maya.

I only bring this up because so many new subscribers to Musings in the past 30 days that I have a feeling you know nothing about the typewriter.

I enjoy sharing fun stories about all that is going on in our hometown. Without a downtown, I have adopted two others as my downtown, Livonia West aka Northville City, and Livonia North aka Farmington City.

See I get the benefit of downtown without having to pay more in taxes. Livonia North is 3 miles from my estate and Livonia West is 6 miles, where by the way I have breakfast every morning at 6:30 at the Tuscan. That is except Friday when I meet up with friends at the Senate Coney Island at 7:00. Get to sleep in an extra 1/2 hour as I am up by 4:30 every day.

I do endorse candidates. But those are my opinion and you can either follow my advice or not. It is your vote and as long as you exercise it then I am happy.

A big advocate of the arts. BIG. Would like to see a marketing theme for Livonia that lets our own residents and neighboring residents understand just how many art organizations we have, and theatre groups and performing arts groups, and, well you get the picture.

For decades Livonia has led the way with communities to the west looking for community leadership in Livonia. Our parks--second to none. Recreation--second to none. Education--second to none. Police and public safety--second to none.

They all wanted to emulate us. And then we took some time off and decided that the status quo was the way to go.

Now we have an opportunity to take a progressive agenda and move forward. Our Vision 21 plan is second to none. Plans for Five and Farmington is second to none. The plans for Greenmead are second to none.

I am ready to see that we elect this year candidates that want to move off the status quo and help us move forward into a new generation of leadership.

I enjoy meetiing readers of Musings and I hope to meet more of you this Thursday at the Rotary, AM and Noon, Spaghetti Dinner.

Tell me about you and then maybe I will stop talking and writing about me.

Friday Musings and the typewriter encourages you to consider these candidates when you vote on November 2nd

Endorsing candidates for Livonia City Council is not always easy for this typewriter. This election is no different.

I talk with dozens of people, neighbors, city hall observers, candidates, and people I do not know but just stop them and ask their opinions. Their thoughts on this election.

The first two endorsements, already decisively made, were for incumbent Jim Jolly who is a candidate that doesn't just talk Livonia he lives Livonia, and challenger Dan Centers who has a history of bridge-building through all levels of government, an attribute that will benefit Livonia as he works with all individuals to move Livonia forward.

There are three more worthy of consideration for our vote for Livonia City Council. In addition to Jolly and Centers FridayMusings endorses three others who would make Livonia proud.

Carrie Budzinski, Ken Overwater, and Laura Toy. Any combination of two of these three candidates, along with Jolly and Centers will create a City Council that would be forward-looking, willing to continue building on the Vision 21 blueprint while working with our Mayor to mold a progressive agenda restoring our hometown as the envy of neighboring communities.

Ken Overwater is an advocate for people when they need it most. On City Council, he will be committed to expanding access to the things that make Livonia a great place to live while continuing to listen to the concerns of Livonia residents. In talking to Ken you can hear the compassion for others. He has heart and it comes through as he engages in active listening. A needed skill set on our council.

Carrie Budzinski will bring transparency, accountability, and an active engagement with citizens. This is what we can expect from her service. What is impressive with her is her willingness to follow through on ideas. She is more than just talk, she is a person with action. Follow-through is another skill set we will look forward to on council.

Laura Toy understands that the history of Livonia goes beyond the date that someone was elected to the council. This historic perspective is something we need. It propels us into the future by understanding what came before and why we need progressive change if we are to continue attracting younger families. It would have been easy after her defeat for Mayor just two years ago to be bitter while turning her back on Mayor Brosnan. Instead, she has worked to develop a relationship that benefits the entire community. This comes with maturity, experience, and wisdom. Skillsets that will benefit our Council and city.

These endorsements do not take away from the two candidates not receiving consideration. Both Rob Donovic, incumbent, and Scott Morgan, challenger, are good, likable candidates. They are however aligned with a faction of the city council that is holding the city back, that tends to support only their way without listening to their neighbors for the change necessary to move Livonia forward.

It may be considered a cop-out to endorse five, not four but Livonia is fortunate to have five solid candidates who put Livonia first and if elected will help position our hometown as the place to live, the community to work, and the hometown to raise our families.

Jolly, Centers, Budzinski, Overwater, Toy. Five outstanding candidates. FridayMusings encourages you to consider your four votes from among these five.