Bill Joyner's FridayMusings 10/24/2022

FridayMusings Friday, October 24, 2022 Helping define Livonia Quality of Life

Rotary hosting community spaghetti dinner Wednesday

This is the week that the typewriter and the Livonia community looks forward to each October. It is an opportunity for our hometown to come together, meet new friends and break bread with family and old friends.

A good old-fashioned down home spaghetti dinner hosted by our two Livonia Rotary Clubs, the Rotary Noon, which happens to be the oldest service club in Livonia, and the Rotary AM Club.

You can be a part of this community gathering, just like this mother and daughter enjoying the dinner in 2021, while helping to eradicate polio this Wednesday, October 26, at Christ our Savior Lutheran Church, Farmington Road, from 5:00 - 7:00. Tickets can be purchased from a Rotary member or at the door on the night of the dinner.

On a personal note, for 87 of my mother's 90 years, Geraldine Wood Joyner lived with polio, missing out on much of her elementary school years while undergoing treatment at the Shriners Childrens Hospital in San Francisco, over one hour from her home in Patterson California, including the removal of bone from one leg and adding to the other in order to bring some balance to her ability to walk. Walk with a leg brace all of her life.

This struggle with polio brought her a lifetime of helping children, especially special needs children, drove her to become active at Grant Elementary School as President of the PTA, becoming President of the Livonia Parent Teacher Association and then serving three terms on the Livonia Board of Education.

When this typewriter, the son of a polio survivor, hears of a reoccurrence of polio in New York it makes me sad. Sad in that we have all the resources in America to help eradicate polio around the world and that we now note that 63 of 70 wastewater samples discovered last week in New York were linked to a polio case of a 20-year-old male who has since developed paralysis in his legs, according to the New York state health department.

The majority of adults are protected from polio because many were completely vaccinated during their childhood. However, officials recommend that everyone stay up to date on their immunization.

The typewriter and bodyguard look forward to seeing you this coming Wednesday, October 26 from 5:00 to 7:00. Join us for some awesome spaghetti and the favorite part of dinner for the typewriter, dessert. Well, actually my favorite part is getting to chat up so many friends, new and old.

This community gathering is what brings a smile to my face as I picture hundreds of families out to support our Rotary Clubs and watching dozens of Rotary members and their families, some included here in the kitchen taking a break from preparing the spaghetti and setting out my portion of the dessert cakes, having fun bringing hometown residents together for a night of neighborliness.

Partners were needed and Musings readers stepped up with $750 donated

in first 6 hours Friday

This typewriter asked if you would join with Masco, AlphaUSA, and Livonia Kids & Families to supplement the equipment already in place, the electrical power set up, the students already working and learning at the Nick Strumbus workstations.

There was a need for supplies. The rolls of materials for the 3-D printer, sheets of special lumber for the laser printer, and electronic circuit boards.

FridayMusings in partnering with Livonia Kids & Families is seeking to raise $1,000 for supplies that will take the Engineering Lab through the end of the school year.

With your help, we are aiming to make this a community partnership.

And you responded, on Friday, the first day of the request. Donations included $50 from AH, $50 from GS, $100 from KB, $50 from anonymous, and $500 from community anonymous benefactor #2. Each was handed over personally. In the first 6 hours. Can't wait for the mail this week.

If you are able to partner with us and make this happen simply send a check made payable to Clarenceville Public Schools. We will bundle the checks and present them to the Engineering Lab teacher Deb Kummer and watch the smile on her face get even bigger as she expresses gratitude for your partnership.

Mail your check to:

Bill Joyner

19514 Bainbridge

Livonia, Michigan 48152

Thanks for considering this request. I was blown away by the effort of Masco, Livonia Kids & Families, and AlphaUSA and that is why I am joining the effort to help the oldest school district in the state make a difference for the students and for all of us.

Have a Bourbon with the

Livonia Community Foundation

The day after the Rotary Club sponsored community spaghetti dinner you might consider another community gathering this time with some adult beverages.

Support Livonia's charitable, cultural, historical, educational, and recreational institutions while having a great time! Get a ticket to join the Livonia Community Foundation on October 27th. Get your tickets here: https://livoniafoundation.org/events

Livonia Arts Commission hosting Rude Dogs formerly Major Woody. Entry fee is all of $2.00 on 11/5

CAPA opens their theatre season

with Legally Blonde 11/11-11/13

Tickets are now on sale for Livonia Churchill and CAPA's production of Legally Blonde the Musical! Tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Performances are:

Friday, Nov. 11 @ 7:00pm

Saturday, Nov. 12 @ 7:00pm

Sunday, Nov. 13 @ 2:00pm

https://churchillhs.seatyourself.biz/

An old-fashioned cider and doughnut stand set up by two young-at-heart supporters of the community, Kate Mackie and Kellie Whitlock.

A fun fundraiser. Chilled cider from Kapolnek Farms, doughnuts from Yates Cider Mill, and yes a bonfire which was so appropriately fun even with the weather warm-up.

The bodyguard baked up and brought a batch of icebox cookies first made by my grandmother in the 1920s with the tradition continued by my mother and now by Kathy.

Kellie Whitlock and Kate Mackie set out to raise funding for Mission 22 to assist families of first responders who commit suicide and the Livonia First Responder Foundation.

In the 30 minutes we were there a steady stream of friends and neighbors pulled up to make a donation, and sample the cider, well this typewriter had three glasses it was so good, enjoy the doughnuts, and again the typewriter indulged with two. I mean who wouldn't enjoy the Yates doughnuts without having to drive to Rochester?

The cause was great and the benefit besides financial is that levels of consciousness were raised about two organizations providing support for our first responders and families.

The cause was great with the benefit besides financial being that levels of consciousness were raised about two organizations providing support for our first responders and families.

There was no bar to saunter up to as most common fundraisers in town, especially for candidates, tend to be in a bar. But there was something creative about an old-fashioned cider and doughnut stand. Not set up by children with lemonade, which I love to stop at, but by two young-at heart-supporters of the community, Kate Mackie and Kellie Whitlock.

My kind of day. My kind of drive-by. My kind of fun. My kind of cider and doughnuts. Thank you, Kate and Kellie.

Niji-Iro Japanese Immersion Elementary School sets the standard for family fun

Only been to one Trunk or Treat. One in 73 years. After the evening spent at Niji-Iro Japanese Immersion Elementary School with over 250 students plus their parents participating, I am hooked. State Representative Laurie Pohutsky, principal Lawrence DeLuca and the typewriter teamed up to judge the pumpkin carving, trunk decorations, and costumes.

Thank you to Aya Yasukawa-Dudzinski for the invitation to judge. So organized. As the bodyguard and I pulled in we were directed by a student dressed as a nun to our designated parking.

After parking, we were not sure where we had landed. Students dressed in costumes, parents laughing and setting up their trunks, pumpkins being dropped off and yes, my eyes, wild-eyed, were roaming all the candy waiting for me.

But no, could not take any of the candy as it might suggest that I was being bribed for votes. Just could not happen so I actually left without a single snickers or Reese's peanut butter cup. I was so good. Darn it.

But I must confess. Carrie Budzinski slipped me my favorite, animal crackers. As we were waiting to announce the winners Laurie, Kathy, and I shared the bag. Our votes were already in so I figured it was okay to enjoy the crackers.

Being somewhat new to the school I set amazed that all announcements were made in English and Japanese. Loved the flow of the Japanese language, and the inflections. I listened to every word. Tried responding automatically in Spanish until I realized wrong language, wrong place.

I felt so out of it at times but just let it roll over me as the language shifted back to English. I was in a different country, but I looked around and realized that I was in good old Livonia watching a different culture while enjoying children and just having fun.

Enjoyed talking with the parents who were having as much fun as the children.

Let me digress, oh yes another digression. In the heart of the Livonia Public School district is the Japanese Magnet School, Niji-Iro Japanese Immersion Elementary School. The school provides a unique educational opportunity, which focuses on a two-way immersion program for both Japanese and American students.

I am still shaking my head in amazement. When I arrived children were laughing, parents were smiling, the organizers had it all together. When I returned to the car all Kathy and I could talk about was how impressed we were with the creativity, the happiness, the family fun, the whole atmosphere.

I am so indebted for the invitation to be a part of this wonderful evening.

Mail Address

19514 Livonia 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

Cell address

734-674-5871

FridayMusings has used and recommends these Livonia small businesses for your consderation

We hear a lot of talk about supporting our hometown small business community. With that thought in mind, this typewriter along with the bodyguard decided to compile a list of Livonia businesses that we have used over the past 5 years.

We endorse them for several significant reasons, our 3 Ps which are used to determine what vendors we use around the house: politeness, promptness, and professionalism. Yes of course their quality of work.

Ken and Penny Crider make Faith

and stopping Proposal Three a

cornerstone of their campaigns

FridayMusings has endorsed another candidate other than Ken Crider, candidate for State Senate, and another candidate other than Penny Crider, candidate for State Representative, and has endorsed a Yes vote for Proposal Three, but in keeping with our policy of including campaign information submitted from all candidates regardless of the position of Musings, the following informational event is scheduled for this coming October 29th and was provided by the Crider's for publication.

Seedlings Partners with Blessings in a Backpack to collect Mac & Cheese

Now through October 31, Seedlings is collecting Mac & Cheese for Blessings in a Backpack - Livonia.

If you would like to donate boxes of Mac & Cheese, or any brand works, simply bring them to the Seedlings office collection box located in their lobby at: 14151 Farmington Rd. Livonia 48154.

Seedlings is open Monday – Friday 9 - 5.

They are asking that you not bring single-serve microwavable cups as Blessings in a Backpack is in need of boxes of macaroni and cheese.

To learn more about Blessings in a Backpack - Livonia, click: www .biablivonia.org/

LDC Partners with YOU ARE LOVED

to help the homeless this winter

The Livonia Democratic Club (LDC) is pleased to be working with a new community outreach partner, You Are Loved. This great organization collects sleeping bags, clothing, toiletries, etc. for the homeless in downtown Detroit.

As part of a winter outreach project, they will be collecting the following items:

Size Large and X-Large sweatshirts and sweatpants
Warm winter gloves
White crew socks

Bring your unwrapped donations up until November 5th to the Livonia Senior Center located at 15218 Farmington Road. They have a box in the lobby for your donations. Please make sure you put your items in the LDC donation box (as there is another box in the lobby collecting donations). Our donation box is clearly labeled LDC.

Please contact Mitsy Morris at mitsymorris@aol.com with any questions.