Pictures say it all. By all I mean all. There was Paul Soucy national boxing champion and mentor to young people challenging anyone in the room to a match at his gym. Paul is 80 years old with multiple heart surgeries and still going strong. There was Livonia Public School Superintendent Andrea Oquist telling how a man born in Italy, Dominic Paris, raised in the upper peninsula of Michigan came to teach at Bentley and Franklin High School while writing a definite history of Livonia.

Denise King who spent her 40 years of service to the developmentally disabled in Livonia and throughout western Wayne County. How she watched young people grow as they left

 their parents home, moved into a community opportunity center home and then moved out to live on their own. 40 years. Retiring this year.

Charlie Mahoney, herself an inductee in the Hall of Fame, who accepted the Class of 2019 called "This is a great event - it is so awesome that we have so many individuals and organizations involved in making Livonia great - what a inspirational evening."

Dan MacIver representing Bob Hardies who passed away just a month ago. His poignant remarks challenging other businesses to adopt the Hardies template of supporting Livonia art and service organizations, not just with money but with expertise, leadership and manpower. And telling the audience that the work of Hardies will continue on with the company he founded, now run by MacIver.

There was Chuck Dardas inspiring the audience to become accustomed to the terms "we" and "us" and move away from using the word "I" as it is all about community, involvement, making a difference in the lives of so many others.

On hand were school board members Karen Bradford, Liz Jarvis and Crystal Frank. City officials Susan Nash, Lynda Scheel, Kathleen McIntyre. Our state and county officials Terry Marecki, Dayna Polehanki and Laurie Pohutsky. 

Robert Stewart described the evening this way. "These are leaders who have worked tirelessly to shape our city into the wonderful community that it is.

 Congratulations and thank you for your service."

Seedlings, growing from a basement start up to now providing braille books to every state in the nation and 75 countries around the world. From right here in Livonia thanks to the efforts of over 100 volunteers working to keep the cost of braille books to $10 with thousands provided free of charge. From right here in Livonia. Making a difference in the lives of the sight impaired youth who are now enjoying the world found in books. Wow.

Kathleen Bilger commented at the end of the evening,  " It's no wonder Livonia is often cited on lists as a great place to live. It's due to the work done by the people and organizations represented tonight. Thank you inductees!"

Co-Master of Ceremonies Wayne County Commissioner  Terry Marecki described the evening as  " What an inspiration all of the inductees were tonight. Thank you to all."

Bill Heaton himself an inductee of the Livonia Hall of Fame called the evening "another great program involving inductees into the Hall of Fame.  I know this meant a lot to all the inductees, and especially to Denise King.  She has been so giving, and this was her time to receive."  

Jim Davis commented that he has "been asked what makes the City of Livonia so great? Here are six reasons presented at the Livonia City Hall of Fame. Thanks and remembrance to the inductees. It was an emotional night!"

It was an evening with laughter, smiles, congratulatory comments, lots of hugs, and plenty of reasons to understand why Livonia is such a

 wonderful town, full of personality, spirit of giving and volunteerism. Hosted by Rev. Kellie Whitlock the historic Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church was the perfect venue to blend so many personalities, so much history and so much personality into one evening. One evening not to be forgotten soon.

The night was best summed up by Cate Strumbos. The typewriter will let her words say it all,  "It was wonderfully inspirational!"

Photo credits: Katelynn Lucas (Gaskill). Note: the typewriter is not growing a weird looking mustache. He had oral surgery on Monday and he just looks weird. Soon to wear off. He hopes.

In making an endorsement for Mayor the typewriter looked at the qualities that are important and that we need to lead the 9th largest city in Michigan.

It takes a passion for government. It takes an ability to collaborate. It takes courage to be able to stand up and take on issues that might be uncomfortable. To address issues that might create a sense of anger among certain segments of the community because they do not like the truth.

I am looking for temperament, experience as an executive and judgement. These are the three qualities at the top of my list.

Additionally there must be a willingness to educate oneself while being able to educate others so that when a decision is made it is in the best long-term interests of the city.

It is important to love Livonia but it needs to be understood that the city is at an important time in its history. That is the key reason temperament and experience are so important. Important so that collaboration with residents, city council and city staff are unified in maintaining the quality of life for everyone in the city. The willingness to engage citizens, especially new residents, to take ownership of issues and participate in solutions. 

Livonia is entering a period of great economic growth. We are coming out of a period of a decade of cuts and so we need a Mayor who can translate that

 growth into better infrastructure and improvements; can work to see that we put a priority on reversing the decade long retention and recruitment problems facing our police and fire departments.

Whether we like it or not, for good or bad, our city council government has a big impact on our life in Livonia. For the most part, the impact is good. A well run, financially strong, clean local government is a great asset for raising a family, maintaining strong property values and defining a hometown of which we can all be proud.

We are fortunate to have strong neighborhoods, multiple shopping opportunities and more community festivals and culture that would make most hometowns envious.

We also are in need of a forward looking progressive approach to moving Livonia into a new generation of leadership. New ideas.

We have 7 highly qualified candidates seeking the office of City Council and we must take a look at 4 to receive our votes. One candidate, Brian Duggan, does not deserve our consideration as he chose to ignore the political process in the primary barely scratching out a last place finish based solely on his name recognition. He now wants us to consider him for the top four finishers and be deserving to serve on the City Council. There are 7 other candidates who campaigned, met voters, raised and spent money who should receive votes before Duggan is considered.

When looking for Council candidates let me start by saying what I am NOT looking for. I do not want people who are dishonest and corrupt, I do not support people who are agenda-driven anti-progress ideologues, I am not interested in people who are uncommitted to the community and the job of Council, and I am not interested in novices who have shown little interest in civic engagement.

In contrast to that are a five things I want to see in City Council candidates: Honesty in both their actions and being intellectually honest with their approach to issues. Balanced andwilling to be the representative of all of the people, not a champion of a special interest group or a narrow perspective. Committed to doing the job right which requires a significant dedication of time and energy.

Motivated to serving the public interests and motivated enough to campaign vigorously for the position. Experienced in their work and civic life that lends itself to this position.

Today Musings will add one more endorsement to the one made on Wednesday for City Council, Jim Davis. Today FridayMusings is endorsing Brandon McCullough for Council.

For Mayor: Maureen Miller Brosnan

For City Council: Jim Davis, Brandon McCullough with two more to come on Monday