Bill Joyner's FridayMusings 11/11/2022

FridayMusings Friday, November 11, 2022 Helping define Livonia Quality of Life

What motivates FridayMusings

We can't only define Livonia as taking small steps toward maintaining the way things were. That will give us mediocre outcomes. Our goal in Livonia needs to be

innovative and transformative.

Livonia Board of Education update

Burton and Jarvis endorsed by FridayMusings

Livonia voters spoke up and supported traditional public schools by re-electing Colleen Burton, Mark Johnson, and Liz Jarvis rejecting extreme views of 3 candidates seeking to expand alternative education methods thus denying traditional values that built Livonia, attracting young families and creating a stable hometown of which we are proud.

Michigan State Representative update

Endorsed by FridayMusings

Congratulations Matt Koleszar on winning your third term in the Michigan State House. Counting your continued Lansing leadership while looking forward to getting to know you as we are a significant part of your district combined with parts of Plymouth and Northville. Your election gives Livonia 3 members of the State House leadership combined with 2 members of the Michigan State Senate making Livonia a strong player in Lansing.

Koleszar Defeated Cathryn Neracher 28,064--23,669.

Madonna Faculty to be Featured on ABC's Hearts of Heroes

Sue Boyd, director of the Broadcast and Cinema Arts (BCA) Program, and Dan Boyd, an adjunct professor and engineer of the BCA Program, will be featured in an episode of Hearts of Heroes on Sunday, January 22, 2023.

On May 6 of 2021, the Boyds got a call from their neighbor, saying their house was on fire. Dealing with the shock and tragedy, they still came to campus to teach each day, and even filmed the 2021 commencement.

“They showed up very much optimistic, still worrying about the students first,” said BCA student Ethan Colado.

Crews from Belfor Holdings, Inc spent more than a year restoring the Boyd's house. During that time, Sue invited the company to be on the Celebrate Michigan show, which is produced on Madonna’s campus. Belfor Holdings’ CEO and Hearts of Heroes Host Sheldon Yellen (left picture below) appeared on the show.

To everyone’s surprise, Yellen said they would come back to shoot an episode of Hearts of Heroes.

“We had no clue that they were making us out to be the heroes,” said Dan. “We are not the heroes. The heroes are the firemen. Without them, the house would have completely burned to the ground.”

The Hearts of Heroes episode was shot in Madonna's television studio and BCA students had the chance to be a part of the production. Make sure to tune in to ABC's Hearts of Heroes on Sunday, January 22, 2023.

But wait, there's more...

Belfor Holdings, Sheldon Yellen, and the Hearts of Heroes crew gifted the BCA Department with a new anchor desk which is now being used for all Celebrate Michigan shows!

To watch Celebrate Michigan shows, follow them on Facebook.

The ABWA Autumn Brunch at Burton Manor was a Success!

The 17th Annual ABWA Autumn Brunch With Auction was held on Saturday, October 1, at the Burton Manor in Livonia! Their beautiful ballroom is twice as large as their previous locations. The doors opened at 10:00 a.m. with the bidding along with coffee and Mimosas flowing!

With 240 items on the Silent Auction and 20 prime items in the Live Auction, the 133 attendees were able to get some serious holiday shopping accomplished - at great bargains.

This year, they brought back the “Buy It Now” option, and 22 attendees took them up on that offer to pay 1.5 times the retail value and be done with bidding. As always, the bidding was very swift, and many people got great deals.

Bill Joyner served as the auctioneer and with Holly Hengstebeck kept them going on the Live Auction. Several items created real bidding wars - especially the signed Lion's football and the beautifully framed "Last game at Joe Louis Arena and Tiger Stadium!

Marcia Green summed up the morning like this, "We are so grateful for all of the people who worked to make this event a success. We raised just over $13,000 for scholarships and education with the continued generosity and support of area business people, our members, family, co-workers, and friends. Thank you to everyone who helped us!"

$13,000 for scholarships and education

Proceeds will be used to fund the $1,000 Bettie Archer Johnson Scholarship at Madonna University and to fund scholarships and grants through the ABWA Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Fund (SBMEF). The chapter also offers a Business Skills Tuition Reimbursement program for non-college training and provides funds for members to attend regional and national ABWA conferences.

At their 2022 auction, members and guest hostesses created fantastic table decorations, three of which are shown here thanks to Marcia Green who forwarded them to Musings, which added to the fun of the morning's event. Each table was hosted by a friend or member in a theme of her choice. Seeing the decorations was half the fun!

Anyone interested in applying for their $2,000 Impact Scholarships and the $2,000 Outright Grant should contact their Education Chair at this email address, [email protected].

The deadline for applications for the 2023 program is May 15, 2023, including three letters of reference from employers and/or instructors. The application process will be open by December 15, 2022. Female U.S. citizens, full-time residents of Michigan, maintaining a 3.0 GPA, and attending any university conferring a bachelor's degree or higher are eligible to apply.

The scholarships and grant checks will be awarded in June and July 2023, made payable to the individual and the college or university.

They are already planning the 2023 auction. They look forward to the next event and hope you will join them.

Two days left for Seedlings Braille Books 7th Annual Online Auction

View your bidding options here of all of the items, over 200, up for bidding and running through the 13th.

Musings looks forward to helping Seedlings out again as they reach for their goal of $50,000. Can't wait to announce their total on the 14th. Am betting that the largess of Seedling supporters will put them over the top. Let's do it friends of this awesome program that ships braille books to all 50 states and countless countries worldwide.

This year Blessings in a Backpack is proud to be hosting their annual bowling fundraiser at Merri-Bowl Lanes, Saturday, November 19 from 2:00 - 4:00. Bring out the whole family for a night of fun and to support a great cause.

Registration opens at 1:00.

For more information and to secure your spot please link here.

Lyric Theatre Presents

"Making a Scene"

Madonna University's Lyric Theatre performers will present

Making A Scene,

Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.,

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m.

The performance features film and television scenes coupled with music sung by the legendary songstress, Judy Garland. This year is her 100th birthday anniversary year and they will celebrate and honor her legacy and unforgettable voice.

Scenes include: Erin Brockovich "You Gotta Have Me Go With You", Fried Green Tomatoes "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again", Ghostbusters "The Sunny Side of the Street", When Harry Met Sally "How About You", The Monuments Men "The Man That Got Away", Suffragette "Over The Rainbow", Mirror, Mirror "That Old Black Magic"/"You Made Me Love You", The Muppets Take Manhattan "It's A Hap-Hap-Happy Day", and more.

$5.00 General Admission is all it takes to be a part of another reason Livonia is the cultural heartbeat of southeast Michigan.

Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets are also sold at the door.

Mail Address

19514 Livonia 48152

E-mail address

[email protected]

Cell address

734-674-5871

Mary Cavanagh says Thank You

Kathy Ventittelli says Thank You

Terry Marecki says Thank You

Thank you to my fellow residents of Wayne County’s 9th District for electing me to serve as your Commissioner for the next two years! Thank you to Northville and Livonia residents for allowing me to continue this honor, and thank you to Plymouth Township residents for trusting me to serve as your new Commissioner. I look forward to acting as your voice at the county, and I am deeply moved by this expression of confidence from our community. Thank you all!

Emily Bauman says Thank You