November 15, 2019            Your source for All Livonia news. All the time. All ways positive.  
Musings masthead website




In Livonia you can join with members of the Livonia Rotary Club and chairman Bob Moore this Saturday, November 16th at Burn Fitness -- Livonia. 33523 Eight Mile Rd, west of Farmington Road. Anytime from 10:00 - 3:00. Simply sign in and swab and you will be on the registry for stem cell and bone marrow donors. If you could offer hope to someone dying from cancer, would you? You could be the cure or you could save a life.
Livonia can and should be at the forefront of redirecting and reclaiming urban wood products.

Livonia resident Chris Last, known as the Urban Forester, has crisscrossed the state of Michigan sharing what one local millwork professional describes as a "forward thinking vision for reclaiming and redirecting urban wood products"

Four years ago this typewriter met with Last to hear his vision to better utilize our urban resources. His idea then and now is to take downed trees or trees being cut and instead of grinding them up take and put them to use as lumber which would in the words of Mike Morche, Oplerations Director at Welker Cabinetry & Millwork "raise the bar" with a wide range of product lines.

Chris Last envisions a milling operation right here in the city of Livonia, perhaps at an underutilized piece of property at the city dump. Trees would be taken there, cut into usable pieces of lumber, made into benches, pergolas, houses, Habitat for Humanity. The product lines are endless and certainly not in the wheelhouse of this typewriter but hopefully you get the picture.

As Last has traveled the state talking to industry advocates, colleges and universities and elected officials the concept is gaining widespread support. Everywhere but here in Livonia, his hometown.

One elected official with a straight face said he would not support this idea as it would conflict with Home Depot. Really? 

Another elected official told the typewriter that the proposal could not be supported because the votes were not there to make it happen.

Livonia should pay serious attention to this mission and consider the statewide recognition if Livonia were to make this mission to reclaim and redirect urban wood products a part of the definition of our hometown. Where ideas come to fruition.

Picture a site at Greenmead where students come to learn the art of reusing wood, of turning trees that have been cut down into usable products. Picture a site at the city landfill where companies bring their downed trees to have them redirected into usable products.

Chris Last sees this project as "conveying every positive aspect a Community project can have" It has "allowed me to meet some fantastic people at many different Professional levels. Teachers, Professors, Skilled trades Men and Women, and a broad span of others. Each and every one of these people see and understand what I see and do not hesitate to endorse, put their name on supporting this."

As Livonia turns a new page on the transformation of our hometown, taking what has worked so well for 70 years, while adding new ideas and helping them come to fruition. It is time to take this proposal made and dreamed of by Livonia resident Chris Last and bring it to fruition.
Birmingham republican announces campaign opposing Congresswoman Haley Stevens
As candidates announce their 2020 campaigns in districts that encompass Livonia FridayMusings will include the statements made at the time of their announcement. Today we run the statement of Eric Esshaki, a Birmingham attorney seeking the office of United States Congressman the office currently held by Congresswoman Haley Stevens:

Congress is broken. I am running for Congress because we need leaders who will stop playing political games and actually solve problems. These days, politicians don't even attempt to have a reasoned conversation. They just spout talking points.

I spent nearly a decade as a nurse caring for people in crisis. As a lawyer, I work tirelessly to solve complex problems and right wrongs. Today the politicians in Congress seem less concerned with finding solutions for the people that  they are supposed to serve and more concerned with pandering to the special interests funding their campaigns. This must change.

(note provided by FridayMusings: the Law Firm Howard and Howard posted Esshaki's education in April 2019 as: "He received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2016 and his B.I.S., summa cum laude, from Oakland University in 2012. He also received his associates in applied science/nursing from Oakland Community College in 2010 and previously worked as a Registered Nurse. Eric returns to Michigan after practicing law at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York City.  He is licensed to practice in New York and sat for the Michigan bar examination in February.")

Liberal Congresswoman Haley Stevens typifies the problems. She serves as a rubberstamp for Nancy Pelosi, voting with her 100% of the time.

When I talk with friends and neighbors, they worry about a system that ignores the middle class. The Democrats think government control is the solution. But that leads to higher taxes, unemployment, and more bureaucracy, where insiders reap the rewards. At every turn the middle class loses out.

On health care, despite the promises, costs have skyrocketed. Congresswoman Stevens tells us more government is the answer. I disagree. When I was a nurse I saw the health care system first hand. Obamacare only added to the suffering and waste that existed within the system, creating large medical bureaucracies while doing nothing to control costs. Medicine is hard. Slogans like "Medicare for all" skip the details. But those details mean government takeover, higher costs, and gutted benefits.

Endless government regulations and taxes don't work. Instead, we need policies that produce a strong economy with better paying jobs and greater opportunities for all.

As a conservative, I value our Constitution. That means upholding all our rights. Those rights form the foundation of our great country. They make our country unique and they protect the weakest among us. Just as importantly, they shield us from government overreach and ensure that we remain a government for the people and by the people.

Fixing politics. Solving problems. That is why I am running for Congress.
Polehanki continues to support education by recognizing that when we move dollars from one segment of our economy to another we should not harm the flow of dollars into public education
Before her election to the state legislature, Sen. Dayna Polehanki was a leader in the classroom.  She is a two-time Teacher of the Year award winner and has almost 19 years of experience in the classroom.

As a public school teacher and small business owner, Polehanki understands how policies affect our ability to prepare students for college, skilled-trades training and good-paying jobs. She is a champion for better investment in public schools and roads, as well as policies that lower prescription drug prices and that protect our air and water.

Polehanki holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University, a major in English and teacher certification from Alma College, and a master's degree in teaching from Marygrove College.

This background in education and in the classroom is why Polehanki offered up an amendment that would help Michigan small businesses while at the same time seeing that any incentives given would not hurt public school education.

"Every penny counts when it comes to funding our schools. Today I presented an amendment to SB 349 that would support Michigan's small businesses and agriculture, as well as protect our school funding.

"SB 349 provides incentives to small Michigan distillers that use at least 40% Michigan produced grains. My amendment would make sure any school aid fund revenue sacrificed for this incentive would have to be made up by the general fund.

"We cannot continue to strip away resources from our children and schools."

This is another recognition that anytime we move to help one segment of our Michigan economy that we do not hurt another. This is increasingly true as f unding for Michigan's public schools has fallen more sharply than any other state over the past quarter century, a  new report  from Michigan State University finds.

Our local schools are staring down rising academic standards all too often with inadequate finances. This is a problem that Senator Polehanki recognizes and is willing to take up the fight by seeing that resources are not taken away from public schools under the guise of economic growth. 

This is one step that must be taken as we educate Michigan taxpayers that we could give schools the dollars they need if policymakers devoted the same share of the state economy to supporting education as they did just one decade ago.

We applaud Polehanki for recognizing the impact of supporting one sector of Michigan's economy to the detriment of education. Thank you.
Cinematic Art expands in Livonia with the introduction of Fathom Events 
at the Phoenix Theatre
Princess Mononoke - Studio Ghibli Fest 2019 
November 17 - 12:55pm (DUB)
November 18 - 7:00pm (SUB)

The Bolshoi Ballet: Le Corsaire (2019)
November 17 - 12:55pm

Lionel Richie at Glastonbury
November 19 - 7:00pm

MET Opera: Akhnaten
November 23 - 12:55pm (LIVE)
December 04 - 1:00pm (ENCORE)
December 04 - 6:30pm (ENCORE)

Friendsgiving
November 24 - 7:00pm (Night 1)
November 25 - 4:00, 7:00pm (Night 2)

Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Doc
November 26 - 7:00pm

When Harry Met Sally... 30th Anniversary (1989)
December 01 - 4:00pm, 7:00pm
December 03 - 4:00pm, 7:00pm

Faustina: Love and Mercy
December 02 - 7:00pm

MET Opera: The Magic Flute Holiday Encore
December 07 - 7:00pm
Click on this image for all movie times


Send your calendar notices to  [email protected]
 
November in Livonia  
  November 16 @ 7:30
November 17 @ 3:00

November 16 @ 10:00 - 4:00
Clarenceville's Craft Show

November 16 @ 10:00 - 3:00
Rotary Club invites you to Be a Cancer Kicker
@ Burn Fitness - Livonia

November 18 @ 6:30
Panera Bread @ Schoolcraft/Middlebelt

November 18 @ 6:30
Save Hines Park Informational Meeting
Vista-tech Center Schoolcraft College

November 23 - December 2
Live from Berea Kentucky and Decatur Georgia
The annual typewriter's maybe this week, or next, maybe this weekend, whenever I feel like it road trip.
Will visit the elementary school attended by both
Jack Kirksey and Bill Joyner believe it or not

November 23 @ 2:00 - 4:00
Blessings in a Backpack Bowling Outing

November 23 @ 9:00 - 3:00
Historic Greenmead Treasures from Grandma's Attic

November 25 @ 2:30 - 6:00
Livonia Blanket Making Event
Stevenson High School

December in Livonia
December 2 @ 11:00
Lunch with Senator Gary Peters @ Burton Manor

December 6 @ 9:00 - 2:00
Livonia Senior Center Holiday Craft Show
Senior Center

December 7 @ 10:00 - 12:30
Santa Claus is coming to town
Community Alliance Credit Union

December 7
Trumbell Film Forum
Monroe Phoenix Theatre

December 7
Livonia Symphony Orchestra
Magical Fantasies
Clarenceville High School
Louis Schmidt Auditorium

December 8 @ 4:00
City of Livonia Christmas Parade

December 14 & 15
Livonia Civic Ballet Company
The Nutcracker

December 15 @ 3:00

December 21 @ 2:00
Livonia Youth Symphony Winter Concert
Kresge Hall @ Madonna University 
Sister Nancy Marie Jamroz invites you to a
Livonia Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service
Sister Nancy Marie Jamroz, CSSF, Madonna University, Co-Director of the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue:  Peace and Greetings, Bill....

First really THANKS for all the "accompaniment" during the elections... I was especially impressed by your message immediately after the results:  "Everyone was a winner!"  acknowledging all who put themselves out to serve our Livonia community!!!

Now as they and you say...it is time to roll up our sleeves and support our current leaders to keep Livonia one of the BEST places to live in the USA!   Will keep praying and showing up when possible to do so!

So...I am attaching a flyer during this Thanksgiving time and ask if you will run it in the Musings....  And because I know you are an ally in Welcoming All....and since we don't have a mosque, synagogue, gudwara or temple in our town, invite all your Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, etc, etc, etc friends to join us Nov. 26.

God bless you for helping us talk  and listen to each other in print and in all the community activities we attend!

(The typewriter: I would like nothing more than to join you at the Interfaith Prayer Service on November 26th. I will be in Cartersville Georgia that day for a one-of-a-kind exhibit of artwork by Any Warhol, "Warhol and the West." My best to you as always. Thanks for the invitation and I will certainly share it with readers of Musings.)

Please Join Us
for a

Livonia Interfaith
Thanksgiving Prayer Service
at
The Felician Sisters' Convent Chapel
36800 Schoolcraft Road

Tuesday, November 26, 7-8pm

We ask that you bring a
Non-perishable food item that will be donated to

For more information - Call 734-502-7533


Cole, Newton & Duran partners with the Livonia Civic Chorus
in announcing the December 15th Holiday Concert




Livonia's treasures waiting to be found
You never know what you'll find in "Grandma's Attic". Come to Greenmead on Saturday, November 23 (9am to 3pm) and see what treasure you can bring home - no admission or parking fee.


Anastasia and Katie's set to open the first week of December

Regular readers of Musings will know that we have been looking forward to the opening of Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop. The cafe will employ people with and without disabilities, and will offer them job training and support.

Check them out in December on the west side of Merriman Road just north of Seven Mile.
Click on this image to check out more on Dough Joe
The official chocolates of FridayMusings
Chef Joe Gilligan has considered himself an artist all his life. From a very young age he entertained himself with drawing, painting, sculpting, and film making. Cooking and baking were a favorite pastime too.

Originally Joe started attending Schoolcraft College in 2010 pursuing a Film/Art degree. He then changed his major in 2012 when he was accepted into the prestigious Baking and Pastry program at Schoolcraft. 

After graduation Joe had the opportunity to go to Paris, France. It was there that he developed a stronger love and respect for the art and creations of chocolate. He also purchased his first chocolate molds there!

Upon returning home, Joe started honing his skills as a pastry chef working as the last pastry chef at the Lark Restaurant in West Bloomfield, MI and Avalon in Detroit.

It is our mission to deliver high quality chocolates made with 100% organic butter and cream with the finest chocolates available with our flavors varying season to seasonia. 
Livonia excels in theatre performances. Be proud Livonia.
Southeast Michigan looks to Livonia for cultural excellence.