November 20,2020 Your Source for Livonia Cultural Happenings
A huge thank you to those supporting Seedlings on-line auction
Thanks to supporters from around the country Seedlings' Annual Online Auction! was able to raise $18,500!

Robb Drzewicki came up with the winning bid for lunch with the Typewriter. He wrote asking for Lobster. I was thinking more like Bates. Look forward to lunch Robb. The question remains, which fun loving Robb will show up for lunch?

Thanks Robb for supporting Seedlings.

Seedlings offers a huge "THANK YOU so much to our donors and bidders. Your generosity will allow us to make and distribute 1,850 more braille books to blind children.

"We had 214 supporters from all over the country bid on 256 items, often placing bids well over the items' values. Without you and all of our wonderful donors throughout the year, we could not do what we do for children with vision loss."
Two smiles for the day
Kacie McCullough with witness Harps McCullough watching is sworn in as a member of the Library Commission by City Clerk Susan Malone Nash.
Wednesday night Gerald Bagazinski
was invited to a virtual cocktail hour with a certified mixologist.

He received 2 boxes this past week. The first box had 2 lemons, 3 limes, a variety of syrups and shrubs, a jigger, and a bar shaker set. The second box had a fifth of Tanqueray.

He calls it a really nice diversion.
Let it snow, let it snow. Fun at the holidays
The typewriter is looking forward to Thanksgiving. Just the bodyguard and me at the Musings Estate. And with Thanksgiving comes planning for Christmas. Parks and Recreation offers up this easy to follow calendar for the holiday.

As the holiday season approaches our Livonia Parks and Recreation is gearing up with a wide offering of new or modified festive events for local families.

Visit LivoniaParks.org for details or follow along with them on Facebook, or in FridayMusings, over the next several weeks.

Here is the Cliffnote version provided by P and R:
Santa’s Mailbox and Santa’s Workshop Calling will both give children a chance to contact the big man, as Pet Photos with Santa will do for families’ furry friends. The Santa Stroll and Night of Lights will provide a chance for a colorfully lit visit with Santa at Greenmead Historical Park while Lunch with Santa (sold out a month in advance) brings back a classic event with a modified look.
FridayMusings Friday commentary
Schostak is not offering quality of life to our hometown with their proposal for a four story apartment building in the long vacant property at Wonderland Village.

Two years ago our Livonia City Council voted down a proposed apartment complex in the northwest section of our hometown, Victor Parkway and Seven Mile. Residents objected long and loud about the intrusion this complex would have on their neighborhoods. Council listened and said no.

This year our Livonia City Council is faced with the same dilemma. A high density apartment complex next to Walmart and more importantly adjacent to one of the oldest and also most stable neighborhoods in the southeast corner of our hometown.

When Schostak received approval for Target and Walmart they were asked about the third parcel. The reply? "We have one under consideration and will announce it soon."
Over a decade later the best they can come up with is a high density, traffic clogging intrusion affecting Plymouth Road traffic and more importantly affecting the homes surrounding the proposal.

We would have a Target, a Walmart and a 4 story apartment complex. Not quite the vision of a family destination corner promised with the initial proposal over ten years ago.

What has Schostak done in the over ten years since leaving Livonia with vacant property on Plymouth Road and Seven and Farmington? Start with their Haggerty Road development--high quality attracting businesses that were at one time in Livonia--UM Hospital and Trader Joe's.

Oh yes, the purchase of the Palace for business development, the development of loft apartments in Detroit, and the proposals further west for residential and commercial with help from the legislature with millions of dollars in support for infrastructure.

And Livonia gets an apartment building.

Let's borrow and paraphrase Nancy Reagan's mantra of Just say no to druges. Livonia City Council--JUST SAY NO TO SCHOSTAK.
What's Happening Livonia !
What to look forward to !!
The Civic Park Senior Center will have its traditional “Mitten Tree” in the lobby during the month of November. Help Livonia decorate the tree with new mittens and scarves
From Nov. 27 - Dec. 24, you’ll find Santa and his team of elves at the Food Court. Visits will be contactless, with families sitting six feet away to ensure proper social distancing. But don’t worry about those Christmas lists! Santa Claus can’t wait to hear what’s on your list and will still be available to talk with his little elves-in-training.

Santa will be available for photos during the following times: Monday – Saturday, 11am to 8pm, Sunday, 12pm to 6pm. Schedule your visit by clicking here.
The Goodfellows are collecting new, unwrapped toys for children from birth to 8 years along with non-perishable food is being collected Saturdays and Sundays through December 5th from 9 am to 12 pm (Sat.) and 12 pm to 3 pm (Sunday) at Dickinson Center, 18000 Newburgh Road.
Santa Claus will see children on the porch of the Alexander Blue House at Greenmead from 5-8 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12, and 19, and Sundays, Dec. 13 and 20. Santa will be surrounded by an impressive display of lights on the house and trees and other displays.
Santa will also greet children at the Merry and Bright Reverse Holiday Parade at the Livonia Civic Center Campus from 4-5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6. This event will replace the traditional holiday parade. Instead, families will parade through the Civic
Virtual Concert by the Livonia Civic Chorus. A Christmas Concert with holiday music for your listening pleasure. Ready for your viewing and listening pleasure in time for the Christmas season. Sunday, December 13th at 3 p.m. via Facebook LIVE. Details Monday in Musings.
Detroit Red Wing Alumni versus Livonia All Stars coming this winter with date to be announced. Proceeds will benefit Livonia Kids and Families and Greenmead. Plans are underway and the date will be announced shortly by organizer Brandon McCullough.
Tour de Livonia. A 25 mile bicycle tour of Livonia starting at Bicentennial Park. Originally scheduled for July 2020 now is on the tentative drawing board for July 2021. Stay tuned for this exciting new event unique to Livonia and Paris.
Good Old Fashioned Neighborhood Corn Roast set for renewal in September. Tentative September 19, 12:00 - 4:00. Another one for your tickle file and something to look forward to.

Livonia has two Wayne County Commissioners. The bulk of Livonia is represented by Terry Godfroid Marecki with the eastern part of our hometown, Five Mile to Joy, Middlebelt to Inkster is represented by David Knezek. Musings shares his statement of the canvassing of votes recently drawing headlines across the country:
Our hometown health care workers have met this year's extraordinary challenges with strength and determination.
Musings takes this time to thank you for your dedication and hard work. We recognize the compassionate care you provide to patients and we are incredibly grateful for your unwavering fight against COVID-19.