November 22, 2019 Your source for All Livonia news. All the time. All ways positive.
Join the fans of The Phoenix Theatre as they join with Cory Jacobson and his staff to celebrate 10 years of providing outstanding service to go along with top quality, first run movies. Party begins at 6:00 with a movie at 7:00. Make your reservation for this celebration by
clicking here.
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| WJR to feature Livonia and AlphaUSA in interview scheduled for this Sunday |
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Stewart serving up hot dogs at one of the many AlphaUSA sponsored events
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Robert Stewart was interviewed for an upcoming show on WJR. We are pleased to share his take on the interview and some of the topics that he discussed during the interview. Another promotion for our hometown and the company that sets the standard for
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In addition to his engineering role at Alpha Stew enjoys playing the guitar. Here he had the chance to play with wife Susan singing at a fund raiser for Livonia's Kids and Families.
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community excellence. Thanks Stew:
As Vice President and Chief Engineer for AlphaUSA in Livonia Michigan I am sometimes asked to do interviews. Today I was
honored
to be interviewed for the WJR Radio Show "It's Your Community" hosted by Vanessa Denha Garmo.
The topic is AlphaUSA's tremendous community outreach efforts.
With the support & encouragement of the Strumbos family and the leadership of our CEO and President, Chuck Dardas, we have started food pantry's serving 100 local family's, established a "Young Inventor's Contest" covering 9 school districts with 1,000 student participants, donated over 100 instruments to our local music programs.
Provided select students with 6 Kettering University "Engineering Lite" summer programs that include $25,000 toward Kettering tuition, created a student Technology Center including robotics programming, wind tunnel, 3D printers, computers and software, set up our Senior Center Book Club event.
Established our annual Police and Fireman appreciation Bar-B-Que's, supported young citizen's passport to safety events and on and on and on!
Please set your alarm clock and put on a pot of coffee this Sunday morning between 5:00 am and 7:00 am to hear more. This is a 30 minute segment that will air within that time-slot on WJR AM 760 and WDVD FM 96.3.
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The Wayne County Park System is 100 years old this year.
Where the Park System goes in the next 100 years depends on you!
The Wayne County Executive Office is once again trying to sell off sections of the Park System.
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 The Public Services Committee of the Wayne County Commission will be voting whether to approve the purchase agreements for Wilcox and Newburgh Mills. This is the final opportunity for residents who care about Hines Park to voice your concerns. To put this in perspective and to explain why this should be voted down here, in the words of the Save Hines Park organization, is the historical perspective and what some of us are advocating:
The voters of Wayne County overwhelmingly voted to support a park millage every election since 1996. Since then, more than $245 million has been collected to preserve, maintain and improve the parks. Voters did not support the millage to see our parkland sold off for private development. Currently the park millage generates around $9 million per year.
Save Hines Park, a group of Wayne County residents, was organized in 2017 to stop the sale of the Warren Valley Golf Course and surrounding parklands in Hines Park to a housing developer. They are once again being called upon to stop the sale of two Ford Village Industry Plants and eleven (11) acres of parkland (Parcel B) near Wilcox Lake to private developers.
In 1948, the two Ford Plants, Newburgh and Wilcox, were given to the Wayne County Road Commissioners (who were Park Trustees), to be incorporated into Hines Park as part of their overall parkway plan along the Rouge River. This stemmed from a previous agreement between the Road Commission and Henry Ford to rebuild the dams controlling the mill ponds in exchange for the mills and land for the parkway. Currently, the Newburgh Mill houses the Sheriff Mounted Division. The Wilcox Mill has been used since 1948 as a storage facility for the Park Division until they were told in October of 2018 to vacate the mill.
The Department of Economic Development has promoted the sale of these historic mills under the guise of a "Place Making Project" through slick videos, web sites and
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Is Newburgh Mill about to be sold off and handed to the Livonia City Council for rezoning?
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news articles. In these P.R. efforts, they do not state that they are proposing to sell the mills along with three to five acres of parkland around each of them. Nor do they mention putting another 11 acres up for sale for housing. Adaptive reuse of these facilities is possible. The sale of parkland is not necessary.
The County says they cannot afford to fix the mills so they want to sell them as a way of saving them.
Not true! They are currently spending $825,000 on renovating just the lobby of Nankin Mills and spending another $6 million for other site amenities. The County will receive an increase of over $3 million in park millage funds over last year because new developments, increased home sales and higher property values have increased the tax base. Use park millage funds to fix the mills, not sell them!
 These mills are eligible for historic restoration grants. Private owners cannot access these funds. Private developers will not be able to manage the flood plain that surrounds these Mills. Once these lands and mills are sold, there is little to no control over how they are redeveloped in the future.
The Save Hines Park Group supports redevelopment of the mills, not the sale of the mills or parklands. These flood plains and historic structures are vital to preserving our heritage and managing the floodway. This is the wrong vision for Wayne County Parks and must STOP!
Call your Commissioner and tell them, "Parks are for People not Politicians to Peddle for Profit."
The Public Services Committee of the Wayne County Commission will be voting on the proposal to sell Wilcox Mill and Newburgh Mill on Nov. 26, 9:30am at the Guardian Building (Lower Level), 500 Griswold St., Detroit (map).
The final vote will be on Dec. 5 when the full Wayne County Commission will vote on the purchase agreements for Wilcox and Newburgh Mills. Once the sale goes through it will then be up to the Livonia City Council to rezone the property from its current designation as public land.
Save Hines Park has requested an opportunity to give a short presentation to the County prior to the vote advocating for the alternative of acquiring grants to redevelop and lease the mills instead of selling them outright. We would like as many people as possible to attend in support.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO REDEVELOP THE MILLS? YES!
SELL 11 ACRES OF HINES PARK FOR CONDOS AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT? NEVER!
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Support continues to come in for Chris Last and his "From the Stump" program.
Across the state of Michigan and now from New York comes praise for this innovative program. |
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Rob Hughes Timber Framing and Woodland Resources Teacher Wayland-Cohocton Central School in learning about Chris Last and his desire to initiate a wood recycling and re-purposing program based in Livonia is lending his support to the vision with hope that it moves forward, for the benefit of the community, of students and for our environment. Here is the letter he has written in support:
 I am writing in support of the potential "
From The Stump
" program being developed through the efforts of Chris Last in Michigan. After having discussed the goals and philosophy of his program, I am convinced that there are many deep similarities between his vision and my own. Over the past six years I have been running a S.T.E.A.M. program that explores the value of woodland resources and the craft of Timber Frame Construction.
Our program is a splendid mix of historical practices and modern technologies. It involves students working with their brain, hands, and heart in a collaborative process with peers and community members in a project-based setting. In short, our class partners with a community service organization to design, cut, and raise a timber frame structure for public use. The community service organization covers site prep, cost of materials, and roofing, and our students do the rest. We have worked with a local Lions Club, various Volunteer Fire Departments, a Historical Society, and a local Natural History Museum and have built structures that have brought civic pride to our area. The process is a Win-Win in the truest sense and although I could say much more about the societal benefits of our program, I'd prefer to focus on the benefits to our students.
We typically have a mix of boys and girls in the age range of 16-18 years of age. The vast majority of them have never built a birdhouse let alone a freestanding structure of timbers. During the course of our 180-day school year, our students learn a tremendous amount of practical knowledge and applied science and math in a real-world setting. They learn by doing and the resulting retention of knowledge is far beyond anything that can be learned from a book or in a typical classroom setting.
 The greatest benefit, however, is the personal growth we see in our students. So much of what we do requires a deep connection with the materials and becoming  completely absorbed by the moment. Doing things with this level of precision requires students to be completely present, a sensation most adolescents have never experienced. There are habits of mind that are built during the process that involve overcoming fears and building confidence and I am convinced our students develop an internal landscape along the way. Much of what is learned gets passed on as unspoken dialogue that comes from the accumulation of native wisdom. Things like the feel of a well-tuned plane oriented properly to the grain of a timber, or knowing you can work with a classmate to keep up with scheduling. Work ethic and personal responsibility blossom as students risk being their true selves in a group setting with a common goal.
Raising days are the culmination of our work and are magic experiences. There is always a part of the day where students take the lead and begin to direct the well-rehearsed process. I have not experienced anything close to this sort of deep connection to learning than at these times and I've been teaching for 30 years! I have not found anything else that requires this sort of resourcefulness or problem solving or translates to this sort of personal satisfaction in my students.
Another primary focus of our coursework is to prepare our students to be college and career ready. As our district is relatively rural, many of our students migrate toward the trades rather than college. We strongly believe that our program prepares students well for both options. Our S.T.E.A.M. approach provides a very rich exposure to engineering principles, deep math concepts including trigonometry, loads of science, all balanced with artistic creativity. We have been fortunate enough to have acquired a good number of professional grade tools for our program through various grants and we feel strongly that learning how to safely and properly operate and maintain such tools serves as an apprenticeship for future trade programs. We have already had two alumni of our program hired by a professional timber framing company and that company is eager for us to turn out more skilled workers.
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With each passing day Chris Last gets excited about making his dream
become a reality
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As our program has grown we have been fortunate enough to establish a community network of volunteers and supporting organizations who share our vision. I have had no experience in my career that has brought folks together like our program. Our approach develops a strong sense of place in our students and a connectedness to their home community. Wherever they go in life, I am certain they will come back to our district to show their friends and children what they built.
Successful operation of our program involves quite a bit of behind the scenes work by dedicated individuals. There are unexpected  logistical concerns with each project we do, but we have found that with each new frame our network of workers and volunteers grows and we are never short of potential projects. Although our frames have grown increasingly more sophisticated, this exact approach need not be followed exactly. All the above benefits can still come from smaller projects that still involve partnerships between schools and community groups. Nature trail kiosks, garden gates, and sign frames are all excellent projects that would still achieve the same goals and with each new project, a community becomes more welcoming and recreational opportunities are enhanced.
I feel very strongly in the potential of the "From The Stump" initiative and am willing to support the cause from my end to the extent possible.
The typewriter:
Livonia has the perfect opportunity to seize on the idea and proposal being put forth by Chris Last and set up a demonstration program at Greenmead. Students would come from wide and far, parents would want to bring their children, adults could see the turn of the century milling process. That's two turns of the century ago. 1899 perhaps.
With an interest expressed by the city Last could move forward with setting up his 501 (c) (3), applying for grants and foundation allocations and make this dream a reality.
If you haven't talked with Chris Last then you should. It is time to take this program and show how Livonia is open to new and innovative ideas. Ideas that would put Livonia again on the map and would help the vision of Ed McNamara, who had Greenmead purchased during his administration, become a reality -- a model working farm.
We all benefit. As a community.
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Cinematic Art expands in Livonia with the introduction of Fathom Events
at the Phoenix Theatre
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
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November in Livonia
Soft open has happened.
Formal grand opening is set for December 2
Drop off your letter at the Kirksey Recreation Center (with return address) before Dec. 1
when Santa picks up the mail and just maybe you'll get a letter from Santa!
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 24 @ 6:00 - 9:00
Ladies Night Out
Town Peddle Craft
& Antique Mall
November 25 @ 2:30 - 6:00
Livonia Blanket Making Event
Stevenson High School
November 26 @ 7:00 - 8:00
Livonia Interfaith
Thanksgiving Prayer Service
The Felician Sisters' Convent Chapel
36800 Schoolcraft Road
We ask that you bring a
Non-perishable food item that will be donated to
December in Livonia
December 2 @ 11:00
Lunch with Senator Gary Peters @ Burton Manor
December 3 @ 6:00 w Movie at 7:00
10th Anniversary Celebration
Phoenix Theatre @ Laurel Park
The public is invited
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 12 @ 7:00
City's Inaugural Ceremony @ City Hall
December 14 & 15
Livonia Civic Ballet Company
The Nutcracker
December 15 @ 4:00
Livonia Youth Choir Winter Concert
Holy Trinity Church
December 15 @ 3:00
December 21 @ 2:00
Livonia Youth Symphony Winter Concert
Kresge Hall @ Madonna University
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Clarenceville Public School Superintendent offers up his thoughts
on school financing by the state of Michigan |
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Superintendent Shepich with State Representative Laurie Pohutsky
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Paul Shepich, Superintendent Clarenceville Public Schools:Thank you for your article on the plight of school funding at the state level. I work closely with Senator Polehanki and Rep. Pohutsky on this and other educational concerns.
We need to keep the pressure on to fund schools appropriately.
The School Finance Research Collaborative has produced the best research-based solution to solving our funding crisis.
I appreciate you adding your voice to our local community on this topic. To me, it is the main topic we need to be resolving if we want to ensure that our state stays competitive well into the future. The state must stop trying to improve schools on the cheap and try to blame school districts through accountability and data that does not truly demonstrate the growth of our students over time.
Education is a passion of mine that I will continue to do my part in making an effort to help people understand what is really taking place.
Keep up your voice on this topic - it is needed.
Keep up the good work.
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| Barefoot Productions ready for the holidays |
Toys For Tots, Christmas Concert, Livonia Library
All wrapped up for you to enjoy December 15 |
HarmonyTown Chorus celebrates the holiday season with "A Not So Silent Night", this year's version of the annual Christmas concert. Come sing-a-long with the men of the chorus as good cheer and fun is spread to all!!
We are accepting new unwrapped toys as donations for Toys For Tots. We overflowed 1 box last year so we are going for 2 full boxes this year!
Sunday, December 15 from 2:30 - 4:30
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Let's honor the environment and sustainability right
here in our hometown. It starts in Livonia.
2020 City of Livonia Greenleaf Award - Submit Your Nomination
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 Do you know a Livonia based business or organization that is demonstrating leadership in environmental and sustainability initiatives? Now is the time to let the rest of the community know.
The Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability and the Livonia Chamber of Commerce will award its
Fifth
annual City of Livonia Greenleaf Award. The goal of the Greenleaf Award is to recognize businesses that have demonstrated leadership in making Livonia a resilient and sustainable community. Awards will be presented at the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership and Awards Celebration in February 2020.
To Submit a Nomination for the 2020 City of Livonia Greenleaf Award:
Businesses can nominate others or themselves for the City of Livonia Greenleaf Award.
1)
Name of Business or Organization You Wish to Nominate
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Your Name and Contact Information (Email address or Telephone Number)
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Contact Name and Contact Information (Email address or Telephone Number) for the Nominated Business or Organization
4)
Description of the sustainability initiatives of this business or organization
5)
Explanation of why this business or organization deserves the Greenleaf Award
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Click on this image to check out more on Dough Joe
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The official chocolates of FridayMusings
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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.
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Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts partnering with Rosedale Presbyterian Church Deacons to collect food for the holiday.
Can you help them out. |
| RG and GR Harris Funeral Homes partner with the Livonia Civic Chorus in announcing the December 15th Holiday Concert |
Want to volunteer or make a donation.
Livonia Cares is the place for you. |
| The Bowling Challenge is set and it promises to be a dozy -- the Beauties v the Beasts |
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Alan Helmkamp's team, the Beauties
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The typewriter looking for his team,
the Beasts
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The gauntlet is down. Alan Helmkamp has issued the challenge and it has been accepted by the typewriter. He is willing to line up his team of the "beauties", against my team of "beasts".
His team, the Beauties, has been represented by Sweet Dreamzzz, a nonprofit organization committed to improving children's health, well-being, and academic performance by providing sleep education and bedtime essentials to economically disadvantaged students and their families.
My team, the Beasts, has yet to be identified, in fact I am looking for four bowlers who would like to fill out the team and help win this challenge while at the same time raising money for Seedlings.
Help ! ! ! The typewriter is looking for four members to bowl on the team - the Beasts. Help! ! !
I want it understood that the title of his challenge is 100% the idea of Alan Helmkamp. It will be played out at the annual Seedlings Bowling for Braille Books March 14 at the Novi Bowl.
Four years running the challenge has been Musings v Observer with Musings taking 3 of the 4. But I must confess they took one when then Publisher Sue Rosiek brought in a team of ringers who each bowled three games of 200 or more. We took a break last year. Now is the time to renew the challenge and the gauntlet has been laid down between Alan Helmkamp and Bill Joyner.
If you would like to be a part of the Beast Team drop a dime and let me know that you will be a part of this challenge. Looking for 4 beasts.
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