November 25, 2019            Your source for All Livonia news. All the time. All ways positive.  
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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 on December 3rd.  Make reservation for this celebration by clicking here.
Two weeks and counting. The city of Livonia is gearing up for the inaurguration of our first female Mayor.
Photo credit: Rory Brosnan of Rise and Shine Photography
Two weeks from now the City of Livonia will be heading into the Inauguration of our hometown's first female Mayor,
Photo credit: Meta Strange
Maureen Miller Brosnan. Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 12 at 7:00 pm in the Livonia City Hall. The public is invited and arrangements are being made for what is sure to be a large and festive crowd.

The typewriter understands that Brosnan is planning a full week of activities from St. Mary Hospital to the Livonia Chamber of Commerce to the Felician Sisters. From all indications she will be touching base with as many corners of the city as she can. 

If her media appearances are any indication she is already hitting the road running. Let's see, there has been  the Stephen Henderson Show on WDET 101.9 and Fox 2 Let It Rip with Charlie Langton, the Livonia Leadership Staff where she had a swearing in ceremony with Clerk Susan Nash, an interview with Koco McAboy on Channel 4.

On the Road again. The typewriter is heading south of the Mason-Dixon. Real sweet tea is waitiing.
Happy Thanksgiving to my friends on the Musings network. I wish all of you the best over this season of giving thanks for all we have. I consider myself a very wealthy man for
Claremont Elementary School home for Jack Kirksey and Bill Joyner
I count my riches by the friends I have made over the past 70 years.

Boone Tavern in Berea Kentucky
Today I am in Decatur Georgia visiting the hometown in which I attended grade school, learned to read, married Louis in the sandbox as we built a sand castle and the teacher said we needed to be married to build a house together. This was the south and so what if I was only, well, very young. Heck, we played spin the bottle every Friday in grade school. It was 5th grade. Alternated between spin the bottle and square dancing.

Visiting that elementary school, Claremont. Thinking about asking if they will put up a plaque reading "At this school went Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey and County Commissioner R. William Joyner. One of the only things they have in common."

I doubt it. But hey it will be worth asking.  And then our family moved to Livonia in December 1959 to finish out 5th grade with Mrs. Martin and then the 6th grade with Mr. Rutherford.

Spent Saturday night in Berea Kentucky at Boone Tavern in the heart of Berea College where students are enrolled tuition free. Adam Harris writing in the Atlantic says "Berea College isn't like most other colleges. It was founded in 1855 by a Presbyterian minister who was an abolitionist. It was the first integrated, co-educational college in the South. And it has not charged students tuition since 1892. Every student on campus works, and its labor program is like work-study on steroids."

Checked out the pictures of all the luminaries who stayed at the Tavern. Alex Haley, Maya Angelou, Henry Ford, Calvin Coolidge, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Dalai Lama. And even Duncan Hines. Were not interested in a picture of former Wayne County Commissioner R. William Joyner. Had to ask but it was fun reading the descriptions of those who did stay.

Thanksgiving in Canton Georgia where Dean Rusk, U.S. Secretary of State was born. The bodyguard is visiting her sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews.

I have yet to find my Blue Plate in Canton but I have a favorite coffee house with green tea and bagels. Sit every morning and read and read and read. Watch local attorneys
Maybe. Could be. Hope so.
One store front of many with 
millions of rocks in Ball Ground.
meeting with clients before going across the street to court. Almost like the Lincoln Lawyer starring Matthew McConaughey. He sits in the corner and I play the background actor sitting there drinking my tea with my computer open, either reading or writing Musings.

Off to Ball Ground where their claim to fame was an eccentric who bought up every store in town and stored millions of rocks in every store. He buried a school bus out in a field to communicate with martians. That's the story locals tell. He has passed away and the city finally reached an agreement with his estate to remove all the rocks. The town has potential and it is fun to have seen what was and what is. 

Happy Thanksgiving. See you all next week. No telling what trail to take home. The Bourbon Trail. Maybe the Doughnut Trail. For real. Maybe just straight home in time to attend the Phoenix Theatre 10 year anniversary. That's Tuesday, December 3rd. See you there.
Curbside clothing recycling set to begin December 9 
FridayMusings was the first to report on Friday that Curbside clothing, household items recycling to begin. Share this and let your friends and neighbors know that it begins December 9.

But first thanks to the Livonia City Council for passing this progressive step in recycling. 

Livonia residents will soon be able to recycle unwanted textiles and small household items simply by bagging them and leaving them at the curb on their regular recycling collection day.

Livonia is launching the new service D ec. 9, 2019, in partnership with Simple Recycling, which will be picking up the items throughout the City. The service is free to residents and the City.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 84% of old clothes, shoes, belts, handbags, and textile items end up in a landfill or an incinerator. On average, that works out to about 85 lbs. of textile items per person each year. As a result, textiles make up more than 6% of all the residential and municipal trash in the US.

Simple Recycling is sending informational mailers to homes that receive recycling collection from the City. The mailers will contain free Simple Recycling bags.

Residents are encouraged to continue donating new and used clothing or household items to various local charities. The Simple Recycling option is for items of any age and its purpose is to provide a convenient curbside collection option for residents who want it. Ultimately, it's about keeping items out of the trash.

When cleaning out closets or disposing of unwanted items, residents can place them in the bags. If a resident doesn't have enough orange bags, they can use regular trash bags that are clearly marked for Simple Recycling. Residents can then place the bags at the curb on their normal recycling collection day.

The company will accept a wide range of used textiles and small household items. The list of accepted items includes all types of used or new clothing, boots and shoes, belts and ties, handbags, hats and gloves, toys, towels, sheets and blankets, small kitchen appliances, and more.

For more information about the Simple Recycling program, residents can call the Livonia Department of Public Works at (734) 466-2655 or visit simplerecycling.com.
Rachel Golden Returns to Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs as a Senior Accountant

Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs is proud to welcome back Rachel Golden, senior accountant, to its team. Rachel previously worked at Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs from 2003 to 2007. She holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Walsh College. 

"We are excited to welcome Rachel back to Cole, Newton & Duran," said Cole, Newton & Duran's managing partner Arthur Cole. "Rachel's more than 22 years of experience providing accounting, tax, and consulting services to clients in a variety of industries will be a great addition to our growing practice. I am very pleased that Rachel decided to come back to CND and I know our clients will enjoy working with her."

Rachel has over 22 years of experience in public accounting. Prior to joining the firm, she was a senior accountant at a local accounting firm where she performed accounting functions including month-end and year-end closing for clients in the healthcare, professional, manufacturing, and service industries. She specializes in assisting clients with monthly as well as year-end payroll tax documents and other miscellaneous tax forms. Rachel also prepares tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, and personal property.
Cinematic Art expands in Livonia with the introduction of Fathom Events 
at the Phoenix Theatre
MET Opera: Akhnaten
December 04 - 1:00pm (ENCORE)
December 04 - 6:30pm (ENCORE)

Friendsgiving
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
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 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 @ 2:30 - 4:30
Bennett Civic Center Library

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 
The Livonia Kiwanis Club Early Risers Foundation receives
grant from Eagles for Children
The Kiwanis Club of Livonia Early Risers Foundation is so grateful to be a recipient of a grant from Eagles For Children for their Kids Coalition Against Hunger project and their Laptops For Kids program. Thank you so much to Eagles for Children and Western Golf & Country Club for selecting The Kiwanis Club of Livonia Early Risers and helping them help children!

Barefoot Productions ready for the holidays


Santa and his elves will make special calls to children (any elementary-aged child who still believes) on Monday, Dec. 16 & Tuesday, Dec. 17. Download your request form at  www.livoniaparks.org  Deliver to the Kirksey Recreation Center, 15100 Hubbard, email to [email protected] or fax (734) 466-2929. Sponsored by Livonia Kiwanis Early Risers and  Livonia Parks and Recreation.


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. 
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts partnering with Rosedale Presbyterian Church Deacons to collect food for the holiday.
Can you help them out.

Jim and Elaine Davis 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
Alan Helmkamp's team, the Beauties
bowling typewriter
The typewriter looking for his team, 
the Beasts

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.

Editors note: A response from Alan Helmkamp is in order: Yes, the idea of teaming two of my favorite charities- Livonia's Sweet Dreamzzz and Seedlings- was my idea. For the past few years I've been sponsoring the Sweet Dreamzzz team at the Seedlings bowling tournament, always much fun for a great cause. And yes, I did mention that I had a team of "beauties"- including the incomparable Dittmar sisters- (the photo speaks for itself), but certainly no reference to myself. But beyond, that, oh the typewriter has engaged in "editorial license." We're sitting at breakfast at the Blue Plate, with a table including Bob, Gino and Gary, and Bill says to them-you guys want to bowl? It could be the Beauties vs the Beasts! So, with the correction of the record, it's Game On!

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.