December 18, 2019 Your source for All Livonia news. All the time. All ways positive.
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| Livonia Community Foundation giving back while working with the community |
 If you are involved with a charity that is qualified to apply for a grant from the Livonia Community Foundation, please remember that this is the first year we
will only be accepting applications through our new online process and all grant applications must be completed prior to midnight on January 15th.
Annually the Livonia Community Foundation reviews grant applications submitted by 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations serving the residents of the City of Livonia for programs and projects which they believe meet the mission of the Foundation. Generally, the Livonia Community Foundation does not provide grants for administrative or operational activities. The applications due to the Foundation by the 15th of January.
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| Moaning and a lot of stuff this morning to share at the end of the year. |
A little bit of mourning mixed in with a little bit of moaning and a lot of stuff on this cold and windy Wednesday morning:
  . . .this typewriter will miss Bob Hardies and Janet Bennett two forces of nature each of whom defined Livonia quality of life with each wanting engagement and dialogue on community needs and issues. Both of whom would have played a major role in helping push through Mayor-elect Brosnan's desire to enlist the community in becoming a part of what will take Livonia to the next level of excellence. I miss them both and continue to miss Bob Bennett.
. . .this typewriter appreciates the nearly 4,500 readers at our peak of election coverage. Starting from 29 10 years  ago to coverage of our city election reaching over 4,000 each issue In October. Thank you.
. . .Greenmead should be on the priority list for our new Council and Mayor. Fix up the buildings, define a revenue stream that sees the money raised staying at Greenmead while enhancing the property from the moment a car drives in to the families strolling through the houses filled with docents every weekend. This is a priority to create a sense of excitement for a major destination stop for people coming to Livonia.
. . .it is time to give some help to Karen DePerro and the Friends of the Wilson Barn to make our Saturday Farmers Market the Barn the go-to market in Western  Wayne County. Let's add Zingerman's, Westborn, Joe's Produce, service clubs, culture groups. We could have entertainment every weekend from 9 - 12.
. . .this typewriter would like to see the lighting at the art display in city hall improved. The art on display is really quite good. Now let's fix it so people can see and marvel at the quality of art showcased.
. . .this typewriter wants to take a page from Royal Oak and sell all of our city property from the fire station to Sam's Restaurant (owned by the city) including the old court house, police station and senior center. Have the company purchasing all this property for creative commercial use, not strip malls, build a new city hall, senior center, police, fire and city hall and walkable down town campus. Start now and see it done by the start of the next 4 year election cycle in 2023. The commercial property could have retail on the first floor and residential lofts on the second and third floor. How cool would that be.
. . .it is time to name a new senior center after the father of our park land, John Dufour.
. . .priority job 1 is the staffing level for police and fire. But this city can walk and chew gum at the same time so other priorities can also be worked on but none take precedent over staffing levels.
. . .the typewriter would like to have a space on the main floor of city hall, library, caretaker building at Greenmead, designated to recognize the inductees of the 1835 Livonia City Hall of Fame.
. . . this typewriter is winding down this morning, but this is just a start. More to come in the January 6th edition of FridayMusings. Promise.
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Part Two: Get Ready for Taxes: Tax Free Charitable IRA Distributions 70 ½ and Older
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 The Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to act now to avoid a tax-time surprise and ensure smooth processing of their 2019 federal tax return.
This is the second of a four-part tax series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. To that end, a
special page
, newly updated and available on
IRS.gov
, outlines things taxpayers can do now to prepare for the 2020 tax season ahead.
IRA owners age 70 ½ or older can transfer up to $100,000 per year to an eligible charity tax-free. This transfer can count as their required minimum distribution for the year. Funds must be transferred directly by the IRA trustee to the eligible charity. This may qualify for potential Federal and Michigan tax savings.
If you have questions about charitable IRA distributions, please contact a tax professional at Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs at 734-427-2030. You can also visit our website at
www.cndcpa.com
.
About Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs (cndcpa.com)
Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs (CND) has been providing quality, personalized financial guidance to local individuals and businesses for more than 50 years. Our expertise ranges from basic tax management and accounting services to more in-depth services such as audits, financial statements, and financial planning. CND is one of the leading firms in and throughout the area. By combining our expertise, experience, and the team mentality of our staff, we assure that every client receives the close analysis and attention they deserve.
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United States Senate
Gary Peters (D-I)
John James (R)
United States House of Representatives
Haley Stevens (D-I)
Whitney Williams (R)
Eric Esshaki (R)
Michigan House of Representatives
Laurie Pohutsky (D-I)
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Click on this image for all movie times at the Phoenix
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12 more days of homegrown art on display at the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library
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 The Fine Arts Gallery, located on the second floor of the Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library, is featuring the works of
"Artists on Five" for the month of December.
"Artists on Five" is a group of artists that either teach at the Visual Arts Assocition of Livonia or are on the Board of Directors for VAAL. Works are presented in acrylic, oil, calligraphy, collage, pastel, watercolor, alcohol ink, linocut relief prints, monotype and mixed media. Over 40 beautiful paintings.
Virginia Bosak, past President of VAAL and a member of the Livonia Arts Commission hopes "you can take time from your busy Holiday schedule to visit the Gallery to relax and enjoy some quiet time with the art of Susan Aitkin, Dorothy Amberger, Durwood Coffey, Mary P. Cline, Jean Figurski, Sandy Steed, Laura Host, Edee Joppich, Karen Judnich, Rose Marie Starke, Fran Seikaly, Julie Tibus, Laraine Walowich and Kitty Weaver. You might even find that special present you are looking for."
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December in Livonia
Livonia Youth Symphony Winter Concert
Kresge Hall @ Madonna University
December 25
Merry Christmas to all from
Paul, Raquel, Leonardo and Denaulo
January in Livonia
January 13
Official launch of the Tour de Livonia
January 18 @ 11:00 - 2:00
Franklin High School
PTA DADS Chili Cook-off
January 23
Senior Center Book Club: Failures of Presidents
A Project of AlphaUSA
Moderated by Chuck Dardas and the typewriter
March 14
33rd Annual Bowling for Braille Bopoks
Novi Bowl Family Fun Center
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The Livonia Youth Symphony of Michigan is ready
for their 61st Winter Concert. This weekend ! |
 Livonia Youth Symphony of Michigan will be holding their 61st Winter Concert on December 21st at 2pm at Madonna University. They will be holding the concert in Kresge Hall. Tickets will be available at the door.
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Haley Stevens led floor debate ahead of vote, urging for swift action on H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act
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 On December 12, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) voted to pass H.R.3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will help bring down the cost of prescription drugs and level the playing field for American patients who are paying more for their medicines than patients in other countries. This bill gives Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies, and apply those lower prices to all consumers on private plans. H.R. 3 also caps out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 for Medicare beneficiaries. H.R. 3 passed with a bipartisan 230-192 vote.
"Families in Michigan's 11th District are facing skyrocketing prescription drug prices, forcing many to choose between their medications and putting food on the table or meeting other basic needs," said Congresswoman Stevens . "That is unacceptable, and it's why I pledged to make this issue one of my top priorities this year. I was proud to advance H.R.3 today to deliver on that promise. This historic legislation saves hundreds of billions of dollars, to be reinvested in innovation to search for new cures and treatments, as well as desperately needed funding for states to help combat the opioid crisis, and to create a long-overdue coverage benefit in Medicare for dental, vision, and hearing care. I urge the Senate to take up and pass H.R.3, and send it to the President's desk for his signature."
A report conducted by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform earlier this year found that insulin prices for the 23,000 Medicare beneficiaries living with diabetes in Michigan's 11th Congressional District are up to 4.9 times greater than in other countries. In 2016 alone, insulin cost both Medicare and seniors in the 11th District 20 million dollars. Additionally, uninsured individuals in the 11th District pay an average of $583 for a monthly supply of insulin, as compared to the insulin price of $28 in Australia. For the most commonly used insulin medications, Michigan residents spend anywhere from $1,200 to $20,000 annually.
H.R. 3 would lower the average total cost of brand name insulin by up to 76% from about $19,800 to $4,800 per year.
The Lower Drug Costs Now Act also includes the Maximizing Drug Coverage for Low-Income Seniors Act, Congresswoman Stevens' legislation to improve the Medicare enrollment process and lower out-of-pocket costs for low-income older adults by ensuring that beneficiaries are intelligently assigned to a Part D plan that best meets their medication needs at the lowest cost.
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| Some of what your neighbors are writing or thinking about |
Cynthia Windecker: Many thanks to you and Kathy Ventittelli for the amazing review given to our concert! I so appreciate all of your support!
(The Typewriter:You are most welcome. When the chorus members put in the long practices and perform as professional as you do then by all means kudos are well done. I know that our community appreciates the excellence of the Livonia Civic Chorus.)
Carol Verkennis: I know I always kid you about coming to sing with us, but, I would like to bring up the point that the K was missing from my name.
(The Typewriter: Duly noted with my apologies. In my haste to get the review of the concert out in a timely manner I made a mistake.)
 Dave Stechholz: Thank you for the great write-up on our Livonia Civic Chorus Christmas Concert. It was fun. Thank you also for Kathy's kind words. We love how you bring the whole community of Livonia together through these semi-annual events of LCC Concerts, as well as recognizing the other great musical concerts and artistic group events around Livonia. Are you going to do a
Friday Musings on Christmas season home lighting's in Livonia?
(The Typewriter: When the hard work of our chorus results in the excellence exhibited on Sunday there certainly needs an opportunity to share the success with Livonia residents. Thank you for being a part of this success. I am considering a story on all the lights. Just not sure the direction to take and the quality of pictures I can obtain.)
Karen Bradford: Thank you for sharing seats with us for last nights inauguration (at city hall). It was a great night. So happy for all the newly elected.
(The Typewriter: My pleasure. Always good to see our leadership of the Livonia schools out celebrating our hometown and Thursday was a celebration.)
 Betsy Calhoun: I imagine you'll be cruising around town, looking for a new place to hang out. I suggest you try out the new Anastasia and Katie's, the coffee shop that hires people with disabilities and let the rest of us know about it; it's near the top of my To Do list.
(The Typewriter: So many have tried that new coffee shop. It is definitely on my list. So far I have met up with folks at Sam's, Big Boy, Redford Grill and the always good Tuscan Cafe.)
(The Typewriter: Agreed. It definitely was great.)
The Typewriter: It was a polished musical performance that still stands out in my mind.)
Pattie Coughlan:
For the first time I attended the Livonia Symphony program this past weekend. I was so enthralled and happy to have attended. What a wonderful program...ballet to the symphony.
(The Typewriter: Livonia is so fortunate to have a world class symphony orchestra. It is time for our city to promote all the wonderful art and cultural programs Livonia offers. No other community can compare.)
Charlie Mahoney: Thanks Bill for challenging your friends to support a great symphony - we are so appreciative of those who stopped by (the offices of Dan MacIver) - see you all at the February 22 concert.
(The Typewriter: This guitar raffle is one of a kind. Was happy to meet up with Dan MacIver, Rob Donovic and Brandon McCullough along with Charlie Mahoney and Emily Ambrose Bauman and Alan Helmkamp to add 10 more raffle tickets sold.)
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What is the talk circulating throughout Livonia about this
one-of-a-kind guitar being raffled off by the Livonia Symphony? |
  Susan Parker Stewart had promised to post some detailed pictures of the Alembic bass guitar on facebook that the Livonia Symphony Orchestra is raffling off.
So what is all this talk circulating through our hometown about this one of a kind guitar that has so many people really excited about the opportunity to win while helping our hometown Symphony.
Let's let Susan Parker Stewart tell you a little about it:
So I believe that this is a Mark King Deluxe model with a bunch of upgrades. It is a hand built custom 4 string bass guitar with a gorgeous buckeye burl wood top and back with the electronics covers on back being continuous (cut from the same piece of wood).
The core body wood is mahogany and the pick-up's are Alembic custom wound active type.The neck is maple with purple heart wood stripes, the fingerboard is ebony with abalone oval inserts.
Another custom feature is that the side marker dots are blue and red LED's. They are gorgeous when illuminated on a dark stage.
These instruments typically take months to complete and cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
This one was donated to the Livonia Symphony Orchestra for a fundraising raffle with 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales funding LSO operations.
300 tickets are being sold for $100 each and the drawing is to be held on Saturday May 9th 2020 at a Symphony concert between 5:00 and 5:30 at the Clarenceville High School Schmidt Auditorium.
These raffle tickets will make excellent Christmas gifts! You need not be present to win!
For raffle tickets please contact LSO board member Emily Bauman ebauman.lso@gmail.com or call (248) 509-4744. |
| Richard and Geraldine Scholarship application is available. |
 Bob and Bill Joyner would like to tell you that here is still time to get your scholarship application for the Richard and Geraldine Joyner Scholarship to be applied to classes at Schoolcraft College. Whether you are planning to attend or are already enrolled this $600 scholarship can help you out.
In fact there are two scholarships available.
Drop a note to rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com to obtain the application. Needs to be turned in by the last day in December and will be awarded in January.
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