February 26, 2020 Your News source for All Livonia. All the time. All ways positive.
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ALL LIVONIA PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION INCUMBENTS ANNOUNCE RE-ELECTION BID
Tammy Bonifield, Karen Bradford, Dan Centers, and Crystal Frank file for another term
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Tammy Bonifield said, "
I am proud to have served as an LPS Trustee since 2013. Working together we serve the district, continually moving forward to meet the educational needs of every student
". Ms. Bonifield
was first elected November 2012 and re-elected in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University. She is a Certified Master Board Member by the Michigan Association of School Boards.
Finishing her first four year term, Karen Bradford is looking forward to continuing the work of the Board saying,
"This Board must be steadfast in continuing to foster a stable financial environment. Financial stability allows us to allocate resources which will enhance educational opportunities for our students and increase student achievement." Ms.
Bradford was elected to the Board in November 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, and a Master of Arts degree in Reading from Eastern Michigan University.
Dan Centers said,
"I am proud of the progress our district has made since I first joined the board in 2014. We provide great opportunities for students to grow and learn every single day." Mr. Centers was appointed to the board in May 2014, was elected to a two year term in November, 2014, and re-elected to a four year term in 2016. Centers is a graduate of Madonna University in Livonia and works as a Chief of Staff in the Michigan Senate.
"We have an amazing team that is making huge strides for our students, staff and community. It is vital we continue the momentum and build upon that strength going forward," said LPS Trustee Crystal Frank.
Ms. Frank was first elected to the Board in November 2016. She graduated from Miami University (Ohio) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Communication. Ms. Frank is certified by the Michigan Association of School Boards and has received the Merit award for her training.
Livonia Public Schools is the 9
th
largest school district in the state of Michigan. All four incumbents are Certified Board Members through the Michigan Association of School Boards. For the first time in over a decade, this Board of Education has received the distinguished honor of being named an Honor Board for each members' commitment to ongoing education via classes and seminars for School Boards.
Michael Testa, long active in the school district, and who at one time expressed an interest in running for the school board commented on how "nice to see that all four are willing to continue their service. I appreciate that. While I support them, I would like to see more Candidates on the ballot. For me, the 2018 Election itself was disappointing because there were only 4 Candidates running for 3 seats. In comparison, 2014 and 2016, voters had 8 Candidates to select from in each Election. As a voter I prefer to have more options.
"That being said, I can understand anyone not wanting to be involved with the 2020 Election in general and I recognize the burden and time commitment that comes with this important role. Lastly, I hope that there are multiple Forums for School Board Candidates to participate in, maybe both the Chamber and League of Women Voters can each host one."
Wayne County Commissioner
Terry Marecki summed up her thoughts with
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Great to hear!"
Robb Drzewicki adds "4 spots, 4 votes. That's an easy one. Thank you LPS Board for stepping up once again!"
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| A note on Bob Modes and an update on solving the breakfast dilemma for the typewriter |
 The typewriter is a man of routine. For years I had lunch at the Box Bar. 12 noon. For years. Sometimes it would just be me. Other times there could be 1 or 10 joining in for a Box Bar Burger. For years.
When I moved back to Livonia after 26 years in Plymouth I was 3 miles to the Tuscan Cafe in Northville. 3 miles to my green tea and Zingerman bagels. Every
 morning. 7 days a week. I am a man of routine after all.
Then I found the Blue Plate Diner and bingo my new 7:00 am breakfast spot was discovered. 7 days a week. Same seat. Same table. Same breakfast. Well, same table except on Thursday when a Lutheran Men's Club took over.
Liz Jarvis and Kathy Bilger every Tuesday. Gary Selesko and Alan Helmkamp on Friday. Terry the electrician and Tom the photographer Saturday and Sunday. Jim Davis made it a campaign stop to meet voters once a week. Walk in and tea was waiting. Greg had my breakfast ready. Sam had my paper ready to read. I am a man of routine afterall.
 Then the Blue Plate closed. And with the closure came the phone calls and emails. Where can we meet for breakfast? I had no idea.
But the questions kept coming and they shifted from me-centric to Where is Bob Modes? What is he doing? How is his health? Why did he sell the Blue Plate?
The answers are very simple so let me answer them for you. Modes, a Livonia resident, is active with Blue Plate Catering and a partner in the purchase of the Print House with Gino Grabinski, also a resident of Livonia, his health is just fine after the implant of a stent, and he sold the Blue Plate because he got a good offer, just couldn't turn it down.
Bob Modes is doing well.
There, that should answer the questions but I am sure they will keep coming. Oh, by the way, the typewriter eats on Friday at Sam's Place. Other days finds me hitting and missing.
When the typewriter caught up with Modes for breakfast this weekend he shared with me about the printing and mailing of 19,000 ballots to residents in the mid-west for the Italian election. That's right. The Italian election. As in Europe.
Seems folks living here but who hold Italian citizenship can vote and the Print House is one of the printing and mail services around the country that provide the ballots. The Italian Consulate in Detroit will be at the Print House this week to oversee the mailing of the ballots, including following the truck to the post office to verify that the ballots have been mailed.
 A change in the daily routine of Modes for sure. At least this week. Who knows what the week holds in the future.
Oh, and he is still providing the catered lunches for students at St. Michael Catholic School. But that is not the only catering.
This Friday he starts the all you can eat fish dinners, all you can eat for $10, or shrimp dinner, or pierogies dinner, or pizza dinner at the Hubert-Fortiers-O'Grady VFW Post 345, in Redford, Schoolcraft and Inkster. 4:30 -- 7:00. A good way to catch up with Modes and tell him hello. He says he would love to hear from his friends from the Blue Plate days.
So, the catering business is keeping him busy. The printing business is keeping him busy. His two grandchildren are keeping him busy. His parents are keeping him busy. His sons. . .well you get the hint.
But this typewriter thinks, well, he hinted, that Bob Modes misses the people from the Blue Plate. He said that several times in our most recent conversation.
So the typewriter is left traveling the landscape of Livonia determined that soon he will have a routine down pat. In the meantime it is early to rise and not knowing from day to day where the breakfast will be served. Maybe at home. What a unique thought.
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LSO raffling off a one-of-a-kind custom guitar.
A little over two months left to get your ticket. |
The Livonia Symphony Orchestra would like to present this Alembic Bass Guitar that they are raffling off.
This is Mark King Deluxe model featuring several 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 strip
es, 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 our fundraiser raffle and 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will fund LSO operations.
They are limited the number of tickets to 300 tickets being sold for $100 each and the drawing is to be held on Saturday May 9th 2020 between 5:00 and 5:30 at the Clarenceville High School Schmidt Auditorium.
These raffle ticket makes for a great gift for that special someone in your life.
You need not be present to win!!!
For raffle tickets please contact LSO board member Emily Bauman [email protected] or call (248) 509-4744
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Musings follows our City Council
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Livonia City Council Study Meeting - February 24
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| Livonia City Council Regular Meeting February 24 |
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Musings follows those shaving for kids at St. Baldricks shave-a-thon
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Wanna make this weirdness a reality again? Donate to my St. Baldrick's campaign so we can help fund children's cancer research and put an end to it.
Also let me know if the facial hair should go again.
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Musings follows the 2020 elections
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Joe Biden D
Michael Bloomberg D
Pete Buttigieg D
Tulsi Gabbard D
Amy Klobuchar D endorsed by FridayMusings
Bernie Sanders D
Tom Steyer D
Elizabeth Warren D
United States Senate
Gary Peters (D-I)
Bob Carr (R)
John James (R)
United States House of Representatives
Haley Stevens (D-I)
Endorsed by:
Michigan Education Association
Kerry Bentivolio (R)
Whitney Williams (R)
Endorsed by:
Eric Esshaki (R)
Michigan House of Representatives
Laurie Pohutsky (D-I)
Martha Ptashnik (R)
Wayne County Commissioner
Terry Marecki (R-I)
Schoolcraft College Trustee
Brian Broderick (I)
Joan Gebhardt (I)
Terry Gilligan (I)
Livonia Board of Education
Dan Centers
Karen Bradford
Tammy Bonifield
Crystal Frank
Clarenceville Board of Education
Matt Boettcher
Brenda Uren
Shari Krazel
Jeffrey Bunker
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| Musings follows Livonia Happenings |
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February in Livonia
All February
Allen Brooks photography on display at
Livonia City Hall 9 to 5. The show will be up until Feb 28.
February 27
Mental Health with Eric Hipple
VisTaTech @ Schoolcraft College
Registration at Livonia Chamber of Commerce
February 29
The Arc of Northwest Wayne County
Laurel Manor
Ball for All Leap Year Fundraiser
March in Livonia
Census forms start arriving in March
March 3 @ 6:30
Livonia Garden Club
Civic Park Senior Center
Four seasons of garden interest
March 5 @ 6:00 - 7:30
Opioid Town Hall
Bennett Civic Center Library
Hosted by: Representative Laurie Pohutsky
March 8 @ 1:30 - 4:00
March 10 @ 7:00 am -- 8:00 pm
Presidential Primary
March 14
33rd Annual Bowling for Braille Books
Novi Bowl Family Fun Center
March 15 @ 2:00
Friends of the Livonia Library
"Through Her Eyes Women Artists in the Detroit Institute of Arts."
Livonia Bennett Civic Center Library auditorium.
March 16 @ 2:00
Livonia Historical Society presents Joe Oldenberg discussing "The First Native Tribes of Michigan." Alexander Blue House, Greenmead Historical Park
March 17 @ 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Skywarn Training
Bennett Civic Center Library
March 21
@ 9:00 - 3:00
Home Show brought to you by
The Livonia Chamber of Commerce
Jack Kirksey Recreation Center
March 22
Mom to Mom Sale
Kirksey Recreation Center
March 26 @ 7:00 - 9:00
Happily Ever After
Historic Greenmead
April in Livonia
April 7 @ 6:30
Livonia Garden Club
Civic Park Senior Center
Sustainable Food System
April 14
Today's Africa Through American Eyes
Dr. Peggi J. Tabor, PhD
Livonia Citizens for Peace
Livonia Senior Center
April 25 @ 10:00 - 3:00
Previously Enjoyed
Jewelry
Sale
Greenmead Historic Village
May in Livonia
May 5 @ 6:30
Livonia Garden Club
Civic Park Senior Center
Plant Legends and Stories
May 16 @ 9:00 - 10:00
Livonia Garden Club Plant Sharing Event
Greenmead Historical Park Rain or Shine
Everyone is encouraged to come and take plants whether or not they have plants to share
May 17 @ 12 noon
St. Baldrick's Shaving for Kids with Cancer
Plymouth Rock
May 17 @ 3:00
Red Wing Alumni v Livonia All Stars
Eddie Edgar Arena
June in Livonia
June 7 @ 3:00
Livonia Civic Chorus Spring Concert
Churchill High School Performing Arts Center
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Thomas Rakoczy and Samantha Yee-Keathley
joins Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs |
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Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs is proud to welcome Samantha Yee-Keathley, seasonal tax preparer, to its team. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Eastern Michigan University.
"We are excited to welcome Samantha to Cole, Newton & Duran," said Cole, Newton & Duran's individual practice leader Christopher Boloven. "Samantha is a recent graduate of Eastern Michigan University and I look forward to watching her grow in her tax and accounting career. She will be a great addition to our growing tax practice responsible for providing corporate, partnership, and individual income tax return preparation services for clients."
Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs is also proud to welcome Thomas Rakoczy, seasonal tax preparer, to its team.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Walsh College and an Associates of Business Administration from Henry Ford Community College.
"We are excited to welcome Tom to Cole, Newton & Duran," said Cole, Newton & Duran's individual practice leader Christopher Boloven. "Tom's more than 35 years of experience specializing in accounting, and consulting will be a great addition to our growing tax practice. We will utilize his extensive experience preparing quarterly estimates, projections, and payroll taxes to advise clients. Our clients will benefit greatly from his depth and breadth of experience."
Thomas has more than 35 years of accounting experience. He also has experience as a controller for a German-based engine component parts supplier's technology center where he was responsible for all accounting and finance related activities. He also spent approximately 20 years in banking.
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Tail Waggers Is On The Move
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Tail Waggers 1990, a local non-profit organization, is leaping into the new decade with exciting news that the Organization is being rehomed.
After experiencing unexpected, financial hardship in 2019, which could have resulted in the doors being closed, the community rallied, the support was over whelming and the decision was made to relocate out of our current facility into something more cost effective and affordable so we could continue helping thousands of animals and their owners for years to come.
Effective March 2, 2020, Tail Waggers will be moving into their new dog house at 16322 Middlebelt Rd., Livonia - between Five Mile Rd. and Six Mile Rd.
This expanded, more updated facility is one mile from our current location - just around the corner. This move will enable us to service even more animals, with less wait-time for the pet owner, store and distribute even more pet food in the larger
Pantry 4 Paws
and expand our community outreach and volunteer programs so more referrals learn about our
Wellness Center for Preventative Pet Care
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Our four-legged approach to offering Wellness services to every pet owner, regardless of income level, is to always have your pets' best interests at heart. Founder Laura Kuchinski feels that "Our up-close and personal approach allows us to get to know each pet owner and their animals' needs because we are animal lovers for animal lovers. Care, compassion and commitment - that is what we are all about!" There are no plans for any price increases due to this move and Tail Waggers will continue to keep things affordable by never charging an office visit or exam fee.
As a 501( c)(3) non-profit organization, we receive no federal funding and rely almost entirely on private and corporate donations. In 2020, new marketing and social media tactics, presence at community events and additional fundraising efforts will be significant so that Tail Waggers' will become even more recognized than the 30 year history it already has.
Financial contributions can be made through the website at:
www.tailwaggers1990.org
or by mail to 16322 Middlebelt Rd.,
Livonia, MI 48152.
All financial contributions are tax-deductible.
Tail Wagger's 1990 is
a
Non-Profit Organization, committed to helping people help animals. It is their ultimate goal to be able to support dedicated pet owners who are in need of assistance along with providing necessary funding for those animals in emergency situations.
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| Livonia continues to address the Opioid crisis with town hall |
Livonia resident celebrates her first year as
chair of the Michigan Republican Party |
Former Livonia County Commissioner and State Representive Laura Cox shared her thoughts on the 1 year anniversary as the Michigan GOP state chairman:
Today marks my 1 year anniversary of becoming
Michigan Republican Party Chairman. I am deeply grateful for the trust and support Michigan Republicans have put into me to lead our party.
We've laid the groundwork and built the infrastructure to give us an advantage over the Democrats in every corner of the state.
To everyone who's ever rolled up their sleeves, and dedicated their time to help make our party so great - you are the backbone of the MIGOP. I am proud to say now, m
ore than ever Michigan Republicans are unified to deliver victory in November.
Thank you all for the opportunity to lead the party I love. I am looking forward to all the hard and rewarding work these next nine months will bring!
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer heading to Livonia to speak before the Chamber of Commerce at Burton Manor
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Click on image to register and purchase ticket (s)
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer will be speaking at a luncheon for members of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, Monday, March 9 at 12 noon. The program will be at Burton Manor. Seats must be purchased in advance.
The Livonia Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, non-profit trade organization that represents more than 1,000 members. We strive to be a pragmatic leader for our membership and business community by working with all our elected officials.
She is in her second year in office as Michigan's 49th governor. She was elected in November 2018 with a famed slogan: Fix the damn roads. She recently attracted national fame as she presented the Democratic Party's response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address on February 4.
In her State of the State Address in January, the Governor discussed plans to infuse new funding into road repairs, adjusting third-grade reading requirements, and other education and health care initiatives.
She was born in Lansing and holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the MSU College of Law. Both of her parents were lawyers.
In her political career, she was elected state representative and state senator. She was the state's first female Democratic leader of the Michigan Senate. She also held the role of Ingham County prosecutor. She has two daughters in high school and three step-sons.
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Proud sponsor of the Detroit Red Wings v Livonia All-stars coming to town May 17, 3:00.
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| Previously Enjoyed Jewelry Sale is set for April 25 |
Donations are accepted at the Alexander Blue House at Greenmead and the
Civic Park Senior Center
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For additional information, please call (248) 477-7375.
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Clarenceville fundraiser set for
Senior All Night Party
It's in the cards.
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 Euchre Card Party to support Clarenceville 2020 Grads is set for March 21st at the VFW Hall, Schoolcraft and Inkster.
Not only will it be an evening filled with great conversation and fun card playing but hey, dinner is also included donated by Bob Modes and Blue Plate Catering & The Print House.
Did I say dinner of salad, mostaccioli, chicken tenders, chicken parmesan and dinner rolls was included. What an evening.
Entry Fee is $25 and includes the dinner with proceeds going to the 2020 Clarenceville senior night party.
Limited to 80 Players Maximum with following prizes:
Prizes (at 80 players)
1st Place = $300
2nd Place = $150
3rd Place = $50
Prizes (at 52 players)
1st Place = $200
2nd Place = $75
3rd Place = $25
Any questions call Dan MacIver 313-231-2524 or Pam Shourd 734-751-9783.
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| See a Rotarian and get that ticket before they sell out |
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PLEASE CONSIDER BUYING A TICKET! $135/couple gets you appetizers, dinner, open bar, and a ticket into the reverse raffle! The top prize is $3,000 and 27 other cash winners will be awarded!
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| Night of Trivia benefiting Blessings in a Backpack |
 Our Trivia Night is on April 24th. We are starting to gather items for our raffle at the event. If you or a business would like to donate something, we would be most appreciative.
Some suggestions are:
Restaurant gift cards
Certificates for haircuts and/or nails
massages
gift baskets of any sort
store gift cards
sport tickets
Please send us a message
here, and we will connect with our Trivia night team.
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Paul Seewald's Luck of Livonia Dinner Dance
Livonia Junior Athletic League celebrates 60 years |
 Looking for someone to cater your graduation party? Or perhaps that business meeting.
No matter what your catering needs you can count on that familiar face, with that quality service.
Bob Modes @
Blue Plate Catering
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