March 6, 2020         Your News source for All Livonia. All the time. All ways positive. 
Musings masthead website

Eight days until the 33rd Annual Seedlings Bowling for Braille Books
You are welcome whether you are bowling or just want to stop by and see all the fun
Don't need to tell you. This is The Beauty Team as designated by team captain Alan Helmkamp.
Gino Grabinski who will captain The Beasts
The gauntlet is down for the March 14, 33rd Annual Bowling for Braille Books at Novi Bowl.
The Beyond Explanation Team
in training with diet Coke

 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". 

But wait another element has been added. Not wanting to be left out Councilman Brandon McCullough is throwing his five member team into the challenge headed up by his brother.

It will be The Beauties captained by Alan Helmkamp, Stevenson High School graduate, versus The Beasts, captained by Geno Grabinski, owner of the Print House and representing FridayMusings, versus The Beyond Team, captained by Ryan McCullough, Franklin High School graduate. There was thought that the name of this challenge should be The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. But we will stick with the Beauties v Beasts v Beyond.

Helmkamp's team, the Beauties, is being 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.

The challenge will be played out at the annual Seedlings Bowling for Braille Books March 14 at the Novi Bowl where nearly 200 bowlers will start arriving at 12 noon and just before 1:00 and after a few words from our celebrity bowler Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, the fun begings. 

bowling typewriter
TThe official greeter. 
The typewriter
T im Klisz wore the best bowling outfit ever.
Holli and Benjamin Kerkhof
For four years running a special challenge has been Musings v Observer with Musings taking 3 of the 4.  But I must confess they took one when now retired 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. 

Nearly 200 bowlers are on board. With a week to go the numbers sit at 188. So there is room for you to sign up. Sign up here for on-line registration or call 734-427-8552 for more information. 

Don't wait. Hey, if you can't bowl make it a point to stop by the Novi Bowl and cheer on your favorite bowlers, bid on some of the wonderful gift packages, or to just say hello to the official greeter. That would be the typewriter. 

This is a day of fun, fellowship and frenzy. Well, I don't know about that one but it went along with fun and fellowship. But it is definitely a day of smiles.



Bill Brown Ford





  Thank you to these headline sponsors for 
partnering with Seedlings 33rd Annual Bowling
for Braille Books. Partners make it happen.
Livonia's biggest, bestest and longest party on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 8:00 am -- 11:30 pm
O'Malley's -- Supper, Spirits and Song
For the Irish or those who want to be Irish for a day
Let the pictures do the talking.   The most fun party in the area with a huge heated tent. Bands on 2 stages from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm, 
Irish Dancers, Bagpiper, Jill Jack, The Corktown Popes, Shamus Whiskey, Jon Latini, Motor City Acoustic Band and Major Woody.
Food, Drinks and Fun. Doors and Bar opens at 8:00 am. Just $5 cover is all.

The typewriter is English, not Irish, so does not partake on this day. 
But anytime Livonia can throw a party and have some fun with some great music, and this is great music for sure, it is worth promoting.
You May Need to Take Extra Step to Collect Your Tax Refund This Year
Several weeks ago Musings was contacted by Bryan Besco, client relationship director at Cole, Newton & Duran, who offered to provide a series of articles relating to, what was then, the beginning of tax season. This article is a continuation of the material provided by CND cpa's. Hope you have found them of value. The typewriter has:

Each year, the IRS releases its list of the largest tax scams with phishing and identity theft leading the way. These common scams are increasing in complexity. As taxpayers get ready to file their tax returns this year, do not be surprised if you are asked to confirm your own identity. 

The Michigan Department of Treasury will be identifying tax filers to take an online quiz to help prevent tax refund fraud. If you are set to receive a tax refund from the state of Michigan, your refund will not be issued until the quiz has been completed. If you do not have access to a computer, a phone option will be available as an alternative to the online quiz. If you chose the phone option, you would receive an official Michigan Department of Treasury letter, which includes the Michigan Coat of Arms and the names of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks.

This year, taxpayers are being asked to provide even more proof of identity. Taxpayers are also being offered ways to add another layer of protection to their Social Security numbers when they file their tax returns. 

How you can avoid getting scammed
  • Do not respond to phone calls threatening to arrest you and that demand false tax bill payments through wire transfer or prepaid card payments
  • Do not respond to phishing attempts that ask you to provide personal or financial information
  • Never verify the last four digits of your Social Security number
  • Do not ignore clues that you might have been a victim of ID theft
This information is of a general nature and should not be acted upon without further details and/or professional guidance. If you would like to learn more about Cole, Newton & Duran CPAs and how we can help with your accounting, tax, or consulting needs, please contact Bryan Besco, client relationship director, at 734.427.2030.
Musings follows our City Council
Livonia City Council Study Meeting - February 24, 2020
Livonia City Council Study Meeting -
February 24, 2020

Livonia City Council Regular Meeting - February 24, 2020
Livonia City Council Regular Meeting - February 24, 2020

Musings follows those shaving for kids at St. Baldricks shave-a-thon
May 17 @ 1 Under @ 12:00

Donate to my St. Baldrick's campaign so we can help fund children's cancer research and put an end to it.
Past President of our 
Livonia Jaycees
Musings follows the 2020 elections
Vote
 



Joe Biden D
Michael Bloomberg D
Tulsi Gabbard D
Bernie Sanders 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
Musings follows Livonia Happenings
March in Livonia

Census forms start arriving in March
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
Vote Early and Vote Often

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 DIA"
Livonia Bennett Civic Center Library auditorium.
March 16 @ 6:30 -- 7:30
Laurie Pohutsky Coffee Hour
Panera Bread, 28551 Schoolcraft Road

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 24 @ 7:00
Livonia Jaycee Membership Meeting
Livonia Chamber of Commerce


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
April 27 @ 4:30
Livonia Rotary Charity Reverse Raffle
 
May in Livonia
May 1 @ 6:00
Paul Seewald's
The Luck of Livonia Dinner Dance
Livonia Junior Athletic League celebrates 60 years
St. Mary's Cultural Center
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
1 Under


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

July 25 @ 9:00 -- 2:00
Touch-a-Truck sponsored by Rotary AM Club

July 26 
Tour de Livonia starting at Bicentennial Park


Musings loves to get feedback from our readers
Alan Helmkamp: Great Issue! Thanks for the plug for Sweet Dreamzzz (Livonia non-profit) and its continuing efforts to help kids with sleep-deprivation challenges. And my Sweet Dreamzzz team will see you at the Seedlings Bowling for Braille Books on March 14- love the synergy of Livonia organizations helping each other for important causes!

Amanda Webber Bradley:  Perfection! Congrats to everyone! So inspired by you Austin! Keep at it!

Boyd Rudy writing on facebook:  This is a great story about the Livonia public schools robotics team stepping up and helping out the brand new Clarenceville team that dwindled down to just one member who refused to quit. This kid went from having no chance at all, to winning it all. Such a great story of never giving up along with a bunch of kids stepping up and volunteering 14+ hours several days in a row to make sure he was rewarded for his never say die attitude. By the end of the competition the building was literally chanting his name. Great job Austin and great job Livonia Warriors!

Rose Kachnowski Rose Kachnowski: You really don't have to go far for your meeting place.....the new breakfast club that is in the same spot as theBlue Plate Diner is great. Grilled cinnamon rolls are very nice and everything seems great that comes out of the kitchen.  Sandwiches were very good.  Very accommodating to whatever you want and George the owner seems very nice .  Try it I think you will like it.  

Janice Clark Forte: The Livonia Warriors have heart. My son was blessed to be a part of this awesome team in high school. Lead by an amazing teacher. Great kids and great parents.

Holli Guenther Kerkhof: It's wonderful to see this kind of support! Community Choice Credit Union's Livonia office would love to start off the donations with $50 (for the Family Movie Night at Buchanan benefiting the Children's Craniofacial Association).

Kathy Davenport: This is such a great story of compassion, empathy, and embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship. Well done, Warriors!
Students organize for a fun night in support of
Children's Craniofacial Association
Jonathon Wennstrom passes along this opportunity to support a cause this Friday organized by Livonia Stevenson/CTC students in support of the Children's Craniofacial Association. It's going to be a fun night for a great cause. If you haven't seen Wonder, it's a must-see. There are no tickets, it's donations only (everyone is welcome, not just Buchanan families). So much happening in our hometown. So much reaching out and touching the lives of our neighbors.
Get your reservations now for the State of the City
Livonia CARES, a Livonia faith-based group that is made up of area churches and agencies, is having a special meeting on March 10th, 6:30, at the Bennett Civic Center Library about human trafficking.
This is something that, unfortunately, happens even in Livonia.
This is a program co-sponsored by Livonia Cares and the Livonia Human Relations Commission.
Get your reservations now for the State of the City
April 23, 11:30 -- 1:30 at Burton Manor
Sponsored by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce
Click on the image below to make reservations
Football and Cheerleading
Two more parts of a healthy Livonia

30 days and counting before the Anna Bonde Scholarship
Murder Mystery Dinner benefiting CAPA

In only one month on Wednesday, April 1st, 6:30 to 9:00, at Burton Manor Livonia will gather to honor Anna Bonde, to have some fun, enjoy a dinner and to raise some dollars for scholarships for the CAPA program in her name.

 Please make your reservation and get your tickets as soon as you can by clicking on the picture on the left

Students can use the code ABEDU for a $7 discount.

 Please join with our hometown Livonia community for this very special event the 11th Annual Anna K Bonde Scholarship Murder Mystery Dinner.

Proud sponsor of the Detroit Red Wings v Livonia All-stars coming to town May 17, 3:00.
Livonia Jaycees hosts a Murder Mystery to support the arts
3rd year in a row the Jaycees create a fun night for community arts

Hey Livonia it is time to Get Goofy with Improvisation  
LIVONIA ADULT IMPROV MEETUP With Trent Sutherland
Click on image for more information

A casual improv Meetup group dedicated to:
* Creating a welcoming, judgment-free space
* Being open to any an d all experience levels
* Improving attendees' abilities to "think on their feet"
* Building self-confidence by being confidently silly
* Meeting new people
* Having fun!!!

Logistical Details
When: 2pm, Every Other Sunday
Where: Motor City Youth Theatre 27555 Grantland St, Livonia, MI 48150
Who: Adult Humans who want to play (Or watch) Improv Games!
What: See bullet points above
Cost: $5 to play and free to watch!

Yes, and... We look forward to seeing you there!
Livonia, the cultural heartbeat of southeast Michigan with over 20 art and cultural organizations, is poised to vote YES on March 10.


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 ebauman.lso@gmail.com or call (248) 509-4744
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