March 18, 2020 Your News source for All Livonia. All the time. All ways positive.
Check your mail. Your census forms will start arriving this week March 12 - 20 with the online registration now open.
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| Let's do it. Gift card time. Make an impact to keep our hometown small businesses open. |
The phone call came at dinner. A friend of Livonia called to ask what could be done for the small, mom and pop restaurants. He then told me of what he was doing and hoping that others could do their part to position small businesses to survive with limited patronage and to flourish when the virus war is won.
 Seems he went into Archie's on Monday, and ordered up 85 corned beef dinners. He went back on Tuesday, picked them up and took them back to his business for his employees that wanted corned beef to take home. He also purchased 50 gift cards for $20 each and passed them out to employees that wanted or needed them. All to support one small, local restaurant.
On Tuesday he went to Thomas' to see how they were doing. Laying off most employees and  leaving only 5. He bought 50 $20 gift cards and ordered 150 sandwiches for lunch at his business on Wednesday.
As more people practice social distancing across the country, small businesses will feel the impact. That was the purpose of the phone call. We are a
lready seeing restaurants closing indefinitely due to dwindling business associated with the coronavirus outbreak. W
ith the increased caution around public spaces, we need to ask ourselves how can we continue to support small, local businesses?
Purchasing a gift card to use at another time helps local businesses.
Local neighborhood businesses depend on the support of people coming out.
If you don't want to or can't venture out - like the typewriter -- you can purchase gift certificates to help sustain them today and then treat yourself for a special day later. The Livonia small business owner supports his/her family with our patronage. So let's do what we can to help them.
This typewriter is encouraging you to purchase gift cards or to use the carry out/delivery. Make an impact.
To that end this typewriter will be purchasing 10 $25 gift cards -- one a day for the next 10 days. I will set them aside and when we have defeated this virus will have a fun time eating out -- for free. I will pretend that they were given to me as a gift.
 Thanks Mr. anonymous for your help with two great Plymouth Road restaurants. My first call will be to Corsi's and the UP North craft beer bar.  Both in my neighborhood.
That is my pledge to support hometown small businesses. How about you.
Side Note: Sheeba Cook on Monday sent this note to the typewriter.
Hello, could you do a special business posting listing all the local businesses that sell gift cards? I think that would really help a lot of them survive in addition to carryout business. Not all of them can afford to do carryout due to overhead constraints.
I wanted to but when I started to list all of them I stopped at 150. Just too many. Everyone should take a look around your neighborhood or shops you frequent. Thank you for the suggestion.
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| Time to apply for neighborhood mini-grants from the City of Livonia |
 Councilman Jim Jolly passes along some valuable information regarding Livonia's Neighborhood Grant program for your  hometown neighborhood. "Now is the perfect time to talk to your neighbors (via phone, email, and social networking) to plan your block party or neighborhood enrichment effort to reconnect, celebrate, and engage your friends and neighbors after these challenging times - always hope for and expect better days ahead."
EXAMPLES of t
he types of projects or events which can be applied for:
- Community art programs
- Community events - e.g., neighborhood parties (eligible only once), Rosedale Gardens Parade
- Public space landscaping/beautification
- Stewardship of neighborhood parks and common spaces
- Youth programs - e.g., Beverly Soccer League, Clements Circle Boy Scouts, etc.
More information can be found at https://www.livonia.gov/240/Neighborhood-Grants.
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Four Corners History:
Clarenceville, Gateway to the West
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 While we are hunkering down and to a large extent staying indoors without the socialization we are all accustomed to this typewriter throught it would be a change of pace to outline some of local hometown history. When history calls the person #1 on my rolodex is Kathy Bilger. She offers up this article on Clarenceville which I hope you find it of interest:
What makes a town? Does it need a mayor, a council, a church, stores, homes? Not really. Mayors and councils are helpful, but in 19
th
century terms, not necessary. When our state was new, a town needed 3 things: a post office, a public space and a name. A post office had to have a name. A public space could be a church, tavern or school, sometimes all three at the same time. A tavern could be a public space in your home, such as the Cady Inn in Northville. The government allowed these tavern rooms in private homes to be tax free. Settlers needed places to stay along the trail to new homes and the government was quite anxious to fill Michigan with settlers that would drive the Indians out.
Allen and Orrin Weston saw opportunity here. They bought land in Livonia and Farmington. Orrin built a nice home on Grand River in 1831. Grand River was one of very few roads at the time and a toll road. The bane of every coach driver's existence was potholes, proof that some things never change. In 1831 wood planks were the solution. A few years later, wood planks were installed, and Grand River became known as Old Plank Road.
Allen and Orrin built a tavern on the side of Orrin's home. They stretched opportunity a bit further in 1836 when Allen started a stagecoach line from Detroit to Howell. The tavern became known as the 16 Mile Inn as it was 16 miles from Detroit. It was also the first stop or gate on the stage headed to Howell or about one day's ride on a good day. For Livonia, Farmington and Southfield townships, this is where you caught the stage west to Lansing or east to Detroit. In 1838, there was one stage a week to Howell and it took a week to get there.
With a toll gate in the road, Clarenceville was quite literally the gateway to the west side of Michigan.
Vision problems made Allen sell out in 1838 and move to Howell. Orrin sold the tavern to his neighbor, Stephen Jennings, for $1200 in 1841. By that time a town was starting around the tavern. James Gunning had a general store. Mail came from Sand Hill (now Redford). Stephen added onto the tavern, converting it into a good sized inn. He sold it to a Scotsman from Howell with a large family for $1700. John Claugherty and family moved to the inn in 1849. (The marker in front of Clarenceville High School shows Claugherty' s first name as Tom, proof that mistakes happen in the retelling of history.) The Claugherty family made the inn a busy place. Mrs. Jennings often remarked that she had to walk past the village of Claugherty to visit her daughter. She never could say Claugherty properly, it sounded like Clarence. Just to be fair, there were a few men named Clarence in the town. John became the postmaster of the village and the Clarence-ville name stuck. It was now a town as far as the government was concerned.
Allen Weston's grandson Elmer Weston, the Clarenceville plumber, remembered, "
that his uncle Andrew Weston is son of Allen Weston, the first proprietor of the Clarenceville Tavern, was a mail carrier on Grand River at an early day. He remembers hearing his folks tell about his uncle passing a troop of Indians on their way to or from Detroit. The dictates of Indian etiquette demand that each individual salutation or greeting should be returned individually with a respectful "Ugh!Ugh!" and a friendly nod. I am told that after any of these encounters with the Indians, Andrew was pretty tired of nodding and ughing. These were the days Mr. Weston says when the carrier threw the contents of his bag on the post office floor and the postmaster picked out what he wanted, put the rest back in the bag and the carrier went on his way.
The inn changed hands again when the Clougherty's retired and sold it to the Botsford family for $4000. This time the owners would keep it for a long time, 64 years. If you
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TheHenryFord.org image of the Botsford Inn Circa 1900
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are counting, the name we all remember is that of the fourth owners, the Botsfords. They made it a fun place with dances and parties. Will Harmon's Full Orchestra played. They had a superfan in Henry Ford but that is another story. Henry and Clara Ford were very frequent visitors to the inn. Henry loved square dancing.
The town began dying off as trains took over. Farmington grew, Sand Hill grew. People drove past Clarenceville without stopping. The Botsford Inn was crumbling. Henry Ford made his fortune and stepped in to save the inn. Every detail was precious to him. He sent men out to hunt down descendants of the Weston brothers and capture their stories of the inn. He shut down Ford Motor company for a week to find the bass fiddle used by Volney Gunning at the square dances. When the inn was restored, Henry held parties there. The restored inn was a gift to his wife.
Clarenceville town is long gone but the old inn remains. Clarenceville school district survives as the oldest school district in the state. The cemetery and a few homes remain. Martha Botsford married Fred Warner, who became one of the most progressive governors our fair state ever had. Martha, as first lady, worked toward women's rights. Allen Weston's stagecoach line opened up land to the west and towns all along Grand River flourished due to the stagecoach. Grand River and the more or less historic potholes remain.
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| Proud to call these Livonia health care leaders three of the best. You gotta love Livonia. |
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Hegira Health
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St. Mary Hospital
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Christine Cole Johnson
Chair, Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry For Health System
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They're executives and fundraisers. Nurses, physicians and researchers. They're advocates, educators and mentors. Leaders.
Meet Crain's 2020 41 Notable Women in Health: 3 of the 41 women who are making a difference for patients, their businesses and in the field bring pride to their profession and to Livonia. Those who know them praise their vision, acumen and tirelessness.
And because of their work in the community and their mentorship of future health care leaders, their work will continue to make an impact for some time to come.
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Musings follows our government on the Livonia City Council
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Livonia City Council Study Meeting -
March 11, 2020
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Livonia City Council Regular Meeting -
March 11, 2020 |
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Musings follows these three
healthy, giving and fun events
in hope that the virus is defeated
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May 17 @ 1 Under Craft Beer/Eats @ 12
The 10th Annual
St. Baldrick's Shave-A-Thon
Benefits: Kids with Cancer,
Cancellation under consideration
Decision by end of week
May 17 @ Eddie Edgar Ice Arena @ 3:00
Red Wings Alumni v Livonia All Stars
July 26 starting at Bicentennial Park
Benefiting Livonia Kids and Families
Tickets and registration @
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| Musings follows Livonia Happenings |
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March in Livonia
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 Craft Beer and Eats
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
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Musings follows the 2020 elections
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None have been certified by Board of Canvassers
Donald J. Trump (I) (R)
Democratic Candidate has yet to be determined
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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 With the cancellation of the Anna Bonde Annual Murder Mystery Dinner and scholarship  fundraiser for the students enrolled in the CAPA program I would like to take a step back, pause and reflect on the impact Anna Bonde had on her student colleagues, family and community.
Anna Bonde was a member of CAPA at Churchill, where she appeared in such productions as "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "South Pacific," "Stage Door," and "Picnic." As a junior she played the role of Peggy Sawyer in "42nd Street," and the following year landed the role of Anne in CAPA's production of "The Diary of Anne Frank."
She graduated in 1999 eighth in a class of 400 and double-majored in theater and dance at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She died during spring break in 2001 while heading to New Orleans, La., to volunteer at an elementary school. A drunken driver struck the car she was in, also killing two of her friends.
 The benefit show started out as a potluck affair with professional actors from The Murder Mystery Company and CAPA students performing at Churchill. The show was moved and a catered meal replaced the potluck.
Last year 3 scholarships totaling $6,000 were handed out. They have now given out over $93,000 in scholarships since 2002!
Let me share the posting this morning on Facebook by her mother, Debra Bonde. She shared one of the poems written by Anna. I am sure that by posting this poem Deb knows that Anna continues to reach out and touch the lives of others.
"A bit after midnight on this day 19 years ago, our sweet Anna left this world. She is loved & missed so much by her friends & family that our hearts still ache for her. And when there is so much uncertainty & angst in the world, like now, I know I feel even more adrift and alone than usual on this night. In case you are feeling that way too, I thought it might be time to re-post Anna's poem, 'I Listen'":
I listen.
You may not think so, but
I listen.
even when you aren't speaking,
I can hear you crying out.
And I weep inside for you.
But I could never tell you so.
So many things I cannot say--
can't reach out for you
and I cry inside at this.
If I had wings
I'd pick you up
carry you so far away
from these prisons
these pointless wars
away from the edge,
I'd set you free
And dance.
hidden among the stars.
We could laugh,
freely,
and I could listen.
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| Art Cole recognized as Five Star Professional |
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Cole being inducted into the 1835 Livonia City Hall of Fame
Class of 2017
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We are pleased to announce that Arthur Cole, partner, of CND Financial has once again been recognized as Metro Detroit's Five Star Professional for the ninth consecutive year.
Five Star Professional conducts market-specific research to identify outstanding service professionals. Out of the more than 3,000 candidates, only 91 wealth managers have won the award nine consecutive years putting Arthur in a highly distinguished class of professionals.
"This is a great honor being named a Five Star Professional", said Arthur Cole. "As a fiduciary, I take pride in providing clients with value-added financial advice and putting their interests first. My banking background combined with my accounting, tax, and financial services expertise allows me to analyze the full spectrum of a client's situation and provide value that helps them achieve their personal financial goals."
The Five Star award program is the largest and most widely published award program in North America, covering more than 45 major markets. To be considered for this award, professionals must satisfy eligibility requirements based on certain criteria such as favorable regulatory review, education and professional designations, client retention rates, etc.
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| One Livonia Principal is turning school break into a positive experience |
My hero of the week had over 1,300 viewers Monday night on his facebook page.
Jonathon Wennstrom
is calling all students! Each weekday during the school break, he will be reading a story at 7:00 PM on his Facebook page. Each story will be a Caldecott Award winner!
Hope you will join him for Story Time!
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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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| Town Hall Moving Forward with 57 Years of tradition |
Our Livonia Town Hall has rescheduled
Gioia Diliberto for Sept. 16.
This Town Hall on September 16 is for the 2019-2020 season's series ticket holders.
Check out
livoniatownhall.org
for next season's 2020-21 order form.
 October 21, 2020
Catherine Sanderson speaking on The Science of Happiness
Catherine Sanderson is the Manwell Family Professor of Life Sciences (Psychology) at Amherst College. Her talk presents information on the science behind positive psychology, as well as, factors that predict happiness. She will also offer practical ways to increase your own psychological well being.
 November 18, 2020
Joseph Luzzi speaking on Five Books that Changed the World
What books are a must for every lover of literature? Joseph Luzzi, award winning author and Professor of Literature at Bard College will explore this question. He will discuss how five well-known classics help us to understand concerns of today.
 January 20, 2021
Jeff Morrison Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture in the Motor City
Local architectural photographer, Jeff Morrison received a bachelor's degree in history and art from EMU. His discussion features many spectacular pictures of architectural sculpture from throughout the city of Detroit. You will learn about the sculpture's symbolism and hear some untold stories from its construction. Books will be available for purchase.
 March 17, 2021
Sean Hartley speaking on Musicals that Changed Broadway
Sean Hartley is the Theater Wing Director of the Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. He is a leading authority on Broadway musical history. His entertaining presentation will focus on four Broadway shows that demonstrate the evolution from light entertainment to integrated works of art.
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 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.
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Here's hoping that we can take part in this day.
That we have defeated the virus. You gotta Love Livonia. For sure. |
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Join the many volunteers, civic organizations, scouts, school groups and the Livonia Parks and Recreation Department, for one day dedicated solely to taking care of and preserving the beautiful parks right here in our community.
Taking pride in LIVONIA is contagious
and the benefits are endless! Immediately following the time in the parks, we'll end the day with a picnic at the Ford Field baseball diamond to thank everyone for their time and commitment.
To be a part of this spectacular event, please contact B
illy at wkeppen@ci.livonia.mi.us
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