April 20, 2020         Your News source for All Livonia. All the time. All ways positive. 
Musings masthead website

You gotta love create mask designs:

Grandma "Madeline" White with the  middle son of five "Jeff". Jeff and his family, wife Jody and two adult children Mitchell and Allison celebrate Easter with their grandmother!   Luckily Jody White works with "days for girls" and had those beautiful masks to wear 
during this pandemic.        
70 years of marriage. Congratulations Art and Gene Anderson. 
Can't let the pandemic get in the way of a celebration. This family celebrates life. Awesome .

It is a big deal when a mother and father celebrate 50 years of marriage. How about when they have been married for 70 years?  Arthur and Gene Anderson have been married for 70 years and their family is not going to let this day pass by without a celebration. "Though at this time we are not able to celebrate with them in person," granddaughter Amanda Bradley says "we do have plans for an anniversary celebration once it is safe again for family and friends to come together."

Once it is safe again. How many times have we heard friends and neighbors say "once it becomes safe again." Graduation parties? Birthdays? Anniversaries? More times than this typewriter can count. 

For now, this Wednesday on the actual anniversary date for Arthur and Gene's wedding, the plan is to gather appropriately in their vehicles outside their home with balloons, signs, smiles and best wishes. 

Dinner will be delivered to them and the family has been asking all their family and friends, if they are able to safely, send a card, a note, or a memory so that Art and Gene can be flooded and surrounded with congratulatory wishes as best they can. 

Granddaughter Amanda Bradley happily says that this "Wednesday, April 22nd,  marks a very special day for a long-time Livonia couple Arthur and Gene Anderson - 70 years of marriage!  Very few folks in our city have seen it change as much as these two have. After meeting on an ice rink in Detroit, my grandparents were married soon after and moved into a brand new home on Idaho Street in Livonia.  They paid what seemed like a hefty price at the time - $14,500!"

Livonia was the hot spot to move. It was an up and coming community with families moving in on a daily basis.  This typewriter knows the neighborhood well having moved to Indiana Street in 1959 with mom and dad paying that same price of $14,500. Right around the corner from the Anderson's. Although I don't know the Anderson's I know full well the experiences they went through being a part of this new and vibrant community. A young family watching a city grow as they watched their children grow.

After working at Burroughs Adding Machines, Gene became a full-time caregiver to three future Livonia residents - Linda, Vicki, and Robert. And seven grandchildren, Holly, Amanda and Jamie (Vicki), Robert and Kali (Robert), Mark and Emily (Linda). 

After time in the Navy, Art spent over 50 years as a union carpenter, first at  National Metal Moldings in Detroit and then with several construction companies over the years leading up to his retirement in 1989.  He is particularly proud of some Livonia projects that he worked on including Livonia's City Hall and the Sears Department store on 7 mile in Livonia, where he worked indoors remodeling show kitchens. 

Today, Art and Gene live in that very same house on Idaho street. Their three children have led to 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, many of who attend Livonia public schools.  

I am sure I join with their family and friends in wishing Gene and Art all the best on the date of their 70th wedding anniversary. Thanks for being a part of making our hometown your hometown, for you and your family. Let's hope that soon your family will be able to give you all the hugs you so richly deserve. But this Wednesday I am sure you will realize and feel their love as you wave from your front porch.  Congratulations Art and Gene Anderson. 
From a mother/daughter home school project to a thank you from our first responders
Livonia knows how to express our appreciation. Everywhere you turn Livonia is a grateful community.
Thank U Frontline 2020
Thank U Frontline 2020
Livonia Police and Livonia Fire & Rescue Solidarity Drive - St. Mary Mercy Hospital
Livonia Police and Livonia Fire & Rescue Solidarity Drive - St. Mary Mercy Hospital
The video on the right is how our Livonia Police Department and Fire & Rescue Department showed their love and support for the staff of St. Mary Mercy Hospital with this Solidarity Lap Thursday evening.

In this week of Video Production 202 in the Oliverio homeschooling curriculum  Isabella (Bella for short) AKA Miss B & mother, Tamera Oliverio, put this video together on the left with student athletes. She writes " Thank you to all who provided videos and photos for this project . M uch love to our Essential Workers & small businesses." 

An update on testing and patient care at St. Mary Mercy Livonia-partnering with Mayo Clinic

Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System treat first COVID-19 patient with convalescent plasma  Four Trinity Health Michigan hospitals including St. Mary Mercy Livonia participate 
in Mayo Clinic program


Saint Joseph Mercy Health System has treated its first hospitalized COVID-19 patient at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor hospital with plasma donated by a person who has recovered from COVID-19, as part of the  Mayo Clinic Coordinated Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma Program. 
 
Eleven St. Joe's patients were among the first 200 nationally to be registered for the trial that will include more than 1,000 hospitals across the country.   Four  member hospitals of the health system, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, St. Mary Mercy Livonia, and Mercy Health Muskegon, are participating in the program.
 
"Early participation in this program is due in part to our robust oncology research program, which gave us the ability to quickly develop our plasma program to respond
Dr. Anurag Malani
in the hopes of helping to bring forward a treatment for COVID-19 as soon as possible," said Anurag Malani, M.D., medical director, Infection Prevention and Control, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, who serves as Principal Investigator.  "Our focus now is to spread the word to those who have had COVID to donate their plasma for use in this program."
 
Those who recover from COVID-19 do so, in part, because their blood likely contains antibodies, which are capable of fighting the virus that causes the illness.  It is known that in some other diseases caused by viruses, giving people the liquid portion of blood (plasma), obtained from those who have recovered from the virus, leads to more rapid improvement of the disease. Patients with COVID-19 may improve faster if they receive plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19. 
 
In order to be eligible to receive this treatment patients must be hospitalized and have severe or life-threatening COVID, or be at risk of developing severe disease. All patients, or their legally authorized representative, must consent to the program.
 
An Expanded Access Program (EAP) is the mechanism by which access to certain investigational new drugs/treatments (IND) are made available outside of clinical trials. The focus of an EAP is to provide treatment, whereas a clinical trial is focused on research.
 
Initial data available from studies using COVID-19 convalescent plasma for the treatment of individuals with severe or life-threatening disease indicate that a single infusion of plasma showed benefit for some patients.  It is not known if this treatment will or will not help those with COVID-19 or if it will have any harmful effects, but this is one of the only treatments that we have at present. This program will help researchers collect important information on the patients who received the treatment.
 
Those who have recovered from COVID (28 days symptom free) are encouraged to register online at www.RedCross.org, and click on "learn more" in the Convalescent Plasma section.
 
In addition to the Mayo Clinic Coordinated Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma program, St Joe's Ann Arbor is one of only two sites in the state to participate in Gilead's Remdesivir Expanded Access Program. Remdesivir is an experimental antiviral drug, identified by the World Health Organization as one of the most promising treatments in treating COVID-19 positive patients. Only patients with the most severe cases of COVID requiring ventilator support are eligible for this program.  St Joe's has registered 16 patients to the trial to date.

Testing

FridayMusings gets lots of questions and can now report that Saint Joseph Mercy Health System offers COVID-19 screening centers across Southeast Michigan including our hometown St. Mary Mercy Hospital.

"As COVID-19 infections continue to grow, our hospitals have significantly increased their capacity and are now testing hundreds of patients each day," said  Rosalie Tocco-Bradley, MD, PhD, MHSA, Chief Clinical Officer for Trinity Health Michigan. 

. "Designed for patients who are  not ill enough to warrant a hospital stay, these screening centers provide a safe and convenient location where people can be screened by a trained member of our staff and have a quick swab sample taken for testing, if needed, to diagnose a COVID-19 illness."

Individuals can be tested if they meet the CDC and State of Michigan testing criteria, which includes patients who are high risk and present with a fever above 100 degrees AND a cough (lasting less than six weeks), OR shortness of breath.

Patients interested in being screened do not need an appointment or a physician referral. However, it is recommended that patients with suspected COVID-19 take a virtual screening online at free online COVID screening, where they will be screened and can be referred to a Video Visit or see a primary care provider, who will order the COVID-19 test if necessary. Physician orders can be filled at the screening locations below.

St. Mary Mercy Livonia: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily: outside the Emergency Department, located at 36475 Five Mile Rd., Livonia. Please use the West Entrance off 5 Mile.

Anyone with questions can call St. Joe's COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-247-1258.

For the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19, please visit  https://www.stjoeshealth.org/coronavirus.

Thank you Livonia's St. Mary Mercy for making my day. We are proud to have you serving our hometown.
Musings follows Our Arts
Livonia Civic Chorus Sings for you
A different song each issue
Just like many of you, the 72 volunteer members of the Livonia Civic Chorus are Staying Home to Stay Safe, but they  are continuing to SING! 

SeasonofDreams
SeasonofDreams

The Livonia Civic Chorus' vision is to enrich the musical experiences for their members and the cultural life of our  community.  To achieve this vision during the COVID-19 crisis, they want to provide you music for your enjoyment  and get our community singing-along!  
Musings follows Our 
Livonia City Council
Livonia City Council Regular Meeting - April 15, 2020
Livonia City Council Regular Meeting - April 15, 2020

Livonia City Council Study Meeting - April 15, 2020
Livonia City Council Study Meeting - April 15, 2020

Musings follows the 2020 elections
Vote
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)
Endorsed by:
Sierra Club
SEIU
 Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters & Millwrights
Congresswoman Haley Stevens


Martha Ptashnik (R)
Endorsed by:
City Council President Kathleen McIntyre

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
April in Livonia
April is cancelled. Go directly to May
Every night M-F @ 7:00 check him out 
Every Tuesday @ 12:00 - 12:00

April 20 @ 6:30 -- 7:30

Representative Laurie Pohutsky
Virtual Coffee Hour
Join her online:
Join her over the phone: (605) 475-4818
Access Code: 748496#

April 21 @ 7:00
Livonia Jaycees monthly meeting

April 26 @ 7:30
Livonia Community Theatre
Live on Facebook

May in Livonia
May is tentatively cancelled go directly to 
June for what's happening
If things change look for the events here
June in Livonia
June 6 @ 9:00 -- 4:00
St. Colette's 4th Annual Custom 
& Classic Car Show
Free to Spectators with plenty of
Food ,beverages , D. J. ,  50 / 50
drawings and Prize Raffles.. 
July in Livonia
July 25 @ 9:00 -- 2:00
Touch-a-Truck sponsored by Rotary AM Club
 
August in Livonia
August 16 @ 3:00

September in Livonia
Bob Bennett Memorial Golf Outing
Date to be determined

September 13 @ 12:00

October in Livonia
October 1 @ 7:00
Hall of Fame 2013
Presenting Sponsor:
Dan MacIver
Financial & Portfolio Advisors

YOU GOTTA LOVE LIVONIA.
Communication and update from Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan 
For daily updates check out the City of Livonia  Covid-19 page



Dan MacIver offers up a slice of Livonia History

Readers of FridayMusings offer up their thoughts. Love it.
Reaction to Commentary: Turn energies from demonstrative anger into a positive for our hometown

Steve King, former Livonia Board of Education Trustee: I disagree with the statement we are all in this together. This pandemic has disproportionately affected different segments of the population in a profound manner. The least impacted are those in power making the decisions of how we navigate this pandemic and their feigned empathy does little to quell the pain. The recent rally in Lansing has reinforced my concerns that this outbreak will lead to negative societal changes that may be difficult to remedy. Even worse than the economic and health challenges.

I am disappointed in the State democrats handling of this shutdown.The shuttering of so many occupations defies common sense. The Governors use of the word non-essential in describing jobs created a confrontational posture although unintended. The republicans have pounced on that and have now reframed the argument as one of Dems vs Freedom. The Dems will lose that fight and Michigan is once again in play for Trump. Before the pandemic Trump was going to be embarrassed in November and the Senate was going to turn as well. Not now.  

When will politicians learn the only way to beat Trump is to ignore him. Stop poking the beehive.

Tamara Oliverio: Very well said Bill. If another protest happens, organizers and participants should learn from the missteps of this one and how it plays out to those who only see if by way of social media or TV.

Service Club food donations to St. Mary Hospital

Charlie Mahoney: thank you service clubs and restaruants

Julie Spivey:   Thank you for supporting our hard working hospital staff!

On George Remy and his 3-D printer making masks for hospitals

Kim Curtis:  Your the best , one angel at a time we are getting this job done !! God bless you  and what your doing! Very proud.

Penny Corsi: Kudos to you George!

Christine Rigel Riedy:  How wonderful! That you George!

Kathleen Hamlin:  Bravo!! Job well done....Thank you!
The Livonia Kiwanis Early Risers Scholarship Deadline has been extended to May 15
10 - 15 $1,000 Fernon Feenstra Kiwanis Early Risers Scholarship Program Available

The Fernon Feenstra Scholarship Program, funded by the Livonia Kiwanis, provides ten to fifteen $1,000 scholarships each year to Livonia High School students demonstrating a desire to better themselves through education and a passion to help others.

Fernon Feenstra was one of the Founding Members of the Livonia Kiwanis Club in 1981.  Described by Livonia's Mayor as "Mr. Sunshine", Fernon's positive attitude and philanthropic outlook will always be remembered.  It is our honor to name this scholarship program after him and our hope that the award recipients will also enrich the lives of others in their communities for decades to come.

Fernon Feehstra Kiwanis Early Risers Scholarship Criteria
All Students Applying for the Fernon Feenstra Scholarship Program Must Meet the Following Criteria:
  • High school senior graduating in spring 2020
  • Must meet at least one of the following residency requirements:
    • Student is enrolled in a Livonia or Clarenceville area high school (including students whose primary residence is outside of Livonia or Clarenceville)
    • Student has a primary residence in Livonia (including students who are home-schooled or attend public/private schools outside of Livonia)
  • Enrolled full-time to begin at an institution (university, community college, vocational training center, or other qualifying educational institution) for fall 2020
  • Application form, essay, and recommendations submitted by Friday, May 15, 2020
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended, but not required
For the complete Fernon Feenstra Kiwanis Early Risers Scholarship  click here.
Our Livonia YMCA is looking forward to Summer
Important Summer Day Camp information provided below If your kiddo is registered, or you still need to, please join us on May 9th for Summer Day Camp Open House.

Livonia Open House 10 am - 1 pm (at the Livonia YMCA)

Westland Open House 2 pm - 4 pm (at the Livonia YMCA)

Come meet your Director, camp counselors, have your questions answered, or register for camp. Get ready for the #BestSummerEver

Proud sponsor of the Detroit Red Wings v Livonia All-stars coming to town Aug 16, 3:00.
Ian Clemens Foundation looking for help to help others
Some of the hospitals that Michelle Clemens, President of the Ian Clemens Foundation, partners with are in dire need of some PPE. If you, anyone you know, or a business that you know of has any disinfectant wipes or isolation gowns that they can spare, please email or call Michelle. 

They will be happy to pick them up and deliver them where needed. Please share this note. The further the word spreads, the better off are chances to find what they need. Thank you so much!

Contact information if you can help:

Michelle Clemens, President 
The Ian Clemens Foundation
(734)915-0180
 
Be a part of a quarantine production by Livonia Community Theatre--April 26
JOIN US for our first #StayHome Quarantine Production of MYNX & SAVAGE! We're all #AloneTogether!

The is the first Livonia Community Theatre production where everything has been done entirely online including auditions, rehearsals and the actual live Watch Party on Facebook.

7:30 -- 8:30 only at https://www.facebook.com/LivoniaCT

Our live Facebook Watch Party will begin at 7pm on April 26 on our Facebook page. However, please tune in at 6:30pm for our actor bios, Director thank you and curtain speech. We expect the show run time to be approximately 90 minutes.

PLAY SYNOPSIS
Getting lost in a story is a dangerous temptation. Adam is a comic book writer coasting on his past successes in the glossy pages of Mynx & Savage. Much to his chagrin, his employer has assigned him a partner, Ket, to ensure he makes his next deadline.

Ket is young and ambitious; her life was changed by Adam's first serious graphic novel, and she aches to know what new, "important" work Adam is working on.

As the duo sets to work on the 100th issue of Mynx and Savage, the fantasy bleeds into reality as the superheroes and their mild-mannered alter egos invade the artists' space. Adam finally starts to trust Ket and shares the story he's been hiding. It is the story of Jill and Kyle, two childhood friends on summer break who dream of superheroes. Where Kyle is frightened, Jill is brave; where Kyle is secretive, Jill insists on honesty.

This is the story that tortures Adam, the story he's been hiding from the world; it's the origin story of Mynx and Savage. In the end, as the worlds of the children, the superheroes and the artists collide, Ket helps Adam realize that he has no future until he makes amends with his past.