May 25, 2020         Your News source for All Livonia. All the time. All ways positive. 
Musings masthead website

Over the last four days people from throughout the community have stopped by  Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church, for their Memorial Day Weekend Tribute. During the final presentation, 6:00 pm, on Monday, May 25, Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan will be reading the names of loved ones that have had their names placed in a special box. Please stop by and add your loved one's name(s). Take part in this solemn occasion. A bag pipe will play every 15 minutes and taps will be played at the end of the ceremony. Please stop by.
Is there anything that AlphaUSA isn't a part of ?
They just keep on stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park.
FridayMusings gives a thumbs up while wearing his AlphaUSA facemask when  Robert E Stewart , Vice President Chief Engineer at AlphaUSA writes that:

"This is another great example of AlphaUSA making a difference during this terrible COVID-19 pandemic. When Ford announced that they were going to produce much needed ventilators for our hospitals; our wonderful ownership family immediately directed us to offer assistance. 

"For the past several weeks our world class technical staff and our supplier base have been working together to produce very challenging ventilator components. I have included a couple of pictures so that my friends can appreciate the level of complexity that hides within the case of these lifesaving devices. 

"I am very proud to say that once again AlphaUSA has answered the call to help Ford and others make products that make a difference."

Livonia Pride in the Partnerships that keep on growing. Supporting Livonia and the nation. Thank you AlphaUSA












AlphaUSA makes 
Livonia proud.
The community comes together to keep people with disabilities safe at home during COVID-19
Thank you to Arc NW. Helping to keep those with disabilities safe.

When two families in the Arc NW Fiscal Program reached out for PPE supplies, the Arc of Northwest Wayne County launched the Arc NW SOS Drive. The Fiscal Program helps people with disabilities manage their benefits and staff so they can live independently with support. 

Many people served through this program have limited incomes, and their care-giving staff often perform critical tasks that cannot be done six feet away. They need PPE to help keep them safe.

During April and May, a request for SOS (supplies of safety) like masks, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and gloves was made and the community answered. A total of 125 masks, 50 gallons of hand sanitizer, 350 pairs of gloves, and generous financial gifts were made.

One family shared: "Thank you for all you do, especially during the lock-down. The Arc NW staff have been very responsive and helpful to our daughter. I don't know what she would do without you!"

The Arc NW team has already dropped off sixteen care packages and is ready to do more. If you want to learn more about The Arc of Northwest Wayne County, please go to their website at www.thearcnw.org.
In the middle of a pandemic the Livonia Civic Chorus hits a high note.
Legacy Fund set up for future years of musical excellence.
Peggy Gaskill
Dr. Peggy Gaskill
What a great hometown. Livonia is.

During the pandemic and stay-at-home policies we have seen restaurants step up and provide meals for the first responders along with the staff at St. Mary Mercy hospital and many of our nursing homes. Our service clubs joined together to make sure that all shifts at St. Mary Mercy had food, not just during a one day collection, but rather for two weeks, twice a day.

Churches put their congregations to work making masks or putting together packages for those on the front lines. Every day it seems that we are learning of another group or individual stepping up to help.

During this time there have been needs by our art organizations that would be easy to overlook were it not for the giving nature of so many who realize that Livonia is the cultural heartbeat of southeast Michigan.

The Livonia Symphony is working to reschedule their annual golf outing in September along with plans for the 20-21 concert season. Our Livonia Community Theatre put on a performance on their facebook page. Barefoot Productions are putting on Covid-19 Shut-in performances. 

So much happening by so many in yes, so many ways.

Dr. Peggy Gaskill winding down her 10th year as President of the Livonia Civic Chorus set out to organize a Legacy Fund. Funds that would be set aside to help insure the continuity of the Chorus. Well, guess what. Gaskill has hit the high note, if that is an appropriate comment for the chorus. The Legacy Fund has been set up with an initial $2,500. Outstanding. 

The typewriter is saluting the Livonia Civic Chorus who chose this time to initiate a Chorus Legacy Fund in this their 55th year since it was founded. 55 years. This Livonia Hall of Fame organization was determined to start their 56th year with a Legacy Fund to help insure another 55 years. It has to start somewhere. So thank you to these friends of the arts for making a contribution and starting off the Legacy Fund with $2,500. Wow. And thank you:

Alan Helmkamp     Charlie Mahoney     Joe Neussendorfer     Jim and Char Baringhaus     Eric Ladwig     Dan MacIver     Terry Godfroid Marecki      Rob Donovic     Karen Bradford     Gary Selesko     Robin Henke     Virginia Bosak     Bill Craig     
Chris Last     Louise Weller     Scott Bahr     Amy Fangboner           Andrea Oquist     Art Cole/CND cpa's     
Bob Modes & Gino Grabinski/The Print House     Donna Eno     Kathy Ventittelli     Dr. Henry Kanar     
David & Janet Stechholz     Conrad Schwartz     Renee Dardas      Lonna & Alan Baum      Brandon McCullough
With apologizes if a name has been left off. Omission. Not Commission.
Commentary on closing of the Livonia YMCA: Another perspective by Steve King in this guest column
FridayMusings always welcomes community input on the issues facing our community -- city and schools. Today, Steve King offers his take on the closing of the Livonia YMCA. Not necessarily the views of Musings but an important perspective nonetheless.

Steve King and Dick Purtan
Steve King
I am currently a member and regular user of the Livonia YMCA. Hearing the news that the branch is closing permanently is disturbing and definitely short sighted. I have been associated with this facility for more than 40 years as a member, Board member and Sports Director. I know every inch of that building having repaired or cleaned it somewhere along the line. The absurd statement that it is in need of 5 million dollars in maintenance is cover for some other agenda. The tennis wing has just been renovated and looks and functions better than it has in decades. The fitness hub has excellent new equipment and is used by a loyal clientele. The building needs work but that figure is absurd.

I was working at the Y when the new game in town was the shiny new rec center. Everyone at the Y was depressed and certain we were done. Even councilman Joe Laura expressed publicly that you might as well close the Y now when the rec came on line. I was not fazed in the least knowing it was youth sports programs that would help us to flourish. And we did under my direction. I removed arcane obstacles in the registration process, retooled old programs and created new ones. We quickly ran out of space as thousands of new participants played mostly basketball and soccer. I physically created our own fields carving out space on property adjacent to the rec. Painting and mowing the fields by myself. I also hired and trained officials for all of the sport offerings. I started a high school basketball league especially for all of those kids that were cut at tryouts knowing that process is severely flawed. That league rocked and gave students the valuable playing time to get them ready for their next tryout. I could fill pages giving you details of all of the new programs I started and how positive it was for all involved.  But the most important change was a new mantra. If your child wants to participate we will accommodate them no matter the skill level, no matter the sport or time of year. We will find a way to serve your child and in turn serve your family.

Prior to my taking the reins the registration process was an obstacle to participation and created by who knows and for what purpose. It disenfranchised thousands of kids and I removed it paving the way for the best years that Y youth sports programs have known.

Today the folks in charge have conceded the youth sports programs to other entities and really have no business acumen when it comes to running that facility. The only thing wrong with the Livonia Y is a skill set mismatch of who is running the show. I could run that Y and guarantee success. Willing to bet my salary against the outcome.




Musings follows the 2020 elections
Vote
None have been certified by Board of Canvassers


Donald J. Trump (I) (R)

Joe Biden (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

Frank Acosta (R)

Kerry Bentivolio (R)


Whitney Williams (R)
Endorsed by:

Eric Esshaki (R)

Michigan House of Representatives
Laurie Pohutsky (D-I)
Endorsed by:
Sierra Club
Clean Water Action
SEIU
Emily's List
 Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
Michigan Council of Carpenters & Millwrights
Congresswoman Haley Stevens

Endorsed by:
Former State Representative Jerry Vorva
Former State Representative Kurt Heise
Lynn Mills
Canton Township Supervisor Pat Williams
Roger Little, owner of Shooters Service

Martha Ptashnik (R)
Endorsed by:
City Council President Kathleen McIntyre
Former State Representative John Walsh
Former Livonia City Councilman Brian Meakin
Former State Representative John Pastor
Wayne County Commissioner Terry Marecki
Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP)
Michigan Freedom Network

Wayne County Commissioner
Terry Marecki (R-I)

Nancy Darga (D)

Schoolcraft College Trustee
Brian Broderick (I)
Joan Gebhardt (I)
Terry Gilligan (I)

Livonia Board of Education
FridayMusings endorses the following  4:
Dan Centers (I)
Karen Bradford (I)
Tammy Bonifield (I)
Crystal Frank (I)

Clarenceville Board of Education
Matt Boettcher (I)
Brenda Uren (I)
Shari Krazel (I) 
Jeffrey Bunker (I)
Musings follows Livonia Happenings
May in Livonia
Every night M-F @ 7:00
Every Tuesday @ 12:00 - 12:00

June in Livonia
June 19 @ 7:00 - 9:00
Angela Hospice Rock n' Raffle
Virtual Concert


July in Livonia
July 13

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

August in Livonia
Livonia All-stars v Red Wings Alumni
is cancelled

Scottish Highland Games
Greenmead Historic Village
cancelled
September in Livonia
Bob Bennett Memorial Golf Outing
Date to be determined

September 13 @ 12:00
September 16 @ 10:30 -- 1:30
Livonia Town Hall Series
St. Mary Cultural Center
Gioia Diliberto 
a journalist/biographer/novelist

October in Livonia
October 1 @ 7:00
Hall of Fame 2013
Presenting Sponsor:
Dan MacIver
Financial & Portfolio Advisors
Proud sponsor of the 
1835 Livonia City Hall of Fame
Dan MacIver offers up a slice of Livonia History. 
Our neighborhood parks are second to none.

Our neighbors react to some of the articles in Musings
Reaction to Dan MacIver and the Best Kept Secrets -- Judy Greer 

Timothy J. Klisz   Love the Judy Greer book. It starts out with her growing up in Livonia and hanging out at Spree!

Tim McGillivary  She's great in every role she's in.

Stacey Lapham    Yep! Judy Evans was her name. She lived in my neighborhood, I went to elementary and high school with her. There was already an actress named Judy Evans, so she took her mother's maiden name, Greer.

Reaction to Musings article on graduation banners

Kellie Heppner Dummer   Love the banners! I know a lot of parents have seen other towns doing this with a graduates face on each banner. Obviously, in our town that isn't possible so this is a great compromise. As a parent of a senior, I appreciate all that are involved.

Robert Gjonaj Donovic   Livonia is fortunate to have local business owners like Dan Maclver. Bob would be proud!

Charlie Mahoney   Ask Dan and he is there - great family

Paul Shepich   Robert Gjonaj Donovic you picked the right man to move your vision to fruition! Dan MacIver is one of the best!

Karen Handloser Bradford   Thank you, Dan MacIver and Financial and Portfolio Advisors, for making lemonade out of lemons! Our Seniors from the Class of 2020 thank you!
That's awesome!! I've seen this in Saline and thought we should do that.

Deborah Sanchez Lindlbauer   T hat's awesome!! I've seen this in Saline and thought we should do that.

Reaction to FridayMusings posting on AlphaUSA and Robert Stewart

Janice Gatny Keeler   As a respiratory therapist it's pretty amazing people can just put ventilators together. On the down side, we need to compare a high tech luxury model to a 30 year old car. You may survive the crash or there just wasn't enough support to sustain your injuries. Either way, it's people coming together for a cause during tragedy to help save lives.

Kathleen Bilger   Congratulations AlphaUSA on your engineering and manufacturing feat. Whether your parts stay here or travel to foreign lands, whether they save an old man or a young child, you made a difference to someone somewhere.

Reaction to Musings article on Taco Bell at 6 and Farmington

James Amin T  aco Bell at 6 and Farmington? Why? I love Taco Bell but we have plenty of Taco Bells.I can already go to 5 and middle belt, or Merriman and Plymouth or Haggerty and 8 mile, seems like Taco Bell wants to be on every corner. It's not needed on that corner.

Louise Weller   James Amin they want to cash in on the high school crowd. That intersection is already busy enough; we don't need more.

Another creative fundraiser. This time for Angela Hospice.

You are invited
T O  A  V I R T U A L   C O N C E R T   W I T H   A   W I N N E R   TA K E S   A L L  R A F F L E 

Buy one or more tickets for the Rock n'  Raffle and we'll send you the link to our  virtual concert. So light a bonfire, grab  your laptop, and get comfortable for a  fun night at home!

All proceeds from the Rock n' Raffle will fund Angela Hospice's charitable programs, including grief support resources available to the entire community. Order your raffle tickets now and you'll get the link to the virtual concert just for playing.

Raffle Prizes Include:

*Jason Aldean Autographed Guitar           *Shinola Watch           *Coach Purse           *Yeti Cooler
*Amazon Echo Show            *$700 in Gift Cards           *$300 Cash

For more details and to download the raffle ticket order form, visit https://angelahospice.org/event5/ or call the Angela Hospice Development Office to order by phone: 734.464.7810

Thank you for supporting Angela Hospice!  Drawing will be held on June 19, 2020, between 7 & 9 p.m., at the Angela Hospice Rock n' Raffle Virtual Concert. Need not be present to win. Raffle License #R58413.
Livonia continues to Save Our Youth. With a Coalition. 

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