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Ho. . .Ho. . .Ho. . . Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

See you again on the pages of Musings January 6th.

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” —Eleanor Roosevelt,

Edna Ferber has my favorite quote this time of year when she says "Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." Close behind that sentiment is what Bob Hope often said as he traveled to entertain the troops over the holiday season, "May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."

I admit I still put out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk every Christmas Eve. And by golly, the cookies are gone with maybe a crumb or two left. And the milk glass is always empty.

It is so cool to check out the tree on Christmas morning, just as if I were 10 years old. I am only 19, so subtracting 9 years is a relatively simple task.

The next two weeks will find the bodyguard and typewriter in Aurora, the same Aurora that the President-elect warns people about. I am not taking guns as my son and daughter-in-law join the hometown Mayor and Police Chief in saying they are not needed.

Not even taking the laptop. Two weeks holiday, one with family along with a mental health and rehabilitation break. Just like I have been doing since High School to wind down the year.

Most of the presents have been shipped, with the stocking stuffers safely packed in our suitcases. The traditional Joyner gifts, started by Mom over 60 years ago, have already arrived in Aurora and I am sure have already been opened by the Colorado clan; the Omaha Steaks, a wreath for the front door, Moravian cookies from Mrs. Hanes in Salem, North Carolina, and Petits Fours.

My only hope is that they saved some of the goodies for the two of us.

Leo keeps asking what I got him for Christmas and my only response for this 5-year-old is "And what are you getting me or your mom and dad for Christmas."

Maya at three seems only interested in decorating the tree with her mom pictured above left.

Kathy and I wish all of you the very best as we wind down 2024 and prepare ourselves for the New Year as Oprah Winfrey says “A new year is not about changing the dates but about changing the direction.

“Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right.”

Cory Jacobson and the Phoenix Theatre staff wish you a

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The Phoenix has put the wow back

into theatre-going

Each year at Christmas Cory Jacobson brings in his managers and numorous employees from across the Midwest to honor employees for milestone achievements, special recognition, and years with the company. After the special gathering at the Livonia Phoenix employees, friends and spouses enjoy an afternoon at Benihana for lunch. The bodyguard and typewriter consider it an honor to be invited each year, today sharing a table with Peter Ginopolis, pictured with Jacobson and Joelyn Stier. Ginopolis closed his famous Farmington Ginopolis Restaurant in 2019 and now operates a carry-out in Milford/New Hudson.

It all began in 2009 for Jacobson with one theatre at Laurel Park Livonia as part of the Phoenix brand. Now, 15 years later, there are eight in the chain with the ninth scheduled to open in Tennessee this Spring. With eight theaters, movie-goers across the Midwest can choose from 70 screens with another 10 opening in Tennessee, bringing the total to 80.

The Phoenix Theatres, with their national brand headquartered in Livonia, employs approximately 350 people. They are employed at Theatres in Livonia, Monroe, Wayne and Grand Rapids Michigan, Dubuque IA, Pittsfield MA, Defiance and North Olmsted OH and soon Clarksville TN.

City employees, commissioners, community stakeholders made the Mayor's Holiday Christmas Party a fun place to be with so many Merry Christmas' and Happy New Years being shared

The 5th Floor at City Hall was filled with so many old and new acquaintances shaking hands and passing out hugs as homemade holiday food items were brought in along with sponsored food ranging from sandwiches to meatballs to fruit trays; and yes so many desserts.

The oldest city retiree, Carol Fell-pictured top left chatting with Joe, who at 104, drove herself to the party. She worked in the Treasurer's office with Carl Wagenschutz and Elaine Tuttle. Getting ready to host 20 family members for Christmas, at the house she has lived in for over 80 years.

And there were the Valentines, on the Art Commission since 2012. Seems like they are all around the city, at every event. So active and great art supporters. Spent time with members of the Human Relations Commission-Alex King, Madison Ling, Denise Collins-Robison.

Rather than list all that were there let this typewriter simply say that there were hundreds of handshakes and hugs and just as many Merry Christmas' and Happy New Year. Thank you Mayor for hosting this annual tradition and thank you to the staff who made this the best.

Breaking Barriers for Kids & Families making a difference while partnering with Consumers Energy and BASF this Holiday Season

Monday was a great day for giving back to families in our Livonia community! Veronica Cruz of Breaking Barriers Kids and Families says "Thank you to Consumers Energy Livonia Service Center crew members for adopting families in the Clarenceville District this holiday season!

"They generously collected toys, food, clothes, and more! The families are so appreciative and grateful for your generosity. Thank you Consumers Energy for being such amazing supporters of our BBK&F initiatives! We appreciate each of you!"

Breaking Barriers Kids and Families is also fortunate to work with such great organizations that want to give back to their local communities.

Veronica Cruz says she "loved working with BASF - Livonia this holiday season in our adopt a family program. Thank you for showing such care and effort in making the holidays extra special for a local family in need. Your actions and generosity mean so much and will bring extra smiles this season!"

Putting vaccines into a Livonia historical context

Livonia Historian Kathy Bilger shares the miracle of science

Throughout the Celebration of Livonia 75 FridayMusings will bring our readers an occasional article from Livonia Historial Kathy Bilger. Today Bilger shares a Livonia perspective of 19 school children dying in 1886:

In Livonia Center Cemetery, there lies a small group of graves, the children of Horace Kingsley. Horace owned the grist mill in town. His father’s home is in Greenmead. 4 of his children caught diphtheria in school, one by one, they passed away in the winter of 1886. Their home was quarantined along with several others. 19 children in the small school died that winter. Horace made the coffins for his children and buried them himself. He had no choice. It would be a few more decades before the diphtheria vaccine would arrive. Diphtheria made its rounds every few years along with whooping cough, cholera, and smallpox.  

Vaccines are a miracle of science and not even new science. The vaccine for smallpox was discovered by a British doctor in 1796 when he noticed that milkmaids had a better survival rate than the general population. President George Washington understood the implications of the vaccine and ordered the continental troops to be vaccinated. It would take another 200 years for smallpox to be eradicated from the world population. Only smallpox and one other disease have been eliminated from the world population. They only exist in strictly controlled labs now.  

We have a chance to make polio the third disease to be eliminated. It requires us to eliminate the chance for it to spread which means vaccinating. One day, not too far off, polio can be eliminated, and no one will have to be vaccinated. If we follow the path set out by Kennedy, that day will be much farther away. His plan will cause polio to surge and give it a chance to mutate, making it harder to erase. His anti-vax stance will allow not just polio but several other diseases to multiply out of control. 

Researchers are now very worried, as the National Institute of Health is the largest grantor of medical research funds. Cuts to NIH and redirecting funds away from vaccine research mean fewer researchers in the future, fewer people keeping an eye out for the next new disease to hit the population, and the inability to save lives. The autism study was debunked as faulty research. Vaccines save lives every day across the world.  

Mail Address

19514 Bainbridge 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

Cell address

734-674-5871

Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings

The typewriter is not available for phone calls or emails Saturday and Sunday. Mental health and rehabilitation time. Out and about enjoying life.

What motivates FridayMusings:

We can't only define Livonia as taking small steps toward maintaining the way things were. That will give us mediocre outcomes. Our goal needs to be innovative and transformative.