October 1, 2021 People/Dining/Shopping/Events/Culture All defining Livonia
With the opening of Luca Pastry we can now call Livonia the Pastry Capital of Southwest Michigan
Livonia is the Pastry Capital of Southeast Michigan

The newest addition to the Livonia Pastry Trail is Luca Pastry, Seven Mile west of Middlebelt. A family-owned and operated Italian bakery with locations in Canton, Downtown Plymouth, and now Livonia. They specialize in cakes, cannoli, macaron, cookies, pastries, and more! Stop by, see them, and be sure to welcome them to Livonia.

The typewriter is often asked what my favorite bakery or pastry shop is. As a short, chubby, fat guy it is easy to stereotype my eating habits. So, I set down in the back 40 of the Musings Estate and gave it some thought.

The Hellenic Bakery just East of Farmington on Seven Mile has that quaint old-world feeling. Just down the street on the other side of Farmington but still on Seven Mile is the Italian Bakery, a fixture for 30 years. Heritage Bakery, Five Mile West of Newburgh, another Livonia fixture winning Best of Livonia 3 years in a row. Count in Fenkell Bakery, Middlebelt South of Five Mile. Heck, I was shopping there in the '70s, bread every Saturday morning.
But now I have Luca Pastry less than one mile from the Estate. Owned by a Livonia resident to boot. Barbara Cangialosi and son Anthony. Walked out of the store on my first visit with a Lobster Tail Cannoli, chocolate chip Cannoli, and almond Cannoli. Oh, and two chocolate chip cookies. They did not make it to dinner. They were for lunch.
How about Paris Bakery, Harrison, and Joy Roads? My go-to Saturday mornings for a cinnamon roll. Every time I hold my Every once in a while, this year or next FridayMusings Bake Sale, Alan Helmkamp brings a cake from Elite Sweets on Eight Mile.

Yes, I know, everybody's favorite for Looney Bread and doughnuts, The Looney Bakery on Farmington Road just north of Schoolcraft.

Dunia Sweets, Inkster north of Five Mile, is a Middle Eastern and European-style bakery. Their Arabic cuisine includes baklava, cookies, bread, special cakes for all occasions  

And when you think about it the original Cantoro Italian Market on Middlebelt north of Seven Mile has a pastry counter. So when you think of Cantoro's why not stop into the original.

Sorella's Custom Cales on Five Mile is owned by two sisters Bertha and Monica. Another go-to for cakes.

And then there is the newest addition on Five Mile just west of Farmington, So Delish Bakery and Cake Shop, owned by a former pastry chef at Heritage Bakery.

I was about to prepare Orange Roughy for dinner, but realistically I am heading up to Luca Pastry for some desserts. Hey, what's wrong with once, just once, having a slice of cake, a brownie and, ask me later what my third course was on Thursday. Just don't tell the bodyguard.
Complimentary tickets to Hockey Game
Thanks to a number of supporters of Livonia Kids and Families tickets have been purchased to donate for the Red Wing Alumni versus the Livonia All-Stars.

The typewriter has tickets compliments of four community supporters

The first ten readers of Musings that sends an email to rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com will each get two free tickets. If you need 3 or 4 let me know as we have people lining up to help Livonia Kids and Families by purchasing tickets and are offering to donate them.
St. Mary Mercy Livonia earns national recognition for efforts to improve stroke care
The American Heart Association also presents hospitals with
cardiovascular awards for treatment of diabetes
 
St. Mary Mercy Livonia has received "Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke GOLD PLUS" Awards from the American Heart Association for commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.
 
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and speeding recovery times.
 
Get With the Guidelines-Stroke was developed to assist health care professionals to provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients.
"In a community like Livonia, where we serve an aging population, to be able to offer world-class stroke care is a blessing and has made a tremendous impact in the lives of those families whose loved ones we have saved," said Dave Spivey, president of St. Mary Mercy Livonia.
 
Each year participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their health and rehabilitation once at home.
 
Additionally, St. Mary Mercy Livonia received the American Heart Association's Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, the two hospitals met high-quality measures with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”
 
St. Joe's Oakland and St. Mary Mercy Livonia sister hospital Mercy Health Saint Mary's in Grand Rapids was also recognized as a Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke GOLD PLUS with Honor Roll Elite Plus and Advanced Therapy.
Get your Jaycee Raffle Ticket
Help the Livonia Jaycees raise funds to run events that will benefit its members and the community. 

The Livonia Jaycees is a group of dedicated, passionate, and hard-working young people focused on making themselves and their communities better places to be. They take pride in what they do and are dedicated to leading the positive change needed throughout our great state. 

Livonia Jaycees Cooler Raffle | RallyUp State of MI raffle license #: 111015
Homemade Detroit Style Pizza is in style in Colorado

Leo Joyner gives his approval to homemade pizza served up by dad Paul. The typewriter agrees that it makes for a great dinner.
Fire Prevention Week Open House Saturday
Civic Center Book Sale
Candidate Endorsements

Carrie Budzinski

FridayMusings
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
Representative Laurie Pohutsky
Former Senator Carl Levin

Livonia Democratic Club
Run For Something
AFSCME Council 25
Sierra Club of Michigan

Dan Centers

FridayMusings
Livonia Professional Firefighters
State Senator Dayna Polehanki 
Representative Laurie Pohutsky
County Commissioner David Knezek 
Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan
Councilman Brandon McCullough 

Former Councilman Joe Laura 
Former Councilman Dale Jurcisin
Sierra Club of Michigan

School Board Trustee Colleen Burton
Former School Board Randy Roulier
Former School Board Dianne Laura

School Board Trustee Mark Johnson
School Board Trustee Karen Bradford 
School Board Trustee Liz Jarvis 
School Board Trustee Tommy Bonifield
Schoolcraft Trustee Joan Gebhardt

Schoolcraft College Trustee Terry Gilligan Schoolcraft College Trustee Brett Gierak
Zoning Board of Appeals Tim Klisz
Zoning Board of Appeals Lisa Fraske
Board of Review Pat Crandall

Arts Commissioner Joe Gilligan
Human Relations Comm Wafa Dinaro
Human Relations Rachel Zuckerman
Library Comm. Madison Bjertness 
Library Commissioner Kacie McCullough
Library Commissioner Dave Parr

Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Pipefitters Local 636
AFSCME Council 25

Michigan Building Construction Trades
Sheet Metal Workers Local80
Iron Workers Local 25
Livonia Democratic Club

Rob Donovic

Councilwoman Kathleen McIntyre
Councilman Scott Bahr
Treasurer Lynda Scheel

Livonia Professional Firefighters
Livonia Police Officers Association
Livonia Republican Club

Jim Jolly

FridayMusings
Livonia Professional Firefighters
Livonia Police Officers Association
Livonia Command Officers Association

Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan
Councilwoman Laura Toy
Councilman Brandon McCullough
Councilman Kathleen McIntyre

Former Councilman Brandon Kritzman
Former Councilman James McCann
Former Councilman Brian Meakin
County Commissioner Terry Marecki
County Commissioner David Knezek

Michigan Building & Construction Trades
Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2
Pipefitters Local 636
Laborers Union 1191

School Board Trustee Karen Bradford
Schoolcraft College Joan Gebhardt
Schoolcraft Trustee Brett Gierak
Schoolcraft Trustee Terry Gilligan
Board of Review, Pat Crandall

Human Relations Haitham Fakouri
Planning Commissioner Sam Caramagno
Zoning Commissioner Tim Klisz
Zoning Commissioner Michael Testa
Zoning Commissioner Jim Baringhaus

Library Commissioner Kacie McCullough
Livonia Democratic Club
Livonia Republican Club

Scott Morgan

Councilwoman Kathleen McIntyre
Councilman Scott Bahr
Councilwoman Laura Toy
Councilwoman Cathy White
Councilman Rob Donovic
Former Mayor Jack Engebretson
Commissioner Terry Marecki
Former Councilman Jim McCann
Treasurer Lynda Scheel
Livonia Police Officers Association
Police Officer Association of Michigan
Livonia Republican Club

Ken Overwater

FridayMusings
UAW Region 1A
Senator Dayna Polehanki
Representative Laurie Pohutsky
Arts Commissioner Joe Gilligan
AFSCME Council 25
Livonia Democratic Club
Metro Detroit AFL-CIO

Laura Toy

FridayMusings
Mayor Maureen Brosnan
Council woman Kathleen McIntyre
Councilman Jim Jolly
Councilwoman Cathy White
Councilman Brandon McCullough
Councilman Rob Donovic
Former Mayor Dennis Wright
Commissioner Terry Marecki
‌
St. Mary volunteer
Say it ain't so Scott Bahr

During the recent discussion on "Hero Pay" for city employees, Scott Bahr stated unequivocally that he wasn't in "favor of using taxpayer money to give bonuses to city workers for doing what most of those same taxpayers - those that were fortunate enough to keep their jobs have had to do without bonuses. "

Bahr wanted the issue submitted to the committee so the council "could look at (the issue) more objectively."

The bonuses, $1000 for full-time and $500 for part-time represented 4% of the funds received by the city for pandemic expenses.
Okay, so the Councilman had a position and he repeated it over and over during the discussion at the Council meeting. Fair enough. But then he carried it a step too far when giving an overview of the meeting, insinuating that Councilman Jim Jolly offered a resolution to approve the hero pay "right away. . ., it is worth noting that Jolly is endorsed by the city employee's union."

Scott, it is easy to like your approach to many issues, even though the conclusion you reach is different from the ones taken by FridayMusings. But we can agree to disagree.

What makes this statement beyond the pale is the inference that Jolly pushed the support for Hero Pay BECAUSE he was endorsed by the employee's union. A quid quo pro.

An apology or explanation is in order.
Meet Jim Jolly for Livonia City Council
Jim was Elected to a four-year term from in 2017. He had been appointed to serve the remainder of a term on January 11, 2016, to December 31, 2017.

He has a law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. From Western Michigan University he received his Bachelor of Arts. He is a Detroit Catholic Central High School graduate.

Jolly is currently the Assistant Provost at Lawrence Technological University (2014-Present).

Prior to that he was an Attorney Magistrate at the 16th District Court - Livonia (2008-2015).

Jolly was named to Catholic Central Alumni Association 40 under 40 List.

In Jim's own words:

"Our family is proud to call Livonia home! Katie and I are the parents of three great kids and are dedicated to being involved in their schools and activities.

"During my service on the City Council, I am most proud to have initiated Livonia’s Neighborhood Grant Program that has funded many community activities that engage Livonia residents to be a better place.

"I also am fortunate to volunteer with/or belong to the following great organizations: Livonia Goodfellows, Livonia Bar Association, Knights of Columbus -Thomas Dooley, St. Colette Catholic Church, Seedlings Braille Books for Children and Livonia Civic Chorus.
Click on the image to order your $10 tickets today
‌