Pickard Loves Livonia

10/31/2026

Can’t wait for this!

Save the Date!! Going to be a great time!
Livonia Public Schools Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce

10/29/2026

SMART is proposing new bus service for Livonia in 2027, including the new Route 290 (Newburgh) and Route 295 (Plymouth). Residents are encouraged to attend an upcoming public hearing to learn more, ask questions, and share feedback on the proposed changes. Public input will help shape future transit service in our community.

Join the virtual hearing on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. (registration required at smartbus.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-NQnh6sNS0aDZ11--svH0w #/registration), or attend an in-person hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. in Trenton or Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at Westland City Hall. View the proposed routes and meeting details at SMART's Proposed 2027 Service Changes page: smartbus.org/About/News/proposed-2027-service-changes

10/28/2026

Yesterday I went and toured the new VASA Fitness in Dearborn. If you were unaware VASA is opening their next location on Plymouth Road West of Middlebelt in the former Dunhams.

I was so impressed with this Gym. Cold Plunge, Hot Tub, Steam Room, Sauna, Massage Chair Lounge, half court basketball court, lap pool, and a kids area that provides childcare. They also have the most weight training machines I’ve ever seen in one gym. I expected an improvement compared to a planet fitness but the amount of machines they had were more comparable to Powerhouse Novi. The Dumbbells go up to 150lbs.

They have an infrared Yoga Room and multiple group fitness studios. The Olympic powerlifting area was also the biggest I’ve seen in a gym in Michigan and I was told Livonia will be even larger.

If you are a gym rat or someone that is wanting to get into fitness you will absolutely LOVE this gym. Memberships start at only $14.99 so it’s very affordable for all that you get. Personal Training will be offered and you might even see a familiar face in that space.

The ribbon cutting will be the weekend of November 13th and I’d expect that to be the opening weekend also.

Livonia is VERY lucky for this gym to be opening here!

10/27/2026

Let’s all help out Livonia Kiwanis - Early Risers and their Fill The Box Program!

They will be accepting returnables next week at the library!

In one week, Livonia Public Library Bennett Civic Center Library will be hosting a returnable drive.

Please bring your bottles and cans to Bennett Civic Center Library atrium to support our 2026 Fill The Box campaign.

10/27/2026

Watching last night’s council meeting and wanted to comment on a few things.

1. FREE Steve King!

Seriously. Let him back to the rec center. A lifetime ban is definitely an overkill. Him and I argue about a lot of things but we also have a lot of good conversations about Livonia. I hope his ban is lifted. So much time has been wasted at council and commission meetings over this.

2. We should not be waiving any sidewalks in our city. Every new build needs to have sidewalks. We should be pushing sidewalks everywhere. I want a walkable bikable city and waiving sidewalks makes that less of a reality. Make it a requirement moving forward.

3. The budget. There’s some things I disagree with in it. $250K to rehabilitate the city hall fountain? While our libraries are the way they are? F*** that fountain. Seriously. Blow it up and put that $250K into our libraries so that people actually use them more. That’s just one instance. I would like to see budget dollars being spent on things that actually can benefit our citizens right now. I’m glad that our charter makes it where anything over $20K in our budget has to be voted on by council. I hope that when voting on the large things that our council thinks about what TRULY benefits our citizens. Also huge shout out for council getting ZOOM put into the budget for meetings. We need that. I’m happy the budget is approved. We have to have it approved. The budget is a “plan” or a “map”. Things above a certain amount still have to be voted on and talked about. This is just us putting money aside for our projects.

4. Huge shout out to Carrie Budzinski Livonia City Council for doing the actual work and finding funding for Hillcrest Park. That’s the type of work that needs to be done. We are getting a new playground because of HER HARD WORK. Shes humble and will never BRAG about what she’s done for this city. BUT I WILL. She’s done this her entire time on council. It upsets me when I see people criticize her when she’s went above and beyond multiple times to help this city. Hosting monthly meetings with coffee at the library to let citizens learn from and talk to different department heads of our city. To learn about what’s been happening at council meetings. She writes a review of every single council meeting and puts it out for the public. She shows up to basically every community event this city puts on. She goes to a different commission meeting every single month. She works hard and never gets the appreciation. Is she perfect? Do I agree with every decision she’s ever made? No. But I do know if every council member worked as hard as her and did the things she does, our city would be in a lot better place. That’s not calling out other council members because they do the job they signed up for BUT Carrie goes beyond the job description and our city is better because of that.

5. Our budget is not very easy to read. I’d love to see more of a line by line budget. The details are not good enough and I think normal citizens should be able to pick up our budget and understand it. I’d like to be able to answer my own questions like how much do we put towards this program or this project? More info the better. More transparency the better. Normal citizens should be able to understand where their tax dollars are going.

6. There was a moment that was heated at council. All council members were allowed to talk about the budget. Brandon McCullough Livonia City Council (who was the only one who voted NO on the budget) was allowed to speak but wanted to speak a second time and Kayleigh Kavanagh Reid, Livonia City Council President did not allow him too. She is president. The residents voted her for president. She was voted to do a job and she did just that. She is allowed to run the meeting how she chooses. She did not do anything that was wrong. She was trying to keep order and keep the meeting from becoming some big spectacle. And at the end of the day what she said was true. If Brandon would have spoken would any votes have been changed by council? Absolutely not. It would have been a waste of time. I understand Brandon’s annoyance. I understand some of his red flags about the budget. I also understand why he wanted a “rebuttal”. But it would have not accomplished anything. I don’t want to sit here and say he only wanted a rebuttal because he’s running for mayor and he wanted to make a spectacle of the situation. I can’t prove that even if it was true. I’m not going to assume things. They are both my friends. Both people I care about. Both people I think I agree with on most things. I hate seeing things be made into some type of show. Our council meetings shouldn’t be like Jerry Springer. They have been for years now. Let’s do better Livonia.

EDIT: Came to my attention that the city attorney gave the wrong direction and Brandon would be allowed to speak. I do still stand by it would have been a waste of time but if that’s the case he should have gotten to speak. I do think it was just leading into it being some argument and spectacle but it is what it is. Having a city attorney give wrong information is not a good thing. I’ll leave it at that.

10/26/2026

Make your voting plan today. Livonia residents have several convenient options to cast their ballot this election season.

Absentee voting is available without the need to provide a reason. Voters are encouraged to apply early and return their ballot either by mail or by using one of the City’s secure ballot drop boxes.

Early in‑person voting will be offered at City Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24-Nov. 1. This option provides a flexible way to vote before Election Day and helps reduce wait times at precincts.

Election Day voting takes place in your assigned precinct, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Residents can visit VoteLivonia.org to find their voting location and access additional election information.

Planning your vote is simple. First, decide which voting method works best for you. Next, review your voter information card to confirm your precinct and polling place. Finally, mark your calendar with key dates and deadlines to ensure your voice is heard. Election Day is Nov. 3. Make your plan and be prepared.

10/23/2026

10/21/2026

I know this is a second post promoting Monday Coffee Club but I can’t help it. This is definitely my spot. It’s right by my work so I’m going to be hitting it up often!

Today I tried the cold brew with almond milk and sugar free sweetener. It’s delicious and some of the better cold brew I’ve had. A lot of cold brews have a bitter sour taste but this is as smooth as possible. Livonia is so lucky to have them!

10/20/2026

LPS Families ~ Didn't get a spot for this very popular fundraiser? Add your name to the waitlist! More spots will be opening up on Wednesday.
Waitlist: https://forms.gle/L4UKe4WbizQANDqC6

10/19/2026

Today is opening day for Monday Coffee Club here in Livonia!

They’re at 16815 Middlebelt Road, just south of 6 Mile, and they have a drive thru too!

I stopped in and grabbed a jalapeño bagel with cream cheese, a brown sugar shaken espresso and a cake pop. Figured Monday was a pretty fitting day to check out Monday Coffee Club!

They’ve got specialty coffees, matcha, refreshers, bagel sandwiches, pastries and lunch options. I included pictures of the menus so you can see what they offer.

Stop in and help welcome this new business to Livonia! Always happy to see new businesses opening their doors in our community.