April 29, 2025 (Apr. 29, 2025)

Let's break down the rest of Sheriff Pete's reading magic:

100 – Nope, not a reference to President Trump's first 100 days. He was tipping his hat to the Chrysler Corporation, which just turned the big 1-0-0. Happy birthday, minivans.
100,000 – Not the national debt, but the shockingly accurate estimate of how many days Bryan Barnett has reigned as Mayor of Rochester Hills. Immortal? Possibly.
20 – Not Derby horses. It's the number of wines Paul Haig plans to " sample " at the Beer & Wine Tasting fundraiser.
48 – Not just the eyebrow-raising age gap between Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, but also the number of people not named Blake McLellan who 86'd a grant for a nudist colony in Rochester. Blake, we see you.
151 – Yes, the Derby is celebrating its 151st run. But Peter? He was more focused on the fact that Tami Salisbury refuses to eat fruit unless it's marinated in 151-proof booze. Health is health.
And finally, zero, as in the number of times you win when you bet against the sheriff. Don't try it.

Props to Pete and the crew for raising a cool $229 for our scholarship fund—mind tricks and fundraising? The man's fire.

SPEAKER

Heather Toco, owner of Home Bakery in Rochester, has always had entrepreneurship in her blood. Growing up on a farm in Macomb County, she was actively involved in the family business from a young age. She always knew she wanted to own a business someday—she just didn't know what kind.

At the age of 40, Heather found her passion in baking. A self-taught baker, she purchased the Home Bakery in 2014 and instantly knew she had discovered her true calling. Today, she leads a team of 25 women who help run the bakery and collaborate on its famously creative front window displays.

In late 2024, the Detroit Lions were enjoying a historic season, and Heather noticed a surge of Lions pride sweeping through the region. Inspired, she dedicated her January display to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his now-iconic headstand celebration.

After more than 200 hours of meticulous work, she unveiled a life-sized cake replica of St. Brown on January 3, 2024—then left for a well-earned vacation the next day. Within just 12 hours of posting the cake on social media, the display went viral. Calls began pouring in from radio stations, TV networks, the Lions organization, the NFL, and national media outlets. Heather quickly cut her vacation short and returned to Rochester to meet the frenzy. Even Amon-Ra St. Brown took notice—he arranged a visit to see the cake in person and announced on his podcast that he would offer playoff tickets to a lucky customer who purchased goodies from the bakery.

Foot traffic in downtown Rochester surged by 40%. Heather, realizing she needed backup, got it in the form of Kristi Trevarrow, Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, along with support from the Rochester Fire Department, Department of Public Works, and neighboring business owners.

While December is typically her busiest month, the buzz from the Lions cake made January through April record-breaking. She was not only able to keep all her staff employed but also saw celebrities like Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Mayor Bryan Barnett volunteering behind the counter. Her husband pitched in by frying thousands of cronuts—just a fraction of the hundreds of thousands she had fried. Her vendors also rose to the occasion, sending a dedicated sprinter van to keep ingredients flowing as demand soared.

As for the cake construction itself? Heather reveals that the structure was built using Rice Krispies treats, fondant, PVC, and copper tubing—because actual cake would collapse under the stress.

While the Amon-Ra St. Brown window holds a special place in her heart, other memorable displays include Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and Harry Potter-themed creations. Heather typically doesn't plan her displays far in advance, but she's already dreaming up something special for Christmas 2025.

Though her elaborate displays grab headlines, Heather's focus remains on crafting delicious, edible treats. She has created cakes for the City of Rochester's anniversary celebrations, Kyle JoJohnson's wedding, as well as numerous birthdays, family events, and parties. Years ago, she was approached by competitive baking shows but declined, focusing instead on growing her business. Today, if asked again, her answer might just be different.

If you haven't already, stop by Home Bakery and treat yourself to something sweet—you might catch the next iconic window before the rest of the world does.