There is a free seminar Aug. 3 on renewable energy in Waterford. The seminar, called "Energy 101: Energy & Renewables for Local Government" is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 3 at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center in Waterford. To register go here.

This session is part of the Oakland County Sustainable Community Seminar Series.

Two other sessions are planned for 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 7 in Oakland County. Those sessions will be on the Sustainable Sites Initiative and local food resources in Oakland County.

Having sustainable communities with green initiatives is one of eight assets the Michigan Municipal League has identified as making vibrant communities in its Center for 21st Century Communities effort. Click on these links for more information about the eight assets and green initiatives.

Matt Bach is communications director for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

The Michigan Saves program is in the beginning of its roll-out phase. Although Michigan communities themselves will not be the initial recipients of these low-interest rate loans, residential homeowners will benefit greatly. A summary of the program is found in the second titlted "Hghlights of the Michigan Saves Home Energy Loan Program" is at this link.

Michigan communities should become familiar with the program in order to provide guidance for their residents in develing "better places." Stay tuned for more information on this exciting program.

This post was by the Michigan Municipal League's Sue Jeffers. She can be reached at sjeffers@mml.org.

Finding ways to bring greater access to food and more food buying choices to Michigan residents living in "Food Deserts" is a challenge that enters into all sorts of conversations at both the government and community engagement levels - from discussions about city planning strategies, to business development efforts, to urban agricultural initiatives, to a variety of non-profit and community-based outreach projects happening right now. It's a good time to familiarize yourself with the term and the complexity of issues surrounding how lacking access to grocery stores and healthy food options negatively impacts not only human health but the health of neighborhoods. 

Research consultant Mari Gallagher has studied "Food Deserts" in Detroit, and I found her report, "Examining the Impact of Food Deserts of Public Health in Detroit," on Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity's website, which also features other food related information for you to browse. If you are more interested in hearing what the impact of "Food Deserts" is straight from the mouths of people living in them, take a look at this older Detroit News article, from 2007, which reported on grocery store closing in Detroit. This article, "Grocery closings hit Detroit hard: City shoppers' choices dwindle as last big chain leaves," includes a lengthly discussion about some of the issues related to the lack of food choices in Detroit, and it features public feedback from people who are personally impacted. 

I don't live in a "Food Desert," but when I hear about people living in these areas - mostly low-income, economically depressed neighborhoods - I try to sympathize and understand what it must be like for them. I think of my frequent trips to the corner gas station, which is the only convenient place within walking distance to run to the store for things like trash bags, paper towels, batteries, and cat food. I don't compare my lack of convenient dish soap options to the lack of food choices plaguing many people in places like Detroit - "Food Deserts" are a much more serious issue. However, it makes me think about how lucky I am that the corner gas station isn't the only place nearby that I can buy food. 

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

Good story from the Lansing State Journal about the rising use by local government to communicate with residents using various social media tools. Aside from from use by local officials and governments of the usual sites such as Facebook, other tools such as Nixle and SeeClickFix allow both local governments and residents to report both emergency and non-emergency issues.

The article again shows the power of the web for local officials and governments as a two-way communication tool. The use of messaging and technology is one of eight key assets of vibrant 21st century communities as identified by the League's "Center for 21st Century Communities" program.  All eight assets are the focus of the League's upcoming convention, Sept 21-24 in Dearborn. 

This year's Convention will feature a combination of the best that national experts offer with our own local success stories from around the state to deliver dynamic, to-the-point presentations based around the eight assets.  Don't miss it!

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.