MICHIGAN FOCUS: Blogs, Food Co-op, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

I am noticing a resurgence in Michigan readers, so I am tentatively starting up coverage of Michigan progressive events.

Bad news for Detroit Schools: 29 Detroit schools to be closed in the fall...closing schools is the WORST way to deal with budget woes. You are GUARANTEEING a rise in crime, drug use and unemployment, all of which add MORE burden to the system.

Election info: Fall Detroit Elections-City Council and Mayor\

Gratiot County Democratic Party: You are welcome to join us at our regular meetings on the Third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Community Room in the Alma Public Library.

You can also help win the MI-4 Congressional seat from the Republicans by donating here.

BLOGGING MICHIGAN:

Michigan Liberal is an excellent source of news, events and politics in Michigan.

Blogging for Michigan is another excellent source of news, events and politics in Michigan.

Mid-Michigan DFA is a good way to stay connected with fellow progressives in the Lansing area.

The Michigan Coalition for Progress is an independent progressive voice for the people of Michigan dedicated to holding elected political leaders accountable and moving Michigan forward.


MICHIGAN FOOD CO-OPS:

People's Food Co-op & Café Verde
214-216 N. 4th Avenue
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Phone: (734) 994-9174
FAX: (734) 769-0150
info@peoplesfood.coop
http://www.peoplesfood.coop

New Territory Market Cooperative
132 Water St.
Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022
Phone: (616) 926-9391
FAX: (616) 925-2573

Cass Corridor Food Co-op
456 Charlotte Street
Detroit, Michigan 48201
Phone: (313) 831-7452
FAX: (313) 832-4776
casscorridorfoodcoop@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/casscorridorfoodcoop/index.html

East Lansing Food Co-op
4960 Northwind
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Phone: (517) 337-1266
FAX: (517) 357-6086
info@elfco.coop
http://www.elfco.coop/

Dibbleville Food Cooperative
106 East Elizabeth Street
Fenton, Michigan 48430
Phone: (810) 629-1175
contact@dibbleville.com
http://www.dibbleville.com

Simple Times Farm Market & Buying Club
6081 E. Baldwin Rd.
Grand Blanc, Michigan 48504
Phone: (810) 771-4480
healthfood4less@yahoo.com
http://www.simpletimesfarm.com/

West Michigan Co-op
1111 Godfrey SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Phone: (616) 248-0760
membership@westmichigancoop.com
http://www.westmichigancoop.com

Keweenaw Food Co-op
1035 Ethel Avenue
Hancock, Michigan 49930
Phone: (906) 482-2030
FAX: (906) 482-7845
info@keweenaw.coop
www.keweenaw.coop

Hartland's Nutrition Connection Cooperative
1898 Korte Street, PO Box 530
Hartland, Michigan 48353
Phone: (810) 632-7952
FAX: (810) 632-7620
hnccinc@ismi.net
http://www.hnccinc.com/

Hillsdale Family Food Co-op
31 N. Broad
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
Phone: (517) 439-1397
FAX: (517) 439-2443

Brighton Food Cooperative
2715 West Coon Lake Road
Howell, Michigan 48843
Phone: (517) 546-4190
bfcoop@brightonfoodcoop.org
http://www.brightonfoodcoop.org/

Ionia Natural Food Co-op
Healthy Basics 2, 576 State St.
Ionia, Michigan 58846
steved@iserv.net
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/IoniaNaturalFoodsCoop/

Northwind Natural Foods Co-op
116 S. Suffolk Street
Ironwood, Michigan 49938
Phone: (906) 932-3547
evannfc@sbcglobal.net

People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo
436 Burdick St. South
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Phone: (616) 342-5686
FAX: (616) 342-0194
chris@peoplesfoodco-op.org
http://www.peoplesfoodco-op.org/

Marquette Food Co-op
109 West Baraga Ave.
Marquette, Michigan 49855
Phone: (906) 225-0671
FAX: (906) 225-1169
info@marquettefood.coop
http://www.marquettefood.coop/

Green Tree Grocery
214 N. Franklin
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858
Phone: (989) 772-3221
FAX: (989) 775-3961
greentree@yahoo.com

Grain Train Natural Food Market
220 Mitchell Street
Petoskey, Michigan 49770
Phone: (231) 347-2381
FAX: (231) 347-0046
info@graintrain.coop
www.graintrain.coop

Rainbow Health Foods
66783 Gratiot Avenue
Richmond, Michigan 48062
Phone: (810) 727-5475
FAX: (810) 727-5475

Choice Foods Co-op
Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
choicefoods@home.com
http://members.home.net/choicefoods/

Oryana Food Cooperative
260 E. 10th St.
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Phone: (231) 947-0191
FAX: (231) 947-2516
info@oryana.coop
http://www.oryana.coop/

Woodland Food Co-op
116 N. Main Street
Woodland, Michigan 48897
Phone: (616) 367-4188

Sturgeon River Co-op
8469 Mentor Road
Wolverine, Michigan 49799
Phone: (213) 525-8419
FAX: (213) 525-8419
yourcoop@localnet.com

Ypsilanti Food Co-op and River Street Bakery
312 N. River Street
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198
Phone: (734) 483-1520
FAX: (734) 483-1354
csikorski@emich.edu
http://www.comnet.org/ypsifoodcoop.org


ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GROUPS AND EVENTS IN MICHIGAN:

Here are some statistics from Repower America:

* A new study by Michigan State University revealed that the state could produce as much as 321,000-megawatts of electricity from wind if its offshore resources are developed. This is more than 10 times the total electricity Michigan produces from all its energy sources
* Swedish Biogas International will turn Flint, Michigan's wastewater into fuel for powering vehicles or generating electricity and initially employ 24 to 40 people with their plan.
* Michigan has a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires all public utilities to generate 10% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2015.

BioDiesel Michigan

Interested in Buying Biodiesel or Starting a SE Michigan Cooperative??

Please email your name and contact information: leidel@oakland.edu to be added to a list of potential biodiesel users. The author of this site is campaigning for retail stations to carry B20, and a list of potential buyers will be invaluable. A business plan for a Detroit Metro cooperative is also in the works.

Show your interest, Please!! email here: leidel@oakland.edu Please include full name & town of residence

The Michigan Biodiesel Consortium is a group of individuals and businesses dedicated to improving the environment through the use of renewable fuels.

Our mission is to educate consumers and industry of the environmental benefits of replacing fossil fuels with renewable fuel resources.

We believe increasing farm production of seeds and grain, as well as renewal of waste oil can stimulate the Michigan economy. We will create jobs in the bio-fuel industry and join universities in development of technologies related to bio-fuels as well as promote renewable energy as a mainstream solution to dependency upon foreign oil.

We will bring together urban municipalities, farming communities, labor, industry and individuals to capture the American spirit of independence and entrepreneurship, in the noble endeavor of creating a healthier, and more economically vibrant Michigan.

If you are interested, contact them here:

Don Lee
Systems, production, and grease monkey extraordinaire.
Cell: 616.304.6810

Sarah Strong
Grants, research and the brains of the operation.
Cell: 616.890.0025

Michigan Biodiesel LLC was formed with fifty-seven farmers and eight biodiesel distributors. It is almost ninety percent Michigan owned and strives to enhance rural development and value-added agriculture production.

Michigan BioDiesel LLC is a group leading the way to the production and sales of B100 to distributors. Michigan BioDiesel LLC is the only full-service biodiesel group offering risk management, raw material procurement, plant construction know-how, biodiesel production and biodiesel sales and marketing services. All planned facilities will utilize batch system biodiesel production technology, methanol recovery and water recycling with zero water release from production, while becoming BQ-9000 accredited. Michigan BioDiesel LLC markets biodiesel to customers through its distributors to many industries including on-highway fleets, maritime, military, home heating and agriculture industries.

Michigan Biodiesel, LLC
700 Industrial Parkway
Bangor, MI 49013

If you need to contact us by phone, at 269-427-0804.
The fax number is 269-427-0904.

If you need to contact John Oakley, the CEO of Michigan Biodiesel, the email address is joakley@mibiodiesel.com

Production Development and Chemical Process Manager: Robin Wason, the email address is rwason@mibiodiesel.com

Sustainable Michigan-Peak Oil Meetup Group
Come to a Sustainable Michigan/Peak Oil Meetup to generate ideas and discuss actions to raise public consciousness, promote sustainable development. Find others concerned about making Michigan sustainable in energy, food production, green building and other key areas related to relocalizing so that we are prepared in Michigan for any energy/resource decline. Get the support to BE the change. To find out more, join this group.

Peak Moment in Monroe:
Peak Moment refers to the period of energy, climate, and economic uncertainty that we now live in as humans rapidly approach the end of the Age of Oil.

Meet others who share your concern. Generate ideas and discuss actions to raise public consciousness.

Advocate for new urbanism and sustainable development. Explore the potential of alternative energy. And join others interested in community gardening. To find out more, join this group.


Here are some Progressive Groups in Michigan:

MidMichigan Democracy for America:
Website: mmdfa.blogspot.com
Email Address: midmichigandfa@yahoo.com
Mailing Address: MMDFA, P.O. Box 18153, Lansing, MI 48901

MMDFA meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm. All progressives are welcome.
Location: SEIU Local
1026 E. Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI
across from Sparrow Hospital

Lansing area DFA group - Listserve Sign-up:
Subscribe MMDfA@lapn.net

Monthly Berkley Democratic Club Meeting:
Generally meets on Thursdays from 7pm to 8:30pm and all club meetings are open to the public. Bring your topics, ideas, and opinions to share and interact with other like-minded individuals!

All meetings are held at Anderson Middle School, 3205 Catalpa, Berkley, Michigan in the Media Center. We welcome you to join us!

Contact: http://www.berkleydems.org or info_at_berkleydems.org

Monthly Flint, MI Progressive Caucus Meeting
2nd Tuesday of every month, 6:30:00 PM
Asbury United Methodist Church, Flint

Farmington Hills Club Meeting
Farmington / Farmington Hills Democratic Club
Third Wednesday of Every Month
Starting at 7:30pm
Web: http://www.ffhdc.org
Phone: 248-615-9119
Location: Varies...call or check out website for more info.

Pontiac Democratic Club
Third Saturday of Every Month
Starting at 10:00am
Pontiac City Hall
47450 Woodward Ave., Pontiac
Phone: 248-338-7765
Location: Pontiac City Hall, 47450 Woodward Ave., Pontiac


And for those who want to combine socializing with politics, here are some Michigan Drinking Liberally groups:

Ann Arbor, Michigan
* Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 7pm
* Dominick's, 812 Monroe St. (Behind and across the street from the Law Quad)
* Hosted by Jenay Karlson, Leah Hanzlicek and Jeffrey Schultz, annarbor (at) drinkingliberally.org

Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Graydon's Crossing, 1223 Plainfield Ave NE (just north of Leonard)
* This month, we're meeting on Tuesday, 4 March at 7:00 for a Primary Results Watch Party
* Hosted by Brent Geers and Phil Skaggs, grandrapids (at) drinkingliberally.org

Houghton, Michigan
* Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward
* Keweenaw Brewing Company, 408 Shelden Ave (Downtown Houghton)
* http://drinkingliberally.wikispaces.com
* Hosted by Jeremy Sandrik and Jon Maxwell, houghton (at) drinkingliberally.org

Lansing, Michigan
* Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Reno's East, 1310 Abbott Rd, East Lansing (Corner of Abbott and Saginaw)
* Hosted by Julielyn Gibbons, lansing (at) drinkingliberally.org

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
* Second Tuesday of each month, 8:00 pm onward
* Mountain Town Brewing Company, 506 W Broadway St
* Hosted by Abhik Roy, Will Tomlinson, Scott Dunn and Brandon Mayer, mtpleasant (at) drinkingliberally.org

Oakland County, Michigan
* Third Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm onward
* Rochester Mills Beer Company, 410 Water St, Rochester (Downtown Rochester)
* Great food and some great brews, bring a hunger and a thirst for Democracy!
* Hosted by Ron Wasczenski, oaklandcounty (at) drinkingliberally.org