Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley has written a new book about her community now available online.

Michigan Municipal League board member Suzanne Pixley has written a new book about the people who helped make her community - Eastpointe - what it is today.

Legendary Locals of Eastpointe was written by Pixley, mayor of Eastpointe, and published by Arcadia Publishing. It's available at area bookstroes, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888) 313-2665 or online.

According to a news release about the book, Eastpointe was first settled in the early 1800s by Irish and German immigrants, who had traveled to a new country to find a better life. The inherent values of strong education, hard work and love of home and family have continued throughout the city's history into modern times.

In the past 200 years, many locals have become legendary as they strived in various ways to pursue excellence. As notable as the achievements of hometown hero astronaut Jerry Leninger and the athletic power of All-American Ron Kramer, there are also the stories of unsung heroes, which are now told. Legendary Locals of Eastpointe celebrates some of the individuals who have left their mark on the city.

Highlights of Legendary Locals of Eastpointe: Showcases the rich heritage of active citizens that have contributed their time and efforts on local, state and even national causes to make this region viable; and Includes business leaders, cultural leaders, medical leaders, military leaders, political leaders, sports leaders and community founders and leaders.

Pixley’s interest in local history comes naturally having grown up in the city where her grandfather first purchased a farm in 1910. Her knowledge of local businesses, high school programs and alumni accomplishments make her a natural to record the history and the people who were part of the development. As the current Mayor of the City of Eastpointe, she has also become keenly aware of the historical background of the many aspects of municipal government. She graduated from Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in 1961, advancing her education with additional Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from the University of Michigan in the 70’s, followed by Doctor Studies in Community and National Development.

She is an active volunteer with various community service organizations and has been recognized at state, county and local levels for her volunteer actions. She has received the National Daughters of the American Revolution award for Historical Preservation, as well as a Keep Michigan Beautiful Award for individual volunteer landscaping projects in Eastpointe’s Downtown area. She has also received awards from the Michigan Municipal League where she now serves a three year term on the Board of Trustees.

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

A rendering for the long-term vision for Capitol Park as outlined Thursday by Dan Gilbert. Source: Quicken Loans and the Detroit Free Press.

Quicken Loans Chairman and Founder Dan Gilbert announced his continuing commitment to revitalizing Detroit at an “Opportunity Detroit” event Thursday, that included Fred Kent of Project for Public Spaces. The plans, which included an announcement of a Papa Joe’s grocery store opening in the heart of downtown, are very consistent with the League’s placemaking message. In fact, a good portion of the two-hour session had Kent discussing the elements of placemaking and how to create lively urban places to live, work and play.

Kent told the audience at the event that Detroit has major assets and a passion for redevelopment that he has not see elsewhere, according to a Detroit Free Press article by John Gallagher.

"Downtown Detroit’s geographic location and particularly the half mile from the Detroit River to Grand Cricus Park is the most concentrated diversity of urban assets and placemaking opportunities anywhere in the world,” Kent said.

Many of the changes envision for downtown Detroit are reminiscent of a European capital, including sidewalk cafes, retail kiosks, food stands in parks, lawn games, beach volleyball in parks, traffic-calming devices such as raised crosswalks, retail storefronts open to the sidewalk, boutique hotels and pedestrian walks protected from traffic. They also called for a narrowing of Jefferson Avenue near Hart Plaza because the current eight-lane boulevard leaves a feeling of disconnect between downtown the Detroit Rivewalk. This narrowing of major roads is also something League CEO Dan Gilmartin has called for in his Economics of Place blog.

Media reports from the Opportunity Detroit event were truly exciting and League members will get to see many of these changes taking place first hand when they attend the League's 2013 Convention in Detroit this September. Learn more about our event here.

"We're all in," Gilbert told an audience of about 400 business and civic leaders invited to the City Theatre at the Hockeytown Café. "It's more than fluff ... A big chunk of this is going to happen this summer. It's agreed, funded."

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

Another rendering of Detroit's future. Source: Quicken Loans and the Detroit Free Press.

Tuesday, March 26, the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development is hosting a one-day seminar at the MSU Union titled "Re-Imagining Our Economic System". Academic experts from around the country will convene four panel discussions with the following topics:

What is the Economy For?

How has the current economic system succeeded and in what ways has it failed us?

What could a New Economy look like?

Where do we go from here to achieve greater balance between our economic, social, and environmental systems?

To learn more about this event and related events MSU is supporting, see the MSU CCED website.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator supporting the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him via email or Twitter.

You may have heard by now that food carts are all the buzz in some cities across the country.  The one that probably takes the cake is Portland, OR, with over 500 scattered throughout the city.  But a little bit of this craze is coming to Michigan and for good reason. 

Mark’s Carts was the first true stationary “food cart pod” (a grouping of food carts) in Michigan, opening two years ago in Ann Arbor.  With eight individually owned food carts serving a diverse array of food from early spring to late fall, it has proven to be a magnet for townies, the business community, and students who want to enjoy delicious local food and an informal outdoor communal seating experience.

But it’s not just about the food!  Well, okay, it’s mostly about the food -- but it’s so much more.  For the guests, it’s the whole experience of trying different foods in a casual outdoor setting with an opportunity for spontaneous social interactions.  For the vendors, it is an affordable entry into the food business which can be an incubator to try out new recipes and marketing strategies and to develop a loyal following before they move on to a more permanent establishment.  

That is exactly what happened to one very successful food cart called The Lunch Room.   They tried out different fares on their vegan menu over the course of two years, ( while occasionally providing some musical offerings and food tasting contests as well).  Among the favorites:  barbecue tofu sandwiches, Pad Tai and their hard to resist cookies.   Building on their success, they plan to open a more permanent restaurant in the Kerrytown area, one of the most vibrant gathering places in Ann Arbor. 

It is just this sort of organic entrepreneurial creativity that not only positively impacts the local economy, but contributes to a community's unique identity and vibrancy, and emotionally connects people to their place!

Colleen Layton is Director of Policy Development for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 734.669.6320 or by clayton@mml.org.