Starting a family is a big decision, as is choosing a place to call "home."  Ann Arbor, according to a new Kiplinger.com report, is suggested as one of the Top Ten  cities in the country for families. This won't come as a surprise to those already raising families in Washtenaw County; we already know the many benefits of living in Ann Arbor.

The report uses three criteria important for anyone (not just families) as a baseline: the state of the city's economy, the liveliness of the local culture, and the rate of job growth. Then, they factor in some important issues for families: an already-strong presence of families with kids, low crime rates (their figures were provided by the FBI), the quality of the public education system (using ratings from Great.Schools.org), and the availability of parks and recreational venues.

Consider these facts:

• If you like spending time outdoors, Ann Arbor is definitely the place to be. More than 2,000 acres of city parks  means plenty of sledding, cross-country skiing, and "snow person" building in the winter, as well as picnicking and Frisbee-tossing during the more temperate months.

• Using a combination of their own ratings and data from the National Assessment for Educational Progress, GreatSchools.org selected Ann Arbor Public Schools  with a score of eight (ten points is the highest rating) for school districts in mid-sized cities in the United States. This ranking group has noted that overall, the best school districts in the country (including Ann Arbor schools) have a passion for innovation, pushing teachers and students to excel beyond their comfort zone.

• According to the FBI, the Ann Arbor rate of violent crimes per 100,000 residents is 256; the national average is 455. Match this with a low rate of property-related crime (burglary, home/business theft, and motor vehicle theft), and Washtenaw County's overall safety weighs in attractively when you're planning to raise a family here.

Martin Bouma -your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert - can help you find the perfect piece of  Ann Arbor real estate in which to raise your family. Whether you're buying or selling a home, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Thinking of settling down in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today! And don't forget to check out our Condo Hotline - we know the Ann Arbor condominium market better than anyone!

The Ypsilanti-based Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) is the parent organization for the newly-formed XSeed Energy, "Ann Arbor's Community Power Project."  XSeed's inaugural project, approved at their August 12 meeting by the Historic District Commission, will be the installation of solar panels at the Michigan Theater at 603 East Liberty Street.

Using funding from community donations and grants, XSeed Energy was created with the goal of developing renewable energy projects in Ann Arbor.  Profits will be recycled back into an ‘Energy Bank' to fund ongoing renewable energy installations. The goal - and hence, the name - is to ‘seed' community funded, and possibly community owned, power projects in Ann Arbor.

For this first project, a set of 60-foot solar panels will be placed on the south-facing wall of the Michigan Theater, then connected to the local power grid. According to Bonnie Bona, project manager for XSeed Energy and former chair of Ann Arbor's planning commission, the Michigan Theater was selected for XSeed's first project "because of the public visibility of the solar panels, the theater's willingness to participate, its community involvement, and the fact that it is already pursuing other renewable energy solutions."

Russ Collins, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Theater, notes that the roof of the theater was recently painted white, significantly reducing its carbon dioxide emissions. The theater has also switched many of its light bulbs to more efficient compact fluorescent lamp bulbs. "We will continue to pursue green improvements as we can," Collins said.

The panels themselves will be selected over the next few months, and Michigan-based products and installers will be given preference. XSeed hopes to use this project to catalyze the green jobs sector in Michigan. The installation is scheduled to take place in November.

The CEC is partnered with the City of Ann Arbor, the Michigan Energy Office, the University of Michigan, and the US Department of Energy. CEC's ongoing initiatives include Clean Cities, Biofuel Incentive Grants, Solar America Cities, Rebuild Ypsilanti, Energy Outlet, and Michigan Energy $ense.

Want to be part of the greening of Ann Arbor? Whether you are buying a new home, or selling your current residence, the Bouma Group can help you with your real estate needs in Ann Arbor, as well as keep you up to date about Washtenaw County and specific Ann Arbor neighborhoods. And check out our Condo Hotline to learn everything you want to know about the Ann Arbor condo market.

With more than 50 individual coffee shops available to residents, it's a fact that Ann Arbor definitely loves coffee. David Myers, owner of Mighty Good Coffee Roasting Company, is making the most of that affection. As artisan roaster Mighty Good Coffee moves into its fifth year in business, they will physically move from their tiny (less than 200 square feet) storefront at 118 S. Main Street, to a 2,200 square foot combination café and roasting operation at 217 N. Main Street. The move will allow seating for 24, with ample space for special events and coffee classes.

The move will allow Mighty Good to expand their menu of edibles. Additionally, it will give customers the opportunity to watch and learn about the roasting experience, as well as to buy beans directly from the roaster. And while Mighty Good is moving just a few blocks away from their old location, Myers expects to add to his customer base because of the new spot's proximity to the Ann Arbor Farmers Marke in Kerrytown.

Here are a few fun and interesting facts about what's arguably the world's favorite beverage:

• After oil, coffee beans are considered the most heavily traded commodity in the world.

• Even a tiny bit of oxygen in bags with one-way air valves can cause beans to go stale, so there is no way to "lock in" the freshness unless the bags are absolutely vacuum sealed.

• Studies have suggested that the consumption of coffee is beneficial to health in some ways. Coffee appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease, among others.

Mighty Good Coffee can be found at the following retailers: Acme Mercantile, Busch's, Holiday Market – Royal Oak, Jefferson Market and Cakery, Knight's Market, Plum Market, Produce Station, Revive-Replenish, Sparrow Meat Market, Sprout House – Grosse Point, The New Chelsea Market, and Wine, Etc., in addition, of course, to the Mighty Good Coffee Café.

The Mighty Good Coffee Roasting Company provides fresh-roasted coffee to Ann Arbor residents (including via home delivery!) throughout the area - just one of the many perks of this growing local business. Martin Bouma – your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert – provides for virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Interested in Washtenaw County, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today! And don’t forget to check out our Condo Hotline – we’ve got a handle on the Ann Arbor condominium market.

From July 30 through August 5, Ann Arbor played host to the National Training Institute's (NTI) annual trade show. The trade show is designed to attract vendors seeking to provide information about their services and products to the electrical industry. The University of Michigan campus was "home for a week" to over 2,000 NTI participants and, according to Mary Kerr (president/CEO of the Ann Arbor Convention & Visitors Bureau), NTI participants were expected to infuse over $5 million into Washtenaw County.

   
This was the second NTI convention to be held in Ann Arbor. This is in large part because of the University of Michigan's strong record of union support, which creates a conducive environment for the NTI programs and course offerings. The group also has many "training partners," companies and organizations that contribute various forms of support to ensure NTI's success. UM is already set to host the National Training Institute's 2011 meeting, as well.

Ann Arbor's great fortunes didn't end with the NTI show. On Friday, August 6, the United Association (UA), brought 600 plumbers and pipefitters to town for a series of classes at the Washtenaw Community College campus. In fact, WCC is home to the UA's Great Lakes Training Center, one of 350 training facilities nationwide which serve over 340,000 members of the association. Additionally, the UA is partnered with the National Labor College and Ferris State University to create programs specifically tailored to UA members transferring from Washtenaw Community College.

On August 2 and again on August 9, Main Street was closed for block parties; both included community members. The first party was specifically for NIT attendees, and the second was for UA participants, but citizens of Ann Arbor were cordially invited. These training conventions and parties provided terrific caps for a fiscally abundant summer in Ann Arbor, following the highly successful Ann Arbor Arts Fairs, as well as other recent conventions.

Convention goers experienced Ann Arbor the way residents do all year long - as a great place to live, work, eat, and dance in the streets.  Want to call Ann Arbor home?  Martin Bouma - your Ann Arbor neighborhood expert - can meet virtually all of your Ann Arbor real estate needs. Whether you're buying or selling a home, the Bouma Group can answer any questions you have about real estate in Ann Arbor. Interested in Washtenaw County, Saline, or a specific Ann Arbor neighborhood? Call the Bouma Group today! And don't forget to check out our Condo Hotline - we've got a handle on the Ann Arbor condominium market.