The May/June 2013 issue of Michigan Municipal League's The Review focuses on growing old in Michigan. Are communities ready to handle the growing number of older adult residents? Over half of Michigan's residents are now over the age of 50. How will the needs of young and old be balanced? Are they really that different?

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water announce the eighth annual Water Week to be held from June 1-9, 2013. The purpose of Water Week is to celebrate, learn about, and enhance the abundant water resources in Southeast Michigan. Numerous Water Week activities will be held in Southeast Michigan this year, hosted by organizations such as Friends of the Rouge and the Clinton River Watershed Council.

Once again, the library is celebrating Earth Day with an extended week's worth of programs for all ages. Join us for the following programs:

• Meatless Mondays: April 22, 7:00 PM. One meatless day per week helps take a big strain off the environment. Door to Door Organics explains.
• Michigan Made: April 23, 7:00 PM. Taste and experience Michigan made products from Heart of Michigan.
• Rain Gardens and Live Walls: April 25, 7:00 PM. Learn to create eco-friendly rain gardens and living plant walls with landscaper Jeremy Christianson.
• Native American Dancers for Mother Earth: April 27, 2:00 PM. Enjoy the rhythmic sounds and beautiful dance that celebrates Mother Earth.

On Sunday, April 14 from 2:00-3:00 PM, The Organization for Bat Conservation will present Biodiversity LIVE!  Explore the amazing variety of wildlife on planet Earth. Discover the interconnectedness between plants and animals. Topics include the balance of natural ecosystems, how humans are impacting biodiversity (habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change), and simple actions that can be taken to protect wildlife from extinction. Live animals include a bearded dragon, sugar glider and a large fruit bat.

2nd-5th Graders: Join us Tuesday, April 16th from 7:00-8:00 PM in the Purple Room to celebrate the start of Earth Week 2013 by building your own plant terrarium out of recycled materials.  Plant yummy herbs and/or beautiful flowers in a portable garden that you can take home, and enjoy a dirt-tastic dessert! 

We're celebrating Earth Day from April 14-27 and want you to join us! There will be events for everyone including:

• Biodiversity LIVE! — Sunday, April 14, 2:00-3:00 PM
• Meatless Mondays with Door to Door Organics — Monday, April 22, 7:00-8:30 PM
• Heart of Michigan - Michigan Made Products — Tuesday, April 23, 7:00-8:30 PM
• Rain Gardens and Live Walls — Thursday, April 25, 7:00-8:30 PM
• Native American Dancers — Saturday, April 27, 2:00-3:00 PM

Earth Hour began as a symbolic action of switching off lights for an hour and has grown into a continuous movement attempting to change the world we live in.

Let's kick off the Earth Week festivities with Meatless Monday.  Learn from Door to Door Organics Jessica Gurney how to eat locally grown, healthy meals.  By making at least one meal per week a meatless meal, not only do we benefit, but so does our environment and our beloved Michigan.  Join us on Monday, April 22 at 7:00 PM for this informative program that might change your eating habits for the better.

Earth Week presents the Heart of Michigan featuring Michigan-made products onTuesday, April 23 at 7:00 PM.  See, taste and experience some the fabulous items grown and made locally.  Support our great state of Michigan as well as our environment.