Spring break represents a time for students to recharge their solar batteries with a little fun and sun. While traditional spring break spots still attract the biggest crowds, there are those who sidestep the norm and find areas within the country with an alternative spring break, the green way.

Five U.S. cities with a mix of green and sunshine

1. Austin, Texas – Austin’s goal is to become carbon neutral by 2020 and while that’s not likely to impact your spring break it is a significant message in their commitment to sustainability. While lacking in sand beaches and palm trees, Austin is loaded with great music, food, culture and park systems that provides numerous options for outdoor fun and activities.

2. Eugene, Ore. – This northwest city has been a leader in the green movement for years. Cycling is extremely popular and encouraged with 30 miles of off-street bike paths and 29 dedicated bike routes, totaling more than 150 miles of clean travel throughout the metro area.

3. Denver, Colo. – Denver’s natural beauty is well known and locals are very committed to retain its green heritage with their enhanced light rail system and aggressive green buildings programs. You’ll probably be trading suntan lotion for skis but there’s always the chance for snow burn.

4. San Francisco, Calif. – One of the nation’s leaders in public transportation, more than half the residents use it daily. There are lots of green spaces throughout this landmark city including beaches, bike trails and the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.

5. Miami, Fla. – This sunny locale has a long spring break tradition for a great party town, but it also has a sizable number of eco-friendly hotels and public transportation and organic restaurants specializing in local foods.

— JEFF

I don’t understand all the hub-bub about the new location of the public library. Over the last few months I have read a number of stories on the Gazette’s website and for some reason continued on down the page to view the comments. I am shocked that not only do people have emphatic opinions on the subject but are quite rude and presumptuous with them.

Personally, I want the library back. I don’t care if it’s at True North, Emerald Knights,  KCRG or back in it’s previous spot (and I understand that this is impossible according to FEMA guidelines). Now that these decisions are made, perhaps people can be grateful that we’ll get another part of our city back and they can throw their hostility elsewhere.

I am just happy it’s coming back.

Many of you reading this probably just wrote out a check for another month’s rent. Last month, I wrote about how now is the best time to buy. But is buying the right choice for you? The answer to that question isn’t universal. Owning real estate is not the right investment for everyone. Here are some pros and cons of both renting and buying:

RENTING

Pros:

• It’s temporary usually lasting a year or less.

• With the exception of a damage deposit there is no initial investment, no closing costs and no selling costs when it is time to move.

• The risk is less. Land lords are responsible for maintenance and repairs; if home values drop you are not out any money.

Cons:

• There is no return on your money; your rent can go up every year.

• There are no tax breaks for those paying interest on mortgages.

• The cost to rent per square foot is almost always more than owning a similar space.

OWNING

Pros:

• Your money is working for you. Between appreciation and paying down principal, over time your home can become a very nice investment.

• You are in charge of improvements and have the flexibility to make your place the home you want it to be.

• There are tax benefits on interest paid on your mortgage.

Cons:

• Selling a home costs money and time, an average of 88 days.

• Repairs are your responsibility

• Requires a large initial investment

— ERICK

Many restaurants are paying attention to consumers who are looking for environmental dining options. In addition to the catering to the customer, many owners and managers are looking for new and innovative ways to reduce cost and waste through green solutions.

So today we pass along some common practices that restaurants are adapting to as part of their efforts to become more sustainable and less wasteful.

10 suggestions you might find useful when turning
your restaurant green:
1. Consider serving a glass of water only if customers accept your invitation.
2. Use tent cards at tables and bar areas to alert customers of your sustainability efforts and savings.
3. Replace paper napkins and tablecloths with cloth.
4. Use and promote local organic produce in your menu items.
5. Consider electronic coupons for special promotions in lieu of paper ones.
6. Use hybrid vehicles for delivery services.
7. Use motion sensors in restrooms and other areas not occupied the majority of the time.
8. Eliminate or reduce the use of Styrofoam and plastic to-go accessories.
9. Avoid grease, oil, fats, etc. going into the sanitary sewer by disposing of them in containers.
10. Replace incandescent lighting with longer lasting CFL light bulbs or LED lights. Replace traditional exit signs with LED exit lighting. Check with your local energy provider for rebates and incentives.

As is the case with many other sustainability ideas, it’s the sum of all parts that makes a difference. You might also be surprised to find how your green practices can lead others toward positive change as well — and your customers will notice, in a good way.
— JEFF

IOWA CITY — The City Council in Iowa City may be ready to serve up a 21-only ordinance to its popular bar scene.

At the end of a work session Monday night, Mayor Matt Hayek said he wanted the council to consider a so-called 21-only ordinance, which would only allow people 21 and older in bars at night. Currently, those 19 and older can be in Iowa City bars.

“It’s time to do this,” he said.

In a brief discussion, six council members expressed interest in it — Hayek, Susan Mims, Terry Dickens, Ross Wilburn, Mike Wright and Connie Champion.

An ordinance will be ready for the council’s work session March 22 and ready the following night for the first of three readings needed to pass it.

It’s a major, and surprising, development in this college town, which is struggled for years with underage- and binge-drinking problems.

The council declined to vote on a 21-only proposal in 2007 and instead sent the matter to voters. who easily defeated it with the support of college students. Some council members have grown frustrated with what they see as a lack of cooperation from bar owners since then.

That includes Champion, who in the past has been a swing vote against a 21-only law.

“I’ve given those bars 12 years,” she said, a reference to her time on the council.

Council member Regenia Bailey said she has concerns that a 21-only law would encourage more house parties in neighborhoods, which is a common argument of those against changing the current law.

The 2007 vote caused a huge community debate that lasted months. This time, the matter could be settled this spring.

If the council approves an ordinance, a citizen-led referendum could send the matter back to the public for a vote.

– GREGG HENNIGAN, THE GAZETTE

The Fieldhouse is coming to former Tilted Kilt site in Cedar Rapids

The owners of The Fieldhouse, one of Iowa City’s best known student bars, are planning a second operation in Cedar Rapids under the same name.

The Cedar Rapids Fieldhouse will open later this year at 1140 Blairs Ferry Road NE.

“They’ll do well up here” said Mike Waltz, an investor in C.R. Venture, which owns the building. He said the Cedar Rapids Fieldhouse will have more of a family atmosphere than the Iowa City Fieldhouse at 113 E. College St., a long-standing student haunt.

The Cedar Rapids restaurant naturally will feature plenty of University of Iowa decor and memorabilia, Waltz said. Some renovations of the building are planned, and an opening date has not been set.

The building most recently was operated for about one year as The Tilted Kilt, a franchised concept featuring servers and bartenders clad in Scottish kilts. But the franchise owned by Al and Donna Meyer closed in early February, and signs went up saying the restaurant was closed for retraining.

Before operating as The Tilted Kilt, the site housed the North Country Steakhouse.

David Carey of Marion, president of Iowa City Fieldhouse Inc., was not immediately available for comment.

We saw this on the Chicago Tribune’s Web site today:

A Gallup poll released this week lists the top 10 states where residents reported feeling the highest sense of well-being, using a scale of 0 to 100, where a score of 100 would represent ideal well-being.

Nine of the top 10 well-being states are in the Midwest — INCLUDING IOWA — and the West, and seven of the 11 lowest well-being states are in the South. Read the full Well-Being Index report at Gallup’s site online.

See the rest of the Top Ten States.

The Van Wey  family, featured in Hoopla this summer for their Beat Cancer tee shirt campaign, has been asked to participate in a “Family Dance-off” along with some Dance Marathon friends at the University of Iowa.

“As you will soon see I have no rhythm and therefore not a very good dancer but when I heard it could win our hospital $30,000 I was in,” says Brent Van Wey.

You can vote once a day. In order to compete for the grand prize, they need at least 1,000 votes by midnight today (Feb. 19).

During the last week of March the seven  finalists will compete based on voter population, creativeness and humor.

“Me dancing. Now that is funny,” says Brent. “When we win — and I am confident that with the support we have we can do this –$30,000 will be donated in my families name to Children’s Miracle Network at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. Please help my family and I give back in a small way for everything the hospital has done for us, or at least do it for the kids.”

To see the video and vote, go to www.familydanceoff.com The Van Weys’ video is titled ”FTK – For the Kids.” Click on gallery on the main page, then select the FTK video. Once it loads, click on the words “play video.”

It’s reaching peak time for ice hockey and the Winter Olympics are also upon us. Here’s some food for thought from a socially conscious sporting point of view:

• Don’t throw away used equipment. Donate it to a local sports organization or school, pass it on to friends and relatives, or consider something like www.SportsGift.org. They focus on providing sports to underprivileged children throughout the world through donations of money and used equipment and volunteer work.

• Some sporting goods manufacturers incorporate renewable-based chemicals into their products. Ski boots, running shoes and goggles are among some of the products you can find today that are produced using renewable materials, recycled materials or both. Ask the salesperson before you buy or check the web for your product details.

• If you’re looking into training or fitness equipment for your home consider those that don’t require electricity. Manual treadmills a cost a fraction of the motorized ones. Hard core greenies do neither and walk outside or use things in their home like stairs.

— JEFF

Brewed Awakenings, the First Avenue coffee shop that serves as a second home to many Coe College students, says it could be forced to close unless business improves.

Owner Heather Younker acknowledged Friday that the business is in a fight for survival. She said its painful to admit, but she’d rather customers knew upfront that the business needs their support than to have them long-faced if the business closes unexpectedly.

“It’s hard to admit that Brewed is going through a hard time,” she wrote in a e-mail. “But in the wake of the downtown restaurant blend closing, we didn’t want Brewed to be another casualty.”

Younker blamed the business’ problems on the continued reduction in downtown traffic caused by the June 2008 flood, and by the recession. Brewed Awakenings, 1271 First Ave. SE, was not directly affected by the flood, so Younker said she can understand how much worse business conditions must be for businesses affected directly.

Younker set up a Facebook page, “Save Uptown College District & Downtown Businesses,” to share the message of struggling businesses.

One other way people can help, Younker said, is to join the 3/50 Project. The nationwide project aims to help independent local businesses. It encourages people to pick three small local businesses each month and spend $50 total.”

Information on the project is available at www.the350project.net

Here’s the e-mail Heather started circulating early Friday:

Dear Friends of Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse:

I write this on behalf of many small, locally owned family businesses like Brewed Awakenings who are in the midst of a deep struggle for survival. We have been serving our wonderful customers for over 6 years now but we don’t know how much longer we will still be able to do so. The affects of the flood to downtown traffic and the recession have finally caught up to us.

It’s hard to admit that Brewed is going through a hard time. But in the wake of the downtown restaurant blend closing, we didn’t want Brewed to be another casualty. We were not a flooded business but we are feeling the affects of the flood. If we are having this struggle, I can’t even imagine how much harder it is for others downtown.

We heard many people comment that if blend had just appealed to the people of Cedar Rapids, maybe they could have stayed open. Thus, we don’t want to wonder what might have been for us, so we humbly appeal to the amazing people of Cedar Rapids. If we just had 30 more customers daily, we could begin to recover from the events that have slowly been eating away at our bottom line. Please consider adding a stop at Brewed (and other small businesses in the Uptown College District & Downtown) to your weekly routine.

How else can you help? Join in a movement to help save our local small businesses. Learn more about The 3/50 Project (www.the350project.net) which encourages people to pick 3 local small businesses each month and spend $50 total. What local businesses would you miss if they were no longer there? Make it a goal to spend money there this month.

Also, I have started a Facebook page called “Save Uptown College District & Downtown Businesses.” Become a Fan & share what local businesses you’ve been to recently. Let’s talk up our amazing local businesses & get them more foot traffic. It’s really up to us to save our local businesses. They cannot survive without our support

And, will you take time to forward this email to anyone you know? I would love your help in getting the word out.

Thanks for your care and support for small business.