The stake in the 1 million square-foot (93,200-square-
meter) property, which has 150 stores and 2,000 parking spaces,
was bought in conjunction with German real estate company Mfi
Management fur Immobilien AG for an undisclosed price, New York-
based TIAA-CREF said in a statement today.

“Gropius Passagen reflects TIAA-CREF’s ongoing strategy to
develop a diversified real estate portfolio, including high-
quality dominant shopping centers in markets benefiting from
strong catchment areas,” Aymeric Thibord, director of real
estate investment at TIAA-CREF Asset Management UK Ltd., said
in the statement.

The deal is TIAA-CREF’s second partnership with Mfi
Management after jointly developing the Erlangen Arcaden
shopping center, a 323,000-square-foot mall with 100 stores that
opened in 2007. It also follows TIAA-CREF’s acquisition of the
Pep Shopping Center in Munich last year.

TIAA-CREF owned offices, retail and industrial properties
valued at more than $18 billion in the US, Canada and western
Europe as of Dec. 31, according to the statement.

To contact the reporters on this story:
Sharon Smyth in Madrid at
ssmyth2@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Andrew Blackman at
ablackman@bloomberg.net.

The museum may be the only Hispanic museum in the state, he said.

Many of the items collected or donated are too fragile to be moved frequently and could only be put on display at a static exhibition.

I have not even shown the best of what we have in our collection, because I will not take it out to be traveled with, he said.

Some items have already begun to show wear from a year of travel, making the need for a home more evident, he said.

Some pieces donated to the museum also had stipulations that the items could not be part of the traveling exhibitions.

Many people dont want to see their artifacts in a traveling museum, because they spent money or it is a heirloom, he said. We decided to wait until we have a permanent place and then those will go display. Continued…

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Outnumbered by the women at an Irvine senior living center, men rediscover the joy of model making that has been dormant since they were young. Along with trains and planes, they build fellowship.

The National Planning Policy Framework replaces more than 1,000 pages of planning rules put in place by successive governments with a single, 50-page document intended to simplify the system and kickstart more housebuilding and other development to create jobs.

The new guidelines, which came into force immediately, are built around a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which planners are told should balance the needs of the environment, economic sustainability, social needs, good governance and sound science.

In concessions to opponents of last years draft document, the new framework stipulates that brownfield sites should usually be developed before greenfield sites, and town centres before out-of-town sites. It recognises the intrinsic value and beauty of the wider countryside, specifically protects playing fields, and bars garden grabbing for development.

But answering MPs questions after his statement, Clark went further in defining sustainable when he said: Its not sustainable to have a shopping centre outside the town centre, its not sustainable to build on green belt – the protected land around urban centres intended to prevent suburban sprawl. Officials later said such developments should only go ahead in exceptional circumstances.

The document was welcomed by businesses and house-building organisations, while many environment and conservation groups which previously opposed the new policy welcomed what they said were important concessions.

In perhaps the most important declaration of support for the new framework, the National Trust, which organised a petition of nearly a quarter of a million people against the draft, welcomed the improvements. All these changes improve the document and give it a better tone and balance, said Dame Fiona Reynolds, the charitys director-general.

There remain significant concerns about the new system. In particular, there was concern about how strong the definition of sustainable development would be in protecting the environment against pressure for investment and jobs.

Eleanor Besley of sustainable transport group Sustrans said the governments claim that the framework indicated what sustainable should mean in practice left a self-reinforcing situation, where the presumption in favour of sustainable development actually means a presumption in favour of development.

Joan Walley, the Labour chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, said the new definition will now have to be tested in the courts.

The Woodland Trust said the new guidelines were not strong enough to protect ancient woodland.

Under the framework, local councils have a year to prepare local plans setting out where development can and cannot take place. Proposals in line with plans should be approved without delay; where plans are absent, silent or … out of date developments would be approved unless the damage done would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits; and proposals which conflict with the plans should be thrown out.

The Countryside Alliance, which broadly welcomed the revised document, also warned it was not clear how communities could object to developments that were not covered by local plans. If something comes up which falls outside that framework then it goes to consultation: if they dont have the guidance in place then theres the potential for their concerns to not be taken into account, said Dylan Sharpe, the organisations spokesman.

Caroline Lucas, the Green party leader, questioned whether councils could prepare robust enough plans: At a time of deep cuts to council budgets, we also need to ensure that local authorities have the resources and capacity they need to put in place adequate protection measures throughout the transition period and beyond.

Clark said the plans would put unprecedented power in the hands of communities to shape the places in which they live … giving the next generation the chance that our generation has had to have a decent home, and to allow the jobs to be created on which our prosperity depends; and to ensure that the places we cherish – the countryside, towns and cities – are bequeathed to the next generation in a better condition than they are now.

The coalition has said it wants 200,000 new homes built every year to help bring down prices of buying and renting properties, and to meet predicted future housing need. Local councils now have a duty to specify enough land to build housing for the forecast local growth in housing needs, with a 5-20% extra buffer, depending on how good they have been in the past at making land available for new homes.

I dont think anything has got quite the same protection it had before, said Ian Trehearne, of law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner. When they are all set together in the context of the overall decision-making process… the decision-maker is being urged to think of the thing in the round, and is not allowed to come to the conclusion heres an absolute constraint [on development]. Immediately you are into a balance, which you didnt have before.

o This article was corrected on 28 March 2012 because the opening paragraph and picture caption named Greg Clark as Clarke.

Reykjavik, Iceland (PRWEB) April 28, 2012

Mention the word Iceland and most people think of quirky pop stars, snowy landscapes or volcanoes with difficult names. But isnt there more that a savvy traveler should know about this increasingly popular tourist destination?

Icelandic travel agency Nordic Visitor certainly thinks so, which is why they recently launched their own Iceland Travel Guide on their website, not just to help customers prepare for upcoming vacations but also to show would-be visitors the incredible possibilities that Iceland has to offer.

Travelers can now find detailed descriptions about each of the countrys unique regions as well as interesting attractions as selected by the companys own local travel experts. The travel guide also calms anxieties of first-time guests with practical information about Iceland like how to get there and-perhaps most importantly-what to expect with the weather and how to dress accordingly.

As for those interested in a road trip on the famous Ring Road, there are also plenty of handy tips about driving in Iceland along with information about rental cars and other extras included in a Nordic Visitor self-drive package, such as detailed road maps, free GPS, unlimited mileage, emergency assistance and more. Customers also receive a Highlights of Iceland booklet, a convenient hard copy version of the online travel guide.

Iceland has emerged as a travel hotspot in recent years, thanks in large part to its weakened currency, the Krna (ISK), and from earning top marks from major travel publications, including Lonely Planet, Fodors and National Geographic Traveler. The country is often cited as an ideal destination for travelers who want a good value and an off-the-beaten path experience.

Nordic Visitor offers a wide range of vacation packages in Iceland, with varying routes, durations and services. Accommodation is always included, and any itinerary can be tailored to customers wishes, such as extra nights or activities. Packages in Iceland can also be combined with tours in Scandinavia, Greenland, Svalbard or the Faroe Islands.

For more information about vacation packages in Iceland or other Nordic destinations, please visit www.nordicvisitor.com.

About Nordic Visitor: With offices in Iceland and Sweden, Nordic Visitor is a fully-licensed travel agency and DMC that delivers unforgettable travel experiences in the Nordic countries. Staffed exclusively by local travel experts, Nordic Visitor specializes in tailor-made itineraries that cater to customers needs and interests. Vacation packages include self-drive holidays, city breaks, luxury getaways, honeymoons, adventure tours, fjord cruises, railway journeys and much more.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebnordic-visitor/iceland-travel-guide/prweb9436050.htm

On Oct. 26, 2005, Army Reserve Sgt. James Witkowski, 32, was just one month from coming home after serving his third tour in Iraq, when he died instantly after an improvised explosive device exploded on his crew’s Humvee. They were traveling with about 100 soldiers in a 23-vehicle convoy transporting supplies from Camp Anaconda near Balad, Iraq, to Forward Operating Base Suse, northeast of Kirkuk. Witkowski was assigned to the Army Reserve’s 729th Transportation Company based in Fresno, Calif.

Witkowski, who placed his body over the IED to save his fellow soldiers, is among 140 Arizona service men and women featured in the “Remembering Our Fallen” exhibit who died in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of those, 17 are from the East Valley.

The exhibit will open at VFW Post 138, 107 E. Broadway Road in Tempe near Mill Avenue, on Wednesday and will be there through May 11.

In a day-long celebration beginning at noon on Saturday, May 5, American Legion Post 138 will be renamed the James Witkowski Post 138, accompanied by a barbecue, raffles and door prizes and a live band in the evening.

Witkowski’s parents, James and Barbara Witkowski, will be present.

In a statement issued by American Legion Post 138, Barbara Witkowski said of her son, “He always looked after other people. He was a defender of everyone. It was just such a selfless act that took his life a month before he was scheduled to come home from Iraq.” Witkowski received the Silver Star posthumously for bravery in action.

The exhibit was organized by Remembering Our Fallen, a Nebraska-based nonprofit organization that has researched those who have died while defending the nation since 9/11. The group is completing such traveling exhibits on a state-by-state basis to put on display at service-related organizations.

Remembering Our Fallen exhibits also have been done for Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Missouri, and an exhibit for North Dakota will be unveiled in Fargo on Saturday. Exhibits for Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin are in the works and plans are under way to place the exhibit in high schools, said Bill Williams, president of Remembering Our Fallen.

Although Witkowski’s residence is listed as Surprise on the Remembering Our Fallen exhibit, he was a graduate of Arcadia High School in east Phoenix close to where the American Legion Post 138 initially had planned to move. However, the post changed its plans and decided to move into Tempe but is following through on its plans to rename the post for Witkowski.

“He always had his arms around the people he cared for,” said Joni Baginski, the president of the Ladies Auxiliary at American Legion Post 138. “He was an incredible human being. One of the things we keep hearing from those who knew him and the soldiers who served with him was that he had an incredible sense of humor. We couldn’t think of a better person to rename our post after.”

From inside the little gray shed, where a small gathering of hens sat in their nest boxes, they could see Fred Dunn, 51, coming. The little brown hen didnt stick around to greet him — she hopped out of her box and scuttled out the door and into the afternoon sunshine, clucking madly as she went.

Dunn didnt seem to mind. As he stepped inside the coop, he carefully peeked into the vacated nest boxes and picked out two creamy-white eggs.

It goes all the way back to childhood memories, said Dunn, whos raised poultry for 12 years. When I was a little kid, I was interested in the idea that you could own these birds and let them run around.

In the morning, for breakfast, you just go into the coop and collect the eggs.

Within the ever-burgeoning local food movement, a growing subculture of do-it-yourself hobbyists is taking it a step further. Theyre making their own beer, collecting their own honey and gathering their own eggs from their backyard poultry flocks.

Here in Erie, the statistics are hard to come by. But if word-of-mouth and the filled-to-capacity workshops offered by the Whole Foods Co-op and Asbury Woods Nature Center are any indication, there are growing numbers of local people looking to take on their own small-scale sustainability hobbies.

So far this year, the cooperatives class attendance has already surpassed last years total of about 350 people.

Its really getting more popular, said Bob Sonnenberg, outreach and education coordinator at the cooperative. He thinks part of the reason is that a lot of people are worried about the quality of food.

Sonnenberg, who keeps a raised-bed garden and two beehives in the backyard of his Erie home, is living proof of the trend. Even in an urban area, he likes to make his own miso, sauerkraut and honey wine for family and friends.

Part of it is that its just really an interesting thing to do. Its kind of a hobby, he said. And it provides a lot of good food for me and my family. I know exactly whats in it. No preservatives, no additives.

In light of rising food prices, cost savings also might be an incentive for some people.

Sonnenberg could buy miso, a flavoring for soups and other dishes, made out of fermented rice and soybeans, for about $10 a jar. Or he could easily make $300 worth of miso for only $100.

But its quality, not quantity or cost, that is the most appealing for Sonnenberg and others.

It kind of makes you feel more self-sufficient because you can take a raw material and make something really high quality, he said.

Its one of those things that people say is hard, but theres really nothing to it.

Plenty of poultry

In 2000, after Fred Dunn and his wife, Annette, retired from the Navy, the couple set up their own little self-sustaining farm in Wattsburg. Small flocks of chickens wander the yard, looking for bugs and grubs. Solar panels are fixed on the roof of the house and garage, and five beehives are set up near a neighbors farm field for easy pollination.

They even have four male goats, aka the organic weed-control squad, that graze different areas of the 8.5-acre plot throughout the year.

The Dunns, who will occasionally hatch birds for local 4-H kids and backyard-flock novices, cant help but notice the increasing numbers of people who are becoming interested in raising their own poultry.

Even in Erie, where keeping farm animals within city limits is prohibited, Dunn receives a steady stream of questions from people in what he calls the poultry underground through his website www.fredsfinefowl.com.

People want egg-producing stock. I would guess there are at least 300 families that keep chickens (within the city limits), he said.

If they could start raising poultry in the city of Erie, a lot more people would be keeping poultry in city limits.

Erie City Clerk Jim Klemm said few ask about the city ordinance.

At this time of year, we get a call or two about people who want to have chickens. Or we get a call from neighbors … asking what the heck is going on, he said. When theres a complaint, the city sends someone to investigate, Klemm said, but if you have a couple of chickens laying your eggs, if nobody says anything, how are we going to know?

Busy with bees

Charlie Schroeck, 67, got the buzz more than 30 years ago. Now the expert beekeeper maintains 11 beehives — seven hives at Asbury Woods Nature Center and four at his Millcreek home.

It can be a lot of work, but I do it for recreation, he said. You get into the details of it. Just like any hobby.

Theyre interesting little critters, Schroeck said. They have a job and they know exactly what to do.

The hives Schroeck maintains not only help pollinate surrounding gardens, but they also produce gobs of honey — averaging about 50 pounds per hive a year.

In the past 10 years, Schroeck estimates that hes taught almost 200 students the art of backyard beekeeping through courses at Asbury Woods.

His annual four-part course in March maxed out at about 25 students.

Most of the people who take the classes are hobbyists who have one or two hives, he said. Some people, they really like honey and, of course, the price of honey has gone up. He said theres also concern about the lack of bees.

News of bee colonies wiped out by diseases and afflictions, including colony collapse disorder, have worried a lot of people in recent years, Schroeck said. Some people start their own beehives just to boost the local bee population.

When I first started, I had 10 or 12 students per year, he said. But its picked up in the last couple years.

Hobby on tap

Allan Stuntz doesnt consider himself a beer nut. Still, as a member of the brew club HAZARD in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties — thats Homebrewers and Zymurgists Alcohol Research Division — he definitely knows his way around a lager and an ale.

Stuntz, of Cranesville, started brewing six years ago with a kit he was given at Christmas.

Now he averages 12 batches — about 5 gallons per batch — a year.

Id had homebrewed beer before then, but it was always pretty terrible, he said. It does take a little science to make good beer, thats for sure.

Tucked away in his beer barn is all the equipment Stuntz needs to ferment and brew grain and water into tasty beer. It takes a bit of knowledge about chemistry and microbiology to get the right kind of beer.

Sure, hell still buy craft beer every once in a while.

But creating your own brew, as a labor of love, is much more satisfying — not just for Stuntz, but for his neighbors as well.

They love it. I entice them all with beer, he said. Usually every year on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, I have a big party and the centerpiece of the party is three brews on tap that I made.

Its also about returning to ones roots and to a time when people did almost everything themselves. They even helped supply certain foods or items to neighbors.

About half of it I give away. I dont really drink that much, Stuntz said.

I like making it and experimenting with it.

I absolutely love doing that, he said. When somebody can enjoy what I make — whether its the beer, sauerkraut or something out of the garden — thats one of the best pleasures for me.

LINDSEY POISSON can be reached at 870-1871 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNpoisson.