Feedback Friday: The Best Schools, A Brewery Hub and Coyotes

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the best comments that appeared on on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation.

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is once again the best school in Minnesota, ranking 154th in the nation as part of Newsweek's annual Best High Schools list.

Random Jon explained why the school does so well:

Edina has a legacy for being a great school. The teachers and the staff members understand this and strive to make it better and better. The students are also very conscious of this because the staff members remind the students of what it means to be a student at Edina. For example, Edina holds a meeting with every class (Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) every year and tell them how they are doing. When a certain class is out of track with their expected expectations, the staff tells them this and motivates them to even do better. Never before have I seen students care so much about this. I remember when the principal, Doc Loc, as he is known to us students, gave the class of 2011 a talk about how we were not living up to the expectations of Edina High School. As soon as people were walking out of the talk, students were talking about how they felt so bad they weren't living up to this expectations and this definitely motivated them. In our junior and senior year, students picked up the pace and Doc Loc told us that he was glad we picked it up. Once again, we walked out talking about how we remembered the gruesome talk last year and was glad that it wasn't the same talk. It is the combined effort of the students and the caring staff members at Edina that pushes everyone. Resources are also important as many schools don't have as many opportunities available for other students. However, resources isn't the reason why Edina is at the top.

With summer time approaching, the Maple Grove Police Department reminded residents that it has a social host ordinance that prohibits people under 21 from possessing or consuming alcohol, even within a private residence.

Luke Smith thought the statement was hypocritical:

They'll come into my home to recruit my son to go to war to defend our country at the age of 18 and at the same time wag their finger at me not to give him a beer before 21. Makes perfect sense.

VIDEO: Wayzata H.S. Mock Crash Evokes Emotions

With the help of local law enforcement, Wayzata High School and several other organizations, students got a taste of what it's like to be on the scene of a teen drunken driving accident through a at the school's football stadium the day before prom.

The event resonated with Peggy Sorrell:

Anything about drunk driving/distracted driving affects me, and everyone I love (and others also), as who knows when one day you will get a call telling you that someone you loved has been killed by a drunk driver or a distracted driver. So bravo to young drivers getting a taste of what it is like . . . may save a life of someone in the future.

Principal Joshua Fuchs released a statement to parents and students after announcing his resignation.

After the statement failed to quell speculation, Shelvie Mabrey rose to Fuchs’ defense:

I'm proud to say i know Joshua (F)uchs better than all of you and whatever you suspect was happening...you're wrong. if there are speculations and questions to be asked he is the person you should go to with those speculations and i guarantee you he will be happy to answer you honestly. rumors go around about everyone. luckily, they're RUMORS and not facts. Richfield High is losing an EXTREMELY GREAT and EXTREMELY QUALIFIED asset. i hope he gets the chance to return to Oakland, California where the Oakland Public School District, as well as the staff, the students, and the parents of Oakland Technical High School love, cherish, and appreciate what Fuchs has to offer.

Steel Toe Brewing in St. Louis Park could soon be selling its brews by the pint on-site if City Council gets behind the plan. Council is considering implementing a "taproom" ordinance, which would allow breweries to sell their own beers—and only their own beers—on the premises.

Buddydave sees big potential for St. Louis Park:

Steel Toe has the potential to be the next Surly--they're that talented. With 1) an up-and-coming brewery, 2) the best beer store in the state, and 3) Midwest Homebrewing Supplies, SLP has the potential to become a nexus of Minnesota craft beer. Allowing for taprooms would be another step forward.

in St. Michael was ranked among the top 15 percent of Title I schools in the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Ann was just one Fieldstone parent who celebrated the school:

(Congratulations) on a job well done. I always thought the teachers and staff at Fieldstone did an awesome job...just proves that I was right. Congratulations to all Teachers/staff/students/parents for making this school as great as it is! It truly is a joint effort by all. I am proud to be a "Fieldstone Parent". 

After sightings and attacks on pets in neighboring communities, officials now report that a coyote has been seen in the southern part of Hopkins.

Brad Koehn said he, too, had seen coyotes:

There's been a family living along Minnehaha creek in Bell Grove for some time. Good luck building a coyote-proof fence, by the way. Just keep the little dogs inside and let the coyotes be.

Golden Valley is looking into an ordinance that would allow residents to keep chickens on their property.

Brad Kadue said the city should consider this a hobby, not a way to keep a family fed.

This sounds more like a hobby than a legitimate food supplement to me. Sort of like brewing beer, or fishing.

By the time you get your permit, build or buy a coop, buy your chicks, buy the feed they need for ~35 days (slaughter age), buy an hatchet (unless your just going to ring their necks), butcher the bird, clean the coop...you could have bought yourself a nice organic, free range broiler for a bit less money and a whole lot less time.

Having said that, I'm for allowing people to do it. They can't be that much noisier or smellier than dogs. I just think that when the CC is deciding, they should view this for what it is - a hobby, not as a way of life or a means of sustenance.

Canterbury Park and Dave Astar—owner and manager of two thoroughbred racing and breeding businesses, Astar Thoroughbreds and Astar Lindquist Stables—answered questions about horse racing.

Canterbury Park offered this gem about picking a winning horse:

Ryan - If you're looking to pick a winning horse by appearance, the best things to look for is what I would call controlled energy. When horses are feeling good they will be up on their toes more or less bouncing around. If you are interested in learning a great deal more about this topic, we offer Canterbury Park Summer School three times this summer. It is a two hour course dedicated to teaching interested people more about how to pick a winning horse by using information about each horse's previous races known as past performances. Learn more about this class here: http://www.canterburypark.com/LiveRacing/Promotions/CanterburyParkSummerSchool/tabid/433/Default.aspx