Marriage Amendment, Public Art and Backyard Chickens: Feedback Friday

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the best comments that appeared on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Minnetonka,  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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With Minnesota voters charged this November with choosing to amend the Minnesota Constitution to state marriage is between one man and one woman, multiple movements for and against the measure have sprung up. And after Target Corporation's statement in opposition to the amendment, a recent University of Minnesota Law School grad started a Change.org campaign to get Richfield-based Best Buy to do the same. More than 15,000 have joined the Web campaign.

However, Kevin O'Donovan believes the amendment would protect traditional marriage and wrote: 

It is a Defense of Traditional Marriage, not an assault on homosexuals. Homosexuals have the same rights to marry as anyone else. One man can marry one woman. To legitimize a clinical disorder, and deem it to be commendable is both ignorant and destructive to our society. People engaging in homosexual behavior should not be allowed to adopt children, and deviant sexual behaviors should not be taught in public schools.

President Barack Obama's stop in Golden Valley last Friday sparked debate about the economy and health care.

Jim Edward had this to say:

You can hear reports on T.V. and in the paper about how ill prepared our emergency rooms are. This is why. Got a headache? Go to the emergency room and get something for it. They can't turn you down no matter who you are. I read a couple of months ago that some emergency rooms are closing down because they can't afford to lose any more money. This is minor compared to what is coming.

School Bus Driver Retires After 20 Years

As Edina Public School's academic year came to a close this week, the district bid farewell to ten retiring employees. Among them was 20-year veteran Robert Hennen, who drove a school bus in the city's country club district after retiring from the Ford Motor Company.

The Merrill family remembered him and wanted to wish him well:

Bob the Bus Driver was a wonderful representative for Edina Schools. My children enjoyed seeing him each morning -- his friendly, caring manner started their day off right. Many thanks and best wishes, Bob!

The St. Michael-Albertville School Board decided against busing students that live within Albertville’s city limits, but outside the borders of the STMA School District.

Dawn Hepper explained why parents in the Towne Lakes neighbohood were asking for a change:

As a resident within the Towne Lakes neighborhood, I was in attendance during Monday evening's school board meeting. This was not nor does it continue to be a situation where a group of parents are complaining, a fact that was supported many times by comments from the Board. The pre-existing bus stops on Hwy 37 & 19 are not safe, as they require kids to cross major highways in order to safely catch a bus -- which was acknowledged in comments by at least one Board member that Hwy 37 in particular is a "nightmare". We respectfully asked both the Board and the Director of Transportation to review the current stops and provide options for our children to be safely transported to school. As a resident of the St. Michael-Albertville community, I urge the Board to consider the safety of our children in recommending a solution.

could soon start asking developers to chip in for the arts when they embark on projects in the community.

ERB was one of those questioned whether the city should be getting in the art business:

Like Carol, I'm a bit nervous about the "art" that might soon be clogging our sidewalks. I certainly appreciate the place art has in society and have seen many moving paintings of wildlife. Also dogs. But sometimes these "artists" get a little too "out there" for me. Like that statue of the little boy peeing. Inappropriate. Or the naked man who is just sitting there and thinking. Thinking about what, I'd like to know. Probably about how he should put some clothes on. What kind of message does that send?

I'm just saying there should be some sort of committee overseeing what art gets installed so we don't end up with any of those morally questionable eyesores.

At Tuesday's Shakopee City Council meeting, two  seniors from the Environmental Ethics class brought up an idea cropping up in urban places around the country: Backyard Chickens.

Shakopee Mom didn’t think it was a good idea:

A city of 40,000 is not a rural community or is it a small town. Good grief, if it is the trains being noisy or tying up traffic...now you all want noisy, smelly chicken coops in the yards.

Dark Star, born George Chapple, was found dead in his Minnetonka apartment on June 1. Fans used social media to share their memories of him.

Randy Essell contributed this memory:

George and I used to have marathon games of HORSE at the old Flagship club, which has to be 20+ years ago. Rest in peace, old friend. Say hi to Ray Jablonski for me. RJ Esselli

Located on the corner of Minnetonka Boulevard and Dakota Avenue, the old Tonka Mart is a prominent—but empty—building.

Emily B thought it would be a good idea to put a restaurant there:

"I don't eat cows, but I do advocate for any improvements to our food system and restaurant selections that makes eating more sustainable and healthy. There is a chain I've heard of through friends called Elevation Burger - organic, grass-fed, etc. None are open in MN, but looks like they are in many other states... maybe time to invite them to MN? We could totally provide the local sourcing options to fit their needs.www.elevationburger.com/EB.php"