Sikh Pride, Taprooms, Online Schooling and Voter ID: Feedback Friday

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments that appeared on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Shakopee, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation.

(The comments below are not meant to reflect the opinions of Patch or its staff.)

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Thanks to Surly, St. Louis Park's Steel Toe Brewing will soon be able to sell its brews by the pint on-site. City Council on Monday unanimously approved changes to its zoning and liquor codes that will allow the year-old brewery to sell its own beer on the premises. If other breweries open in St. Louis Park, they too will be allowed to have "taprooms."

Bill James quoted Homer (the yellow one from TV) when he heard the news:

Beer... Now there's a temporary solution!

Artisan Spa's Suzy Henningsgard of St. Michael was chosen as one of Matrix's six stylists to travel via the Spread the Love Program.

Said user Jennifer:

We are so proud of Suzy, and thankful she is a part of our team at Artisan Salon & Spa!!! Yay SUZY!

Would you consider online school for your child? Why or why not?

Matt Kasowicz said virtual schooling is a great option:

As an online high school teacher, I can easily say this option is great for many students. It allows those who may have run out of options, an alternative way to earn their high school diploma. With any educational situation it is important to research any setting you will be putting your child in.

Speaking to a packed crowd at the _ in St Louis Park on Monday, Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) said a proposed constitutional amendment requiring voters to present government-issued IDs at polling places could cost local governments millions.

David O. N. Johnson thought DFLers had other motives:

Ever wonder why Ellison and other Democrat politicians oppose a photo ID for voting? The answer is relatively simple, it would effectively cut off the questionable votes relied upon by these politicians. Not legitimate votes, but votes from the "dead", non-citizens, those voting in multiple districts, prisons, and other ineligible sources. Imagine a close election in this State where "secret boxes" of votes don't show up in somebody's automobile trunk. It is ridiculous to claim that anybody would be disenfranchised, it is likely 2 1/2 years before the law would actually be utilized. If you can't get to a location to obtain a free ID, then how do all of these people manage to show up at locations protesting this constitutional amendment. If you want to exercise your right to vote, then do so within the parameters of the law.

Your Photos, Your Ideas, Your Plymouth

Gurinder Kohli owner of FashionJewelryForEveryone.com posted photos of himself and his family who are Sikh after the tragic shooting in Wisconsin in an effort to let people know that he is proud of who he is and hope that his son can be just as proud despite what recently happened:

I am a SIKH, who wears a turban and keeps beard and I hope that the efforts me and my wife put in to make sure our son follows us and one proudly wears a turban and keeps his beard like me, my father, my grand father and great grand father ... America I am sure my son will get a chance to be a SIKH and not be fearful after attacks like these.

This is a SIKH Family. Me, Gurinder Kohli with the Light Blue Turban, my 10 yr old son, wearing a PATKA (small turban), my wife on the right and my mom on the left. Please recognize us, we are SIKHS and don't mistake us for someone else.

Robin Gale, owner of Golden Valley's Mainstream Boutique, sat down with Patch to tell us what makes her store unique. Gale, who's also a Golden Valley resident, opened her store in September of 2010 and hasn't looked back. "We are a small neighborhood boutique with flattering and affordable clothing and great accessories," Gale told Patch.  "It’s great for women who don’t want to shop at a department store." 

Carissa Nielsen shared her love for Mainstream Boutique:

I love shopping at Mainstream! I love that there's always something new to look at & they're staying current with the trends. An added bonus is both my mom & I can shop there so we go together.

With the November election nearing—and the memory of the still lingering—the Richfield School Board has put together two ballot questions asking voters for funds this fall.

As proposed, the first asks voters if they would like to renew the existing referendum at $301.40 in per pupil spending. The second asks if voters would support an additional $60 tacked on to that figure if the renewal is approved.

Even though , one reader, going only as Robert, said:

Regardless of the wording, these referendum's must pass. Our community needs to step up and give the schools what they need.

Two groups have responded to the city of Shakopee's request for proposals regarding the use of the former downtown fire station. One is River Valley Cooperative Arts, an organization formed with this facility in mind. They propose repurposing the fire station as a cultural community center.

The other group is Shakopee Brewing Company of Savage, which registered with the state of Minnesota in July. Their plans include brewing 2,000 barrels of beer annually starting in May 2013 and they'd like to lease or purchase the building to do so, according to city documents.

SEPEJE was pulling for the cultural community center:

A cultural community center ! Who needs beer. Let's support our youth, our community with art, education, dancing, diversity and so many other things. Must be great to have a place where everybody belongs and can express themselves, what a great idea.

Until a that allowed Edina resturants to host happy hour, they had been governed by a three-part liquor law: They could , at least 60 percent of their sales had to come from food and non-alcoholic beverages and no more than 15 percent of their floor space could be bar seating.

According to City Councilman Josh Sprague, Edina’s 60-40 ordinance is the next aspect of the city's liquor law set for review. Potential tweaks to the 60-40 rule will be discussed at a work session on Dec. 4.

Reader David F wasn't quite sure why Edina's traditionally stringent liquor laws are suddenly being changed:

It is interesting that Edina wants to be portrayed as a conservative, family oriented community yet is helping to promote alcholic drinking. It is no great secret that the money in resturaunts is in alchol but it is surprising at the few family friends resturaunts at 50th/France.