Retreads Near Ridgedale, Anti-Olympian and a Scare in St. Michael: Pick of Our Patches

Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield,Shakopee, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. 

After six months in Minnetonka, the store New Uses near Ridgedale has become popular with both sellers and buyers by focusing on furniture, consumer electronics, home decor and higher end appliances. Whether they’re looking to buy or sell, “Everyone’s looking for a good deal," said the store's manager.

Hopkins  has never required beekeeping permits before, so why start now?  Bees are good for the environment; they pollinate our flowers, fruits and vegetables; and they are under serious threat from colony collapse disorder. Urban beekeeping is becoming increasingly accepted throughout the country—from Minneapolis and St. Paul to New York, cities are adopting reasonable ordinances in order to promote beekeeping for the benefit of the environment. 

A Richfield home on the 7100 block of Lyndale Avenue caught fire after the gable end of the roof was . The bolt blew a two-foot hole in the gable end of the roof. No injuries were reported.

A $3.65 million expansion at —dubbed the Hornets' Nest—has been given the go-ahead by both the Edina City Council and School Board.

The 26,450-square-foot addition will be located just north of Braemar Arena's west rink. In addition to creating permanent locker rooms for 's boys and girls varsity and JV hockey teams, the two-level building is set to feature dry-land training facilities and 3,000 square feet of retail space.

A 29-year-old Blaine man died July 23 after a BNSF freight train hit him about 100 yards north of a grade crossing.

- Bayers Do It Best hardware, a stalwart of Southwest Minneapolis' Linden Hills neighborhood for nearly 100 years will close on Sept. 1. Owner Bob Bayers said he was out-competed by a new branch of Armatage, Minneapolis hardware store Settergren's Ace Hardware, which moved into Linden Hills less than a year ago. Settergren's is also family-run and the family has operated hardware stores in the Twin Cities for nearly as long as the Bayers family.

The world’s greatest athletes made their parade through London’s Olympic Stadium. Dignitaries and heads of state watched the pageantry. A torchbearer carried the Olympic flame into London’s Olympic Stadium. Hopkins Patch Editor James Warden explains why he couldn't care less.

Scott County Board Chair Tom Wolf caused a stir Tuesday in Shakopee by attempting to unilaterally restrict what residents can say during the time for public comment. After some heated discussion, the board voted 3-2 to restrict public comment through the November elections.

Wright County confirmed a call was placed Thursday after a suspicious person approached a boy in the Preserve neighborhood.

Grandmaster Eui Lee is excited to be a part of representing the U.S. for the 2012 London Olympics.