The Dumbest Decision You Could Ever Make

Another senseless tragedy leads me to believe that there are few things dumber than getting drunk and deciding to drive.

I'm going to try not to lecture anyone today.  I'm going to try, but I'm not promising anything.  I'm not promising anything because, frankly, I'm sick to my stomach. And I'm sick of this happening.  When I was 18 years old, which was 20 years ago, my parents came into my bedroom one summer morning and told me that a classmate–a friend–had passed away, tragically, after he left a party on his motorcycle and never made it to his destination.  I had seen him the night before. I knew.  Fast-forward 20 years later. I grabbed my phone just for a moment, checking Facebook.  Amazing how receiving the same sort of news has changed.  Three people, whom I knew, were senselessly killed on Interstate 94 west of my former town of West Fargo. The driver…

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All 21 Alcohol Retailers in Fridley Pass Compliance Check

None sold alcohol to underage customers in police enforcement program.

Fridley businesses that sell alcohol faced a test in recent weeks: Would they make a sale to an underage customer? All 21 retailers passed the Fridley Police Departments alcohol-sales compliance check, according to a statement issued Thursday. That's an improvement on last fall, when 21 passed but one failed. The difference in total number of retailers checked is the former Himalayan II Restaurant, according to Fridley Police Special Projects Coordinator Myra Harris. The restaurant's new owners are currently seeking an alcohol license. Failure can carry penalties: If a business had failed the alcohol compliance check they would have faced penalties including;  individual employees as well as the business are subject to administrative …

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Fridley Alcohol Compliance Check: 21 pass, 1 fails

Freedom Gas, employee face fines for selling alcohol to a minor.

Twenty-one Fridley businesses passed a recent compliance check on sales of alcohol to people younger than 21 years old, according to the Fridley Police Department. One business failed, Fridley police said in a statement Monday: Freedom Gas, 7600 University Ave. NE. In instances of failure, both the business and the individual employee face fines. The fines for individuals are $250 for the first violation within a 12-month period; $500 for a second violation; and $750 for the third violation. For businesses, fines are $500 for the first violation within a 12-month period; $1,000 for a second violation; and possible license revocation for a third. Beyond such adminstrative fines, employees who sell or serve intoxicating liquor, 3.2 percent …

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Fridley Council OKs Beer and Wine at 49er Days

Several council members questioned whether the change in city code opened the door to alcohol at other events.

The Fridley City Council approved changes to the city code Monday that would allow the sale of strong beer and wine at community festivals at Commons Park and Community Park.  The one community festival set to benefit from the council's action is 49er Days. The council considered explicitly limiting the change to 49er Days but in the end approved a more general definition: "Community festivals shall include Fridley 49er Days and other festivals of broad community appeal and participation as designated by City Council." Council Member Ann Bolkcom wonder whether the change would let the city deny a permit to "20 to 30 people who want to have a party." City Attorney Fritz Knaak said the council could in practice limit the new code language to…

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Document: Fridley Council Renews 13 Liquor Licenses

The Fridley City Council renewed 13 existing liquor licenses Monday.

The Fridley City Council renewed the 13 liquor licenses in the city at its meeting Monday, but only after some grumbling about police calls at G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park and the Shortstop's food-drink ratio. The 40 police calls last year at Pickle Park, 7820 University Ave. NE, represented a 60 percent increase over 2009. Council Member Ann Bolkcom called that "disturbing." The Shortstop Fridley, 1298 E. Moore Lake Dr., achieved the exact minimum ratio of food sales to liquor sales required by city code: 40 percent food, 60 percent alcohol. "A flag is raised for me at the Shortstop in Fridley when they're right on the numbers like that," said Mayor Scott Lund. "It's a little suspicious when it's 40-60." Council members praised a memo to …

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Editor's notebook

Fridley Week in Review

Here is some of what you might have missed if you were busy preparing for the holidays last week.

These are some of the ways Fridley made news last week—at Fridley Patch and elsewhere. You can still get gas and repair services at Fridley Amstar Auto Care, even after a fire gutted the attached car wash structure behind the service station. Owner Ray Witz told Fridley Patch he didn't know yet if he'll rebuild. Fire Chief John Berg said fire fighters' quick work and solid barrier between buildings kept the flames contained.  You can thank a Fridley man if you like your Lake Superior shipwrecks preserved. As a founder of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society, Ken Merryman works to keep wrecks intact and preserve artifacts on shore or even return them to wreck sites.  Two minutes is all it takes to hear the story of how Able …

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Three Bars Have City's OK To Serve over Christmas

Shortstop, G.B. Leighton's and Two Stooges will stay open over the holiday.

Three Fridley bars will legally serve alcohol over Christmas this year. Two Stooges Sports Bar & Grill, Shortstop Fridley Bar and Grill and G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park sought and received new City of Fridley "holiday endorsements"—permission to sell alcohol for on-premise consumption between 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 8 a.m. on Dec. 26. Fridley Ordinance 603.11 prohibits bars from selling intoxicating drinks during that holiday span, but a new provision allows establishments to seek an exemption. Lt. Michael Monsrud said the change means the Fridley Police Department will have five officers on the streets between 7 p.m. Christmas Day and 3 a.m. on Dec. 26. That's the usual number for a regular day, but in past years the department only …

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