The holidays are approaching fast and while many may fret over serving family and friends for the traditional feasts, the cafeterias at schools across the nation are busy serving many hundreds of meals to students and staff each day. Glen Ritter, assistant food service director for Hopkins Public Schools, offered a glimpse into the organization and work that keeps the quality meals cooking every day of the school year. About this column: Patch talks to local experts about their skills and knowledge.

You don't have to look too far to find a robot these days. While they may not be lumbering around getting groceries or putting on our roofs, they are a key part of industry, personal technology and even transit systems. They range from a few feet long to the size of a semi-trailer.  Edina High School's Green Machine has been making robots for state-wide competition for the last few years. The team is given a basic kit of supplies, told what problem to solve, and given six weeks to design and build their robot. Zeebo, the robotic result of one competition, can turn, go fast or slow, carry and …

Mozza Mia Executive Chef Heather Swan shows us a few trade secrets of how to make the best flying pizza you can.

Sailing is harder than it looks. Ask any of the parents and kids who spent a few weeks on Lake Calhoun learning how to get the wind to carry them across the lake, as part of a class through Edina Community Education Services. They'll tell you about jibs, breaks, runs and "no-go" zones. On the last day of class, they might teach you how to talk like a pirate. The Lake Calhoun Sailing School holds classes all summer long on Lake Calhoun, and they teach kids, teens and adults the finer points of wind-powered watercraft. Avast, Jenny Meyers took some time to show us a few "points of sail." Arrr.

Summer is a great time to have a garage sale. The weather is usually nice, and it's a good excuse to sit outside and chat with friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, it can be stressful and overwhelming if a little bit of planning isn't part of the week before the sale. Megan Adam hosted a garage sale at her parent's home in Minnetonka over the weekend, and she shared some of the lessons she's learned in two years of organizing.

Lake Minnetonka area realtor Cheryl  Holds teams up with Patch to answer the all-important question: How do I get my house sold? Top Tips: 1. Make the entrance inviting. 2. Finish any unfinished projects, including painting. 3. Clean, clean, clean—even inside cabinets and closets.  4. Think about Kitty and Fido! 5. Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with soft music and yummy smells.  BONUS TIP FOR BUYERS: Be realistic! In the era of HGTV, sometimes buyers have unrealistic expectations too. 

When you think about golf, images of mature men in funny pants or hats is probably one of the first pictures to appear. Maybe some people think of Tiger Woods, kilts or maybe Cristie Kerr. Pretty much the one thing furthest from your mind is a 6 year old swinging a golf club. But at the Hopkins Pavillion, Skyhawks Sports Camps is running a SNAG camp for very young golfers. SNAG (Starting New at Golf) gaves young kids a chance to get a handle of some of the basic skills of golf using a plastic club, a plastic tee, and a bright tennis ball in lieu of the standard heavy gear. Led by coaches Dan …

The approach of summer is heating up the streets, lakes and trails of the Metro, but in one local gym,  a group of students are getting a head start on a near tropical experience. Led by Katherine McGraw, the students are learning the dance & workout grooves of Zumba.  Zumba combines the dance moves of salsa, tango, cha-cha with a 60-minute workout. Katherine explained that the styles are great exercise because they develop the core muscles. The range of dance moves work against muscle memory, which increases the calorie burn of the workout.

For many people, beer is best served alongside a brat or a burger. Or maybe with a freshly grilled steak or recently caught fish.  But Bryan Buser, manager of The Four Firkins, a specialty beer store in St. Louis Park, thinks beer offers as many gourmet opportunities as fine wine.  Looking for a beer to complement your cheese? Maybe you want to wow your friends with a grown-up version of a root beer float? Perhaps you want to pair a pasta dish with something heartier than wine? Bryan was happy to share with us just a few of the options that can enhance both food and drink.

"Vinyl records sound better, and it's been scientifically proven," said Adam Welle, manager of Down in the Valley. He has been collecting records for his entire life, amassing a collection of nearly 5,000 records. In addition to a hobby, he's made it his work and is the go-to guy for vinyl records at the local record store. Adam led us through a few key things that anyone needs to start collecting vinyl records. He noted that it was less expensive to purchase vinyl then CDs or other digital media, and you often get a great piece of art at the same time. Current releases can include digital …

For over fifteen years, Rich Sherman, store manager for Epic Grind Bicycle/Coffee Shop has been helping people buy, maintain and fix their bicycles. He took a few minutes to demonstrate some key techniques for changing a bike flat on the road.  In addition to the basics of removing the wheel, tire and tube, Sherman emphasized how important it is to carry a bike repair kit with you while biking, especially a replacement inner tube. During the replacement process it is critical to examine the inside of your tire for objects or damage, as this can cause the replaced tube to flatten immediately. …

Editor's Note: Ask Me Anything runs each week.  Know an expert in the Lake Minnetonka area who's got some secrets of his/her craft to share? Let us know. So, here's your conundrum. Ever since your 3-year-old watched "Finding Nemo" at daycare, he's wanted  an aquarium. Rather than grabbing a goldfish from the local superstore, why not do it up right?  Clint Anderson of Discovery Aquatics walks us through the steps of starting a new, saltwater aquarium.  Part of a small niche of stores that cater to saltwater tank owners' needs, Anderson recognizes the importance of owning a saltwater tank, …

About this column: Patch talks to local experts about their skills and knowledge. 'Ask Me Anything' runs every Wednesday. If you know of experts that we should talk to, please don't hesitate to let us know. Did you grow up idolizing one of the many versions of The Karate Kid? In this week's Ask Me Anything, Jeff Sidner, senior director of South Minneapolis National Karate school, shows us how to do a spin wheel kick. Sidner got into karate in 1989. Karate boosted his confidence and taught him how to avoid dangerous situations. In 2000, he ranked fifth in the black belt heavyweight division of…

At first glance, Tangletown Gardens appears to be a comfortable labyrinth of plants, garden decorations and tools. You don't have to go very far inside to see that this store is offering much more than basic garden retail. Owners Scott Endres and Dean Engelmann offer a variety of food and urban agriculture options to their customers. A family farm, forty minutes outside of the Twin Cities, allows them to provide fresh produce through Community Supported Agriculture. When Liberty Custards closed, they jumped at the opportunity to open a restaurant focused on local food and sourced by their …

Deer poachers take note: That buck in the crosshairs may not be a deer at all, but a decoy used by conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to catch people illegally taking deer. "It’s the firearm deer season and some hunters don’t want to return home empty handed," said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement Division director. “Although the vast majority of hunters abide by the rules, there are some who resort to poaching to fill their tag.” With only 140 field conservation officers across the state, help from law-abiding outdoorsmen and women, as well as the …