Car Crashes and Winter Driving Questions: Ask a Patch Pro

How dangerous are winter roads?

Sunday's snowstorm served as a reminder that winter in Minnesota frequently means car crashes. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the foul weather caused 367 crashes, 48 crash-related injuries, 299 spun-out cars, and three jack-knifed tractor-trailers. In some ways, those numbers are yet more proof that winter-weather driving can prove difficult. For this week's Patch Pro, we've lined up someone who can answer all your questions about winter driving safety, and winter car repairs. Jeff Matt is the owner and founder of Fridley's Victory Auto Service & Glass, a local, award-winning auto repair business with five locations in the Twin Cities. Jeff is also an ASE Certified Master Technician with more than 20 years of automotive …

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Manti Te’o Hoax, ‘Catfishing’ and Social Media: Ask a Patch Pro

Do you have questions about social media? Ask our Patch Pros by leaving a comment below.

How well do you know your friends? In light of the bizarre hoax involving star Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o and a renewed focus on online friendships, the topic for this week’s Patch Pro is social media. This week’s Patch Pros are: Lisa Genosky Genosky is the owner and co-founder of Queen Bee Media. Queen Bee Media is a Twin Cities social media marketing agency. Cherie DeBrule DeBrule is the co-founder of the St. Paul Marketing Team. She designed the books Rise Above the Race and The Google Places Bible. Ask your questions in the comments section below.

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Cherie DeBrule

11:01 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013

@Kevira Always see them on the webcam before you meet. People can always lie or steal people's pictures so see them on the cam.   more ›

Ask the Patch Pro: All About Real Estate

Realtor Matthew Johnson fields your questions about buying or selling a home.

Is it a good time to buy? Good time to sell? Is the housing market beginning to rebound? This week’s Ask the Patch Pro is all about real estate. Answering your questions today is Matt Johnson, owner of the Johnson Real Estate Group, a realtor for the past 10 years. Just leave your question in the comments section below. For more information about Johnson, visit his website.

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Matthew Johnson

9:27 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012

Hi Linda, it's only to gains above the exclusion levels ($250k single / $500k married) if you have a pretty healthy income..... Will not affect many transactions. Don't believe the hype!   more ›

An "Insider's Look" at Black Friday at Albertville Outlets

So the "general information" is out there about the big Thanksgiving Weekend sales at the "outlet mall." Here are some tips they don't tell you.

Just about the time some of us are returning home from Thanksgiving dinner Thursday evening, some will be driving over to the Albertville Premium Outlets either to wait for the midnight opening or the extra ambitious stores opening at 9 p.m. Erin Byboth of St. Michael is one of those people. “I go just about every year. There is a group of about six of us,” she said earlier this week. And what is it that brings her out for the middle of the night shopping? “It’s kind of fun to shop in the middle of the night,” she said. It is a change of pace. The sales she’s found in the past have been great as well. “A few years ago I was able to find all my teacher’s gifts. This year I’m hoping to find some deals at Gap and Columbia.” Byboth will only …

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Parent Talk: Share Your Practical Minnesota State Fair Tips

From parking and riding to bringing a stroller or wagon, there are ways to make the fair enjoyable. Really!

Tomorrow starts the great Minnesota get-together. A big tradition and fun time for families all over the state. Whether you’re a state fair fanatic or a first timer, there’s something for everybody at this year’s fair. This weeks Parent Talk is all about the Minnesota State Fair. Here are our best tips and tricks for navigating this year’s fair with kids: Whether you’re bringing your middle school aged kids or your little ones, the fair is certainly a different experience with kids.

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Video Feature: Ask Me Anything

VIDEO: How Do I Set My House Apart From Other Listings?

Selling your home in a buyer's market isn't easy. This week's video give sellers some ideas for setting their home apart.

Twin Cities 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. 

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Parent Council: Staying on Top of Studies in the Summer

There are four weeks of school left. How do you keep those kids on the learning curve during summer break?

After nine long months of quizzing spelling words, proof-reading reports, double checking math homework and signing planners – summer arrives! The first week or so it feels just fine to relax from the regiment of homework. What a joy to just soak up the sunshine with walks to the park or play kickball in the cul de sac till 10PM. No social studies test tomorrow! But then after a week or two of not logging reading minutes, I begin to worry maybe we should carve out some book time. Then it’s baseball practice, or beach day, or Grandpa’s farm and I push it off. Now it is early July and that stack of books from the library just pinged is as being due. Apparently they have been here three weeks – uncracked. Yikes. My youngest just asked me how …

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