I actually cannot believe i am commenting on this.. It reminds me a little bit of the Hornettes name change contreversy, a non-issue. This is another example of the inconvenience of a few affecting the many. On a nice fall night (on a side note, how many nights are we really talking about) I would bet that 100's of Edina residents are having backyard fires. How many people like Ms. Mellum are there that can't or don't walk in certain areas because of this problem. This is not like an accessibility issue to a building or rest room, because those improvements do not affect the many. To save ink on someones reply, I do agree with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I think Ms. Mellum needs to look beyond her wants and think about the good of the many and make changes to her walking paths and let the many have their bonfires with family and friends.

Ridiculous that is what i have to say....
Reminds me of the no more birthday treats in our elementary schools. All of us that are grown brought birthday treats, .... and we turned out not to bad.
Instead of working on a such a crazy issue ... use your time Julie, for the good... like world hunger or troubled areas right here in MN. PAY IT FORWARD!!!
Stop wasting the time and money of people over issues that are frivolous. There is nothing better than sitting around a bonfire with friends and family under the nite sky.

MOVE ON GIRL!

What's next, BBQ's?! Are they going to PAY for the gas firepits and monthly gas bills?

Wow! I had no idea that residents of Minnesota don't care about public health or climate change. I thought of Minnesota as a state of pragmatic, highly educated people.

Wow! I had no idea that residents of Minnesota don't care about public health or climate change. I thought of Minnesota as a state of pragmatic, highly educated people.

I suffered from asthma as a child and did not fair well around smoke. I learned to go to the places where I would not encounter things that I reacted poorly to. Many people are allergic to grass. should we stop having and mowing lawns to make them more comfortable or do they, as a very small minority, adapt their lifestyle to avoid reactions. The vast majority of residents receive great pleasure from a barbecue or fire. In a city with many options for parks and walking trails, Ms. Mellum needs to find the ones best suited to her needs as opposed to bullying the rest of us to eliminate something that we enjoy. It is too bad that legal funds need to be spent on frivality like this.

If you go to Julie’s site, she is actually looking to ban fragrances and restaurant wood burning ovens as well.
My wife also has asthma, I can relate to Julie when she feels restricted from using or going somewhere. We have had to leave restaurants in the middle of a number of meals because some blue haired lady or old fart had no sense of how much perfume or cologne they had on. (If the management asked the blue haired lady or old fart to leave, whose rights would have been violated, my wife’s or theirs?) - (my apologies to old farts and blue haired ladies – send your hate mail to the Edina Patch).
We all have to live with one another, why is it that a small group or individual always wants to dictate how others live.
I’m starting a group banning the misuse of oxygen; it will also include misuse of airtime (TV and Radio), print ads and articles in all print formats and dissemination on the internet, would anyone like to join? But I suppose someone will bring up the Constitution and put a kibosh to that.

What is next? diesel engines, gravel roads? I'm sorry for her asthma problems but where do your rights end and mine begin?

My wife and I were elated when the house we bought came with a fireplace. After moving in we enjoyed quite a few indoor fires. That all changed when we were blessed with a baby boy who ended up developing asthma and severe allergies to wood smoke. As parents, we had only one clear choice: no more fires. It was a real bummer, but necessary for the health of our child. About that time, our neighbors bought a portable outdoor fire pit and have been using it religiously 4-5 nights per week. On crisp clear nights we are forced to close our windows. And enjoying an evening outside in our back yard? Forget it - we can't. Put yourself in our position - just what the heck are we suppossed to do? My guess is that the majority of Edina citizens don't have outdoor recreational fires (think about it - if they did, the city would be nothing but smoke). I believe that it is the very vocal minority of fire lovers that are complaining. Fires used to be for warmth, safety, cooking and comaradarie - all things that we can now do in the safety and security of our hown homes without disturbing others. Check out city code 1035-02, subd 3 and tell me why rec fires are even allowed.

I have never heard so many ridiculous statements in support of burning come out of one mouth, Kent. I actually started laughing reading them.
The proper way to discuss the issue of wood smoke and its health hazards would be to come in armed with scientific information as CaresAboutHealth has done.
You have come in blazing with no ammo!

Parent: unfortunately, the household consists of overzealous teenagers who light bonfires and shoot off fireworks nearly every night (their parents could care less - so it could be a parenting issue, or lack thereof). Police/Fire have had to tell them to knock it off due to the extraordinary levels of smoke they are pumping into the neighborhood, but it hasn't changed their behavior one bit. It's just a real bummer. I don't want to force my views on anyone, or have them force theirs on me, but there has to be a solution somewhere....

Although many have fond memories of times spent around wood fires, the truth is that wood smoke is full of harmful toxins (similar to diesel exhaust and tobacco smoke: http://www.familiesforcleanair.org/comparing-wood-smoke-pollution-to-diesel-exhaust-and-tobacco-smoke/ (...and seriously, if you have ever sat downwind of a bonfire, you *know* that breathing that air is uncomfortable!)

Traditions of gathering with family and friends are wonderful--you don't need a fire! The essence of these get togethers is the people, not the smoke. The more I learn about wood smoke, the more I want to avoid it. Unfortunately, if your neighbor burns, you can't choose not to breathe.

To the Edina Patch: I truly appreciate the opportunity to voice my opinion, but I believe if you're going to allow public comments, you should only allow them if people sign their real names to them. I get that this thread would be a failure if you did that, but then we would have people’s true opinions on whether or not THEY CARE!

For those of you, who have a hard time with smoke, perfumes, etc., sign your names to your comments; maybe your neighbors will see them and they just may be more considerate when burning or coming over to your house.

It’s also a lot easier to attack someone or an issue anonymously. Free speech is one of our rights…others have and are dying to protect your right to free speech, have the nuts to use it.

At least Julie is making her voice heard and putting her face on it. I don't agree with it, but if you disagree and want to stop her actions, it’s usually easier when real people stand up.

To Julie: asthma is a chronic illness; it IS NOT a disability. If it were, then diabetes, COPD, arthritis, alcoholism, addictions, and a number of other diseases would have to be labeled “disabilities”. Could you only imagine the resolve for all of this in the event they were considered disabilities?

I agree, Matt, responders should be willing to sign their names.
I am an Edina resident living with a 42 year old son with cerebral palsy. He cannot stand or bear weight and is totally wheelchair bound. Edinborough Park around Centennial Lakes is perfect for walking for us as it is relatively flat and accessible.

Braemar, on the other hand, would absolutely not work for this old woman pushing an adult son in a wheelchair up and down the hills. Yet I understand that Braemar is accessible and wonderful for those more able than we are and is very popular.

That is what I understand the definition of "reasonable access" to be. We have "reasonable access" to many of Edina's parks and walking paths, altho not every one of them. Other residents have needs that require more challenge than we do, such as long hills and steep slopes. They have them in the array of Edina's parks. I am a retired senior but wouldn't dream of demanding that every recreational facility in Edina be accessible to me - how about the outdoor ice or indoor hockey rinks? - but I have access to all I need to make my life and that of my son full and rich with many choices.

With all the parks in Edina, the only one unavailable to those allergic to wood smoke would be Centennial. And that only in the winter months. Which of the myriad other parks would you not be able to use and when? Living in a community means give and take among ALL Edina residents - those with diabilities and those without.