Memories of a bygone era at a local mall, the value of pigs and how school officials should deal with bullying were topics that got you talking this week around Patchland. Here's a set of highlights from your comments.

We hope you'll find something that inspires you to click and chime in.

What's more sad? The memories or the ghost town?

Crestwood Court Gap to Close

"I visited Crestwood Mall earlier this year. What a ghost town. I remember going to the mall as a kid, navigating through the crowds, passing the big Christmas tree in the atrium, grabbing a frozen mocha at Gloria Jean's, watching the race cars (go) around the track at that store down by the movie theater, grabbing a bite at the food court while the kids ran wild around the arcade. Kind of sad, really."
I think Sears is on the chopping block next. Hang in there, Sears."

—Arthur Vandelay, Sunset Hills-Crestwood Patch

The question is: Is this doing something?

Mehlville School Board Tightens Stance on Bullying

"I am quite happy about this. I was bullied mercilessly in school, and very little was ever done about it. I'm glad to see that will no longer be the case."

—Tom Klimczyk, Mehlville-Oakville Patch

"What reason would anyone possibly have to make an opposing vote against bullying? Especially if you are making child-centered decisions, and handling bullies on a case by case basis. Am I missing something? Do bullies make taxes lower? Weird."

—Elaine Frank, Mehlville-Oakville Patch

This sounds like a good policy

Moms Talk: Should Military Plans Prompt Negotiation?

"Any time a child wants to put himself or herself in a position to kill or be killed, further discussion is definitely in order. It's nice to think that a stint in the military 'just might be the plan to help them grow up,' but missing limbs and PTSD are a high price to pay for that possibility."

—L Jacoby, Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch

If they could fly, they'd pay fuel taxes!

Commission Votes Down Miniature Pig in St. Charles

"If the pig paid taxes, the city would allow it."

—ATD Guitars, St. Charles Patch

"I'd like to understand this issue better. I don't understand why the pigs are so controversial. Do they make a lot of noise? Cause problems that dogs/cats/birds/fish don't cause? What am I missing here? Were they simply not included because it wasn't thought of at the time? Can the council amend the ordinance to allow? If not, why?"

—Rev. Renita Marie Lamkin, St. Charles Patch

In my case, I couldn't be sure it was the road's fault

Maplewood's Goals? Better Roads and Parking

"The section of Yale (Avenue) that is in Maplewood is so bad that we avoid driving on it, even if it's the shorter route. It shakes our vehicles so badly that I am sure that it causes damage any time we drive on it."

—Kimberly Swedlund, Maplewood-Brentwood Patch

This is how they train us for the empty nest, isn't it?

Back to School—A Noisy Tradition in Manchester

"I am finally 'free' for all seven hours of my day, but I feel a tinge of sadness still that the house is quiet. But on the flip side, I am soooo busy with life that I am not sure how I got anything done with kids underfoot. I hope someday I will celebrate too. I'm not there quite yet."

—Bonnie Krueger, Town and Country-Manchester Patch

Taking charge of the trash?

Lindbergh Links: Florissant Makes the Boulevard a Bit More Beautiful

"What can be done is for the city to start cleaning up all of the trash that is a constant at this intersection. I understand Lindbergh is not supposed to be maintained by Florissant, but if the state and/or county is not going to take responsibility for it, then Florissant should."

—Joan Hilboldt, Florissant Patch

Charity begins somewhere else

Is Charity the Government's Business? Peoples' Business? Church's Business?

"I love how passionate people are about helping each other. But we, as a nation, have to do something about entitlements from the government. It is killing us."

—Jared England, St. Peters Patch

"I, as well, would like LINC to continue their charity work but not with the help of my tax dollars. I read on their website that they are a movement of Christian churches working together…I never voted for my tax dollars to be spent on Christian charities, Muslim charities or even secular charities."

—Ray Antonacci, St. Peters Patch