The City of Eden Prairie has announced the winners of its Martin Luther King Words in Action contest for youth this morning. It is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Eden Prairie and throughout the nation. The winners are writer Siri M. and visual artist Shauna K. in the 12-years old and younger bracket. Writer Miriam M. and visual artist Leah Q. were declared winners in the ages 13-18 bracket. Backstory In December, Eden Prairie youth were invited by the City to share their thoughts about the great civil rights leader keyed to a Martin Luther King Jr. quote and…
Author: Jeff Strate
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Jeff Strate
An Eden Prairie resident since 1994, Jeff has served as an organizer for local open-space initiatives and get-out-the-vote parks referenda. He has also served on the Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission, conservation area task forces, the Southwest Light Rail Community Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Land Trust. Jeff studied journalism and mass communication at the U of MN and has been a producer/writer and occasional on-camera figure in the Twin Cities, New York, Boston, and Trenton. Jeff has written for websites and magazines and has produced award-winning access programing through Southwest Community Television (SWTV).
The Met Council has announced that two construction modifications of the Southwest Light Rail project in Minneapolis will likely delay the opening of the line. However, the modifications will not affect the SWLRT work calendar in Eden Prairie and elsewhere. The January 14th announcement said that the cut-and-cover tunnel in the Kenilworth Corridor north of W. Lake Street and the protection wall between the light rail alignment and the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad tracks to the northeast will require more building time. Unforeseen soil conditions in the Kenilworth right-of-way have prompted the SWLRT project and general contractor Lunda-McCrossan Joint…
The massive new bridge that rises from Southwest Station in Eden Prairie and then soars over Prairie Center Drive is arguably the most commanding structure of the $2 billion, 14.5-mile-long Southwest Light Rail Project. Continuing work on the span during 2020 however, was only a fraction of the project’s robust progress in Eden Prairie during a year when covid protocols were slowing up most everything else. During an in-person, September 15 report to the City Council. Eden Prairie Public Works Director Robert Ellis branded 2020 “the big year” for SWLRT. Wearing a mask, Ellis noted that 28 construction cranes had been…
As 2020 began winding down in early December, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District began celebrating its 60th Anniversary. The party favor for folks from Carver to Eden Prairie and Mendota is a 12-minute video with spectacular aerial and still photography of the river woven together with informed perspectives on the history, mission and and future of this low profile environmental agency. “They’ve come a long way since 1960,” says Ron Harnack in the video. The water resources consultant applauds the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) for engaging a range of industries, businesses, agencies and citizens to improve water…
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered powerful speeches and wrote compelling letters and essays,” states a December 28, City of Eden Prairie news release. “His words continue to be quoted decades later as guideposts for racial equality and social justice.” To enable Eden Prairie youth to share their thoughts about the great Civil Rights leader, author and preacher, the City of Eden Prairie is sponsoring the Words in Action contest. Participants 18 years of age and younger are invited to select a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote and express what it means to them through art, writing or audio/video. “Youth…
If you take delight in fishing, boating or wading about with your kids in Eden Prairie lakes or creeks – or if you have been alarmed by goose poop, milfoil and carp – you can make a difference by joining one of the advisory committees that serve local watershed districts. Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek, Nine Mile Creek and Lower Minnesota River Watershed Districts are accepting applications for their respective Citizen Advisory Committees (CAC). Members are appointed for a year by each district’s Board of Managers; the size of and openings on each committee varies with the district. Meetings are held…
The City of Eden Prairie has declared a snow event. The snow event pertains to streets and sidewalks for today, Wednesday December 23, and Thursday, December 24. The announcement was prompted by a warning from the National Weather Service in Chanhassen for much of western Minnesota that includes the west metro and Eden Prairie for December 23 and 24: “An arctic cold front and strong northwest winds gusting to 50-60 mph will bring a sharp drop in temperatures to the single digits by Wednesday evening. Snow accumulations will reach 3-6″ area-wide with a heavier band of 6-9” likely along I-35.…
From the elevated Speaker’s Podium in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Secretary of State Steve Simon leaned down toward a clerk. They inaudibly talked through Covid-era masks. She wore bright blue sanitized gloves. As the clerk returned to a desk, the amplified metallic noise of an un-muted microphone reverberated through the stately and nearly empty chamber; a grand space legislators, civics teachers and cynics alike call “The People’s House.” Secretary Simon activated his podium mic and spoke, “Congressional District Three. Elector Poling. Please read your vote for President of the United Sates.” Cheryl Poling of Eden Prairie responded, “Joseph R.…
The food collection drive at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #425 on Shady Oak Road in Hopkins reopens Saturday December 19th from 10am to 2pm. VFW Post Service Officer Tommy Johnson says that the VFW drive for local food shelves at People Reaching Out to People (PROP) and the Intercongregation Communities Association (ICA) was suspended when Minnesota state pandemic orders closed restaurants and bars. When the food drive reopens this Saturday, VFW volunteers will collect food and other items drive-though fashion in the VFW Post parking lot. “We’ll be wearing Covid masks and keeping safe distances,” says the…
Senate District 48 legislators Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD 48), Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn (HD 48B) and Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD 48A) have slated a virtual town hall meeting via Facebook on Thursday, December 17th at 7pm. The town hall will be hosted online simultaneously on each member’s Facebook page: Rep. Laurie Pryor – https://www.facebook.com/replauriepryor Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn – https://www.facebook.com/repcarliekw Sen. Steve Cwodzinski – https://www.facebook.com/senatorcwodzinski/ Those wishing to ask questions, are encouraged to submit them ahead of time via the following link – https://forms.gle/Veye8urbEjFVFZHc8