Author: Juliana Allen

There’s a new cultural offering at Eden Prairie Center: a pop-up gallery hosted by the Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM) Arts High School. The PiM POPUP, which opened Nov. 25, is located in a retail space opposite the food court on the mall’s upper level, between Sandbox VR and American Eagle Outfitters. It will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays until Feb. 26. The space is designed to highlight the school’s performing arts education, as well as publicize its student performances and showcases. Visitors can pick up…

A heavy snowstorm didn’t stop B&J Evergreen employees from welcoming customers to their Eden Prairie Center mall tree lot, featuring hundreds of fresh-cut trees and a wide array of holiday greens. Austin Graber, who has worked at the lot in front of Target and JCPenney for three years, said Tuesday’s snowstorm was keeping most customers away. However, the falling snow made the tree lot a beautiful sight. Graber said their most popular trees are balsam, Frasier and Canaan firs. He said they also have fresh wreaths, decorative pots, boughs, spruce tips, birch sticks, and more.  B&J Evergreen also has lots…

Eden Prairie Schools emailed families at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday to say that despite the snowstorm, schools will dismiss as normal this afternoon, except at Cedar Ridge, Oak Point, Eagle Heights, and Forest Hills. At those four schools, buses will release 10 minutes early to help minimize delays districtwide. The email said, “As our drivers take extra caution based on current road conditions, buses may still be delayed. Please check the MyStop app for the most up-to-date location of your student’s bus. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work to keep all students safe.” The district stated that after-school activities…

Nico Rivera, a junior at Eden Prairie’s PiM Arts High School, won the Best Student Work award at the Venice Film Festival (VIFF) last July for his independent film, “Remembrance.” Rivera wrote, directed and produced the 28-minute film and composed and performed most of the music. “Remembrance” was filmed locally in Eden Prairie, Prior Lake and Burnsville Mall. Describing the film’s plot, Rivera said, “‘Remembrance’ follows a disillusioned teen named Allison, who is given technology by her counselor that gives her the ability to view her past memories. Allison’s best friend, Julie, has grown distant and estranged from Allison. As she…

International School of Minnesota (ISM) students supported the local community by collecting almost 2,000 pounds of food and daily essentials for Eden Prairie’s PROP Food Shelf. “ISM Against Hunger,” an annual food and supplies drive, ran from Oct. 24 until Nov. 14 and was supported by the entire school. The donated items were delivered to PROP on the very snowy morning of Nov. 14 by ISM junior Andrew Cheng, who organized the event, and Sarah Bianucci, ISM’s student life coordinator. Cheng said PROP was chosen because “our priority was to support a local organization that does food/daily necessities distribution to…

The Eden Prairie High School girls swim and dive team completed its 2022 season with the Minnesota State High School League Section 2AA Championships, hosted Nov. 9-11 at Edina High School. Head coach Christine Retzlaff said, “The girls swam well and came ready to race. We are in the toughest section in the state, with most of the top three finishers at our section’s finals predicted to be on the podium at state.” Although none of the Eagles advanced to state this year, Retzlaff said, “We had 26 swims that were season bests, and 16 that were lifetime bests.” “I’m…

Twenty-two children on a school bus involved in a two-vehicle fatal crash Monday afternoon on Highway 62 at Shady Oak Road are reported to be safe. The driver of the other vehicle died at the scene, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.The fatal crash happened at about 3:50 p.m. Monday when both vehicles were eastbound on Highway 62 at Shady Oak Road, and an Isuzu Rodeo lost control, struck a concrete wall, then collided with the school bus, according to the State Patrol. Both vehicles came to rest in the center median.No children on the bus sustained any injuries, according…

This will be a busy weekend for theater-goers in Eden Prairie. PiM Arts High School and nearby Eagle Ridge Academy (ERA) will both perform plays open to the public. Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) will have four more performances of the musical “Mamma Mia!,” which opened last weekend. PiM Arts is performing “Proof,” the Pulitzer-prize-winning play by David Auburn. The show is described as “a passionate, intelligent story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.” The plot is as follows: “Catherine has inherited her late father’s mathematical brilliance, but she is haunted by the…

Get ready to be transported to a Greek island paradise for an evening of song, dance, laughter, love, and drama — no airplane required. Eden Prairie High School’s (EPHS) fall musical is “Mamma Mia!,” based on the Broadway musical built around Swedish supergroup ABBA’s greatest hits. The high-energy show is full of humor, romance, and of course, disco tunes. It tells the story of Sophie Sheridan, a young woman trying to find her father before her wedding on the small Greek island where she lives with her mother, Donna. Sophie reads Donna’s diary and then secretly mails letters to the…

Eden Prairie High School Cross Country (EPXC) runners inspired supportive teammates with their intense effort, dedication, and speed, as they competed at the Minnesota State High School League State Cross Country Championships on Nov. 5. The boys team ran fast to achieve an eighth place overall win, while sophomore Sarah Williams put in a strong performance in the girls race. Williams made her state meet debut at the event, held at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Williams placed 105th (20:21 for 5K) individually in the Girls AAA Race. Head coach Courtney Brandon said, “It is a different experience to compete…