Eden Prairie’s 2021 Human Rights Award winners were announced this week. Winners were presented their awards by different members of the city’s Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC) during the Tuesday, May 17, City Council meeting. According to a city release, the Human Rights Award recognizes a local individual, youth, nonprofit organization and business that have worked to create an inclusive community spirit through actions, activities or programs. This year’s winners were recognized for upholding the values of the Eden Prairie Manifesto. Individual Award: Kim Rathjen Kim Rathjen was honored with the individual award for her “consistent dedication to inclusion, education…
Author: EPLN Staff Reports
A new use is being pursued for a 9,000-square-foot building that has been home to at least three Eden Prairie restaurants, the latest being Jake’s. The vacant restaurant building at the intersection of Singletree Lane and Prairie Center Drive, west of Walmart, is being remodeled to hold three commercial tenants. A new building façade was approved Tuesday, May 17, by the Eden Prairie City Council. The remodeling plan calls for three leasable commercial spaces, but none of those tenants has been identified, a representative of the developer said Tuesday. Among the façade changes is more storefront windows for prospective tenants.
Eden Prairie resident Babar Khan took this photo Sunday night, May 15, at SouthWest Station of the total lunar eclipse creating a dazzling blood moon overhead. Khan, who has contributed in the past to EPLN, said on Facebook that he was walking back from Purgatory Creek Park when he saw the moon slightly bigger than usual in size and turning a bit red. “Unaware of what scientific phenomena is taking place in the skies as nobody consults me on those matters,” he joked on Monday, “I still thought something interesting is going on and I should use my camera. Today the…
The New York Jets announced Monday, May 16, that the team signed Eden Prairie native Jermaine Johnson II out of Florida State, the team’s third of three first-round picks (No. 26) in last month’s NFL draft. According to the StarTribune, Johnson, 23, received a fully guaranteed four-year, $13.08 million rookie deal. That includes a $6.7 million signing bonus and the standard fifth-year option for the Jets. Johnson played at three schools in five seasons, wrapping up at Florida State in 2021. The pass rusher started at Independence Community College for two seasons before transferring to Georgia for a pair and…
If you have ash trees in your yard, thanks to the emerald ash borer (EAB), most of them are likely to die if they go untreated. EAB, the culprit that is killing ash trees, continues to spread rapidly in Eden Prairie and throughout the Twin Cities area. Treating trees or removing them before they are infested often is less expensive than removing infested trees, according to the city’s tree experts. Eden Prairie residents are encouraged to treat their ash trees through a discounted treatment program. A city-wide discount is available through 2023 for Eden Prairie homeowners to treat trees on…
Eden Prairie residents and businesses raised money to fill community needs Saturday, May 14, by attending the EP Gives gala held by the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. Nearly 150 persons attended the dinner, auctions, fund-a-need, and program at the Marriott Southwest Hotel in Minnetonka – the first in-person EP Gives since April 2019. FOX 9 morning anchor Alix Kendall was the event’s emcee. More than $100,000 was raised at the event. Proceeds support the Foundation’s work to strengthen community services and fill critical people needs through philanthropy, collaboration, and leadership. One of the event’s beneficiaries is the Foundation’s Grants Fund,…
A Senior Resource Fair took place Monday, May 16, at the Eden Prairie Senior Center, 8950 Eden Prairie Road. Many professional organizations serving Eden Prairie were on hand to provide resources and education for older adults and their caregivers on such topics as exercise and wellness, home renovations, hospice, in-home health agencies, insurance, Medicare, real estate, and senior housing. May is Senior Awareness Month, a time to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments of older adults. The fair is one of many events at the center this month dedicated to senior awareness.
Hennepin County road maintenance crews will begin work Tuesday morning, May 17, to improve pedestrian curb ramps on Flying Cloud Drive (County Road 61) between College View Drive and Anderson Lakes Parkway in Eden Prairie. According to the county, the new ramps are part of its efforts to upgrade ramps along county roads to Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The county anticipates work to take three to five days to complete, weather permitting. People should expect driveway and side street access impacts where crews are working. Adjacent city street entrances will remain open. People biking or walking on Flying Cloud Drive can…
A permit to remodel the former Jake’s restaurant at the intersection of Singletree Lane and Prairie Center Drive is among the items on the Eden Prairie City Council’s meeting agenda for Tuesday, May 17. The applicant is remodeling the interior of the 9,000-square-foot building to create three leasable commercial spaces, and needs city approval to update the building’s façade. The changes include more windows for prospective retail tenants. The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Eden Prairie City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road. An agenda and meeting materials are on the city website.
Jack Vincent Morreale Jr., 77, of Eden Prairie, died peacefully on May 11 at The Waters of Eden Prairie. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, at 11 a.m. Monday, May 16, with visitation at the church one hour prior. Lunch following the service at the church. Private burial at Fort Snelling. Jack was born on July 20, 1944, in Richmond, Virginia, to Jack Sr. and Lila Morreale. He was the oldest of four children. He graduated from Bayonne, New Jersey, High School in 1962. He earned a BE from Stevens Institute…