Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Highway 212, between Highway 62 and Shady Oak Road, will be closed to traffic in both directions from 9 p.m. Friday, June 3, through 5 a.m. Monday, June 6. The closure is due to ongoing work along the Metro Green Line Extension project. Though the majority of heavy LRT construction in Eden Prairie is nearly complete, the remaining work will periodically affect vehicle traffic. A detailed detour map is provided below by the City of Eden Prairie.

Two students from Eden Prairie are among the more than 2,600 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities announced on Wednesday, June 1. Lilian J. Liu, of Eden Prairie, won a National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship. Liu, a senior at the Blake School’s Northrop campus in Minneapolis, plans to study law. Amoligha G. Timma, of Eden Prairie, won a National Merit University of Minnesota Scholarship. The Eden Prairie High School senior plans to study computer science. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship…

The 30th annual Solar Boat Regatta set sail on Lake Riley in Eden Prairie Saturday, May 21. According to a Facebook post, 10 boats from six Minnesota schools competed in speed, slalom and endurance races there. All were powered entirely by the sun.  A boat named Dragon Avalonus, captained by students from Avalon Charter School in St. Paul, took the top prize. The Razzle Dazzle, a boat guided by other Avalon students, finished second. Third place was a tie between Knight’s Legacy, captained by Apple Valley High School students, and Islander, guided by Avalon students. Shakopee West Middle School’s The Black Pearl…

Five EPHS seniors were awarded the 2022 Eden Prairie Lions Club Scholarships last week. The scholarships, amounting to $2,000 each, were handed out at the Eden Prairie High School Community Scholarships Awards Evening on May 19. Listed below are the five winners and their college plans: Norah Bracke. She will attend the University of Minnesota Duluth to study biology and Spanish. Hailey Heimkes. She will attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study biomedical engineering.Evan Lembke. He will attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study computer science.Joey Schommer. He will attend the University of St. Thomas to study…

Eden Prairie-based Starkey named Jake Spano its director of corporate social responsibility. Spano will work on the evolving vision of Starkey Cares, Starkey’s corporate social responsibility program. “As a company with a long history of supporting communities around the world, we strive each day to make a difference in the lives of people who need it most,” said Michael Scholl, chief compliance officer and executive vice president of corporate relations at Starkey. “As we continue to grow Starkey Cares, Jake will provide leadership to better support our strategic goals to bring value to our communities and increase employee engagement.” Spano…

Father J. Michael Byron, 62, of Eden Prairie, passed away on May 20. “Father Mike” will be dearly missed by his family, many friends, parishioners and all whom he impacted in the Twin Cities community and beyond. He was preceded in death by his parents, John P. and Mary L. Byron. Survived by siblings Molly (Jeff) Hill, Minnetonka; Jim Byron, Scottsdale, Arizona; Martha Byron, Eden Prairie; Joe (Deb) Byron, Duluth; and Anne (Ryan) Anderson, Blaine. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Matthew, Sarah (L.J.), and Chris Hill; Michael and J.T. Byron, and Victoria Anderson. His loving extended family…

“Democratic Visions,” a long-running community access TV series produced by Eden Prairie resident Jeff Strate and a handful of volunteers, has been honored by the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) and the Best of the Midwest Media Fest. Access producers and media centers from six states received their awards in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 12 for a variety of access programming. Two of Strate’s “Democratic Visions” documentaries were honored. “The Spring” won the top “excellence” award for a feature/documentary. The 16-minute video is about a controversial residential development proposal adjacent to an Eden Prairie conservation area, Riley Creek and the public tap…

The Hennepin County Board is recruiting volunteers for two vacancies on the Riley Purgatory Bluff-Creek Watershed District Board. A member may not be a public officer of the county, state or federal government and must be a resident of the district. Portions of Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Deephaven, Minnetonka and Shorewood lie within the district. Members serve three-year terms. Applications close on May 31 with interview statements scheduled to be played during a County Administration, Libraries and Budget Committee meeting in June.

Photographer Linda Bold’s work is currently being exhibited at the Eden Prairie Library, 565 Prairie Center Drive, through June. Her “Around the Globe” show captures various scenes she snapped in Geneva, Paris, Copenhagen, and New York City. The 17 photos were taken between 1995 and 2013.  “My eye is drawn to that which is aesthetically pleasing, whether it is on the streets, or on a runway,” Bold said. The exhibit is located outside the library’s Bluestem meeting room.  A guest book is available for leaving comments. To see more of Bold’s photographs, visit her Flickr page.

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…