Author: EPLN Staff Reports

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…

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…