Author: EPLN Staff Reports

School of Rock Eden Prairie, which offers performance-based music education, recently announced its grand re-opening.  The event will occur at the music school, 6585 Edenvale Blvd., Suite 100B, from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Apr. 22. Festivities include school tours, raffles, music from the house band, and food and drink.  School of Rock Eden Prairie is owned by Steve Davis and his wife, Becky Smith.  The two became owners of the Eden Prairie location in December 2021, giving it a makeover with new paint, carpet, soundproofing, and decorations. Both have a deep love and appreciation for music and often attend shows…

Eden Prairie provides several recycling opportunities for residents this year, including one this month. A spring recycling drop-off event takes place from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 16, at the Eden Prairie Yard Waste Site, 9811 Flying Cloud Drive. Drop off appliances, electronics, power equipment, and tires to be recycled by Certified Recycling. All items are paid for directly by the resident via cash or check only. Checks can be made out to Certified Recycling. Bicycles are accepted for free by Recovery Bike Shop. A detailed price list is available. The city covers recycling fees up to the first $10 per…

The Eden Prairie Community Foundation Board announced in a Tuesday, April 5, press release that it selected Greg Leeper to be the next executive director.  Leeper comes to this position with career experiences in higher education and community building, stated the press release. In addition to his professional experience, Leeper has lived in Eden Prairie for over nine years. He has served the community as a volunteer coach and as chair of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission. The commission recently published the City of Eden Prairie Race Equity Report. “Greg is truly well positioned to continue to advance the impact of…

A nominating committee will interview six candidates for the vacant Metropolitan Council District 3 seat.  Slated to be interviewed are (in alphabetical order): Dr. Tyronne Carter, Jay Edward Johnson, Melissa McNeill, Sherrie Pugh, James White, and Kenneth Wilcox.  Candidate interviews occur at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, in the Prairie Conference Room at Eden Prairie City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road. Interviews can also be watched online. The nominating committee will recommend finalists to Gov. Tim Walz. He will decide who completes the remainder of Christopher Ferguson’s four-year term, which continues through Jan. 2, 2023. Ferguson, a longtime Eden Prairie resident who moved out…

Theodore (Ted) Y. Hirabayashi of Eden Prairie passed away on March 12, at the age of 91. He was born on Oct. 5, 1930, in Kent, Washington, where he grew up with his parents and seven siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents, Toshiharu and Midori; one sister, Helen (Kay) Ujifusa; five brothers, Martin, Grant, Bill, Sam, and Dan. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Alice; daughter, Sue; son, Alan (Joyce); three grandchildren, Matthew, Grant and Kaiya; sister, Ruth Yoshihashi; and many other relatives and dear friends. As a youth, Ted, his parents and some of…

An Eden Prairie Police officer was recognized this week for his DWI-enforcement efforts. According to the recent entry of the Eden Prairie Police Department blog, Officer Chad Streiff made three DWI arrests during one shift three different times in February and March. The blog uses the hockey term “hat trick” (scoring three goals in a game by one player) to describe an officer making three arrests on one shift. Since 2018, Streiff has had 13 hat tricks. He also had four DWI arrests on one shift and five DWI arrests on another shift. Streiff serves as a full-time DWI officer thanks…

The International School of Minnesota (ISM) Math Team recently won the AA Division of the Minnesota State Math Competition and finished 6th in the state. ISM was the only AA school in the top 10 (and the top private school out of only two in the top 10). ISM defeated all private schools in the single A division and larger schools in both their own AA division and the AAA division. “We beat schools that are six or 10 times our size,” said Mahdi Kansou, executive director SABIS Educational Systems. “They have thousands of kids from which to field their team.…

The City of Eden Prairie is seeking election judges for the Aug. 9 primary and Nov. 8 general elections. The priority application deadline is Sunday, May 1, but applications will continue to be accepted until positions are filled.Learn more and apply at edenprairie.org/ElectionJudges.

The 30th annual Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) Solar Boat Regatta is Saturday, May 21 at Riley Lake in Eden Prairie. The competition features three classes: student, adult and experimental. Trophies are awarded in several categories, including slalom, speed, endurance and design. High school and middle school students, and members of the Boy and Girl Scouts are invited to enter. MRES’ partners with teachers to enhance the competitive nature of the event, to expand the number of participating schools, and to expand solar education throughout the year. Solar boats use the sun’s radiation to create solar energy that powers on-board photovoltaic…

Eden Prairie is joining hundreds of millions of people around the globe to participate in Earth Hour, the world’s largest public action to stand in solidarity for the protection of the planet. As a symbol of the city’s commitment to the environment, Eden Prairie’s iconic water tower clocks will go dark at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26. According to a news release, the city’s participation in this global event acknowledges its continued focus on actions that benefit the community and the environment. By setting an example, the city also encourages others in the community to turn off non-essential lights in their…