Author: Stuart Sudak

Eden Prairie Center is currently hosting an inspiring event that transcends typical holiday decor shopping. The Holiday & Home Decor Sample Sale, which started last weekend and runs until Sunday, Nov. 12, during regular mall hours, is making a significant impact. Shoppers can find the sample sale (located in a storefront) adjacent to the AMC movie theaters, Sandbox VR, the food court, and Scheels. This sale has already seen around $22,000 in merchandise sold as of Friday, Nov. 10, and it continues to draw in shoppers. However, what truly sets this event apart is the meaningful cause it supports. Much…

Renee Klein channels her grief into writing her son Zane’s story, exploring his life’s joys, struggles, and the intertwining of love and loss.

Eden Prairie owes its lyrical name to Elizabeth Fries Ellet, a 19th-century author whose work in literature and women’s history was considered progressive for her time. Local writer Vicki Pellar Price is set to highlight Ellet’s unrecognized contributions to the women’s rights movement in her upcoming book, tentatively titled “Everlasting Feminine Revelations: The Indomitable Elizabeth Fries Ellet, Feminist,” due for early 2024 release by Edina-based Calumet Editions. Ellet, who likened the Minnesota prairies to the Garden of Eden in 1852, a sentiment which subsequently inspired the name “Eden Prairie,” dedicated her life to highlighting women’s roles in American history until…

A Hennepin County jury found Ryan Charles Rooney, 36, guilty on Thursday of first and second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his wife, Samantha Rose Columbus Boshey, 29, at an Eden Prairie hotel in 2021. The two had been married on Aug. 30, 2021. The verdict, which comes two years after the incident, means Rooney faces a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Sentencing is set for Dec. 4. “Today’s guilty verdicts hold Mr. Rooney accountable for this senseless and devastating murder,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in a statement after the verdict.…

The holiday season often brings a spirit of giving, and for shoppers at Eden Prairie Center, that spirit is amplified by a unique opportunity to both give and receive. From Thursday to Sunday, Nov. 2-5 and Nov. 9-12, during regular mall hours, the Holiday & Home Decor Sample Sale will occupy a temporary spot on the mall’s upper level. It’s located adjacent to the AMC movie theaters, Sandbox VR, the food court and Scheels. The store offers an abundance of Christmas and everyday decor items. But the sale is more than just about decor. Much of the proceeds from this…

The Eden Prairie Outdoor Center community is mourning the loss of Whisper, a barred owl who had served as an educational ambassador there for seven years. Whisper died of natural causes on Oct. 23. “We’re all obviously saddened by this because he played a huge role in the day-to-day operations of the center,” said Stan Tekiela, the longtime director/supervisor of the outdoor center. “So many people would show up just to see him because he was on display.” During his time at the outdoor center, Whisper interacted with countless children, making appearances at local elementary schools and introducing students to…

The room was alive with heartfelt tributes, laughter, and a shared sense of gratitude as Jay Lotthammer, the longtime Eden Prairie parks and recreation director, took his final bow last week, marking the end of his 16-year tenure on the job. Last week, at Fat Pants Brewing, friends, family, and well-wishers gathered to say goodbye over beer to Lotthammer, 56, marking the end of his 35-year career in the parks and recreation field. Before joining Eden Prairie, he spent 19 years in Brooklyn Park, ascending from a seasonal part-time employee to the director of parks and recreation for that community.…

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, representing Minnesota’s Third District, which includes Eden Prairie and surrounding suburbs in the western and southwestern metro, has officially announced his 2024 presidential candidacy. Phillips, while acknowledging the uphill battle his candidacy faces, takes a position distinct from his party by opposing President Joe Biden’s bid for reelection. On Thursday, the 54-year-old Phillips launched his campaign for the Democratic primary against the incumbent president. He intends to file for participation in New Hampshire’s presidential primary on Friday, and his campaign website is now operational. He explained his reasons for running for president through a statement…

Campiello, the Italian restaurant that has been a fixture in Eden Prairie for nearly three decades, is set to close its doors on Dec. 31. The news was announced in a media release on Friday, accompanied by a clever and fitting headline: “D’Amico’s Campiello, That’s Amore.” The owners, D’Amico & Partners, revealed in the media release that they will not renew the restaurant’s lease, which is set to expire on Jan. 1, 2024. Brothers Richard and Larry D’Amico, along with partner Paul Smith, opened Campiello in Eden Prairie in December 1996, following the success of Campiello on Lake Street in…

Hennepin County has rescheduled the special election for Commissioner District 6 due to concerns that the original date coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. After discussions with the county auditor and the Hennepin County Elections Department, the new date has been set for Tuesday, May 14, 2024. If needed, a special primary has been slated for Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Hennepin County’s Commissioner District 6 covers 66 precincts, including areas like northern Eden Prairie, Deephaven, Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Mound, Minnetonka, Orono, and Wayzata. Chris LaTondresse, inaugurated as District 6 commissioner in January 2021, announced his decision to resign…