Author: Gillian Holte

The Eden Prairie Polar Plunge for Special Olympics of Minnesota was held at Lake Riley on March 11. The Eden Prairie Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics of Minnesota was held at Lake Riley on Saturday, March 11. Six hundred and forty-six plungers braved the icy waters and raised over $200,000. The event is the Special Olympics Minnesota’s biggest fundraiser. The funds raised help Special Olympics Minnesota to provide “year-round training and services to thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state.” Eden Prairie Police Detective Carter Staaf has been involved with the Eden Prairie Polar Plunge since the beginning. …

Local restaurants donated 89 gallons of soup while 500 bowls were donated by local artists and students.”I just like making things. I don’t care what it is. And I do a lot of different things. I mean, to me, sometimes it’s been work, but usually not.” says Grace Pass on why she likes making pottery. Several local restaurants, including CRAVE, Tavern 4 & 5, Peoples Organic, and Kona Grill, donated soup for the event.Allie McIntosh, a singer-songwriter, pianist, and violinist, performed at the PROP Empty Bowls event on Feb. 21, showcasing original songs such as her latest release, “My Very…

Eden Prairie Cub Scouts Pack 479 competed in the Pinewood Derby at Eden Prairie Center on Feb. 5. Eden Prairie Cub Scouts from Pack 479 and Pack 597 raced more than 100 pinewood derby cars at Eden Prairie Center on Sunday, Feb. 5. Scouts in kindergarten to fifth grade independently began designing their cars in December and took part in the first stage of the racing competition Sunday at the mall. “There’s a lot of variety, a lot of creativity,” said Nick Pudenz, Pack 479 Pinewood Derby coordinator, “You give everybody a kit and you never know what’s going to…

The Hui Family Lion Dance performing the Lion Dance at the Asia Mall for Chinese New Year on Jan. 22. The Chinese Community Center and the Minnesota International Chinese School celebrated the start of Lunar New Year at the Asia Mall on Jan. 22. Visitors rang in the year of the rabbit with activities, Lion Dance, local food vendors and a Covid-19 vaccination program. Activities included ring toss, pitch-pot, spin the wheel, and chopsticks meet beans. The week-long celebration began on Jan. 16 with performances from Minnesota International Chinese School students. Performances continued throughout the week from Ming Zhou Hua…

More than flowers and plants were found at Bachman’s on Jan. 14. Safe Hands Rescue’s pet adoption event added dogs to the mix. The event allowed potential adoptees a chance to meet and play with dogs currently being fostered around the Twin Cities. Safe Hands Rescue is a foster-based animal rescue organization. They focus on “rescuing and rehoming dogs from overcrowded, high intake, low adoption shelters.” Madelyn Wuestewald, currently fostering Sierra, started fostering in 2020. Wuestewald says her favorite part is, “seeing [the dogs] personalities change, seeing the dog they were and after and knowing that they get to go…

The Staring Lake Park sledding hill and warming house are open for the season. The 700-foot hill is a popular destination for Eden Prairie residents to hit the slopes with their sleds and tubes. Don’t have a sled or tube? A limited number of sleds and tubes are available for free to rent at the warming house. The warming house is open weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

Liz Sheppard, naturalist at the Outdoor Center, during the Not So Scary Nature Trail on Oct. 29. Pauline Bold, naturalist at the Outdoor Center, during the Not So Scary Nature Trail on Oct. 29. Paul Fusco during the Not So Scary Nature Trail on Oct. 29. Families spent a night full of not so many tricks but lots of treats during the Not So Scary Nature Trail event at the Eden Prairie Outdoor Center on Oct. 29. Kids collected candy throughout the lantern-lit trail as they learned about bats, eagles, butterflies, and other animals and bugs.  Gretchen Strate, a volunteer…

During Saturday’s Citywide Open House, Eden Prairie fire inspector Justin Johnson demonstrated how a kitchen grease fire spreads. Eden Prairie opened its doors on Oct. 8 to give a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to run a city of nearly 65,000 people. Families could tour the police and fire departments and city vehicles and equipment. Demonstrations included a kitchen grease fire, a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter departure, a Life Link III helicopter arrival, watching an auto extrication, and meeting the police department’s K-9 dogs. The open house is an annual event held at City Center.

(From left) Greg Palmer, Tyra Brosseau, Janet Palmer and Emily Palmer during Brewfest. Eden Prairie residents had a good time and raised money for a great cause at Prairie Brewfest on Sept. 10 at Purgatory Creek Park. The Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s eighth annual Prairie Brewfest offered samples of local brewing companies from throughout Minnesota. In addition to craft beer, wine and spirits were available. Eden Prairie’s own Fat Pants Brewing Co. and Flying Dutchman Spirits were in attendance. Wondercure, the Twin Cities-based classic rock band, provided music. All proceeds go to help the Foundation support the community.

Fourteen high school marching bands from Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota took part in the 30th annual Prairie Colors Marching Band Festival on Sept. 10 at Aerie Stadium. Since it was their home turf, the Eagles Marching Band performance was considered an exhibition, not a competition, as it was for the 13 other schools. The band’s show “Aurora Borealis” featured three original works: “Sky Fires,” “The Heavens,” and “A Vengeful Force.” Proceeds of the event support all bands at the high school. The next Eagle Marching Band performances will be Friday, Sept. 16, at the Eagles’ football game vs. Lakeville…