Author: Gillian Holte

A Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 is displayed at Flying Cloud Airport during Girls in Aviation Day on Sept. 23. Photos by Gillian Holte The ninth annual Girls in Aviation Day took place at Flying Cloud Airport on Sept. 23. The event encourages and helps foster female participation in aviation-related careers. While everyone was welcome to attend, the event was geared toward girls age 8 to 17 interested in aviation. Eden Prairie Schools showcased a flight simulator from its ‘Intro to Aircraft and Spacecraft’ and ‘You Can Fly: Careers in Aerospace’ courses at the high school. Both courses are being offered…

The Eden Prairie High School Marching Band performed at Prairie Colors on Sept. 9. Photos by Gillian Holte The 31st annual Prairie Colors took place on Sept. 9 at Eden Prairie High School. Twelve high school marching bands took the field to perform before rain canceled Eden Prairie High School’s exhibition performance. The Eagle Marching Band has an upcoming performance scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Rosemount Marching Band Festival hosted by Rosemount High School. They will also perform on Friday, Sept. 22, at the Eden Prairie homecoming football game.

Don Anderson, owner and head brewer of Fat Pants Brewing Co., pours beer at Prairie Brewfest 2023. Photos unless otherwise noted by Gillian Holte Rainfall early in the afternoon didn’t stop Prairie Brewfest attendees from enjoying the annual event on Sept. 9 at Purgatory Creek Park. The event was presented by the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. Attendees were able to try beers, wines and spirits from more than 15 local businesses. Live entertainment was provided by Eden Prairie’s own Wondercure. Attendees also voted to determine how Brewfest Choice Grants would be distributed among local organizations. An announcement at the end…

Four dogs revel in the fun during The Preserve Association pool’s annual “Doggie Day” on Sept. 5. Photos by Gillian Holte The Preserve Association pool concluded its 2023 swim season with some four-legged friends on Sept. 5. While the final day for human swimmers was Labor Day, the pool welcomed dogs for a day of fun on the following day. According to Scott Anderson, general manager of The Preserve, the association has hosted “Doggie Day” for the last couple of years. “Our pool engineer came up with the idea … and decided that it was a wonderful thing to do…

Eden Prairie police officers participated in the “Cops and Bobbers” event for Let’s Go Fishing at Lake Riley on Aug. 14. The Let’s Go Fishing Eden Prairie Area Chapter held a dedication ceremony for its new pontoon boat on Aug. 14, ahead of the fourth annual “Cops and Bobbers” event at Lake Riley. Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case, City Council members Lisa Toomey and PG Narayanan, representatives from Scheels, and Let’s Go Fishing board members were in attendance. The boat, named “Spirit of Scheels,” made its debut in June with the start of the 2023 season. The new boat was…

King, a pit bull terrier mix, interacts with the myotonic “fainting” goats from Double R Targeted Grazing at Neill Lake in the Preserve Association. Photos by Gillian Holte On July 26, The Preserve Association welcomed new temporary residents to their community: myotonic goats, also known as “fainting” goats. The goats stay for four to six weeks to eat the buckthorn near Neill Lake. The association oversees the management and maintenance of amenities for the southeastern Eden Prairie neighborhood, which consists of 1,700 homes. It first brought in goats in June 2020, during the early months of the pandemic. “When people…

The Eden Prairie Community Band celebrated 50 years of music on Sunday at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre. Eden Prairie residents and former band members enjoyed music from throughout the band’s 50-year history, as well as the piece “West of Eden Prairie” composed by member Clinton Clark. “Community isn’t just in our name,” said Jonah Thune, band president. “We have members ranging from teenage to nonagenarians, and those 90-year-olds show no sign of slowing down.” Former Eden Prairie Community Band directors Emmet “Em” Stark, Marilyn Rateike and Thomas Maeck were in attendance. The current band director is Tom Muehlbauer. “I’ve always…

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…