Author: Juliana Allen

Minnesota summers may be short, but Eden Prairie residents can make the most of lake life right here in town. City beaches officially opened on June 11, and several local families lost no time in hitting the sand. At midday the water was warm, clear, and fresh, and the beaches were clean and uncrowded. Plenty of lifeguards were on duty, ready to protect swimmers, ensure lake safety, and keep the beach areas tidy. At Round Lake, Lindsey Meyer enjoyed the sun, sand, and water with her daughters Hannah, 4, and Marion, 8. “We live in St. Louis Park, but we…

A 100-year-old field of gorgeous peonies is blooming now at Eden Prairie’s Cummins-Phipps-Grill House. The flowers, in colors ranging from flaming fuschia to pale pink to delicate white, have been enjoyed every June by generations of Eden Prairie residents. The garden was originally planted by former resident Harriet Phiipps around 1920 on the east side of this historic property, which was home to several Eden Prairie families. In a 1980 interview, former house resident Mildred Grill remembered, “The peony bed has been there for over 60 years. Mother put in over 500 plants. There wasn’t another bed like it in…

To recognize their achievements over the past school year, several Central Middle School eighth graders received special awards during a ceremony at the CMS Performing Arts Center on June 2. Students were recognized for excellence in leadership, language studies, speech, theatre, music, history, academics, and more. CMS Principal Nate Swenson, Associate Principal Rich Larsen, and teachers spoke about how proud they were of how much these students had achieved in what, for many, has been an extremely challenging year. Patti Cwodzinski, CMS social studies teacher, said, “I’m very pleased to be able to recognize these incredible students.” Larsen added, “The…

Between September 2021 and mid-February, an estimated 74,000 Afghan evacuees fleeing the Taliban arrived to resettle in the United States. Eden Prairie residents are among those working hard to welcome over 700 of them to the Twin Cities. Their resettlement is being supported by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Resettlement Program, Hennepin County, Arrive Ministries, Lutheran Social Services, Minnesota Council of Churches, and the International Institute of Minnesota, plus multiple charities and donors. These organizations help meet the immediate needs of the families with food, clothing, care, advice, and housing. Eden Prairie resident Dawn Martin has been volunteering for…

Each December, students worldwide celebrate Computer Science Education Week by learning how to code. As part of this tradition, several Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) students visited Prairie View Elementary on Dec. 16 to teach fifth graders the basics of coding. The visit was part of EPHS’ Computer Science Honor Society’s (CSHS) longstanding outreach initiative in Eden Prairie’s elementary schools. CSHS is a national organization that encourages student involvement in computer science, academic excellence, and volunteer service. Its mission is to make computer science accessible and relatable and inspire the next generation of creative, well-rounded thinkers, says Lucas Wagner, EPHS junior…

On any given day, an estimated 300,000 Minnesota children do not have regular access to enough food for basic health and nutrition. Despite Eden Prairie being a relatively affluent community, our city’s children are no exception. In response, Eden Prairie Schools (EPS) teamed up in October with a Roseville-based program called Every Meal to help tackle food insecurity in our city’s children and families. Each week, Every Meal delivers pallets of food packages consisting of non-perishable meal ingredients or ready-to-eat items to Eden Prairie and other communities willing to distribute it. These packages are intended to prevent food insecurity in children when…

Several Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) seniors have been recognized by the National Merit Scholar Corporation and the College Board for high achievements on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and Advanced Placement (AP) tests. At the EPHS National Scholar Recognition Breakfast on Nov. 12, Superintendent Josh Swanson and EPHS Principal Robb Virgin presented the students with their honors. EPHS gifted/talented coordinator Steven Rollin served as the event’s host. “What amazing accomplishments by our scholars academically and in their community,” he said. “We are so proud of them, and we look forward to their success in life ahead!”…

The lights went out on Broadway at 5 p.m. on March 12, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented 17-month closure of Broadway’s playhouses.  At Eden Prairie High School (EPHS), the stage lights also went dim. But at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, the curtain will finally rise on EPHS’ first fall musical in two years, a much-anticipated bright, witty, and rollicking rendition of the Broadway classic, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The show will run the next two weekends at EPHS Performing Arts Center, 17185 Valley View Road, with tickets available at vancoevents. Treven VanderLouw, assistant technical director…