Eden Prairie News - Announcements - Comments

I've only dined at the St.

Miss Mollee — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:57:06 -0500

I've only dined at the St. Louis Park Santorini restaurant once, but it was a fun special-occasion restaurant. Greek will be a nice (and different) addition to the southwest metro. Ompa!

Here is a link to the

Leah Shaffer — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:59:49 -0500

Here is a link to the previous story, when Canyon Grille owners were still mulling the possibility of reopening at that location.

Update: Here's a news

Karla — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:50:40 -0500

Update: Here's a news release from MnDOT on the project:

The opening of the final segment of the new Highway 212 between Highway 41 in Chaska and existing Highway 212 in Carver will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 1 at 12:30 p.m.

The event will be held on the new highway between the interchanges at Highway 41 and County Road 10 (Engler Boulevard) and will feature a display of antique cars and new hybrid and electric vehicles.

Construction of the new Highway 212 began in fall 2005 and includes 11.8 miles of four-lane freeway, eight miles of bus shoulder lanes, two park and ride lots with 950 parking spaces (constructed by Southwest Metro Transit), 28 bridges, and seven interchanges (County Road 147, Dell Road, Highway 101, County Road 17, Highway 41, County Road 10 and County Road 147).

The first segment opened in late 2006; the second segment opened in December 2007. The final segment of mainline new 212 will open on July 14. The last interchange at County Road 147 will be open in mid-August.

The new Highway 212 (currently signed as Highway 312) will shorten the average commute by as much as 15 minutes based on travel time runs completed recently between Highway 212 and
Prairie Center Drive in Eden Prairie and Highway 212 and County Road 147 in Carver.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation design-build project was recognized in 2007 by Roads and Bridges Magazine as the Number 1 National Roadway Project .The project has also received awards for the “Most Value Added Proposal” from the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials, “Exceptional Accomplishment in the Category of Utility Leadership” from the Federal Highway Administration, and “MNSHARP for Construction Certification” from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and OSHA.

The opening celebration will be hosted by Zumbro River Constructors (a consortium of Fluor, Ames Construction and Kraemer and Sons), the design-build contractor for the project. Speakers will include Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, Mn/DOT Commissioner Thomas Sorel, Carver County Board Chair Jim Ische, Chaska Mayor Gary Van Eyll, Southwest Corridor Transportation Coalition President Bob Lindall and Dwayne Wilson, President of the Industrial and Infrastructure Group, Fluor.

For questions about the new 212 Project, call the project hotline at 952/368-3041 or check the Web site at www.mndot.gov and click 212 under major projects.

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

Here is a link to the

Leah Shaffer — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:23:25 -0500

Here is a link to the previous story.

An audience member asked

Leah Shaffer — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:36:25 -0500

An audience member asked about Pawlenty's VP chances. Pawlenty responded by saying he hadn't been asked, doesn't expect to be asked and is happy with his current position.

This is a wonderful

pindre — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:45:20 -0500

This is a wonderful provision for the Eden Prairie Meals on Wheels!!!

Lisa Toomey has worked incredibly hard to secure funding and find grants so the Eden Prairie Meals on Wheels recipients would continue to be served. Lisa has gone out of her way to make sure every client is served, no matter what. There are folks who have attempted to quit Meals on Wheels because of their lack of ability to pay, and she reassures them that everything will be just fine!

I know all of this because when I worked in Eden Prairie, I was one of her coordinators/drivers. From first hand experience, there is nothing more rewarding than to knock on someones door, say "Hello" and do a quick visual check to make sure that everything is OK with them (sometimes, you're the only human contact this person will have all day!), visit a bit with them if they wanted to talk for a while. Every client is so appreciative and so wonderful. When you leave, wish then a wonderful day, and move on to the next client.

Fuel is terribly expensive now for the volunteers, and I would imagine this has impacted Lisa's volunteer force. Food supply prices have skyrocketed. If anyone has any time or money, I would definitely contact Lisa, and see what she may need. I'm certain she will have several options for you to consider.

Thank you, Gary Chanen, managing partner of Biaggi’s, I know in your heart that you feel wonderful inside!

Thank you, Lisa for all of your work and commitment making Eden Prairie Meals on Wheels a success!

God bless both of you and all of your volunteers!

Patti Indre

Here's a link to video from

Karla — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:35:23 -0500

Here's a link to video from the event:
http://theuptake.org/?cat=32
(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

More information about the

Leah Shaffer — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:25:07 -0500

More information about the spelling bee can be found at its Web site.

http://www.spellingbee.com/

More information

Karla — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:37:58 -0500

More information here:
http://www.edenprairie.org/vCurrent/live/article.asp?r=2915

And here:
http://www.mspairport.com/relievers/flying_cloud/default.aspx

And here:
http://www.zeroexpansion.com/

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

Response to Airport

zerotwo — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:55:32 -0500

Response to Airport Misconceptions/Airport Construction Article

MAC and the FCAAC both maintain websites where their answers to a number of questions can be found on a daily basis. There are at least two sides to every question. Most of the misconceptions are in the nuances between the “official” line, resident perception and reality.

What kind of aircraft will land at Flying Cloud after the expansion.

Most people know the purpose of the longer runway is for larger jet aircraft. Even though MAC says on the one hand that these aircraft are relatively quieter by size, by their own calculations in the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), the airport will be twice as noisy and will require some homes to have noise insulation. So, it's not going to get quieter even though MAC says these aircraft are relatively quieter by size. The type of aircraft is almost irrelevant. It's the projected increase in the number of operations and the increase in the size of the aircraft that will contribute to the increase in noise, as MAC’s own documentation in the EIS attests.

The airport doesn’t contribute to the economic development of the city.

Of course the airport contributes to the economy of the city. A child’s lemonade stand contributes to the economy of the city. The controversy is in how much does it contribute? MAC and FCM claim the airport is an economic dynamo generating millions of dollars for the city. The reality is that Flying Cloud may contribute as much to the city as a very small strip mall. If Flying Clouds economic contribution to the city disappeared tomorrow, the City of Eden Prairie would scarcely notice it.

Residents think noise monitoring and reporting isn’t looked at seriously.

Again, the question really is to what degree? MAC does take the problem seriously – but not seriously enough to change any of their development plans to accommodate residents. The problem is the curfew and restrictions are voluntary. MAC refuses to divulge which users are violating the curfew because they are afraid the light of public scrutiny will create a hostile environment for those violators. As long as offenders can remain anonymous – they will continue to offend. As long as the onus for noise reporting is on the residents there will never be a true picture of how many violations of the curfew there actually are. Offenders will continue to get slapped on the hand and residents will continue to be angered which could eventually result in their relocating out of Eden Prairie. The downside is property values will be impacted. MAC and the City are not addressing the impact to property values, preferring to maintain that property values will not be impacted. There is reason to believe that the impact to property values is much greater than any possible economic contribution the airport could ever make to the City of Eden Prairie.

I am disappointed that the

tginmn — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:12:35 -0500

I am disappointed that the airport is being expanded. I live an mile and a half from the end of the two east west runways.

When I moved in I was told that there was a binding agreement with the city and MAC not to expand the airport. I was also told there was restrictions on operations after 11PM. I can tell you we have aircraft landing after midnight on a regular basis.

Great comment! She would be

Karla — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:04:09 -0500

Great comment! She would be an Alumna of Notable Achievement. Or a winner of an Alumni of Notable Achievement award.
A fellow Latin student?

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)

Shouldn't Butcher be an

calla120 — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:50:52 -0500

Shouldn't Butcher be an AlumnA of Notable Achievement?

A click away: Here are a few

Leah Shaffer — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:19:14 -0500

A click away:
Here are a few other facts from the survey summary:

"The number of students who report using methamphetamine in the last 12 months is 0.5 percent for 9th grade and 1 percent for 12th grade. This is a significant improvement for 2004."

"The number of students who report feeling a great deal of stress in the last 30 days decreased from 2004 for all grades."

"A signifcantly larger number of 9th and 12 grade students report that school is one of their primary sources of information about sex."

Here is a link to the Minnesota Department of Education page on the student survey.

The next step: A

Leah Shaffer — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:14:17 -0500

The next step: A collaborative for youth

Looking for the next step in ensuring the success of Eden Prairie’s youth? Organizers of Friday’s Partnership Breakfast offered just that last Friday. During that event, it was announced that a community-wide collaborative for youth called “EP4Y” was forming. The mission statement of this new group would be “a sustained community-wide coordinated effort focused on working together to make sure that Eden Prairie youth get their needs met including: a sense of belonging, participation opportunities, adults who care about them, and support in making healthy decisions.”
The group will focus on prevention education and healthy youth development. Planners are still looking for a wide cross section of the public to get involved. For more information, contact Terri Johnson, youth development and partnerships coordinator at 952-975-7144 or e-mail tjohnson@edenpr.org, or contact Prevention Coordinator Michael Stanefski at 952-975-7048 or at mstanefski@edenpr.org.

What do you think is the best way to help youth in the community? Contribute your ideas here.