Eden Prairie News - Announcements - Comments

It's a shame that Mr Greene

jwisniewski — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:08:41 -0500

It's a shame that Mr Greene could not offer any funding alternatives that he indicated are "clearly" available. Tapping reserve funds is about as short sighted as tapping the petroleum reserve in order to reduce oil prices. Granted, no one wants fare increases but the system must be able to support itself (at least to the greatest extent possible). While there may be some loss in off peak rider ship (from a fare increase), the peak/express rider ship is bound to show increases as gas prices increase...regardless of whether fare increases are enacted.

State level funding is always questionable. There are simply too many hands in the pot to make any appreciable dent in metropolitan transportation budget deficits. The Council has an obligation to keep the "system" solvent without running huge deficits that will only snowball if timely action is not taken.

Jim Wisniewski
Eden Prairie

Karla - if you have any

twoputttommy — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:09:02 -0500

Karla - if you have any source that says China is "exploring" sixty miles off the Miami shoreline, I'd like to see it.

If you cannot back that assertion up, you should take it down.

The link you provided me off-line,

http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_press/task,view/id,4368/

clearly states:

She said China's oil company, Sinopac, has conducted exploratory drilling on a lease on land in western Cuba, but is not involved in the offshore development.

CORRECTION: The letter from

Karla — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:21:16 -0500

CORRECTION: The letter from Bill Cullen contained an error. It has been edited to reflect the change from "drilling" to "exploring." The correct version appeared in the print edition of the newspaper.

In addition, I would like to note that our "bad word" filter cannot be disabled for comments, so it just automatically blocks Vice President Cheney's first name. Mr. Johnson did not use any inappropriate language in his comment.

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

Peter, here's the point you,

twoputttommy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:09:26 -0500

Peter, here's the point you, Paulsen, Cheney, Cullen, and the vast majority of GOP leadership misses: when you have to make stuff up to make your point, your point probably isn't worth making.

And this goes back to the beginning of the Bush Administration, where there "Clear Skies Initiative" allowed MORE air pollution, not less. It continued with the drumbeat to war, with (as previously cited) over 900 misrepresentations of the intelligence, etc that led this great nation to the fiasco that is Iraq.

And I find it highly ironic that Cheney would get his talking points on the alleged Chineese oil drilling off the Florida coast from a columnist; then again, why wouldn't he? It sounded good to him, so Cheney went with it.

Just like the cherry-picked Iraq intelligence sounded good to Cheney, so he went with that.

And this is exactly why republicans need to be removed from office; they make decisions based on what sounds good; not what is sound policy.

At least Cheney retracted his "sounds good" mistake; let's see if Bill Cullen has the decency to do the same.

Tommy, you are correct on

sd42webmaster — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:43:33 -0500

Tommy, you are correct on one fact and incorrect on another. And you miss -- totally -- the point of Bill Cullen's letter.

Yes, you are correct, China is not currently drilling for oil off our coast.

No, you are incorrect, the story did not originate with Vice President Cheney.

Here is the background: The China story actually originated in a George Will column who wrote:

"Drilling is under way 60 miles off Florida. The drilling is being done by China, in cooperation with Cuba, which is drilling closer to South Florida than U.S. companies are."

It was then picked up by Vice President Cheney who used it in a speech. But he later retracted the statement. Their statement read in part:

"It is our understanding that, although Cuba has leased out exploration blocks 60 miles off the coast of southern Florida, which is closer than American firms are allowed to operate in that area, no Chinese firm is drilling there"

All the liberal blogs then ran with it: Aha! – they screamed -- Cheney admits he lied about China drilling, oh oh oh....

My answer: They are idiots.

Here are the facts:

There is no actual drilling going on right now but Cuba clearly is interested in developing its deep-water oil resources (estimated at more than 5 billion barrels) including areas within 60 miles of Key West, FL.

Cuba has awarded offshore oil leases in its offshore waters to six oil companies -- none of them Chinese -- and soon may announce an agreement with company from Brazil.

So -- there is no drilling -- yet. There is exploration. And it is just off our coast.

It isn't China but, frankly, that is beside the point. The point is that AMERICAN companies are prohibited from drilling there. The point is that vast oil resources just off our coast are being exploited (or soon will be) by everyone BUT the United States. That is just plain crazy.

While you may have gotten poor Bill Cullen on an innocent mistake, you miss the point that Americans are sick and tired of high oil prices. 67% want off shore drilling and 64% expect that it will lower prices.

The Democrat answer is don't drill anywhere -- ever. You don't like $4 gas? Get ready for $12 gas.

The Republican answer is: Whether the oil is being pumped by China or Brazil or Timbuktu -- who cares. Why are we not getting OUR OWN OIL instead of paying $4 gas bills and paying double for food and watching our economy crumble? Why are we not getting OUR OWN OIL instead of enriching a bunch of Middle East dictators?

On this issue, there is a definite difference between the two political parties. It will be interesting if the Dems continue to vote in favor of higher oil prices rather than in favor of helping American families struggling to pay for gas and food.

As for me, I am happy to vote for Erik Paulsen who will vote in favor of allowing off-shore drilling.

That Bill Cullen is

twoputttommy — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:29:12 -0500

That Bill Cullen is repeating a factually incorrect GOP talking point, claiming “China is drilling for oil sixty miles off the Miami shoreline” should come as no surprise. It simply is not true. That it was first uttered by Vice President Cheney, should also be of no surprise; Cheney is the one that claimed in Iraq, the American military would, “…in fact, be greeted as liberators.” A VFW Convention in 2002 heard Cheney claim: “Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” Clearly, all of these statements are wrong.

Political leadership saying things that are factually incorrect is not a new phenomenon; what is new is the level of mendacity by today’s Republican Party leadership. Recently, the independent Center for Public Integrity found over 900 instances where President Bush and those working for him made factually incorrect statements prior to the Iraq war.

Just last month Cheney held a fundraiser in Wayzata to specifically help Republican federal candidates; Erik Paulsen attended as he will benefit from the money Cheney helped raise.

So what we have here is a formerly endorsed Republican candidate, Bill Cullen, making a factually incorrect statement in a letter in support of a Republican endorsed candidate, Erik Paulsen, whose election prospects are enhanced by Republican Vice-President ****** Cheney – who has been uttering inaccuracies since the beginning of the Bush Administration and hasn’t stopped.

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you like George W. Bush and ****** Cheney and you want to reward the Republican Party for their mendacity and the results of their leadership (and Iraq is but one), vote for Erik Paulsen.

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.)