Congressman Erik Paulsen, R-Third District, will host a town hall meeting from 7-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, at the Southview Middle School auditorium, 4725 Southview Lane, Edina.

"Paulsen will provide an update on recent legislation in Congress and share information on some of his other initiatives while taking questions and comments from constituents attending the forum," according to a news release.

Target has been getting a lot of flak recently because of the corporation’s $150,000 donation to MN Forward, a group running ads in support of Tom Emmer, a Republican running for governor. Emmer is not in support of gay marriage and has in fact authored a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex unions.

Eden Prairie resident Randi Reitan documented her disappointment in Target’s support of Emmer by visiting the Eden Prairie Target last week, purchasing more than $200 in items, then returning the items right away and cutting up her Target charge card.

Eden Prairie has taken another big step in the process to curb the amount of clear water entering the sanitary sewer system. How big? Think $599,000 to pay for home inspections throughout the city.

From a story in Finance & Commerce: "The under-construction Bobby & Steve’s Auto World store is among a handful of noteworthy retail projects in Eden Prairie.

"Nearby the $4.2 million, 19,000-square-foot Bobby and Steve’s Auto World, which is under construction at 8100 Flying Cloud Drive, the city will soon get a $6 million, 236,000-square-foot Menards store.

"Also under way in the suburb: A $6 million Walmart remodel, a $3 million to $4 million remodel for the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, and a $1.5 million effort to turn a Krispy Kreme into a bank.

The Rasmussen family had to say goodbye to their six hens recently. They won’t be getting them back anytime soon. During last week’s Eden Prairie City Council meeting, the council decided to keep in place the ordinance that prohibits chickens in residential areas.
The Rasmussen family had wanted to keep the hens as pets and to produce eggs.

“The eggs are so much better for you,” said Jill Rasmussen, in an interview. “That’s kind of out right now. They’re not going to change the ordinance at all.”

STARING LAKE: FIRE SPICE – Outdoor concert at 7 p.m. Friday, July 30, at Staring Lake Amphitheatre, 14800 Pioneer Trail. Picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs recommended. Parks and Recreation events are at www.edenprairie.org and 952-949-8470. Also this week at Staring Lake: Brio Brass at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1; and Letho & Wright at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4.

Wendi Russo, 2010 Mrs. Minnesota U.S.A. came close, very close to winning the Mrs. U.S.A. title at the national pageant in Las Vegas last Thursday.

Russo is an Eden Prairie resident, and an on-air TV host at Shop NBC, a TV shopping network, broadcast from Eden Prairie. She won the Mrs. Minnesota U.S.A. pageant in May, winning the opportunity to compete in the national pageant.

Russo, 43, was first runner-up in the pageant, one of three national pageants that celebrate family and married women.

Though the middle of 2013 may be the earliest possible start date, Eden Prairie could see some major work on its electrical capacity if Xcel receives approval for a replacement transmission line project.

During the July 20 Eden Prairie City Council meeting, City Manager Scott Neal updated the council on the Xcel transmission line project, which would cut through northwest Eden Prairie. The replacement lines would be installed starting at a substation just off of Highway 5 and Martin Drive.

Friends and family of Major Randell Voas met at the Eden Prairie High School track Saturday for Randy’s Run, an event to celebrate Voas’ life and raise funds for a scholarship in his name.
Maj. Voas was killed April 9 when his aircraft crashed near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Click below to see photos from Randy's Run.

Progress is being made on plans that would allow an Eden Prairie home to eventually become the headquarters of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District.

To allow such a change, the zoning of the property would have to be switched from residential to public, a change that is by no means a quick and simple process because it involves making an amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Guide Plan.