Oscar gold
All-State times five
Let’s Go staffers predict battle between ‘The Artist’ and ‘Hugo’
Eryn Stewart is one of five EPHS All-State Nordic skiers
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012
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LA DANSE FATALE
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Local leaders react to redistricting BY PATTY DEXTER pdexter@swpub.com
The anticipation of waiting for the next redistricting plan has come to an end for future candidates and political enthusiasts. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Special Redistricting Panel released new maps for Congressional and legislative districts. According to the panel’s final order for the legislative redistricting plan, Minnesota has 67 Senate districts and 134 state House districts, with each Senate district containing two House districts. The U.S. Constitution and Minnesota’s Constitution require the state’s legislative districts to be substantially equal in population. After the 2010 Census, the ideal population of a Senate district is 79,163, while the ideal population of a House district is 39,582. The state’s total population rose 7.8 percent during the last decade but the growth was not uniform, the order said. Senate District 42A Rep. Kirk Stensrud of Eden Prairie said the idea of redistricting was to get an even amount of people and population within the districts. “I trust that everyone’s going to have an even number of people or a balanced number of people that they represent and that’s the whole goal of redistricting,” he said Tuesday. The map released by the panel shows most of Eden Prairie now in Senate District 48, not Senate District 42. Marc Papineau, Senate District 42 Republican Party executive committee co-chair, said it was too soon to comment on the redistricting’s impact.
PHOTO BY KARLA WENNERSTROM
Performers had dress rehearsals for “Three Dimensions” Monday.
‘Three Dimensions’ of dance BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com
T
his year’s La Danse Fatale showcase performance is more philosophical than in years past, said artistic director Julia Levina, who directs and choreographs the shows. “I almost want people to look inside themselves,” Levina said. “Three Dimensions” includes three performances: “Journey of a Pure Soul,” and new to the group, “Romeo and Juliet” and “My Body is a Cage.” The performing arts youth ballet company has dancers ranging from ages 13 to 20 and offers a performing opportunity for seri-
ous dancers as a transition to the professional stage, according to a news release. “‘My Body is a Cage’” is actually about drug addiction,” Levina said. She said the group is trying to show the strengths of the human spirit. “We all live through turmoil,” she said. “It’s the way we emerge that makes such a big difference.” She added, “I hope it will touch some people and maybe help some people to emerge from their dark places.”
FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE LA DANSE FATALE REHEARSAL, SEE PAGE B8.
If you go What: “Three Dimensions” performance by La Danse Fatale When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 Where: Eden Prairie High School Performing Arts Center Cost: $17/adults and $13/students or senior citizens Info: ladansefatale.org.
Redistrict to page A10 ®
Time for the 10th annual Taste Fundraiser for Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools is Saturday BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com
This is the 10th anniversary of the Taste of Eden Prairie. And with 30 restaurants participating in the event this year, attendees will get more tastes than ever. Co-chair Anne Byrne said several new restaurants have signed up for the “Taste of Eden Prairie Goes Wild West.” “It’s more restaurants than we’ve ever had,” added co-chair and Eden Prairie School Board Member Holly Parker. The Taste of Eden Prairie is from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Minnesota Vikings Practice Facility, 9520 Viking Drive, Eden Prairie. Cost is $35 in advance, $40 at the door. New to the Taste this year are VIP tickets
(that’s Very Important Posse, according to the website). Only 50 of the $75 VIP tickets were to be sold. The tickets include premium parking, a Vikings locker room tour, a wine and cheese reception with interim Superintendent Jon McBroom before the event and more. The auctions have reached a whole new level as well with about 200 items available for bid online, plus silent and live auctions during Saturday’s event. A raffle will feature prizes like $500 and a wall of wine. The Heads and Tails game for an iPad is FOR MORE ON WHAT YOU’LL FIND set for 9 p.m. Music is by Shalo Lee and the Rush River Band. AT THE TASTE OF EDEN PRARIE,
SEE PAGE A11.
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Fueling station planned for Eden Prairie a first in Minnesota City OK’s compressed natural gas facility on Flying Cloud Drive BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com
A private compressed natural gas fueling facility for Allied Waste/ Republic trucks is set to be built at 9813 Flying Cloud Drive. The natural gas dispensers replace existing fuel dispensers, City Manager Rick Getschow told the Eden Prairie City Council Tuesday. There will be spaces for the facility’s 105 trucks to refuel. The site will have a 1,850-square-foot con-
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crete pad with a six-foot-tall fence, according to information presented to the council. The site includes about 24 acres across the road from Flying Cloud Airport. “We’re partnering with Republic to provide their facility with natural gas, so they can replace their petroleum-based fleet with natural gas,” said Pam Pullen, an associate planner with Clean Energy. Clean Energy fuels vehicles at more than 250 locations across North America, she said. She said Republic wants to convert 80 percent of its petroleum-fueled fleet nationwide to natural gas. Pullen said 90 percent of natural
City council to page A10 ®
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