‘Hairspray’ nets laughs
Open season(s)
CDTs’ ‘Hairspray’ has a strong hold on humor
Eden Prairie News previews EPHS fall sports teams
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011
EDEN PRAIRIE
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news Referendum rethought Board puts kibosh on referendum plans for this year BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
The Eden Prairie School Board passed a resolution Tuesday evening to delay a referendum. “We have to take what we have and we have to make it better,” said School Board member Ranee Jacobus. In late June, when the Eden Prairie School Board approved a plan to put a referendum on the ballot this fall, the district’s financial picture looked grim. Since that time, with the budget agreement that emerged during the state shutdown, that financial picture has brightened. During this Tuesday’s meeting, the board was scheduled to approve language for the referendum, a fi nal step before it goes on this election year’s ballot. Instead, members approved a resolution to delay putting the question to voters and instead begin gearing up for a referendum in 2012. The resolution passed Tuesday
PHOTO BY KARLA WENNERSTROM
George Holasek recounts tales of more than 70 years in Eden Prairie.
requires that a leadership committee for a 2012 referendum be put together by October. Getting volunteers for this year’s referendum committee was a challenge, noted board member Holly Parker. Now there may be people lining up to get involved in a possible 2012 referendum, she said. Parker emphasized that either way they look at it there is a lot of work to do. She said they don’t want to “just kick the proverbial can down a year” without an idea of what they want to do next. If they engage the community along the way, “maybe that is for the best too,” she said.
BUDGET UPDATE In late June, the district’s budget model showed the district was facing a $4.6 million shortfall for the 2012-2013 school year. By shortfall, that means the projected budget in 2012-2013 would dip below the 4 percent reserve fund the district is required to keep in place. In June, the board approved a plan to ask voters for an operating levy increase of $4.2 million (which would translate to an approximate $170 increase on taxes
Referendum to page 7 ®
Holasek’s history in Eden Prairie Tales from former farmer include cock fighting, snowstorms and ‘Hopalong Catastrophy’
A WORLD OF ITS OWN
BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com
A
s the interview begins, George Holasek’s son Joe asks if this reporter has heard about when his dad was arrested for cockfighting. According to a very colorfully written account in the Hennepin County Review on March 28, 1946: “Good old Eden Prairie leaped into the metropolitan headlines this week when deputy sheriffs from the city, snoopers that they are, dropped in
Holasek to page 6 ®
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Holasek said his greenhouse was located where Flying Cloud Animal Hospital is now. He is pictured here with Paul Holasek.
Bomben out of School Board race Eight candidates remain in the mix BY LEAH SHAFFER lshaffer@swpub.com
Eden Prairie School Board Chair Carol Bomben withdrew from the School Board race last week after originally filing to run. Bomben, who has served with the School Board since 1996, said she decided not to run for re-election for reasons related to family and that, “It’s time for me to move on.” Bomben said she will remain involved with education issues through work as a board member of District 287. She also serves as an alternate member for the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, and as a member of both the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools and the Eden Prairie Foundation.
In addition, Bomben said she’s started a new job. “ R i g ht now I ’m on so many boards a n d s o m a ny d i fferent things,” she noted. “I’m kind of stretched.” In addition to being Carol a long-time member Bomben of the Eden Prairie School Board, Bomben has been active with a variety of education organizations. She just fi nished her term last year as a director at the Minnesota School Boards Association. “I’m hoping that I’ve made a difference,” said Bomben, of her time with the district. “I truly believe in the work that this district is doing.” Eight candidates remain in contention for the four School Board
positions this fall, including incumbents John Estall, Kim Ross and Holly Parker. They’ll be joined by Karla Bratrud, David Espe, Tim Fox, Derek Gunderson and Bill Lapadat.
PARKER IS IN Parker, after initially indicating she would not be seeking reelection, signed up for the race on the last day to fi le. It was both a hard decision not to run, then a hard decision to run, she noted. In the end, Parker weighed pros and cons and decided she could add value and “restore some trust if it’s been lost” in this major time of transition as the district gears up for a new superintendent and fi nishes up the K-6 change. “I think I can be helpful in this
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARI BRAY
Do over done good, really, really good. Last year’s Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team finished one game short of an American Legion World Series title. This year’s team won it all, beating a talented Tupelo, Miss., squad 5-4 in 13 amazing innings. With its win, Eden Prairie became only the fourth Minnesota team to win an American Legion World Series title in the tournament’s 85-year history. For more on Eden Prairie’s fantastic finish, go to page 8.
Bomben to page 7 ®
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