PLATZKE REAL ESTATE GROUP
The Platzke Real Estate Group is Eden Prairie’s #1 Home Selling Team across all brokerages, known for exceptional marketing, expertise, and results. Partnered with the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® program—an industry leader with $288 million in daily sales—they provide unmatched local, national, and international exposure across hundreds of websites. Your property reaches countless qualified buyers, delivering outstanding results. You simply will not find better representation.
Discover Woodhouse Spa Eden Prairie — luxury day spa experiences crafted for your total well-being.
From transformative massages and rejuvenating facials to invigorating body treatments and more, every detail at Woodhouse has been thoughtfully designed to help you feel rejuvenated from the inside out.
Slip into your robe, step into our serene Quiet Room, sip a comforting tea, and let us take care of the rest.
Life Memberships! Tailored for families with multiple pets, avid hikers and those who cherish time outdoors with their canine companions, a Good Life Membership provides unparalleled convenience and savings!
To learn more about how our memberships can serve you, please call us at 952-521-3355. You’re also invited to visit our facility and see our self-wash area at 8248 Commonwealth Drive, Eden Prairie!
Unlock Your Best Health with Predictive 360. Discover your personalized health roadmap with LX Medical’s Predictive 360. Our extensive lab panel examines key biomarkers—from insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, and inflammation markers to cortisol and gut health— revealing what your body truly needs. Enhance your insights with optional genomic, allergy, and predictive imaging tests. Benefit from a one-hour expert consult, nutrition and supplement balancing, access to advanced peptides and ongoing monitoring to keep your health plan in tune with your evolving needs. Take charge of your health today.
A business banking team you can count on.
There is a lot to consider when choosing a financial institutionsuch as convenience, technology, and products. Perhaps you want a bank that gives back to the community it serves. More than anything, your bank should have familiar, friendly people you know you can count on any time of the day. At First Western Bank, we are all these things and more. You can bank on us.
David Thompson Market President
Tony Berthiaume SVP Commercial Banker
Tony Seipp VP Commercial Banker | NMLS: 888672
EXCEPTIONAL EXTERIORS, BUILT TO LAST
Whether you need siding repairs or new windows, we use high-quality materials and work with you to elevate your home’s design.
Learn more about our program offerings!
Personalized Care to Achieve Your Best Health at Any Age
At TruNorth Vitality Clinic, we believe healthcare should be personalized, deliberate and collaborative.
Your care may include:
Health Coaching
We start with your long-term health goals and build a plan that supports your objectives in an unhurried environment. The way healthcare should be.
Integrative Services
Massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, reiki Group Programs
Our in-person group programs include time to learn from organized lessons, ask questions, and receive support from others on the same wellness journey.
Vitality Series and Community Experiences
Join us for our FREE Vitality Series, educational talks that invite exploration. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about a wide variety of topics.
It Is the Gentlemen’s Issue (Ladies Can Read It Too)
Dear Eden Prairie Lifestyle reader,
I believe our annual Gentlemen’s issue marks the perfect occasion to announce an exciting new project we have been working on. It’s Eden Prairie’s very first boy band: The E.P. Boyz!
Obviously, I am the head of the group. I’m JayLee – the handsome one with the heart of gold, whose interests include golf, “keepin’ it real,” and promoting great local businesses. There’s also my publication director, Cool Dave. He’s the band’s choreographer, towel manager, and lyricist with a heart of gold. Here’s a sneak peak at Cool Dave’s newest song titled “Working Title,” which I expect will become a top hit:
Ooh baby
I love Eden Prairie
Yes I do … yeah
Baby, baby, baby, baby
Wow! I sure cannot wait to become famous for singing music like that. Be on the lookout for our new record I’m Gonna Love You in Eden Prairie, and make sure to purchase the premium E.P. Boyz merchandise that all major retailers will soon begin offering for sale.
What’s this I just found? Why, it’s what I assume to be a snippet from another of Cool Dave’s neat songs. Here it is:
Go to The Mustard Seed on Father’s Day
To meet and pet Hasse Family Mobile Petting Zoo’s
Extremely meetable and pettable animals!
The landscape and garden center’s resident chickens
And koi will also be present, as will the Tacos La Catrina food truck.
Event goes 11am until 3pm; admission $5 ages 3 and up.
Huh … you know, that might actually be copy from this issue’s Events section. I’d double-check, but I’m too busy perfecting the hottest dance moves.
As always, I would like to thank all of Eden Prairie Lifestyle’s sponsors, without whose generous support we could not mail our magazine directly to our readers’ homes. I always welcome any feedback or interest you may have in appearing on our magazine’s pages!
Best regards,
JOHN LEE, PUBLISHER
June 2026
PUBLISHER
John Lee | john.lee@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
David Scheller | david.scheller@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Emily John, Pete Rose, Eden Prairie Schools, Helping Paws, Real Media MN, Scruff Life Photography
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Warmer weather. Higher humidity. Increased activity. Less-than-supportive footwear. All of these coincide with spring – which, not coincidentally, is why spring often coincides with:
Blisters | Plantar Fasciitis | Athlete’s Foot
Ingrown Toenails | Sprained Ankle | Achilles Tendonitis
Tiptoe through the tulips with CONFIDENCE. Choose Family Podiatry Clinic for all your footcare needs!
Darren R. Cowl, DPM
Specializing in Conservative and Surgical Treatment of the Foot and Ankle
business monthly
New York Life Insurance Company Cuts the Ribbon
Kyle Abert’s journey from executive chef to financial professional began with a leap of faith and a passion for helping others. Now, he’s focused on building relationships and guiding clients through important life decisions. Kyle specializes in life and health insurance, working closely with families, veterans, and small business owners alike. Call (608) 387-9379 or email kabert@ft.newyorklife.com to get started! NewYorkLife.com
Presidential Construction Cuts the Ribbon
Sixteen years in business. Industry-leading experience in residential storm damage, restoration, and refresh projects, encompassing everything from small roof and siding repairs to full-scale projects. A full scope of non-storm commercial services, too! When you partner with Presidential Construction, you get quality materials, certified installation, skilled craftsmanship, and attention to detail like only a local contractor can provide. PresidentialConstructionInc.com
Tabla Indian Restaurant Cuts the Ribbon
Tabla – where the richness of traditional Indian cuisine combines with the energy of Indo-Chinese and modern favorites. From fragrant biryanis and slow-simmered curries to sizzling street-style dishes and freshly baked naan, every plate is prepared using quality ingredients and time-honored techniques. Come in, take a seat, and experience Indian cuisine the way it’s meant to be: warm, vibrant, and deeply satisfying. EdenPrairie.TablaCuisine.com
Platzke Real Estate Group’s Polar Plunge
March 7th, 2026. A sky the color of brushed steel hung over their heads. The icy expanse of Lake Nokomis, which they were to go into, spread out all around them. But they weren’t daunted. They had determined to support a great cause, and dressed to commit heroic deeds.
“This was our 14th year in a row doing the polar plunge,” said Ryan Platzke, top hot dog at Platzke Real Estate Group. “It’s one of my all-time favorite traditions, where a good-sized contingent of my team and my own family join up in support of Special Olympics Minnesota.
“In previous years, participants lined up at a big hole cut into the ice and took turns jumping in. This year’s weather required us to start at the shore, and wade out to a chest-high pole. It was a lot more buildup … a lot more anticipation, as little icebergs bob up and down alongside you … but nothing can prepare you for the shock that takes over when you dive fully under. Breath? Gone. Vision? Blurred. Heart? Beating out of its ribcage. Thrilling, to say the least!
“I can’t express the pride I felt wading out with my twins Mason and Andi – two very special cocktail wieners, who truly earned their places in the celebratory warming tent.
“I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped us shatter our goal of raising $5,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota. The nonprofit organization does outstanding and inspiring work providing opportunities to compete, build confidence, and be part of a supportive, inclusive community to athletes with intellectual disabilities.”
Upon discovering that Ryan owns a gently used hot dog costume, I had to ask.
“No,” he laughed. “No, I don’t think I’ll be wearing it to house showings anytime soon.”
SpecialOlympicsMinnesota.org
PlatzkeRealEstateGroup.com
Eden Prairie’s Top Home Selling Team Supports Special Olympics Minnesota
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
Making Eden Prairie Into the Linchpin of Medical Alley
FIRST WESTERN BANK
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
Medical Alley. The Silicon Valley of Healthcare. Land of 10,000 Medical Device Firms (Give or Take). The Twin Cities are known as all these.
Deservedly so. We’re the birthplace of open-heart surgery, robotic surgery, the heart transplant, and the wearable pacemaker. It’s no coincidence that we’re also home to juggernauts like 3M, Boston Scientific, Medtronic and U of M, and the wizards of the Mayo Clinic are practically just down the street.
How did this particular patch of earth become the crown jewel of the medical world? Big brains. Big talent. Big cooperation. Big love for thy fellow man. And above all else, big imagination. It seems a singular facet of the Minnesotan ethos is to divine opportunity where others perceive only the impossible; that the strings of convention don’t stretch all the way out here.
First Western Bank shares that spirit. Their steadfast support for forward-thinking entrepreneurs has helped grow their financial institution from its inaugural location in Minot to 19 branches spanning four states in only a few decades. And in Eden Prairie, which is unquestionably the nicest and best part
of the Twin Cities, First Western Bank’s attention is driven on those most innovative go-getters of all.
“Medical device and technology companies are a big part of Eden Prairie’s bright future,” said David Thompson, market president. “We thank our friend Pat MulQueeny with the chamber of commerce for making that plain to us. He also explained how such businesses tend to attract one another. In close proximity, they can more easily share the ideas, employees, and customers they need to grow faster together. ‘Establish a core number of med tech companies right here in town, and more are bound to follow,’ Pat said.
“And you know what? Our community bank would very much like to find itself surrounded by numerous thriving med tech companies. Call it self-serving, if you like, but we think that’s forgivable when it serves everyone else all around us!”
“We had a great head start,” said Tony Seipp, vice president of commercial lending. “Our complete suite of commercial banking and lending services is already perfectly suited to any entrepreneur’s needs, regardless of their business’s size or industry. Our only real remaining challenge had been to fully understand med tech entrepreneurs’ unique needs – to ‘learn their language,’ as it were.”
Tony Seipp, Vice President Commercial Lending
David Thompson, Market President
“If I may clarify,” David interjected. “Although Tony and I have learned a great deal from conversations with our clients, we haven’t learned their language to quite the extent where we understand the intricate workings of state-of-the-art medical technology.”
“That’s true,” agreed Tony. “Our med tech clients probably wouldn’t want our help designing heart implants. But when it comes to matters of money, we’re right there on the same page. We know how their cash flow, revenue cycle, and payables and receivables work. We get that their industry is perpetually changing, and how considerably smaller businesses can be influenced by market leaders and FDA regulations. We understand what they need out of their lines of credit, and tailor their best solutions in turn.”
“Med tech entrepreneurs have to buy extraordinary things,” David added. “That starts with their headquarters, which typically must combine office, laboratory, manufacturing, and warehouse spaces. Real estate that already meets those parameters is in rare supply and low demand, which is why conventional lenders typically balk at financing such buildouts.”
“But not us,” said Tony. “Years of hands-on experience have taught us how to valuate the unvaluable. Whereas the average lender might view an extremely specialized software program, a piece of machinery with an incomprehensible application, or a cleanroom that has virtually zero use to the vast majority of other businesses as intrinsically worthless, we appreciate those investments for what they actually are: opportunity, and another step toward making Eden Prairie into the linchpin of Medical Alley.”
“First Western Bank has always prided itself on being a community bank,” said David. “We don’t see our clients solely as clients here. They are also our neighbors, whose character, backgrounds, and aspirations can’t be measured against a balance sheet. We take the time to get to know them, and apprehend the support they’ll need to achieve success. And once they have, we’ll count ourselves fortunate to remain at their side.”
Is your business poised to revolutionize the healthcare or medical technology industry? Don’t waste a second trying to explain your vision to bankers who don’t share it. Call (952) 516-7300 to schedule a sit-down with First Western Bank’s commercial financing experts at 100 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie.
FirstWestern.bank
AV8 FLIGHT SCHOOL HELPS KIDS REACH FOR THE SKY
EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOLS’ AERONAUTICS CAPSTONE
“It was one of the most powerful things I’ve ever witnessed,” said Andy Bailey, Eden Prairie High School’s aviation teacher.
“The way those kids’ faces were lit up after they’d done a couple laps around the sky? It was every educator’s favorite sight. It was real inspiration.
“Eden Prairie Schools offers five interest-area ‘Pathways’ encompassing a wide range of ‘Capstones’ that help students discover, explore, and pursue exciting careers. Engineering. Woodcrafting. Agriculture. They’re all world-class programs, though I expect you’ll forgive me for having a favorite. It’s my own: Aeronautics, which showcases the myriad opportunities awaiting in aviation and aerospace.
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
“Many fortunate circumstances came together to make the Aeronautics Capstone possible. There’s our city’s own historic airport, which steeps us in a rich culture of aviation. There is Dr. Josh Swanson, our superintendent who also just so happens to be an instrument-rated pilot with numerous connections throughout the industry. There’s Dr. Michael Nehring, our high school’s engineering and manufacturing teacher who spent several years building the Aeronautics Capstone into something I felt truly honored to take over in 2025. There are also our valued partners: C.H. Robinson, Elliott Aviation, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Premier Jet Center, Sun Country Airlines, Thunderbird Aviation, and of course AV8 Flight School, which just gave our students the most up-close-and-personal look at aviation they could have hoped for.”
“It took ten of our staff, six Piper Archer TX aircraft, and about two and a half hours to get all the kids up there,” said George Lichty, general manager and primary helicopter instructor for AV8 Flight School. “Each one completed two passes around Flying Cloud Airport’s holding pattern, taking a turn at the flight controls (which, you’ll be relieved to know, are entirely governed by the pilot) while they were at it. While they waited on the ground, the kids learned about the mechanical side of aviation from Tom Kortisses; our director of maintenance, whose skills are in equally fierce demand in our industry.
“The Aeronautics Capstone fits perfectly into our mission to share the magic of flight with as many children as possible. People are usually surprised to learn how early kids can start flying. We once welcomed a student as young as 11, although 14 to 16 is more usual. They can start soloing at 16, and receive their license the following year. By the time someone graduates high school, they might be well on their way toward a career where the average professional makes over $120,000 a year, and is required to work no more than 1,000 hours (which is 25 workweeks) annually. That’s a nice start in life!”
“And we’ll help them get there, if they’d like,” added Andy. “Some of our Aeronautics students were transformed by their experience in AV8 Flight School’s Archer TX. They’re carrying themselves with the pride and professionalism that follow a big lightbulb moment. They have to be pilots! Those and several others are exploring a more immediate pathway to careers in aviation by studying to receive FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates, which would allow them to fly drones commercially. I have one
myself, and the opportunities in construction and infrastructure are growing more enormous with each passing year.
“Some of the kids will decide aviation isn’t for them. Of course that’s OK! But no matter where their lives take them, they’ll always remember the time they took the controls of an actual airplane –something most people would never dream of doing.”
Visit My.EdenPr.org/Curriculum to discover all five of Eden Prairie Schools’ Pathways, which span kindergarten through senior year. Visit AV8Flight.com to see where thrilling careers in aviation take off. (Have you and your own already got the career side of things covered? AV8 Flight School can still teach you to fly a plane or a chopper, just for the fun of it!)
RILEY CROSSING SENIOR LIVING
Where Generations Thrive
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY JOHN
I am practically still a baby: only an unspecified number of years old, and brimming with energy. My joie de vivre? Tiptop! The thought of moving to a new home? Exciting! I’ll never be too old to start sharpieing “kitchen,” “office,” and “wife closet 1 of 17” on cardboard boxes when I sense greener pastures nearby.
“Riley Crossing’s full continuum of care is available in one spacious, modern, and beautifully situated retirement community.”
My enthusiasm for moving will undoubtedly grow even stronger as I grow older. If you’re the same way (and I suspect you are), then we’d both prefer to enjoy our golden years in a new, comfortable home surrounded by people we care for – many of whom are there to provide support commensurate with our needs.
That’s why we may live in Chanhassen someday. Our neighboring city is home to Riley Crossing Senior Living, where residents age contentedly in place.
“Independent Living. Assisted Living. Memory Care. Enhanced Care,” said Taryn Bartz, executive director. “Riley Crossing’s full continuum of care is available in one spacious, modern, and beautifully situated retirement community.
“The bright and airy apartments in our Independent Living ‘neighborhood’ are indistinguishable from those of other upscale apartment communities, and complete with full kitchens and washers and dryers.”
“Residents in Independent Living don’t move out of their apartments when they find themselves requiring more care support,” said Shelley Brady, director of outreach and sales. “Their needs may be limited to housekeeping and intermittent safety checks, or as extensive as medication management, help bathing and dressing, and personal escorts to meals and activities.”
They’re good meals: made from scratch by fivestar chefs to suit residents’ various dietary needs, served in a restaurant-style dining hall. They’re also a lot of activities. Riley Crossing’s instructor-led fitness programs, art classes, educational seminars, regular excursions to various points of interest around the Twin Cities, vast surrounding web of walking paths spanning three different lakes, and on-site club room, music lounge, hair salon, library, golf green, theater, chapel, and many other neat things to do.
“Residents in need of Memory Care join a different (but still completely connected) neighborhood inside our community,” Shelley continued. “It is better equipped to support their cognitive and physical needs, and has its own schedule of daily activities. It is also where we provide our Intergenerational Program, in which babies, toddlers, and preschoolers from our attached daycare intermingle with their ‘grandfriends.’ It’s wonderful for seniors who spent their fondest years raising families, and discover that the best parts of themselves reawaken around children. The children benefit just as much, quickly growing from shy to confident around so many interesting, fun new people.”
“Enhanced Care, which is available to all residents requiring higher levels of assistance for the short or long term, provides personalized 24/7 care in the same intimate and familiar spaces they’re accustomed to,” explained Taryn. “Our Enhanced Care neighborhood’s residents live in no less luxurious apartments, complete with private kitchenettes.
“We’re grateful to be managed by Ebenezer. It is Minnesota’s largest assisted living provider, and one of its oldest as well. They’re headquartered in Edina, which means their renowned support system for staff and residents is practically right down the street.”
“That system empowers us to provide a wonderful, permanent home for people from all walks of life – the kind of environment where residents and staff truly care for one another, and genuine friendships can blossom,” said Shelley. “It’s a place families are relieved to know their most cherished members are happy in.”
Riley Crossing offers ideal accommodations for anyone to age in place in. Please visit RileyCrossing.com or call (612) 615-7363 to learn more about the services, amenities, wellness programs, and apartments now available at 620 Aldrich Drive, Chanhassen.
Coughlin Carter
Eagle. Gopher. Giant.
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
A tense quiet enveloped the Coughlin family home on April 25th, 2020. Inside, an Eagle turned Gopher turned NFL hopeful pretended not to be too overly fixated on his phone. But the league’s first teleconference-only draft was in its seventh and final round, and the aspiring linebacker’s surrounding nearest and dearest could tell that their boy was distraught.
A ring.
An alien area code.
A nervous “Hello.”
Carter, this is Coach Joe Judge. How’d you like to be a Giant?
It was the culminating moment of a lifetime of hard work, big dreams, and not a small amount of good fortune. Carter’s father, grandfather and uncle had all been Gophers; his mother, a threetime All-Conference U of M tennis player. His physique is not of
the sort a Viking would have liked to confront during an invasion of Ireland. And to top it all off, Carter’s hometown contains the greatest high school athletics programs on earth.
“I owe so much to Eden Prairie High School’s outstanding coaching staff,” said Carter. “Coach Grant, Coach O’Toole, and Coach Ritter pushed me and all the other boys to train and play our hearts out. And thanks to Coach Freese and Coach Reeder’s strength training, I was outlifting senior linebackers by the time I was a sophomore (not bragging; just a fact). If not for all their positivity and encouragement back then, I might not have dreamed I could actually go pro.
“I have all my friends and family to thank as well, of course, but I’d also like to give a shoutout to the real MVP: Sylvester Stallone, for making the Rocky movies I grew up on.
“I owe so much to Eden Prairie
High
School’s outstanding coaching staff.”
“What a night and day difference there is between Minnesota and North Jersey! Though to be honest, adjusting to life in the big city is probably much more fun when you’re a Giant. I got VIP access to classier places than this Midwestern boy had ever imagined existed. I met amazing people, both inside and outside the football world – first and foremost being Yossiana Coughlin (née Pressley), whose achievements as a five-time AVCA All-American volley player absolutely trounce anything I could have bragged about as a Gopher, and who had the kindness to marry me in 2024. We had a son earlier this year!
“All that celebrity is destructive to some guys. I’m sure you can think of a few examples. Luckily, I had a lot to keep me grounded during my NFL career.
I’d had the Minnesota Nice upbringing that teaches you to be genuine with everyone, and treat them like they’re special. I had Yossiana, who I met early on, and who has been like a light guiding me through the darkness ever since. But most important of all was my faith. Getting to know Jesus personally during my second year in the NFL really helped me strip away the remaining pride and arrogance that had been weighing me down.”
A tense quiet enveloped the Coughlin family home on September 8th, 2024. Their boy’s pectoral muscle, rotator cuff and shoulder labrum had been badly injured during the Giants’ first game of the season (against the Vikings, ironically enough), and his preceding injuries during his NFL career hadn’t done well to fortify him.
“That was the culminating injury,” said Carter, pensively. “The career-ender. Between that and the pain and all the rehab, it was not a great time for me. But the same things that kept me grounded while I was at my peak also uplifted me when I was at my low – and having the best hometown to return to certainly didn’t hurt.”
Carter resumed attending Grace Church, which he has belonged to his entire life. “My dad became a men’s pastor there shortly after selling his business and retiring,” said Carter. “He helped put together Rooted: Real & Ready – ‘a MAN-Up study for men who are done coasting, hungry to grow, and eager to live strong’ – which meets Fridays at 6:15am, and I love.
I’m grateful to have had the honor of speaking before Grace Church’s annual Arise With the Guys event, as well as The Co., their youth ministry.”
Carter has also become that most hallowed of figures in the eyes of the Eden Prairie Lifestyle editorial team – someone worthy of far more reverence than most professional athletes will ever be.
CONTINUED >
“I’m a local business owner now!” said Carter. “My brother turned me on to an awesome opportunity to purchase a reputable business last year: Serv-A-Dock, which serves Lake Minnetonka, Lake Waconia, Christmas Lake, and all the other beautiful bodies of water I grew up around. I’m now spending my days outdoors building custom docks, getting our customers ready for the summer, shutting docks down for the winter, and installing top-of-the-line ShoreStation boat lifts. It’s tough work! But I’ll tell you, it’s still a lot better than having a Viking try to tunnel his whole helmet through your chest.”
Grace.church | ServADock.com
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
Woodhouse Spa
Relax, Restore, and Revive in the Lap of Luxury
STRESS? TENSION? THE YEARS? Oh yah. You’re feeling them.
And therein lies the problem. A beautiful flower, such as yourself? You aren’t meant to be burdened beneath life’s vexations. Where you belong is in a nearby haven, where you are made to feel as good as humanly possible. The kind of place Cleopatra herself couldn’t have dreamt up in her wildest fantasies of luxury.
In Eden Prairie, that haven is Woodhouse Spa: where every detail, space, and experience has been carefully crafted to put you at the peak of comfort and ease.
You don’t walk through the door of Woodhouse. You arrive. The concierge welcomes you by placing a warm towel in your hands. You wash away the world as aromatic essential oils begin gently nuzzling the part of your brain labeled “Relax.” You stop to smell the flowers. They’re fresh .
The nature of your pampering session? Entirely up to you, as it rightly should be.
MASSAGE
Need a good knead? Woodhouse puts you in the right hands. Their massage therapists practice Swedish Body Balance Massage that relaxes muscles, alleviates stress, and improves flexibility; Hot Stone Massage, which improves circulation and renews balance via the smooth, soothing power of real Himalayan stone; Shirodhara, a warm-oil Ayurvedic head and scalp massage that releases mental tension; and many others, including massage for sleep restoration, athletic recovery, and maternity.
Does your capacity for unwinding know no bounds? Treat yourself to one of Woodhouse’s signature massages. Calming Retreat combines seven specialized treatments to create true head-to-toe holistic bliss: full-body exfoliation, therapeutic stone massage, neck and shoulder massage, acupressure, scalp massage, a foot scrub, and the restorative ancient art of reflexology. There is also Deep Tissue Transformation, which is too revitalizing an experience to describe in printed word. Sorry.
Enhance your massage. CBD. Cupping. Aromatherapy. Deep tissue pressure. These and other flourishes will elevate any Woodhouse massage to utter sublimity.
FACIALS
Your face? A perfect ten, without question. Your skin type? A fascinating subject for conversation, just as assuredly, and totally accommodated by Woodhouse’s facials, whatever it might be.
Soothe and Hydrate, which exfoliates, revives, and bestows a radiant glow to dehydrated skin. Purifying Detox, which unclogs pores, evens tone, and leaves CONTINUED >
the skin fresh and clear. Repair and Revive, which follows dual-phase exfoliation with Vitamin C antioxidant treatment and a soothing mask that hydrate skin to sheer brilliance. Firm and Renew, which combines collagen booster therapy, facial massage, and silver foil mask to rebuild firmness, repair fine lines, and restore radiance. Try any one of these treatments if you want your outward appearance to align more closely with your soul (noting that magazine readers’ souls are most beautiful of all).
ADVANCED FACIALS
Have you felt stress, tension, and/or the years harder than usual lately? Feel like you are closer to being the visible personification of absolute perfection instead by receiving the HydraFacial Deluxe: Woodhouse’s most technologically advanced facial, which integrates targeted mask, massage and LED light therapy to cleanse, exfoliate, extract, and hydrate the skin, as well as address specific skin concerns.
Has springtime not yet returned a youthful glow to your cheek? Place matters in Woodhouse’s hands. Book a HydraFacial Classic, which implements patented Vortex-Fusion technology to exfoliate, extract and hydrate skin, followed by application of antioxidants and peptides that seal in a soft lustre. HydraFacial Express. Keravive HydraFacial Microdermabrasion, microchannel, demaflash and dermaplane. If there is a way to treat your face very nicely and in a fashion that will leave you feeling your tippy-top best, Woodhouse has mastered its technique.
BODY TREATMENTS
Don't let your face monopolize all the TLC. Your body also deserves VIP treatment like only Woodhouse can provide!
If there were ever a body treatment worth fibbing your way out of the office early for, it’s the Holistic Body Detox. It is a dry brush exfoliation, followed by an application of sea minerals and rebalancing body mask, finished with a skin-supportive cream that detoxifies and seals in the sea’s good, good nutrients.
Just want to zen out? Tell the office you’ll also be in late, but not because you’re spoiling yourself with a mid-morning Meditative Mood Soak: a tranquil fullbody therapy experience, complete with dry brushing, sensory sea mineral enriched bath, and Swedish Body Balance Massage.
HAVE IT YOUR WAY
Every therapy detailed thus far? Yours to choose freely from. Envision the perfect bespoke spa experience. It awaits you at Woodhouse.
Would you rather treat yourself to the perfect curated spa experience? Woodhouse’s luxury treatment bundles let you choose the best without a second’s thought. There is no better way to discover just how deeply Woodhouse can envelop you in serenity than the Ultimate Reset: a four-hour package encompassing the spa’s signature Calming Retreat, Nourishing Wrap (featuring skin care products by Phytomer, whose ingredients are primarily sourced off the French coast), and HydraFacial Deluxe.
MEET MEGAN STEBBING, PROPRIETOR
Megan Stebbing loves her family and the home she made for herself upon moving to Minnesota 15 years ago. Working at her automotive service center, however, elicited decidedly less of Megan’s affection.
“I grew up in the auto repair industry, which has always been very good to me,” she said. “But at the end of the day, it’s just too transactional a business for my liking. Customers aren’t there because they want to be. Quite the opposite, in fact. After telling someone they needed a new transmission for the nth time, I wanted to become the bearer of positivity for a change. I just wanted to make people happy.”
Though she had concentrated on auto repair in the course of earning her MBA, Megan desired a complete change of direction.
“Coincidentally enough, I had also done a marketing project on HydraFacial back then,” reminisced Megan. “That piqued my interest while I was researching new business ventures, noticing that Woodhouse Spa offers it.
“The more I learned about Woodhouse, the deeper I fell in love. An elevated, resort-style spa experience that makes luxury affordable and accessible to the community? A perfectly serene atmosphere, where everyone’s skin care needs are expertly attended to and there are no mechanics operating high-torque machinery in the background? Heaven
“If 20 years in commercial sales have taught me anything, it’s that you have to believe in what you offer. If you advocate for anything, do it from a place of genuinity and authenticity.
“It has been hard work creating something for myself that lives up to that standard. Selecting a wonderful franchise was only the beginning. I had to navigate a byzantine process to get the necessary permits. I spent ages searching for sincere and nurturing staff, including fully licensed massage therapists. And as the mother of two young children, I’ve felt the sacrifice of every weekend and weeknight spent away from home.
“But now, I’ve finally got it. A happy place I truly believe in to share with the community I love, which includes donating services and providing other support to fantastic local initiatives, sports organizations, and other community programs. Woodhouse is all about Eden Prairie pride!”
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Carpet Luxury Vinyl Plank Hardwood Laminate Tile
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
Helping Paws’ Newest Assistance Dogs: Ready for Action
THE SFM LITTER
TEN GOLD NUGGETS. They are the SFM Litter: born to the adoring Sylvie on March 28th, 2026. These dewey-eyed rapscallions haven’t happened by chance. Their ancestry? Carefully orchestrated by Helping Paws of Eden Prairie. Their initial care? Provided by Mary Tiegen, a Helping Paws volunteer. Their financial needs? Covered in part by SFM Mutual Insurance Company.
Finn (Photos on this spread by Scruff Life Photography)
Sylvie, of course, had a lot to do with it also.
The SFM Litter are currently spread out across numerous other volunteers’ homes, receiving training in accordance with Assistance Dogs International’s exacting standards. Some will become of inestimable help to people who have physical disabilities. Others, steadfast companions to veterans and first responders living with service-related PTSD. A few may even work in courthouses, mental health facilities, and other places that could use brightening by the world’s sunniest faces.
CONTINUED >
Felix
Fenton
Fergus
Fern
Fiona Fisher
Flint
Franklin Fred
“When they’re born, they’re about the size of an avocado,” said Jonathan Kramer of Helping Paws. “Totally blind. Equally deaf. Just squeaking, wriggling furballs who know how to do two things only: eat, and sleep. Amazingly, they’re able to begin training when they’re only three weeks old, which is when we start familiarizing them with new sounds, textures, and people so they can learn to stay calm anyplace.
“We’re grateful to everyone who volunteers to help desensitize our puppies, as well as those who house and love them during their initial two years of training. Naturally, anyone who donates funding to our nonprofit organization holds our highest admiration as well.
“But the SFM Litter? They’re special. They’re the first batch of Helping Paws puppies to have been sponsored at the ground level by one of our corporate partners: the very same workers’ comp experts they’re named after.”
“As a member of the Minnesota Keystone Program, we have committed to donating two percent of our pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations,” said Megan McGowan of SFM. “We have donated to Helping Paws for some years now, and are consistently impressed by everything they do. Their leadership ensures every dollar received goes straight to where it can do the most good, and has gone so far as
Sylvie
to push legislation that facilitates their dogs’ access to public places. Their volunteers give selflessly of themselves, usually covering the dogs’ many expenses out of pocket. Their clients, who receive dogs free of charge, have shared deeply touching stories about the difference they make in their lives. And the dogs themselves? Words simply cannot describe such sweet little souls.
“All in all, it’s just a whole lot of goodness that we’re truly fortunate to be a small part of.
“And that gives SFM a great deal to celebrate. We recently hosted Puppy-Palooza – a baby shower for the litter, where we celebrated our special partnership with Helping Paws while donating much-needed items for the new litter, and pledging our time as desensitizers and homes as hosts. We are also one of several supporters of Helping Paws’ annual 5K at Purgatory Creek Pavilion, where upward of 100 people unite to applaud the nonprofit’s life-changing work. Teller, the Helping Paws dog who has become SFM’s unofficial mascot, attends all our fundraising events in a handsome blue bowtie!
“All in all, it’s just a whole lot of goodness that we’re truly fortunate to be a small part of.”
“Helping Paws’ lovely assistance dogs have undoubtedly brought our team closer together. They have given us a deeper sense of connection to our community, and shown us miraculous rewards for our efforts. If your own organization is looking for a nonprofit partnership, then I couldn’t recommend Helping Paws more wholeheartedly. This is what it means to do good.”
Help Helping Paws transform more lives. When your company sponsors a litter of impossibly cute goldens or Labs, you’ll make angels. Visit HelpingPaws.org or call (952) 9889359 to learn more!
Photos on this spread by Helping Paws
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ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER |
Redstone
American Grill
Elegance Awaits
“I want to go to a place that serves bland food out of sealed plastic bags!” says your beloved spouse.
“Well, I want to go to a place where the waitstaff is discourteous, and the ambiance leaves much to be desired!” says your beloved child.
“Forget about that!” says your beloved parent. “Where we ought to go is somewhere without a full bar, or a happy hour.”
The rabble instantly falls silent under the resonant voice of reason. “No,” you say. “We’ll go to none of those places. This family shall dine in a warm and personable modern grillhouse on the shore of Lake Idlewild … where the scratch kitchen serves delightful things, and the bar is full to a point where it is nearly bursting at the seams with upscale cocktails. This family shall dine at Redstone American Grill, which I recently read about in Eden Prairie Lifestyle.”
Your family realizes you are right, as they always do. They barely have time to compliment your invariably good choices in restaurants before arriving at your best choice to date: a cozy hideaway one would be surprised to discover only half a mile from the bustle of Eden Prairie Center.
Cheery hosts greet you on your arrival. They hold the door open for your beloved parent as you all channel in to the calm. You note the large, inviting fireplace, and, just farther down, rotisserie chickens precision dancing over apple and cherrywood coals. “These are heartening
sights,” you say to your host, whose expression divulges total agreement. “But it is summer, and we should prefer to enjoy this gorgeous evening outdoors. Your high-ceilinged dining room’s many large windows reveal an intimate patio, replete with its own bar. May we please have one of its 42 tables? A fireside one, if it is available?”
Thus seated, you decide it is time for a restorative. “I noticed an enormous glass jar filled with sliced pineapple and clear liquid on the bar,” you say to your server, whose graciousness is no less superlative than your host’s. “That liquid wouldn’t per chance be top-shelf vodka, would it?”
“It is,” says your server. “Might I interest you in a cool, refreshing Redstone Doli?”
“I think you just have,” you answer. “And my beloved spouse will join me. But I believe my beloved parent would much prefer a Woodford Reserve Manhattan, made with Angostura and black walnut bitters, muddled with orange and served over a single large ice cube with brandy cherries.”
“Ah!” your server lights up. “Here we just call that a ‘Redstone Manhattan.’ I’ll bring one right out. And for your beloved child?”
They politely order milk without further prompting. You raised them well.
Suddenly, you sense a managerial presence. It is Lisa Oler, general manager of Eden Prairie’s own Redstone American Grill, who has come to your table to delicately investigate for any ways she might make your evening more remarkable.
“Good evening everyone!” says Lisa. Having made proper introductions and pleasantries, she asks if she can possibly be of assistance to you.
“Indeed you can,” you remark upon taking a sip of your newly manifested Redstone Doli. “Your menu. It’s wonderful! We regret that we haven’t yet come for lunch or Saturday brunch, or for short rib sliders and cheesesteak wontons during happy hour. But this being dinner, what would you most recommend? The lobster bisque? The filet mignon Cobb salad? The Cajun ribeye? The chicken pesto Bellagio? The classic Redstone burger? Pray, tell us your favorites – and please, do take your time.”
“Oh my goodness!” says Lisa. “That’s so hard to say. Chef Carlos Urzua, who has been with Redstone American Grill for over 20 years, has perfected a truly special menu. I’m never unamazed by the cool, collected, almost fatherly demeanor he always maintains while he runs our large and busy kitchen. Chef Carlos’ staid resolve to serve Eden Prairie’s greatest cuisine only becomes more impressive when you consider the attention to detail a scratch kitchen like ours requires. With the exception of our bread and our ice cream, everything is made in-house. Uncoincidentally, that seems to be the only way our food can live up to Chef Carlos’ preternaturally high standards for freshness and flavor.”
“Marvelous!” you exclaim. “But suppose you were pressed to pick four favorite entrées. What would you say?”
Lisa proceeds to recite poetry. She sings of sea bass, pan-seared in a brandy garlic crust, served under Asian vinaigrette and toasted sesame seeds and with sides of basmati rice and fresh vegetables; baby back ribs, slow-roasted overnight and finished
on the grill until the meat can just barely stay on its bones; the very same rotisserie chicken you admired earlier, served classic or barbecue style alongside buttery garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus; and finally, that most Minnesotan of all delicacies.
“It’s a generous eight-ounce portion of walleye, lightly crusted in parmesan bread crumbs – crispy, and never oily – served with mashed potatoes and asparagus,” Lisa explains. “We welcome a lot of guests from foreign countries to Redstone American Grill, so serving awe-inspiring walleye is a special point of pride to us. We recently served some lovely folks from Japan who said it was the best cooked fish they’d ever eaten. High praise!”
“We’ll have all four,” you say. “And for dessert, you wouldn’t happen to serve a banana cream pie unlike any I’ve ever tasted before, would you?”
“We do,” Lisa answers as if she’d anticipated that very question, “and it’s brilliant: homemade banana custard in a toasted almond and walnut crust, buried under freshly sliced bananas, whipped cream, and caramel.”
The entire meal is divine. Your only regret is that you can’t enjoy it again that very evening. But you’re full now, and your favorite TV show comes on in 15 minutes. You only have time to pass along one final compliment to Lisa before leaving.
“I’m so glad you loved the service!” Lisa beams. “You know, I’ve worked at Redstone American Grill since becoming a server here in 2009, and I’ve always appreciated the lengths the restaurant goes through to create a fantastic guest experience. It begins with hiring staff who genuinely enjoy catering to others. It extends to fulfilling any and all special wishes our guests might have. If there is a way we can make your day brighter, come on in and let us know!”
Redstone American Grill’s Eden Prairie location is 8000 Town Center Place. Visit RedstoneGrill.com to learn more and make a reservation for this evening, which will go more or less as described.
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RET IREMENT: FAILED
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
LYNDON MOQUIST,
REALTOR
Thirty-seven years a Twin Cities Realtor! Twenty-three of those spent as managing broker for Edina Realty’s Eden Prairie and Edina offices. When Lyndon Moquist passed the torch to Brad Lasser in 2024, he thought he might just be out of the game.
“For about three minutes,” Lyndon clarified. “My dad worked as a luxury home builder until he was 80 years old. He’s 97 now, and still as healthy as ever. I figured I might as well follow in his footsteps and see if he really has discovered the secret to longevity. It will be easy enough if I only have to continue doing what I love: providing sound advice from a place of expertise, helping buyers find their dream homes, and helping sellers maximize every ounce of leverage they have in an ever-changing market.
“I was apprehensive at first. Would people still want me to represent them after I’d spent so many years working behind the scenes as a managing broker? To my relief, they did! Clients practically came out of the woodwork once word got out that I was back in the game. Business, as they say, took off like a rocket. And after two years of selling, the new build portion of my business that had been just 10 percent of sales is booming too.
“But if I can claim any success, then it’s thanks to several extraordinary women, starting with Julie, my encouraging wife of 36 years. There’s also Emma Rovick, who, as a housewife and mother of three hoping to save up to buy a piano for her daughter, purchased a small real estate firm in 1955. She grew it into the largest residential firm in the Midwest, with the largest market share in Minnesota for 26 years running – the same one I’m now blessed to be a part of. (Yes, her girl received a piano, too.) There’s Sharry Schmid, the current president and CEO of Edina Realty, who I had the pleasure of working alongside as managing broker at the Edina 6800 office back in 2011. And last but certainly not least are Krissie Craig and Heather Gustafson: two Realtors with immense talents and rave reviews from clients, who I’ve partnered with on both new build and existing homes to help create the synergy of ideas, strategies, staging, negotiations, and results that mutually benefits all our clients.
“Let this be on the record. Ladies? Thank you!
“Wait. I forgot to mention someone else who’s incredibly important: Carole Griffith, the executive vice president of McDonald Construction who I’d previously recruited to Edina Realty. Carole turned the tables and hired me to represent McDonald Construction’s sales team, listing and selling homes alongside Krissie in the southwest region. She was mentored by Bob McDonald – a legend among Minnesotan homebuilders – and has been instrumental in keeping his legacy alive, taking the business to new heights for innovation, quality, and value. We’re talking about the kinds of beautiful homes that win Housing First Minnesota’s coveted Reggie Awards in 2024 and 2026 (and might have taken the trophy in 2025 if not for the rule against back-to-back wins).
“McDonald Construction is solving a serious problem with residential real estate in Eden Prairie. With more buyers than sellers, there’s not enough of it! And vacant land for building is only becoming increasingly rare here. Now residents are looking as far away as Victoria for new construction. Worse yet, the shortage of housing coupled with sellers not wanting to give up their 3 percent mortgages is keeping values high for existing home inventory, too.
“That’s why I’m proud to have teamed up with McDonald Construction. We had success selling the six gorgeous $1.3 to $1.6 million homes of The Hills at Johnson Ridge, located on a quiet cul-de-sac near Olympic Hills Golf Club. At this moment, we have sold five of the seven new homes priced from $1.4 to $1.8 million
on Timberland Trail, which is also a peaceful area near Olympic Hills. McDonald Construction is currently working on our next exciting development overlooking the river bluffs in southwest Eden Prairie, which will be officially announced soon. Call me today if you’d like to strike while that iron is hot!
“Fortunately, my failed retirement hasn’t prevented me from giving back like I have always enjoyed. I just completed my 12th year as chair of the Board of Appeal and Equalization, which hears and moderates Eden Prairie residents’ property tax appeals. I’ve also recently served on two boards dedicated to creating affordable housing in our city.
“I played trumpet professionally for 15 years after college. I have donated my time playing trumpet for St. Andrew’s since 1997, and more recently began performing as first trumpet player with the Eden Prairie Community Band. We performed four rousing concerts on a tour of the Baltics last summer. I’ll also be playing lead trumpet for the Eden Prairie Players’ production of Legally Blonde: The Musical running June 20th through 28th. I can’t tell you how lucky I feel, to be part of a town that makes an experience like that possible.
“I guess you could say I’m grateful and blessed to be ‘failing at retirement’ – and even more so to be doing it in our beautiful, vibrant city of Eden Prairie!”
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LyndonMoquist@edinarealty.com | (952) 240-303
FEATURING
O.C. detail
YOUR SATISFACTION: GUARANTEED
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETE ROSE
The road: an abrasive and corrosive place.
The child: a notorious disseminator of crumbs.
The dog : a well-meaning dope who drools and sheds.
The driver : a tidier creature than the dog, yet not altogether inculpable of creating messes.
What do these things share in common? They’re all reasons why your vehicle no longer looks as nice as it once did.
So what should you do? Just allow your car, truck, or SUV to sink deeper and deeper into decrepitude until its resale value wouldn’t cover the cost of a five-minute shopping spree at Dollar General? Stop caring about the impressions you’ll make whilst being seen around town in a shabby ride? Resign yourself to defeatism, reasoning that entropy is inescapable and all attempts at preserving the physical world are fool’s errands?
No!
Put your foot down and say this: “The world may be a wild and wacky place that isn’t totally within my control, but I will not tolerate owning an unkempt vehicle!” Then call (612) 597-4010 to schedule your appointment with Minnesota’s best vehicle detailing service. Of course it is located in Eden Prairie. How else could it be the best?
O.C. Detail: founded in 2016 by Chris Devore, who is one of those rare sorts of dudes who loves cleaning. Did Chris’s compulsion annoy his family to such a degree that he was pressed to pursue professional cleaning opportunities outside of his home, and eventually manifest itself as a multiply staffed and fully insured workshop offering paint correction, ceramic coating, undercoating, and interior and exterior detailing services just off the intersection of Valley View Road and 169?
Yes!
PAINT CORRECTION
“The goal is simple,” said Chris. “We’re here to make your vehicle look better than the day it was rolled into the dealership.
“You’re unlikely to ever buy a new car with a perfect paint job. By the time the dealership sells one, it has probably been through their coarse brush wash several times. Time on the road only worsens the problem.
“That’s why most people never realize just how much scratching, swirling, and oxidation are detracting from their vehicle’s shine, depth, and clarity. Only paint correction that completely eliminates any and all imperfections can show them the light –and that’s exactly the kind of paint correction we specialize in here at O.C. Detail.”
CERAMIC COATING
Chemicals. Scratches. Ultraviolet radiation. Inconsiderate birds. These forces all want to harm your vehicle’s luster. Chris and co. won’t let them.
“We use Crystal Serum Ultra by Gtechniq,” said Chris. “It’s a professional-grade, nine-year warrantied ceramic coating, with an inner layer that chemically bonds to the paint, and an outer that provides better resistance to acids, alkalis, heat and abrasion than any other product on the market.
“What really sets O.C. Detail’s ceramic coating apart is the preparation. A dealership slaps the stuff on in a matter of hours. Such carelessness begins to show only a few months later. Worse yet, they don’t correct the paint beforehand, so all its swirls and other imperfections get locked in. We, on the other hand, spend two to three days methodically removing blemishes and creating the perfect bond , which ensures the vehicle will stay beautiful and protected for years to come.”
UNDERCOATING
All the grit and salt and moisture on Minnesota’s roads? Anathema to vehicles’ undercarriages and delicate mechanical workings.
“Rubberized coatings are notorious for forming a hard, inflexible shell that traps in salt and moisture,” said Chris. “That’s why we use WoolWax: a lanolin-based product that creeps into and seals flawlessly against nooks, holes and crevices. WoolWax works best when the weather is warmer, which is why June is the perfect time to get it!”
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DETAILING
Has the appearance of your vehicle’s interior devolved to anything less than perfection? Does it smell bad, too? Let O.C. Detail cleanse all its carpeting, upholstery, leather and thermoplastic with attention to minutia that borders on maniacal.
Is your vehicle’s exterior also worse for wear? O.C. Detail’s stateof-the-art detailing process eradicates all soil, salt, and chemical residues, and restores showroom shine through the binary powers of high-quality polish and waxes. If you see a car cleaner than your own after O.C. Detail has been through with it, then … on second thought, don’t worry about that. It won’t happen.
DON’T LET A FUNKY VEHICLE HAPPEN TO YOU
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EDEN PRAIRIE FIRE DEPARTMENT
MINIMIZING RISK. INCREASING SAFETY. IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE.
I can think of no more stirring symbol of man's humanity to man than a fire engine. – Kurt Vonnegut
ARTICLE BY DAVID SCHELLER
Hopkins is a fine city in every regard except one: it makes a poor location for a fire station meant to serve Eden Prairie.
Photo by Pierce Manufacturing
Yet this was the burning reality until rather recently. A town that doesn’t so much as border our own, dispatching its finest, only for said finest to find nothing to save on arrival.
Ray Mitchell believed a far more sensible solution to be at hand. The young man helped Mayor David Osterholt realize the same in 1967. The Eden Prairie Fire Department was established that very same year, with Ray as its chief.
Twenty men. Breathing equipment for one-fifth as many. A single truck, which could empty its 1,000-gallon tank at a rate of about 300 gallons per minute. No pay. Humble beginnings – but the start of something big.
“I’m not special,” said Chief Scott Gerber. “Every member of this fire department is here for the same reasons as I am. We want to do good. We want to help people. We place service above self. And when we see danger, we run the opposite direction as everyone else.
“Twenty-three full-time and around 80 part-time firefighters currently comprise our department. The former have all trained to the same standard for excellence, and work in 24-hour shifts. The latter, called ‘duty crew,’ come from all walks of life. Blue collar. White collar. Folks who work as engineers, insurance agents, IT professionals, business professionals, or full-time firefighters or paramedics in other communities, and spend what little remaining free time they have with us. It seems every new firefighter we add brings a wealth of new experience that only makes our department stronger.
“And we need all the strength we can get, because we do a lot. This department responded to 4,082 calls in 2025; up 22 percent from the year before!
“Around 70 percent of that call volume is medical emergencies, to which our firefighters are highly trained and typically first responders. The rest are fire emergencies, or special operations having to do with ice, water, aircraft, or railroads. We’re grateful to be part of the tiered approach to medical emergency response that enables the Eden Prairie Police Department, Hennepin Healthcare Emergency Medical Services, and the fire department to best serve Eden Prairie.
“While emergency response may garner the most attention out of this department’s many services, prevention is another of our key focus areas. Our four full-time fire inspectors, whose dedication to fire and life safety code compliance prevents emergencies and disasters, deserve no less acclaim. They routinely examine our city’s businesses and hazardous materials locations, as well as multi- and single-family properties totaling around 14,500 occupancies. The nine full-time staff of our city’s Building Inspections Division have done even more to fortify our community, having conducted 13,988 inspections in 2025 alone.
CONTINUED >
“Preparation constitutes another large part of our efforts. That means serious training. All together, our firefighters trained for a total of 21,412 hours last year. Extrication. Fire suppression. Car crashes. Medical events. Lake incidents. If there is a way to become of greater help when our neighbors’ lives are in jeopardy, then I believe we’re training on it.
“The best emergency is one avoided. That’s why we also focus so heavily on prevention, which largely takes the form of public education. It is an honor to teach schoolchildren skills that might someday save their lives. It’s an equal pleasure to speak with our neighbors at community events. Many people see us around town and want to walk up to say hello. If that’s you, please do! And if you’d really like to see our equipment up close, then I encourage you to attend the Citywide Open House held at Eden Prairie City Center on the first Saturday of every October.
“That equipment is something else to be grateful for, and a testament to a city that stands behind its firefighters. Last year was a big change for the department, as it marked the arrival of our new Pierce Velocity engines. They are state of the art, with 30-gallon foam cells, 750-gallon water tanks, and 2,000-gallons-per-minute pumps. Every last detail down to the design of their
cabinets has been fine-tuned to help our firefighters do their jobs safer, faster, and more effectively. We also received two other new pieces of high technology in 2025: Rescue One and Rescue Two, by Skeeter, which greatly enhance our ability to contend with hazards such as grass fires, brush fires, and possible airport incidents.
“At present, our next big challenge is hiring more full-time staff. We added three in 2025 and eight more this year, but we still have a ways to go until we achieve our most pressing goal: keeping all four of our fire stations staffed 24/7 with both full-time and duty crew staff. I expect it will be eight to ten years before we reach that milestone, but I’m confident we’ll get there with support from a great mayor, city council, and city manager – and, above all else, the community we’re so proud to serve.”
EdenPrairieMN.gov
“Working with Kim Guild and The Guild Group was truly one of the best decisions we made during a major life transition. Kim went far beyond what we expected. Throughout the entire journey, Kim was patient, steady, and incredibly supportive. She made a complex and emotional process feel manageable, and she showed up not just as an outstanding professional, but as a genuine partner and friend. We would wholeheartedly recommend Kim to anyone buying or selling a home, and we can confidently say the same about the exceptional team that supports her. We are deeply grateful for her care, expertise, and commitment.
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
THE QUIET STANDARD:
MIKE JOHNSON
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
MIKE JOHNSON
JUNE 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JUNE 5TH
Pamela McNeill: Janis, Stevie, Dolly and Me
501 West 78th St, Chanhassen | 7:30 PM
Live at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, it’s 2024 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee Pamela McNeill! Pamela and her high-energy band will perform songs from three of the most beloved artists of all time, including hits such as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Stand Back,” and “Jolene,” as well as some of her original songs. Show also on June 6th ChanhassenDT.com
JUNE 8TH
Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament and Fundraiser
2693 Co Rd 79, Shakopee | 9:00 AM
Register for the chamber’s annual golf tournament at Stonebrooke Golf Club today! Whether you are an avid golfer who watches every hole of the Masters – or just enjoy a casual round with friends old and new – this annual tournament is for you! Registration/breakfast 8am; shotgun 9am; afternoon lunch, silent auction, prizes and awards for top three teams EPChamber.org
JUNE 21ST
Father’s Day Petting Zoo at The Mustard Seed
10,000 Great Plains Blvd, Chaska 11:00 AM
Go to The Mustard Seed on Father’s Day to meet and pet Hasse Family Mobile Petting Zoo’s extremely meetable and pettable animals! The landscape and garden center’s resident chickens and koi will also be present, as will the Tacos La Catrina food truck. Event goes until 3pm; admission $5 ages 3 and up. TheMustardSeedInc.com
LEADERS IN CARE. EXPERTS IN MOTION.
At Summit Orthopedics, we’re proud to be Minnesota’s only top-ranked orthopedic and spine outpatient surgery center as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. And while our expertise sets us apart, it’s how we care for people that defines us. Even after thousands of procedures, we treat each patient like the only one.
