🌱 Patch AM: Who’s leading Eden Prairie schools and what they’ll be paid in 2026

Good morning Eden Prairie! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Who’s leading Eden Prairie schools and what they’ll be paid in 2026
• How an Eden Prairie teacher’s family rebuilt life after a devastating injury
• Why Eden Prairie police joined a major federal child exploitation case

Also on today's calendar: Holiday Teas! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the hammer say after getting an A on a test? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 38 and low of 26 degrees.
• Thursday: Cloudy most of the time, temps: high: 35, low: 24.
• Friday: Cloudy, with a high of 31 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Eden Prairie School Board elects 2026 officers (eplocalnews.org) — Eden Prairie’s School Board has set its officer lineup and pay for 2026, keeping stipends unchanged while shuffling some roles. Aaron Casper remains chair, Abby Libsack moves to vice chair, Steve Bartz becomes clerk, and Ann Bradsher continues as treasurer after unanimous votes at the Jan. 5 organizational meeting.
   

2. 'Improvise, adapt, overcome': Tim and Kelli Zupke's story of resilience and love (eplocalnews.org) — An Eden Prairie Early Childhood Special Education lead teacher is balancing his district role with being full-time caregiver to his wife, a former Forest Hills Elementary teacher recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Their story highlights how Eden Prairie colleagues, neighbors, and school connections have rallied around them while they rebuild daily routines, lean on a service dog, and slowly reintroduce beloved activities like horseback riding.
   

3. Forest Lake man arraigned on federal child pornography charges; Eden Prairie police assisted in arrest (eplocalnews.org) — Eden Prairie police helped federal agents arrest a Forest Lake man in the city on serious child pornography and cyberstalking charges, though local officials say there’s no broader incident tied to Eden Prairie. The FBI believes more victims may exist and is urging anyone with suspicious experiences, especially linked to North Branch High School, to contact its tip line.
   

4. Hearing Aid and Ear Device Patents for November 2025 (hearinghealthmatters.org) — Several new November 2025 patents were awarded to Eden Prairie–based Starkey Laboratories for advanced hearing aids, including migraine detection, neural-network feedback cancellation, and improved in-the-ear devices. The article surveys dozens of global hearing and ear-wearable innovations, highlighting how rapidly audio, hearing-assist, and brain-signal technologies are evolving in both medical and consumer markets.
   

📸 Around Eden Prairie

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Eden Prairie

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday January 8

• Holiday Teas!
  University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum , 3675 Arboretum Dr , Chaska
  1:00 pm
• Seed Sorting Circle
  Eden Prairie Library , 565 Prairie Center Drive , Eden Prairie
  2:00 pm
• Drop-in Tech Help
  Eden Prairie Library , 565 Prairie Center Drive , Eden Prairie
  4:00 pm
• EPHS Band Concert
  Eden Prairie High School , 17185 Valley View Rd , Eden Prairie
  7:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Art: Winter Quietude
  University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum , 3675 Arboretum Dr , Chaska
  9:00 am
• Library for All: All About Me Leveling Up and Craft a Power Up Flex Doll
  Eden Prairie Library , 565 Prairie Center Drive , Eden Prairie
  12:00 pm

Saturday January 10

• Winter Wellness Fair
  University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum , 3675 Arboretum Dr , Chaska
  9:00 am

Tuesday January 13

• Info Session at PiM Arts High School
  7255 Flying Cloud Dr , Eden Prairie
  6:30 pm

Friday January 16

• Fairy Dust Slime Workshop (4-9 Years)
  7566 Market Pl Dr , Eden Prairie
  9:00 am
• Art: Winter Quietude
  University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum , 3675 Arboretum Dr , Chaska
  9:00 am
• Arctic Friends Sensory Play (12 months -6 Years)
  7566 Market Pl Dr , Eden Prairie
  10:00 am

Saturday January 17

• Parent & Child - Crystal Rainbow Catcher (7-99 Years)
  7566 Market Pl Dr, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344
  11:00 am

📣 Eden Prairie Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Eden Prairie PatchAM possible:

• Elegant brow threading — (612) 461-7426
  40% Off First Visit – Limited Time Offer!
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• AnnapurnaBlue Heath and Wellness — (952) 405-0342
  You Are The Sun ~ Costa Rica Women's Retreat ages 35 - 70+

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• 3-alarm fire in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fire under control.
  5:23PM on Jan 5: The fire has been brought under control as of 5:11pm, local time, per The Extra Alarm Association of the Twin Cities. Open source… (Nextdoor )
• Police activity in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  8:54PM on Jan 5: Major police presence reported along 24th Street in front of the Jehovah Witness church, with at least eight cars and a drone… (Nextdoor )

• Wooddale Church posted a job opening for Custodian - On Call in Eden Prairie. Apply here.
• Goodwin Recruiting posted a job opening for Unit Chef in Eden Prairie. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Eden Prairie here.

Ok Eden Prairie! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I nailed it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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