HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina October 2023Edina Hornets Shine with 200 State Championship Titles
Student Teams Have Earned Titles in 17 Different Sports Since 1954
BY COLETTE DANIELSKI
The Edina High School (EHS) Hornets have long held a standard
of academic distinction and athletic excellence, and their recent
breakthrough moment only furthers that notion. The Hornets earned
their 200th State Championship earlier this year, a high honor across
the state and nation.
Boys’ golf was the sport to make EHS reach the 200 mark. And
that’s not the only title the golfers have won. They currently hold 10
title wins and were the very first sports team at Edina to win a state
championship back in 1954, according to Mike McCollow, Varsity
Head Coach of boys’ golf at EHS.
“It was really special,” McCollow said of reaching the 200 mark
June 14. “We certainly know the proud history of the high school;
I’ve been very lucky to be a caretaker of the sport and be part of
a great tradition. I told our kids as the season got closer about the
possibility and uniqueness and how the boys would be remembered
in history if we were lucky enough. So, this is a testament to the
amazing athletes, alumni and how everyone is a part of this win in
the community. Everyone feels really proud of this.”
Another sport contributing to this record is boys’ hockey, currently
holding 13 titles. Golf and hockey are two of the varsity teams that
use City facilities as their “home.”
“We couldn’t do our program without access to a golf facility like
Braemar, plus it’s right down the street from EHS, so it’s great for
us to have the opportunity to train there,” McCollow added.
The hockey coaches agree. “I think the best thing about Braemar
Arena is that it’s one of the top arenas in the state, and it’s perfect
for high school hockey. It’s set up well, welcoming for fans, and we
have a personal relationship with them,” said Varsity Boys’ Hockey
Head Coach Curt Giles.
The team with the most state title wins in EHS sports history is
girls’ tennis, boasting an impressive 37 titles dating back to 1978.
Varsity Head Coach Jaime Gaard Chapman credits that success to the
leadership of longtime tennis coach Steve Paulsen. “He had a unique
ability to bring a group of highly competitive and successful individual
athletes together to create the ultimate team-first mentality,” she
said. “My coaching philosophy is to live those values/actions of a
team-first culture every day, prioritize building confidence in the
team members, and provide a highly energetic training environment,
so athletes are challenged.”
To keep up with the EHS athletic programs and see the list of
sports contributing to the prestigious 200 titles accomplishment,
visit hornets.edinaschools.org/athletics.
Boys’ golf team members Torger Ohe (left), Sander Ohe, Owen Nielsen,
Ben Sanderson, David Colby and Jimmy Abdo, led by Head Coach Mike
McCollow, won the 2023 State title, Edina Public Schools’ 200th State
Championship. (Submitted Photo)
The EHS boys’ hockey team celebrates its first state title win in 1969.
(Submitted Photo)
Baseball, Hockey and Golf Titles
The City of Edina is proud that Braemar and Pamela parks
are “home” to Edina High School varsity baseball, golf,
hockey and softball teams. Baseball, hockey and golf
teams that have won state championships:
Years marked with an (E) signify Edina East High School.
Years marked with a (W) signify Edina West High School.
Boys’ Hockey
1969, 1971, 1974 (E), 1978 (E),
1979 (E), 1982, 1984, 1988,
1997, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019
Girls’ Hockey
2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Baseball
1968, 1983
Boys’ Golf
1954, 1970, 1973 (W),
1977 (W), 1978 (W), 1987,
2014, 2019, 2022, 2023
Girls’ Golf
1983, 1984, 1988, 1993,
1994, 1995, 1997, 2013,
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
Edition: Edina
OCTOBER 2023
Volume 10, Issue 10Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
- COMPILED BY MATTHEW GABB
Minnesota’s winters have always been cold, but our summers are
getting hotter. Proper home insulation is key to keeping you and
your family comfortable year-round! Weatherizing your home
is the first step to unlocking all the money you can get for
other home energy projects through the Inflation Reduction
Act, new State programs and the City’s Climate Action Fund.
Visit electrifyeverythingmn.org to learn how to maximize
your home’s comfort, safety and efficiency.
BY THE NUMBERS
October is
Energy Month
If your home was built before
this year, it likely does not
have adequate insulation
1980
The money the City, your utility
and the Inflation Reduction
Act could give you to insulate
and air seal your home
$5,550
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
From playground replacements to
improvements at Braemar Park to creating
Fred Richards Park, Edina’s Parks &
Recreation Department is handling
almost $100 million in projects.
Overseeing them is Rachel Finberg, who
took on the new position of Park Planner
this spring. She might be a familiar face as
she previously served as the Horticulturist
for Centennial Lakes Park and was a key
part of planning for the new Fire Station
2. Her resume before coming to Edina
includes running her own landscaping
business and landscape management at
Wayzata Country Club and Minneapolis
Park & Recreation. She holds a bachelor’s
degree in environmental design and a
certificate in construction management,
both from the University of Minnesota.
“Her overall passion for this type of work
was very evident,” said Parks & Recreation
Director Perry Vetter. “She has experience
with planning and with implementation
of plans, so she brought both sides of
the equation of what’s needed for
this position.”
“Parks, people, plants have always been
in my wheelhouse,” Finberg said. “The
most exciting thing for me is working
more again with the public.”
To that end, she’s already held an open
house on the upcoming improvements
to Braemar Park. She’s providing updates
and listening to feedback on four
playground replacement projects and
three master plans – for Braemar, Fred
Richards and Strachauer parks. All those
live online in a new Parks Project section
of BetterTogetherEdina.org that Finberg
helped put together.
She encourages people to participate
in those projects, ask questions and
provide feedback.
“What I’ve learned so far is that people
are just as passionate about parks as I
am,” Finberg said.
Finberg is also keeping an eye on
neighborhood parks. Community
demands change for various amenities,
so it’s a balancing act of what to offer
along with where and when. Plus, the
landscaping needs change for use, nature
preservation and climate adaptation.
“She’s very interested in the vision
of parks moving forward,” said Tom
Swenson, Assistant Director – Parks &
Natural Resources. “She is actively getting
involved in everything we are doing to
help build a vision for all of our parks.”
Keep up to date on Parks & Recreation
projects at EdinaMN.gov/ParksProjects
or BetterTogetherEdina.org/Parks.
Reach Finberg at rfinberg@EdinaMN.gov
or 952-826-0397.
New Park Planner Overseeing Multiple Major Projects
Former Centennial Lakes Park Horticulturist Has Passion for Parks, People and Plants
0
The cost of a home energy audit
if you sign up for Xcel Energy’s
Renewable*Connect Flex (an
audit is required to access
Edina’s Climate Action Fund)$900
The money you could save
on annual heating and
cooling costs with proper
insulation and air sealing
Braemar Park is just one of three park master plans
that Park Planner Rachel Finberg is overseeing move
from concept designs to park features people can
enjoy. (Photo by Lauren Siebenaler)
2
In November, Edina voters will consider
whether to use an existing local sales tax
to fund an expansion of Braemar Arena.
Braemar Arena, 7501 Ikola Way, is
a regional sports venue, annually
attracting more than 500,000 visitors
from 158 Minnesota communities
and 12 states. Last year, Edina voters
approved investments to address critical
infrastructure repairs and upgrades to its
operations and mechanics using a half-
percent local sales tax. But the arena still
can’t meet the rising local demand for
skating time, and the City has identified
important access and safety issues that
must be addressed.
To ensure Braemar Arena serves residents,
athletes and visitors well into the future,
the Edina City Council has put forward a
$31.7 million investment plan to expand
and renovate the facility. Voters will
decide this November whether to use
the same half-percent sales tax approved
last year to fund the plan.
If approved, the City would demolish the
South Rink and build two new ice rinks,
resulting in four indoor rinks and one
outdoor seasonal rink. A safer drop-off/
pick-up area would be built along with
an expanded lobby and 100 more
parking spots.
Some frequently asked questions about
the referendum are:
•Do Edina residents use the arena,
or is it mostly visitors? While
Braemar draws significant regional
traffic, Edina residents, sports teams
and skating clubs make the most
reservations for ice time – and the
demand is only growing. Already,
the Edina Hockey Association
purchases 750 to 850 hours of ice
time at other rinks because of the
high demand at Braemar Arena.
Not only do we want to improve
accessibility for all residents who
enjoy skating at Braemar, we also
want to better accommodate other
local stakeholders, including the
Braemar-City of Lakes Figure Skating
Club, Edina Youth Hockey, Breakaway
Academy and Edina High School.
•Why is the City proposing this
plan now? This past spring, the State
Legislature authorized the city to seek
voter approval to use the half-percent
sales tax to fund the project. The
sales tax allows the City to share the
investment cost more fairly among
residents and nonresidents who make
purchases in the city.
•Didn’t we just vote on a sales
tax referendum? Last year, Edina
voters approved a half-percent sales
tax increase to provide $39.3 million
for investments in Braemar Park
and Arena and Fred Richards Park.
These investments include new trails,
additional courts for pickleball and
basketball, new playgrounds and
gathering spaces, nature preservation
and infrastructure updates at the
arena. Now, the City is asking voters
in November to consider using the
same sales tax to support expanding
Braemar Arena.
•If this referendum is approved,
will it extend the current sales
tax? No. The sales tax is authorized
to be used for no more than 19 years.
The referendum for the Braemar
Arena expansion would allow the
city to use the sales tax to collect
an additional $31.7 million before
the tax expires.
•What happens if the expansion
proposal fails? The City does not
currently have a viable funding
alternative for expanding the arena.
That means local skating enthusiasts,
clubs and hockey teams will be
looking elsewhere for more ice time.
Early Voting Underway for Local Sales Tax Referendum
Existing Half-Percent Sales Tax Could Fund Expansion of Braemar Arena
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
Residents can vote by absentee ballot through Nov. 6. Early in-person voting for those in the Edina school district is underway at
Edina City Hall. Residents can also vote at polling places on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information, including other frequently asked
questions, visit EdinaAtPlay.org.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4
City, County Explore Partnership
for New Southdale Library
Edina Art Center Could be Tenant of Building
A new Edina Art Center might be part of a new
Southdale Library.
The Southdale Library, 7001 York Ave., was
built in 1971. The 7.69-acre site previously also
housed a Resident & Real Estate Service Center
and district courts. The Service Center moved
to Southdale Center in 2016 and district courts
moved to other County facilities in 2019.
Planning for a new library began in 2015, was
paused in 2020 and resumed in 2023. Hennepin
County has committed to building a new library
on the existing site. Recently, County officials
approached City staff about the possibility of
including the Edina Art Center in the new facility.
The City has been exploring options for the
Art Center building for several decades. The
current building is a residential home built in
1948, remodeled for use as the Art Center in
1977 and expanded twice in the 1990s. The
facility is not ADA compliant, does not meet
current fire codes for safety ratings, has multiple
hazardous areas, lacks proper ventilation and has
inadequate electrical and natural gas systems for
Art Center needs.
Last month, the City Council approved a letter of
intent and authorized staff to negotiate project
agreements for the Art Center to be a tenant
on the library building’s second floor. Such an
arrangement would allow for shared use of many
common spaces, conference rooms, maker spaces
and outdoor education spaces. The Art Center
space would allow for the creation of two- and
three-dimensional art, including kilns within the
building, but also specialty kilns outside.
“To date, the concept of locating the Edina Art
Center within the Hennepin County Library site
appears to be the most feasible option that has
been presented to date to solve the outstanding
facility issue for a space for artmaking in Edina,”
said Parks & Recreation Director Perry Vetter.
The letter of intent does not bind the City Council to
any land use or regulatory approvals for the project.
Hennepin County hopes to open the new library
building in 2027.
In other business last month, the Council:
• Adopted a proposed 2024 budget and levy
and certified the maximum tax levy. The 2024
tax levy includes funding for additional Police
Officers to increase public safety response,
street lighting replacement, additional
technology security infrastructure and
recruiting and retaining talented staff
to provide best-in-class public services.
The preliminary levy represents an increase
of 9.33% over the 2023 total tax levy. The
impact of the levy on the median value home
of $659,900 would be $152 per year.
The Council will hold a public hearing on the
budget at its Dec. 5 meeting and must act
on the matter by Dec. 19.
• Approved an increase in CenterPoint Energy
and Xcel Energy franchise fees for 2024.
The increase is approximately 22 percent on
all property classes. The monthly fees for
residential properties will increase from
$2.90 to $3.55 per month per utility.
The funds will continue to be used for the
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety and Conservation
and Sustainability funds. The majority of
the funds would be used to maintain City-
owned street lights and convert most to
Xcel Energy-owned lights.
Increases in the franchise fees are also
anticipated in 2026 and 2028.
The City Council will next meet 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 and 17. For more information,
visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m.
Jigsaw Puzzle Competition,
Edina Community Center
Thursday, Oct. 5, 3-7 p.m.
Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park
Saturday, Oct. 7, 7:15 p.m.
Night Glow Golf, Braemar Academy 9
Monday, Oct. 9
Indigenous Peoples Day
Thursday, Oct. 12, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-noon
Edina Home Electrification
Workshop, Public Works & Park
Maintenance Facility
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m.
Walk with the Mayor,
Centennial Lakes Park
Thursday, Oct. 26, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
or 5:30-7 p.m.
HalloBoo, Edinborough Park
Sunday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m.
First John Phillip Sousa Memorial
Band, Edinborough Park
For a complete listing of meetings
and events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at
EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings