Authorities say there is no evidence to suggest the person had a grievance against the company A man is in custody after he apparently made threats from his vehicle outside UnitedHealthcare’s headquarters in Minnetonka on Monday morning who has had contact with law enforcement in the past located in the 9700 block of Health Care Lane has had a police presence since the December killing of company CEO Brian Thompson the man on Monday made a phone call to the FBI and threatened violence towards the facility if his needs were not met according to a joint statement made by the Minnetonka Police Department and FBI Authorities said they were able to negotiate with him and he was apprehended without incident after about an hour A gun was recovered in the front passenger seat of his vehicle “The safety and security of our colleagues is our top priority We are grateful that law enforcement acted quickly to resolve the situation near our Minnesota offices today the individual made no demands against UnitedHealthcare There is no reason to believe there were specific grievances against the company.” the 26-year-old was convicted in January of making violent threats and later sentenced to probation A warrant was issued in early April after he allegedly violated probation terms The Minnesota Star Tribune doesn’t typically name suspects before they are charged UnitedHealthcare has faced security concerns in the months after the killing of Thompson in New York Thompson was walking to a meeting in New York City on Dec Mangione was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges. He also faces federal charges. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi last week called for the death penalty should Mangione be convicted. Caroline Weier of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story. Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather. News & Politics Minnesota’s kindergartners have been below the recommended 95% threshold for years and more parents are getting exemptions for the MMR vaccine Where are children most vulnerable to infectious spread Hennepin County is highlighting salvage businesses in May to encourage residents to reuse construction materials and limit what gets sent to landfills Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula prompting criticism from the teachers union We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at contact@hometownsource.com or call us at 763-712-3544 Minnetonka police say a man is in custody Wednesday morning after a late-night chase and a standoff that extended into the overnight hours A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photographer captured video of officers focused on an SUV located on Hopkins Crossroad at Lorry Lane around midnight Wednesday morning about a mile away from Wayzata East Middle School Tuesday when an officer saw a vehicle committing multiple traffic violations near Highway 394 and Hopkins Crossroad The officer tried to pull over the vehicle leading police on a short chase before stopping identified as a 31-year-old from Minneapolis was “highly agitated” and didn’t get out of the vehicle when he was commanded to This caused officers to block the vehicle with their own armored vehicles so it wouldn’t flee again A crisis negotiator also attempted to get the driver to leave the vehicle multiple times Minnetonka police say the standoff lasted until just before midnight when the man got out of the vehicle and was arrested without any injury The man is being held for a suspected DWI and fleeing police in a vehicle Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 The lake’s first new hotel in a century packs vacation vibes—even for those close to home who lives in the Lake Minnetonka area and is part-owner of The Guest House short-term vacation rental in Excelsior had dreamed of opening a hotel long before she found the perfect spot—which just so happened to be right under her nose all along “I lived right around the corner from this sleepy office building,” she says I started looking into these surveys the city had sent to people who lived in the town asking what kind of amenities they were looking for when talking about guiding future growth Olsen knew she could give her community what it was craving—and after three years of long city approvals (there were concerns about noises and parking) and renovations to transform the existing office building into a hotel and restaurant the Shoreline officially opened to guests on May 1 “We knew we wanted to use the office building itself,” she says “It was built closer than you could build today—now you’d have to build 50 feet from the shoreline and that runs right through the middle of the building The hotel boasts 27 guest rooms and suites—23 of which face the lake and 17 of which have private lake-facing decks—as well as a small event space The crew also installed docks with 32 boat slips most of which are reserved for hotel and restaurant guests Guests can lounge or swim at a private beach borrow the hotel’s paddleboards and wakesurfing gear or grab one of the hotel’s bikes for a ride into town evokes a spa-like sense of vacation serenity through tone-on-tone neutrals and lake-inspired touches that evoke elegant over nautical Paintings by local artists will rotate in and out of the halls on a quarterly basis “I’ve had physical mood boards hanging on my walls for three years of how I wanted people to feel when they walked in,” Olsen says “I wanted it to be a place they could walk in and exhale like I’ve come to a place where I can relax.” The intentionality extends to the restaurant Cabana Anna’s named after Olsen’s fiery grandmother Anna “She was my maid of honor when she was 100,” Olsen laughs “She jumped out of a cake on her 99th birthday describe Cabana Anna’s as “South Florida meets Minnesota,” with an emphasis on comfort food and local produce complete with a bar top made from a 300-year-old rotten oak that had to be cut down in the hotel’s parking area Olsen and Brown grow all of the restaurant’s microgreens and edible flowers on a 26-foot-long grow wall in the hotel lobby nodding to both grandma Anna’s love of gardening and Olsen and Brown’s shared passion for growing their own food “I actually went to high school with him,” Olsen says of Brown “I met him back when he was working at Burger King and I was begging him to throw extra chicken tenders into my bag locally sourced—with the exception of the fish Olsen hopes guests will feel comfortable arriving to the restaurant just as they are “I want this to be a place where people can just drive their boat up come-as-you-are feeling for guests and locals.” Hotel (and restaurant!) reservations are now available with Classic King rooms starting around $300 per night Shoreline Hotel and Cabana Anna’s, 4165 Shoreline Dr., Spring Park, 952-295-8005, shorelinehotel.com, cabanaannas.com Madison is Associate Editor of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Key Enterprises LLC is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for mspmag.com for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards Featured by | May 2025 to our 20th anniversary as the Lake Minnetonka area’s premier community lifestyle magazine We couldn’t be prouder of our longstanding roots in and commitment to this community A lot has changed over the course of two decades but we look back with pride and joy at the relationships we’ve made the community we’ve been a part of and the stories we’ve told we’ve met residents—who are cornerstones of this community’s success—and others who are enthusiastically leading the Lake Minnetonka area into the future Our pages have been filled with deeply-rooted businesses ventures that have leaned into evolving alongside the community and newcomers to the space who are striving to make their mark health and wellness providers and a host of others have all shared their wonderful stories within our pages As we’ve watched this area grow and evolve over the years Lake Minnetonka Magazine and its sister publications have done their share of growing I fondly recall the excitement in 2005 when the premiere issue of Lake Minnetonka Magazine landed in your mailboxes And that same enthusiasm has expanded over the years From launching three magazines 20 years ago to now publishing eight thriving lifestyle magazines and operating growing websites and social media platforms we stay true to our original mission: focusing on local residents businesses and services while shining an appreciative light on what makes this community a great place to live Editor and locally-based Renée Stewart-Hester is eager to continue our legacy and proudly offers original written exclusively by our team of writers Production and Sales team members work month after month—and we can’t thank them enough thank you—dear readers and advertisers—for your continued interest loyalty and support of Lake Minnetonka Magazine Some of you have been with us from the beginning and we look forward to walking into the next 20 years with you and welcoming more readers and businesses to our pages Sign up for our newsletter and receive email updates with our top stories , , , , © Copyright 2026 Local. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy Read the May 2025 Lake Minnetonka Magazine Digital Edition            M&A Seminar on Preparing Your Company for Sale Presented by Maslon LLP and Northborne Partners Once a distressed office property at 4165 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park The Shoreline Hotel is touted as the first new hotel on Lake Minnetonka in 100 years Owner transforms building into rare Lake Minnetonka hotel Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parking mandates[...] Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs Twin Cities housing starts were up across the board in April on the strength of another solid month for single[...] Greco Properties plans a 20-unit memory care facility on a tough-to-develop Edina lot Rice Creek Commons begins redevelopment with Micro Control HQ marking a major step after years of delays at t[...] proposes 43-unit mixed-use building in Excelsior with a renovation of the historic Dock Cinema Sign up for your daily digest of Minnesota News Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parkin[...] will break ground this summer on The Dorian a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo af[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a [...] The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged despite political pressure from Pre[...] The Trump administration is swiftly remaking housing policy as the U.S Department of Housing and Ur[...] construction job openings dropped by 38,000 in March signaling slowing labor demand amid tarif[...] Trump's trade demands stretch beyond tariffs Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs is now an official city after a local vote Milwaukee Mitchell Airport will start a $95.2M international terminal project this summer after dela[...] Listen here analysis and commentary on Minnesota business We are the only independent daily newspaper dedicated to business reporting Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions etiquette and convention head out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors a comical disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail An event every week that begins at 12:00 pm on Wednesday We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information you should always call ahead to confirm dates To submit an event for consideration, consult our calendar policies and guidelines. The Shoreline Hotel in Spring Park is the first hotel to open on Lake Minnetonka in 100 years Owner and developer Kelly Olsen built the boutique hotel out of an underutilized office building.   “I am hoping people will forget this was ever an office building,” she said boat slips and a lakefront restaurant.   But one of the most unique features might be found in the bathroom of the presidential suite: the room is designed so that there are lake views from the oversized soaking tub Olsen says the project was inspired by the loss of her husband back in 2008 “I lost my husband to a drunk driver in 2008 and I really try and make all my projects encourage people to slow down and spend time with the people they care about,” Olsen said Travel by | May 2025 I buckled up my kids for a quick spring road trip to stretch our legs and see the landscape as it started to bloom along the Mississippi River For impressive scenery within a few hours of our home in Southern Minnesota we drove from Red Wing to Winona along the Great River Road Not only is this road trip one of my family’s perennial favorites the route is also an official All-American Road and National Scenic Byway Our first stop was Barn Bluff Regional Park in Red Wing The 2.9-mile hike took us to the top of a limestone bluff with panoramic views of the river and historic downtown we visited the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum — home to both the beloved Minnesota brand and the World’s Largest Boot we couldn’t resist stopping along the way to find treasures from the 100 Mile Garage Sale The annual event occurs the first weekend in May and includes sales in 15 historic river towns along the river We popped into the quintessential Chickadee Cottage Cafe for a coffee to go as we set out to explore the lakefront Lake City sits on the shores of Lake Pepin which is the widest spot of the Mississippi River celebrated with the town’s annual Water Ski Days in June we had to take a family selfie with the giant bronze statue of Ralph Samuelson we continued south to the Wabasha-Kellogg area for a stop at LARK Toys an eclectic store that’s part amusement park and part antique toy museum No visit would be complete without a ride on the hand-carved wooden carousel where each animal is a rideable work of art bald eagles soared above us along the river We loved standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the incredible view of the river and nesting ground to hundreds of bald eagles The kids loved the Center’s Ambassador Avenue where we were up close to the resident bald and golden eagles The Build-A Nest interactive activity in the Center was a great way to build up an appetite for lunch at Slippery’s Known for its appearance in the movie “Grumpy Old Men,” one of the most famous movies filmed in Minnesota it filled our bellies and gave us more spectacular views of the eagles along the banks of the Mississippi as we wrapped-up our little family road trip we made a sweet treat stop at Bloedow Bakery in downtown Winona Easily my favorite doughnut shop in Minnesota The kids grabbed some doughnuts from the bakery case we took our treats to Levee Park where the kids burned off their dessert delirium by climbing the man-made boulders in the park The Great River Road is brimming with incredible adventures for every type of traveler Take a road trip to dozens of charming Mississippi River towns right here in Minnesota head to Itasca State Park to drive the Mississippi River Trail as it winds across Minnesota and continues south to the Gulf of Mexico or plan a camping trip at Great River Bluffs State Park where awe-inspiring views of the Mississippi will leave you breathless Find more travel inspiration and plan your trip at exploreminnesota.com converted from a half-empty office building half-vacant office building along the shores of Lake Minnetonka came on the market in 2022 giving Olsen the final push to pursue a long-held goal for the Spring Park place The Mound resident purchased the 24,000-square-foot property for $5.2 million and converted it into the Shoreline Hotel which will open May 1 as the first new hotel on the lake in a century from downtown towers to suburban complexes The office vacancy rate in the Twin Cities rose to about 22% in the first quarter of this year up 2½ percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2024 That’s given developers like Olsen license for creativity morphing structures into residential or other commercial uses She said her biggest challenge in converting the property was convincing the community a busy leisure business would be as good a neighbor as a quiet office building “The [city] approval process was very difficult,” Olsen said They were worried about smell coming from the kitchen.” Spring Park city officials did eventually approve the project though the permit carried a lot of restrictions about noise and other issues the office building itself needed no structural changes to become a hotel and its offices were the right size for hotel rooms with “wall-sized windows with sliding doors looking out onto the lake,” she said because if Olsen had to tear it down and build a new structure it would be considerably farther back from the shoreline The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and lakeside cities require setbacks of 50 feet from the lake but the 1996-built office building was grandfathered in at about half that The only major construction challenge was removing a 300-year-old oak tree that was in bad health But she salvaged some of its wood to form the bar top at the on-site Cabana Anna’s restaurant To any other developers considering similar projects Olsen said she would advise gathering community residents’ feedback from the get-go “Don’t be afraid to put your brainstorm out into the public domain,” she said Anyone going for city approval with a fully developed plan could set community members “immediately hammering them with things they don’t like about it,” she said “This project changed many times over the course of the three years,” Olsen said “It evolved over time because I was willing to take feedback and really listen to what the community needed.” Prices will start around $300 a night for rooms facing the street A larger “Captain’s Quarters” suite with a kitchenette living room and fireplace will run $800 to $1,200 a night Minn.-based Leisure Hotels and Resorts will manage the Shoreline The property includes a marina with 32 boat slips for guests of the hotel and restaurant Cabana Anna’s will serve locally sourced food described as “South Florida meets Minnesota,” Olsen said Olsen named the restaurant after her grandmother who was 104 years old when she died in 2016 As the first new hotel on Lake Minnetonka in about 100 years the Shoreline is reviving the storied tourism history in the area Lake Minnetonka was a popular cross-country destination in the late 19th century when there were about 40 hotels on its shores The most recent hotel rooms to be built right on the lake were in the Lafayette Club in Minnetonka Beach It had rooms available for members or guests of members until COVID-19 hit when they were closed and have not reopened Olsen expects the hotel to be popular with people visiting the Twin Cities as well as those who live here. For example, thousands gather annually on Big Island, the lake’s largest island, for Fourth of July festivities, she said. “You know they’re out there having drinks,” said Olsen, whose first husband died in a 2008 car crash with a drunken driver. “We’re saying, ‘Don’t load your car up and drive after you’ve spent all day drinking on the lake. Come over and stay with us.’” Katy Read writes for the Minnesota Star Tribune's Inspired section. She previously covered Carver County and western Hennepin County as well as aging, workplace issues and other topics since she began at the paper in 2011. Minneapolis This season is often the most competitive for prospective homebuyers and most lucrative for sellers Here’s how to beat the opposition without busting your budget one of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy companies A ribbon cutting for the Shoreline Hotel – the first new hotel on Lake Minnetonka in 100 years – will be held late Thursday morning As reported earlier this week by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS owner and developer Kelly Olsen built the 27-room boutique hotel out of an underutilized office building It also has boat slips and a lakefront restaurant Thursday’s ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m Minnetonka police say one person is now in custody after an intruder was reported to be on the campus of UnitedHealthcare late Monday morning The intruder was identified later in the day by his mother as 26-year-old Ian Wagner Wagner is currently in custody at the Hennepin County Jail A spokesperson for the Minnetonka police department tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that officers were called to the campus for an intruder around 11 a.m after he threatened violence at the facility if specific demands were not met Authorities with the FBI Minneapolis Field Office worked with Minnetonka police to negotiate with Wagner on the phone Officers made a perimeter around the campus and arrested Wagner about 45 minutes after the initial response Minnetonka police said there is no indication Wagner had “specific grievances” against UnitedHealthcare Wagner’s mother said that her son wanted to send a message adding that he called her from outside the building and told her he was going to shoot into it Sources tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that a gun was found in the front seat of Wagner’s car It’s not clear how close he got to the building but the barriers in the parking lot stopped his vehicle A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the arrest happened off campus “I had no idea he was going there,” Wagner’s mother said When asked if he was trying to make a statement “Just to get basically attention to the fact that it’s not so much UnitedHealthcare Wagner’s mother also said he is dealing with a mental illness and is on the spectrum A spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare sent the following statement on Monday evening: “The safety and security of our colleagues is our top priority There is no reason to believe there were specific grievances against the company.” The Minnetonka police department initially posted about the incident on X late Monday morning “This swift and peaceful resolution underscores the strength of partnership between law enforcement.” A suspect outside of United Healthcare has been placed into custody without incident We are continuing to clear the scene at this time 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reported just last month that UnitedHealthcare has been paying Minnetonka Police to patrol its headquarters almost daily the company’s Chief Executive Officer was gunned down outside of a New York City hotel was eventually arrested in Pennsylvania after walking into a McDonald’s In the days immediately following the shooting a Minnetonka police officer arrived at the sprawling campus of UnitedHealthcare before the sun came up according to records obtained by 5 INVESTIGATES Those records reveal an officer has been stationed at the entrance of the main building nearly every day for the last three months RELATED: Security ramping up at health insurance companies following UnitedHealthcare CEO’s death UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka Minnetonka police said a person was taken into custody and there’s no ongoing threat to the public following a large police response to the corporate campus on Monday.Kerem Yücel | MPR News fileGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories The incident prompted a large police response to the building late Monday morning. Security at UnitedHealthcare has been heightened since its CEO, Brian Thompson, was fatally shot in New York last December There were no reports of injuries stemming from Monday’s incident in Minnetonka The suspect remained in custody at the Hennepin County Jail as of early Tuesday According to a statement from Minnetonka police and the FBI a man contacted the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office just after 10:45 a.m Monday and “issued threats of violence directed at the UnitedHealthcare facility if specific demands were not met.” MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all Officials told the Associated Press that the man was seen in a parking lot near the UnitedHealthcare campus An FBI crisis negotiator established contact with the man as law enforcement responded to the scene The negotiator encouraged the man to surrender which he did voluntarily about 45 minutes after the initial police response The Associated Press reported that the man had previous contacts with Minnetonka police Police and the FBI said there was “no indication that the individual had specific grievances against UnitedHealthcare,” but authorities did not elaborate on the demands he made UnitedHealthcare issued a statement about the incident also saying there were no indications that the man held grievances against the company We are grateful that law enforcement acted quickly to resolve the situation near our Minnesota offices,” the statement read Campion found herself awash in support when her first college choice vanished Minnetonka senior and softball pitcher Emily Campion did everything she was supposed to in her college recruitment spoke with college coaches and took official visits and she wanted to go to a school in an urban area to help establish her post-college career “They had what I was looking for in a major they went to the NCAA tournament the year before “Someone emailed a news report to me that said Cleveland State was discontinuing softball because of budget cuts,” Campion recalled CSU’s board also approved discontinuing its wrestling and women’s golf programs at the conclusion of their respective seasons and relocated the university’s e-sports program to the college of engineering “This was my worst nightmare,” Campion said I’m not going to have a place to play next year.’” and it wasn’t long before Campion’s worst fears were assuaged I had hundreds of messages from people telling me they were sorry to hear what happened and from coaches reaching out,” she said The original recruiting process had been long and tiring but her spirits were buoyed by an outpouring she hadn’t expected where I go for pitching and hitting lessons I had some articles written about me,” Campion said I had a trip out east planned with my dad.” Campion has always wanted to play on the East Coast where there are “so many colleges so close to each other And the Northeast is a major center for business and finance and that’s what I want to do after college,” she said ventured to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield “I knew right away it was the one,” she said The smooth transition from a potentially devastating setback to a delightful new destination has paid off in Campion’s play this spring Minnetonka is off to a 10-0 start, largely built on the arm of Campion. She‘s pitching with renewed vigor and confidence born of the support she received when her initial plan fell through. “I’ve matured so much since last year,” said Campion, whose junior season ended because of a shoulder injury. Getting back on the softball diamond this spring has enabled her to refocus and prioritize her goals, she said. “It’s my chance to exhale after everything that’s happened. I’m mentally improved over where I was earlier,” Campion said. “I don’t take playing softball for granted anymore. Every game, every pitch is a gift. I don’t feel like I have to be perfect. I know I’m strong enough to succeed.” Jim Paulsen is a high school sports reporter for the Star Tribune.  High Schools Minnesota high school scores and results for all sports from around the state. Owen Marsolek struck out 17 to lead the Hilltoppers to a 3-0 victory Monday at Siebert Field. Ailish Fitzpatrick, a Florida Tech commit, has a state-high 40 goals in seven games for St. Louis Park. Eight teams make their first appearance in the Top 25 this week, including Minnetonka, which is off to a 10-0 start. As the softball season progresses, it stands to reason that the Minnesota Top 25, the Star Tribune’s ranking of the state’s best teams, would start to show some clarity. However, things aren’t coming together as cleanly as one would anticipate. Take Minnetonka, for instance. The Skippers were unranked prior to this week. But with a 10-0 start and a senior stalwart in the circle in Emily Campion, they appear at No. 4 this week. Don’t overlook seventh-ranked St. Cloud Crush — a cooperative of St. Cloud public schools Tech and Apollo — either. They’ve lived up to their nickname, scoring 10 or more runs in four of their last five victories. The Crush aren’t the only team from the “Granite City” clobbering the ball. St. Cloud Cathedral also earned a Top 25 spot at No. 17 with its perfect 9-0 record and an offense averaging 13.9 runs per game. Kudos to Randolph head coach Dennis Trom, who last week picked up his 200th career victory as the No. 5-ranked Rockets improved to 10-0 with a victory at Le Sueur-Henderson, a notoriously tough place to win. In Trom’s 10 years at the helm, Randolph has won the Gopher Conference championship 10 times, has qualified for six state tournaments and has two state titles. A few teams dropped out of the Top 25 this week, including Anoka, Rogers, East Ridge, Cretin-Derham Hall and Jackson County Central. That is not a slight to those teams. I expect each to reappear in the Top 25 later this season. Schools are Class 4A unless noted. Records are through Monday. 1. Mankato East (3A, 7-0). Last week: No. 1 10. Bloomington Jefferson (8-1). Last week: unranked 12. Bloomington Kennedy (9-1). Last week: No. 15 13. United South Central (1A, 9-0). Last week: No. 16 14. Visitation (2A, 8-0). Last week: No. 17 15. Cambridge-Isanti (9-1). Last week: unranked 17. St. Cloud Cathedral (2A, 9-0). Last week: unranked 18. Lake Crystal-WM (2A, 9-1). Last week: unranked 19. Caledonia (2A, 9-1). Last week: No. 22 20. Chatfield (2A, 10-1). Last week: No. 19 21. St. Michael-Albertville (6-2). Last week: No. 10 22. St. Agnes (2A, 9-1). Last week: No. 21 23. Holy Angels (3A, 6-2). Last week: No. 11 24. Morris/Chokio-Alberta (2A, 10-0). Last week: unranked 25. Melrose (2A, 9-0). Last week: unranked Minnesota high school scores and results for all sports from around the state Owen Marsolek struck out 17 to lead the Hilltoppers to a 3-0 victory Monday at Siebert Field has a state-high 40 goals in seven games for St Book Club, Noteworthy by | May 2025 walk down memory lane with us to revisit some of 2005’s top titles these books and authors have staying power and remain in the zeitgeist Raela Schoenherr works in marketing at a publishing company and is a lifelong lover of books and reading The Minnetonka Fire Department found a new way to connect with the community creating a space where kids and adults with autism can feel right at home The department’s annual event doesn’t feature any lights or sirens; it’s all about being sensory-friendly for kids and adults with autism “This event has been growing over the past five or six years that we’ve had it,” said Sarah Ahlquist “I think last year we had just under 400.” meet fire mascot “Sparky” and take turns down an inflatable slide The only sound at the event was children’s voices “The data shows that people with autism and other sensory disorders are seven times more likely to have an encounter with some kind of emergency personnel,” Ahlquist said “So we want to provide this opportunity for them so they can experience us in a friendly and nonthreatening way and to realize that we are community helpers and we’re there to help them.” The CDC says one in 31 kids in the United States has autism So if you saw a bunch of little faces in red fire hats they’re the lucky kids who spent their morning with the Minnetonka Fire Department at an event just for them and I did backflips,” Williamson added Best of Lake Minnetonka, Noteworthy by | Jan 2025 It’s time to celebrate the best that the Lake Minnetonka area has to offer Our Best of Lake Minnetonka 2025 annual readers’ poll offers a fill-in-the-blank voting system making it easier for voters to nominate the businesses organizations and places that serve the Lake Minnetonka community Some of your favorite categories return for another year which includes a broader selection of area businesses and services beyond the Lake Minnetonka area The top three finalists will be announced online on March 1 Watch for our much-anticipated Best of Lake Minnetonka July 2025 issue where the winners and runners up will be revealed—along with Editor’s Picks and a host of other community highlights *Any rule not adhered to may result in entire surveys being discarded and all results are subject to editorial discretion Please make sure you’re using the business’ full official name to ensure your vote is counted correctly please vote for a particular business and not a specific service provider Minnetonka High School is investing in the future of aviation The program was created to address the pilot shortage “We’ve learned that careers in aviation are open everywhere from maintenance technicians to pilots,” said Scott Shaffer “We’re trying to spark some interest.” Students learn about important aspects of aviation “It’s applying what you learn and actually doing it,” said Svea Moberg “I never really [thought] that I would be interested in aviation enough to be a pilot and I can’t imagine doing anything else with the rest of my life.” The Flight School 1 course was added this school year It builds off last year’s new introduction course which gives students the opportunity to go up in a discovery flight A drone certification program was also launched last year The Aviation Pathway has attracted more than 300 students “I’ve been interested in aviation my entire life,” said McNeill “A lot [of] people think you can just jump in a plane and just fly it but there’s a lot of things you need to know.” Students enrolled in the Aviation Pathway classes have the opportunity to use a state-of-the-art flight simulator which allows them to log two-and-a-half hours toward their private pilot’s license “Flying is not cheap so to be able to have that experience is incredible,” said McNeill The program also features 18 computer simulators which allow students to experience flying a wide variety of airplanes “They learn what they would learn as a private pilot from the safety of a classroom,” said Shaffer He explained it can give students an edge if they pursue a career in the field they’ve already done everything at least once,” said Shaffer “They can learn in the real airplane at an accelerated rate.” Junior Annabelle Miklethun signed up for the classes as a way to get involved in her school community and discovered a life-changing passion for aviation The classes include field trips and mentorship for the teenagers Sun Country Airlines CEO Jude Bricker visited the class and fielded questions from 125 students over the course of an hour Other visitors have included air traffic controllers and pilots “The airline industry is beyond just pilots and our goal is to expose them to those opportunities and students will find their passion,” said Principal Jeff Erickson “We’ve been fortunate to have great partners in our community that will come in and work with our students because they also see it as a pipeline for future employees.” The Flight School 1 class also incorporates world history into the curriculum they’ve learned about the role of aerial photography and surveillance as well as what early philosophers thought about flight The district plans to expand the program further during the next school year by creating a Flight School 2 class It will help students log additional hours while also teaching them about meteorology and economics They are also looking into how to create a program for airline mechanics due to the job opportunities available and students will find their passion,” said Erickson the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reports two vehicles have broken through ice and fallen into Lake Minnetonka this week multiple electronic signs were placed at boat launches Tuesday in an attempt to warn residents of the current ice conditions on Lake Minnetonka the HCSO said hours later a vehicle broke through the ice at Echo Bay No injuries were reported by the sheriff’s office The HCSO said it was the second time this week a vehicle had fallen into the lake the previous incident being at Lower Lake North when the vehicle was attempting to drive through pressure ridges on Monday “We can’t stress the importance of using caution on ice enough,” HCSO said in a statement ice near and around pressure ridges is not safe and is especially difficult to spot after snowfall.” It’s unlikely for residents to be attempting to drive on the ice Thursday as temperatures are forecast to reach a record-breaking 50 degrees in Minnesota when optimal conditions are met for getting on the ice the HCSO said drivers should avoid going near pressure ridges check ice conditions and know the body of water before heading on to it The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol in collaboration with the non-profit Freshwater Society marking the unofficial start to boating season The ice-out means a boat was able to navigate all 37 bays and channels without being blocked by ice This year’s ice-out comes two weeks earlier than the lake’s median ice-out date people are eager to embrace the open waters and all the adventures that await as the leading law enforcement agency dedicated to keeping people safe on the water we urge everyone to keep water safety tips in mind,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt “It’s important to remember that the water is still cold and hypothermia can set in quickly in these temperatures Our goal is your safety so you can fully enjoy the warm months ahead!” While many lakes in southern Minnesota are opening up ahead of schedule, it’s not as early as last year, when ice-out was declared on March 13 RELATED: Ice-out declared on Lake Minnetonka just shy of 1878 record Signup for our newsletter to get notified about sales and new products Return to shop took the ice with a 10-game winning streak The teams met again as part of the Walser Tournament on Dec That meant Friday night’s matchup served as the rubber match between the two teams for their final meeting of the regular season The game started like a rivalry matchup as both teams played with high intensity Edina had the best of the game’s early play but Minnetonka Senior Layla Hemp made several big saves which would become a theme as the night wore on has had an excellent season for Minnetonka with an 11-1 record With around six minutes left to play in the first period the visitors began to turn the tide of the game and registered some quality chances While both teams threatened to score at times the first period ended with no score and Edina outshooting Minnetonka 10-5 The second period began with the two teams playing up-and-down The rivals traded chances early before one team finally broke through Minnetonka freshman Claire Sommerfield opened the scoring in the game as she streaked down the left wing and ripped a shot that beat Nora Hannon in the top corner of the net Sommerfield’s tally was her 10th of the season and 19th point overall The goal came with 11:59 remaining in the second period with Edina getting several scoring chances on two powerplays that happened in quick succession The Edina powerplay is one of the strongest areas of their game as they’ve scored on 38.5% of their advantages this season The Hornets got several high-quality chances but were unable to convert The second frame ended with Minnetoka up 1-0 the event also served as a celebration of Minnesota hockey Minnesota native and Olympian John Harrington joined players from the Minnesota Frost to meet and sign autographs with fans Harrington is the former head coach of the Minnesota State Mavericks women’s hockey team and played on the gold-medal-winning 1980 Olympic hockey team The game also served as a fundraiser for Sophie’s Squad a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that supports mental health initiatives in youth sports Edina did quite a lot to pack Braemar Arena Friday night resulting in the building’s first sellout for girls’ hockey The sellout crowd was a raucous mix of fans from both schools and the building was electric entering a third and decisive final period The third period started with Minnetonka nearly scoring early but Hannon was up to the task of keeping the Hornets in the game Edina would again go on the powerplay after Minnetonka’s Bella Finnegan was sent to the box for hooking Finnegan was a significant part of the game’s intensity all night getting into skirmishes and playing an energetic style that play resulted in them being short-handed for a crucial point in the game with just 10 minutes left Minnetonka successfully killed that penalty and would again find themselves short-handed moments later the Skippers managed to kill both penalties against the high-powered Edina offense Edina pushed hard for the equalizer in the game’s dying moments but was ultimately stonewalled by  Hemp Edina saw time run out as Minnetonka handed the Hornets a 1-0 loss on home ice while the Minnetonka team swarmed their victorious goaltender Both team’s goaltenders played excellent games with Hannon stopping 14 of 15 shots.Hemp notched a 26-save shutout that made her the game’s biggest story The shutout marked Hemp’s fifth of the season in 19 games Edina and Minnetonka proved themselves worthy of their #1 and #2 rankings in the state it seems that Minnetonka is the new team to beat Click the button below in order to sign into your account to renew your subscription update your payment method and much more.. Let's Play Hockey 524 4th St S Sauk Centre Publisher/Owner: Bryan Zollman bryan@letsplayhockey.com 320-333-3279 www.letsplayhockey.com www.letsplayhockeyexpo.com Privacy Policy ○ Terms of Use ○ Contact .no-prefetch a"}}]},"eagerness":"conservative"}]} Login Username or email address *Required Lost your password? Best of Lake Minnetonka by | Mar 2025 We invited readers to vote for the best the Lake Minnetonka area has to offer throughout January in our annual readers’ poll and we’re excited to announce your finalists (listed in alphabetical order) for Best of Lake Minnetonka 2025 Winners will be announced in our Best of Lake Minnetonka 2025 issue this July Best Barbershop or Salon With Men’s Services Best Pet-Friendly Dining or Retail Businesses   Best Outdoor Location for Graduation Photos  Best Venue to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks The nation’s largest health insurance company based in the Twin Cities remains on high alert three months after the killing of its chief executive officer Thompson was shot and killed in early December outside of a New York City hotel in what police described as a “brazen targeted attack” on the 50-year-old from Minnesota UnitedHealthcare has paid the City of Minnetonka almost $150,000 for police to work contracted overtime A city spokesperson confirmed the company is being charged the standard off-duty rate of $110 per hour.  The police presence offers a window into the extraordinary lengths UnitedHealthcare is taking to protect its employees from threats following Thompson’s killing “When you’re looking for some immediate assistance [the police are] going to be your first call,” said Dave Skinner who runs NTS Security in Minneapolis.  Skinner does not work with UnitedHealthcare but says inquiries started coming into his office right after the shooting “When the murder of Brian Thompson happened guys like myself within the industry started receiving phone calls from these companies looking for protective services,” he said “Everybody that I know in the industry was immediately working and scrambling to get people in place.” That brazen shooting in New York City captivated the nation and also put a spotlight on the business practices of the county’s largest insurer The accused murderer, Luigi Mangione, became something of a folk hero. Protestors have even shown up in his support at a recent court hearing in New York City The case is raising the stakes here in Minnesota Employees are reminded of the tragedy every day when they arrive at the headquarters building in Minnetonka The off-duty police officer sits near a newly erected guard shack off the main entrance “It’s typically not a permanent solution,” Skinner said of the overtime patrols “It’s typically temporary until they can take a good look at their security program and they can increase their security measures on the physical and operational levels.” Skinner said the patrols mainly act as a deterrent and help staff feel safe police records obtained by 5 INVESTIGATES show the day after Thompson’s killing UnitedHealthcare security called Minnetonka Police about a threat against another executive The security team found a comment on the executive’s LinkedIn page from a user identified only as “Second Hand” who wrote ”You really have to take a hard look at those threats because that’s what that was And it’s very easy to track that down with the tools that law enforcement has,” Skinner said No charges were ever filed related to the LinkedIn threat but the screenshots are now saved as evidence The new normal at UnitedHealthcare is still evolving three months after Thompson’s killing Less obvious is what the public can no longer see: the company used to have bios for its entire leadership team posted online Skinner says he’s seeing large corporations follow that trend – scrubbing bios and social media pages as an extra precaution but a really good time for all of them to take a look at their physical and operational security measures to make sure that they are sufficient Buffalo Wild Wings celebrated the grand opening of a new Buffalo Wild Wings GO in Minnetonka at 4925 Country Road 101 this week quick-service version of the wing chain opened its doors on Tuesday with a grand opening that included a gift of "free wings for a year" to the first 100 diners in line Buffalo Wild Wings Go in Minnetonka The GO concept focuses the BWW menu on takeout and delivery The streamlined version of the sports bar franchise first launched in 2020 as well as all 27 sauces and rubs that are traditionally available The franchisee group that has opened the Minnetonka location is planning to open another location in Plymouth at some point next month The BWW GO in Minnetonka is open from 10:30 a.m Sunday through Thursday and stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays a screening of the movie Sight and Sound says is the best movie ever made saying he'd killed the mother of his child which features a swimming beach and splash pad a sports bar and arcade taking over the Eastlake Craft Brewery space Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Entertain, Restaurants by | Mar 2025 color and texture arrive by way of a Buddha Bowl opened its Eden Prairie Road location in the fall and owner Heather Asbury has received a welcoming nod “It seems to be well received by the neighborhood and we’re seeing a lot of repeat customers,” she says “I love to greet people and tell them who we are.” Heather describes her restaurant as bright and the menu offers a variety of rotating options “I like to change things up with my menu often,” she says Not all fried chicken sandwiches are created equal We took a peek at the menu (at the time this article was written) and found plenty of underscore-worthy bites Heather’s gives breakfast standards a twist with an appearance by Cacio e Pepe which typically doesn’t arrive to the table until lunch or dinner but here it comes by way of Spinach Toast (honey wheat bread with chili crunch sautéed spinach and black pepper-green salad) A lunch and dinner burger option gives a nice friendly wave to the neighborhood with the Glen Lake Burger (local beef tomato and white cheddar cheese all cozied up in a country white bun) and cooking up a variety of dinnertime proteins is a win for diners (braised beef so check it online or be open to other options upon arrival This elegant croissant is layered in flavor and The success in offering a rotation of menu items was something Heather first started doing at her first Heather’s location on Minneapolis’ Chicago Avenue That method is partly attributed to timing of that restaurant’s opening—during the peak of COVID-19 With very few restaurants fully operating at the time Heather’s featured new items to encourage diners to make return visits it would have never been that way,” she says “I was so new; I couldn’t make plans … and that helped me become who I am today.” That initial foray into restaurant ownership was also influenced by Heather’s experience in the restaurant business While working at Uptown’s beloved Lucia’s Restaurant she learned early on how to run a successful farm-to-table business from owner I didn’t really know what I was going to do with my life and ended up in the catering world,” Heather says Heather often catered for friends and family “I went to school at [The Culinary Institute of America] in New York and was a chef for many years,” she says “It felt like a good fit to get into the catering world.” Gruyère cheese and leeks is wonderfully paired with fresh greens While it was Heather that drew herself into the food world who discovered an ideal Minneapolis location for her first restaurant it was going to be a tiny corner restaurant where I knew everyone’s name and cooked what they wanted,” she says As Heather’s worked through the pandemic and into today’s new normal Heather and Andrew were on the lookout for a commercial kitchen which could support more catering endeavors The Minnetonka location presented itself as a solution and opportunity “I am always open to opportunity,” Heather says Heather quickly learned the neighborhood needed another restaurant making it more than just a commercial kitchen and the location grew into its current incarnation as restaurant with bar and take-out services and marketplace-style offerings including deli salads and specialty food items and I’m still learning a lot,” Heather says “It’s exciting to watch how it shifts the dynamic.” With Easter and Mother’s Day sitting on the calendar’s April and May pages “We’ll do full take-out options or have dine-in reservations,” Heather says adding catering season is starting to ramp up While dining out for holidays or special occasions offers its advantages eating at home with one’s best dining ware and the comforts of home has its benefits Whether ordering a full meal or just the side dishes Heather’s offers a lovely takeout menu for Easter meals If you want to serve the holiday meal shortly after the egg hunt concludes Gruyère cheese and leeks or Fischer Farms sausage cheddar cheese and sautéed peppers and onions) Feel all the spring feels with a Spring Salad (asparagus peas and raspberries dressed with a Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette) Get the entrée covered with a Maple Orange Glazed Fischer Farms Half Ham Hit the sides with Glazed Carrots with Fresh Dill Green Beans with Lemon Butter and Toasted Almonds Heather’s is offering Carrot Cake and Easter Bunny Cupcakes (of course!) muffins Minnetonka police are asking residents to be on the lookout for a person believed to have fled from a vehicle chase According to the Minnetonka Police Department officers were assisting in a vehicle pursuit with South Lake Minnetonka Police on Highway 7 The pursuit ended at the highway’s intersection with Woodland Road after the vehicle’s tires were deflated Police said the person was last seen running south of Highway 7 police said they were concerned for the person’s welfare and issued an alert to residents to report if they see any suspicious activity or someone who has not dressed appropriately for the weather There is no known threat to the public according to police Minnetonka’s Layla Hemp was named the recipient of the Jori Jones Award given to the top senior goaltender in the state Hemp emerged from a strong group of finalists that included Mallory Hartl (Moose Lake Area) Taylor Kressin (Moorhead) and Zoe Rimstad (Academy of Holy Angels) Hemp has been a mainstay in goal for the Skippers for the past three seasons and this year won 16 games and posted a 0.92 goals against average and a .951 save percentage In her career she has a 44-5-1 record with 18 shutouts and a .947 save percentage She was also the starting goalie for the Team USA U18 squad who won a gold medal She will play college hockey at the University of Minnesota Previous winners include: 1999 — Katie Beauduy Cloquet/Esko/Carlton; 2006 — Alannah McCready Duluth Northern Stars; 2010 — Kallie Billadeau Edina HS; 2024 –  Grace Zhan – Hill-Murray The award is presented by Let’s Play Hockey and sponsored by the Minnesota Wild the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association by | Apr 2025 The goal is to not only highlight local businesses and people but to offer doses of inspiration and creativity for your lives and I hope you find fresh ways to make your homes restful joyous and more of what you want out of your nest I was reminded that there is an area in my home that suffers from lack of design attention and updating—the primary bedroom and bath suite Those spaces have become the official landing pad of this that and everything in between—laundry in various stages of drying and folding; photos waiting for their new homes in a stack of empty frames; gifts for that holiday or this birthday; and books begging to have their pages turned and words consumed is not the restful space I envision—or deserve I have renewed inspiration to create a space that awakens each day with fresh energy and bids each night sweet and rest filled dreams Build, Interior Design by | Apr 2025 walking properties and imagining what could be Marc and Wendy Terris finally found it: a lakeside lot tucked at the end of a quiet road A place that would become their forever home where coffee on the porch would start the mornings and cocktails on the boat would cap off the evenings approach to living was a perfect fit for the team at Boyer Building Corporation “We tend to be a bit old school,” shares project manager Tim Forsberg who also accounted for how the house could flex and grow as the family’s needs change “We think outside of what’s trendy and build a house that’s as beautiful and functional now as it will be in the future.” They tapped James McNeal Architecture & Design (JMAD) with a simple plan: keep it open keep it functional and keep it all about the lake “The biggest driver [for us] is how the house will sit on the lot,” Forsberg says of the L-shape layout intentionally designed to accommodate both the setbacks and capitalize on the Lake Minnewashta views it boasts all the vistas without the bustle offering a slower-paced shoreline where the Terris family can truly kick back and relax At the heart of it all is the great room and kitchen where the family spends their time when not outdoors sitting artfully underneath a vaulted ceiling highlighting hand-crafted pine beams and framed by a modern catwalk The architecture makes a statement not only within the house but from the exterior featuring a gable roof met with cedar shingles that evoke a classic cottage feel Details like wide-plank oak floors and a shiplap/limestone fireplace surround add to the cozy coastal aesthetic while maintaining a certain Minnesotan sensibility airy floorplan with a unique behind-the-scenes powerhouse that keeps the space pristine: a scullery kitchen/butler’s pantry they were delighted with JMAD’s interpretation of their needs and with Boyer Building for bringing it to fruition The team’s upfront attention to detail ensured that the annexed space felt just as connected to the floor plan as any other room in the house largely due to its high degree of functionality and flow When the Terris’ are out on the terrace (how apropos!) the scullery is just a few steps from the grill so Marc can easily prepare all the food for a family meal when all four kids are home making it easy for groceries to go straight from the trunk to the pantry “It’s the little things we knew we wanted but relied on [John] Boyer to make the call based on his 40 years of expertise,” the homeowners say Even the sink is hidden away in the scullery making the striking sapphire kitchen island an intentionally crafted gathering space rather than a multipurpose prep area the primary bedroom sits on the main level while the catwalk upstairs separates the girls’ “wing” from the boys But there’s another landing page that’s a perfect fit for everyone—a recreation room above the garage It’s outfitted with a sprawling sectional and a lot of “run around” room flanked by a partitioned bunk room—ideal for a continually growing family—and a cozy library with floor-to-ceiling bookcases that offer a moment of respite among the lively household But that’s not the only retreat-worthy space A porch off the kitchen is as comfortable during milder months as it is in the middle of winter all thanks to the team’s thoughtful approach allowing for floor-to-ceiling screens to be easily swapped for glass when temperatures drop It also includes hidden ceiling heaters and a classic wood-burning fireplace for extra warmth when desired And when in search of a true Northern warm-up the sauna is just a saunter down near the dock “We truly value being able to collaborate with good people,” says Forsberg of both the clients and the JMAD team They’re already becoming particularly well-versed with the Lake Minnewashta shoreline helping set the tone for the level of homes that dot the water This is where that “old school” approach can be not only appreciated from the exterior but felt within the homes as the neighborhoods continue to grow With their elite custom homebuilding already well established it’s the relationship building that sets Boyer apart from any beautiful home too—it’s no wonder Boyer is a Best of Lake Minnetonka 2024 winner and 2025 finalist