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and smart phones. I welcome your feedback!
Be sure to check out all the great upcoming events this month,
and please think about subscribing to
other interesting topics offered by Hennepin County.
Cordially,
The Hennepin County Board honored Cora McCorvey of the Minneapolis
Public Housing Authority for the occasion of her retirement. The
resolution expressed appreciation to Cora McCorvey for her commitment to the
residents of Hennepin County.
Read
the commendation here.
See
the video here.
Following renovations for a better public space for jurors, Hennepin
County unveiled refreshed and updated law library and jury room spaces on the 24th
floor of the court side of the Government Center.
Rather than relegating jurors to the basement to serve jury
duty, the space provides a welcoming place for jurors. The Anne W. Grande Law
Library also was refreshed; materials are open to the law community and
the public alike.
See
a story from the Star Tribune here.
Learn more about the
Anne W. Grande Law Library.

Join Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble, Hennepin County
Commissioner Linda Higgins and Minneapolis Council Member Elizabeth Glidden to
learn
How federal, state, county, and city governments work
How to exercise your rights and privileges to the
government
How laws are passed and implemented
How citizens influence public policy
Thursday, February 23, 7-8:30 pm [Tomorrow!] Mayflower Church 106 East Diamond Lake Road Minneapolis, MN
Email questions, concerns, and requests to Nicky.Leingang@mail.house.gov
or call (612) 522-1212

Save the date of Thursday, May 18 at 5 pm. The countdown for
the grand opening of the Webber Park Library has begun. More details will be
forthcoming, but we wanted to let you know.
Public art update
The public art committee for Webber Park Library had its third and final meeting on February 8 to hear from five finalists and recommend
artists for both the vestibule and service desk area.
Hennepin County Library is partnering with the City of Minneapolis Public Arts Administration to facilitate the development of public artworks for the new
Webber Park Library.
The role of the committee is to select, commission and
facilitate the installation of public art at the new Webber Park Library as
stipulated in the Hennepin
County Library Board Policy on Commissioned Public Art.
View
more information about this project.
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Geo: Code 2017
On Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5, join Hennepin
County and Open Twin Cities for one of the most important civic events in Twin Cities. This
series of open data workshops and conversations connect
people who live, work and govern in Hennepin County.
The format is part County Camp and part Code Space. The
County Camp is a modified unconference
format and participants will help set the agenda. Participants don’t need any
technology to participate. The Code Space is a where participants can pick a
project or problem to tackle it with a team. If attendees plan to code, they
should bring any devices needed such as a laptop or tablet.
Participants are welcome to participate in
either or both tracks and to switch between them during the weekend. The goal is to create a
more accessible government by working with residents and fans of Hennepin
County. The event is free. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Bring your
ideas, your experiences and your creativity. Learn more.
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Hennepin County Library and the Minnesota Historical Society
present Mazinaakizige:
American Indian Teen Photography Project. This exhibit brings six young American
Indian artists together around the theme Power(full), to develop
their photography skills in a guided, supportive, and culturally sensitive
environment.
The artists will be showing a selection of photographs that
empowers their indigenous identity. This exhibit is travelling across Minnesota
throughout 2016-2017. The artists include Nolan Berglund, Amoreina
Espinosa, Joe Ettawageshik, Shaw Handley, Marco Hunt, and Angel Swann. The
exhibit runs from February 8 through March 28 at Cargill Hall at the Minneapolis
Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Quaylon Crawford enlisted in the Army right out of high
school and deployed to Iraq in 2005 as an Infantry scout sniper. While
deployed, Crawford got used to sleeping inside metal cargo containers and
Bradley Fighting Vehicles or even on the ground. He lived with such a high
amount of adrenaline that being amped up became second nature.
But when he came home in 2007, Crawford, like many veterans,
discovered that reintegration was just as challenging as war, and he eventually
became homeless. Through the VA, Crawford was referred to Bridging, a Twin Cities nonprofit that partners with Hennepin
County to operate the country’s largest furniture bank. Click here to
learn more about Quay C.’s story.
Watch a video about Bridging and how its services helped Quay.
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Tax Day is just around the corner. Find help with your taxes
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
offers free, individualized tax preparation for low-to moderate-income
taxpayers - especially those 60 and older. Find a location near you by visiting
http://www.aarp.org/taxaid and click AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator. Locations are available
in Northeast Minneapolis, North Minneapolis (the North Regional Library, for
example), downtown (Hennepin County Government Center), Golden Valley (library)
and Plymouth (Plymouth Creek Center).
Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County (CAPSH) also
offers free tax assistance. Taxes are prepared and electronically and filed
free of charge by certified volunteers.
Tax preparation services are offered February through April for those
who meet the income guidelines: $35,000 or less for individuals; $50,000 or
less for families. For more information including current schedule, visit the CAPSH website or call
952-697-1414.
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Hennepin County was recognized by the American
Heart Association as a Fit-Friendly
Worksite for 2016. Worksites throughout the nation can be part of the
initiative by making the health and wellness of their employees a priority.
Hennepin County was recognized as a Gold Level Fit-Friendly Worksite for
offering employees physical activity support, providing healthy eating options,
and promoting a wellness culture.
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County to fund 40 percent of Bottineau LRT
engineering
Voting as the Regional Railroad Authority, the board approved
$50.9 million of funding to advance engineering of the METRO Blue Line
Extension Light Rail Transit Project, commonly known as Bottineau LRT. The Counties
Transit Improvement Board is expected to fund the remaining 60 percent required
for the engineering phase. Engineering work will position the project to apply
for 49 percent of the total $1.5 billion project cost from the Federal Transit
Administration later this year. The Bottineau LRT is a proposed 13-mile transit
line extending from downtown Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.
Read more
about Hennepin County's funding commitment.
Read more
about the Bottineau Light Rail Transit Project.
Grant funding accepted for family engagement
practice
The board accepted $319,797 of Minnesota Department of Human
Services grant funding to continue the Family Group Decision Making Program
throughout 2017. The program helps families resolve issues of safety and
permanency in the context of preserving child and family well-being. Through
meetings facilitated by social workers trained in this model, the program aims
to engage family’s informal supports to safely prevent foster care placements,
reunite children with their families and help youth in long-term foster care
transition to independent living.
Read more
about the grant funding.
Grant funding will help mental health patients
transition to community
The board accepted grant funding for the Transitions to
Community Initiative, which helps patients transition from mental health
hospitals to community settings. Hennepin County will use $651,000 of Minnesota
Department of Human Services funding to support county residents experiencing a
delay in discharge at the Anoka Regional Treatment Center and the Minnesota
Security Hospital in St. Peter, Minnesota.
Read more
about the grant funding.
County to upgrade emergency management
software
The board approved $417,923 of upgrades to weather forecasting
software used to improve emergency decision-making. Software upgrades will help
emergency management staff continue monitoring data collected from real-time
environmental sensor stations on severe weather events, including storms,
floods, blizzards, heat waves and extreme cold.
Read more
about the software upgrades.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Northeast
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Thursday, March 30, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Living Well
Workshop. For six weeks, chronic group discussion based with topics including pain
management, physical activity, healthy eating. Communicating with health care
professionals, and more. For ages 60 and older. Call to register at (612) 787-4045. Living-Well-Workshop
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Saturday, March 11, 6-7:30 p.m.
Cinderella Ball.
Girls and boys, wear your royal ball attire and dance into the
fairy tale! Pose for a picture with Cinderella, or create your very own royal
prince or princess crown. Limit 2 adults with each
family. Registrations through March 4, Columbia Manor, 3300
Central Ave. N.E. www.cinderellaball.com
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Tuesday, March 14, 21, 28, 3 p.m.
Friendship Too: Caregiver/Loved One Support Group. East Side
Neighborhood Services (ESNS) is hosting a Caregiver Support Group at Adult Day
at Friendship Center, 1717 Second St. N.E. A six week program. The care receiver
is invited to participate in the Adult Day program during session. Contact
Donna (612) 781-2052. caregiversupport.com
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Saturday, March 18, 5k, 9 a.m., 10
Mile 9:12 a.m.
Hot Dash 5K
and 10 Mile run. Run Minnesota's premier spring running event. 724 Sibley St. N.E.
HotDash_5k.com
North Loop
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Saturday, March 11,
6-8p.m.
Stone
Voices, Bernice Ficek-Swenson. Traffic Zone for Visual Art. An
exhibition of a pigment print installation of 12 photographs and
public reception. Traffic Zone, 250 3rd Ave. N. Stone
Voices Visual Art.com
North
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Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Strengthen Your Financial Foundation. Hear three financial experts offer an informative class addressing savings strategies, debt management and credit maintenance. Practical worksheets will be shared. Free. Lucy Craft Laney Community School, 3333 Penn Ave. N. FinancialFoundation.com
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Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.-3
p.m.
Northside Housing Fair. For renters and homeowners, housing resources will be
available; contractors, financing opportunities, housing organizations to
renter resources, neighborhood organizations, and community groups. Vendors and
mini-workshops. Lucy Craft Laney Community School. 3333 Penn Ave. N. Northside-Housing-Fair-2017
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Thursday, March 23, 5-7:30 p.m.
Taste of West Broadway. A
celebration of North Minneapolis assets. Food, fun and connection. Tickets $35.
718 West Broadway. tasteofwestbroadway
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Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 4-6:00
p.m.
Lego Robotics. The program provides a space for youth in North
Minneapolis to explore the fun and excitement of Science and Engineering. Teams
consist of 2-10 kids, ages 9-14 working together to design robots to
autonomously complete tasks on a thematic game.125 West Broadway Ave., Suite
130. Lego Robotics Program
Golden Valley
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Wednesday, March 1,
6:30-8 p.m.
Poetry Lovers Converge: Read original or favorite poems, or just come and
listen. In all languages, for all ages and all authors. Golden Valley Library,
830 Winnetka Avenue N.
Learn
more about Poetry Lovers Converge
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March 8, 1-5 p.m.
Community Blood Drive. Join City of Golden Valley employees and Memorial
Blood Centers in giving the gift of life. City Hall parking lot, 7800 Golden Valley Rd. Make your appointment online
Bryn Mawr
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March 8,
6:30-8:15 p.m.
Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association Meeting. Bryn Mawr Elementary School. 252 Upton Ave. S. bmna.org
Plymouth
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Sunday, February 26, 3-6 p.m.
And the Beat Goes on Brew Fest 2017. A Fundraising Benefit for the Plymouth Rotary Heart Safe Program. Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave. N. Plymouth-Brew-Fest
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Saturday, March 4, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The 11th Annual City Sampler. Free open house for residents. Meet the Plymouth Mayor and City Council in an informal setting. City staff will be on hand to provide information about city programs and services. Coffee and light breakfast snacks will be served. Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. plymouthcitysampler.com
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Sunday, March 5, 1-4 p.m.
Healthy Living Fair. Health screenings, educational sessions, active samplers and more. Free. Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave. N. plymouthmn.gov
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Tuesday, March 14, 7-8 p.m.
Author Talk: Award-winning broadcaster, actor, singer and producer Barry ZeVan the Weatherman has met an amazing cast of characters, including President Harry Truman, Art Linkletter, Howard Hughes, Shirley Jones, and the Empress of Iran. He will share stories from "Barry ZeVan: My Life Among the Giants, A Memoir." Plymouth Library, 15700 36th Ave. N. Barry ZeVan at Plymouth Library
St. Anthony
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Thursday, March 2, 6:30-8 p.m.
St. Anthony Community Theater Workshops. Ages 14 to adult. An improvisation workshop taught by Nathan Weingarden. Cost
$20. St. Anthony Community Center, 3301 Silver Lake Rd.
St.
Anthony Theater Workshops
Multiple communities
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Thursday, March 2, 1-4 p.m.
Super Bowl LII Business Connect. Super Bowl Supplier Diversity Workshop. This
will be an opportunity for all local and diverse businesses to see what it
takes to qualify for this signature NFL program for the most anticipated sports
event in 2018! North Central University sanctuary, 910 Elliott Ave.,
Minneapolis. Super
Bowl Supplier Diversity
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Saturday, March 11-19,
10a.m.-10p.m.
Twin Cities Auto Show. More than 575 vehicles from 37 foreign and domestic
brands. Family fun and local celebrities Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave.
S. twincitiesautoshow
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Saturday and Sunday, March 11-19,
10a.m.-1p.m.
Mill City Indoor Winter Market. Local produce, meat, cheeses, artisan foods, unique gifts you, live music
and kid’s activities! 702 S. 2nd St. MillCityWintermarket
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Saturday, March 18,
2017, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
7th Annual Twin Cities
Women’s Expo 2017. Minneapolis Convention Center Ballroom, 1301 2nd Ave. S. twincitieswomensexpo
Sunday,
February 26, 3-6 p.m.
And the Beat Goes on Brew Fest 2017. A Fundraising Benefit for the Plymouth Rotary Heart Safe Program. Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th
Ave. N. Plymouth-Brew-Fest
Contact
Linda Higgins Commissioner, District 2 612-348-7882 www.hennepin.us/higgins
Tina Sanz Principal Aide 612-348-5335
Beverly Hammond Administrative Secretary 612-348-3526
You can also send comments via my feedback form.
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