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Hennepin Happening
Welcome to the District 5 September newsletter! Scroll down to read more about
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 251,042 people cast ballots in Hennepin County for the August 14 primary, the highest turnout for a primary since 1994. Thank you to everyone who was able to vote and took the time to do so. It was a strong message about the value we place on our democracy. There are a few key dates to keep in mind heading towards the November general election.
- September 21: Absentee voting begins. You can have your ballot mailed directly to you, or you can vote early in person at your local city offices. For more information, you can visit your city's website (Bloomington, Eden Prairie, or Richfield) for more information on their business hours.
- October 16: Pre-registration ends. For rules about registering to vote, here's a quick guide. Remember, the easiest way to register is online right now.
- November 3: city's have extended voting hours from 10am to 3pm on the Saturday before the election.
- November 5: In-person absentee voting for the general election closes at 5pm.
- November 6: Election Day! If you did not vote early, you can go to your polling location 7am-8pm. You can register on Election Day, but you need to bring one of the approved proofs of residence. Remember, you have a number of rights, including the right to take time off work to vote.
 So much of what the county does is made possible by volunteers appointed to citizen boards. Recently, Eden Prairie's Jill Crafton and Bloomington's Donald James were reappointed to their respective positions. Jill is returning to the board for the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. She is playing a key role in fighting invasive species, preventing saltwater run-off into our lakes, and planning for the impact climate change will have on our local waterways. I'm excited to see her work continue.
Donald will serve a second term on the Boards of Appeal and Equalization. With an extensive background in real estate, Donald's experience puts him in an excellent position to help people understand their property taxes and seek a reevaluation of their tax assessments if appropriate. When asked about his work on the board, Donald said, "it was a good thing, a happy thing, to be able to serve Hennepin County residents." We received excellent feedback on his service to the county and taxpayers, and I'm glad to see him return to this role.
Thank you both for lending your leadership to Hennepin County.
 Metro Transit has got you covered getting to and from the Great Minnesota Get-Together. One important difference this year: weekday buses will start one hour later this year at 9:00am. Visit their website for comprehensive information on hours and locations for a ride to the fair.
 Last year, there were over 20,000 calls made to child protection in Hennepin County. There's so much that needs to change in order to give our children a brighter future, and the Child Protection Citizen Review Panel is a crucial part of that change. We are currently recruiting community volunteers from all backgrounds and perspectives who can offer their insight into how we can better serve children in the child protection system.
Members meet monthly and also serve in subgroups that research specific topics. Recent projects have included (1) The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, (2) Recidivism in the Child Protection System, and (3) Preventing Abuse in Children Age 0 to 3. We ask that you be able to pass a maltreatment background check and commit to a two-year term.
For more information or to get the application, contact Casey Schmig at Hennepin County: 612-596-6802, casey.schmig@hennepin.us
  District 5 will be alive with music and festivities for Heritage Days in Bloomington and Penn Fest in Richfield. I hope I can see you out there at both.
Heritage Days
Saturday, September 15
Nativity of Mary Church (9900 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington)
- The parade begins at 10:30am and follows 102nd Street west starting at 3rd Ave S and ending at Harriet Ave.
- The main stage shows begin at 3:30pm and continue until 11:30pm.
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More information on the festival's website.
Penn Fest
Sunday, September 16 | noon to 5pm
63rd Street to 75th Street along Penn Avenue in Richfield
Since my last newsletter at the beginning of the month, here are a few highlights from my work...
 Broke ground for the Mall of America transit station renovation. The transit station there is busiest transit hub in the
state, and it will benefit tremendously from the renovations. Thank you
to our partners at the Mall of America, the City of Bloomington, and our Hennepin County staff for making this happen.
Check out the renderings of the finished station here.
 Drank coffee and chatted with residents at Realife Cooperative on Wentworth Avenue in Bloomington. I always look forward to hearing directly from constituents around the District. Contact our office, and I would be happy to schedule a time to visit you and your group or community.
 Voted in the Primary. Our intern - Kali Courtney - voted for the very first time. If you or someone you know is eligible to vote and hasn't done so recently, I hope you'll give them the encouragement they need (and the resources we provide above!).
Moon Festival
Saturday, September 15, 2018
(10:30AM – 11:30AM)
Augsburg Park | 7100 Nicollet Ave, Richfield
Enjoy moon tales, cultural performances, dancing along with Hoang Anh
Dance Group, lantern making, and a lantern parade with Hung Vuong
Association of Minnesota. Collaborators: Richfield Police Multicultural
Advisory Committee, Richfield Public Safety, Phoenix Cove Adult Day
Center. Funded by Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Check out more events at Augsburg Park Library here.
Author Talk: Rehana Alam
Monday, September 17, 2018
(7:00PM – 8:30PM)
Eden Prairie | 565 Prairie Center Dr., Eden Prairie
The Tea Trolley
relates a story of ordinary people's ordinary lives, providing a
multifaceted view of life in Pakistan. In addition to reading from her
novel, Alam will discuss how people live, love and get married in
Pakistan, showing their similarities to people the world over. Books
will be available for purchase and signing. Check out more events at Augsburg Park Library.
66th Street in Richfield and Eden Prairie's Flying Cloud Drive are in the midst of major construction projects. Skip the traffic jams and sign up for updates on the projects impacting your commute.
You can also visit the Hennepin County website for updates on road maintenance projects and all other road construction.
Housing crises, energy assistance, child protection, emergency situations; we are here to advocate for you when it comes to navigating local and county services, and we want to help. Please call our office at 612-348-7885 with any questions or for assistance.
Contact
Commissioner Debbie Goettel
Hennepin County District 5
Bloomington | Eden Prairie | Richfield
612-348-7885 | debbie.goettel@hennepin.us
Casey Krolczyk
Principal Aide
612-596-7078 | casey.krolczyk@hennepin.us
Michael Ohama
Policy Director
612-348-7885 | michael.ohama@hennepin.us
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