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Hennepin Happening
Welcome to the District 5 March newsletter! Scroll down to read more about
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Trees are as much a part of this Minnesotan life as our lakes and streams. We gather in the shade during the summer, marvel at their brilliant colors in the fall, and eagerly await those first buds to peek out from bare branches after a long winter. Especially with the heavy damage our trees have sustained from Emerald Ash Borers, it is especially important to diversify and maintain the inventory of trees in our community. I'm happy we were able to award a grant for $30,517 to the City of Eden Prairie for tree canopy improvements.
This has been a particularly cold and snowy winter that has demanded more of everybody. We've had to bundle up, be a little more careful driving, stay home with kids when school has been cancelled, and lend an extra hand to our neighbors. Our snow removal crews at the city and county have gone above and beyond these last two months, working odd hours in uncommonly harsh conditions to make sure we can still travel safely when we need to. I can't think of any other metropolitan areas that function as well as we do during winters like these. To all the women and men who make it possible, thank you.
The County Board made three commendations at our meeting on February 21.
Lisa Thornquist (bottom right) served the County for 25 years, working tirelessly to help people work through their challenges with housing instability. She was a key researcher in the "200 Families" study that helped break down barriers between departments and allowed for a more holistic approach to case management. She was always someone we could turn to to spearhead complex, innovative projects. We will miss having her, and I wish her all the best in her retirement.
Carl Michaud (bottom left) - our outgoing Assistant County Adminstrator for Public Works - has retired after 31 years at the County. His work has had a profound impact on many aspects of life in Hennepin County. Recycling services expanded throughout the county. The HERC flourished under his leadership, providing the county with a renewable source of energy and drastically reducing the waste we send to landfills. His dedication to Hennepin County will be missed.
John F. Glanton (top) is a photographer and World War II veteran, whose work preserved a rich record of African American life in the Twin Cities during the 1940s. His family had the foresight to keep the negatives of the photos they found, and they worked with the Hennepin County library to ensure their preservation. I am grateful for their generous contributions to the story of our County.
Since my last newsletter at the beginning of the month, here are a few highlights from my work...
Joined a panel of county staff at a Hennepin County Child Well-Being Community Forum. It is our goal to provide the community with the information, resources, and transparency they need to protect our most vulnerable children.
Attended a naturalization ceremony at the Academy of Holy Angels. Congratulations to the 201 new Americans who took their oath this last February 19. Pictured above is State Representative Michael Howard, Judge Robert J. Kressel, and Richfield Mayor Maria Regan-Gonzalez.
Attended the Bloomington Chamber Gala.
Chemists in the Library
Penn Lake Library | 8800 Penn Ave S, Bloomington
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (1:30PM – 3:30PM)
Learn about the wonders and excitement of chemistry with easy-to-do activities led by this volunteer group of chemistry students, teachers, and professionals eager to share the science with all ages. Sponsor: Minnesota Section of the American Chemical Society.
Crafty Minnesota: Modern Weaving 101
Augsburg Park Library | 7100 Nicollet Ave, Richfield
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 (5:30PM – 7:30PM)
For teens. Decorate your space with a handmade woven wall hanging! Learn basic tapestry weaving to create a one-of-a-kind art piece. Materials provided. Collaborator: Textile Center. Funded by Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
35W 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
612-348-7885 | casey.krolczyk@hennepin.us
Michael Ohama
Policy director
612-348-7885 | michael.ohama@hennepin.us
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