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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Summer is here and I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Before you read on to learn more about Juneteenth commemoration events, county cooling stations, and details about the last days of the open State Fair Community Vaccination Site, I want to acknowledge the killing of Winston Smith by law enforcement officials on Thursday, in Uptown. Regardless of the details, this loss of life is a tragedy.
I join the community in seeking transparency from the US Marshals, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and will share any information I learn.
My best,
Come together online to witness powerful stories, performances, rhythms and songs. Juneteenth 2021 is a time of reminding and remembering, re-grounding and regrouping. There’s a reason Juneteenth is reunion season. We reconnect, retell old stories, and revive our relationships.
Juneteenth is said to be the oldest African American celebration of emancipation from slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, but news of emancipation moved slowly. For the next 2½ years, enslaved Africans and Black abolitionists persevered in the struggle for freedom.
In Texas, formerly enslaved Africans celebrated their emancipation on June 19, 1865, and since then, Juneteenth has been remembered and celebrated as a holiday. From the late nineteenth century through today, typical Juneteenth celebrations across the country include parades, speeches by Black American community leaders, singing of traditional songs such as “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (sometimes referred to as the Black national anthem), and dancing.
Check out the schedule of online and in-person Hennepin County Library events at this link to the Library’s Juneteenth 2021 page.
Since the 1980s, Minneapolis has had some of the biggest Juneteenth celebrations in the nation. Click here for the Minneapolis Park Board’s list of events and activities.
The State Fair Community Vaccination Site, which offers the one-and-you’re-done J&J vaccine, will run until 8 p.m. next Tuesday, June 8. This state/federal partnership has helped to vaccinate approaching 100,000 Minnesotans over the past seven weeks.
For this final week, the site is open daily from noon to 8 p.m. with all the great accessibility features that have existed up to this point such as multiple drive through lanes, translators on-site, free Metro Transit passes for all who register in advance, and more.
Additionally, the site boasts an opportunity to take part in the state’s recently announced incentive program that allows the next 100,000 Minnesotans who get vaccinated before the end of June to get fun rewards! With just one week left and more than 10,000 appointments left to fill - can you help to make one final push to fill appointments and get more Minnesotans vaccinated?
How you can get an appointment at this site:
- Minnesotans from anywhere can WALK-IN to the state fair site NOW through June 8, no appointment necessary. Get your shot and a free reward today.
- Minnesotans from anywhere can schedule appointments at the State Fair NOW by clicking on this link: https://www.primarybio.com/r/mnvax-sfg?registration_type=general_public
- Or schedule an appointment by calling (833) 431-2053
- There is no requirement to show ID either during registration or at the site.
- Getting the vaccine is FREE and health insurance is NOT required.
Cooling options
Check out the interactive map below of places that can provide relief from the summer heat.
In a normal year, more than 600 Americans die of complications from overheating.
Young children, senior citizens and people who are sick or overweight are most vulnerable. Start by being informed about heat alerts, issued by the National Weather Service and publicized by local news media. When the weather gets hot, it’s important to stay cool by staying indoors in air-conditioned buildings.
Movie theaters along with some pools, community and recreation centers may have a cost for use. Please inquire at each site for ticket price or possible fees, as well as restricted use and/or limited hours.
If you visit county buildings
Required face coverings
All visitors to Hennepin County buildings are required to wear face coverings that cover both mouth and nose. A face shield alone is not sufficient. Visitors who wear a face shield are required to wear a face covering underneath it.
If you are sick
Do not enter the building if you are sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Physical distance
Maintain 6 feet or 2 meters of physical distance.
The special event is Saturday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Ridgedale and Brookdale Service Centers
Hennepin County is hosting a marriage license event at two service center locations, Ridgedale and Brookdale, Saturday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to noon. Perfect for anyone getting married within the next six months, this special event helps check one more thing off the to-do list. The first 100 marriage license applicants at each location will receive a gift bag.
Event information
- In-person appointments encouraged. To secure your spot, register online or call 612-348-8240, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Only available at the Ridgedale and Brookdale service center locations.
- Saturday, June 12 from 8 a.m. to noon
- In-person walk-in services may be available on a first-come, first-serve basis as time and staffing allows.
- Only marriage license transactions will occur during the event.
- Online marriage license applications are no longer available because of legislative changes.
- Hennepin County still requires masks and physical distancing in buildings.
Slots are filling up quickly for marriage and driver's license services
Hennepin County Service Centers are asking the public to plan ahead when scheduling an in-person appointment. Slots are filling up quickly and booking three months in advance as COVID-19 waivers have expired.
Requests for marriage and driver's licenses, as well as state ID services now require in-person appointments. Due to high demand, service centers are temporarily offering extended hours at some locations for greater flexibility to process driver's license and state ID requests.
Visit Hennepin County’s website for specific locations and hours. No walk-in services are available.
Online options available for a limited time
- For a standard driver's license with no changes to name, address, signature or license number, online renewal is available until Wednesday, June 30.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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