June Recap

Juneteenth Celebration at MLK Park featured great music, displays, and faced weather challenges like many events this summer. The Juneteenth breakfast culminated the community’s commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. I connected with friends, community leaders and colleagues and helped people register to vote.

IMAA and the History Center collaborated on Walk Around the World celebrating World Refugee Day. The Ethiopian coffee and bread sparked my interest along with stage performances by youth and adults alike. I visited with friends and met new people from around the world.

The unending wind and rainstorms left tree debris and water damage across Olmsted County. I joined my neighbors in several clean-up efforts. These efforts demonstrate a community’s resiliency. Remember to check on your friends and neighbors—these good deeds build community!

Safety and wellbeing are the themes of Safe City Nights put on by the City of Rochester. Ben Franklin Elementary School hosted it on June 25th. I found Olmsted County Sherriff Kevin Torgerson running a youth activity and participated in Mayo Clinic Trauma Center’s simulation –how seat belts save lives in a car roll-over.

Catch one of the upcoming Safe City Nights in your neighborhood

July 9 Jefferson Elementary

July 23 Bishop Elementary

Aug 13 Longfellow Elementary

Aug 27 Watson Field

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I participated in the Rochester Chamber’s series of on-sight conversations with area businesses. A common theme among them is the lack of affordable homes for their employees. Upwards of 50% of their workforce is unable to purchase a home in Rochester so commute 15, 30 even sixty miles on way. Those road miles are not healthy for our environment or a sustainable world.

Several Public Health groups for which I volunteer met this month to continue our work on the community health needs assessment. I participated in RochesterFest’s honoring of area service clubs, a Clean Energy forum with Univ. of MN, a visit with The Landing leadership, and volunteered with Olmsted County driving people to medical appointments.

I have already connected with many of you at your door—expect to see me in your neighborhood over the coming weeks. Here is to a safe and healthy 4th of July weekend!!

Your Candidate for District 3 County Commissioner—April Sutor