Dear Neighbors,
Today is Election Day. Polls are open until 8 p.m. for our local elections for school board and if you live in Minnetonka, the city council. If you’re in doubt as to where you vote, the Secretary of State has a poll finder which you can access here.
Town Hall Meeting Reminder
I’d like to again invite you to the Town Hall Meeting Sen. Steve Cwodzinski and I are hosting on Saturday. As I’ve been out and about the community this fall, people have told me how glad they are that there is an opportunity for neighbors to get together and talk about the issues important to them. We know that our community values civic engagement and civil conversation, and Steve and I are looking forward to the discussion.
WHO: Rep. Laurie Pryor, Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, interested community members
WHAT: Town Hall Meeting
WHERE: Minnetonka High School (Forum Room), 18301 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN 55345
WHEN: Saturday, November 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Social Media & Internet Safety
As part of the Minnetonka Middle School East’s Parent Speaker Series, I’ll be participating in a panel on Friday, November 17 about social media and internet safety. The FBI has seen a significant increase in cases of “sextortion” and sexual exploitation of children on the internet, and it only takes a single click for a child to become a victim.
Joining me will be Kathy Hotakainen, an FBI community outreach specialist, and Det. Carla Ertman, school resource officer for Minnetonka Public Schools. We will discuss cases the FBI has discovered in Minnesota based on children’s social media and internet activity and give parents tips to identify risks and how to keep children safe as they navigate and ever-changing technological landscape. I’ll be talking about potential legislation to keep kids safe, and there will be time for Q&A as well. I hope you can join us.
WHO: Kathy Hotahainen (FBI Community Outreach). Det. Carla Ertman (School Resource, Minnetonka Public Schools), Rep. Laurie Pryor (MN State Representative for District 48A)\
WHAT: Social Media & Internet Safety
WHERE: Minnetonka Middle School East (Media Center),17000 Lake Street Extension, Minnetonka
WHEN: Friday, November 17, noon
Veterans Day
As I mentioned in my last update, Veterans Day is coming up on Saturday, November 11. In observance of this day, I hope we can all take some time to reflect upon the sacrifices made by these brave men and women, many of whom have left their families behind to head into uncertain, often dangerous situations to defend our freedoms and keep us safe here at home.
There are events across the state and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has compiled a list here. On Thursday night, I’ll be attending a “Salute our Veterans” event hosted by Community Action Partnership – Hennepin County and the Palmer Lake VFW Post 3915 in Brooklyn Park. This event will raise money for CAP-HC so they can provide direct services for veterans and their families. More information can be found on Facebook here.
What do you value?
In these turbulent times, how can you improve life for your family and our community? Recently, as part of the new Minnesota Values Project, legislators have crossed the state, listening to Minnesotans and facilitating a dialogue about our shared values and future. The conversations have been challenging and thoughtful. People from all walks of life have attended and shared a great deal about themselves and their communities.
Now, it’s your turn to join so many other Minnesotans and share what you value and what you’d like to see Minnesota do. Please take this opportunity to fill out a brief, four question survey.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions and feedback, or if I can ever be of assistance. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Laurie Pryor
State Representative