But the greens are terrible: Travis Wilk tees off on the temporary Winter Carnival Disc Golf course in Como Park. Waiting their turn are his buddies (from left) Joel Bryant, Tyler Campbell, and Doug Macalester.
What to Do with Sundays without Football 
"Public Works 101" opens our Sunday Series Feb. 21. Photo: twincities.com
District 10's annual Sunday Series is almost here -- with free presentations and discussions about things to make our neighborhood better (or just to answer questions you didn't even know you had). Here are the topics; you can find more details on our website.
  • Public Works 101: Sunday Feb. 21, 1 p.m.
  • Gardening for the Birds and the Bees: Sunday Feb. 28, 1 p.m.
  • The Como Park You Never Knew: Sunday March 6, 1 p.m.
  • What the Birds are Telling Us: Sunday March 13, 1 p.m.
  • Building a Rain Garden: Sunday March 20, 1 p.m.
  • The Truth About St. Paul's Bike Plan: Sunday April 10, 1 p.m.
  • Garbage 101: Sunday April 17, 1 p.m.
Start Plotting Your Garden Now      
Gardeners who had plots in 2015 in the Como Community Garden -- or potential gardeners who would like to participate if plots open up -- are invited to an informational meeting this Thursday, Feb. 11, from 6-7:30 p.m. at North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 N. St. Albans.
The meeting will review how things went in 2015, and discuss rules and plans for the 2016 growing season. If you want a plot, but cannot attend the Feb. 11 meeting, notify coordinator Barbara Clark.
Start Plotting Your Detour Now          
Beginning in April, Lexington Ave. in Roseville will close for five months as MnDOT builds new bridges and ramps along Highway 36. An informal open house -- designed primarily for business owners -- outlines the project and how it will affect travel along the corridor (including access from Hamline and Dale, too). The free event is this Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 4-7 p.m. at MnDOT's Metro District offices, 1500 W. County Road B2. Find more details of the construction project online.
Just Move Along, There's Nothing to See Here ...
If you see drones flying over Como Park this Friday or Saturday, it's just a movie company called Karga Seven Pictures shooting video. Or that's what they tell us, anyway.
Get a New Recycling Bin This Sunday 
Free recycling bins and organic composting bags are always available at the District 10 office in the Historic Streetcar Station at Lexington and Horton. You can pick yours up this Sunday, Feb. 7, from noon-4 p.m., and still be home in time for the Super Bowl party. Or, if that doesn't work in your schedule, call us at 651-644-3889 and arrange to pick yours up by appointment.
It's Official
The City Council approved the District 10 Como Community Plan on Feb. 3. The plan -- developed with your suggestions over the past four years -- outlines our collective vision and priorities to maintain and even improve the quality of life in our neighborhood. District 10 committees are now deciding which projects to begin acting on this year and through 2018. You can read the whole plan on our website.   
Got Thoughts about the Grand Round? 
The official public comment period closes this Monday, Feb. 8, on the proposed Saint Paul Grand Round bicycle and pedestrian route. You can view, download or make comments on the draft Design and Implementation Plan. (You can find details of the portions in District 10 primarily on Pages 80-89, 123-124, and 130-132.)
Work is scheduled to begin this summer on the northern half of the 13-mile project. In District 10, the route includes Wheelock Parkway, Como Park, and Como Ave. A public hearing on the first segment of the project -- reconstruction of Wheelock between Rice and Edgerton -- is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 17 in the City Council chambers, third floor of City Hall, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
City Helps with Summer Job Opportunities   
St. Paul is accepting applications for its Right Track youth job and internship program. More than 600 part-time, paid jobs or internships are expected to be available for city residents, ages 14-21, who meet low-income or other eligibility requirements. Most jobs will run June 20-Aug. 19. Online applications are due no later than Monday Feb. 28.
App Keeps You Going in a Snow Emergency 
St. Paul Public Works has a free app to help you deal with snow emergencies. The smartphone app won't shovel your walk, but it will notify you when snow emergencies are declared, includes an interactive map showing when and where you need to move your vehicle, provides contact and towing information if you screw up, and has snow emergency information in eight languages. You can download the app at the city website. Or go to your Apple or Android app store and type in "Saint Paul Winter Snow Parking."
Winter Isn't Ending, But Winter Carnival Is  
St. Paul's Winter Carnival wraps up this weekend. Close to home, you can check out these events:
Winter Beer Dabbler. Unlimited c raft beer from 140 breweries, food trucks, live music, and more. This Saturday, Feb. 6, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. in the Warner Coliseum and the Mighty Midway on the Fairgrounds. Tickets start at $40. Details
Snow Sculptures. The monuments are all carved and still standing (mostly) on the east end of the Fairgrounds, near Cooper St. and Wright Ave. Free
Giant Snow Slide. The 110-foot slide operates from 5-9 tonight, Friday Feb. 5, and from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 6. $2 per ride (or 3 rides for $5)
 
Getting Back to the Land 
The Urban Homesteading series continues, coordinated by St. Paul Public Libraries and Ramsey County's Master Gardeners. This week's topic: Raising chickens in the city. The free seminar is Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Arlington Hills Library, 1200 Payne Ave., on the East Side. The complete schedule 
Read Your Fines Away      
Speaking of the library: If you've been piling up too many overdue fines, you can whittle them down by -- get this -- doing even more reading. During the month of February, any adult 18 or older can visit any Saint Paul Public Library, check in with the reference staff, the start reading in the library. For every 15 minutes you read, the library reduces your fine by $1. The fine print: Collection fees and book/DVD rental fees are not eligible.
Katy Vernon
'Music Under Glass' is Back   
After a week off, the "Music Under Glass" concert series returns, featuring folksy singer/songwriter Katy Vernon. Her free concert is this Sunday, Feb. 7, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the sunken garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. Beer, wine and snacks are available for purchase. Future concerts  
The Bus Doesn't Stop Here     
Wondering why most of Metro Transit's new A Line bus shelters on Snelling Ave. are fenced off so you can't use them? So do we. The answer: Well, the shelters may look complete, but they're not. They still need fare boxes, electronic signs, heat, and other electrical equipment. Let's hope that by the time the rapid bus service actually starts in Spring, we don't actually need the heat.
Saving Energy Could Save You Taxes, Too  
If you're doing your federal income taxes, don't miss out on tax credits for energy-saving products you purchased or installed in your existing home in 2015. Read the full details. Eligible items include:
  • 10 percent credits (up to $500 total) for Energy Star-certified biomass stoves, boilers, central air conditioning, furnaces, air source heat pumps, insulation, roofs, water heaters, or windows, doors or skylights.
  • 30 percent credits for geothermal heat pumps, residential wind turbines, or solar systems.
Keep Your Calendar Up to Date
  • This Sunday, Feb. 7: Organ concert, featuring Jim Hild, director of music from All Saints Lutheran Church, Minnetonka. 4 p.m., Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 W. Hoyt Ave. Free.
  • This Wednesday Feb. 10: Orientation workshop to apply for grants or loans through St. Paul's Neighborhood STAR program. 10-11:30 a.m., Historic Mounds Theater, 1029 Hudson Road. Free.
  • This Wednesday, Feb. 10: District 10 Executive Committee (rescheduled). 7 p.m., Historic Streetcar Station, northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
  • Thursday Feb. 11: District 10 Neighborhood Relations and Safety Committee. 6 p.m., Historic Streetcar Station, northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
  • Tuesday Feb. 16: District 10 Como Community Council Board Meeting. 7 p.m., Historic Streetcar Station, northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
  • Thursday Feb. 18: Legislative Town Hall, with Sen. John Marty, Rep. Alice Hausman, and Rep. John Lesch. 7-8:30 p.m., Ramsey County Library, 2180 N. Hamline Ave., Roseville.
Crime Prevention Tip of the Week
You may have heard that St. Paul is looking for a new police chief. Learn about the hiring process. If you want to voice an opinion on what you expect out of the next chief, take the city's online survey. Then, when the screening process is complete, the five finalists will appear in public forums where ordinary residents like us will be able to ask them questions. The forums:
  • Tuesday March 29, Central High School Auditorium, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 31, Johnson High School Auditorium, 630-8:30 p.m.
Spread the Word
District 10 is one of Saint Paul's 17 citizen participation districts. The  District 10 Como Community Council is a nonprofit organization, governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by members of the community. The Council's mission is to inform, educate, and connect the neighborhood to increase community pride and confidence. 

You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in District 10 activities.