Eyeing the future: Jake and Genevieve Zimmerman, from East Como Blvd., join others in examining concepts for the Grand Round's bicycle and pedestrian route through Como Park. The informational session on St. Paul's Bike Plan was part of District 10's Sunday Series.
It's Time to Vote: D10 Elections are Tuesday
Thirteen neighbors are running for eight positions on the District 10 board. Elections are this Tuesday, April 19, during our Annual Meeting.

The details of voting: Voting starts at 7 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station, at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. All residents age 18 or older who live in District 10 are eligible to vote. So are authorized representatives from a business or nonprofit organization located in District 10. Community members must vote in person; there is no absentee or proxy voting. Voting will be held in this sequence: Vice Chair; Treasurer; Sub-Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4; and two At-Large positions.

Election Guide: Check out our website for a downloadable version of our Election Guide, which contains details about the candidates and complete information about voting.
It's Time to Talk Trash
The final presentation in District 10's 2016 Sunday Series takes place this Sunday, April 17. It's "Garbage 101" -- or perhaps more accurately, Garbage 2.0. We'll talk about how trash, recycling, yard waste, and composting are constantly changing as St. Paul and Ramsey County move toward zero waste. Representatives from the city, county, Eureka, and District 10 bring you up to speed on the do's, don'ts, and what's coming next. Definitely included: discussion of St. Paul's look into organized trash collection. Details: The free presentation is from 1-2:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 W. Hoyt.
It's Time to Plan Your Detour
Highway 36 and Lexington: Construction starts this Monday, April 18, to replace the Highway 36 bridge over Lexington. The eastbound ramps to and from Highway 36 close at 9 a.m. and don't open again until September. Crews will begin building bypass lanes to keep traffic on Highway 36 moving once the bridge is demolished. Detours will route traffic to Dale St.

Lexington itself will remain open until after Memorial Day, when it shuts down until at least October. Future work will affect the entire stretch of Highway 36 between Dale and Hamline. The project won't finish until November. You can read the entire timeline here.

Lexington and Interstate 94: It only seems like they have us surrounded. South of us, the Lexington Ave. bridge over I-94 shuts down this Monday, April 18, at 6 a.m. Crews will repair the bridge deck, median, and sidewalks. The bridge is expected to remain closed until May 8.

Wait, there's more: Later this year, the bridges over I-94 on Cretin, Pascal, and Prior  will shut down for periods ranging from one week to four months. Plus, the bridges on Dale, Cleveland, Hamline, Pelham, and Victoria will undergo repairs that are less intensive, but still a headache.

Closer to home: Chatsworth St. remains closed between Como Ave. and Front Ave. as reconstruction continues. The 3A bus route in South Como is detoured; it now runs on Nagasaki instead of on Van Slyke, Chatsworth, and Como Ave. (And, in case you're wondering: The yellow cylinders on the south shore of Como Lake are a "silt fence," designed to capture the sediment runoff expected during street reconstruction in the Como-Chatsworth area.)
It's Time to Register Your Garage Sale
The annual Como Neighborhood Garage Sale takes place Saturday May 14. If you're selling stuff, now's the time to register. The fee is still only $15 (paybable through PayPal). We'll produce a map and listing of registered participants, so shoppers know where to find you and what they'll find when they get there.
Look at Energy in a New Way
Trying to make sense of community solar and other new options in electricity? Wonder how we're really doing in reducing reliance on fossil fuels? Want to find out about tax credits and rebates available if you make your home or business more energy-efficient? Then get the answers you're looking for at District 10's Clean Energy Forum. Presenters include Fresh Energy, Just Community Solar Coalition, and Neighborhood Energy Connection. The free event coincides with Earth Day weekend: it's Sunday April 24, from 1-2:30 p.m., at the Como Park Streetcar Station.
Dig Deep for Chelsea Heights
The annual Silent Auction to benefit Chelsea Heights Elementary School is this Saturday, April 16, from 5:30 p.m.-midnight at Gabe's by the Park, Lexington and Energy Park Drive. Admission is $15; that gets you food, a beverage ticket, and access to more than 80 silent auction packages, a 50/50 raffle, a wine pull -- and musician Paul Seeba. Plus, you've got to admire that they're not picky: You can pay with cash, check, or credit card.
Job Corps Center to Add Fence
A new mandate from the federal Department of Labor means the Humphrey Job Corps Center will have to install  fences on its campus this spring. Center director William Coleman says the fencing is required to make the center a "closed campus" in order to increase security for students and staff. To minimize the impact on the neighborhood, Coleman says, the center will install fencing only between buildings, not along the perimeter of the property. Plans call for a 6-foot cyclone fence with a smaller-than-normal 1-inch weave, which is better for security and aesthetics, he said. Installation is expected by the end of May; nearby neighbors should expect hand-delivered notification with more details.
Neighbors Say: Yes We CAN
The Community Awareness Network holds a "bring your own neighbor" meet-and-greet next Thursday, April 21, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Como Dockside, 1360 Lexington Parkway. CAN is a group of Como and North End volunteers seeking to build a culture of awareness and connectedness among neighbors.
Park Springs into Action   
Como Park is ramping up for prime time:
  • The Como Town amusement park provides limited rides this weekend, and will be in full swing by the weekend of April 22.
  • The free park-and-ride shuttle bus begins running weekends starting next Saturday, April 23. Daily service begins May 30.
  • The Nice Ride bike-share stations near the Conservatory and Pavilion are open.
  • In conjunction with the park's annual "Party for the Planet" Earth Day celebration, Metro Transit is offering free bus rides on Routes 3 and 83, which serve the park. The downloadable pass is good April 23-24 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Parking restrictions west of the park kick in on May 1.
It's a Clean Sweep
St. Paul Public Works expects to sweep most District 10 streets next week. A few streets in South Como are scheduled for the following Monday or Tuesday, April 25-26. No parking will be allowed on sweeping days; signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance. See an up-to-date map of where your street is on the schedule. Remember: It is illegal to sweep leaves, grass, or other debris into the street. Violators can be ticketed.
The Goal: Connecting Elders with Helpers
The Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program has two immediate ways to lend a hand to seniors in our neighborhood.
  • Yard Cleanup: If you're a senior who would like some help with spring yard cleanup, the Block Nurse Program has volunteers willing to pitch in on the first weekend in May. It doesn't cost you anything. To get on the schedule, call 651-642-1127 or send an email.
  • Weekly visits: If you've got some free time on your hands, think about making a weekly visit to a senior neighbor. You can get all the details from Leann; call 651-642-1127 or send an email.
Don't Forget to Order Your Tree(s)
Next Friday, April 22, is the deadline to place your order through the annual tree sale for Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County. You can buy a tree, rosebush or shrub for yourself -- or buy a tree to donate to a local park. Your order will be available for pick-up on Saturday May 7.
More of Como Ave. Gets Real Bike Lanes    
City engineers have marked out bike lanes along Como Ave. from Dale St. west to the railroad tracks. Formal striping is expected before April is over. No parking will be removed; when finished, the street will have two 10-foot traffic lanes, two 5-foot bike lanes, and two 7-foot parking lanes. Striping on Como between Snelling and the University Transitway is expected later this year.
Festival of Nations Seeks Volunteers   
The International Institute, which sits on District 10's western border, is seeking volunteers for its Festival of Nations, which runs May 5-8 at the RiverCentre. The annual event is the state's largest and longest-running multicultural festival. Volunteers work a 3- or 4-hour shift staffing booths, helping with setup and teardown, cleaning tables, or greeting visitors. Volunteers receive free admission. You can get complete information and sign up online.
Things We've Learned Along the Way
We recently received a couple of maps from the city's Department of Public Works, outlining a timetable for residential road re-construction projects. Here is the schedule for our neighborhood; may you live long enough to see them completed:
  • 2021 and 2022: Wheelock/Grotto area (in two phases) -- the streets east of Victoria, south of Arlington, west of Dale, and north of Maryland.
  • 2029: Pascal/Como area -- the streets west of Hamline, north of the railroad tracks, east of Cathlin, and south of Midway Parkway.
Is Your Calendar Up to Date?     
  • This Sunday, April 17: Deadline to fill out District 10's survey about which intersections in our neighborhood you think are the most dangerous for pedestrians.
  • This Sunday, April 17: Deadline to submit applications for vacancies on 19 St. Paul commissions. A complete list of openings, commissions' duties, and application materials are available online.
  • This Sunday, April 17: St. Paul Vocal Forum sings selections from their spring concert, "Sing Love, Be Love." 2-3 p.m., Newman-Benson Chapel at Lyngblomsten, 1415 Almond Ave. Free and open to the public.
  • This Tuesday, April 19: Mayor Chris Coleman's 2016 State of the City speech. Noon, Penumbra Theatre, 270 Kent St. (If you can't attend in person, you can watch the live webstream.)
  • This Tuesday, April 19: Como Park High School Parent and Community Council meeting. 6-7:30 p.m. at the school, 740 W. Rose Ave. The main topic: finalizing a plan to submit to the school district to upgrade Como's athletic facilities.
  • Next Friday, April 22: Como Park High School Peace Walk. 2:30 p.m., starting outside the west wing of the high school, 740 W. Rose Ave.
  • Next Friday, April 22-Sunday April 24: St. Paul Art Crawl, including exhibits at Front Ave. Pottery, 895 Front Ave.; and Bodhi Studio, 1563 Como Ave.
  • Next Saturday, April 23: 30th annual St. Paul Citywide Cleanup. 9-11:30 a.m., Como Park and six other locations. Also, Ramsey County sponsors its annual Earth Day Cleanup at four county parks.
  • Saturday May 21: Como Park Neighborhood Seed and Seedling Share. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Como Park Streetcar Station
  • Saturday June 11: A Line bus service begins on Snelling Ave.
  • Tuesday Aug. 2: National Night Out
Crime Prevention Tip of the Week
Businesses need to take special precautions to prevent break-ins, St. Paul Police say. One key: Good visibility. Windows should be kept clear, whether the business is open or closed, so patrols and passersby on the outside can easily see if something is amiss inside. Other visibility tips: Make sure landscaping, trash, boxes and bins, equipment, or parked vehicles do not block views, provide a place to hide, or make it easier for burglars to reach your roof.
 
The Latest Crime Report for Our Neighborhood
At the Fairgrounds
A busy week:
  • The Minnesota Half Arabian Horse Association Spring Schooling Event runs this Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. at AgStar Arena and the South Horse Barn. Spectator admission is free.
  • The Grandstand hosts more than 250 dealers for an Antique Spectacular and Flea Market this Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and this Sunday, April 17, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $6 for teens and adults, free for children 12 or younger.
  • A Military Relic Show, featuring Minnesota military history, takes place in the Progress Center this Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and this Sunday, April 17, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is $6 for those 10 or older. 
  • More than 350 tables of weapons, ammunition, and accessories will be available to buy or trade during a show sponsored by the Minnesota Weapons Collectors Association. The event is at the Education Building this Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and this Sunday, April 17, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $5 for teens and adults, free for children 12 or younger. Anyone age 18 or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Bicycle road races take place this Tuesday, April 19, and next Tuesday, April 26. Expect streets between Dan Patch and Hoyt to be closed from 4:30-8:30 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 expressed interest in District 10 activities.