Some of the Halloween decorations at 1603 Fernwood
Get the Basics on Voting and Local Candidates
St. Paul holds elections for City Council and for School Board this Tuesday, Nov. 3. Some election basics:
See the District 10 website for more information on:
  • Voting absentee in person before Tuesday.
  • How to use ranked-choice voting in City Council races.
  • Where candidates stand on the issues. We've rounded up links to recent media articles and videos of candidate debates.
Join Us For Breakfast
District 10's annual Family Pancake Breakfast takes place Saturday Oct. 31 from 8:30-11 a.m. The breakfast is a great, low-key way to hang out with neighbors. It features "all you can eat" pancakes and sausage, coffee, milk and juice, prepared by D10 board members.
Because it's Halloween, we'll also have a children's costume parade (with prizes) at 10 a.m. We'll all sit down at the HHH Job Corps Center Cafeteria, on Arlington Ave. between Snelling and Arona. The breakfast is a benefit for your District 10 Como Community Council. Tickets: $7 adults and teens, $4 children ages 3-12, free children under 3.
How to Get Rid of All Those Leaves
We can't avoid it any longer: It's definitely time to rake leaves, cut down plants, and clean out the vegetable garden. Ramsey County's free drop-off sites make it easy to get rid of all that yard waste.

Through November, every site is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Be sure to bring an ID showing that you are a Ramsey County resident.) Find out which sites accept which types of yard waste, and the location that makes the most sense for you.
Clean Curbs = Cleaner Water
This year, more than ever, we need to rake leaves out of the street, too, the folks at the Como Active Citizen Network remind us. This season's late leaf drop, combined with the fact that the city is already done sweeping our neighborhood, means if we don't clean up curbside, nobody will.
Why put in this extra effort? Because leaves and grass leach phosphorus and nitrogen. These nutrients run into storm sewers. The storm sewers run into Lake Como or the Mississippi River. The truth is, Como already suffers poor water quality and a significantly degraded lake ecosystem. That's the consequence of too many nutrients that feed noxious algae. This week's rain, combined with lots of leaves lying in the gutter, won't be good for the lake next summer.
To learn more, talk to a neighbor who's got a green "demonstration house" lawn sign. Or go online.
Enjoy Your Extra Hour This Weekend
In case this week's snow flurries didn't remind you, daylight savings time ends this weekend. Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night (or, technically, at 3 a.m. Sunday if you're still awake at that hour).
Weigh in on the Future  
of Ramsey County Ice Arenas
Ramsey County will hold two public meetings this week about long-term plans for its 11 ice arenas.
  • Wednesday Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville, at Hamline and County Road B. This meeting will look at all arenas in the county.
  • Thursday Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Merriam Park Recreation Center, 2000 St. Anthony Ave. This meeting will focus on the Oscar Johnson and Biff Adams arenas.
Learn more about the county's Arena Task Force , which was formed to develop and recommend a long-term recapitalization, repurpose, or replacement strategy for the county's ice arenas.
German Immersion School Wants to Hear from You
The German Immersion School is hosting a community partnership meeting on Thursday Nov. 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Como Dockside. The meeting will discuss parking, speeding, and other issues that neighbors want to bring up.
Got Ideas for Como, Front and Dale?
St. Paul has designated the Como-Front-Dale intersection a "commercial vitality zone" and is dedicating $350,000 for on- and off-street improvements in 2016. City staff are inviting residents, businesses, and property owners to "brainstorming" sessions to introduce the program, explain the funding, and generate ideas. The two sessions are:
  • Monday Nov. 9, 9-10 a.m. at John's Pizza CafĂ©, 616 Como Ave.
  • Tuesday Nov. 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Public Works, 891 N. Dale St. Use the entrance next to Door 4.
You Can't Get There from Here   
Road updates you should be aware of in and near District 10:
  • Como-Chatsworth: Streets remain closed in the reconstruction zone south of Horton between Lexington and Chatsworth.
  • Como Park: Reconstruction of Estabrook Drive and the Palm and West Picnic parking lots continues well into November.
  • Energy Park Drive: The eastbound lanes at Raymond are expected to remain closed until Nov. 10.
  • Raymond Ave.: Expected to remain closed between Energy Park Drive and Hampden Ave. until Nov. 10
  • Snelling Ave: The southbound entrance ramp from Como Ave. is closed for several more weeks as Metro Transit starts building stations for the upcoming A Line bus rapid transit route. A detour directs drivers south on Winston and east on Breda. In addition, construction could start any day on stations at Snelling at Hoyt and at Snelling at Nebraska; that could mean lanes and sidewalks will be detoured.
Don't Trash It. Fix It.   
Ramsey County holds its first Fix-It Clinic of the fall on Saturday Oct. 31. Residents who bring in small household appliances, electronics, mobile devices, and clothing can receive free, guided assistance from volunteers to disassemble, troubleshoot, and repair the items. The clinic runs 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Roseville Library, Hamline and County Road B.
A Great Reason to Get Indoors   
The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park celebrates its 100th anniversary next weekend - Nov. 7 and 8 - and wants you to join the party.
Events include a "renewal of vows" ceremony for anybody who was married at the conservatory, special hours for indoor and outdoor photography, free concerts, cake, a time capsule, garden talks, an ongoing trivia contest, plus a soundtrack featuring only musicians who were born in 1915, including Billie Holiday, Brownie McGhee, Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra, Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Frankie Yankovic, and more. Get all the details 
Interested in a Seed Exchange?    
Members of District 10's Environmental Committee are looking at setting up a seed exchange for heirloom garden vegetables, native plants, and other growing things, starting next spring. If you are interested in taking part in a free seed library, contact Dawn Lamm by email. Or, connect on Facebook.
Pencil It In   
District 10's Land Use Committee holds its monthly meeting on Monday Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Historic Streetcar Station, at Lexington and Horton. Agenda items include parking around the new Buddhist temple at Front and Milton, and the city's vision for the Como/Front/Dale intersection.
Artful Living Lives Up to Its Name      
Lyngblomsten's Artful Living series has a packed calendar with events beginning in a few days. A sampling:
  • Holiday clay pottery workshops: Nov. 2, and Dec. 1 and 8
  • Music education performance sessions, in which OboeBass! leads a class on the Nutcracker ballet and holiday carols: Nov. 2, Dec. 7
  • The MacPhail Sing for Life Choir, on Wednesdays from Nov. 4-Feb. 24
  • Free concerts on Nov. 8, Nov. 22, and Dec. 13
  • The Unwrapping Music series, on Thursdays from Nov. 12-Jan. 28
The full schedule with times, locations, and other details is available online.
See What Local Parks Have to Offer
The North Dale and Northwest Como rec centers offer a full slate of fall events for kids, teens, adults, and seniors. Many start the first week of November. Activities include babysitting training, art, sports, dance, martial arts, yoga, and other fitness classes. Check out the full calendar online. Or call North Dale at 651-558-2329, or Northwest Como at 651-298-5813.
What Else is Going On ...         
  • Weapons Collectors Show and Sale, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Fairgrounds' Warner Coliseum, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
  • Gophers Football: Parking and shuttles will operate Oct. 31 at the Fairgrounds' Robin Lot, south and east of Randall Ave.
  • The Latest Police Report for Our Neighborhood
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.