The time is ripe: Becky and Jerry Wooden harvest some of the tomatoes and potatoes from their plot in the Como Community Garden.
Fires Have Plenty of Fans
Respondents to a District 10 survey overwhelmingly oppose banning recreational fires in St. Paul. But many of the more than 500 survey participants say there should be more courtesy and education about fires and the impact smoke can have. Get more details about what your neighbors think and what they think we should all know about backyard fires.
Our Best Foot Forward
District 10 and Saint Paul Police are organizing another "Stop for Me" pedestrian safety demonstration -- this time at
our neighborhood's most dangerous intersection: Como, Front and Dale. It's this Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 3-5 p.m. We're teaming up with District 6 in the North End to make this a success.
Can you join us? Contact the District 10 office
by email or by phone at 651-644-3889. We need volunteers to help educate drivers that state law requires them to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks -- every corner, every time. Police will ticket drivers who do not obey the law.
Two Wheels Take Over
The annual
Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour is this Sunday, Sept. 11. Wheelock Parkway and East Como Lake Drive will be closed to automobile traffic for the ride, and parts of Como Ave. will be reserved for cyclists. The tour includes a rest stop at Como Dockside, and uses trails through Como Park.
The Ins and Outs of Your Credit Score
District 10 will host a workshop sharing advice with individuals on how to improve their credit score. The free financial workshop is being organized and presented by TopLine Federal Credit Union and LSS Financial Counseling. Topics include the rules and myths of credit scoring, how to spot errors on credit reports, and exercising rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The workshop is Thursday Sept. 22, from 6-7:30 p.m., at the Como Park Streetcar Station, on the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. The seminar is free and is open to the general public, but reservations are required. To reserve your spot, contact TopLine by phone at
763-391-9494 or
by email.
Get Rid of Your Junk -- for Free
St. Paul residents who volunteer to staff a shift at the annual Citywide Drop-off Event at the State Fairgrounds get to dispose of one load of their own junk for free.
If you want to volunteer for a 3-1/2 hour shift, contact District 10
by email or by phone at 651-644-3889.
Fairgrounds Drop-off Event is Oct. 8
Got junk you need to get rid of? How about not-so-junky stuff you simply don't need anymore? Then take it all to St. Paul's
Citywide Drop-off Event at the State Fairgrounds. District 10 is the lead organizer for the annual event, but any St. Paul resident can participate.
The clean-up event runs Saturday Oct. 8 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. It is an easy way to get rid of things you can't put in the trash. (If you're not familiar with the concept, or for some reason actually recycled the brochure you received in the mail last spring,
watch a short video ... just be prepared for the obnoxious sound at the beginning.) You can dispose of some things for free (examples: bikes, cell phones, dishes, fluorescent bulbs, linens, and tools). Typically, however, there's a charge. (You can
get full details online.) In general, for a load of household junk or construction debris:
Cars pay $10
Vans, pickups, and trailers pay $15-$20
For specialized items, there are specific fees. For example:
Tires are $3-$10
Electronics are generally $8 each
Appliances are generally $10 each
Old furniture is generally $5-$20, depending on what it is
There also will be an expanded re-use area, so goods in good shape can go to a nonprofit instead of to the landfill. Plus, you can bring confidential papers for free shredding.
Finally, if you can't wait that long:
A full-scale drop-off also takes place Saturday Sept. 24 on Shepard Road between Alton and Davern, also from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
An "electronics only" drop-off takes place Saturday Oct. 1 at First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade St., 9 a.m.-noon.
Get Rid of Those Dangerous Concoctions
Take a look in your kitchen cabinets, garage, or workshop. Got any products you no longer use? If they say "Caution," "Warning," or "Danger" on the label, they don't belong in the trash.
But you
can bring them to a Ramsey County
household hazardous waste collection site. A mobile site will set up every Friday and Saturday in September, beginning today, at the State Fairgrounds in the parking lots south of Como. The site is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.
Details of what you can bring are available online, or by calling 651-633-3279, which is answered 24/7.
If that schedule doesn't work, the permanent drop-off site for household hazardous waste is at 5 Empire Drive in St. Paul, which is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.
Board Considers New Bylaws
The District 10 Como Community Council Board plans to vote Sept. 20 on an overhaul of the organization
's bylaws. The proposed changes clarify a number of technical issues (such as how to establish quorums), establish standing committees and their jurisdictions, convert some existing language into board policy that can be more easily revised, and ensure that language is consistent with the organization
's articles of incorporation. A
draft of changes is posted on the District 10 website. The board expects to vote on the changes during the regular monthly council meeting, on Tuesday Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station.
Construction Season is Still with Us
The big project this weekend is
Interstate 35E. The freeway will close in both directions between Interstate 94 and Shepard Road, beginning at 9 tonight, Friday Sept. 9. All lanes are expected to re-open by 5 a.m. this Monday, Sept. 12. Other projects you should know about:
Como Park: Reconstruction of roads, drives, and walkways is under way outside the formal entrances to the Zoo and Conservatory, near Estabrook Drive and Aida Place. Work will last until winter arrives.
McMurray Field: Road work pulls a switch next week. Jessamine is supposed to reopen west of Lexington Parkway, possibly as soon as this Monday, Sept. 12, but Wynne is supposed to close.
Randolph Ave.: The bridge over Interstate 35E closes today, Friday Sept. 9, for most of the month.
Other projects are making progress. For example, Wheelock Parkway could open between Rice St. and 35E sometime this week. On Highway 36, the exit ramp to northbound Lexington is now open from the westbound lanes. Otherwise, Lexington and the entire interchange remain closed.
See our website for that much longer list of street, bridge, and highway projects still in progress in and around Como.
Photo: Visit St. Paul
Seeing the Riverfront in a New Way
Get a glimpse of what Saint Paul's river bluff could be during the
River Balcony Prototyping Festival this Saturday, Sept. 10, from 2-6 p.m. at Kellogg Mall Park. The
free festival includes art installations, food trucks, craft brews, live music, and concepts of the proposed pedestrian walkway stretching the length of the bluff and directly connecting downtown to the river. To get you in the mood, a party before the festival takes place tonight, Sept. 9, from 5-10 p.m., again with music, food, and beverages.
Three areas of Como Lake shoreline are in line for restoration.
See the Shoreline in a New Way, Too
Saint Paul Parks expects to dig in this fall with
major shore and bluff restoration projects north and west of Como Lake. Overall, the projects are intended to improve water quality by removing invasive and diseased species (especially in the understory), stabilizing slopes, and restoring desirable plants, trees, and shrubs. In doing so, the three projects will dramatically change the look of the shoreline and the habitat for birds and other wildlife. Restoration will take place:
On a 315-foot stretch of the west shoreline, just north of Dockside.
On the oak savanna on the north bluff of the lake, between East Como Lake Drive and East Como Blvd. from roughly Lakeview to Lexington.
On the oak woodlands north and east of Lexington up the bluff to Nebraska and Chatsworth.
The Lakeside Pavilion Promenade does not go dark just because the days are getting shorter. Como Dockside's Farmer's Market continues every Thursday afternoon from 2-6 p.m., with live music at 4:30. Dockside also continues to provide free concerts every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5 p.m. throughout September;
see Dockside's calendar for the full schedule. This weekend:
Friday: The Eddies on the River
Saturday: Katey Bellville
Sunday: Rachel Hanson
Meanwhile, Back at the Zoo and Conservatory
Lil' Explorer Thursdays are back in action at the Zoo and Conservatory. The free children's events run weekly from 10 a.m.-noon in the Visitors Center. They feature stories, games and other activities, and up-close encounters with plants and animals. There's a
different theme every week through April.
Also returning to Como Park: the shuttle. Buses will run Saturdays and Sundays through September.
The Answer? The Library
Homework Centers are now open at six Saint Paul Public Library locations, including Rondo and Rice Street. The centers are open from 4-7 p.m. most weekdays and, in some cases, from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. In addition, the Library offers free "
Homework Rescue" online tutoring for grades 3-12 every day from 1-11 p.m.
This Week's Bulletin Board of Activities
This Sunday Sept. 11: Summit Hill House Tour. Noon-6 p.m., sponsored by District 16 Summit Hill Association. $35; tickets are available online or at Kowalski's, Bibelot, and Great Harvest stores.
This Tuesday Sept. 13: Public hearing on proposed 2017 water rates. 5 p.m., Saint Paul Regional Water Services, 1900 Rice St.
This Tuesday Sept. 13: Public information session on the environmental assessment of MnDOT's construction plans for Interstate 35W between Roseville and Lino Lakes. Plans include a MnPass express lane for part of the route. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Eagle Brook Church, 3603 95th Ave. NE, Blaine.
This Tuesday, Sept. 13:
Como Regional Park Advisory Committee. 6:30-8 p.m., Como Park Streetcar Station. Agenda includes construction updates and the possibility of an off-leash dog area.
This Wednesday Sept. 14: Open house information session on
assessments and end of construction in
Phase 1B and Phase 2 of the Como-Chatsworth RSVP project. 6 p.m., Como Park Streetcar Station, 1224 Lexington Parkway N.
This Wednesday Sept. 14: Public information session on the environmental assessment of MnDOT's construction plans for Interstate 35W between Roseville and Lino Lakes. Plans include a MnPass express lane for part of the route. 5:30-6:30 p.m., New Brighton City Hall, 803 Old Highway 8.
Tuesday Sept. 20: Information meeting about becoming a Capitol Region Watershed DistrictMaster Water Steward. 5-7 p.m., Bang Brewing, 2320 Capp Road, St. Paul.
Wednesday Sept. 21: Public hearing on assessments for Phase 1B and Phase 2 of the Como-Chatsworth construction project. 5:30 p.m., City Council chambers, third floor of City Hall, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd. Questions? Call 651-266-8858.
Buying a house? Taking on a big project? The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota can help you size up what you're getting into with an unusual class, "Inspector Insights." The class offers a
roof-to-cellar overview of what home inspectors look for in
chimneys, roofs, porches, electrical, plumbing, the foundation, and more -- with a special emphasis on vintage homes.
The class is next Friday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m.-noon at the Natural Built Home Store, 4020 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis. The fee is $33, or $28.05 if you're a Preservation Alliance member. You can register online.
Collecting seeds in the Sand Coulee
Help Seed the Future
The Friends of the Mississippi River is holding two outings this fall to collect native prairie seeds. The Saturday morning events take place:
The events are free and training is provided, but you must register in advance. To reserve a spot, contact Linda Moua
by email.
This Week's Crime Prevention Tip
If you witness a crime or see a suspicious person lurking on your block, you can't always take a photo or video. But police say you can train yourself to pay attention to key details that can help identify a suspect. The goal is to get beyond generic descriptions of gender, race, or age. Try to pick out specifics such as:
Hair color and style (including beards or moustaches)
Clothing, including eyeglasses or jewelry, and color, style, or length of items such as shoes, hats, jackets, pants, and shirts
Tattoos, piercings, or scars
Height, which is easier to describe in relation to other people or objects
With the State Fair in town, there were way too many things going on.
Now What's Going on at the Fairgrounds?
Now that the State Fair is over, the Fairgrounds are back to hosting horse shows and, at least next week, a rodeo of a different sort.
Gopher football parking: This Saturday, Sept. 10, in the Robin lot south and east of Randall Ave. The game against Indiana State is at 11 a.m.
Metro Transit Bus Roadeo: The precision driving competition begins this Thursday, Sept. 15, and continues 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily until Sept. 22. In the parking lots south of Como Ave.
Minnesota State 4-H Horse Show: Begins at 7 a.m. next Friday, Sept. 16, through Monday Sept. 19 in the Warner Coliseum. Spectator admission is free.
Get Your Recycling Gear Here
The Como Park Streetcar Station is open from noon-4 p.m. this and every Sunday through September. It's your best opportunity to pick up a blue recycling bin, pick up compostable organics recycling bags, learn a little bit about the history of Como Park, or just share comments and suggestions with a District 10 board member. The Streetcar Station is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
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.
Know someone else who is interested in what's going on in our neighborhood?
Get Your Recycling Gear Here
