Students and neighbors put nearly 1,400 plants in the ground.
Are These Great Neighbors or What?
More than 50 volunteers took on the monumental task of hauling, sorting, staging, digging, planting, mulching, and watering nearly 1,400 trees, shrubs and plants in two public gardens last Saturday. Fortunately for them, somebody with big equipment had already put in the boulders. Here are photos from Oct. 1's amazing project. 
 
The volunteers, including more than 15 students from Murray Middle School, put the latest (but not final!) touches on the two new triangle filtration gardens at Horton, Van Slyke and Churchill. The filtration gardens, built as part of recent street reconstruction, are a more sophisticated version of a rain garden. But the goal is the same: to capture and clean stormwater runoff before it reaches Como Lake.
The eye-pleasing parts of the gardens expand on the tradition of the old "Churchill Garden," which Warrendale neighbors built and maintained for more than 15 years. The volunteer planting is the result of months of collaboration among neighbors, the City of Saint Paul's Public Works and Forestry departments, the Ramsey Conservation District, the Capitol Region Watershed District, and the District 10 Como Community Council.
Fairgrounds Drop-off is Saturday
Need to get rid of junk that you can't put in the trash? Then take it to St. Paul's Citywide Drop-off Event at the State Fairgrounds. The annual neighborhood clean-up is this Saturday Oct. 8 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. It is the last citywide event for the year. Any St. Paul or Falcon Heights resident can participate; you don't need a special admission card to get in.

If you're not familiar with the concept, watch a short video (just be prepared for the rumble-strip noise at the beginning). There 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. For more details on what you can drop off, and what it might cost, see the city website. 
Join Our Pancake Breakfast Oct. 29
Homemade food, great company, and kids in Halloween costumes. It 's all guaranteed at District 10 's annual Pancake Breakfast Oct. 29. The family feast features pancakes, eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, and breakfast beverages. Plus, children get to field-test their Halloween disguises during a costume parade at 10 a.m.

Breakfast runs from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the cafeteria of the Humphrey Job Corps Center, which is on Arlington Ave. between Snelling and Arona. All are welcome.
Tickets are $7 for teens and adults; $4 for children ages 5-12; and free for youngsters 4 and under. You can purchase tickets from a D10 board member or at the door.
Celebrate Your Roots (and Vines and ...)
Regardless of how successful your gardening season has been, it's time to celebrate with another get-together of the Como Community Seed Library. The volunteer group is holding a free harvest open house next Sunday, Oct. 16, from 1-3 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station. At this "skill share and harvest exchange, " you can:
  • Join an exchange of seeds, recipes, and canned and fresh harvest
  • Swap stories
  • Learn the perfect crops and tools to extend your growing season
  • Get answers from a Master Gardener
  • Find out how and why to add biodiversity to your garden
  • Create seed-inspired art
  • Make connections with neighborhood gardeners and gardening groups
Special guests include Judi Petkau of Wild Ones and Koby Jeschkeit-Hagen of Seed Sages. For more information, contact Dawn Lamm  by email or follow Como Community Seed Library on Facebook.
  • If you can volunteer to help during the exchange, sign up here; volunteers receive "a sweet thank you" that is more than words.  
District Council Needs 2 of You
The District 10 Como Community Council is seeking candidates to fill board vacancies from Sub-District 2 and Sub-District 4. Representatives from businesses or institutions in those parts of our neighborhood also are eligible. Candidates must be at least 18 years old.
  • For Sub-District 2, you must live in the area between Hamline on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Victoria on the east, and the BNSF tracks on the south. 
  • For Sub-District 4, you must live between Dale on the east, Snelling on the west, and between the BNSF right-of-way north of Front and Energy Park Drive, and the BNSF right-of-way north of Pierce Butler Route.
The elected candidates will serve the remainder of the vacant terms, which expire in April 2018; get a direct say on issues affecting our neighborhood's quality of life; and even get a table card with their name on it. A special election to fill the vacancy is Tuesday Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., before the monthly board meeting.
  • To submit your name or to find out more, contact the District 10 office at 651-644-3889, or by email.
On Their Own Two Feet    
Our own Chelsea Heights Elementary School is one of only three Saint Paul schools selected to develop a Safe Routes to School plan. The goal: come up with ways that help pupils walk or bike to school more easily, more often, and more safely.  If you want to weigh in with ideas on how to improve the infrastructure side of that equation -- routes, streets, sidewalks, physical barriers, etc. -- take a look at the Wikimap that 's part of the project. The program, funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will also look at ways to improve education about and promotion of getting to school under your own power.
  • Finally, there's an open house to explain in more detail what this all means. That takes place on Wednesday Oct. 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the school, 1557 Huron.
Organics Recycling Made Easier   
You asked for it, you got it. We've now made replacement bags for organics recycling available free of charge at our 24/7 drop-off site in Como Park. The bags are in a mailbox attached inside the gate. Please, limit yourself to two bags each visit.

Also, a reminder: Because of construction in the McMurray Field area, the only way to access the drop-off site is from the west. From the T-intersection at Hamline and Jessamine, head east on Jessamine, then turn left at Beulah. The drop-off site is on your left, just north of the Humane Society.

Finally, if you are new to organics recycling, stop at our office and pick up your free starter kit, which includes a bag, refrigerator magnets, and other information and supplies to help you succeed in reducing your waste footprint.
Don't Let This Happen to Your Sewer     
Now that you 're hauling out your rakes, why stop with your lawn? Step into the street and rake leaves from your curb and gutter, too. That 's especially necessary if you live near a storm drain.

Raking leaves out of the gutter not only looks nicer, it prevents all kinds of nasty things. When water and leaves mix, the water either washes the leaves into the drain, or leaches things like phosphorus and nitrogen from the leaves. In either case, they flow into Como Lake or the Mississippi River, which is not good -- because that helps cause algae blooms and otherwise degrade water quality. And given all the rain we 've had this year, you know we 're not making this up.

You can learn more from the Como Curb Cleanup initiative. You can even sign up to be a Demonstration House, which gets you a nifty green lawn sign and a massive lawn bag in which to pack your leaves. Then city parks crews can pick them up for you.
  • While we're preaching, don't forget: It is illegal -- ILLEGAL -- to rake leaves into the street in St. Paul.
Block Nurses Definitely Aren't Homebound    
It 's a busy week for the Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program. In addition to the usual exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, you can take part in:
  • Free blood-pressure screening: This Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:15 a.m., Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 W. Hoyt.
  • Veterans Fair: Next Friday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Get help navigating the system of veterans' benefits, and finding appropriate care and options. Lunch is included, but reservations are required; call 651-642-1127. The fair is at the Midpointe Event Center, 415 N. Pascal.
  • Meatloaf Dinner: Next Saturday, Oct. 15, 4:30-7 p.m. Tickets to this fundraiser are $9 for adults and teens, $5 for children 11 or younger. And bring your checkbook so you can outbid someone in the silent auction. Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 W. Hoyt.
The Schiffman Fountain in Como Park is a classic example of public art.
Go Public with Your Artistic Side 
The City of Saint Paul is looking for qualified artists to add to its referral list for public art projects. Learn more about the city program that requires artists to be part of design teams on city projects. If you think you're qualified,   you can apply through the Call for Entry website. The application deadline is Friday Oct. 28.
 
 
You'll Run into Roadblocks   
Not a lot new going on. However, the Twin Cities Marathon is this Sunday, Oct. 9, beginning at 8 a.m. On our side of the river, that means you 'll run into roadblocks up and down Mississippi River Parkway, all along Summit Ave., and near the Cathedral and Capitol. See our website for a much longer recap of street, bridge, and highway projects still in progress in and around Como.  
This Week's Bulletin Board of Activities
  • This Saturday, Oct. 8: Creative Frogtown Arts Festival, 3-8 p.m., 815 W. University Ave. Free
  • Sunday Oct. 16: Deadline to submit applications to SPNN -- the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network -- for Set It Up, a media and after-school initiative for high school students.
  • Monday Oct. 17: Deadline to nominate groups, individuals, or projects for the Capitol Region Watershed District's Watershed Steward Awards.
  • Monday Oct. 17: District 66 Candidate Forum. 7-8:30 p.m., Falcon Heights City Council Chambers. Sponsored by Roseville League of Women Voters.
  • Monday Oct. 24: Public hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals, 3 p.m., City Hall Room 330, 15 Kellogg Blvd. The new property owner at 1514 Chelsea is seeking a setback variance in order to demolish the current house and build a new single-family residence. Comments can be submitted to Sean Westenhofer by phone at 651-755-0167 or by email.
  • Friday Oct. 28: Public hearing before Saint Paul Planning Commission on proposed ordinance expanding the ability of brick-and-mortar businesses to do business outside their stores. 8:30 a.m., City Hall Room 40, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
  • Monday Oct. 31: Deadline to submit preliminary applications for the Capitol Region Watershed District's Partner Grants, which provide from $2,000-$20,000 for water-themed education or outreach projects within the watershed district.
pumpkin
Good Music is Never Out of Season
Whether there is frost on the pumpkins or not, Como Dockside continues to provide free outdoor music every weekend. The concerts are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5 p.m.; see Dockside's calendar for the full schedule. This weekend 's concerts:
  • Tonight, Friday Oct. 7: Jeff Ray and the Stakes
  • Saturday, Oct. 8: Dirty Romance Novels
  • Sunday, Oct. 9: Brady Perl
Meanwhile, the  Como Park Pumpkin Patch is open outside of Dockside on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-sunset through October. It features not just pumpkins, but games, inflatables, a hay ride and more. Admission is $5-$9, depending on age.
 
Also Going On in Como Park
  • If you see folks wandering around the park with flashlights or headlights after dark this Thursday, they might be lost. Or, they might be part of the Minnesota Orienteering Club's Autumn Adventure run series. The races begin at 7 p.m. at the main picnic pavilion. There's another chance on Thursday, Oct. 20, too. Registration: $8.
  • Minnesota Eye Foundation's Strides 4 Sight 5K Walk and Run: This Saturday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m., lake path. Registration: $30
Vote
Believe It or Not, You Can Vote Now   
Absentee voting is now open in Minnesota. In Ramsey County, you can vote absentee by mail. Or, vote in person at the elections office, 90 W. Plato Blvd. Hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays; there will be extended hours closer to the Nov. 8 Election Day. Get details online.
This Week's Crime Prevention Tip
The Western District of the Saint Paul Police Department holds its monthly community meeting on Tuesday Oct. 18. Meetings take place at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Western District headquarters, 389 N. Hamline. All community members are invited.
 
Happening at the Fairgrounds
  • Minnesota Harvest Horse Show: Through this Sunday, Oct. 9, Warner Coliseum. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily.
  • Half-Price Books Clearance Event: Through this Sunday, Oct. 7-9, Grandstand. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. each day.
  • Twin Cities Oktoberfest: Today and Saturday, Oct. 7-8, Progress Center. Hours: 4-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $30
  • Minnesota Comic Book Association Fall Convention: This Saturday, Oct. 8, Education Building. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission: $9 ages 10 or older.
  • University of Minnesota Football Parking: This Saturday, Oct. 8, lots south and east of Randall Ave. The game against Iowa starts at 11 a.m.
  • FairWear and Sport Merchandise Liquidation Sale: Next Friday-Saturday, Oct. 14-15, Visitors Plaza. Hours: Noon-6 p.m. Oct. 14; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15.
  • Pumpkin Nights: Next Friday, Oct. 14, through Halloween, DNR Building. Opens 6:30 p.m. every night. Admission: $16-$23, depending on age.
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.