Seeds of creativity: 7-year-old Jayden Banks creates seed art during the Como Community Seed Library's skill share and harvest exchange Oct. 16.
A Happy Halloween Indeed
Trick-or-treating doesn 't get much safer than at Como Friends ' annual Zoo Boo, which returns for its 29th year of offering a non-scary Halloween festival for families and young children. More than 200 live, costumed characters roam the Zoo and Conservatory to interact and entertain children. Plus, they hand out oodles of treats, thanks to dozens of sponsors.

Zoo Boo runs from 4:30-7:30 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22-23 and next Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29-30. Tickets are $6 -- but you've got to buy them before 3 p.m. this Saturday. Otherwise, it 's $7 at the gate. Tickets are good for any night. You can buy them in advance online or at Como's Garden Safari Gift Shop.

Shuttle parking is available at the Fairgrounds lot south of Come Ave.
Darius DeBoer Massoudi
2 Elected to D10 Board
Congratulations to Darius DeBoer Massoudi and Erin Dooley, who were elected Oct. 18 to fill sub-district vacancies on the District 10 Como Community Council board. DeBoer Massoudi is newly elected to represent Sub-District 4. Dooley, who had been on the board as an at-large representative, was elected to represent Sub-District 2.

One more vacancy to fill: The results mean District 10 is now seeking candidates to fill the remainder of Dooley's at-large term, which expires in April 2017.  Any District 10 resident at least 18 years of age is eligible to run; so are representatives from businesses or institutions in the neighborhood. To submit your name or to find out more, contact the District 10 office at 651-644-3889, or by email.
Join Us for Pancakes Oct. 29
Homemade food, great company, and kids in Halloween costumes. It 's all guaranteed at District 10 's annual Pancake Breakfast next Saturday, 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.
Photo: Mother Nature Network
Help Kids Get to School on Their Own 
This is the week Chelsea Heights Elementary School starts turning its Safe Routes to School plan into reality. There 's an open house this Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 3-4:30 p.m. at the school, 1557 Huron. That 's where you can get an overview of what the plan hopes to accomplish. You can also use the Wikimap tool to weigh in with ideas on how to improve routes, streets, sidewalks, physical barriers, and other infrastructure. The overall goal: come up with ways that help pupils walk or bike to school more easily, more often, and more safely.  
We Don't Want to be the Leaf Police    
Saint Paul Public Works started its fall street sweeping this week. But that is not a free pass to rake your leaves into the street for someone else to take care of. It is illegal -- we repeat, ILLEGAL -- to rake leaves into the street in Saint Paul. If you want to do that, move to Roseville.

Beyond being illegal, leaving leaves and grass in the street, so they can wash into storm drains, is bad for Como Lake and nearby streams. When water and leaves mix, the water leaches things like phosphorus and nitrogen out of the leaves. That helps feed algae blooms and degrade water quality in other ways. And given all the rain this year, the lake needs all the help it can get. You can learn more about how a little extra effort on your part can make a big difference: Check out the   Como Curb Cleanup initiative.
Something Special in Store (But Not in the Store)
Since the big box stores already are rushing the season, there 's no reason not to drop get your shopping started by dropping in at the North Dale Recreation Center 's Craft Fair, this Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Then next Friday, from 5-7 p.m., North Dale holds Hallow Fest for children 12 or younger. Costumes are encouraged; admission is free. (North Dale is at 1414 N. St. Albans.)
Giving You a Heads Up
  • This Monday, Oct. 24: Public hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals, 3 p.m., City Hall Room 330, 15 Kellogg Blvd. The property owner at 1514 Chelsea is seeking a 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.
  • Next Friday, Oct. 28: Public hearing before Saint Paul Planning Commission on a 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.
  • Next Friday, Oct. 28: Deadline to submit entries to join the City of Saint Paul's referral list for qualified artists to be included in public art projects. 
  • 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. 
  • Tuesday, Nov. 1: District 10 Neighborhood Relations and Safety Committee, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station.
  • Wednesday Nov. 2: Public hearing on the assessment for St. Paul's 2017 Right-of-Way Maintenance Program and the 2017 Above-Standard Lighting Operation and Maintenance Program. 5:30 p.m., City Council Chambers, third floor of City Hall, 15 Kellogg Blvd. W.
  • Wednesday Nov. 2: District 10 Land Use Committee, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. The monthly meeting moves from its usual day to avoid conflicts with the Halloween holiday.
The Mother Banjo Band perform Saturday
Good Music is Never Out of Season
It starts out in daylight and ends near dark, but 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. 21: Thomas Kivi and Sarah Pray
  • Saturday, Oct. 22: Mother Banjo Band 
  • Sunday, Oct. 23: Javier Matos
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.
Vote
Why Wait? You Can Vote Now   
Absentee voting is open in Minnesota. In Ramsey County, you can vote absentee by mail or in person. Just head down to 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
According to St. Paul Police, these are the items stolen most frequently from vehicles. How many do you leave sitting in your car?
  • GPS units and radar detectors
  • IPads, iPods and other MP3 players, laptop computers
  • Gym bags, back packs, brief cases
  • Purses, wallets, checkbooks
  • Camera gear
  • Jewelry
  • Tool boxes and power tools
  • Cash -- even spare change
 The Latest Crime Report for Our Neighborhood    
Happening at the Fairgrounds
  • Pumpkin Nights: Every night through Halloween at the DNR Building. More than 3,000 pumpkins creatively carved, illuminated and displayed on a half-mile path.  6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 6:30 p.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission: $16-$23, depending on age.
  • Minnesota Beef Expo: Through this Sunday, Oct. 23, Warner Coliseum.
  • Gophers Football Parking: This Saturday, Oct. 22, parking lots south and east of Randall Ave. The U's game against Rutgers begins at 11 a.m. on campus.
Just So You're Aware
The police impound lot at the Fairgrounds opened this week. History shows that once that happens, snow emergencies inevitably follow.
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.