Mark Koran takes advantage of unusually warm November weather to finish raking outside his home in the 900 block of Orchard.
Got a Problem (Property)? Get Some Advice
Struggling with a neglected property
on your block? An absentee landlord? A problem tenant? Then find out how to effectively deal with it during a District 10 community
forum on problem properties. Our goal: get you the practical understanding and hands-on advice you need to report, track, and navigate city departments. That way, you and your neighbors have a better chance of reducing the impact from properties that are a nuisance, threat, or detriment to our community.
The free forum is this Thursday, Nov. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. The forum will feature:
Officer Erik Diskerud, of the Western District FORCE Unit of the Saint Paul Police
Inspector Joe Yannarelly, of the city's Department of Safety and Inspections
Andrew Johnson, a community member who has been dealing for years with problem properties
As If You Need to Be Reminded...
Elections take place this
Tuesday, Nov. 8, for U.S. president, U.S. House of Representatives, both houses of the Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota Supreme Court, a ton of Appeals and District Court judges, Saint Paul School Board, Soil and Water District, plus a constitutional amendment on pay for Minnesota legislators.
Minnesota allows same-day registration for elections. If you are not registered, or moved recently, find out how you register on Election Day. If you are not sure if you are registered, check here.
All polling places in Saint Paul are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you have the right to vote. Remember, state law says employers must give you
time off to vote. You cannot be docked wages, vacation time or paid leave in order to take a reasonable amount of time to vote.
If you want to
vote absentee in person before Nov. 8, just head down to the Ramsey County elections office, 90 W. Plato Blvd. Hours are until 4:30 p.m. today, Friday, Nov. 4; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 5; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. this Sunday, Nov. 6; and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. this Monday, Nov. 7.
Get all the details online.
This could be you.
Put Your Name Out There
The District 10 Como Community Council is seeking candidates to fill two board vacancies: one in Sub-District 2, one an At-Large seat.
The At-Large seat is open to anyone who lives in District 10, which is the portion of Saint Paul bounded roughly by Snelling on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Dale on the east, and the railroad tracks between Pierce Butler and Energy Park Drive/Front Ave. on the south.
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 north of Front on the south.
Any District 10 resident at least 18 years of age is eligible to run; so are representatives from businesses or institutions in the neighborhood. The terms expire in April 2017. To get your name on the ballot, contact the District 10 office by email or by phone at 651-644-3889 no later than this Thursday, Nov. 10. The elections to fill the seats take place on Tuesday Nov. 15.
Find out more about serving on the Community Council Board.
Giving to the Max is Even Easier
Officially, Give to the Max Day is not until Nov. 17. But why wait for that last-minute crush? You can
make a financial donation to District 10 today and every penny still counts toward Minnesota
's largest philanthropy day.
Your tax-deductible donation helps District 10 keep doing the work you count on -- informing you about what
's going on in our neighborhood, successfully organizing neighbors to solve problems and take on issues together, and generally improving the quality of life where we live. So
please help out if you can. Even if you give less than the max, we absolutely thank you for your support!
Photo: The Inquisitr
Time is On Your Side
For those of us who do not live in Arizona or Hawaii, Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, Nov. 6. That means:
Turn your clock back one hour, back to Central Standard Time
Enjoy the extra hour of sleep (or play)
It gets darker even earlier -- sunset on Sunday is (gulp) 4:53 p.m.!
Photo: BluntMoms
After the Candy's Gone
Remember: Your decaying jack-o-lanterns and gourds should be composted, not thrown in the trash. You can compost them at home, or bring them to a Ramsey County yard waste site -- just like you do with leaves and grass clippings. Composting old pumpkins is free. You can find hours and locations for the county sites online. Or call 651-633-3279 any time day or night.
Looking to Buy?
The NeighborhoodLift program offers up to
$7,500 in forgivable funds to use toward the down payment on a home within Saint Paul. You do not have to be a first-time homebuyer, but your household income cannot exceed 80 percent of the metro-area median. The program is organized by Neighbor Works.
Get the rest of the details online.
Looking to Stay Warmer for Less?
If you already own a home, the Neighborhood Energy Connection can help you make sure it
's as comfortable and efficient as possible. NEC
's
free Energy Advisory Service sets up an energy audit, can connect you with contractors to get necessary work done, and makes sure you collect on rebates available from Xcel Energy.
Find out more online.
Dive Deeper into Shallow-Lake Ecology
For weeks, we
've been talking about how Como Lake suffers when phosphorus leaches from fallen leaves in the gutter, washes through storm drains, then empties into the lake. If you want to learn some of the nitty-gritty, take a walk around the lake and stop to read the sandwich-board posters set up by the
Como Curb Cleanup initiative. Or, if you prefer not to head out into this extended autumn weather,
read the posters from the comfort of your computer screen.
We Are Not Rushing the Season, but ...
Registration is now open for
skiing and snowboarding lessons at the Como Park Ski Center (if winter arrives). There are introductory clinics for cross-country, downhill, and snowboarding; group lessons; private lessons; and adult-only lessons.
Find out all you need to know online.
"Adventures in Babysitting" features Elizabeth Shue.
Big Shoulder Pads are Back
Como Dockside's Thursday night movie series continues Nov. 10 with "
Adventures in Babysitting" (rated PG-13). The free screening begins at 6 p.m. in the third-level banquet hall. The full season promises
"almost all the greatest movies of 1986 and 1987" -- plus a few that aren't. See Dockside's
online calendar.
The Nightmare is Over
Jessamine Ave. is now completely open to traffic between Chatsworth and Churchill. So is
Como Ave. east of Chatsworth -- and most of the dead-end segments of
Kilburn, Ryde, Colne, and
Milton south of Como.
See our website for
a much longer list of other street, bridge, and highway projects still in progress in and around Como.
Very fancy bubble art
Big Ideas for Little Artists
A series of
"art workshops for the very young
" is underway at Saint Paul Library branches. Topics include bubble art, shadow puppets, art using
"materials destined for the landfill,
" saori weaving, and drawing. The free
Mini Masterpieces workshops are designed for children 5 or younger. They take place at different times and days at Dayton
's Bluff, Hamline-Midway, Hayden Heights, Highland Park, and Riverview.
Complete details and schedules are online.
This Week's Police Report
Saint Paul Police are coordinating a
food drive to restock supplies at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in Frogtown. You can drop off non-perishable human food or pet food at:
Hmong American New Year: This Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 5-6, Warner Coliseum. Hours: Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission: $8
Parking for University of Minnesota football: This Saturday, Nov. 5, Robin Lot south and east of Randall Ave. The Golden Gophers play Purdue at 2:30 p.m.
Get Your Recycling Gear Here
It's the first Sunday of the month, which means
the Como Park Streetcar Station is open Nov. 6 from noon-4 p.m. Central Standard Time. It's your best opportunity to pick up a blue recycling bin (while dwindling supplies last). Or, pick up compostable organics recycling bags and kitchen starter kits, 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?
