Merry and bright: This home on the 800 block of Maryland has one of the neighborhood's most ambitious displays of light during the darkest time of the year. 
Our Honor Roll Expands
Churchill Garden volunteers planted more than 1,400 plants in one day in October.
Paul Seeba, Debra Pursley, and the neighbors who voluntarily steward the Churchill Garden have been chosen as District 10's additions to the Saint Paul Neighborhood Honor Roll for 2016. For details about why they are being honored, see District 10's website.

The Como Community Council Board selected the honorees out of 10 nominations submitted by community members. The annual award is given to residents who make a sustained and lasting impact to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood and the city at large. Winners will be honored officially at a citywide celebration Jan. 27 at the University of St. Thomas.
 
Someone else deserves congratulations: Give it up for Wesley Farrow. He was elected this week to the District 10 board to fill an At-Large vacancy.
Recycling Delayed a Day
Because of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, curbside recycling in District 10 is delayed by one day this week and next. Put your blue bins out this Tuesday, Dec. 27, and next Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Cart update: If you've been fascinated by Joe Soucheray's fixation on the new, wheeled recycling carts and wondering what that's all about, be patient. According to Eureka Recycling, carts will be delivered to District 10 households between Jan. 6 and 14. It will take 2-3 days to complete delivery in our neighborhood; we'll get you more details when the time frame gets more precise.  In District 10, we'll begin using the wheeled carts on Friday Jan. 20. 

What about those blue bins? You can keep your current bins if you want them. If you don't, Saint Paul will collect them (and, yes, recycle them) from Jan. 9-27. You can drop yours off at Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Ave. (which is a straight shot down Maryland) or at the Palace Community Center, 781 Palace Ave. (which is just south of Jefferson, about ¾ of a mile east of Lexington).
LightHotel set up on the State Fairgrounds earlier this year.
A Room with a View
If you're wondering why spruced-up shipping container is parked outside the Lakeside Pavilion -- the short answer is, it is navigating city red tape. Saint Paul's Alchemy Architects converted the container into what it calls the LightHotel -- a 120-square-foot room that it hopes to open to the public for meetings, overnight stays, tours about its sustainable vision, or just a day on the town. But before any of that can happen, it has to clear city code, work around laws that prevent sleeping in the park, and other variances.

LightHotel plans to stay parked along the lake until Feb. 16. If it ever opens, it will feature room service from Dockside, among other amenities. Stay tuned for further developments.
Watershed District Honors 2 D10 Activists
Two longtime District 10 activists are among those honored this week by the Capitol Region Watershed District at its annual awards ceremony.
  • David Arbeit -- who among his many contributions is a former District 10 board chair, Environment Committee chair, and the State of Minnesota's first chief geospatial information officer -- received the watershed district's Lifetime Steward Award.
  • Janna Caywood, founder of the Como Active Citizen Network, received the district's Watershed Citizen Award, which goes to "an individual who has demonstrated a personal commitment to citizen engagement, project initiation, or exceptional leadership that supports CRWD's mission."
Arbeit was among residents instrumental in founding the watershed district, and has been a member of its Citizen Advisory Committee since the District was created in 1998.

The citizen network's most visible project is the annual Como Curb Cleanup. This year, that initiative organized more than a 300 neighborhood volunteers to rake leaves from gutters. That kept about 13.4 pounds of harmful phosphorus from leaching into Como Lake, at a cost of about $5,000. By comparison, the Arlington/Pascal Stormwater Project west of the lake -- a network of rain gardens, infiltration trenches, underground storage and other infrastructure -- cost $799,000 and keeps about 12 pounds of phosphorus out of Como Lake each autumn. 
The science of bubbles is one
of the library's "Maker Breaker" events.
Brain Activities for Winter Break
The Saint Paul Public Library has a series of science-themed activities this week to keep pupils ages 8-12 active during winter break. Activities include learning about common microbes and the diseases they cause; exploring the properties of metal alloys; investigating chromosomes and DNA; and studying the science of bubbles.  The free  "Maker Break" activities take place this Tuesday, Dec. 27, through next Saturday, Dec. 31, at different library branches. Get details online.
By Popular Demand
Reindeer Cam was as popular last week with readers as the police report. That's no small accomplishment. So, we're repeating the link. From now through Christmas, you can  watch a 24/7  live stream  of  two Como Zoo reindeer -- Abby and June Bug -- all part of the  Animal Planet's online eye candy. 
They don't look like trouble...
A Cat, a Dog, a Movie
Como Dockside's Thursday night movie series continues Dec. 29 with "The Adventures of Milo and Otis" (rated G). The story about a dog and a cat was released in Japan in 1986, then dubbed in English and released in the U.S. a few years later. Trivia begins at 6:15 p.m.; the free screening of the movie begins at 6:45 in the third-level banquet hall of the Lakeside Pavilion. For the full season schedule of "almost all the greatest movies of 1986 and 1987," see Dockside's online calendar.  

Another chance for community connections: Studio M Spinning and Fitness, which normally holds classes in the pavilion's basement community room, takes over Dockside's second floor this Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 7-9 p.m. for its rescheduled holiday party. Appetizers and good conversation are free, and the bar is open downstairs. If you plan on showing up, advance registration is appreciated.

Don't forget: Every Wednesday is "neighborhood night" at Dockside, with happy hour drink and food specials from 3-9 p.m., and classic board games galore. Also, Saturday brunch includes free Louisiana-flavored music from noon-2 p.m. This week, Dec. 24, it's the Cajun Cats.
Mixing Business and Pleasure
  • Through New Year's Day: Holiday Lights in the Park, 5-10 p.m. Phalen Park, Wheelock and Johnson Parkways. Admission: $10 per car (more for vans, limos, and buses). Discount tickets are available online. Proceeds benefit the Saint Paul Police Foundation.
  • Tuesday Jan. 3: In-person lottery for 2017 picnic and building reservation permits at Saint Paul parks, 6:30-7 a.m. Parks Office, 1100 N. Hamline.
  • Tuesday Jan. 3: District 10 Land Use Committee , 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. (Because of the holidays, the meeting is rescheduled to this day.) Community members are always welcome to attend and participate.
  • Wednesday Jan. 4: "Business listening session" on a potential Saint Paul sustainable packaging ordinance, 10 a.m. Dayton ' s Bluff East Side Enterprise Center, 804 Margaret St.
  • Wednesday Jan. 4: Board of Zoning Appeals' public hearing on a request by the Metro Deaf School for a parking variance of 33 vehicles, 3 p.m. City Hall Room 330, 15 Kellogg Blvd. W. (District 10's Land Use Committee is supporting the variance request, which essentially acknowledges the status quo.) You can direct comments or questions to the city's Sean Westenhofer by phone at 651-266-9080 or by email.
  • Wednesday Jan. 4: District 10 Environment Committee, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. (Because of the holidays, the December meeting is rescheduled to this day.) Community members are always welcome to attend and participate. 
  • Thursday Jan. 5: "Business listening session" on a potential Saint Paul sustainable packaging ordinance, 10 a.m. Rondo Community Center, 820 Concordia Ave.
  • Sunday Jan. 8: Deadline to participate in a City of Saint Paul survey about residential parking permits.
  • Wednesday Jan. 18: Public hearing on a proposed zoning change to allow more outdoor commercial uses in traditional neighborhood and business zoning districts in Saint Paul, 5:30 p.m. City Council chambers, third floor, 15 Kellogg Blvd. W
Make Sure Boxes Don't Tip Off Burglars
Don't give enterprising burglars any clues about the goodies you got for gifts this season. One clue they look for: The cardboard packaging from TVs, computers, nice tools, phones, or other electronics that we put outside with our regular recycling or trash.  Instead, St. Paul Police and Eureka Recycling have a special drop-off site exclusively for cardboard boxes. The bin is outside the Western District police station, 390 N. Hamline, now through Jan. 6. The service is free; just be sure to break down the cardboard before you deposit it.
 
And While Recycling is on Your Mind...
Remember: If you have old holiday lights that don 't work or that you 're getting rid of -- don 't trash them, recycle them. You can drop them off at:
  • Ramsey County's year-round household hazardous waste site -- a short ride away at 5 Empire Drive in Saint Paul. The county site is open Tuesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Falcon Heights city hall, 2077 W. Larpenteur, just east of Cleveland.
Both sites will take nearly any kind of string lights (the exceptions: if the lights have battery packs, electronics or appliances attached). 

Big progress: The District 10 organics recycling site on Bealuh Lane in Como Park now has a larger bin to meet the rising demand. The site has tripled its capacity since it opened in July. Way to go, people!
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.