Like the good old days: As part of its shoreline and bluff restoration project on the north side of Como Lake, the Parks Department is letting this area naturalize to more closely resemble the oak savannah it once was. Photo: Sophie Niedenfuer
Who is Going to Represent You?
Two candidates -- Laura Jo Busian and Shelley Harrington -- are running to fill an At-Large vacancy on the District 10 Como Community Council Board. The special election is this Tuesday, Aug. 15. The election begins at 7 p.m., before the regular monthly community council meeting. The election and meeting take place at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Any District 10 resident at least 18 years of age is eligible to vote; so are representatives from businesses or institutions in the neighborhood. Learn more about the candidates and voting.
State Capitol Throws a Party
Today through this Sunday, Aug. 13, the refurbished Minnesota State Capitol holds an official grand opening -- and we're all invited. Events include tours, videos, performances by local bands and dance groups, a Prince dance party, yoga on the Capitol lawn, a kids zone, fireworks, dedications, book signings, and panel presentations on issues serious and less so (including a history of Minnesota beer). Most activities are free, some require advance registration, and a few make you pay. Get all the information, including daily schedules.
Bee There or Bee ...
As part of its 30th birthday celebration, Public Art Saint Paul plans to unveil a prototype of its "bee high-rise" this Wednesday, Aug. 16, in Como Park. The free celebration runs from 6-7:30 p.m. along the bicycle and walking paths north of the intersection of Nagasaki, Horton, and W. Como Blvd.
Wednesday's celebration includes birthday cake, lemonade, giveaways, and artmaking. Artists Christine Baeumler, Julie Benda, and Amanda Lovelee will explain their Bee Real Bee Everywhere project, which includes the bee high-rise and their Office of Urban Pollen Exchange (a bike cart swarming with educational information about sustaining pollinator populations).
The experimental high-rise is in development at the University of Minnesota's Bee Lab. The 4-foot-by-3-foot structure is designed to attract and house different species of wild bees and butterflies. Footings are already in place; when complete, the high-rise will be mounted on a 10-foot pole and installed, so the artists and university researchers can test its effectiveness.
Police chief Todd Axtell. Photo: Star Tribune
2 Reasons to Drop In at Lyngblomsten
Saint Paul police chief Todd Axtell will speak and answer questions this Thursday, Aug. 17, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the lower level Community Room at Lyngblomsten. The event is free, but registration is required: call 651-632-5330 or register by email.
This Sunday, Aug. 13, it's time for Lyngblomsten's monthly Second Sunday Concert. This month's free performance is by pianist Gail Olszewski, of the McPhail Center for Music. Her concert is at 2 p.m. in the Newman-Benson Chapel. Lyngblomsten is at 1415 Almond Ave.
Metro Transit Adjusts Schedules
Dozens of schedule changes take place on Metro Transit routes beginning next Saturday, Aug. 19. Routes affected include the Green Line LRT and bus lines 3, 65, and 83. Get all the details
Ride free to Irish Fair: If you're heading to Irish Fair this weekend on Harriet Island, you can ride Metro Transit for free. Download your free pass and get information about how to connect to the festival shuttle from Union Depot.
Watching Our Waste: Plastic Bags
If you're paying attention, you know that plastic bags are one of the things you cannot recycle in your blue household recycling cart. These bags -- from newspaper deliveries, grocery stores, and other sources -- get tangled in recycling machinery and jam up the entire operation (literally).
However, plastic bags can be recycled -- you just have to go a little out of your way to do it. The best way is to save them up and drop them off at a nearby collection site. Better yet, while you're doing that, you can recycle "plastic film," too -- things like produce bags, dry cleaning bags, the wrapping around cases of bottled water, and the packaging for products such as paper towels and diapers. Here's help to keep it all straight:
The kinds of plastic bags and plastic "film" that can be recycled.
Where you can drop them off: Type in your ZIP Code to get a list of grocery stores and other sites that will take your bag collection.
Help Spread the Success Around
The Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center is looking for residents and business representatives to join its Community Relations Council. Council members help promote the work of the center and its students. The center trains young adults in basic workplace and independent living skills, and coordinates volunteer opportunities for its students. The center also provides training and internships in targeted job sectors, including culinary arts, office administration, medical records, painting and other finishing trades, and transportation logistics.
The council meets once a quarter at the Job Corps campus, 1480 N. Snelling. The next meeting is Thursday Sept. 14 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch will be served. If you are interested, contact Jacquelyn Thomas by phone at 651-444-1828 or by email.
Absolutely no High-Pressure Tactics
The Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program offers a no-cost blood-pressure check this Thursday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m.-noon at Arbor Pointe Apartments, 635 W. Maryland.
Be a Solution to Water Pollution
Do you live here? Care about water quality? Then how about becoming a Master Water Steward? Stewards are regular people who learn how to educate their neighbors and head up projects that protect our lakes and rivers.
The Capitol Region Watershed District is recruiting for the next cohort of water stewards, who begin training in October. To learn more, attend an information session this Monday, Aug. 13, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Freshwater Society, 2424 W. Territorial Road. (If that doesn't work, there's another information session Sept. 14.) Or find out what you need to know and sign up online.
Wheelock is Definitely Ripped Up
The reconstruction of Wheelock Parkway is well into the down and dirty. Wheelock itself is closed to through traffic between Victoria and Dale, and sidewalks are pretty much just a memory, too. On the west end of the project, Victoria is closed through August, just north of its intersection with Wheelock and Como Lake Drive.
Meanwhile:
South on Lexington Parkway, crews will begin getting rid of and replacing what's left of the disappearing brick crosswalks. The plan is to start next Friday, Aug. 18, in the northbound lanes near Randolph Ave., work north to University Ave., then switch to the southbound lanes and head back toward Randolph.
West on Como Ave., the road is still closed in both directions west of Raymond Ave.
Next door on Snelling Ave., only one lane in open in each direction between Como Ave. north to County Road B. But you know that by now.
The Lawn Signs are Back!
District 10 is reviving our lawn sign safety campaign. The goals: To get drivers to slow down and to make our residential streets safer for everyone. To make it work, you organize 10 neighbors who will stick a sign in their yards for two weeks. If you are interested, contact us by email or put in a request through our website. We'll figure out which dates work best.
Whatever You Do, Keep Moving
Juliette's Race: This Saturday, Aug. 12, 9 a.m. The 5K run and 2.5K walk benefit the Down Syndrome Foundation. Events start near the Lakeside Pavilion. No entry fee is required, though a $20 donation is suggested.
Step Out for Bleeding Disorders: This Sunday, Aug. 13, 11 a.m. The 5K walk benefits the Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota/Dakotas. Events start at the East Picnic Pavilion. Entry fee is $15 before 7 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 12; $20 on the day of registration.
Como Park Relays: This Wednesday, Aug. 16, near the East Picnic Pavilion. The cross-country foot races are open to all ages, with different distances each Wednesday in August. Preteen races start at 6:30 p.m.; teen and adult relays start at 6:45. On-site registration is 50 cents for those age 14 or younger, $2 for teens 15-17, and $5 for adults.
Dockside presents a Barbershop Showcase on Tuesday.
Still in Love with Lerner and Loewe
Rosetown Playhouse wraps up its production of "Brigadoon" this weekend. Shows are today and Saturday, Aug. 11-12, at 7 p.m. The run concludes with a matinee this Sunday, Aug. 13, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $7-$15. If you're looking for free music on the promenade, here's this week's lineup:
Sunday Aug. 13: Harmonic Relief, 7 p.m.
Monday Aug. 14: Sing United, 7 p.m.
Tuesday Aug. 15: Northstar Barbershop Showcase, 7 p.m.
Farmers Market: The Dockside Farmers Market unloads the goods every Thursday from 2-6 p.m.
Don't Miss These Dates, Deadlines
This Tuesday, Aug. 15: Mayor Christopher Coleman's 2018 Budget Address, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saint Paul College Cafeteria, 235 Marshall Ave. Reserve a spot
This Tuesday, Aug. 15: Deadline for renters and homeowners to file for Minnesota property tax refunds.
This Wednesday, Aug. 16: Open house on reconstruction of High Bridge and Smith Ave., 5-7 p.m. Capital View Cafe, 637 Smith Ave.
Tuesday Aug. 22: Open house on reconstruction of High Bridge and Smith Ave., 5-7 p.m. Bad Weather Brewery, 414 W. 7th St.
Thursday Aug. 24: Minnesota State Fair opens. Discounted advance tickets are available now.
Friday Aug. 25: Deadline to apply for Saint Paul's Cultural STAR funding program.
Detour Crime
Road construction and large construction projects can increase the risk for burglary, theft, and other illegal activity on nearby streets. Opportunistic criminals know how to blend in with the additional traffic and disruption that construction brings. They count on nearby residents ignoring people they don't know and not paying extra attention to vehicles that seem to be lost or claim they're just looking for the detour.
The rules of common sense remain the same, police say. Suspicious behavior is suspicious behavior. If you see something suspicious, take notes. Take pictures. Ask what's going on. Call it in. Even if there's no report to file, your call still gets logged and helps police track trends and patterns.
The
State Fairgrounds are now closed until the big event. You've got to have an ID, and a good reason, to get in.
Borrow portable recycling stands like these for free.
The Good Weekends are Running Out
District 10 has street barricades and portable recycling containers that community members can use for block parties or family events. You can borrow the recycling containers for free; there are two kinds:
For cans, bottles and other items you can include in your weekly recycling.
For food scraps and other compostable organics.
The street barricades are required by the city when you block off your street or alley -- but ours are a more-affordable option than getting them from Public Works.
Barricades require a $50 deposit. We return $45 when you return the barricades.
Reservations are first-come, first-served.
To borrow our barricades, you must have an event permit from the city.
To reserve any of this equipment, call our office at 651-644-3889, or send us an email.
If it's Sunday, the Streetcar Station is Open
The Como Park Streetcar Station is now open every Sunday through September from noon-4 p.m. Stop in to learn a bit about the history of Como Park, admire the new paint job inside, pick up an organics recycling starter kit (including a plastic kitchen bin), or just share comments and suggestions with a District 10 board member who's on staff that day. The Streetcar Station is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
Photographers, Don't Keep It to Yourself
We know plenty of you are taking pictures of the
people, places and things that make our neighborhood unique. Well, we'd like to give you more exposure. This newsletter is happy to highlight the best of what local photographers send us about life in Como Park -- just as we did with
Sophie Niedenfuer's photo today. It's easy: Just email us your top image from the past seven days or so.
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?
Bee There or Bee ... 
