Andrew Sandberg has the perfect response to a pleasant spring day in Como Park.
The Plight of the Monarch
Sarah Weaver from the University of Minnesota's Monarch Lab talks about the precarious state of everyone's favorite butterfly this Sunday, April 2. Her discussion includes an overview of the monarch's biology and life cycle, why the population of monarchs is crashing, and what individuals can do to turn this around. The free presentation is 1-2:30 p.m. at Great River School, 1326 Energy Park Drive. It's the April installment of District 10's Sunday Series.
Time is Waning to Get on the Ballot
Ten positions on the Como Community Council Board will be up for election at District 10's annual meeting on Tuesday April 18. 
Full two-year terms are available for these positions:
  • Chair
  • Secretary
  • One representative from each of the four geographic sub-districts (and we know the incumbent in Sub-District 1 is not seeking re-election)
  • Three At-Large representatives (and we know one incumbent is not seeking re-election)
Board members elected to these positions will serve from April 25, 2017, until April 23, 2019. (Also open is a vacancy for an at-large seat that expires in April 2018.) 
Any resident of District 10 who is age 18 or older is eligible to run. So are authorized representatives from a business or nonprofit organization located in District 10.
Candidates interested in running for a board position must submit their name, address, and a brief biography by Tuesday April 11, 2017. Nominations submitted after that date will be treated as write-in candidacies. 
Plan Your Garage Sale Now
District 10's annual Como Neighborhood Garage Sale takes place Saturday May 20. If you're planning a sale this year, register now. The sign-up fee is only $15.

Update: Local Development Projects
  • Hmong College Prep Academy held a formal ground-breaking this week for it building expansion and first phase of installing athletic fields and a parking deck. Initial work is taking place south of Brewster.
  • Saint Paul's Housing and Redevelopment Authority informed developers of the former Sholom Home property on Midway Parkway that they will not receive the tax-exempt revenue bonds they were seeking this year. David Grzan, president and CEO of the Carlson CRE Group, said in an email to District 10: "We will continue to move forward and hope that this material setback does not render itself fatal to the project."
Update: Organics Recycling
A heads up: Bins are scheduled to be swapped out this weekend at District 10's organics recycling site on Beulah Lane in Como Park. That means there may be some congestion and confusion until everything gets straightened out. The swap is the result of Ramsey County hiring a new contractor, Waste Management, to service the bins. 
Watching Our Waste: Purchasing Power
This week is your last chance to take advantage of Eureka Recycling's Zero Waste Buying Co-op. Through this Thursday, April 6, you can get discount pricing on household products that are BPI-certified compostable. These compostable table goods - if you recycle them through District 10's organics drop-off site in Como Park - can drastically cut down on waste from upcoming graduation parties and summer picnics and events. Items include plates, bowls, utensils, napkins, hot and cold cups, and even lids and straws. Plus, you can order compostable bags to put them all in.
Compostables must be ordered by April 6. Orders can be picked up later in April. All the details are available online.

 
Keep Your Spring Cleaning Clean
Cleaning up winter's detritus may make things look better around your home. But, depending on how you do it, it may make a mess for Como Lake, the Mississippi River, or other nearby bodies of water. Here's two pieces of advice from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization:
  • Wash your car at a commercial car wash. Car washes are required to capture wastewater and treat it. When you wash at home, all that gunk instead goes straight into the storm drain, where it flows untreated to nearby waterways.
  • Pick up after your dog. If you let your dogs do their business in your yard, don't let the waste sit around too long. Get it off your lawn especially if there's rain in the forecast. Rain washes bacteria -- including E. coli -- into storm drains. And you know where it winds up from there. 
Here We Go Again
Road construction season officially gets underway this week.
  • Snelling Ave.: MnDOT begins work this Monday, April 3, from Como Ave. north to Larpenteur. Traffic will be down to one lane in each direction. The summer-long project, which eventually will extend to Highway 36, includes concrete replacement and additional turn lanes at Snelling and Larpenteur.
  • Highway 10: The westbound ramp to northbound Interstate 35W closes this Monday, April 3, and is expected to remain closed through August. 
Parks are Busy Inside and Out
A new month means new activities at the North Dale and Northwest Como recreation centers. New classes in April include tumbling and music for preschoolers; art, indoor tennis, and yoga for youngsters; and theater for young teens. That's in addition to continuing activities, such as various dance classes, knitting, tae kwon do, and pilates. Get full schedules and registration information on District 10's website.
Black Hills Spruce is one of the tree varieties available.
Get a Tree for Yourself (or the Neighborhood)
You can buy a tree for your yard. You can buy a tree for a local park. You can do both -- all from the same source. It's the annual tree sale organized by Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County.  This year ' s sale has options of five trees, seven shrubs, and one vine -- eight of the choices are new. You can see the full selection and place an order online. The purchase deadline is Friday April 21; you can pick up your order two weeks later: Saturday May 6. 
Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise in "Top Gun."
Roll the Credits
Como Dockside's Thursday night movie series ends its season with a bang April 6 with a screening of the aerial combat melodrama of "Top Gun" (rated PG). Trivia begins at 6:15 p.m.; the free movie begins at 6:45 in the third-level banquet hall of the lakeside pavilion. 

Don't forget:  Saturday brunch at Dockside includes a free Louisiana-flavored concert from noon-2 p.m. This week, April 1, it's Shawn Glidden, Marie Stier and Arne Pelto III. Then, every Wednesday is "neighborhood night," with happy hour drink and food specials from 3-9 p.m., and board games waiting to be busted open. 
Seniors Can Get House Painting for Free
Seniors can apply to have the exterior of their home painted through the annual Metro Paint-a-Thon organized through the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. If you -- or someone you know -- could benefit from this volunteer effort, contact Molly Chandler by email or by phone at 612-276-1579. The application deadline is Friday April 14. More details are available online.
Get This on Your Calendar
  • This Saturday, April 8: Twin Cities German Immersion School Rummage Sale, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 1031 Como Ave.
  • Saturday April 22: Saint Paul Citywide Spring Cleanup, 9-11:30 a.m. Como Dockside and seven other locations around the city. Join forces with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to spruce up the city.
  • Saturday April 29: Spring planting in the triangle gardens at Churchill, Van Slyke, and Horton. 9 a.m.
  • Friday May 19: Deadline to give your opinion on different varieties of LED streetlights being tested in Saint Paul. Maps and information are available online. 
Don't Forget to Check This
If someone rifles through your car and you 're taking inventory of what 's missing, don 't forget to check for your remote garage door opener. Thieves love to steal the remote, then come back at another time to clean out your garage. If your remote is missing, reprogram your garage door opener so the missing remote no longer works on your door. 
This Weekend at the Fairgrounds
  • Saint Paul Osman Shrine Circus: Through this Sunday, April 2, Warner Coliseum. Performances at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. today, Friday March 31; 10 a.m. and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, April 1; and 1 and 5:30 p.m. this Sunday, April 2. Reserved seating: $20-$33.
Stop In and Say 'Hi'
The Como Park Streetcar Station is open this Sunday, April 2, from noon-4 p.m. It's an opportunity to pick up replacement compostable bags, see the new paint job inside, 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. The next time it is open is Sunday May 7.
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. 

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