Taking the wheel: Jackson Palkowitscz checks out the control panel of a rock chip spreader, used to chip-seal streets, during the Saint Paul Public Works Open House. Jackson is "not 3," which according to his father means he's 4 years old.
Soundset is Back. Will We Notice?
The Soundset music festival is back at the Fairgrounds this Sunday, May 28. But we should notice big changes this year. Promoters have overhauled sound, parking, and transportation. The goal: Eliminate the fallout that Como and other residential neighborhoods experienced in 2016. If the changes work as planned, who knows? We may barely notice the festival at all! Changes include:
Relocating a stage
Posting sound monitors outside the Fairgrounds so crews working the soundboards inside the Fairgrounds know exactly how much volume is leaking into the neighborhood
Rerouting shuttle buses
Steering drivers away from Snelling Ave.
Implementing one-sided parking on many neighborhood streets east of the Fairgrounds
Posting trash barrels and cleanup crews in the neighborhood
Here are the details (including a hotline to call if the changes don't work as planned). Plus, the posting includes an open letter from State Fair general manager Jerry Hammer, who actually lives in District 10, to his Como neighbors about Soundset and other Fairgrounds events this summer.
Get Over Your Social Anxiety
District 10 holds the first "neighborhood social" in South Como next Sunday, June 4. Hang out with more neighbors than will fit at your home. Feast on food trucks, including La Tapatia, Cravin' Pie, Mik Mart Ice Cream, and Deb's HotDogs. Plus, we'll have face painting, a DJ, and plenty of activities for the kids to burn off energy. There's no admission fee; the happiness takes place June 4 from 4-7 p.m. at Orchard Park, 875 W. Orchard.
Safer Crosswalks, One Step at a Time
District 10 and Saint Paul Police hold a Stop for Me pedestrian safety demonstration this Sunday, May 28, from 5-6 p.m. We'll be at the intersection of Como and Pascal. This is one of the crosswalks that neighbors identify as a real problem for pedestrians. It's only gotten worse this year because of drivers diverting into our neighborhood to avoid construction on Snelling.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Participants (side by side with a plainclothes police officer) cross the street -- not just to get to the other side, but also to help educate drivers that state law requires them to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. That means every corner, every turn, every time. Drivers who break the law get tickets.
North Dale Hosts 'Safe Summer Night'
Saint Paul Police bring their "Safe Summer Night" cavalcade to North Dale Recreation Center this Thursday, June 1, from 5-7 p.m. The cookout includes free food and refreshments, games, and activities such as a climbing wall and bounce house. There's a chance to talk with officers from the mounted patrol, motorcycle unit, K-9 crew, and SWAT team. The department's new mascot also makes one of its first public appearances. North Dale is at 1414 N. St. Albans.
The City of Saint Paul's flier about 2017 Citywide Drop Off Events is wrong. The event at the State Fairgrounds is NOT June 3. Ignore that date; it is incorrect.
The June 3 event is at Harding High School, 1540 E. 6th St., from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
The correct date for the State Fairgrounds event is Oct. 7.
Other Drop Off events for household junk are June 24 at Washington Tech Magnet School and Sept. 24 on Shepard Road near Davern. Any Saint Paul resident is able to go to any site to dispose of things you can't put in the trash. Go online for details on what items are accepted, and what they'll cost you.
Youngsters can exercise their bodies and minds at local rec centers this summer.
Rec Centers Release Summer Schedules
North Dale and Northwest Como Recreation Centers have unveiled their summer lineup of classes for adults and activities for youth and teens. Combined, the two parks offer more than 40 weeklong summer camps for youth and teens. Camps cover art; dance; math, science and programming; performing arts; sports of all sorts; swimming and other basic outdoor activities; even yoga and babysitting training. That's on top of more typical classes such as taekwondo and tennis for youngsters, and adult options such as dancing, pilates, tai chi, yoga -- and art appreciation, complete with wine and cheese.
You can get the rundown on activities, times, cost and how to register, plus downloadable schedules with all the details of what the class titles really mean.
ComoFest is Only Weeks Away
It's Memorial Day. Which means it's officially summer -- at least in our minds. Which means it's time to start planning for ComoFest, which brings affordable family fun to our neighborhood the last three weekends in July. Get a peek at this year's schedule at
www.comofest.org.
Reading Between the Lines
The Saint Paul Public Library's Summer Spark program starts this Thursday, June 1. It's a way to reward preschool, grade school, and high school pupils for reading and other projects that keep them active and keep them learning all summer long (and have fun doing it).
Watching Our Waste: Backyard Composting
Time is running out for Ramsey County residents can get $20 off a home composting bin. If you order now, while supplies last, your final cost is $44 plus tax. Just use the code "ramsey." You can pick up your 10-cubic-foot bin on Saturday June 10 at WestRock in Saint Paul, which is near University and Vandalia.
Getting a Handle on Airbnb Rentals
Saint Paul's Planning Commission holds a public hearing next Friday, June 2, on proposals to begin regulating "short term rentals," which now are illegal under the city's zoning code. The proposals cover people who use Airbnb and similar sites to rent their home, apartment, condo, or even a bedroom or couch for 30 days or less. The public hearing is June 2 at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall Room 40, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Front Ave. will require some flexibility and patience today, Friday May 26, as Ramsey County crews perform routine crack sealing between Dale and Lexington. Crews expect to finish in one day (unless it rains). Also, the latest word is that reconstruction of Wheelock Parkway between Dale and the lake is now pushed back until August. Nothing specific, though, because the city hasn't selected a contractor yet.
If you're traveling this weekend, find out where the bottlenecks will be in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Closer to home, other road construction projects continue:
Como Ave.: Only one lane is open in each direction from Raymond west to Commonwealth.
Raymond Ave.: Through the end of June, the street remains closed completely from Standish south to Energy Park; there is limited access from Como south to Standish.
Snelling Ave.: Only one lane is open in each direction between Como Ave. north to County Road B. Larpenteur is also down to one lane in each direction at Snelling.
Borrow portable recycling stands like these for free.
We Can Help with Your Party
District 10 has street barricades and portable recycling containers that community members can use for block parties, neighborhood, 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.
Give Beauty Some Encouragement
Nominations are being welcomed for the 2017 Blooming Saint Paul awards, which recognize gardens, trees, public art, and similar efforts that make our lives better. Categories include businesses and institutions, residential landscaping and gardens, public art, and landmark trees. The nomination deadline is Friday June 23.
It's a toe-tapping frenzy on Sunday.
Music and Dance on Tap
Rain or not, the free outdoor music continues under cover on the promenade of the Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Parkway N. This week's lineup:
Today, Friday May 26: Sheltered Reality, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 27: Rachel Hanson, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 28: National Tap Dance Day, with Keane Sense of Rhythm, 2-4 p.m.; Paul Seeba Duo, 7 p.m.
Monday, May 29: Memorial Day Extravaganza: Roseville Community Band, 3 p.m.; Minnesota State Band, 5 p.m.; Vallee de Croix, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 30: Dan Israel and Mikkel Beckmen, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 31: The Federales, 7 p.m.
Next Friday, June 2: Capital City Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m.
Almost like a drive-In: Dockside's outdoors Movies By the Lake series returns this Saturday, May 27, with a free showing of the original "Back to the Future" (PG). The lights go down on the promenade at 9:15 p.m.
Looking Ahead
This Wednesday, May 31: District 10 Environment Committee, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the corner of Lexington and Horton. Community members are always welcome to attend and participate.
Next Friday, June 2: Como Elementary Carnival, 5-7:30 p.m. 780 W. Wheelock Parkway.
Monday June 5: Public hearing on projects proposed under Saint Paul's 2017 Capital Improvements Budget, 6 p.m. City Hall Room 40, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd. (Upgraded traffic signals at Snelling and Hoyt and Snelling and Midway Parkway -- in 2019 -- are the only specific projects recommended for District 10.)
Friday-Sunday June 23-25: MSRA Back to the 50s Car Show, State Fairgrounds (and streets everywhere).
Friday June 30: Saint Paul Planning Commission holds a public hearing on the Ford Site Master Plan, which has folks in Highland lining up against each other. You can submit comments ahead of time on the web or by email.
Saturday-Sunday July 1-2: 37th annual Hmong Freedom Celebration and Sports Festival, McMurray Fields.
Sunday July 9: Color Run, State Fairgrounds.
Kids and Fire Aren't a Good Match
June is one of the busiest months of the year for fires set by youths, the Saint Paul Fire Department says. To reduce the risk, keep matches and lighters inaccessible to youngsters. That means keeping them out of sight and out of reach (preferably, up high). If you know a youngster with an unnatural and perhaps
dangerous fascination with fire, call the Youth Fire Play and Intervention Program at 651-228-6203.
This Week at the Fairgrounds
Most of the Fairgrounds is inaccessible this weekend because of Soundset. Other than that:
Appliance Liquidation: Through Sunday June 4, Education Building. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every day except this Sunday, May 28.
Machinery Hills Criterium du Nord Race Series: This Tuesday, May 30, roadways north of Hoyt Ave. 4-9 p.m. Bicycle road race training series; four races (beginners-experts). Entry fees: $10-$25.
North Central Reining Extravaganza Horse Show: Next Friday-Sunday, June 2-4, Warner Coliseum. 8 a.m. daily. Admission: free for spectators.
International Gem and Jewelry Show: Next Friday-Sunday, June 2-4, Progress Center. Noon-6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $8 (good for all three days; children 8 or younger not allowed).
Streetcar Station Opens for the Season
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 or waxed floor 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.
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?
