That's a lot of links: Chad Allen and Jason McCauley, of National Fence, install temporary fencing around McMurray Field in preparation for this weekend's Hmong Freedom Festival. The company installed -- and will take down -- about 11,000 feet of fencing. Do the math: That's more than 2 miles.
Another Freedom Celebration Begins
The 37th annual Hmong International Freedom Festival returns to McMurray Field in Como Park this Saturday-Sunday, July 1-2. Festivities run 6 a.m.-9 p.m. each day. Admission is $5. During the festival:
  • Temporary parking restrictions will be in place in large segments of District 10 surrounding Como Park (see the map).
  • Access to District 10's organics recycling site and to the Animal Humane Society on Beulah Lane will be restricted. The only way in is fighting through traffic on Jessamine via Hamline.
  • Como Park Pool is closed.
  • A shuttle bus runs between the festival site and the State Fairgrounds parking lots south of Como Ave.
The festival features soccer, volleyball, flag football, tujlub, and takraw competition; cultural music and dance; and food and merchandise vendors. 

About parking: During the festival, Saint Paul Police have a patrol dedicated exclusively to enforcing parking issues in the neighborhood. If you see a violation (cars parked on the wrong side of the street; blocking driveways, alleys or crosswalks; or parked too close to intersections), call the Saint Paul Police non-emergency number (651-291-1111) and request parking enforcement.
Vote with Your Feet (or Something Like That)
Saint Paul's Public Works Department is developing the city's first pedestrian plan. The plan will guide decisions on how and where to invest in Saint Paul's streets and sidewalks, in order to make walking safe for all members of our community.  To help the city out, we at District 10 are inviting your feedback on what it's like to walk in the Como neighborhood. First, you can take our local survey.

Then, since the automated oracle of the interweb tell us our survey is supposed to take less than 3 minutes, you can also take the citywide survey. (Heads up: You'll have to click "Walking Saint Paul," then log in for this one.)  Finally, if you want to find out more about what this pedestrian stuff is all about, see the city's dedicated web page . 
Days Are Numbered for Stumps
See, good things come to those who wait: Utility crews are now marking the stumps left on District 10 boulevards from the city's emerald ash borer eradication project. That means it's only a matter of days before the ash stumps themselves also disappear. The Saint Paul Forestry Department says contractors typically grind out stumps within two weeks of marking them. The next reason to be patient: Replacement trees will be planted this fall and in spring 2018; timing depends the best planting season for that particular species of tree. 
Hang Onto Your Recycling an Extra Day
The Independence Day holiday means Eureka Recycling will empty our alley / curbside carts one day later than normal next week. In plain English, recycling will not be picked up on Friday July 7. Instead, pick-up is scheduled next Saturday, July 8. So, keep calm on social media until after that. 
Speaking of the 4th
Saint Anthony Park's annual Fourth in the Park celebration includes the 70th anniversary of its Independence Day Parade. The daylong festivities include fun runs at 8:30 a.m., the parade at 11 a.m., then an afternoon of activities at Langford Park. The afternoon includes a blend of old school and new school: live music, a DJ, picnic food and beverages, patriotic essays, an Instagram photo contest, pony rides, an obstacle course, and all sorts of games and contests for "kids of all ages."

Later that day: Saint Paul's official Fourth of July fireworks display takes place at CHS Field, 360 N. Broadway. Doors open for the free event at 6:30 p.m. The movie "Space Jam" starts at 7:30; fireworks go off at 10:00. Spoiler alert: Because the stadium is close to runways at Holman Field, there won't be much in the way of aerial displays. That means you won't see much outside the stadium.
Talk with Our Legislators
Our local state legislators hold an open forum this Wednesday, July 5. It's a chance to share your views and enjoy the sartorial splendor of Sen. John Marty, Rep. Alice Hausman, and Rep. John Lesch. They, of course, will also give their views about what happened at the State Capitol this session. The forum is July 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Room 10 (ground level) of the State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Enter through the north entrance (which faces University Ave.)
Roger Bergerson
History Hasn't Passed You By
Park Press Inc., publisher of the Park Bugle, has released a collection of local history stories that District 10 resident Roger Bergerson wrote for the neighborhood newspaper over the past eight years. The book, "History: One Darn Thing After Another," tells  why things turned out the way they did, including  tales of the characters whose names we see on signs all the time.  You can find Roger's book locally at the Bibelot Shop and Micawber's Books on Como Ave., and at Hermes Floral on Larpenteur Ave. It's also available downtown at the Minnesota History Center bookstore and Subtext Books. The cost: $14.95. 
Help Your Storm Drain Make a Statement
Want to make a visible impact on water quality of our nearby lakes and the Big River? Then help the Friends of the Mississippi River stencil storm drains.  It's a 90-minute project for groups of 20 to 200. You can schedule a stenciling outing now through October. If you can't round up that many folks, you can check out individual stencil kits for up to two weeks at a time.
Wheelock Work Still a Month Away
Saint Paul Public Works will open bids this Thursday, July 6, for the reconstruction of Wheelock Parkway from the lake to roughly Dale St. Project engineer Dan Haak says construction typically begins about a month later. The delay means the project will not finish this year. Instead, Haak expects construction to take place on the east end of the segment this summer, and finish on the west end in summer 2018. If the pavement holds up that long, it will guarantee access to Como Park Elementary School when classes are in session.  Also this week:
  • Expect the newly reconstructed Raymond Ave. to open between Energy Park Drive and Como Ave. However, on Como itself, only one lane is open in each direction at Raymond. On the north side of that intersection, there is no access to and from Cleveland.
  • The ramps from northbound Snelling to eastbound Highway 36 and eastbound Highway 36 to northbound Snelling close at 6 a.m. this Wednesday, July 6. Expect them to be out of commission until July 20. 
Watching Our Waste: On the Road
 
  
There's no reason to slack off on your recycling habits just because you're vacationing, enjoying the outdoors, or road-tripping this summer. Here are 5 tips to make summer recycling easier:
  1. Make sure your beverages are in cans, bottles, or cartons that can be recycled. (Note: Juice pouches don't qualify.)
  2. Carry a bag or travel tote in your car to store empties until you get home. Do the same for food scraps that can be composted.
  3. Take advantage of recycling containers at rest areas, parks, and venues you visit. If you don't see any, send a follow-up letter asking "what the hey?"
  4. Buy snacks in bulk. Pack them in your own container, rather than throwing away fists full of bags and wrappers that are made of who knows what.
  5. If you're throwing a backyard party or barbecue, set an example: Set out recycling and organics recycling containers where guests can see them and use them. (You can borrow portable stands from District 10 -- the details are six articles below.)
Turn the (Calendar) Page
  • Today, Friday June 30: Deadline for students in grades 9-12 to apply to the Youth Engagement Program at Como Zoo and Conservatory.
  • Sunday July 9: The Color Run, State Fairgrounds.
  • Tuesday July 11: District 10 Neighborhood Relations and Safety Committee meeting, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. (Rescheduled because of the holiday.)
  • Thursday July 13: District 10 Land Use Committee meeting, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. (Rescheduled because of the holiday.)
  • Friday July 14-Sunday July 16:  Street Machine Summer Nationals , State Fairgrounds.
  • Monday July 17: Saint Anthony Park Library 100th birthday celebration, 5-7 p.m. Lawn party and more, at 2245 Como Ave.
  • Thursday July 20: Como Zoo and Conservatory Sunset Affair, 5:30-10 p.m.
The Garden Party Continues
Every Wednesday this month, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory hosts Groovin' in the Garden. The free outdoor concert runs from 6-8 p.m., with plenty of food, ice cream, beer and wine for sale so you can justify skipping dinner. If the weather is bad, they move the show indoors. This week, July 5, Ghost Wagon plays its new album and more. Catch the full season line-up.
The big river deserves a big brass band. 
A Little Bit of Everything at Dockside
The stage is quiet on Independence Day, so if you need a brassy fix of patriotic tunes, stop at the Lakeside Pavilion this Monday, July 3 at 7 p.m. That's when the Mississippi River Brass Band delivers "Celebrating America with Trumpets and Horns." The rest of this week's lineup of free music on the promenade:
  • Today, Friday June 30: Lolo's Ghost, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 2: Sawyer's Dream, 3 p.m.; Sinfonia, 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 5: Fridley City Old Time Band, 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 6: LaValle Jazz Cats Little Big Band, 7 p.m.
  • Next Friday, July 7: Brio Brass, 7 p.m.
Check out the full summer lineup at Dockside's calendar page.
  • Star Wars saga continues: This Saturday's Movie on the Lake features "Return of the Jedi." The free screening begins at 9:15 p.m. July 1 on the promenade of the Lakeside Pavilion.
  • Farmers Market returns: The Dockside Farmers Market is back for a month. Find it Thursdays from 2-6 p.m.
A Quiet Holiday Week at the Fairgrounds     
  • Tanbark Cavalcade of Roses horse show: Through this Saturday, July 1, Warner Coliseum.
  • Antiquarian and Rare Book Fair: Today-Saturday, June 30-July 1, Progress Center. 3-8 p.m. today, Friday June 30; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 1. Admission: $7 (good for both days); $5 (Saturday only); high school and college students free with school ID; children 10 or younger free.
Yes, Curfew Still Exists
 
Children younger than 15 can't be out in public past 10 p.m. in Saint Paul; 16- and 17-year-olds can't be out past midnight. The only exception: children accompanied by a parent or guardian. But kids can be out on the street again at 4 a.m. Think you see a violation? Call the Saint Paul Police non-emergency number: 651-291-1111. Police have a special program to deal with curfew violations that keeps kids out of the criminal justice system. 

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.
Streetcar Station Opens Every Sunday
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. 

Note: Because of the Independence Day holiday, District 10's office will be closed until Wednesday, July 5. 
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. 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.