In a fog: A week of seasonal whiplash and treacherous footing hasn't prevented all of us from getting in our daily dose of the outdoors.
Itching for Spring?
Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
District 10's 2019
Sunday Series wants you to think about real spring. First: Think mosquitoes. One of our most invisible government agencies -- the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District -- talks about how they control the blood-sucking and disease-spreading pests, their middle-of-the-night maneuvers, what's in those fog machines, and even what those red triangles on storm grates mean.
One week later: Tornadoes. Floods. Fire. Civil unrest. If disaster strikes, how prepared are you to evacuate your home in a hurry? Saint Paul Emergency Management talks about their role in preparing for the unexpected, what you can do to prepare yourself and your family, and what you should pack in your "go bag."
Mosquitoes: The Endless Duel. Next Sunday, March 24, 1-2:30 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Free.
Surviving an Emergency. Sunday March 31, 1-2:30 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station. Free. Future Sunday Series presentations:
How to be a citizen scientist. Sunday April 14.
Reduce, reuse, recycle: What do you really know? Sunday May 5.
Get the latest on the restoration of the Schiffman Fountain Tuesday night.
Community Council Board Meets Tuesday
An update on the restoration of the Schiffman Fountain, and a presentation about the City of Saint Paul's "Sprockets" after-school program, are featured this Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the District 10 Como Community Council board. On the business side, the board will take up a recommendation from the Land Use Committee; the recommendation supports a Neighborhood STAR Grant application by Twin Cities German Immersion School to build a gabion stone wall as a sound and sight buffer along its playground.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. March 19 at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. All renters, homeowners, and other community members are welcome to attend and participate. (
Preliminary agenda)
If you can't attend in person, you can watch the live stream on our Facebook page.
A seat at the table awaits you.
D10 Elections are (Only) a Month Away
Annual elections for the District 10 Como Community Council board take place April 16. Nine board positions are up for election; in at least five of them, the incumbent is not seeking re-election. That makes it a great opportunity for new activists to seek an open seat. The positions on this April's ballot:
Any renter, homeowner, or other resident of District 10 who is age 16 or older is eligible to run. So are authorized representatives from a business or nonprofit organization located in District 10. To get on the ballot,
submit your name and a brief biography no later than Tuesday April 9. Nominations submitted after that date will be treated as write-in candidacies. Board members elected this year will serve from April 23, 2019, until April 27, 2021. A
list of board member responsibilities is available on District 10's website.
Trying to Find that Hidden Storm Drain?
Gratitude to all of you who already have cleared storm drains from streets or alleys near your home. But if your street or alley is flooded -- and you can't find the storm drain -- the
interactive map at Adopt a Drain can make your search easier. Just type in a nearby address, and the map drops in icons of exactly where storm drains are located. (Move the map around a little if you don't find what you're looking for.)
If you or your neighbors can't take care of this yourselves, report clogged or frozen drains directly to the city. Send an email to
stormdrain@ci.stpaul.mn.us, or call in: weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at 651-266-9850 or nights and weekends at 651-266-9700.
(In case it's not too late, the city's department of emergency management points out that it takes 30 days for flood insurance to take effect. If you want some for your property,
get details on how to take action sooner than later.)
Potholes: If you encounter the kind of crater we euphemistically call a pothole, report it to these places, depending on whether it's on a city street, county road, or state highway:
A reminder:
You cannot park on the even-numbered side of residential streets anywhere in Saint Paul. The one-sided parking ban makes it easier to navigate until more snow melts. (The even-numbered side of the street has addresses that end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8; generally, that means you cannot park on the east and south sides of residential streets.)
See the city's map of where one-sided parking restrictions apply. Or, for a different perspective, see our website for the
list of streets where one-sided restrictions
do not apply.
The Spring Flower Show opens in the Sunken Garden.
Conservatory, Zoo Burst with Color
Looking on the bright side of things? The
Spring Flower Show opens this Saturday, March 16, at the Marjorie McNelly Conservatory in Como Regional Park. The show lets you overwhelm your eyes with hyacinth, asiatic and calla lilies, tulips, daffodils, crocus, hydrangeas -- and green! (You get the picture.)
Meanwhile, Como Park Zoo features frogs and toads as part its
Hop into Spring environmental education weekend March 16-17. Hours for all events are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Master Gardeners Can Get You Going
Ramsey County Master Gardeners have a range of classes on vegetable gardening, whether you're new at it or a seasoned hand.
Vegetables for Everyone is this Saturday, March 16, from 9-10:30 a.m. at Fairview Community Center, 1910 W. County Road B, Roseville (between Fairview and Prior). This is an introductory course for residents with no or little gardening experience. The fee is $15. Vegetables for Everyone repeats on Saturday April 27 in Roseville.
Advanced Vegetable Gardening is for residents who have experience. This class shares advice on topics such as starting plants indoors, extending the growing season, and saving seeds. Advanced Vegetable Gardening is Saturday March 30, from 10-11 a.m., at North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 N. St. Albans. Free
Introduction to Vegetable Gardening is a three-session class for beginners. It covers where to plant your vegetables, how to choose plants, and how to care for your garden all season. Classes are Tuesdays April 23, April 30, and May 7 from 6-8 p.m. at Langford Park Recreation Center, 30 Langford Park. Free.
Renter Voice Summit is in the Works
Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali Nelson, the District 10 Como Community Council, and four other district councils are teaming up to hold a free "renter voice summit" on Thursday April 18 at Hamline University. The summit will help renters:
Learn whom they should call for what, so renters can access public and private resources available to them.
Understand rights and protections renters have under state and local law.
Connect with the district council in their neighborhood and find out how renters can make an impact on local issues where they live.
Meet neighbors and plan new ways for renters to make their voice heard across Saint Paul.
The event is Thursday April 18 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Hamline University's Anderson Center, Room 111, 774 N. Snelling. Note: You don't have to be a renter to attend.
The final draft of the new
Como Lake Management Plan is available. You have two ways review the Capitol Region Watershed District's strategies to improve the lake's water quality
and share comments:
Show up in person on Thursday March 28 at 6 p.m. at the watershed district's headquarters, Aldine St. at Thomas Ave.
This Saturday, March 16: Free rides on Metro Transit, 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Sunday (to keep you from getting behind the wheel during St. Patrick's Day celebrations).
This Monday, March 18: Harmful Algal Blooms: Potential Water Quality Challenges in Ramsey County, 4-6 p.m. Marsden Room, Ramsey County Public Works, 1425 Paul Kirkwood Drive (near Hamline and Highway 96), Arden Hills. Free
This Tuesday, March 19: Ward 5 Council Member Amy Brendmoen holds drop-in "community office hours" from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Rice St. Library, 1011 Rice St.
Thursday March 21: Deadline to submit a 2019 Neighborhood STAR application. The City of Saint Paul program provides low-interest loans and grants for local business and neighborhood projects.
Friday April 19: Deadline to place orders through the annual plant sale from Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County.
Como Neighborhood Pollinator Garden Tour. Saturday July 13.
Coming Up at the Fairgrounds
Minnesota Weapons Collectors Show: This Saturday-Sunday, March 16 -17, Warner Coliseum. Hours: Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: Teens and adults, $5; children 12 or younger, free. (No one age 17 or younger admitted without a parent or guardian.)
Flat Track Motorcycle Racing: Next Friday, March 22, Warner Coliseum. 6-10 p.m. Admission: Teens and adults, $15; children 12 or younger, free.
Meet Who's In Charge
The Western District's monthly
community meetings take place this Tuesday, March 19, at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at district headquarters, 389 N. Hamline. If you go, you'll meet command staff, hear about the latest crime trends in the city and district, be able to raise your individual concerns, and be able to grab all the crime prevention fliers you can use.
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.
