Capturing memories: More than 500 people attended District 10's annual Ice Cream Social July 13. The sprinkles on the ice cream weren't the only colorful features -- face-painting made its own impressions.
Can You Get Around the Park?
District 10 wants to know what it is like for you to get around Como Regional Park when you're walking, bicycling, rolling, or traveling in some way other than in a motor vehicle. Our survey asks about signs, paths, and generally getting from one part of the park to another. You can
take the survey online -- in English, Spanish, Hmong, or Somali -- or take the survey in person when our crews are out at different parts of the park.
School Creates Expansion Project Website
Twin Cities German Immersion School has posted a
website dedicated exclusively to the expansion options it is considering. Options include tearing down the old St. Andrew's church building (which it calls the Aula) or purchasing the Central Lutheran school building on Lexington just south of Pierce Butler Route. The website gives history, pros and cons of different options from the school's perspective, financial details, and links to as many documents as you'd like to read.
For another perspective, you can visit the Facebook page of Save Historic St. Andrew's, which is a group of neighborhood residents and others trying to prevent demolition of the old church building.
There's More to ComoFest
ComoFest 2018 has a triple-header this weekend:
Today, Friday July 20: Lyngblomsten's Mid-Summer Festival includes art to make and admire, music, dance, theater, games, recreation, wellness demonstrations, and food. Activities are 2-8 p.m. on the Lyngblomsten campus, 1415 Almond Ave.
This Saturday, July 21: ComoFest 5K Walk/Run for Everyone, benefiting Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program. Register for the run by the end of the day today, July 20: Entry fee is $15 for youth ages 16 or younger; $25 if you're older than that. If you're running, join the neighborhood team challenge. If you're not running, volunteer! It starts at 8 a.m. outside the Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Parkway.
This Sunday, July 22: ComoFest Art Fair features more than two dozen artists on the Promenade at the Lakeside Pavilion. Plus there's music by the Home Fires. The art fair runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
ComoFest continues next weekend, too: July 27-28. You can get full details about all events at
www.comofest.org.
A kitchen fire demonstration will grab your attention. Photo: Twin Cities Daily Planet
Safety First (and Second, and Third...)
The Saint Paul Fire Department and more than a half-dozen partners hold a wide-ranging
Summer Safety Fair this week. The fair includes a bike rodeo; hands-only CPR; a roll-over simulator; plus demonstrations on water and pool safety, child car seats,
planning your escape during a fire, and kitchen fire tactics.
Details: The free safety fair is this Wednesday, July 25, from 5-7 p.m. at North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 N. St. Albans.
Time to Brush Up on Recycling
You may have seen stories this week in the
Pioneer Press and
Star Tribune about the crunch recycling programs are facing. Now's a good time to be sure you're not wasting your recycling efforts.
Check the Eureka Recycling website to get a refresher on the where's and when's of putting out your blue cart -- including making sure your cart is at least 2 feet away from vehicles, buildings, or garbage carts. While you're on that page, download the guide to make sure you know what can (and cannot) go into the blue cart.
Summer Blast is one of the city's summer activities for children.
Running Out of Summer Ideas?
Looking for inspiration on how to keep the young ones occupied with something beyond video games? Then
check the list of end-of-summer and ongoing activities at the North Dale and Northwest Como recreation centers. Also on that page, you can download a guide from Ramsey County of free or low-cost things to do nearby.
This Candidate Forum is Still On
The League of Women Voters Saint Paul says it intends to hold its Ward 4 City Council candidate forum, scheduled for Monday July 30. The forum begins at 7 p.m. at SPNN studios, 550 Vandalia, Suite 170. Scheduled to appear are Shirley Erstad, David Martinez, and Mitra Jalali Nelson.
The Ward 4 special election is Tuesday Aug. 14, the same day as statewide primaries. The election fills the seat vacated by Russ Stark and being filled temporarily by Samantha Henningson.
(Ward 4 includes most of District 10 that is west of Lexington and south of Hoyt.)
Voter Guides: The Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce is compiling voter guides for East Metro elections this August and November. Among the options currently online:
If that doesn't fit your schedule, he's got two sessions remaining:
Next Saturday, July 28: 1-2:30 p.m., Goat Coffeehouse, 699 E. 7th.
Next Sunday, July 29: 2-3:30 p.m., Brunson's Pub, 956 Payne
Put on Your Citizen Science Hat
After bailing because of rain, Saint Paul Natural Resources has rescheduled its free citizen science workshop for this Thursday, July 26, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom. Anyone 8 years of age or older is welcome to join the workshop; everyone will learn to use the iNaturalist app and submit pollinator photos to the University of Minnesota's Bee Atlas project.
Register here
Participants are asked to bring their own smartphone or tablet if they have one; if not,
reserve a tablet while supplies last. The workshop will provide a wifi connection and send instructions on how to download the app.
Park Bugle Needs an Editor
The Park Bugle -- the nonprofit community newspaper that covers Como and nearby neighborhoods -- is hiring a new managing editor to replace the departing Kristal Leebrick.
Get the details about the position and the skills they're looking for.
Find Farmers Markets, Other Local Food
Looking for more sources of locally grown food? Want to try different farmers markets around the city? Wondering if there's a market nearby when you're on the road? Wondering where you can get yak meat? Then try the Minnesota Grown website. The
searchable database has more than 1,000 entries that you can sort by city, distance, or product.
Photo: Readers Digest
The Right Way to Dispose of Your Oil
Got old engine oil, coolant, or oil filters sitting around from your vehicle, lawn mower, or snow blower? You can drop them off for free at Ramsey County's collection shed. The shed is open 24 hours at the county's public works facility, 1352 Ben Franklin Road in Arden Hills, which is near Highway 96 and US 10.
Reach New Heights
This weekend, July 21-22, is one of the few times a year you can climb the
Highland Park water tower. The tower, its 151 steps, and observation deck are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the views, take a look at historical documents and learn how Saint Paul Regional Water Services is trying to protect and preserve water resources.
Becky Kapell performs Monday.
This Week on the Promenade
Today, Friday July 20: Happy hour with Kid's Silent Disco, 5 p.m.; Nirmala Rajasekar, 7 p.m.
This Saturday, July 21: 40-minute A10 workout with Alchemy 365, 9 a.m.; Pat Donahue and Dean Magraw, 7 p.m.
This Sunday, July 22: ComoFest Art Fair, 10 a.m.; Como Pops, 3 p.m.; Lake Country Chorus, 7 p.m.
This Monday, July 23: Miss Becky Kapell, 7 p.m.
This Tuesday, July 24: Medalist Concert Band, 7 p.m.
This Wednesday, July 25: Yoga, 10 a.m.; The Sapsuckers, 7 p.m.
This Thursday, July 26: Barre with Yoke Fitness, noon
Next Friday, July 27: Yoga, 10 a.m.
All the events we've listed so far are free.
Also this week, Highland Park Community Center Theater moves in with its annual production. This year, it's
"James and the Giant Peach." Performances are this Thursday-next Saturday, July 26-28, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Round two is Thursday-Saturday Aug. 2-4.
More Free Music
Groovin' in the Garden features the
Flamin' Oh's this Wednesday, July 25, from 6-8 p.m. Along with the music are lawn games, a climbing wall, and a bounce house. You can pack a picnic, or buy hot dogs, ice cream, soft drinks, beer, or wine. Everything happens outside the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory; if it rains, activities move inside.
Not Just Another Car Show
Street Machine Nationals: Today-Sunday, July 20-22. Hours: Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Admission: Age 11 or older, $16; children 10 or younger, free with paid adult. Discounts available for advance and multiday purchases.
Capitol Classic (saddlebred horse show): This Saturday-Sunday, July 21-22, AgStar Arena. Free admission.
In the Next Few Weeks...
This Wednesday, July 25: District 10 Environment Committee, 7 p.m. Como Park Streetcar Station, northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. All renters, homeowners and other community members are always welcome to attend and participate.
Next Saturday, July 28: Ramsey County Fix-It Clinic, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 N. St. Albans.
Wednesday Aug. 1: Public hearing on sign code amendments, 5:30 p.m. Room 300, City Hall, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Tuesday Aug. 7: Deadline to comment on the Metropolitan Council's Transportation Improvement Program, which proposes highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects for federal funding in the next four years.
Wednesday, Aug. 15: Public hearing on accessory dwelling units, 5:30 p.m. Room 300, City Hall, 15 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Advanced Tips for Safeguarding Your Bike
Technology can help or hurt you when it comes to preventing bicycle theft. Technology that is useful to thieves:
Social fitness platforms such as Strava. If you track and share your workouts, be sure to mask your exact location to public users. Thieves target homes of athletes who post frequently.
Technology that is useful to you:
Lock rating lists; the best locks are rated Sold Secure Gold.
Nationwide databases such as the National Bike Registry/529 Garage. That way, if your stolen bike is found, you can get it back. (Of course, it always helps to have receipts, serial numbers, and photos on file.)
District 10 has street barricades and portable recycling containers that community members can use for block parties, neighborhood, or family events.
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 $40 when you return the barricades. Reservations are first-come, first-served. (To borrow our barricades, you must have an event permit from the city.)
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.
To reserve any of this equipment, call our office at 651-644-3889, or
send us an email.
Streetcar Station is Open Sundays
The exhibit space at the Como Park Streetcar Station is now open for the season every Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Stop in to learn a bit about the history of Como Park, pick up replacement
organics recycling bags or starter kits, or just share comments and suggestions with the District 10 board member on duty. 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.
