Pounding away: This woodpecker (probably a downy, possibly a hairy) is carving quite a niche for itself on the south side of Como Lake. Photo: Nile Fellows
Can We Deal with the Pressure?
District 10 is looking at ways to deal with pressures that the State Fair and other major events put on parking. This Monday, June 25, we'll have two similar meetings to explore challenges in different parts of the neighborhood.
Get the details about which topics will be discussed at which meeting.
Parking Pressure Meeting (North): The focus is on streets from Hamline on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Victoria on the east, and Arlington on the south. This meeting is 6-7 p.m. Monday in the Fireside Room at Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 Hoyt.
Parking Pressure Meeting (South): Focuses on streets south of the lake and east of Lexington. This meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the back room at Gabe's by the Park, 991 Lexington Parkway.
We're Not Running Short of Meetings...
District 10's committees are squeezing in meetings before the Fourth of July holiday. Here's what's on the docket this week:
Land Use discusses pedestrian safety in and around the intersection of Como and Nagasaki, plus where to take the discussions from Monday's parking meetings. The rescheduled meeting is this Tuesday, June 26, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station.
Neighborhood Relations and Safety focuses on details for the July 13 Ice Cream Social. This rescheduled committee meeting also is this Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m., also at the Streetcar Station.
Environment discusses the proposal from resident Quentin "Q" Nguyen for boulevard beautification along Lexington Parkway from the park north to Larpenteur. This meeting is at its normal time and place: Wednesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. at the Streetcar Station.
All renters, homeowners, and other community members are welcome to attend and participate in any (or all!) of the meetings. The Streetcar Station is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.
Rumbling into Town
The Minnesota Street Rod Association's
Back to the 50s goes full throttle this weekend at the Fairgrounds, in parking lots, and on streets everywhere. Official hours are today and Saturday, June 22-23, from 8 a.m.-10 p.m., and this Sunday, June 24, from 6 a.m. (yes, 6 a.m.)-3 p.m. You can't get into the Fairgrounds without a ticket; admission is $12 for teens and adults (though discounts are available); free for children 12 or younger who are accompanied by a paid adult.
To ease congestion on nearby streets, one-sided parking is in effect from
6 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day on all streets from Snelling east to Pascal and from Hoyt south to Wynne. And despite what some neighbors say, it is not legal for residents to park cars on their lawns during Back to the 50s.
If things get too rambunctious, contact the Minnesota Street Rod Association at 651-643-6226. Or, there's always Ramsey County dispatch: 651-291-1111.
Make Your ComoFest Plans Now
District 10's
Ice Cream Social launches ComoFest 2018, which again offers affordable neighborhood fun the last three weekends of July. The Ice Cream Social is Friday July 13 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Como Park Streetcar Station. The rest of the ComoFest lineup:
Friday July 13: North Dale Movie Night, 9 p.m., featuring "Coco."
Saturday July 21: ComoFest 5K Walk/Run for Everyone (benefiting Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program), 8-10 a.m., Como Lakeside Pavilion.
Sunday July 22: ComoFest Art Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Como Lakeside Pavilion.
Friday July 27: Northwest Como Movie Night and Campout, beginning at 6:45 p.m., featuring "Beauty and the Beast" (2017 version).
Saturday July 28: TopLine Federal Credit Union Community Appreciation Picnic, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Capitol Region Watershed District leads a hands-on workshop and scouting expedition to identify locations for the next wave of boulevard rain gardens in District 10. These types of gardens are one of the most cost-effective ways to collect and filter polluted street runoff before it reaches Como Lake. The best part: The selected locations could get rain gardens installed at no cost. Details: The free workshop is this Saturday, June 23, from 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. There's still room to register
Where You'll Find Barrels and Barricades
If you haven't discovered, most of Lexington Parkway is down to one lane in each direction from E. Como Blvd. north to Highway 36. Prep work continues for the mill-and-overlay that could begin by the end of the week.
Just east of the District 10 border, the heavy equipment comes out this week as the reconstruction of Wheelock Parkway begins east of Dale, from Danforth to the Arlington/Western intersection. Expect the road -- or what's left of it -- to be closed through October. When it's done, the new bike path and sidewalk will be closer to going somewhere.
In the "it's about time" department, MnDOT is landscaping the center median of Interstate 35E between St. Clair and Grand Aves. The practice freeway could be down to a single lane in each direction from 7 p.m.-6 a.m. until the work is finished (in a week or so, they hope).
You Won't Believe Your Eyes
"
Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea" arrives at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory this Saturday, June 23. The colorful, eye-opening exhibit features giant sea-life sculptures made entirely of plastic toys, buoys, toothbrushes, bottles, caps, flip-flops, hair brushes, and other plastic garbage picked up from beaches. Scientific education and practical consumer advice accompany the sculptures. The free exhibit runs through Oct. 21.
Also at the Conservatory:
Groovin' in the Garden features
The April Fools from 6-8 p.m. this Wednesday, June 27. Along with the free music, there are lawn games, a climbing wall, and a bounce house. 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.
See the season's entire line-up
Day Camps by Another Name
"
Summer S'more Fun" (say it out loud) offers recreational child care at
North Dale and Northwest Como Recreation Centers for youth entering grades 1-6. Activities include swimming, athletics, picnics, and other outdoor recreation; pleasures such as music, reading, art, and cooking; plus environmental programs, theme days, multicultural studies, and field trips.
S'more Fun runs Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Registration is $35; enrollment is $35/day or $175/week. For more details, call North Dale (1414 N. St. Albans) at 651-558-2329, or Northwest Como (1550 N. Hamline) at 651-487-5626.
Illustration: High Interest Publishing
We Know You've Got an Opinion
The Saint Paul and Minnesota Community Foundations are conducting their second
East Metro Pulse survey. The survey seeks feedback on housing, education, transportation, health care, jobs, media coverage, amenities, and other such things.
The survey is available until next Friday, June 29.
(If you complete the survey in time, you have a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards.)
Photo: Elena Elisseeva
Fix Those Fabrics for Free
You've heard of Ramsey County's Fix-It centers. Now the county is debuting a spin-off sustainability event. Its first
Mend-It Clinic makes it possible to keep your clothes, backpacks, blankets, and more in operation. Skilled practitioners of vanishing domestic arts will help you replace a button, hem pants, patch a hole, replace a zipper, or do similar minor tailoring.
The free clinic is this Saturday, June 23, from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Roseville branch library, Hamline and County Road B. The only catch: three items max.
The Week Ahead at the Fairgrounds
After the street rods depart, the Fairgrounds bring in three events that are pretty much on the other end of the decibel scale:
This Tuesday, June 26: Machinery Hill Criterium Race Series, 5-8:45 p.m. The bike races for men, women, and juniors navigate various roads. Registration: $30 ($15 juniors)
This Thursday, June 28: Midsummer Mile, 6:30 p.m. Runners begin at Dan Patch and Underwood. Registration: Men and women, $25; high schoolers, $20; youth ages 10-14, $15; children 9 or younger, $2.
Next Friday-Saturday, June 29-30: Twin Cities Antiquarian and Rare Book Fair, Progress Center. Hours: Friday, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: Friday, $7; Saturday, $5; children 10 or younger, free.
Heads up: The Color Run is two weeks away: Sunday morning July 8.
This Week's Music on the Promenade
The music and views are free.
Today, Friday June 22: Twin Cities Jazz Festival Happy Hour with Zacc Harris Trio, 5 p.m.; Twin Cities Jazz Festival: Lila Ammons, 7 p.m.
Today, Friday June 22: Deadline to nominate publicly visible private gardens, trees, and art for a 2018 Blooming Saint Paul award.
This Saturday, June 23: Artist Gustavo Lira got rained out last Saturday, so he'll try again to create a second sewer grate mural, 10 a.m. Parking lot on the east side of the lake, where Lakeview Ave. dead ends into East Como Lake Drive.
This Monday, June 25: District 66B town hall meeting with State Sen. John Marty and State Rep. John Lesch, 6:30-8 p.m. North Dale Community Center, 1414 St. Albans.
This Wednesday, June 27: Cycles for Change Slow Ride, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Leaves from East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St.
This Wednesday, June 27: Public meeting: City of Saint Paul Stormwater Permit Annual Report and Stormwater Management Program, 2-4 p.m. City Hall Annex, 9th Floor Conference Room, 25 W. 4th St. (It's more important than it sounds.)
Children 15 or
younger 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 for curfew issues: It deals with the violation while keeping kids out of the full criminal justice system.
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.
Photo: T. Boardman
Streetcar Station is Open Sundays
The exhibit space at the Como Park Streetcar Station is
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 just share comments and suggestions with Laura, who is 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.
