Gather 'Round Sunday for Fireside Tales
There's stories from around the world. There's a bonfire. There's s'mores. It's all part of the free family friendly fun as the Como Community Council sponsors Fireside Tales. Join us at dusk this Sunday, Oct. 27, from 6-7 p.m., at the Como Park fire rings (on Como Ave. between Hamline and Midway Parkway). Wonder Weavers will be the story-tellers. Bring your own chairs or blankets -- and, of course, dress for the weather!
Watch for Signs of Street Sweeping
Fall sweeping of all 530 miles of residential streets in Saint Paul is under way. In District 10, the first streets to see action are those south of Midway Parkway; they are scheduled for today, Friday Oct. 25. Things to keep in mind during sweeping:
  • "No parking" signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance. Vehicles can be towed if they're in the way.
  • If sweeping is scheduled for the same day as your trash and recycling pickup, and you typically place your carts on the street, place them on the boulevard instead.
  • It is illegal to push leaves into the street from your yard or boulevard and expect the city to remove them.
Residents are responsible for clearing their own leaves. Among your options: You can mulch them, compost them at home, or bag and haul them to a Ramsey County yard waste site. Environmentally conscious residents actually rake leaves out of the gutter and storm drains, too; that minimizes the impact of phosphorus leaching into Como Lake and other local waterways. Or, you can leave leaves in your gardens, or rake leaves into a pile somewhere out of the way in your yard, so pollinators have a place to nest over the winter.
1 More Day of Lexington Construction? 
Weather delays mean construction is likely to continue at least through today, Friday Oct. 25, on the crosswalk connecting the lake side of Lexington Parkway with the golf course side. Lexington is supposed be open for the weekend, whether work is finished or not.

As you may have figured out during the rush hour lines, the marked detour is along East Como Blvd., Arlington, Victoria, Nagasaki, and Horton. There is access to the golf course parking lot and both Lakeside Pavilion parking lots at all times.
Northwest Como Bonfire is Tonight 
Northwest Como Recreation Center holds its annual Halloween bonfire today, Friday Oct. 25, from 6-8 p.m. The free event includes indoor and outdoor games, including a haystack scramble; activities such as a jump castle and face-painting; a DJ; costume contests for all ages; and concessions for sale. The rec center is at 1550 Hamline.
  • Keep up to date on other events at Northwest Como and North Dale rec centers.
Which Side Will Trash the Other? 
The League of Women Voters Saint Paul hosts a debate this Tuesday on the ballot referendum about whether to keep or overturn the city's consolidated trash collection ordinance. Javier Morillo and JaNae Bates will speak in favor of a "yes" vote, which keeps the present ordinance; Tom Goldstein and Elizabeth Dickinson will speak in favor of a "no" vote, which eliminates the present ordinance.

The debate is Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. at the SPNN studios, 550 Vandalia St. It is free and open to the public.
Vote Early at Como Streetcar Station 
Ramsey County will hold early voting at Como Park's Historic Streetcar Station from this Tuesday, Oct. 29, through Nov. 4. Any voter in the county can vote in their own municipal elections during that time frame. In Saint Paul, there are elections for every City Council seat, plus a referendum on whether to keep or overturn the city's consolidated trash collection ordinance. Early voting hours:
  • This Tuesday, Oct. 29, through next Friday, Nov. 1, noon-6 p.m. each day.
  • Next Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Monday Nov. 4, noon to 5 p.m.
The Streetcar Station is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Election Day is Tuesday Nov. 5; polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m., but voters must cast their ballot in their home precinct on that day.
Size Them Up Before Casting Your Ballot
If you were not able to attend City Council candidate forums in person earlier this month, you can stream them at your convenience, courtesy of SPNN. All the forums run about 90 minutes. The links:
Ward 1 includes the part of District 10 south of Front. Ward 4 includes the part of District 10 roughly west of Lexington. Ward 5 covers the part of District 10 roughly east of Lexington and north of Front.
The Basics of Ranked Voting
Saint Paul uses ranked-choice voting in elections for City Council. Ranked choice -- also known as preferential voting -- eliminates primary elections. Instead, voters go straight to the main election.

Ranked voting still allows you to designate your favorite candidate as your first choice. But it also gives you the option of ranking all other candidates in the order you prefer them. That way, if your top choice gets eliminated, you still have a say in which candidate ultimately wins. The ballot makes it pretty clear: You rank candidates starting with your first choice in the left column, second choice in the middle column, third choice in the right column, and so on. Or, you  simply   can vote for your first choice and be done.

Find our more -- including seeing a sample ballot from your ward -- on Ramsey County's website.
Speaking of Voting ...  
" Sota" got the most votes last weekend for the name of the new giraffe at the Como Park Zoo.

Give the County Some Direction 
Ramsey County has scheduled three "small group discussions" to gather ideas on how to determine community well-being, prosperity, opportunity, and accountability. What comes out of these discussions will influence the direction of the county's strategic planning and budget.

The closest discussion is Thursday Nov. 7, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Central High School, 275 N. Lexington. Food and child care will be provided. Earlier sessions are Friday Nov. 1 in North Oaks and Tuesday Nov. 5 in Little Canada. Find out more or register in advance.
Keeping Up with City Paperwork  
  • 1290 N. Snelling: On a 6-0 vote, the city's Board of Zoning Appeals rejected a request by the property owner for a height variance, which would have allowed him to build a gazebo atop the converted firehouse. City staff said the request met only two of the six conditions required to grant a variance.  
  • Speedway: The gas station license and liquor license for the convenience store at Lexington and Front are up for renewal on Dec. 1. Anyone who has concerns should contact the office of Ward 1 Councilmember Dai Thao.
  • Carter's BP: The gas station license for the business at Como, Front and Dale is up for renewal on Dec. 29. Anyone who has concerns should contact the office of Ward 5 Councilmember Amy Brendmoen. 
At the Fairgrounds This Weekend
  • Minnesota Weapons Collectors Show: This Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27, Warner Coliseum. Hours: Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: Teens and adults, $7; children 12 or younger, free. No one age 17 or younger admitted without a "supervising and responsible adult."
  • Parking and shuttle for University of Minnesota football game: This Saturday, Oct. 26, Robin Lot (south and east of Randall Ave.). The Gophers play Maryland at 2:30 p.m.
  • Riders & Ribbons Schooling Event & Minnesota Academy Equestrian Finals: This Sunday, Oct. 27, Compeer Arena. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission for spectators.
In the Next Few Weeks... 
  • Today, Friday Oct. 25: Community feedback session on Saint Paul's SAFE Housing initiative,  1-3 p.m. Rice Street Library, 1011 Rice St. Free
  • This Saturday, Oct. 26: Gibbs Farm Halloween, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 2097 W. Larpenteur. Tours, games, crafts, games, costume contest, spooky stories, and treats (of course). Admission: Adults, $8 (seniors 62 or older, $7); children 4 or older, $5; children 3 or younger, free.
  • This Tuesday, Oct. 29: Open house on City of Saint Paul's 2020-2024 HUD Consolidated Plan, 5-7 p.m. Rice Street Library, 1011 Rice. Each year, the city receives more than $8 million in federal funding for community development projects and programs. The Consolidated Plan starts with ideas, opinions, and suggested priorities for improving neighborhood public facilities; increasing affordable housing, job, and business opportunities; and enhancing public services. Learn more about the existing plan, or take a survey about updating the plan.
  • This Thursday, Oct. 31: Deadline to apply for a Capitol Region Watershed District Partner Grant.
  • Monday Nov. 4: Community engagement meeting for Saint Paul's proposed Qualified Allocation Plan for tax credits for rental housing projects, 2-3:30 p.m. Neighborhood House Ecolab Fireside Room, 179 E. Robie.
Dispose of Unused Medication This Weekend
This Saturday, you can dispose of old or unused medications safely and easily -- no charge and no questions asked. It's part of National Take Back Day, designed to get medications out of the home. Turning in prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and vaping paraphernalia prevents accidental poisonings, overdoses, and theft.  It provides an alternative to flushing them down the toilet, washing them down the drain, or throwing them in the trash -- none of which we're supposed to do, and all of which can damage the environment. 
 
The opportunity is this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Saint Paul Police Department's Western District headquarters, 389 N. Hamline. (Keep prescription medications in their original container, but remove any personal information.) If you can't make it Saturday, you can dispose of medications at one of Ramsey County's six year-round locations.
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.