March 24, 2023 | Friday

Know Your Como: Furry Friends - Pete & Oliver

In the latest Know Your Como entry, Sonjie Johnson continues to introduce the furry friends that were looking for a home. Meet Pete and Oliver (AKA Sir-Bark-A-Lot). Read the Story

Do you have an interesting neighbor, live by a unique building, or know some fun history about our neighborhood? Help share the story of our community by contributing to Know Your Como!

Request a Ballot for the D10 Election

Ballots for the April election can be requested on our election page (ballots won't be made available until after the candidate filing period has passed). Community members can vote from home: either online, or by returning a paper ballot through the mail.

The first step in voting is to request a ballot. To get your ballot, fill out a ballot request form. We’ll send ballots beginning Friday April 8.

Who is eligible to vote: Renters, homeowners, and other residents of District 10 who are at least 16 years old can vote. So can representatives from business, nonprofits, or other organizations with a physical presence in District 10.

Join the D10 Como Community Council Board in 2023

The D10 Annual Election is coming up in April. Any community member in District 10, age 16 or older, is eligible to run. The board is made up of volunteers like you, elected by neighbors like you.

In 2021, the board made a change to designate board seats for renters, youth (16-24), and senior (62+). That change began to roll out in 2022 with a senior and renter seat (now filled), and continues with this April’s election with 1 renter seat and 1 youth seat on the ballot, in addition to seats for the 4 sub-districts and 3 at-large positions. If you fit these criteria, please consider running, we’re holding a seat for you! (Renters, youth, and seniors can hold other seats as well!)

All of our board and committee meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted in advance in this newsletter. We encourage you to come to some of our meetings and get to know us!

To get on the ballot, submit a board member application.

The filing deadline is Sunday April 2. The election results are announced at the April board meeting. You can view some basic information about the election here. If you have any questions or would like to know more about being a board member you can reach out to D10 Como Park at district10@district10comopark.org.

Hop Into Spring at Como Z&C this Weekend

10am-4pm on Sat, Mar. 25 & Sun, Mar. 26 @ Como Zoo & Conservatory Reservations Required this weekend

Como Zoo and Conservatory is Celebrating Spring this weekend with special family fun all weekend. They've got an ostrich egg hunt, ambassador amphibians, crafts, and more.

They're also hosting a Gorillas on the Line small electronic recycling challenge to clear out your old cell phones.

Saturday is also the opening of the Spring Flower Show at the Conservatory's Sunken Garden. The 2023 Spring Flower Show will have formal topiaries, along with thousands of tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, foxglove, acorus, hydrangea, hyacinth, and pansies in a color pallet of chartreuse green, purple, pink, and yellow which is sure to provide some color therapy to Minnesotans weary of winter.

Get Involved: Be a Volunteer Visitor Greeter at the Zoo and Conservatory

The Zoo and Conservatory is also bringing back their Volunteer Visitor Greeter role. Serve as the first point of contact as guests arrive to the campus and the last friendly face they see as they are leaving. Volunteers in this role will answer general questions, solicit the assistance of Visitor Services staff as needed, thank visitors for any donations and create a warm and welcoming environment as people arrive (17 and older). Volunteer shifts are approximately three hours.

Join the volunteer team in just 2 easy steps:

• Click here to complete their online volunteer application.
• Wait to hear back. The zoo responds to all volunteer application requests.
• Questions? email ComoVolunteers@ci.stpaul.mn.us or call 651-487-8252.

Como Food Drive

Saturday, March 26, Noon-2pm @ Como Park Lutheran (Hoyt & Hamline)

Como Park Lutheran, in partnership with Keystone Community Services and the Como Community Seed Library, will be hosting a Food Drive. Visit their website for a list of accepted items and more information and drop off instructions!

Grow a Row

Grow a Row programs are an easy way for a community to select certain varieties of fruits and vegetables and dedicate a row in their gardens to grow them for donation to local organizations fighting food insecurity as well as save seed. You can pick up your seeds for this grow-a-long on Sunday when you drop off your donations at the food drive.

Como Zoo Summer Youth Program - June-August, grades 8-12. Application deadline is April 10.

Como Parks & Rec Programming

North Dale Rec Center (1414 N. St. Albans)

• Taekwondo April ages 9-21- Mon & Wed in April - $60*
• Taekwondo Jr April ages 6-8 - Mon & Wed in April - $60*
• Taekwondo Jr May ages 6-8 - Mon & Wed in May- $60*
• Taekwondo May ages 9-21 - Mon & Wed in May - $60*
• ONLINE: Planting for Pollinators 18+ - May 13 10-11:30am - Free
• Cribbage ages 18+ - Mondays thru May 22 - Free
• Senior Day ages 50+ - Thursdays thru May 25 - Free
• Senior Fitness ages 55+ - Tues & Thurs thru May 25 - Free
• Pickleball Tu/Th ages 18+ - Tues & Thurs thru May 30 - $3
• Senior Gamers ages 50+ - Tuesdays thru May 30 - Free
• Pickleball Fri ages 18+ - Fridays thru May 26 - $3
• Tumbling ages 3-4 - Mondays May-June - $28*
• Tumbling ages 5-6 - Mondays May-June - $35*
• School Year Rec Check 1st-5th Grade - Weekdays thru June 14 - Free*

Northwest Como Rec Center (1550 N. Hamline)

• Game On Art ages 5-12 - Tues & Weds in April - $85*
• Artist Workshop Spring ages 6-15 - Tues in April & May - $60*
• Gardening ages 8-14 - Mon/Tues & Wed/Thur in April & May - 15*
• Taekwondo April ages 9-21 - Tues & Thur in April - $60*
• Teen Night April ages 12-16 - April 14 - Free*

*Registration Required

St. Paul Parks & Rec Fee Assistance Program

The City of Saint Paul operates a special program that helps families pay for Parks & Recreation youth classes and activities. Fee Assistance can be requested by families who meet program requirements when registering for youth activities. To be eligible for the program, youth must live in Saint Paul, be 18 years old or younger, and qualify for free and reduced lunches.

Fee Assistance can be used toward most recreational sports or activities offered by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. To view the online catalog of all available activities offered, click here.

Neighborhood Notes

• Half Time Rec (1013 Front Ave): New ownership has applied for Liquor, Gambling, and Entertainment Licenses, public comments can be submitted before March 31 to LH-Licensing@ci.stpaul.mn.us. D10 Land Use committee hosted new owner Shawn Lennon at our March 21 meeting you can see the application details linked on the agenda.

Upcoming License Renewals

• Gabes by the Park (991 Lexington Pkwy): Liquor, Gambling, and Entertainment Licenses are up for renewal on May 5. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali: ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
• Essence Event Center (1217 Bandana Blvd): Liquor and Entertainment licenses are up for renewal on May 6. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali: ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

*While license renewal dates serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.

Saint Paul Public Library offers free programs for kids during Spring Break

Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) invites kids and families to spend spring break, April 1-8 , at the library with free hands-on events and programs. From cooking with a chef to learning the art of clowning, the series of arts and cultural events for kids ages 7-12 will take place at 12 library locations across Saint Paul.

The events are free and open to the public. No registration is required. 

Safer SPPS: Community Conversation and Dinner

Thursday, March 30, 6-9pm

Join Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) and Marnita’s Table for a special event on at Washington Technology Magnet School (1495 Rice Street). SPPS students and families, staff and community members are invited to share a meal and discuss ways to improve safety in our school communities.

Minnesota Recycling Works

Have you ever questioned if recycling is worth it?

Short answer: yes. Beyond saving energy and protecting natural resources, recycling also supports vital industries.

Our cans, bottles and paper are dropped off at a local facility where people and machines sort the recycling into material types which are sent to many different companies:

• Paper and cardboard are made into newspapers, toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes at five paper mills in Minnesota.
• Cartons like juice boxes are sent to a company in Wisconsin that makes a material for new paper products.
• Aluminum cans get turned into new cans, wire, siding and more at plants in the South.
• Steel cans like those used for soup are made into steel beams in Chicago.
• Plastic bottles with a number 1 like water and soda bottles are shipped to other states to be made into new bottles, deli food containers and carpet.
• Plastic containers with a number 2 like milk jugs are transformed into low-maintenance lumber by companies like Avon Plastics in Paynesville. They are also made into more bottles or irrigation tubing for farmers.
• Cottage cheese and other plastic tubs with a number 5 are used to create food containers, car parts, paint cans and more by companies in other states.
• Glass bottles and jars are sorted by color in Saint Paul. Clear glass goes to Anchor Glass in Shakopee to make condiment bottles. Brown glass is sent to Illinois to make beer bottles.

Our recycling is wanted by many companies in our state and across the country. Help support local

recycling business:

• Stick to the basics: Recycle the items listed above.
• Keep it loose: Empty recycling into your bin – no plastic bags.
• Check with your recycling hauler or Ramsey County (RamseyRecycles.com/AtoZ or 651-633-3279) for everything else.

Chime In On Transit (x3)

St. Paul's Transportation Safety Action Plan

The City of Saint Paul is developing a Transportation Safety Action Plan to identify and eliminate fatalities and serious injuries from vehicle crashes for everyone (pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and drivers).

They invite community members to share thoughts on how to make Saint Paul safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and drivers.

• Take the survey
• Share your input on the interactive comment map by indicating specific locations for transportation safety improvements and see others' thoughts
• Ask others to contribute their ideas by sharing the one pager (PDF)

Survey and comment map close on April 15.

Metro Transit's Network Now

Metro Transit is developing a five-year plan to ensure transit service best meets the needs of our region with Network Now. 

• Take their survey
• Attend an event
• Learn more at metrotransit.org/network-now 

Ramsey County's All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan

Ramsey County is developing a long-range All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan that will guide transportation projects throughout the county. The goal of the process is to identify transportation needs throughout the county and work collaboratively to plan to address those needs. 

They are currently in the first phase of the planning effort and are seeking input on how people currently travel and how the transportation system can better support their needs within the county.

Join an online community conversation

• March 28 from 6-7pm
• No registration required, find the meeting links here.

Take the Survey

All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan - Phase 1 Survey (surveymonkey.com).

The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete.

In effect until April 15th!

What's Happening at the Fairgrounds?