November 10, 2023 | Friday

Know Your Como: Now is the Time - Give to the Max Nov. 16

This is the big event, just like our summer Ice Cream Social. Over 600 members of our Como community gathered at the Streetcar Station to celebrate summer with music and of course Ice Cream! We hosted a donation drive, entertained the kids with yard games and crafts, and even had a local food truck for a bit more hardy fair for those so inclined. The rained threatened but held off and over 17 organizations tabled at the event! We ask for your financial support to keep these events alive and growing!

The District 10 Board has worked to create events to bring the community together! Can you now come together with us and financially support the volunteer work of your neighbors? Read more...

Thanks for Coming Out!

Thanks to everyone who showed up at Half-Time Rec on Wednesday for the first of what we hope to be a monthly D10 Social. We had 16 people including staff, board members, committee regulars, as well as a few new faces! Thanks to the staff at Half-Time Rec for being great as well!

Stay tuned to the newsletter or website for details on next month's location and time. Our next D10 Meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 21, look for the agenda in next week's newsletter.

Last Chance to Jump In: Como CURB Cleanup

Now through November 30, in front of your own home!

Como Community Council is again teamed up with the Capitol Region Watershed District for the Como Curb Cleanup. When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients into the water that flows into storm drains and the lake. There it becomes food for invasive algae. Join 100+ neighbors in sweeping your curb once a week this fall to help keep Lake Como clean with this surprisingly effective effort.

Signing up to be an official participant helps us track results and helps (a lot) to support future efforts! You can also represent with a cool Curb Cleanup Lawn Sign this year if you register!

Art on the Porch

Sat, Nov. 11, Noon-6pm @ 1410 Pascal Street North

Mixed media artist and Como neighbor, Cynthia Berg, is hosting an open studio art exhibit and sale. Enjoy Scandinavian-inspired artwork with botanical motifs layered with elements of vintage ephemera. Find new releases, an array of affordable, gift-able original artworks, TellMe Insight Cards™ and spiced cider to warm your hands and heart.

Weigh In: New Giraffe Needs Name

You've likely seen and adored Como Zoo's newest arrival this week in a variety of news outlets. The Zoo is offering a chance to vote on a name for the little one. Polls close 4pm Monday so shake a leg!

There are three flower-themed names to choose from, so sorry to everyone who's already thought of three great punny names and pour one out for the internet trolls ready to ambush us all with Giraffey McGiraffeface.

Monthly Senior Sip & Dish

3rd Thursdays, Nov. 16, 2-4pm @ Como Park Lutheran (1376 Hoyt Ave)

Seniors are invited to a lively get-together with others in the neighborhood, sponsored by COMOCONNECTS (Formerly the Falcon Heights Como Block Nurse Program). Refreshments will be provided.

This month you'll be treated to a presentation from Lutheran Social Services to learn about a new program the group gets to be involved with! Also, they will be having butternut squash soup (per request) and a yummy dessert! PLEASE COME!!!

Need a ride? Call (651) 642-1127 a week in advance, they'll help you out. Space is accessible and there's plenty of parking!

Bread Clinic in Como

Sat, Nov. 18, 11am-1pm @ Mount Olive (1460 Almond Ave)

Looking to learn how to bake the perfect loaf? Or need a no-fail yeast dough for a base for sweet rolls, savory twisted breads, iced buns, etc.? Attend Mount Olive Lutheran's FREE "Bread Clinic" and learn basic breads or how to spice them up! You will go home with a baked loaf and with some dough for future baking! Enjoy a soup lunch after the class.

Como Parks & Rec Programming

Donate your Halloween Costumes!

St. Paul Rec Centers are collecting clean and gently used costumes to provide to families next year. Drop off donations thru Nov. 22 at any St. Paul Rec Center. Items needed:

• Halloween Costumes (All ages/sizes)
• Costume Accessories

North Dale Rec Center (9am-9pm Mon-Thu, 9am-6pm Fri)

• Taekwondo Jr ages 6-8 - Mon & Weds monthly - $60*
• Taekwondo ages 9 & up - Mon & Weds monthly - $60*

Ongoing Drop-In Programming

• Fitness Center Membership & Walking Track - $3/day or $30/yr!
• Little Picasso ages 1-5 - Bi-weekly Monday 10-11am thru Dec. - Free
• Tot Time ages 0-5 - Mon & Weds 9am-Noon - Free
• Zumba ages 18+ - Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm - $4
• Crochet/Knitting - Tuesdays 9:30-Noon Sept.-Dec. - Free
• Senior Day ages 50+ - Thursdays 10am-2pm - Free
• Senior Fitness ages 50+ - Tues & Thurs 9:30-10:30am - Free
• Senior Gamers ages 50+ - Tuesdays Noon-2pm - Free

Northwest Como Rec Center (12:30-8pm Mon-Thu, 2-6pm Fri)

• Teen Night ages 12-16 - Nov. 10 - Free*
• Taekwondo Jr ages 6-8 - Tues & Thurs monthly - $60*
• Taekwondo ages 9 & up - Tues & Thurs monthly - $60*

*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

Business License Renewals*:

• BP (623 Como Ave): Gas Station license is up for renewal Jan. 20. Anyone with input should contact the Ward 5 City Council office: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
• Ted’s Recreation (1084 Larpenteur Ave): Liquor & Entertainment licenses are up for renewal Jan 31. Anyone with input should contact the Ward 5 City Council office: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
• Bole Ethiopian Cuisine (1341 Pascal St): Liquor, Wine, & Patio licenses are up for renewal Jan 7. Anyone with input should contact the Ward 4 City Council office: ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

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

Co-create the Future of Transit

Metro Transit invites you to join in co-creating a bold vision for transit. Your insights will directly influence a new strategic plan, which they aspire to complete and share in early 2024. This plan will be the blueprint guiding their workplans and budgets in 2024 and beyond.

As part of this collaboration, Metro Transit leadership will host several events in November.

 Event Details:

• Tue, Nov. 14, 9-10:30am, Union Depot, Veteran’s Gallery Room
• Thur, Nov. 16, 6-7:30pm, Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall

The events will feature an update from Metro Transit, a facilitated activity to get your feedback, and conversation with many of the individuals that lead their agency, including General Manager Lesley Kandaras.

The events are free, and everyone is welcome. If you have any questions or need accommodations, please email erik.thompson@metrotransit.org. You can also visit their website: Metro Transit Forward.

Saintly City Snow Angels Group

The community led Saintly City Snow Angels Facebook group is preparing for another winter of helping less-abled and elderly neighbors make sure their sidewalks are shoveled, so that we have safe and passable sidewalks.

They're already getting lots of requests from people in need, but are still short on volunteers. If you need help or want to earn your wings as a volunteer snow shoveler for those in need, head on over to their FB group page and introduce yourself.

A COUPLE OF FRIENDLY REMINDERS FROM THE COORDINATORS:

• For capacity reasons, they can only coordinate help for people who live in St. Paul.
• Please post your cross streets.
• Only share your address directly with your Angel. Do not post it anywhere on Facebook!
• If someone has helped you before, please check in with them to see if they can help you again.
• Don’t make a new post unless your Angel can’t help for some reason.
• If we do get snow, our Angels will be pretty busy! Please have patience, we'll do our very best to help.🙂
• Also continue to seek help from others outside the group if you're able to.

Alley Captain Information Webpage

Saint Paul Public Works recently hosted a Snow Summit event that included the first ever Alley Captain's Forum.

They've compiled information from the event into a new Alley Captain Information webpage! Find shared samples of emails, letters, flyers, tracking forms, process descriptions, etc. that alley captains have shared with the city as resources for other alley captains. View videos of the Snow Operations 101 and Alley Captain Panel presentations.

You can also Sign up to share your information with other alley captains and your District Council, which could be a helpful planning tool if we can get enough of a network established.

Here's an obligatory link to the very useful Snow Emergency Parking Map as well. Bookmark it, share it with your friends!

St. Paul Sound Level Variance Proposal

The Saint Paul Department of Safety & Inspections (DSI) is hoping to improve the review and approval process for amplified sound at events. (See informational flyer for details)

Given the proposed process will involve an ordinance amendment, DSI will finalize amendment language and forward to the City Council. The expected City Council Public Hearing will be on December 6, 2023.

D10 will share any additional details stemming from this past week's engagement meeting we hear of in this newsletter.

For questions or to submit comments, contact DSI Deputy Director Dan Niziolek at dan.niziolek@ci.stpaul.mn.us or 651-266-9108

Upcoming Public Hearing on 2024-25 Ramsey County Budget

Residents, businesses and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed 2024-25 budget and property tax levy. The first public hearing was on Sept. 19. The second public hearing will be held on Dec. 6 at the Maplewood Community Center. 

Learn more and sign up to speak at the public hearing at ramseycounty.us/PublicHearings.

Ramsey County Environmental Resources

Join the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee

Ramsey County is updating the plan for 2024. They are recruiting community members to join the Waste Reduction Advisory Committee to provide feedback and ideas on how trash and recycling are managed in our county.

Learn more about the committee. If you are interested in joining, complete the application by Dec. 1, 2023 (deadline has been extended).

If you have any questions, please contact Nawal Ahmed (nawal.ahmed@ramseycounty.us).

Reduce holiday food waste

Hosting for the holidays? Help reduce food waste by considering the following tips: 

• Use Save The Food’s Guest-imator tool to plan out how much food you need to feed your guests. 
• Collect food scraps in a BPI certified compostable bag and bring them to a Ramsey County food scraps collection site for free food scraps recycling. 
• If you make a mistake with a dish, try to revive it before tossing it out. 
• Don’t let your guests leave empty-handed! Have them bring reusable containers and send them on their way with leftovers. 

In addition to reducing your own food waste, consider the connection between wasted food and food insecurity. Get help finding or affording food. 

Fall Yard Waste Disposal

Turn your pumpkins into compost! Drop off your pumpkins at a Ramsey County yard waste site for free. Remove candles, paint, glitter, or other decorations before disposing at a yard waste site. You can also bring leftover hay bales and corn stalks (no string, ribbon, or other decorations) to be composted. For more details, visit www.RamseyRecycles.com/yardwaste. 

Please remember that pumpkins are NOT allowed at the Beulah Ave. Food Scraps site by McMurray Fields, it's more holiday cheer than our bins can handle, take them to the yard waste sites!