September 15, 2023 | Friday | |
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Tue, Sept. 19, 6pm | D10 Land Use Committee Agenda
Tue, Sept. 19, 7:15pm | D10 Board Meeting Agenda
Fri, Sept. 22, 4-7pm | CRWD 25th Anniversary Celebration
Sat, Sept. 23, 9am-Noon | Lake Como Cleanup @ Pavilion (register)
Sat, Sept. 30, 10am-Noon | Fall Como Tree Trek @ Como Park (register)
October-November | Como Curb Cleanup
More D10 Events
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Saturday Citywide Drop-off Event at Fairgrounds | |
St. Paul Public Works Department partners with district councils to organize annual citywide drop-off events for residents to properly dispose of large refuse items and recyclable materials not collected via the residential recycling program. District 10 helps coordinate the event held annually at the State Fairgrounds.
Note: Household Hazardous Waste is not accepted at the dropoff, but there IS a HHW site in the fair lot south of Como Ave. Fridays and Saturdays in September.
Never too late to Volunteer (*until Saturday afternoon): Volunteers get a voucher for a free drop-off and there will be food provided. Sign up for a shift on our Volunteer Registration Form!
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D10 Meetings Next Week
Land Use Committee Meeting - Tuesday, September 19, 6pm
Hybrid on Zoom and at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The D10 Land Use Committee typically meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6pm. All D10 meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week we will discuss a community safety assessment idea, in addition to some regular committee updates. Join us!
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D10 Board Meeting - Tuesday, September 19, 7:15pm
Hybrid on Zoom and at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The D10 Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:15pm. Meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week the board will consider organizational and committee action items, and discuss potential changes to our monthly meeting logistics, including an opportunity for a new monthly D10 Social Hour. All are welcome!
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Get Involved: Lake Como Cleanup - September 23
We're planning our next Como Lake Cleanup for Saturday, September 23, 9am-Noon. These events, in partnership with the Capitol Region Watershed District, focus on the shoreline and Lake Como itself. We’ll meet near the dock on the lower level lakeside of the Pavilion to pick up tools, supplies, and have a refreshment
District 10 provides trash-grabbers, rakes, buckets, nets, trash bags, and nitrile gloves for those who need them. Or, feel free to provide your own gear. Registration (by Sept. 22) is encouraged, but not required, to help us plan and communicate if changes come up.
Registration has also begun for the 2023 Como Curb Cleanup, in front of your own home! Register and get a cool Love Our Lake sign!
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Sign Up For Fall Como Tree Trek
Saturday, September 30, 10am–Noon @ Como Park
The D10 Environment Committee hosts Tree Trek, where community members can learn how to identify and appreciate the multitude of different tree species living in Como Park. Volunteer tree expert Stephanie Mirocha is our fabulous second-generation Tree Trek guide (her father was the original Tree Trek Guide).
Stephanie has a contagious passion for trees that expresses itself in so many ways on these tours, it's well worth your while!
The event is free, but please register in advance. Attendance will be limited to 25 participants.
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Save the Date: D10 Tilden Harvest Festival 2023
Saturday Oct. 7 3-5pm @ Tilden Park
We invite you to save the date for the D10 Como Community Council Harvest Festival. Join us on October 7th at Tilden Park from 3-5pm for demonstrations, pie tasting, carnival games, crafts, bookmobile and more! Thanks to The Raptor Center and Holden House for partnering and sponsoring this event!
If you’d like to help make this event a success, help us pass out flyers in the neighborhood or volunteer at the event, or sign up for the pie baking contest!
Everyone is invited to this free event!
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Como Bakers: Harvest Festival Pie Contest Returns!
Saturday Oct. 7 3-5pm @ Tilden Park
It's time to pull out your best pie recipe for the 2nd Annual Pie Contest at the Como Harvest Festival. Last year, over 250 neighbors voted on their favorites and this year, the winner could be YOU! Find out more and register your pie here - the winner will get bragging rights and a gift card to Hot Hands Pies.
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2023 CRWD Lake Como Walking Tours
September 18 (Monday), 5:30-7pm starting at Como Lakeside Pavilion
Experts Britta Belden and Bob Fossum from Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) will lead two educational tours along Como Lake’s walking path that highlights the lake’s history, its dynamic urban ecosystem, and the water quality issues facing it. They will also provide an in-depth overview of projects aimed at improving Como Lake (both past and future) including shoreline restoration efforts, aquatic plant control, fishery management, and major in-lake and watershed phosphorus reduction projects.
Come with your questions and enjoy a fall evening at Como Lake!
Please register in the links below or by calling CRWD at (651) 644-8888. There is a limit of 30 people per tour. Sign-up will be open until capacity is reached.
The tour will be weather dependent. An event cancellation will be sent out via email the day of the tour if storms are expected.
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Dedicate a Bench at Como Lakeside Pavillion
The Saint Paul Parks Conservancy has an opportunity to dedicate a new bench at the Lakeside Pavilion.
If you’ve sat on the moveable benches for a concert or play lately, you know they are worn (and often wind up in the lake thanks to high winds or hijinks). The Saint Paul Parks Conservancy planning to replace the worn-out benches on the Promenade in 2024 and 2025 with these dedicated benches.
The new benches will be easy to maintain, complement the historic look of the building, and, best of all, carry the name of someone you care about who shares your love of this extraordinary park! Over time, hundreds of visitors, concertgoers, and neighbors enjoying the lakeside view will enjoy your bench.
Name your bench with a gift of $1,500 today. Gifts to the Bench Campaign can be made with cash (checks or securely online), IRA Distributions, or stock transfers.
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
Registration for fall swimming lessons at Great River Water Park is now open. Great River will reopen for the season on Monday, September 18.
Youth winter basketball registration is now open--free for ages 9 and up!
Parks is also seeking basketball officials (16+), gym monitors (18+), scorekeepers (14+), and volunteer coaches for this upcoming season.
North Dale Rec Center (1414 N. St. Albans)
Ongoing Drop-In Programming
Northwest Como Rec Center (1550 N. Hamline)
*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.
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Neighborhood Notes
Upcoming License Renewals*
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Automate Car Repair (991 Front Ave): Auto Repair Garage License is up for renewal Nov. 28. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 5 Council Member Amy Brendmoen: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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Speedway (950 Lexington Pkwy): Malt Off Sale and Gas Station Licenses are up for renewal Dec. 1. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 5 Council Member Amy Brendmoen: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
*While license renewal dates serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.
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Weigh In: 2024 City Budget Public Hearing Sept. 19 @ Como Pavilion
The Mayor's 2024 budget is in the City Council's corner now and their 2024 community Budget Survey is live.
The city budget process is underway. Between now and December, City Council will hold budget meetings with department directors to understand department goals to match our city’s dollars to our community’s priorities.
You can see all presentations every Wednesday at 10am here (just click the video link next to Budget Committee) and attend the Council’s annual budget hearing open to the public next Tuesday, September 19 at 5:30pm at Como Dockside overlooking the lake.
You can also find the link to the survey and detailed information about the Council’s 2024 Budget process, including the up to date schedule and other documents, by visiting the City Council’s Budgeting & Financial Planning website.
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League of Women Voters Candidate & 1% Tax Forums

The League of Women Voters is holding numerous forums leading up to the election. You can submit questions and hear directly from the candidates. Questions can be submitted at the forum or in advance by emailing lwvstpaul@lwvmn.org. The forums will be recorded and posted online for later viewing.
Don't forget to check out The League of Women Voters one-stop-shop for all things voting at Vote411.org. Find your polling place, key deadlines, first time voter checklist, and more! By the end of September 2023, the online Voters' Guide will be up an running. Compare candidates side-by-side, share links to candidate info with friends and learn about who is seeking to represent your interests.
September 18, 2023, 7-8:30 PM, St. Paul School Board Candidate Forum at SPNN TV Studio (550 Vandalia Street, Suite 170, St. Paul, MN 55114)
September 18, 2023, 6:30-8 PM, 1% Sales Tax Forum (Webinar) Facebook Event
September 22, 2023, 6-7:30 PM, Ward 5 City Council Candidate Forum at Dock and Paddle at Como Lakeside Pavilion (1360 Lexington Parkway N, St. Paul, MN 55103)
Click here to learn more and forums for other wards.
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Contract Extension Considered for Citywide Garbage
The City of Saint Paul is seeking to begin an 18-month contract extension for citywide garbage service with the St. Paul Haulers, LLC, the consortium of five garbage haulers that have been collecting garbage since October 2018. The 18-month contract extension will allow the City the time necessary to fully implement cart management, customer service, and billing functions for the citywide garbage program changes by April 1, 2025. The current five-year contract expires on September 30, 2023.
The City Council will review the proposed contract extension at its September 20, 2023, council meeting. The contract extension would be October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2025.
The news release Citywide Garbage Program includes what changes will occur with the extension and the changes starting April 2025.
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Alley Captain Conference at October Snow Summit
Sat, Oct. 14 9am-2pm @ Dale Street Municipal Garage (891 Dale Street)
Calling all Alley Captains past, present, and future! Saint Paul Public Works Department is planning a Snow Summit on October 14 that kicks off with an Alley Captain Conference from 9-11am, for those who organize the required annual snow clearing of shared alleys.
This is a special free forum to bring together Saint Paul residents who are currently serving as the alley (or block) captain for your neighbors to learn from other alley captains. The conference is open to current and prospective alley captains - and anyone who is interested in learning more about how to organize their neighbors to get their alley plowed by the residents or a private contractor. This conference is also open to board and committee members of Saint Paul District Councils.
From 11am-2pm community members can visit with different exhibitor groups, organizations, and city departments to learn about winter preparedness and check out winter equipment. (And Food Trucks!)
The event details are still being worked out, but Public Works is asking interested Alley Captains (and wannabe Alley Captains) to RSVP to secure their spot and help them plan!
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Ramsey County Environmental Resources
Free Electronics Recycling for Ramsey County Residents
Ramsey County residents looking to get rid of computers, televisions, cell phones and other electronics now have a free and easy way to recycle them. Ramsey County has partnered with Repowered to refurbish or recycle unwanted electronics, keeping toxic metals like lead, mercury and cadmium out of the environment. All data from electronics dropped off at Repowered will be physically destroyed or electronically wiped.
The electronics collection site is located at:
Repowered
860 Vandalia Street
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Learn more about Ramsey County’s electronics recycling program and check which items are accepted at ramseycounty.us/Electronics or call 651-633-EASY (3279), answered 24/7.
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Become a Recycling Ambassador
Registration for the fall Recycling Ambassador Program training is now open. Recycling Ambassadors undergo a six-week training to learn more about environmental health. Using knowledge gained, Recycling Ambassadors volunteer 20 hours or more annually to encourage others to reduce, reuse and recycle. Topics covered in the training include:
- Waste systems in Ramsey County.
- Composting.
- Climate change.
- Environmental justice.
- Household hazardous waste.
- General recycling.
The trainings will take place virtually using Zoom from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday from Sept. 20 -- Oct. 25.
Volunteer activities include tabling at community events, participating in neighborhood clean-ups, assisting at monthly Fix-It Clinics and more!
Learn more and sign up.
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What's Happening at the Fairgrounds? | |
Ramsey County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
SEPTEMBER 8 - 30, 2023
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DESCRIPTION
Many household products contain hazardous materials. Bring these items to Ramsey County's free household hazardous waste collection sites for safe disposal. Located in the lot south of Como Avenue.
HOURS
Fridays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Model Railroad Show & Sale | |
DESCRIPTION
Over 200 tables of new & used trains, toys, models, tools and many other hobby or collectable items.
LOCATION
Education Building
HOURS - Sat, Sept. 16
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ADMISSION
Adults (8+): $7
Children (7 & under): Free
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Have something you'd like us to consider sharing in our newsletter? Email us at district10@district10comopark.org | |  |
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Support Community Engagement
Do you appreciate the work D10 Como Park does in the community? Consider supporting D10's work by making a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!
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