September 2, 2022 | Friday | | |
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Wed, Sept. 7, 6pm | D10 Environment committee Click for agenda and zoom info
Wed, Sept. 7, 7:15pm | D10 Neighborhood Relations committee Click for agenda and zoom info
Sept. 9-10 | Hamline Midway Garage Sale
Sat, Sept. 10, 3-5pm | D10 Harvest Festival @ Tilden Park
Sun, Sept. 11, 7:30am | St. Paul Classic starts @ Como Pavilion
Sat, Sept. 17, 8am-1pm | Citywide Dropoff @ Fairgrounds
2022 Movies In The Parks
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The Como Neighbors Safety Initiative has been sending helpful daily reports, reminders, and resources to Fair neighbors who've signed up. If you'd like to be included in the remaining emails, you can send an email to katebmccreight@gmail.com, and copy jennifer@larsentag.com and thehubbie@aol.com
(The daily email will come from one of these emails). Thanks so much to Kate, Jennifer, and Cindy for your leadership and coordination.
The Community Ambassadors continue to be out in the neighborhood East of the fair from 5 pm - midnight every day of the Fair. They're easily identifiable by their bright green t-shirts.
The City has a special “Parking Overlay District”, (mostly between Snelling and Hamline) during the fair which allows, and regulates, things like yard parking, street vending, and merchandise peddling. D10 Como Community Council has a “Neighbor’s Guide” to these special rules and regulations, including detailed maps of the overlay district, and who to call to report violations. The Como Neighbors Safety Initiative group has helped add some safety tips to our guide, and is also offering opportunities to volunteer or get added to their email list during the fair.
We understand that enforcement of these ordinances is far from perfect, but if we can increase understanding of the rules amongst the community it may help us have a stronger footing for getting through these hectic few weeks.
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D10 Meeting Updates
Environment Committee Meeting - Wednesday, September 7, 6pm
The D10 Environment committee typically meets on the first Wednesday of every month. The meeting will be hybrid at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy) and on Zoom. All D10 meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week we will be debriefing the Eco Fair, discussing the Oct. 6 Lake Como cleanup, a Native Landscaping Grant, and hearing updates about Lawns the Legumes in addition to some regular committee updates.
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Neighborhood Relations Committee Meeting - Wednesday, September 7, 7:15pm
The D10 Neighborhood Relations committee typically meets on the first Wednesday of every month. The meeting will be hybrid at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy) and on Zoom. All D10 meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week we will be hearing an update on the Como Neighborhood History Project, finalizing plans for the Sept. 10 Harvest Festival, and hearing updates on the Como Blood Drives.
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Save The Date: D10 Harvest Festival
September 10, 3-5pm at Tilden Park - Free Event!
As the summer winds down we invite you to save the date for the D10 Como Community Council Harvest Festival. Join us on September 10 at Tilden Park from 3-5pm for demonstrations, pie tasting, carnival games, crafts, bookmobile, magic show and more! This year's demonstrations have an urban sustainability theme including composting, backyard chicken care, fermentation, & gardening for pollinators. Thanks to Lyngblomsten 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!
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Get Involved: Volunteer at the Citywide Drop-off @ Fairgrounds
Saturday, September 17, 8am-1pm, Fairgrounds
Volunteers get a voucher for a free drop-off! Sign up for a shift on our Volunteer Registration Form! We just need a couple more for the 2nd shift (10am-1pm).
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.
Senior Pick-Up
As part of our coordination, we facilitate at-home pick-ups for qualifying items for community seniors. *If you are a senior in the Como area and would like your items picked up from your home, email district10@district10comopark.org no later than Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. Everything must be outside in front of your house by 8am Saturday, Sept 17, 2022. Rates apply.
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Como Community Blood Drive
D10 Como Park is partnering with the American Red Cross and the Como Zoo & Conservatory to host a series of community blood drives at the Zoo. Reservations are now available for the October 18 drive.
Upcoming Drive Dates:
With so many still working from home, workplace blood drives have all but vanished, affecting the Red Cross’ reserve levels. Community blood drives are the perfect opportunity to take a break from the home office or start a trip to the zoo!
If you’re interested in volunteering at the check-in table, we still have shifts available on October 18, you can sign up for a shift here.
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Last Chance: Harvest Festival Pie Contest
Calling all pie baking enthusiasts! The Como Community Council will be hosting a pie contest at the Harvest Festival on September 10th at Tilden Park. We're looking for Como neighbors to enter the contest. Community members will be tasting the pies at the event and voting on their favorites. Winners in the sweet and savory categories will get a gift card to Hot Hands Pies! Fill out the form to enter your pie - if you have questions, contact organizer@district10comopark.org.
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Como Golf Lot Construction Scheduled
The north and south parking lots both received major upgrades earlier this summer. A canoe/kayak launch will be finished near the south lot later this year. Now it's the Como Golf Course lot's turn, construction will begin the week of September 12. The golf lot will be closed for approximately 5 weeks. Visit the Como Transportation Parking Improvements project website for updates. No, golfers, fair-style lawn parking is not allowed during the construction.
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Como Friends’ Como Quest
September 17 & 18, 9-11:30am - $100 for a team of 4
A benefit for Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Como Friends’ Como Quest is a wild exploration designed for multigenerational fun, as kids and adults work together to unlock conservation clues, collect rewards, and uncover exciting new secrets about animals, plants and the planet we share. With an interactive smartphone app and an adventurous spirit, your team of treasure hunters will dig deep into Como’s amazing animal and plant collections, while supporting the best care possible for the animals and plants and free admission that is so important to our community.
D10 will be giving away one free team of 4 certificate at our Sept. 10 Harvest Festival.
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
The Como Pool and city splash pads will close for the season on Labor Day, Sept. 5. Great River Water Park at Oxford Community Center reopens Monday, September 12. Membership are now on sale.
Winter youth sports registration is now open. Saint Paul Parks and Rec announced that registration fees have been eliminated for winter basketball for 10U and up (ages 9+) at all recreation center sites.
Note: fees apply for 4U, 6U and 8U but you can advantage of the early bird discounts by registering in the first five days of the month!
North Dale Rec Center (1414 N. St. Albans)
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 Applications/Renewals
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New Speedway (950 Lexington): Gas Station and Malt Off-Sale 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.
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Vistabule Teardrop has submitted an application for a Motor Vehicle Dealer - New Vehicle License for 1455 Energy Park Dr. Anyone with input can email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Council Member Mitra Jalali: ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us. Representatives from Vistabule are planning to attend the Sept. 20 D10 Land Use committee meeting to introduce themselves and answer questions.
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Duke's Car & Towing (977 Front): Auto Repair Garage License is up for renewal Oct. 19. 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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Ted’s Recreation (1084 Larpenteur): Liquor License is up for renewal Sept. 25. 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 date serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.
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Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee
The Saint Paul City Council is seeking applications for appointment to its Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee ("the Committee"). Applications will be accepted from August 29-September 11, 2022.
Description: The limited-term legislative advisory committee will work with the Saint Paul City Council and the City to: 1) evaluate a locally governed program ("the Program") to ensure universal and equitable access to early care and education for all Saint Paul children, and 2) to explore funding options for the Program, including the possible use of public dollars.
The Committee is empowered to make recommendations to the City Council on the potential design and implementation of the Program and, if appropriate, to propose legislation that would establish the Program. The Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee shall present its recommendations and any related draft legislation to the City Council no later than March 26, 2023.
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The City Council is responsible for adopting the City's operating and capital budgets and property tax levies. In August, the Mayor proposes the budgets for the following year. After the budgets are proposed, the City Council begins its consideration of the budgets. A series of Council Budget Committee meetings are held throughout the fall to review the Mayor's proposed budgets in detail. Public hearings on the proposed budgets and tax levies are also held during this time period. In mid-December, the Council adopts the final budgets and property tax levies, incorporating any changes Councilmembers have to the original proposal into the adopted budgets and levies.
Budget Committee Meetings are be held on Wednesday mornings at 10am from August 24th and December 7, 2022. The council hears budget breakdowns from different departments, this is the draft schedule:
- 8/24 Mayor's Proposed 2023 Budget and Department of Safety and Inspections
- 9/7 Fire Department and Police Department
- 9/7 Library Board Meeting: Budget Presentation General Fund Changes 2:00pm
- 9/14 Parks and Recreation Department
- 9/14 HRA Board Meeting: HRA/PED Budget Presentation 2:00pm
- 9/21 Public Works
- 9/21 Levy Limit Vote and Ramsey County Tax Trends Presentation @ 3:30 City Council Meeting
- 9/28 City Attorney's Office/Office of Neighborhood Safety
- 10/5 Follow-Up and Capital Improvement and Sales Tax
- 10/5 Library Board Meeting: Budget Presentation 2:00pm
- 10/12 Office of Technology and Communications and Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity
- 10/19 Human Resources and City Council
- 10/26 Discuss Mayor's proposal and Council budget priorities
- 11/2 5 year Street Plan and Debt Strategy
- 11/9 Follow Up and Office of Financial Services and Office of Financial Empowerment
- 11/16 RVCA
- TBD Truth in Taxation
- 12/7 Budget Committee - Budget Adoption 3:30pm
Meetings can be live streamed and are recorded to view later. Find minutes, live streams, recordings, and updated scheduling here on the city's website. You can send comments and feedback to the City Council: CouncilBudget@ci.stpaul.mn.us
There is a public hearing on the proposed budget scheduled for Tuesday September 20 at Como Lakeside Pavilion at 5:30pm.
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Mac-Grove Fest
Saturday, September 10, 11am-3pm @ Edcumbe Rec Center
Our friends over at D14 Macalester Groveland are busy planning their big annual Fall event. The Fest is an all ages, FREE event at the Edgcumbe Rec Center Fields!
Mac-Grove Fest aims to celebrate the businesses, organizations, artists, and residents that make Mac-Grove a great place to live, learn, work, worship, and play.
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Submit your nominations for the 6th annual Saint Paul Business Awards
The City is accepting online nominations through September 28, 2022, and applications from businesses through October 5, 2022.
The Business Awards program recognizes local businesses that provide critical services, contribute to the City's community, invest in their employees and are committed to Saint Paul's values of equity and diversity. The awards began in 2015 as part of the City’s Open for Business initiative and have recognized 28 businesses thus far.
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New Library Survey for Interior Design Elements
Saint Paul Public Library's work to refine design features for the three buildings being redesigned continues. They're now offering an opportunity to provide your input on the interior design elements of each library to inform library designs that they will share with the community this fall. This includes furnishings, children's activities, and art elements. Take Survey #3 now.
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Take Care of Your Community, Adopt-A-Stop
Adopt-A-Stop is a program that helps businesses, individuals, community organizations and schools make a real difference in their neighborhoods by "adopting" local transit stops.
Metro Transit employees make regular visits to shelters (in some cases, daily) to make sure that they are clean and damage-free. An adopter assists us by alerting us to special maintenance needs and reporting vandalism or suspicious activity.
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What's going on at the Fairgrounds? | |
State Fair Hit, the Tot Dog, is a Brainchild of Lake Como Walks
Congrats to Como Resident Mary Zadach for her great profile in the Star Tribune this week! Mary pitched the idea for the Tot Dog, one of the 2022 Fair food favorites, which she says she came up with as she was walking around Lake Como years ago.
Thanks to community member Kathy Zieman for suggesting this for the newsletter!
| If you're headed to the Fair, wash down your Tot Dog with a malt from the North Suburban Kiwanis' Malt Shop and be sure to THANK THEM for their support of the Como Community Council Ice Cream Social! The Malt Shop at the Fair is the club's primary funding source for their work in the community. D10 Executive Director Shevek McKee will be volunteering at the malt shop 3-7pm on Friday and 1-5pm on Monday, come say hi! | |
State Fair Grandstand Fireworks Schedule | |
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Below is a schedule of estimated times for the nightly fireworks display during the 12 days of the State Fair.
For the 2022 Grandstand Concert Series, they have moved up most of the show start times to 7pm (from 7:30pm). This change was made in part to have an earlier time for fireworks, which immediately follow the Grandstand concert. Note: not all shows will end earlier. In addition, if there are weather delays or other unforeseen circumstances, these fireworks times may change or be delayed.
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Fri. Sept. 2 - Zac Brown Band w/ Robert Randolph Band @ 7pm - Fireworks: 9:45pm
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Sat. Sept. 3 - Diana Ross w/ Naturally 7 @ 7pm - Fireworks: 9:20pm
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Sun. Sept. 4 - MSF Amateur Talent Contest Finals @ 7:30pm - Fireworks: 10:30pm
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Mon. Sept. 5 - Free Kids Day Fun Fest - FREE (No Ticket Required) - Fireworks: 9pm
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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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