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COMO ZOO & CONSERVATORY:
New Hours, New Flowers,
& NO RESERVATIONS
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As Como Park Zoo & Conservatory makes the annual shift to spring hours, it will also be lifting the advance reservation policy. Starting April 1, Como’s open-door policy will be back in full swing—visitors will no longer be required to reserve an entrance time on Como’s website.
Como’s most anticipated flower show is also just about to bloom from March 25-April 30. Designed by Como’s new horticultural curator Lisa Philander, the Spring Flower Show is a harbinger of the warmth and color that awaits just around the corner.
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D10 Meeting Updates
Land Use Committee Meeting - Tuesday, March 21, 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 welcome Shawn Lennon, owner of Half Time Rec to discuss a new license application.
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D10 Board Meeting - Tuesday, March 21, 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.
This week we will discuss the upcoming elections as well as native edible plants in your garden!
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Thank You Como Blood Drive Donors And Volunteers!
Thanks to everyone who donated at the March 8th Como Community Blood Drive at the Zoo where the Red Cross collected 61 units of blood from 57 donors! Special thanks also to our sign-in table volunteers!!
The next Como blood drive will be May 25th. If you’re interested in volunteering at the check-in table, you can sign-up for an opening on our volunteer schedule or email district10@district10comopark.org. The drives are split into two shifts of two volunteers each, 9am to Noon and Noon to 3pm. It’s light work and a great way to connect with another neighbor.
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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.
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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.
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In effect until April 15th! | | |
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Winter Sowing Drop In
Saturday, March 18th | 1-2:30pm
At this session you will learn the ins and outs of winter sowing native plant seeds. You provide milk jug or salad container recyclables and we will show you how to transform them into mini-greenhouses in this oh-so-adaptable method of seed starting. We will provide soil, seeds, tools, and other supplies for you to create up to 3 winter sowing greenhouses to take home.
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Lest We Forget at TCGIS
March 21st | 6:30pm & March 26th | 4-6pm
The Twin Cities German Immersion School (TCGIS) will host the exhibit Lest We Forget, a touring collection of twenty-four 3D multimedia works of art with short literary vignettes, and focuses on the life of Manfred “Fred” Amram.
This exhitbit wil be open to the public on Tuesday, March 21st at 6:30pm and Sunday, March 26th from 4-6pm. This event is appropriate for all ages.
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FOOD DRIVE
March 26th | 12-2pm
Como Park Lutheran, in partnership with 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!
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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)
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
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New 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 will host community discussion with the new owner at next Tuesday's meeting.
Upcoming License Renewals
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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.
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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.
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1-4 Unit Housing Study Webinars
Join the Department of Planning and Economic Development at one of two upcoming webinars about the next phase of the 1-4 Unit Housing Study:
- Webinar #1: Tuesday, March 28 from noon - 1:30 p.m.
- Webinar #2: Thursday, March 30 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Each webinar will feature an informational presentation about the proposed Phase 2 zoning code text amendments and provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions of the 1-4 Unit Housing Study team. The link to join will be posted on the project website on the day of each webinar.
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Safer SPPS: Community Conversation and Dinner
Thursday, March 30th | 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.
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Start collecting food scraps for compost
Looking to do something good for the environment? Participate in Ramsey County’s free food scraps collection program. You’ll reduce your trash and put wasted food to better use. There is a collection site here in Como at located at 1115 Beulah Ln, on the West side of the McMurray Fields. The food scraps are processed into compost at an industrial compost facility and used in gardening and landscaping projects. All types of food waste are accepted, including meat, bones and dairy.
Collecting food scraps is easy! Just follow these three steps:
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Get equipped: Find a container to collect food scraps. Pick up a free compostable bag at the collection site.
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Collect food scraps: Line your container with the compostable bag and fill it with food scraps.
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Drop them off: When your compostable bag is full, drop it off at the collection site. Pick up a new bag at the site.
To learn more, watch this short video and visit Ramsey County’s food scraps webpage.
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Apply for Community Reparations Commission
The Saint Paul City Council has announced the launch of the application process for the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission. This 11-member Commission will serve as an advisory body to the Mayor and the City Council on matters related to damage caused by public and private systemic racism in the City of Saint Paul which resulted in racial disparities in generational wealth, homeownership, health care, education, employment and pay, and fairness within the criminal justice system among the American descendants of slavery.
Apply on the city's website. Applications due by March 24th
For more information visit the city's Reparations Efforts webpage.You can direct questions to StPaulReparations@stpaul.gov.
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Chime In: 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
Take the Survey
All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan - Phase 1 Survey (surveymonkey.com).
The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS?
Saint Paul Osman Shrine Circus
The annual 3-ring Shrine Circus returns to the State Fairgrounds in 2023. Their traditional circus features animals, aerialists, clowns, and other great attractions all at family friendly prices.
Hours
Thursday: 10:30 a.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Admission
Reserved Seating: $20-$35
Children (2 years old & younger): Free
Opening Night: $10 (all seats)
For more information, visit osmancircus.com.
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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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