November 4, 2022 | Friday | | |
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2022 Como Halloween Decoration Winners! | |
Congratulations to the Witches Graveyard décor at 1459 St. Albans St., pictured above, which was voted the winner in D10 Como Park's Decoration Contest. 2nd Place went to Nightmare on St. Albans at 1293 St. Albans St., and 3rd place was the Huelskamp-O'Rourke Family at 1554 Albert St. N. Thank you so much to everyone who decorated and submitted this year!
The friendly competition is over, but you can take a look at photos submitted by the decorators (and fans) here on our website!
Thank you to and Gabe's by the Park for donating prizes for the contest and Sarah Reuter for making another amazing trophy!
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Know Your Como History:
Kunze Farm Part I
By Darlene Kunze
My great grandfather, Alexander Kunze, came to Minnesota in I868 and acquired farming land. Later my grandfather, Oscar Kunze, lived and worked on the farm, and my father, Willis Kunze, grew up on the farm. He later built a house on a piece of the property which is the house I live in now.
In the late 1800’s, the Kunze farm was located approximately at Nebraska and Victoria, northeast of Como Lake. This area was part of Rose Township. It consisted not only of farm land, but also hills and swamps. Eventually the hills would be leveled with donkey-pulled plows, and the swamps filled in. Read More...
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Como Kindness: 2022 Thanksgiving Meals Fundraiser
The Como Community Council is once again working to make sure neighborhood seniors are supported this Thanksgiving. So, in partnership with the North End South Como Block Nurse Program, we have a goal of providing meals for 80 neighborhood seniors. How you can help is simple:
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Make a financial donation. Every $12 you contribute buys one Thanksgiving meal: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, a roll and, of course, dessert.
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Volunteer to deliver meals w/ Block Nurse Program. Reach out to Alaina Gall at alaina@necbnp.org or 651-489-4067.
Once the Block Nurse Program needs are met, funds will go towards Thanksgiving initiatives at the Lyngblomsten Senior Community. Additional funds will be donated to the Salvation Army's Booth Brown House Youth Shelter Program's Thanksgiving meals.
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Join 2nd half of 2022 Como CURB Cleanup!
October 1 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! It's not too late to join the effort!
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Give to the Max day is coming up on November 17, 2022!
D10 Como Community Council the only non-profit organization working exclusively to make the Como Park Neighborhood a great place to live, work, learn and play. Since 1977, we’ve been proud to foster citizen participation in government and community decisions in our neighborhood.
But we can’t do it without you! Donate today!
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Keystone Food Collection Event
Sunday, November 6, Noon-2pm @ Como Park Lutheran (Hamline & Hoyt)
Como Park Lutheran is partnering with Keystone Community Services for another food drive next weekend. The number of households using food shelf services is steadily increasing as food, gas, and utility costs rise resulting in Keystone seeing a 66% increase in households served since February 2022.
Most Needed Items:
- Canned soups with pop tops (helpful for people experiencing homelessness)
- Canned fruit & vegetables
- Oil
- Sugar/flour
- Peanut butter
- Boxed meals
- Cereal
- Canned meat/fish
- Household/hygiene products (toothpaste, toilet paper, tooth brushes, soap, etc.)
*Cash/checks (payable to Keystone Community Services); $25 = 75 nutritious meals!
Questions? Contact Como Park Lutheran Church | 1376 Hoyt Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55108 | 651-646-7127 | office@comoparklutheran.org
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Get Involved: Clear Snow for Como Seniors This Winter
The North End South Como Block Nurse Program (BNP) is looking for people to help seniors shovel snow this winter.
Families, students, people who want volunteer hours... it's a huge need every winter and BNP has identified seniors in the community who need help clearing snow this year.
People who are interested can reach out to me at 651-489-4067 or alaina@nescbnp.org.
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Como Regional Park Trail Master Plan
The City of Saint Paul's Parks and Recreation Department is engaging community members to inform and develop an updated Trail Master Plan for Como Regional Park. The master plan will emphasize improving the connection between the trails within the park to Saint Paul's Grand Round trail network. The process will prioritize connections around Como Lake, Picnic Pavilions, McMurray Fields and Outdoor Classroom areas over those within the Zoo, Conservatory, or Golf Course areas.
On the City's site you can:
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Use the Map to drop pins, share photos and leave comments on areas of the park you'd like to see improved, or places you like the most.
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Take the Survey to share how you use the park and how you would prioritize improvements to it.
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Post Comments and photos to the community Ideas Board to get the conversation going with other Como Regional Park visitors.
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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
Upcoming Applications/Renewals
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New Ted's Recreation (1084 Larpenteur): Liquor Licenses are up for renewal Jan. 31. 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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New Bole Ethiopian Cuisine (1341 Pascal Como): Liquor Licenses are up for renewal Jan. 7. 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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Carter’s BP (623 Como): Gas Station License is up for renewal Dec. 29. 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): 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.
*While license renewal dates serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.
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Public Input on Xcel Energy Rate Increase Request
Xcel Energy has asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to approve an increase to electric rates over a three-year period beginning January 2022. The MPUC may either approve or deny the requested changes and may approve a lesser or greater increase than was requested. The MPUC will likely make its decision in the second quarter of 2023.
The requested increase for 2022 is about 12.2 percent, with an additional 4.8 percent for 2023, and an additional 4.2 percent for 2024.
Public comments can be made in writing through January 6, 2023 at 4:30 PM.
Leave a Public Comment to the PUC Online
Or email: consumer.puc@state.mn.us
For this issue reference Docket #21-630
For more details on the hearings, proposed rates, and comment options: xcelenergy.com/rates_and_regulations/filings/rate_increase_notice
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Pumpkins go in the Leaf Pile
If you’re clearing the stoop after Halloween, don’t throw pumpkins in the trash.
Bring pumpkins -- without candles, paint, glitter or other decorations -- to a yard waste collection site.
Place them in the leaf pile (not in the food scraps collection bins).
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Free Electronics Recycling Available for Ramsey County Residents
Ramsey County residents looking to get rid of laptops, televisions, cell phones or other electronics (e-waste) now have a free and easy way to recycle them. Used and old electronics are the fastest-growing waste in the country and often contain toxic metals like lead, mercury and cadmium. Ramsey County Environmental Health is partnering with Repowered (formerly Tech Dump) to reuse or refurbish unwanted electronics, and to keep toxic metals out of the environment.
The electronics collection site is located at:
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Repowered - 860 Vandalia Street, Saint Paul, MN 55114
Hours:
- Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
- And 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month 9am-1pm.
Put your unwanted electronics in a labeled box that is easily accessible in your vehicle. Follow signs and staff directions when you arrive. All data from electronics dropped off at the e-waste site will be destroyed physically or electronically wiped.
Learn more in the link below or call Ramsey County’s Recycling and Disposal hotline at 651-633-EASY (3279), answered 24/7.
No business e-waste. Businesses can visit https://getrepowered.org/ for options.
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Nominate a CRWD Watershed Steward
Calling all clean water fans!
Capitol Region Watershed District is accepting nominations for the 2022 Watershed Steward Awards, also affectionately known as the Stewies, to honor individuals and organizations that exemplify watershed stewardship through activities or projects that show a commitment to help protect, manage and improve our lakes and the Mississippi River.
To nominate an individual or organization, please complete the Watershed Steward Nomination Form linked below. All nominations are due by November 11, 2022.
Save the date! The Recognition and Awards Ceremony will be on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
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Foster the Family Mom's Support Group in Hamline-Midway
Foster the Family Mom's Support Groups offer encouragement and resources to face the unique joys and challenges of foster care and adoption. This group meets monthly in St. Paul (1536 W. Minnehaha Ave) on the 3rd Wednesday from 6:30-8pm to discuss topics such as attachment, trauma, birth families, and the realities of foster care/adoption.
Find out more on the group's Facebook Page or email fosterthefamilytwincities@gmail.com. Childcare is available!
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Vote in the General Election
Anyone eligible to vote in Ramsey County may cast their absentee ballot – either in person or by mail – before the general election on Nov. 8. Voters can cast their ballot from Sept. 23 through Nov. 7.
Sample ballots are available at mnvotes.org.
Vote early in person
Beginning Sept. 23, in-person absentee voting is available at two locations. Eligible voters may visit either location, regardless of their home address. Locations include:
Beginning Nov. 1, four additional locations will offer in-person absentee voting:
In alignment with Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, Hmong interpreter election judges will be available at in-person voting locations in 2022. Sample ballots will also be available in Hmong at mnvotes.org.
Vote by mail
Voters still holding an absentee ballot may want to drop it off instead of sending by mail to ensure the envelope arrives by the Nov. 8 deadline, Secretary of State Steve Simon said this week.
Ballots returned by mail must be received by the Ramsey County Elections Office by Nov. 8 per state guidelines to be accepted.
Voters may also return their ballot in person at the Ramsey County Elections Office or the Ramsey County Library in Roseville. All ballots must be returned inside the building to designated staff who will verify the voter information is complete. Ballots placed in any outdoor document drop boxes or payment boxes will not be accepted.
Voter registration
Residents may register at the in-person absentee voting locations or at their polling place on Election Day. Proof of residence is required. A list of approved documentation and sample ballots are available at mnvotes.org.
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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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