February 24, 2023 | Friday | | |
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2022 Como Park
Honor Roll Recipients
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In December and January, we accepted nominations for the 2022 Como Neighborhood Honor Roll, our board members voted to select honorees among the nominations, and the winners were honored at this week’s board meeting.
Congratulations to the 2022 Honorees Carol & Jim Kmiecik, Molly O’Rourke and Judy Johnson of the Midway Parkway Garden Club, and Reene Jacobsen and Sandy Simpson, garden stewards
The Honor Roll is an annual tribute that recognizes everyday residents and organizations who make a sustained and lasting impact in their neighborhood. The honoree names will be added to our website honor roll page as well as the permanent plaque in our office.
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DELAYED Garbage & Recycling PickUp
Due to the weather, Citywide Recycling and Garbage collections were delayed for Thursday (2/23/23) routes and will be delayed Friday (2/24/23) routes.
• Thursday routes will be collected on Saturday, February 25.
• Friday routes will not be collected this week. To make up for the lapse in service, extra materials can be set out for collection at no cost on Friday, March 3.
If you have extra materials for collection on Friday, March 3:
• Place garbage in sealed plastic bags next to the garbage cart.
• Place recycling in paper grocery bags next to the recycling cart.
• Wait to set out extra materials until the night before or morning of to reduce the risk of
blowing or animals ripping into bags.
Residents can bring extra materials to the recycling drop-off site for free. For more info, location, hours, and a list of accepted items, visit https://www.stpaul.gov/.../recyclin.../recycling-drop-center
WINTER REMINDERS
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Shovel your sidewalk. Saint Paul City Ordinance requires snow and ice to be removed from sidewalks within 24 hours. Corner property owners should shovel curbs, walkways and crosswalks to the street.
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Do not push snow out into the streets.
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Do not place recycling and garbage carts in the street. Carts should be kept in the boulevard or at the end of the driveway. (This is true even when there isn't a snow emergency)
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If you are able, please shovel hydrants out and clear snow and ice off storm drains to prevent street flooding.
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Join the D10 Como Community Council 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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D10 Meeting Updates
Environment Committee Meeting - Wed., March 1, 6pm
Hybrid on Zoom and at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The Environment Committee typically meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6pm. All D10 Como Park meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week we will have a presentation from Dawn Lamm on the MN SEED and Como Community Seed Library seasonal plans, we will also discuss plans for the upcoming season kick-off meeting for Lake Como Clean Up.
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Neighborhood Relations Committee Meeting - Wed., March. 1, 7:15pm
Hybrid on Zoom and at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The Neighborhood Relations Committee typically meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:15pm. All D10 Como Park meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week we begin planning for our 2023 Pick Up and Party and Como Community Garage Sale, we will also discuss a possible community donation drive and ways to connect with the Hmong International Freedom Festival.
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Como Community Blood Drives
Wednesday, March 8, 9am-3pm @ Como Zoo
D10 Como Park is partnering with the American Red Cross and the Como Zoo & Conservatory to host a community blood drive at the Zoo Wednesday, March 8, 9am-3pm. Space is limited, reservations required.
Please consider giving blood, with so many still working from home, workplace blood drives have all but vanished, these community drives make a huge impact!
Get Involved: We also have one sign-in table volunteer shift open for Noon-3pm on March 8.
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lawns to legumes: Round Two of Residential Installations
The Saint Paullinators are happy to announce that they will be doing a second round of residential installations in the South Como Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood. The first round in 2022 installed 5 boulevard gardens and 3 bee lawns in our community. This time there will be a smaller number of installations – up to 4 – and will be restricted to boulevard gardens.
They will again work with local installer Sacred Space Gardens for the installations, which can include up to 750 sq. ft. of boulevard. Applications will open on April 3rd and will be due by April 27th. If you are interested in applying, please follow the Saint Paullinators on Facebook and continue to read the Como Community Council newsletter for updates on the projects and applications or email organizer@district10comopark.org with questions.
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Como History Tidbit
From Laura Oyen of the Como Neighborhood History Project
You never know what you can find in a backyard! Jean McRoberts was doing yard work last June at her house on Maywood Street and found a damaged marble that appeared to be very old. It was barely peeking out of the soil. It had chips, scratches, and was banded with shades of blue and white. Two weeks later, she dug up another marble while planting vegetables. This one was shiny with swirls of brown and cream. The previous homeowners said they had never found any marbles on the lot.
According to a local marble expert, the blue marble is a “patch” marble, possibly made by Vitro Agate, a division of JABO, which recently stopped making marbles. The brown marble is a swirl marble. Both are machine made some time over the past 70 years or more.
The kids who came to the Como Neighborhood History table at the Blizzard Breakfast were very excited to see the marbles. Many of the adults were equally interested in the artifacts! You never know what you might find in your backyard or what stories you may uncover when you dig!
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St. Paul Public Schools 2023 Applications
Are you looking for an amazing school and wondering about the choices available in Saint Paul Public Schools? Visit spps.org/apply to find a collection of school tour videos to spark your interest. We are accepting applications for Fall 2023 for all grades. We look forward to welcoming you to our schools.
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Winter Tour of Como Woodland
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1-2:30pm @ Kilmer Fireplace
Mark your calendar for this cool winter event. Meet us at the Kilmer Fireplace for a cup of hot chocolate and a 1.5 hour nature tour of Como Woodland. Hardy Como Woodland Advisors will give you a warm welcome and escort you through the outdoor classroom to discover the signs of and the survival strategies of Como Woodland's animals and plants during the winter months.
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Como Regional Park FreezeFest 2023
Freeze Fest 2023, an afternoon of winter fun and games at the Como Fire Pits!
This event is drop in (no registration necessary), free, and for folks of any and all ages who want to be outdoors.
Come roast marshmallows over an open fire, snowshoe through the woods, bird watch, learn about ways to be good stewards of the environment, build a snow fort, and more!
Free on street parking is available on Como Avenue, Midway Parkway, and Estabrook Drive. There are also free lots nearby that you can park in. Metro Transit Bus #3 is also a great option, and will drop you off right at the event!
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Music Under Glass - Final Sunday
Go to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and beat the "winter-blahs" in the tropical gardens as live, local musicians play blues, bluegrass and ballads from 4:30-6:30pm. The concerts are free and beer and wine will be available to purchase. No reservations required. These concerts are standing room only. Because of fire code regulations, there are no chairs set-up.
Sun. February 26 – Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello – Buck-Owens-meets-the-BoDeans harmonies
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Como Zoo offering Summer Youth Program
Como Zoo and Conservatory is once again offering the Nature Walk summer volunteer program for youth in grades 8 through 12. The program runs mid-June through mid-August, with some training in May.
The program that inspires youth to be stewards for wildlife. Youth will connect visitors to Como’s animals and plants to encourage appreciation and preservation of the natural world. Additionally, the Nature Walk program provides youth with valuable work experience and job skills and creates a gateway for potential future opportunities at Como and other conservation institutions.
The application and reference deadline for submission is April 10, 2023.
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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 License Renewals
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Como Golf Course & Clubhouse (1431 Lexington): Liquor and Entertainment licenses are up for renewal on April 18. 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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St. Paul PHA Multifamily Housing Waiting List Opening
The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) will begin accepting online applications for 0/1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bedroom apartments beginning on March 1, 2023 and continuing until further notice. The Multifamily Housing program provides apartments with reduced rent (based on income) to households with low incomes.
All applications received between 8:00 AM on March 1 and 11:59 PM on March 7 will be randomly sorted (like a lottery), so there is no advantage to applying on the first day. Applications received after March 7, 2023 will be sorted by the date and time received.
More information about the PHA's Multifamily Housing program can be found at www.stpha.org and www.HousingLink.org.
Click here to view the Public Housing Multifamily Waiting List FAQs
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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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SPPL's Read Brave Celebrating 10 years in 2023
Read. Talk. Act.
Read Brave is Saint Paul Public Library’s citywide, intergenerational reading initiative that centers the power of books to ignite empathy and help us think of big ideas to move Saint Paul forward. Read Brave connects readers of all ages to one another through one theme, five books and their authors, book-based events, and a call to action. This year's theme is mental health, and events will run from March 1 through March 15.
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Recycling Ambassador Program
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm March 14-April 18 via Zoom
Ramsey Recycles invites you to become a Recycling Ambassador to inspire your community to reduce waste and recycle better. Join their six-week training then use your knowledge as a Recycling Ambassador and volunteer 20 hours annually to encourage others to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Workshop Topics:
- Waste systems in Ramsey County
- Yard waste, food waste, and composting
- Climate change
- Environmental Justice
- Household hazardous waste
- General Recycling
Participants will receive a $100 gift card stipend upon completion of all six workshops.
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What's Happening at the Fairgrounds? | |
13th Annual Winter Beer Dabbler
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023
DESCRIPTION
Winter Beer Dabbler, the Midwest's biggest and best winter beer festival, will make its return to the Fairgrounds on February 25, 2023. Enjoy food trucks, music, and more all while tasting unlimited samples of craft beer and cider from across the U.S.
HOURS - Sat. Feb. 25
3-6:30 p.m. (early access begins at 2 p.m.)
ADMISSION
General Admission: $55 + fees
Early Access: $75 + fees
Designated Driver: $20 + fees
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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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