January 27, 2023 | Friday | | |
 
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Como Blizzard Breakfast - Feb 4th | |
Meet your neighbors at the Como Blizzard Breakfast on Saturday, February 4th from 10-Noon at North Dale Rec Center. This partnership with St. Paul Parks and Rec (named Celebrate Spring last year) will be a perfect interruption to winter hibernation. Join us indoors for a pancake breakfast (sponsored by Bethel Lutheran), winter craft mini-sessions, Como History Project Photo Harvest, and local organization connection tables.
Want to stay outdoors? There will be cross-country skis, snowshoes, and ice skates available along with bonfires, smores, and warm beverage stations.
Volunteer information and weather updates at district10comopark.org/sd3event.
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Photo Harvest - Como Neighborhood History Project
Saturday, February 4th from 10am-Noon @ North Dale Rec Center
Do you have any pictures of the Como Neighborhood? Como businesses, streetscapes or farms? Pictures of when a house, business or apartment complex was first built? Pictures of movie theaters, schools, greenhouses or businesses that are no longer there? Pictures of kids at the rec centers, a neighborhood block party or other community activity? Pictures of notable residences who have lived in Como?
The Como Neighborhood History Project is looking to scan old photos of the D10 neighborhood including bordering neighborhoods and shopping areas. We are looking for pictures that will help us add more to the story of the Como Neighborhood. The older the better!
Volunteers will be attending the February 4th Blizzard Breakfast from 10am to 12pm (North Dale Rec Center, 1414 St. Albans Ave.) looking for pictures to scan and stories to uncover!
Dig through your photo albums and bring your treasures to share!!
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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.
The Red Cross just opened the online reservations for the Wednesday, March 8 drive from 9am to 3pm.
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!
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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. 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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Save the Date: January 28 MnSEED Swap
January 28, 1-4pm @ Anderson Center at Hamline University (774 Snelling)
MnSEED is hosting this event as a part of National Seed Swap Day, which has been celebrated since 2006 in the U.S., however seeds have been integral to communities long before. This event supports MnSEED’s efforts within the Capitol Region Watershed to uplift the seed saving community of practice in the built environment
This event will be free, and no registration will be required.
MnSEED emerged during the pandemic and its emphasis on native pollinator plant seed
saving has fueled many other seed and native plant programs such as The Bee Line along Pierce
Butler Route in the Frogtown and Midway neighborhoods of St. Paul.
“Every seed has a story and in-person seed swaps allow for these stories to be exchanged.” -Dawn Lamm, coordinator of the Como Community Seed Library
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St. Paul Public School Application Deadline
Fill out an online application by Friday, Feb. 3, for the best opportunity to get into the school of your choice. Learn more and choose your school at spps.org/apply.
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Winter Tour of Como Woodland
Saturday, February 25th | 1-2:30pm
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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Be on the Block Nurse Program Board
Do you enjoy working with older adults? The North End-South Como Block Nurse program is a non-profit that helps keep seniors happy and healthy in their own homes. They are searching for people to serve as board members of the organization.
www.nescbnp.org | 651.487.5135 | annie@nescbnp.org
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3rd Wednesdays: ExploraTots @ Como Streetcar Station
An outdoor experience for young children (3-5yrs) and their adults Free*
St. Paul Parks and Rec Winter-Spring sessions are open for registration. This program takes place the third Wednesday of the month January-May in the morning.
ExploraTots begins with choice time activity stations on a theme, read a story together, venture out on a hike, then return for wrap-up and a take-home activity. In addition to connecting to nature and meeting new friends, your child will have the opportunity to practice skills that can improve school-readiness.
This program takes place mostly outside. Please dress for the weather! Children must be supervised by an accompanying adult. Siblings welcome.
Third Wednesdays, 10-11:30am | Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy) | Ages 3-5 with adult | Free | *Pre-registration required:
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
Youth Spring Sports registration open through Jan. 31
Youth Spring Sports registration is open for spring volleyball and futsal (indoor soccer). New this year: boys volleyball for ages 13+!
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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K&L Sales: The second-hand dealer’s license for this used-car lot at Como and Arona is up for renewal on March 29. 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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MICAH St. Paul 2023 Legislative Breakfast – The New Dawn of Abundance and Political Will
Friday, Feb. 3 8-9:30am (see Zoom registration link below)
The 2023 Minnesota Legislature has a monetary abundance and the will to get things done. Working toward a MN where everyone, without exception, has safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing!
State Representative Athena Hollins (DFL-66B), former Housing Chair Alice Hausman, and Ramsey County Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong will be speaking, as well as others living with housing insecurity, and those who work to advocate for housing justice.
This event is free and open to the public! More info:https://www.micah.org/micah-st-paul
Zoom registration: https://tinyurl.com/2vsjnuyh
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Opportunities to Connect with SPPD
The Saint Paul Police Department has upcoming and ongoing opportunities for community members to connect and get helpful crime prevention tips.
Patrol District Community Meetings: Each patrol district holds monthly community meetings. The meetings are open to all community members. Commanders use the meetings as an opportunity to talk about crime stats, give updates on trends or cases, have guest presenters, and listen to resident concerns. It is a way to find out what is happening and to let Commanders know what you are most concerned about.
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Western District (Como's District) - 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:30am & 6:30pm @ West District (389 Hamline Ave N. - Near Target)
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Central District - 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30pm at 1021 Marion (Rice Rec. Center)
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East District - 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:30am and 6:30pm At Eastern District (722 Payne Ave)
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Recycling Ambassador Program
Become a Recycling Ambassador to inspire your community to reduce waste and recycle better. Join this six-week training to learn about environmental health, waste systems and recycling. Use your knowledge as a Recycling Ambassador and volunteer 20 hours annually to encourage others to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
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Smart Salting Tips from Ramsey County
Salt helps keeps roads, driveways and sidewalks safe during our snowy Minnesota winters. However, using large amounts of salt can harm the environment, including plants, soil and groundwater. Follow these tips to avoid overusing salt:
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Shovel first. Clear snow off walkways before it can turn to ice.
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Check the temperature. Use sand for traction instead of salt when it’s below 15 degrees outside. Salt doesn’t melt ice at that temperature.
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A little goes a long way. A 12-ounce cup of salt covers about 250 square feet, which is about the size of a 20-foot driveway or enough to cover 10 sidewalk squares.
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Sweep it up. If salt is visible on dry pavement, it is no longer doing any work and will be washed away. Sweep up the salt and either reuse or throw it away.
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What's Happening at the Fairgrounds? | |
MN State Snow Sculpting Competition
LOCATION
Blocks bounded by Randall, Dan Patch, Underwood, and Cooper.
HOURS
Friday, January 27th - 8am-9pm
Saturday, January 28th - 8am-9pm
Sunday, January 29th - 8am-3pm *Vulcan Fun Day*
Weeknights through Feb 3rd - 4pm-9pm
Second Weekend (Feb 4-5th) - 9am-9pm
*weather permitting - check website for updates
ADMISSION - FREE
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Also at the Fairgrounds this weekend: Legacy Luau Gymnastics Meet &Winter Carnival Fire and Ice Run | |
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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