December 3, 2021 | Friday

2021 Como Curb Clean-Up Reporting

This Fall, Como Community Council teamed up with the Como Active Citizen Network and Capitol Region Watershed District for the Como Curb Clean-up. When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients into the water that flow into storm drains and the lake. There it becomes food for invasive algae. The collective practice of Curb-cleaning has a huge impact toward reducing this nutrient flow.

If you participated in Curb-Cleaning this year, whether you registered in advance with us or not, we want to hear from you! Tracking results helps us a lot with supporting future efforts! Once we’ve collected the data we’ll share the result in the D10 Newsletter a well on the Como Clean-Up page of our website.

Thank you to everyone who participated in 2021 curb-cleaning.

2021 Como Holiday Decoration Contest

Do you think you have what it takes to be the most festive home in Como Park? Register your home, apartment, or group by December 19 to be put on the contest map. Then, get decorating! You will be able to view and vote on the submitted homes from December 23-30 (voting ends at noon on the 30th). 

• Sign up your house or apartment by Dec. 19.
• A map of participating houses will be available by Dec. 23.
• Voting will be open for best apartment and best house Dec. 23 through Dec. 30.
• The winner will be announced Dec. 31 in the newsletter.
• The top three houses and apartments will receive fabulous prizes and bragging rights.

Have a house on your street that always goes all-out? Nominate your neighbors for the contest! Starting Monday, December 8th, door tags will be available at the D10 office for you to encourage those in your community with outstanding holiday displays.

Como Community Blood Drives

Thursday, December 16, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

D10 Como Park is partnering with the American Red Cross and the Como Zoo & Conservatory to host a community blood drive at the Zoo Thursday, December 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Space is limited, reservations required.

With the pandemic lingering and 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 fall trip to the zoo! If you’re interested in volunteering at the check-in table, you can reach out to district10@district10comopark.org.

Como Parks & Rec Programming Update

North Dale Recreation Center

1414 St. Albans St, 55117 - 651-558-2329

Upcoming December Activities:

• Zumba - 7:45pm, Wednesdays. $4/session
• Special Event: Winter Wonderland - 6-8pm, Tues, Dec 14. Free
• Holiday Ornament Making - 5:30pm, Monday, Dec. 20. $20*
• Candy Bouquet - 6:30pm, Monday, Dec 20. $15*
• Craft Ornament Making - 6:30pm, Dec. 21 & 22. $5*
• Ongoing: Tot Time, Taekwondo, Senior Gamers, Meditation & Movement, Senior Fitness, Senior Day, Pickleball, Social Needlework Time, Gardening

December 6^th is the first day of Winter/Spring 2022 registration.

• New: Ice Skating Lessons, Zumba, Teen Open Dance, Chess and Strategy Games, Musical Theatre, Teen Video Game Night, Family Roller-skating Night, Red Cross Babysitting, Men’s Ice & Advil Basketball, Cooking For Kids, Magical Pink Unicorn Art, Play Date Art.
• Ongoing: Tot Time, Gardening, Social Needlework Time, Pickleball, Taekwondo, Senior Gamers, Meditation & Movement, Senior Fitness, Senior Day.

Northwest Como Recreation Center

1550 N. Hamline Ave, 55108 - 651-298-5813

Upcoming December Activities:

• Men’s Soccer - 7pm, Thursdays. $3/weekly
• Parents Night Out - 6-9pm, Friday, Dec 17. $10*
• Holiday Ornament Making - 1pm, Wednesday, Dec 22. $30* 
• Beginning Drawing - Noon, Dec 28 & 29. $70*

December 6^th is the first day of Winter/Spring 2022 registration.

• Adults: Corn Hole, Men’s Soccer, Parents Night Out, Family Open Gym
• Youth: Video Game Play, Red Cross Babysitting Training, Dance classes, Musical Theatre, April Fools Day Art, Basic Fishing
• Regulars: Artist Workshop, Archery, Taekwondo, Tennis
• Spring Break Field Trips: Conquer Ninja, Mini Golf at MOA, Bowling at Flaherty’s, MN Zoo

*Registration Required

Project REACH Toy Drive

Project REACH is a Saint Paul Public School based program that promotes school stability and academic success of PreK and school age children and families who are experiencing homelessness: this may be in shelter; "doubled up" with others; or staying in car, outside, etc.

Project REACH is seeking new toys and gifts for children ages birth through eighteen. The gifts will go to families experiencing homelessness in Saint Paul Public Schools. Gifts can be dropped off at the Title I office at 1021 Marion St. St. Paul 55117, or you can order from the wish lists below and it will be delivered to their office. 

Gift Ideas: Lego sets • Board Games and puzzles • Trucks and cars • Multicultural Dolls and barbies • Dress up clothes • Arts and crafts materials • Journals and pens • Gift cards for Chipotle, Starbucks, Popeyes, Visa, itunes, movie theaters, Best Buy, Target, etc • Jewelry, hair accessories, nail polish, cosmetic brushes • Sports equipment, Basketball, football, volleyball, soccerball • Earbuds, headphones • Educational, learning toys • Sleds and winter toys • Lotions, shower gel

Keep The Heat On – Energy Assistance Program

The Energy Assistance Program helps pay for home heating and water costs and furnace repairs for income-qualified households.

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is a federally funded program that offers grants ranging from $300-$2,000 that are paid directly to energy and utility providers. Grants are available to renters and homeowners based on energy cost, household size, and income.

In Ramsey County, EAP is administered through Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties (caprw.org).

Minnesota does have a Cold Weather Rule (CWR) in effect from October 1 through April 30. This does NOT mean that your heat cannot be shut off during the winter. You must make and keep a CWR payment plans with your utility provider to receive CWR protection. If you are unable to agree on a payment amount, you can request an appeal from your provider. The MN Public Utilities Commission Consumer Affairs Office is available to assist.

More Information & Applications

Special Holiday Recycling Options

Holiday Lights Recycling

The Saint Paul Recycling staff will once again be offering an easy way for residents and City employees to dispose of unwanted holiday lights this season. Like plastic bags and electrical cords, string lights get wrapped around equipment at recycling facilities and workers spend hours every day removing them from the machinery. But that doesn’t mean that these cords can’t be recycled! From December 1, 2021 – January 20, 2022 these lights, and other electrical cords, can be dropped off at participating locations: Saint Paul Regional Water Services, all Saint Paul Public Libraries, and the City Hall Annex breakroom (floor 2). Last year, the program recycled over 2,500 pounds of holiday lights and cords! Spread the word and find details on our webpage, Holiday Lights Recycling.

Extra Cardboard Recycling

The Saint Paul Recycling staff have also partnered with SPPD to offer additional cardboard recycling in the visitor lot of the Western District Precinct, 389 Hamline Ave N, from November 30, 2021 – January 3, 2022. There is a surplus of used cardboard generated around the holidays. Not only is it difficult to fit the extra cardboard into recycling carts, boxes from new purchases can also draw attention to homes as a target for thieves. To recycle excess cardboard year-round, residents can also utilize the Recycling Drop-off Center at 309 Como Ave.

Serve on the Ramsey County Library Board

The Ramsey County Library Governing Board is looking for two trustees. Serving on the Library Board is a great way to get involved with your local library system and make a positive impact on your community. 

Application deadline is Wednesday, December 8.

Rice Street Visioning Study

Ramsey County and the City of Saint Paul are working to define a community-driven vision for Rice Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Wheelock Parkway. A recording of the November 16 open house presentation can now be viewed on Ramsey County's project website.

• View Nov. 16 presentation slides (PDF, 3 MB)
• Submit comments via feedback form
• Submit comments via interactive map - open through Dec. 15