December 23, 2022 | Friday

Seeking 2022 D10 Como Park Neighborhood Honor Roll Nominees

Know someone who makes the Como Park area a better place to live, work, or play? Nominate them for the District 10 Neighborhood Honor Roll. The Honor Roll pays tribute to everyday people who make a sustained and lasting impact in our neighborhood or Saint Paul as a whole.

Submit your nomination by emailing district10@district10comopark.org. Tell us who you are nominating and why. Make sure we receive them no later than Thursday, January 12. The Como Community Council board will then select three of the nominees to recognize for 2022.

D10 Recorded Presentations

Wheelock/Maryland Art Installation – 12/20/2022

At this week's Land Use committee meeting we heard from Aaron Dysart, St. Paul City Artist in Residence, and Jon Kamrath, Project Artist, about an upcoming art installation along the Grand Round at Wheelock/Maryland/Victoria. Installation is expected to be Spring/Summer 2023.

Community feedback is encouraged through mid-January as the project moves forward through the city process by emailing Aaron.Dysart@ci.stpaul.mn.us.

Follow artist Jon Kamrath on Instagram

D10 Meeting Schedule Change Feedback

The D10 Como Community Council announced changes to our regular meeting schedule in July 2022 and implemented the change for a trial period from August thru December, with the intention of collecting community feedback to consider adjustments before finalizing our 2023 meeting schedule.

It's now December, we've learned a lot about running hybrid meetings and have enjoyed welcoming people in-person as well as on zoom for the past several months. We're looking forward to hearing what input community members may have about their experience at our meetings, and look forward to seeing you at a future meeting.

Get Involved: Como Park Trail Master Plan Design Advisory Committee

December 2022 Update: Applications for the Design Advisory Committee are now available! Represent the interests of your community while working closely with Parks & Recreation staff as the planning process continues taking shape. Help keep community members informed about decision-making matters and overall plan progress.

• Design Advisory Committee Application Form - Como Trail Master Plan.doc
• Link to City Project Website and Application
• Applications open thru January 18.

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:

• 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.
• Take the Survey to share how you use the park and how you would prioritize improvements to it.
• Post Comments and photos to the community Ideas Board to get the conversation going with other Como Regional Park visitors.

Como Parks & Rec Programming

Severe Weather and Holiday Closures

Dec. 23: All centers close at 5pm; no outdoor activities. 

Dec. 24: TBD after assessing conditions on Friday.

Dec. 25-26 & Jan. 1-2: All recreation centers are closed for the holidays.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Rentals are available for $12/day at Como Park Ski Center, Battle Creek Recreation Center, Highland National Golf Course and Tamarack Nature Center. Cross-country ski, downhill ski, and snowboard lessons are available at Como Park Ski Center

For more information, visit stpaul.gov/xcountryski. 

North Dale Rec Center (1414 N. St. Albans)

• Tot Time ages 1w-6 - Mondays & Wednesdays thru Dec. 28 - Free
• New January Ice Skating Lessons - $50*
• Tuesdays ages 3-5, Tuesdays ages 6-12
• Saturdays ages 3-5, Saturdays ages 6-12
• Cribbage ages 18+ - Mondays starting Jan. 9 - Free
• Big Machines Art ages 18mo-4 - Weds starting Jan. 18 - $65*
• Cooking With Dala ages 8+ - Wednesday, Jan. 18 - $15*
• New Dungeon Adventures ages 8-12 - Wednesdays starting Jan. 25 - $115*
• Como Blizard Breakfast w/ D10! - Saturday, Feb. 4, 10-Noon - Free
• School Year Rec Check 1st-5th Grade - Weekdays thru June 14 - Free*

Northwest Como Rec Center (1550 N. Hamline)

• Coding Club ages 8-14 - Thursdays in February - $60*
• Artist Workshop ages 8-12 - Tuesdays starting Feb. 21 - $60*
• Artist Workshop ages 5-8 - Wednesdays starting Feb. 22 - $60*
• Men's Open Soccer ages 18+ - Thursdays thru Mar. 30 - $3

*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.

Winter Warming Spaces  

Ramsey County staff is operating three warming spaces in Saint Paul from 9:30pm-6:30am every night, with transportation included. Learn more at ramseycounty.us/WarmingSpaces.

• Union Gospel Mission, 435 University Ave E. 
• Phalen Activity Center, 1530 Phalen Dr. 
• Newell Park Building, 900 Fairview Ave N. (youth and families)

If you are in need of, or would like to refer someone to a warm space to sleep at night, call 651-266-1050 or email ColdWeatherReferrals@ramseycounty.us.

HomeHelpMN Resources for Homeowners

If you are behind on your mortgage or worried about foreclosure due to the pandemic, HomeHelpMN from Minnesota Housing may be able to help. Visit homehelpmn.org or call 1-800-388-3226 to apply for financial assistance.

Homeowners may be eligible for up to $50,000.

Financial assistance can be used for past-due eligible housing expenses, including:

• Mortgage and/or Contract for Deed payments
• Property Taxes
• Homeowner and Condominium Association payments, and Cooperative fees or common charges
• Manufactured and mobile home loans and/or lot rent payments
• Ground Rent/Lease and Tribal Trust Land Lease payments
• Homeowner’s insurance including hazard, flood, wind and/or mortgage insurance payments

Applications will be accepted as long as funds are available.

Minnesota Housing hosted a webinar on the HomeHelpMN program last week. It included information on eligibility requirements and how to apply. Watch the HomeHelpMN webinar.

There is also a downloadable toolkit available with additional materials including posters, social media images and messaging and flyers, with materials in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.

Hamline Midway Library Update

Saint Paul Public Library is currently finalizing the furniture and finishings as well as construction documents for the final design and floor plan that was shared with the community in October. Work is also underway to identify the construction partner, construction timeline, and service options for library users when Hamline Midway is closed for construction.

As you may know, a community member has nominated Hamline Midway Library to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Minnesota’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has forwarded the nomination on for consideration by the National Park Service (NPS), the federal agency that oversees the Register. The NPS is currently soliciting electronic comments before December 30, 2022. Please visit this link for more information on providing public comment for Hamline Midway Library (listed as “Henry Hale Memorial Library, Hamline Branch”).

A Snow Emergency for Saint Paul is in effect...again

Saint Paul declared another snow emergency on Wednesday this week. By now all Night at Day Plow routes have taken effect but we're including the full information from the announcement below in case anyone is curious about the timing.

Beginning at 9 p.m. Wednesday, 12/21/2022, all NIGHT PLOW ROUTES will be plowed. Do not park on Night Plow Routes, which include downtown and all streets with signs posted "NIGHT PLOW ROUTE" and "NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET."

Beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, 12/22/2022, all DAY PLOW ROUTES will be plowed. Do not park on Day Plow Routes. Day Plow Routes are not marked by signs. If there are no “Night Plow" signs posted within the block, then consider it a Day Plow Route.

Vehicles which are not moved from Day Plow Routes by 8 a.m. at 12/22/2022, will be ticketed and towed.

Always follow all posted street signs. Do not park vehicles where signs indicate "No Parking." A Snow Emergency lasts 96 hours, or until December 25, 2022 at 9 p.m. To avoid a ticket or tow, do not park in areas where streets are not plowed to the curb.

• EMERGENCIA POR NEVADA DECLARADA en St. Paul 12/15/2022 Rutas nocturnas de nieve comienza a 9 p.m. y rutas de dia 12/16/2022 a 8 a.m. stpaul.gov/snow
• DEGDEGGA BARAFKA QABOOBAHA St. Paul 12/15/2022. Xaaqidda jidka 9 p.m. Xaaqidda jidka maalintii 8 a.m. 12/16/2022. stpaul.gov/snow
• LOS XASNAUS KAMCEEV hauv St Paul rau 12/15/2022. Kaus yav tsausntuj pib 9 teev. Yav nruabhnub pib 8 teev 12/16/2022. stpaul.gov/snow

WINTER REMINDERS

• 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.
• Do not push snow out into the streets.
• 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)
• If you are able, please shovel hydrants out and clear snow and ice off storm drains to prevent street flooding.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Get updates about our current snow operations at stpaul.gov/snow.
• Learn where and when people can park their vehicles using Saint Paul’s NEW Snow Emergency Parking Map at stpaul.gov/snowemergencyparkingmap
• Visit stpaul.gov/snowFAQs for a list of snow-related frequently asked questions.

Have a Green Holiday with these tips from Ramsey County!

• Holiday greenery is not accepted at Ramsey County yard waste collection sites because of the likelihood of contamination from metal wires and decorations. Please place holiday greenery in the trash.
• Ramsey County yard waste sites still accept evergreen (holiday/Christmas) trees. They are mulched and later used as fuel to generate electricity. To find a yard waste site near you, visit RamseyRecycles.com/YardWaste.
• Green Holiday Gift Guide - This year, celebrate the people you love by giving memories they’ll treasure. Gifting experiences instead of packaged presents not only reduces waste, but also gives you meaningful time with the people you value.
• How to dispose of wrapping paper - Packages, boxes, bags, cards; The holidays can be filled with single-use items. Make sure you know how to properly dispose of them.
• Think reuse first - What can you use again before disposing? Save bows, gift bags and tissue paper that can be reused. Think of creative ways to package gifts that don’t require new materials.
• Holiday cards Cards and envelopes made of only paper should be placed in the curbside recycling bin or your apartment’s recycling collection. Cards with foil, glitter, ribbons or velvet are not recyclable and should be placed in the trash. Cards that light up or play music do not belong in the trash because they contain batteries. Bring them to the year-round household hazardous waste collection site for free.
• Wrapping paper Put wrapping paper in the trash. Do not put it in your recycling bin because it does not sort easily at the recycling facility and may contain materials that cannot be recycled.

Find disposal options for other items, including cardboard boxes, real and artificial trees and string lights on our Ramsey County's A to Z Recycling & Disposal Guide? Call their Recycling & Disposal hotline at 651-633-3279 or send a message.

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:

• Shovel first. Clear snow off walkways before it can turn to ice. 
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.