December 31, 2021 | Friday

Seeking 2021 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 13. The Como Community Council board will then select three of the nominees to recognize for 2021.

Blackhawks Soccer Club applies for Variance Request for Orchard Rec Make-Over

The Blackhawks Soccer Club has utilized the Orchard Recreation Center (875 Orchard Ave) as its primary facility for over a decade and recently renewed their lease with a 5-year term. The club has made a number of improvements to the building, including the existing exterior paintwork that was completed late in the summer of 2021.

They use the facility for a number of purposes: training, games, indoor/futsal, restrooms, and meetings.

The variance request is in three pieces that they hope will all be approved for a full exterior branding refresh: the South Frontage (Pictured), the North Frontage, and a new freestanding sign on the East area of the grounds. You can find additional pictures and details in the link below.

If you would like to share support or concerns about the variance request you can email district10@district10comopark.org or come to the Land Use Committee next Wednesday at 7pm (Zoom details in link).

Como Parks & Rec Programming Update

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

Ice Skating Lessons, Tuesdays beginning January 4:

• Ages 3-5 (Registration Required) - $50
• Ages 6-12 (Registration Required) - $50

Chess & Strategy Games, Thursdays beginning January 27

• Registration Required - $70

Musical Theatre at both North Dale and Northwest Como

North Dale ages 10-14 - Tuesdays beginning January 25

• Registration Required - $110

Northwest Como (1550 N. Hamline) ages 6-10 - Thursdays beginning January 27

• Registration Required - $110

I Spy Evergreens: A Scavenger Hunt

Little wooden Evergreen Trees have been hidden in the parks. Adventure through Saint Paul parks (including Como) to find the hidden evergreen trees! When you find an evergreen, share a selfie using #StPEvergreenHunt - without giving away the location! Enjoy the outdoors and explore Saint Paul parks with this family-friendly, socially-distant, self-led activity: I Spy Evergreens: A Scavenger Hunt. 

Parks & Rec Holiday Reminders

• All recreation centers will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Please see their Holiday Hours page for more details. 
• Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is open 365 days a year. Reservations are required. 

City Further Amending Legislative Code to Combat Catalytic Converter Theft

In an attempt to curb the large increase in thefts, the city made a change to Legislative Code Section 280 in 2021 to restrict the sale of catalytic converters to bona fide repair garages and dealers.

Now Section 280 is back at the city council to add language further restricting even possession of catalytic converters without verification of a legal receipt or proof of compliance with state statue.

Comments can be submitted by emailing Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us (you can reference Ord 21-66).

City Shares Retirement Plans for Two City Leaders

Department of Safety & Inspections Director Ricardo Cervantes and Parks & Recreation Department Director Mike Hahm, who each have more than three decades of public service, will transition out of their respective leadership roles at the end of February 2022. 

Director Cervantes (DSI)

Director Ricardo Cervantes was first appointed in November of 2010 and reappointed in 2018 as the Director of Saint Paul’s Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI), which has eight divisions and more than 152 employees.

Ricardo is a native of Saint Paul and grew up on the City’s East Side. He is a graduate of Harding High School and Macalester College in Saint Paul with a degree in sociology and is a John J. McCloy Fellow. 

Director Hahm (Parks & Rec)

Mike Hahm is a lifelong Saint Paul resident and a dedicated career employee of the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department. Mike’s career began more than 35 years ago as a recreation center employee while he was finishing his business degree at the University of Saint Thomas.

For the past 24 years, Mike has served on the senior Parks and Recreation management team holding a variety of positions including recreation services manager, special services manager and director of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. In 2008, Mike was appointed as Director of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation by former Mayor Chris Coleman. After a community-led hiring process, Mike was reappointed as Director by Mayor Melvin Carter in December 2017. 

Both will retire at the end of February 2022.

More sidewalk salt info from our friends at Capitol Region Watershed District: While salt reduces ice and helps keep us safe, it also harms pets and wildlife, pollutes lakes and the Mississippi River, and corrodes buildings, cars and bridges. It takes just one teaspoon of salt to pollute five gallons of water.

You can be part of the solution:

1. Shovel (or Scrape) - Clear driveways and sidewalks so less salt is needed.
2. Select - Use sand when it's below 15 degrees. Pavement needs to be above 15 degrees for salt to melt ice.
3. Scatter - A 12-ounce coffee cup holds enough salt to cover a 20 foot driveway or 10 sidewalk squares. Scatter salt grains 3" apart.
4. Save - Clean up leftover salt and sand. Reuse as needed.

Try chicken or traction grit for icy surfaces. It provides better traction than sand and is easier to clean up. Find it at hardware stores and farm/home centers.

Holiday Disposal Options

Holiday Tree Collection Next Week

One live holiday tree is included in the Citywide Collection program between January 2nd and 15th each year. You do not need to call your hauler to schedule collection during this time period. Place your tree next to your garbage cart on your regular collection day. 

Artificial trees and live trees exceeding 6' and 20 pounds are not included, but may qualify for a bulky item pick-up or be collected for an additional fee if all bulky items have been used for the year. Contact your hauler for more information and to schedule pick-up.

Prepare your Tree for Collection

• Remove all decorations and stand. Holiday lights can be recycled at local Saint Paul public libraries through January 20, 2021 (location list).
• Place the tree next to the garbage cart. Do not place upright in the snow or lean against your cart.  Make sure the tree is not obstructing your carts.
• Limit 1 seasonal tree per household (1 tree per unit for multi-unit properties).

You can also bring your holiday tree to a Ramsey County yard waste site for free. Click here to view collection site hours and locations. 

Holiday Greenery

Holiday greenery refers to evergreen décor, like wreaths, swags, boughs and garland.

Unlike holiday trees, 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.

To limit the spread of potential invasive pests like elongate hemlock scale (EHS) and Lymantria dispar (formerly known as gypsy moth), you should dispose of holiday greenery in a timely manner and follow these instructions:

• Put holiday greenery in a plastic bag and place it in your trash. Do not burn holiday greenery.
• Do not leave holiday greenery out in your yard or backyard compost pile all winter. This increases the risk of the greenery either getting or spreading an invasive pest.
• Holiday/Christmas trees and greenery grown in Minnesota have not been found infested with EHS. However, EHS and Lymantria dispar have been found on trees imported to Minnesota.

To learn more, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website.

Special Holiday Recycling Options

Holiday Lights

You can recycle cords and string lights at Ramsey County’s Hazardous Waste Facility. Through January 20 you can also drop holiday lights and electrical cords at Saint Paul Libraries (Including Hamline/Midway) and a few other locations (including Como Zoo!). For details, visit Saint Paul Holiday Lights Recycling.

Wrapping Paper and Gift Bags

Most wrapping paper and gift bags are recyclable, but be careful! Wrapping paper with glitter or foil, as well as tissue paper, ribbons, and bows are not recyclable. Make sure that these types of wrapping paper are thrown in the trash.

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, through 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.

More Holiday Recycling Resources

Check out the A to Z Recycling & Disposal Guide for these seasonally popular items: Tissue paper, wrapping paper, holiday lights, holiday greenery, and greeting cards.

Winter Break Meal Program - Final Weekend

Everymeal.org expands food access to children and families during the winter months through community partnerships. A number of locations throughout the Twin Cities have Every Meal bags available during the winter months.

• What: Free shelf–stable meal bags with 4-5 pounds of good food including a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and entrees
• When: Available through January 3, 2022
• Where: St. Paul Midway YMCA (1761 University Ave. W.)
• Today, Dec. 31: 5am-4pm, Sat-Sun: 8am-5pm, Mon: 5am-9pm
• Roseville Fire Department (1140 Woodhill Dr.)
• Daily, 24hrs in the entry vestibule
• More Locations
• How: Simply go to the front desk and ask for a meal bag. There are no qualification requirements and no contact information is collected.

NOTE: YMCA locations are open to the public. You do NOT need to be a member of the YMCA to receive food. You do NOT need to provide contact information at any location. 

Rent Assistance Through RentHelpMN

RentHelpMN is still accepting applications, and is still processing Phase 1 for households who owe past-due rent. Visit renthelpmn.org or call 211. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available 8 am – 8 pm. Monday through Saturday.

• There is no deadline to apply and funds are still available. Renters can request assistance for rent and utility expenses. (Note: no questions are asked about citizenship or document status).
• Clients denied assistance from RentHelpMN can call The Housing Justice Center, (612) 807-1139. (or email beth.kelly@vlnmn.org). 
• Eviction protections: Applying for RentHelpMN can protect you from being evicted for non-payment of rent, but if you receive an eviction notice, you are still required to respond and to show up in court. Learn more at HOMElinemn.org
• For additional details and questions go to: https://www.renthelpmn.org/learn-more.

Assistance for a Prior Dwelling:

RentHelpMN now accepts requests for past-due rent for housing that a renter no longer lives in. This process is driven by the renter who must complete the request, and the property manager must also confirm the request. The purpose is to clear debts that may prevent them from obtaining future housing. Any assistance received for a prior unit is counted toward their 18-month limit.

• If an applicant submitted an application while still residing in the unit and afterwards vacated the unit or was evicted, they must reapply. 
• See frequently asked questions by downloading the PDF.