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FREE Youth Sports Registration- Last Chance for Summer Sign-Up!!! | |
Youth summer t-ball, machine pitch, softball, baseball, and lacrosse clinic registration runs March 1-April 9. Register online, in-person, or over the phone by calling any recreation center. Registration deadline has been extended until April 9th.
Registration fees have been eliminated for youth sports 10U and up (ages 9+) and for all lacrosse offerings at all recreation center sites. Please note that fees apply for ages 4U, 6U and 8U machine pitch, but those registered participants will receive a free glove, courtesy of the Minnesota Twins!
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Join the D10 Como Community Council Board
Several seats are up for election in April to the District 10 Como Community Council board.
It is highly recommended that you join us at some monthly meetings, which are always open to all community members, before making the decision to commit to a board position.
These positions serve two-year terms, through April 2025. To get on the ballot, fill out an application at District10ComoPark.org/Elections. That’s where you can also learn more about the roles and opportunities of board members. The filing deadline is Sunday April 1. The election ends April 15. If you have any questions or would like to know more about being a board member you can reach out to district10@district10comopark.org.
Request a Ballot for the D10 Election
Ballots for the April election can be requested on our election page (ballots won't be created and sent until after the candidate filing period has passed). Community members vote from home: either online or by returning a paper ballot through the mail.
The first step in voting is to request a ballot. To get your ballot, fill out a ballot request form. We’ll send ballots beginning Friday April 5.
Who is eligible to vote: Renters, homeowners, and other residents of District 10 who are at least 16 years old can vote. So can representatives from business, nonprofits, or other organizations with a physical presence in District 10.
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Spring Citywide Cleanup
Mark your calendars for the Spring Citywide Cleanup on Saturday, April 20 9-11:30am.
D10 is a site host again this year and we will be cleaning up Como Park with supplies available at the Lakeside Pavilion. More info on our website.
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Save The Date: Como Garage Sale May 16-19
D10 Como Community Council is once again coordinating a community sale weekend from Thursday, May 16 to Sunday the 19. If you would like to be included in our map, please fill out the Como Community Sale Form with your information before May 10.
We will be promoting this effort in our Weekly Newsletter, Facebook, and flyering some local community spaces, directing people to find the map on this page: District10ComoPark.org/GarageSale. You can also download and print this flier PDF to post in your community spaces.
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Egg Hunt and Holy Week at St. Timothy
St. Timothy Lutheran Church (1465 Victoria St. N.) will host an Easter Egg Hunt for Como families on Saturday, March 30 at 10:00am. The event will take place outside if weather allows, and move indoors if needed. Come and enjoy the fun! No RSVP is needed.
Join St. Timothy for Holy Week:
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Fri, Mar. 29 7pm - Good Friday
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Sat, Mar. 30 10am - Easter Egg Hunt for Como families
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Sun, Mar. 31 - Easter Sunday, 9:00am traditional,10:30am contemporary
All services available on livestream. For more information visit www.sttimothylutheran.org.
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Save the Date: Spring Seed Bee April 6
Sat. Apr. 6 10am-12:30pm @ Saint Paul Tool Library (1010 Dale St. N.)
Join us for "A Spring Seed Bee", the 3rd in the series of garden workshop events that are a collaboration of D10, the MN SEED Project, the Minnesota Tool Library (St. Paul), Lawns to Legumes, and the Saint Paullinators of South Como.
Stations will include:
- Soil Blocking
- Garden Tool Swap
- Seed Bomb Making
- Pollinator Resources
- Seed Library Share
- Paper Pots & Upcycled Containers
- Garden Buddies
To volunteer and share your garden enthusiasm sign up here.
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Opportunity to Take Action -
Proposed Legislation on Copper Wire Theft
If you attended the Tuesday community meeting on Copper Wire Theft, one item brought up was Proposed Legislation on any person buying or selling scrap copper metal. HF4461 / SF4455. We urge you to take a few minutes to read the proposed language and contact your legislator to state your opinion or position on it.
The bill requires any person who is buying or selling copper metal to have a license issued by the state. Persons licensed to perform electrical work are deemed to hold a license. Copper materials could still be recycled for free with scrap metal companies.
Street Lighting and Wire Theft
stpaul.gov/public-works/street-lighting
If you didn't attend the meeting, you can read about various steps the City has taken to slow or prevent wire theft (see Wire Theft FAQs on the webpage). No one practice or idea can stop all wire theft, but making it more difficult and less profitable will slow thefts.
Street lights are not the only place wire is being stolen from. Thieves have also vandalized traffic signals, EV charging stations, heating & cooling systems, and more from both businesses and private homes. If you see anything suspicious call 911.
Camera Watch
If you have a security camera such as a Ring doorbell or other system, consider joining Camera Watch. Register your camera location and coverage area. If an incident happens in the camera location, the SPPD may contact you to review the video to see if anything was captured by your system. This is completely voluntary. Read more about it at stpaul.gov/police/community-engagement-division/CameraWatch
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Lake Como Aquatic Plant Management
Following efforts by Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) and its partners, the native aquatic plant community in Lake Como is beginning to return following the dominance of an invasive aquatic plant called curly-leaf pondweed. Before control efforts began in 2020, curly-leaf pondweed had come to dominate 90% of the plant community in Como Lake. The population was greatly reduced after herbicide treatments in 2020 and 2021. However, the curly-leaf pondweed population rebounded in the lake in 2023, signaling the need for management in 2024.
On Thursday this week herbicide Fluridone was applied to Lake Como to target curly-leaf pondweed. Fluridone stops plants from making chlorophyll, so they are unable to photosynthesize.
Fluridone only affects plants that are already growing at the time of treatment, so the critically important native aquatic plants that start their growing season in late May will not be impacted. At low concentrations, fluridone has no contact restrictions and is safe for humans, pets, or wildlife. The water does not need to be avoided during treatment.
Learn more about Lake Como’s aquatic plants.
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Thursday Morning “Tot Time” in Como
St. Timothy Lutheran Church (1465 Victoria Street N.) is also piloting a “Tot Time” for 0-5 year olds and their care-givers Thursdays in April 10:00-11:30am, with Circle Time at 11:15am. This is a free, non-religious event open to people of all backgrounds. Enter through the glass doors on Nevada Ave. A nut-free snack for kids and coffee for adults will be provided.
Questions? Email Pastor Liesl at pastorliesl@sttimothylutheran.org or call 651-489-0336.
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Save the Date: St. Paul Art Crawl
The St. Paul Art Collective's (SPAC) Spring Art Crawl is coming up April 12-28 throughout the city, including right here in Como! You can find the full list of venues being assembled here on SPAC's website.
Como Locales include:
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Front Avenue Pottery Apr. 26-28 (895 Front Ave.)
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Mark Granlund Studio Apr. 26-28 (1022 Burgess St.) (6-9pm Fri, Noon-8pm Sat, Noon-5pm Sun)
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Art on the Porch Apr. 27-28, Noon-6pm (1410 Pascal St. N.)
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Como Artists and Dance Apr. 27, Noon-6pm @ Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy) Stay tuned for more details
Please let us know if we've missed anyone! Find all of the Art Crawl locations on the SPAC website.
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Monthly Blood Pressure Clinics
Love your heart! ComoConnects (Formerly Como Falcon Heights Block Nurse Program) offers four free/donation-based Blood Pressure Clinics each month.
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1st & 3rd Mondays 2-3:30pm at Arbor Pointe Apartments (635 Maryland Ave. W)
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2nd & 4th Mondays 2-3:30pm at Falcon Heights City Hall (2077 Larpenteur Ave. W.)
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1st & 3rd Wednesdays 10-11:30am at Hendrickson Apartments (1750 Larpenteur Ave. W.)
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
Youth Summer Sports registration is open. Youth sports are FREE at all rec centers for 10U and up!
Camp Como is back: 2024 camp offerings are now listed on their website. Scholarships are available.
North Dale Rec Center (9am-9pm Mon-Thu, 9am-6pm Fri)
Ongoing Drop-In Programming
Northwest Como Rec Center (2-9pm Mon-Thu, 2-6pm Fri)
*Registration Required
D10 finds this info here in the Parks and Rec registration system, you can often find events further in advance than we have room here in the newsletter for!
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
Sound Level Variance Application
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Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has requested a sound level variance, for 95 dBA at 50 feet from the sound source, for the 2024 PurpleStride event on Apr. 26 & 27 at 1199 Midway Pkwy – Como Midway Picnic Pavilion. The variance is requested for the pre-event sound check at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024 and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the event date, Saturday, April 27, 2024. A public hearing before the City Council on this variance request will be held on Apr. 3 @ 3:30pm. Comments can be made live or in advance by Noon on Apr. 2 to CouncilHearing@ci.stpaul.mn.us or 651-266-6805.
Upcoming License Renewals
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Gabes by the Park (991 Lexington Pkwy): Liquor, Gambling, and Entertainment licenses are up for renewal on May 5. Anyone with input should contact the Ward 5 City Council office: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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Essence Event Center (1217 Bandana Blvd): Liquor and Entertainment licenses are up for renewal on May 6. Anyone with input should contact the Ward 5 City Council office: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
*While license notifications serve as community reminders, feedback on a business license can be submitted at any time.
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Happy 75th, Falcon Heights!
On April 1, 1949, by a vote of 5 to 1, the citizens rejected petitioning either Roseville or St. Paul for annexation and chose instead to establish their own independent village government. The incorporation of the Village of Falcon Heights brought in all of the remaining unincorporated areas of Rose Township, including the State Fairgrounds, University of Minnesota Campus Golf Course, and Test Fields. In 1973, the Village of Falcon Heights became a city (that soars).
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New 1% "Common Cent" sales tax takes effect April 1
Beginning April 1, 2024, the City of Saint Paul will implement the 1% increase to the local sales and use tax.
In 2023, Saint Paul voters approved a 1% increase to the local option sales tax to be used for repairs and improvements to streets, bridges, parks, and recreational facilities within the city. The "Common Cent" tax will generate nearly $1 billion over 20 years, of which $738 million is earmarked for streets and $246 million for parks.
To remain consistent with the state, the sales tax will not include food, clothing, and other essential items.
For more information or to learn about the projects funded with the new sales tax, visit the city's Sales and Use Tax page.
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Saint Paul Parks and Rec System Plan
Parks and Rec has been working on a new system plan for the last couple years, using the City's Comprehensive Plan as a guide.
It's a long document, but much of the analysis and recommendations is summarized throughout with highlighted maps. Check it out here on the city website.
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Saint Paul Neighborhoods Walkability Survey
Last summer, D14 Macalester Groveland Community Council conducted a small survey to learn about people's walking habits and experiences. This week, they launched the 2024 survey, and hope to get responses from across Saint Paul. We encourage all our neighbors to take the survey.
The survey is short and anonymous: https://forms.gle/8KNABpoDajoTBLwH7
The goal is to collect some basic information on walking behaviors and needs, as such data is rare for most cities, including ours. This year they ask about slips, falls and (near) crashes. They have taken a multi-year, iterative approach, and hope to have a 2025 version next year.
The survey is currently open until May 10.
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Proposed 2024-25 Consolidated Plan - Annual Action Plan Review and Public Hearing
The community is invited to provide input to the City of Saint Paul on the draft 2024 Annual Action Plan during a public comment period from March 1 – April 1, 2024.
The plan describes the use of federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding received by the City for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grant programs totaling nearly $10 million in annual investments.
Comments can be provided via email, mail, voicemail, or at an in-person public hearing at Rondo Community Library on Wednesday, March 13 from 3 - 4 p.m. More information is available in the official notice below and at stpaul.gov/conplan.
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Workshops hosted by the St. Paul Police Department
Wednesday, March 27 at 6p.m.: Personal Safety
Learn about situational awareness at home, in the car, at work and in the community.
Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m.: Fraud and Identity Theft
Register here for these virtual classes.
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2024 STAR grant applications open Friday, April 5
Save the date! The 2024 grant applications for the City of Saint Paul’s Neighborhood STAR and Cultural STAR programs will open on Friday, April 5.
Neighborhood STAR grants fund capital projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods and Cultural STAR grants support arts and cultural organizations and events in Saint Paul.
Online applications for both programs will be due Wednesday, May 15 at 4 p.m.
Visit the program websites for more information on this year’s STAR programs. The 2024 guidelines and information on application workshops will be available in March.
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Ramsey County Environmental Resources
Free Mattress Recycling
Ramsey County is partnering with the City of Saint Paul, and Second Chance Recycling to offer mattress and box spring recycling collection to residents. Saint Paul residents and property managers can now request a curbside pick-up of mattresses, box springs, or metal bed frames at no additional cost.
There are two ways to schedule a mattress recycling pick-up, depending on what type of property you live in.
For more information about the mattress recycling collection program, please visit stpaul.gov/mattressrecycling.
Disposing of Shredded Documents
Ramsey County residents can shred confidential documents and recycle shredded paper at the Washington County Environmental Center for free. Shredded paper can also be put in the trash.
Shredded paper is not accepted in household recycling or food scraps collection.
Do you have a question about recycling and disposal and can’t find the answer in the A to Z Recycling & Disposal Guide? Call the County Recycling & Disposal hotline at 651-633-EASY (3279) or send Ramsey County Environmental Health a message.
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Recycling Works
When you recycle, you help keep valuable materials out of the landfill or incinerator. Paper, aluminum, glass, and plastics (#1, 2, and 5) are all accepted in the City of Saint Paul’s recycling program. To learn more about what can be recycled in Saint Paul, visit www.stpaul.gov/acceptedmaterials.
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Warming Space Locations and Hours
Ramsey County has opened winter warming spaces in Saint Paul for residents who are experiencing homelessness. Through the end of March 2024, the following locations will be open every night from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. On Jan. 1, the Saint Paul Opportunity Center warming space closed for the season.
Central Baptist Church
420 N. Roy St.
For families and youth ages 14-24
Saint Paul-Reformation Lutheran
100 N Oxford St.
For women only
Phalen Activity Center
1530 Phalen Drive
For men only
Union Gospel Mission
435 University Ave. E.
For adult men only
The free shuttle service will run from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day. Ramsey County housing services and support staff will also be answering calls and emails from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. to help refer people to available warming spaces or extra shelter beds. You can also find extreme cold and winter weather safety information here.
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More Community Resources
Tax Help
Prepare + Prosper offers free tax preparation, financial coaching, and helps people obtain banking access. Tax preparation is done by IRS-certified volunteers. Go to https://prepareandprosper.org/ to find details including what documents you need and to schedule a tax appointment, and locations and times.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides free tax assistance with several preparation options now through April 15. Tax-Aide locator is live and on-site Tax-Aide service will open in early February. Tax assistance is available by appointment and might be offered on a walk-in basis depending on the location. Access to the different types of taxpayer assistance varies in each locality. Visit the website aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.
Transit Assistance
The Transit Assistance Program (TAP) is designed to make public transit more affordable for people with lower incomes. TAP provides a year-long reduced fare pass on a Go-To Card. Customers can use a bus or train for just $1 per ride, even during rush hour, with a 2½ hour transfer. Signing up for the program is quick and easy. Do it straight from your computer or phone by uploading one of the pre-approved documents listed at https://www.metrotransit.org/tap-riders along with a copy of your I.D. They will mail you a Go-To Card with a full year of discounted rides.
For questions or translation help, call 612-373-3333.
Vehicle Repair Assistance
Heading Home Ramsey has provided some options for vehicle repair assistance for some people. For example, the car issue is preventing them from getting to work, which is preventing them from paying rent. If you are currently receiving assistance you may want to check with the organization or group assisting you to see if they have additional options.
See details: Vehicle Repair Assistance
Help with Energy Bills
Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program helps to pay those energy and water bills. You may apply online or in person. For more details go to the State of Minnesota website https://energy-assistance.web.commerce.state.mn.us/ or the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties (CAPRW) website at https://caprw.org/services/energy-assistance.html. The CAPRW site lists the St. Paul location, hours, and phone number to call for questions
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What's Happening At The Fairgrounds? | |
Saint Paul Osman Shrine Circus
DESCRIPTION
The annual 3-ring Shrine Circus returns to the State Fairgrounds in 2024 for their 100th anniversary. Their traditional circus features animals, aerialists, clowns, and other great attractions all at family friendly prices.
LOCATION
Warner Coliseum
HOURS - March 22-23
Friday: 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
ADMISSION
Reserved Seating: $20-$95
Children (2 years old & younger): Free
Visit website to view available discounts.
Tickets may be purchased online, at 1-800-8-CIRCUS or at the door.
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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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