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Know Your Como: The Mystery of the Como Park Memorial Benches
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By Sonjie Johnson
If you walk or run Como Lake regularly, sooner or later you will sit on one of the 40+ benches. If you’re a curious person, you might notice an inscription plaque at the side.
Whether in cemeteries or beside park benches, memorials for those we’ve lost tell a story, the best kind of story, one that spins forward into the viewer’s imagination. The plaque beside bench 4 (south from the pavilion) is a great example.
The story of a young loss and clearly beloved.
Over the months, I read every plaque at Como Lake, and I wanted to know more. When and which one was the first memorial placed? How many are there? Easy Google find, right? Not so. Thus, began a (so far) three-year search for the answers. Read more...
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VOTING OPEN: Request a Ballot for the D10 Election
Ballots for the April election can be requested on our election page (ballots started being sent out this week). 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. Votes must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, April 15.
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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Join Us Next Week
D10 Como Social - Wednesday - Apr. 10, 6pm
@ Half-Time Rec (1013 Front Ave.)

The Como Community Council is putting down the gavel once a month for a social gathering. This agenda-free meet-up will vary in time and location, but will generally happen between our two monthly meetings on the second Wednesday each month. You will find the details here in the newsletter or on our website.
These events are open to all. They provide an opportunity for D10 regulars, veterans, and newcomers to get to know one another outside our formal meetings. No board business is conducted at these meet-ups.
Join us Wednesday, Apr. 10, 6pm at Half-Time Rec (1013 Front Ave.), our table(s) will be identified with the D10 logo marker adjacent to this text. Come say hi!
Questions? Email district10@district10comopark.org
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Get Involved: Annual Regional Parks Spring Cleanup on April 22
D10 Como Park is co-hosting the Como Park portion of the city’s Regional Parks Clean-up Day.
When: Saturday, April 20 from 9am-11:30am
What: Individuals and groups of all ages come together to pick up litter that has recently become exposed due to the melting snow.
How: Participating is easy! Drop by the pavilion around 9am on April 22 to check in and pick up bags and gloves.
Where (Como Park): Look for our table near the Como Lake Pavilion to sign-in and pick-up some supplies.
More Como Cleanup opportunities on our website.
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Sign up: 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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Saturday: 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.
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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.
Neighborhood Locales include:
Please let us know if we've missed anyone! Find all of the Art Crawl locations on the SPAC website.
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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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Como Park Long-Range Plan Public Comment Period
The official public comment period for the Como Regional Park Long-Range Plan document began Monday, March 25 and goes through Friday, April 26. The 90% DRAFT document is posted online at the Engage Saint Paul website, where there is a link for public comments.
The Como Regional Park Long-Range Plan is a conceptual planning document that provides a framework to guide future growth, development, and maintenance of Como Regional Park. The purpose of the LRP is to serve as an update to the previous Como Regional Park Planning document developed in 1984. The primary focus of the update is to improve the existing connections between the trails around Como Lake to Saint Paul's city-wide Grand Round trail network. A secondary focus of the plan update is to improve accessibility, wayfinding, safety features, and to Identify and prioritize additional amenities for future inclusion within Como Regional Park.
The list of projects included in the survey was based on recommendations from the Design Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, targeted community outreach efforts, and the current and anticipated Saint Paul Staff needs. The responses from this survey will be used in combination with priorities identified by City staff, funding opportunities, and regulatory requirements to guide development at Como Regional Park in the coming decades.
More Como Regional Park Projects
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Thank You From Como Park Lutheran
On Sunday, March 17, Como Park Lutheran Church (CPLC) hosted our fourth Neighborhood Food Drive for the March FoodShare Campaign benefiting Keystone Community Services.
Together, with our Como Park and Falcon Heights neighbors, we collected 2,030 pounds of food and $2,400 in donations to help stock Keystone’s food shelves. All of the money raised will be included in Keystone’s March fundraising totals; which will allow Keystone to receive additional corporate dollars via the MN FoodShare Food Fund.
Thank you, friends, neighbors, and volunteers from CPLC and Como Connects for your generosity in making this our largest food collection since March of 2021. And, special thanks to the Como Community Seed Library for providing garden seeds, and Thrivent Financial Services for helping with refreshments and promotional expenses.
Together, we continue to foster a culture of generosity for our neighborhood.
With gratitude -
Sue Brogger (Hunger Ministries Coordinator) and Volunteers
Como Park Lutheran
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
Youth Summer Camps and Activities registration is now open.
Registration for all summer sports has been extended through April 9.
*Train Like a Hero ages 6+ @ McMurray Fields May 11 - $10*
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
Upcoming License Renewals*
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Como Lakeside Pavilion (1360 Lexington Pkwy): Liquor and Entertainment licenses are up for renewal June 4. 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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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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2024 STAR grant applications opened Friday, April 5
The 2024 grant applications for the City of Saint Paul’s Neighborhood STAR and Cultural STAR programs are now open!
Neighborhood STAR grants fund capital projects in Saint Paul neighborhoods and Cultural STAR grants support arts and cultural organizations and events in Saint Paul.
A virtual applicant workshop will be held via Teams on Wed, April 10 for Neighborhood STAR and Thurs, April 11 for Cultural STAR. Find more info in the links above.
Online applications for both programs will be due Wednesday, May 15 at 4 p.m.
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New 1% "Common Cent" sales tax
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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Public Hearing on Saint Paul Bicycle Plan
The Saint Paul City Council will hold a public hearing on the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan update. The updated draft plan (dated February 23, 2024) and more information can be viewed at www.stpaul.gov/bikeplan.
The public hearing will be held before the City Council on:
Wednesday April 17, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers, City Hall, Room 300
15 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102
All comments concerning the proposed code amendments will be heard at this hearing. In-person testimony will be accepted. Comments can be submitted in writing. View the full notice.
Comments submitted in writing should be sent via email to Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us or via mail addressed to:
Office of the City Council
310 City Hall
15 Kellogg Blvd. West
Saint Paul, MN 55102
For questions, contact Jimmy Shoemaker at 651-266-6204 or jimmy.shoemaker@ci.stpaul.mn.us. The contact information is also at the bottom of the Bike Plan webpage.
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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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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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Apartment Recycling
Calling all apartment residents and managers! Reach out to the City of Saint Paul for resources and help setting up a successful recycling program in your apartment building. Resources include recycling posters, resident hand-outs, on-site assistance, and more. Find more information at www.stpaul.gov/apartmentrecycling.
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What's Happening At The Fairgrounds? | |
GSTA Rod & Custom Spectacular Car Show
DESCRIPTION
66th Annual Rod & Custom Spectacular Car Show
LOCATION
Warner Coliseum
HOURS - April 6 & 7
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ADMISSION
Adults (16 and over): $18
Children (6-15): $7
Children (5 and younger): Free
Discount tickets available on GSTA website
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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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