|
|
Como Kindness: 2024 Thanksgiving Meals Fundraiser
| |
The Como Community Council is once again working to support isolated neighborhood seniors this Thanksgiving. So, in partnership with the North End Area Seniors (Formerly North End Area Seniors South Como Block Nurse Program), we have a goal of providing meals for 100 neighborhood seniors. How you can help is simple:
-
Make a financial donation. Every $12 you contribute buys one Thanksgiving meal: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, a roll and, of course, dessert.
-
Volunteer to deliver meals w/ Block Nurse Program. Reach out to Alaina Gall at alaina@nescbnp.org or 651-489-4067.
| | |
Half Way There: Join the 2024 Como CURB Cleanup
Through November 30, in front of your own home!
Como Community Council is again teamed up with the Capitol Region Watershed District for the Como Curb Cleanup. When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients into the water that flows into storm drains and the lake. There it becomes food for invasive algae.
Join 100+ neighbors in sweeping your curb once a week this fall to help keep Lake Como clean with this surprisingly effective effort.
Signing up to be an official participant helps us track results and helps (a lot) to support future efforts! You can also represent with a cool Curb Cleanup Lawn Sign if you register!
Ready for a full year commitment to your storm drain? Adopt-a-Drain.org is the place to go.
| |
Join Us Next Week
D10 Community Meeting - 1st Wednesdays - Nov. 6, 7pm
Hybrid on Zoom and @ NORTH DALE REC Rm. 210b (1414 St. Albans N.)
The first Wednesday of every month typically hosts our Environment and Neighborhood Relations committee topics for discussion and planning, as well as guest presentations related to those issues. Occasionally time sensitive Land Use and Board/Organizational items are included on the agenda as well.
Due to construction at the Streetcar Station, this meeting is being held at North Dale Rec Center Rm. 210b (1414 St. Albans St.)
Next week we are doing a deep-dive into our 2025 Community Events calendar. We've been carrying out our five-event schedule for 4 years now and they've grown more successful and well attended each year. Next week is an opportunity to regroup and assess as we take a look at the year ahead. If you're someone who has attended our events and/or wish you were more involved, this is a great chance to jump in! We will also take time for high-level ideas for 2025 Environmental events including our Lake Cleanups. Open to all, come join us!
| |
Learn about Biochar at Front Garden
The Saint Paullinators have partnered with U of M researchers to experiment with biochar in the suppression of weeds and soil quality at the Front Garden (765 Front Ave). The researchers will be sharing their experiment with other biochar enthusiasts on Friday, November 8th from 10-11am. Community members are welcome to come hear about their project.
| |
D10 Office Snafu
The Como Streetcar Station, where the D10 office is located, suffered water damage as the recent storms hit during a roofing project.
The wonderful staff at North Dale Rec (1414 St. Albans) have made accommodation for our Community meetings during construction.
The construction is supposed to wrap up by Monday, but we expect reassembly of our office to be a project in itself. We've restored limited ability to check our voicemail, but emailing info@district10comopark.org is recommended.
Election Note: Construction is wrapping up and the building will be open Tuesday for voting for those in the neighborhood who have it as their voting location. Also, there are finally bike racks on site again!
| |
Get Involved: Help Youth with 2025 Soap Box Derby
This is someone's lifelong dream volunteer opportunity. Saint Paul Parks and Rec is in the early planning stages for their 2025 Soap Box Derby.
Derby construction is tentatively scheduled for mid-March. The rec center will have materials and directions but are seeking volunteers to help 9-13 year-olds learn how to build. The rec centers will have staff assigned to guide the sessions and help with keeping kids on task.
The volunteer commitment would be approximately 1.5 hrs/wk for 6-8 weeks. A volunteer training will be scheduled where all the volunteers build a car together so they are familiar with the project. You don't need to be a master carpenter to volunteer, being comfortable with tools and having a willingness to pitch in is more than enough!
The race will be in late-May with participating St. Paul Rec Centers, and the top 3 teams will go on to compete with Minneapolis teams.
Questions? Interested Volunteers should reach out to ari.dahlager@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
| |
Abogados Fall Menu
Stop by Abogados Café to sip on the new cozy flavors of the season. From Aztec-style hot chocolate with spiced maize to warm apple "lawttes,"
Abogados Café owners Ofelia and Inti were recently featured on WCCO, watch it here. Also congrats to Inti for being featured in Twin Cities Business Magazine as one of the 2024 Notable Hispanic Leaders!!
| |
|
Karol Coffee
In other Como Coffee news, the latest Park Bugle featured a piece on Karol Coffee, which is going into the building at 1503 Hamline Ave. While owners Nate and Megan have pushed the opening of the inside space back to Mid-December, they've been serving from their Coffee Camper parked outside most days. Follow their instagram for the latest.
| |
Dock & Paddle Menu and Music Updates
Dock and Paddle at the Lakeside Pavilion has launched their new Winter Menu; they've kept some summer favorites and added some fall flair. Stop on in to try their house made meatloaf or grab some Butternut Squash Tacos.
They're also bringing back some of your favorite summer concerts and taking them inside. Dock and Paddle will have music inside the cafe on select Friday and Saturday nights starting Friday, November 15. They will have a complete listing of the concerts up on their website soon!
Dock and Paddle is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-7pm. They offer happy hour specials on food, beer, and wine daily from 3-5pm.
They also serve ice cream up in the cafe year-round now and serve Starbucks beverages.
| |
Learn more about the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 Reconstruction
Public Works will be reconstructing the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 neighborhood bounded by Como Boulevard, Grotto Street, Wheelock Parkway, and Arlington Avenue. The reconstruction project will include placement of concrete curb and gutter, storm sewer drains, sewer and water main pipelines, bituminous pavement, sodded boulevards, boulevard trees, street lighting, new sidewalks, ADA-compliant pedestrian crossings, concrete outwalks, and concrete driveway aprons.
Recorded presentations: Visit the project webpage at stpaul.gov/Wheelock-Grotto to watch recorded presentations on the street reconstruction and sidewalk work.
In-person and virtual meetings: Join in person or online at two separate community
meetings, November 7 and 12. There will be a short presentation at the beginning of the
meetings, as well as an opportunity to talk one-on-one with staff about construction-related
questions.
Virtual Meeting (via Microsoft Teams)
Thursday, November 7, 2024
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Call in (audio only): 612-315-7905; enter conference ID 124 662 288#
Join the virtual meeting (link to meeting online at stpaul.gov/Wheelock-Grotto)
In-person Community Meeting
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
North Dale Recreation Center
1414 St Albans Street North
Saint Paul, MN 55117
Sidewalk Details: The project will add sidewalks where none exist per City Council policy and replace sidewalks and add ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps where needed.
Use the detailed sidewalk layout map to view the proposed layout of new sidewalks and location of existing sidewalks in the Wheelock-Grotto Phase 1 area.
For more information about Phase 1 visit, stpaul.gov/Wheelock-Grotto
For more information about Phase 2, visit stpaul.gov/Wheelock-Grotto2
| |
Holiday Market Season Begins
Holiday Fair Trade Market @ New Life Presbyterian (965 Larpenteur Ave. W.)
Sat, Nov. 2, 9am-4pm & Sun, Nov. 3, 11am-2pm
There will be 20 vendors selling fair trade items such as clothing, jewelry, home decor, wild rice, honey, beeswax products, greeting cards, holiday ornaments, coffee, chocolate, baskets, fashion accessories, spices, and more. The proceeds from this sale go to the vendors; it’s not a fundraiser for the church.
You can find more information on the Holiday Fair Trade Market Facebook page.
We know there are lots of artists and crafters in Como, please share any holiday markets in the area you're hosting/participating in, we'd love to feature you in the newsletter!
| |
Como Lake Fall 2024 Updates from CRWD
This past spring, Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) shared that Como Lake had the best water quality on record in 2023. Better water quality means fewer algae blooms, less odor, better wildlife habitat, and an overall ecologically healthier Como Lake.
Over the summer and fall, CRWD continued working to improve the lake. This included projects to
- understand the age of the common carp in Como Lake
- manage invasive curly-leaf pondweed and hybrid watermilfoil
- restore the native aquatic plant community and the lakeshore
- conduct lake monitoring to evaluate progress
Visit the CRWD website to learn more about the projects and other updates, including
CRWD is also asking community members to weigh in on Managing Chloride Pollution before Nov. 13
| |
Como Parks & Rec Programming
Fall Activity registration is OPEN
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.
| |
Neighborhood Notes
Upcoming License Renewals*
-
Speedway (950 Lexington Pkwy): Malt Off Sale and Gas Station Licenses are up for renewal Dec. 1. 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.
| |
Fall Street Sweeping
Saint Paul Public Works began its annual Fall Street Sweeping last week. Here are some reminders to help make the effort more effective:
-
Do not push any materials, including leaves, grass, or debris into the street. City ordinances do not allow anyone to put anything in the streets. Please properly bag and dispose of any leaves, dirt, and grass clippings. Residents can take materials to Ramsey County compost sites, use their yard waste services, or if the resident is part of the Citywide Garbage Service, they can put out compostable yard waste bags with their garbage service to be collected at $3 per bag.
-
Move vehicles and follow all posted “No Parking” signs. The city will post temporary “No Parking” signs 24 hours in advance of sweeping operations. Vehicles parked in areas with “No Parking” signs could be ticketed and towed.
-
Do not put garbage or recycling carts in the street. Please make sure carts are only placed on the boulevard, not the street.
-
Adopt A Drain. Residents can help protect our waterways by adopting a storm drain (or two) in the neighborhood, and keeping it free of debris, snow, and ice in the coming months. Learn more at www.stpaul.gov/adoptadrain.
About Street Sweeping
Street sweeping is an important city service that removes garbage and organic debris, such as leaves, dirt, and grass clippings from entering our storm sewer system. This helps protect the city’s system, as well as prevents excess debris from getting into and polluting our streams, lakes, and river. Read more here on the city's website, including an interactive map that has the full schedule.
| |
Como Lake Storm Sewer Repair Project
The storm sewer project that closed the trail and Nagasaki Rd. on the south side of the lake for a few weeks is scheduled to continue in the coming weeks.
According to the latest information D10 has received, work is proceeding now between the Lakeside Pavilion and the duck point parking lot, and next week (11/4) crews will be working between the duck point parking lot and the Victoria/Wheelock/Maryland/etc intersection.
The City hasn't shared any specifics on the what road/trail detours we might expect, but expect signs to be posted.
Check the Project Webpage for updates and more information.
| |
Election 2024
Register to vote or update your registration. You may register online or in person. The pre-registration deadline in Minnesota is 21 days before the election.
Voting for the general election began on Sept. 20. You may vote by absentee ballot, or in person on or before election day.
Find information on the Ramsey County website ramseycounty.us/residents/elections-voting.
Additional Locations Open for In-person Absentee Voting
Four additional in-person absentee voting locations are open for Ramsey County voters to cast their ballot for the 2024 general election prior to Election Day.
Anyone eligible to vote in Ramsey County may cast their ballot at any location, regardless of their home address. The additional locations include:
In-person voting will continue to be available at Ramsey County Elections Office - Plato Building and Maplewood City Hall (City of Maplewood voters ONLY)
View a list of current locations and hours
View a current wait time map of absentee voting locations
| |
Community Participation Requested
MnDOT District Freight Plan Input
Calling all Twin Cities residents and businesses! Have you seen any issues with deliveries or issues with trucks in your area? Participate in the Metro District Freight Plan's community comment map to help MnDOT improve freight mobility, access, reliability, and connections in the Twin Cities.
Feel like you don't know anything about freight plans? MnDOT says they're specifically looking to engage with people who don't normally weight in on things like this. Como is bisected and bordered by railroads, tell MnDOT how that affects you.
Freight topics that you can comment on include Safety, Roadway condition, Roadway congestion/truck bottlenecks, Railroad tracks, crossings, railyards, Ports or waterway needs, Truck parking, Air quality, Noise, Airports & cargo planes, Other.
Share your feedback at talk.dot.state.mn.us/metro-district-freight-plan by Dec. 16.
Help Shape Capitol Region Watershed District’s Chloride Management Plan!
Capitol Region Watershed District is developing a Chloride Management Plan to guide their work in reducing salt use in the winter and protecting our water bodies, natural resources, and infrastructure from chloride pollution. While salt melts ice and helps keep us safe on roadways, sidewalks, etc. in the winter, the chloride in salt harms pets and wildlife, pollutes groundwater and lakes, and damages buildings, cars, and roadways.
Capitol Region Watershed District needs YOUR help to understand your level of concern for the negative impacts of using salt in the winter, and what you think should be done to reduce salt use. To help, please complete this two-minute survey found on the bottom of the following website by Wednesday, November 13: https://www.capitolregionwd.org/projects/managing-chloride-pollution/.
The results from this survey will help guide the development of the Watershed District’s Chloride Management Plan and ultimately help reduce the impact of chloride pollution in our watershed.
Feedback sought on Metro Transit plan
Metro Transit is seeking your feedback on Network Now, a plan designed to grow ridership, expand job access, and better meet the region's changing mobility needs.
They want to hear from you:
Comment now through November 15. Your feedback will help ensure they’re on the right track and determine what to focus on first. They will make the final changes in phases, depending on workforce hiring and retention.
Last Chance - Saint Paul ADA Transition Plan Survey
Saint Paul Public Works' Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan will outline how the city will prioritize investments in infrastructure and accessibility upgrades to improve access for all. Share your opinions and priorities through an online survey through November 3. Take the Survey.
| |
St. Paul PHA's Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List Opening
The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) will be opening the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 waiting list next month! Applications will be accepted at www.waitlistcheck.com/stpaul from Wed, Nov. 13 8am through Tue, Nov. 19 at 11:59pm. Applicants can apply online 24 hours a day using a computer, tablet or smartphone, including free computers at public libraries.
1,200 applicants will be placed on the waiting list via a lottery selection with the goal of serving these households within one to two years, resulting in more regular waiting list openings in the future.
The PHA currently serves over 10,000 St. Paul residents in the HCV Program. The HCV waitlist opening will allow the PHA to continue helping families and individuals with low incomes achieve greater stability and self-reliance by providing safe, affordable, quality housing and links to community services.
Learn more about the PHA’s programs by visiting www.stpha.org.
| |
2025 City Budget
Mayor's 2025 City Budget Proposal
The Mayor recently delivered his 2025 Budget Address, announcing his proposed budget for the upcoming year.
Mayor Carter’s budget totals $855 million, with a general fund budget increase of $24.5 million and a property tax levy increase of 7.9%, totaling an increase of about $11 per month on a median-value home.
LINKS TO THE 2025 BUDGET ADDRESS AND PROPOSAL
View the Mayor’s Budget Address, along with the full text of the address as prepared for delivery, full budget proposal documents, and highlight materials here.
ABOUT THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL BUDGET PROCESS
Following the Mayor's delivery of the 2025 Budget Proposal, the City Council has been meeting with department leaders to review the Mayor’s proposed budget. As required by state law, the City Council set the maximum property tax levy in September. Budgets may be adjusted, but they cannot exceed the maximum tax levy.
Before the end of the year, the City Council holds hearings on the budget and votes to adopt a 2025 budget and tax levy for the city. While the budget may represent changes made by the City Council to the Mayor’s proposed budget, the Mayor has line-item veto authority over the Council-adopted budget.
| |
Domestic Violence Support & Resources
No one ever thinks that they will fall victim to domestic abuse until it happens. That is why it is so important to be able to find support and assistance quickly.
Note: many of these websites have "quick exit" links and instructions on how to clear the site from your browser history.
| |
How do I dispose of broken string lights?
Non-LED string lights may be placed in the trash. LED string lights cannot go in the trash because they contain printed circuit boards and are considered hazardous. Bring LED string lights to a household hazardous waste collection site for free.
Do you have a question about recycling and disposal and can’t find the answer in Ramsey County's A to Z Green Guide? Call their Recycling & Disposal hotline at 651-633-EASY (3279) or send a message.
| |
What's Happening at the Fairgrounds | |
Have something you'd like us to consider sharing in our newsletter? Email us at district10@district10comopark.org | |  |
|
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!
| | |
Please note that this newsletter aims to inform and publicize local events and activities in our community. The inclusion of any event or activity does not imply endorsement by the District 10 Como Community Council. | | | | |
