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2024 Como Curb Cleanup: REPORT and Win!
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Thank you for participating in our 2024 curb-cleaning efforts, we had over 75 households sign up to participate and we loved seeing the signs out in the neighborhood! Now we need everyone to take just another minute to fill out our brief reporting form.
New in 2024: Everyone who reports their curb cleaning before December 16 will be entered into a raffle to win gift cards for Abogados Café, Karol Coffee Co., or their very own genuine officially certified Lake Cleanup Trash-Grabber autographed by Senior Como Cleanup Coordinator, lawn sign courier, and D10 Rock & Roll Correspondent Mike Ireland.
Did you participate in curb cleaning but didn't sign up? You can still report your efforts for our community totals!
When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients into the water that flows into storm drains and the lake. There it becomes food that fuels algae overgrowth. Your efforts to reduce this nutrient flow has a huge impact! Como Community Council partnered with Capitol Region Watershed District on this year's Como Curb Cleanup.
Tracking results helps us a lot with supporting future efforts! Once we've collected the data we'll share the result in the D10 Newsletter a well on the D10 website.
| Develop a Taste for Curb Cleaning? Consider joining Adopt-A-Drain and keep your favorite storm drain cleared all year long! Further Reading: Connecting Streets to Lakes: The Hidden Path to Water Pollution | | |
Know Your Como: Every Picture Tells A Story
By Sonjie Johnson
“It’s not what you look at, it’s what you see,*” is one of Megan Hoffman’s favorite expressions.
A skilled photographer, water color artist and family folklore recorder who uses photography to tell stories, Megan is currently offering a holiday card collection. A native of Wisconsin, Megan attended Concordia University in St. Paul and came to love the Twin Cities. She has been a part of the neighborhood since purchasing her home in 2016, later joined by her partner after they were married in 2019. Read more...
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Join Us Next Week
D10 Como Social - Wednesday - Dec. 11, 6pm
@ Half-Time Rec (1013 Front Ave.)
Fall/Winter Season
The Como Community Council is putting down the gavel once a month for a social gathering. This agenda-free meet-up happens between our two monthly meetings on the second Wednesday each month. You will find the details here in the newsletter or on our website.
Join us Wednesday 6pm at Half-Time Rec (1013 Front Ave.), our table(s) will be identified with the D10 logo marker adjacent to this text. We usually set up on the east side of the bar (by the dartboards). All are welcome join us!
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.
Questions? Email district10@district10comopark.org
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Get Involved: Como Coat Drive
As you head out (or stay in) to shop this weekend, consider adding a coat onto your list. The Como Community Council is again partnering with the International Institute of MN to help give New Minnesotans a warm welcome.
From December 1st-20th, we will be collecting NEW, thick winter coats of all sizes (small & medium preferred). In order to be the most helpful to our new neighbors, please check out the IIMN Coat Wishlist to see the types of coats they use the most.
Then, drop off your donation at one of the local businesses below:
View this information on our website.
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Give Blood in Como
Wed, Dec. 18, 9am-3pm @ Como Zoo
D10 Como Park partners with the American Red Cross and the Como Zoo & Conservatory to host community blood drives at the Zoo. Appointments are now available for our next event: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 9am-3pm. Space is limited, reservations required.
Please consider giving blood, with so many working from home, workplace blood drives have all but vanished, these community drives make a huge impact!
DONOR PROMOTION: Come give blood in December and get a NEW long sleeved Red Cross T shirt, (ltd. qty.)
If you’re interested in volunteering at the check-in table, you can sign-up for an opening on our volunteer schedule. Now updated with 2025 Dates. The drives are split into two shifts of two volunteers each, 9am to Noon and Noon to 3pm. It’s light work and a great way to connect with another neighbor.
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Como Park High School Theater
The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet
Sat, Dec 7 Noon & 7pm and Sun, Dec 8 2pm @ Como High School Auditorium
The Como High School Theater winter production is coming up. You can buy tickets at the door or online at: comoparkhs.brownpapertickets.com
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Como Conservatory’s Winter’s Blooming Wonderland
10am-4pm Thru January 1 @ Visitor Center's Porch
Step into the magic of the season at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s Winter’s Blooming Wonderland, a holiday exhibit that opened this week and runs through January 1, 2025!
Located on the Visitor Center’s Porch, Winter’s Blooming Wonderland is a celebration of the season, brimming with hundreds of vibrant poinsettias, lush ivy, begonias, snapdragons, bromeliads, ferns, Italian Cypress trees, and so much more. This one-of-a-kind display combines winter’s natural beauty with sparkling decorations and festive charm to create a cozy, enchanting experience perfect for all ages.
This special exhibit is a must-see as it’s only available this year! In 2025, the Sunken Garden will unveil exciting new accessibility enhancements, including ramps to ensure every guest can fully enjoy our seasonal flower shows.
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Seed Cleaning Events initiate Pollinator Pathways Grant
Three vibrant Saint Paul neighborhoods—Frogtown, Como, and Hamline Midway—are coming together to expand the urban pollinator corridor! Through private and public gardens, pocket prairies, and greenways, we’re creating spaces where pollinators thrive. Thanks to funding from a state Pollinator Pathways Grant, this initiative is making rewilding a reality.
The first community opportunities with this project are coming up in January. Join Great River Greening, Hamline Midway Environmental Committee and MN SEED to help clean and package community pollinator seed stock! This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide the tools and training required. Send an email to comms@hamlinemidway.org requesting to join the Bee Line News to get on the mailing list.
Seed Cleaning Dates and Registration Links (and more info):
Free Native Pollinator Seeds available!
It is free seed order time! Native pollinator plant seed packets are now available to residents in the Capitol Region Watershed District through The MN SEED Project. If you'd like some seeds to winter sow they are available at no cost! Check out the varieties of seeds available here and you can place and order using this link.
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Breakfast with Santa @ Dock & Paddle
🎅 Ho, ho, ho! Santa’s making a special stop at Dock & Paddle on December 15th from 8:30 -11:30 AM for a magical morning of holiday cheer, delicious food + cozy family fun! 🎄✨
Cheesy Scrambled Eggs
Sausage Links & Crispy Bacon Homestyle Breakfast Potatoes
French Toast topped with syrup + cinnamon whipped cream
Yogurt Bar
Assorted Pastries
🎄 After breakfast, bring the holiday magic to life! Kids can sit with Santa by a twinkling Christmas tree while they share their holiday wishes and parents can snap a festive photo!
$18.5/adults • $14/kids 4 -12 • FREE for kids 3 & under
Reservations required - limited seating!
🎄 Reserve your spot by visiting our website: dockandpaddle.com
Remember, Dock & Paddle has live music inside 6:30-8pm Friday & Saturday
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Como Parks & Rec Programming
New @ North Dale: Twin Cities Judo is a non-profit judo club based in Saint Paul, operating Mondays 6:30-8pm at North Dale and Wednesdays 6-8pm at Rice. Learning judo is a great way to improve physical fitness, confidence, discipline, self-defense, and have the opportunity to travel the country for competitions. They offer classes for both kids and adults training for high level competition or casual, recreational practice.
2025 Permit Lottery open until Dec. 18, 2024.
Due to the high demand for certain dates and locations, the lottery system is used to give all residents and Saint Paul businesses an equal opportunity to make reservations for in-demand picnic shelters and pavilions. For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov/parkpermits.
Registration winter activities, including ski and snowboard lessons for the 2024-25 season is open! Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels. Lessons are available to register online. Parks and Rec is also looking for Ski and snowboard instructors.
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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Half Time Rec (1013 Front Ave): Liquor, gambling, and entertainment licenses are up for renewal Feb. 20. Anyone with input should contact the Ward 5 City Council office: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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Ted’s Recreation (1084 Larpenteur Ave): Liquor & Entertainment licenses are up for renewal Jan 31. 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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Holiday Market Season
Check out the wide range of special events this holiday season, showcasing local makers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
We appreciate the above list, assembled by someone at the City, but know that COMO is full of artists and makers. Maybe you're even participating in one of the markets listed, let us know and we can feature YOU. Please email us to add your holiday market opportunities to this list: info@district10comopark.org.
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Truth in Taxation Public Hearing on Ramsey County’s Supplemental Budget
6pm Wed, Dec 11 @ Hallie Q. Brown Community Center (270 N. Kent St. - doors open at 5:30pm)
Ramsey County is hosting a meeting about the county’s proposed 2025 supplemental budget and property tax levy. It will be in-person only, but more information is available, and comments and feedback can be submitted here.
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Saint Paul Charter Commission Public Hearing on Administrative Citations
Thurs, Dec. 12 3pm @ City Hall Rm 41 (15 W Kellogg Blvd)
The Charter Commission is again exploring amending the city charter to give Saint Paul the ability to issue “administrative citations” for violations of some city ordinances. The citations would be an alternative to criminal citations.
Administrative citations could be used in situations such as unauthorized water or fire hydrant use; failure to abide by construction permit requirements; or businesses violating city minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, liquor, tobacco, or automotive requirements.
There is a public hearing Thurs, Dec. 12 3pm @ City Hall Rm 41 (15 W Kellogg Blvd)
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2025 City Budget
City council Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing
The city's annual Truth in Taxation Public Hearing was held on Monday, December 2 at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers (15 W. Kellogg Blvd).
You can view a recording of the hearing here.
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.
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Frogtown Green Neighbor Nights
First Thursdays (next Dec. 5) 5:30-7:30pm @ Frogtown Community Center (230 Como Ave) FREE
​Frogtown Green is starting a monthly gathering. Join neighbors and friends of Frogtown for a delicious free monthly supper.
Learn something new about how our neighborhood works. Share a skill.
Build community! Child care provided, interpreting available. For more information, contact Xiem@frogtowngreen.com.
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Help Public Works Get A Head-Start on Abandoned Vehicles
Public Works is partnering with the Police Department’s Parking Enforcement team for a new initiative to try to remove abandoned vehicles from the streets before the snow comes. As you may know, SPPD parking enforcement is the only group that can write citations for parking violations throughout the year. During Snow Emergencies – and only declared Snow Emergencies - Public Works has paid staff that can ticket vehicles that do not move according to the snow emergency parking rules. Unfortunately, the first couple snow emergencies spend a lot of staff time ticketing and towing abandoned vehicles. If they can get them off the streets now, that will help overall plowing efforts across the city.
Have you seen an abandoned vehicle in your neighborhood? Help report them before they're covered in snow.
Abandoned vehicles are cars, trucks, campers, or RVs that have been sitting on the street, unused or driven for over a week.
Help Public Works and the Police Department by reporting the make, model, and color of the vehicle on the form below.
Once the vehicle is reported the City will start the process of ticketing and potentially towing the vehicle. Not all reported vehicles may be ticketed or removed. To be removed by the City an abandoned vehicle must be ticketed by Saint Paul Police and then towed to a City owned impound lot. Report abandoned vehicles at https://forms.office.com/g/8f1iGH1d71.
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Save the Date: SPPS School Choice Fair on Dec. 14
Join Saint Paul Public Schools for the PreK-12 School Choice Fair on Sat, Dec. 14 9:30am-2pm @ Saint Paul RiverCentre. The School Choice Fair is a great opportunity for families applying to schools for the 2025-26 school year to meet the staff and learn more about our schools, programs and services. For more details, visit spps.org/apply.
SPPS Project REACH Toy Drive
Project REACH is seeking new toys and gifts for children ages birth through 18. The gifts will go to families experiencing homelessness in SPPS. Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at 1021 Marion Street or ordered online from the wish lists linked here. Items will be accepted now through Dec. 13.
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Community Participation Requested
St. Paul HUD Consolidated Plan
The City of Saint Paul is in the process of gathering community input for the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.
Each year, Saint Paul receives about $8 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Consolidated Plan identifies priorities for how to use these funds to address housing, economic development, public facilities and infrastructure, and public service needs.
The Consolidated Plan helps local jurisdictions assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and make data-driven, place-based investment decisions.
Visit engagestpaul.org/conplan to learn more about the process and share your feedback through the online survey (available in English, Hmong, Karen, Spanish, and Somali) thru Dec. 30.
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.
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 30. Take the Survey.
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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.
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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.
Libraries too! Drop off your broken or unwanted string lights and cords at any Saint Paul Public Library now through January 22, 2025. Look for the "Holiday String Light Recycling" bin at your local library. Learn More.
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.
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What's Happening at the Fairgrounds | |
FamilyWise Donation Drive – Dec. 9-15, 2024
Support Resilient Families and Youth
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This holiday season, the Minnesota State Fair’s Community Gives Together program is hosting a drive to collect items for “Mindfulness Kits” in support of FamilyWise. Since 1976, this nonprofit has been strengthening families by promoting the safety, stability and well-being of children. Kits will be given to families going through stressful situations and provide an opportunity for self-care as they participate in FamilyWise programs such as Supervised Parenting; High-Fidelity Wraparound services for youth with behavioral, emotional and mental health issues; Parent Education; and Bright Beginnings support for young parents and their children. Find the list of needed items on the Fair's website.
Collection dates and times:
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Monday-Friday, Dec. 9-13 8am-4:30pm @ Administration Building (1292 Cosgrove St., across from the Bandshell)
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Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 14 & 15 10am-5pm @ Minnesota Merry Market at the North End Event Center (1660 Murphy Ave.), (Note: $5 admission to Merry Market required to enter event for drop-off.)
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Horse Crazy Holiday Market
December 6-7
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DESCRIPTION
The Horse Crazy Holiday Market is a two-day, equine-inspired, free-spirited marketplace filled with more than 100 vendors, artisans, makers and exhibitors featuring goods, gifts and services for horse lovers and those who love horse lovers.
LOCATION
Warner Coliseum
HOURS - Dec. 6-7
Friday: 12-8 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ADMISSION
Free; $5 suggested donation
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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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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. | | | | |
