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Tue, Aug. 16, 6pm | D10 Land use Committee
Tue, Aug. 16, 7:15pm | D10 Board Meeting
Thur, Aug. 18, 5-7pm | SUMMERFEST @ North Dale Rec Free
Sat, Aug. 20, 11am-12:30pm | Bees, Butterflies, & Bugs @ Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom Free
2022 Movies In The Parks
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Donate Good Stuff Eco Fair
Saturday, August 13, 9am-1pm at Como Picnic Pavilions
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The Donate Good Stuff Eco Fair & 5k is quickly approaching! Learn and experience how to live a more environmentally friendly life with ​creative & interactive exhibits, and activities for all ages. This is a Zero Waste event!
There's still time to register for the 5k! The run begins at 8:30am and goes around Lake Como.
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D10 Meeting Updates
D10 Board Meeting - Tuesday, August 16, 7:15pm
Hybrid on Zoom and at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The D10 Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:15pm. Meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week the board will welcome St. Paul District Council Coordinator Cat Beltmann to hear about her 2022 Work Plan and Goals, and discuss engagement goals.
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Land Use Committee Meeting - Wednesday, August 16, 6pm
Hybrid on Zoom and at the Como Streetcar Station (1224 Lexington Pkwy)
The D10 Land Use Committee typically meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6p. All D10 meetings are open to the public and have space for community members to bring topics for discussion.
Next week we will host representatives from Dock & Paddle and St. Paul Parks and Rec to review Como Pavilion noise level mitigation efforts, and Parks & Rec Landscape Architect David Ronzani to share plans for the installation of two new Como Grand Round "Nodes" and introduce engagement on a new Como Master Plan.
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Get Involved: Harvest Festival Pie Contest
D10 Harvest Festival - Sept. 10, 3-5pm at Tilden Park
Calling all pie baking enthusiasts! The Como Community Council will be hosting a pie contest at the Harvest Festival on September 10th at Tilden Park. We're looking for Como neighbors to enter the contest. Community members will be tasting the pies at the event and voting on their favorites. Winners in the sweet and savory categories will get a gift card to Hot Hands Pies! Fill out the form to enter your pie - if you have questions, contact organizer@district10comopark.org.
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Get Involved: Citywide Drop-off Event Sept. 17 @ Fairgrounds
Volunteers Needed!
St. Paul Public Works Department partners with district councils to organize annual citywide drop-off events for residents to properly dispose of large refuse items and recyclable materials not collected via the residential recycling program. District 10 helps coordinate the event held annually at the State Fairgrounds.
Senior Pick-Up
As part of our coordination, we facilitate at-home pick-ups for qualifying items for community seniors. *If you are a senior in the Como area and would like your items picked up from your home, email district10@district10comopark.org no later than Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. Everything must be outside in front of your house by 8am Saturday, Sept 17, 2022. Rates apply.
Volunteers get a voucher for a free drop-off. Interested in volunteering to help us with the Sept. 17 event? Sign up for a shift on our Volunteer Registration Form!
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Get Involved: Gardening in Como - Aug. 16 & 17
What: Mulching the sloped gardens of Prairie Dropseed Grass and Roses
Where: Around the Melan Arch Bridge by the Historic Streetcar Station
When: Tuesday, Aug 16 and Wednesday, Aug 17 8am to noon
Volunteers should bring their own water and gardening gloves.
Equipment needed: pitchforks, large buckets, wheelbarrows.
Whether it’s for an hour or the whole time, help is appreciated! Thank you to Como community member Pat Owen for coordinating this opportunity, and volunteering tirelessly to make the 2022 Streetcar Station flowerbeds among the most well maintained in the city!
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Lake Como Carp Removal Begins
Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) began deploying four large box nets this week to catch and remove common carp over the next 4-5 weeks in Lake Como. Common carp are an invasive fish that contribute to poor water quality by stirring up the bottom of the lake while searching for food. During feeding, they uproot plants, muddy the waters for native fish, and allow excess nutrients stored in the lake bottom to be released and later consumed by algae. Common carp are one of the most damaging aquatic invasive species due to their wide distribution and severe impacts in shallow lakes and wetlands.
Common carp are native to Europe and Asia. They were stocked as a game fish across the Midwest in the 1880s and have since become overabundant in many waters. Today, common carp are an invasive species regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which means releasing them into the wild is not allowed. Fish caught while angling may be returned to the same water body.
In 2021, CRWD conducted a survey of the number of common carp in Lake Como and estimated their population to be above the critical threshold for water quality. Carp caught during the survey, and throughout the spring and summer of 2022 were tagged for tracking and later removal. While removal is needed, the carp population in Lake Como will be further limited by poor spawning habitat and abundant bluegills that feed on carp eggs. Additionally, new carp can’t migrate into Lake Como since it has no inlets from other water bodies.
The nets being set around the lake are baited with corn, a food attractive to carp but not of interest to other fish in Lake Como. The tagged carp will allow CRWD to track when they are gathering in the nets. They will use this information to pull in the nets at the best time to catch as many carp as possible. By reducing carp populations in Lake Como, CRWD is working to ensure that water quality improvements continue.
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Como Woodland’s Bees, Butterflies, & Bugs - Nature Tour
Saturday, August 20th, 11am to 12:30pm
Come and join your neighbors at the Kilmer Fireplace to begin this guided nature tour through the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom at 1221 Wynne Ave.in Como Park (just west of the Como Regional Park Pool). Free and open to the public – adults and kids.
Some are showy pollinators and others are creepy crawlers, but all insects are interesting. And it’s that time of the summer when their numbers are peaking. Lead tour guide Britt Forsberg, University of Minnesota Extension Educator and Como Woodland’s pollinator expert, will be joined by amateur naturalist Scott Magnuson and Joan McKearnan, professor of biology & environmental science at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, to take you on this insect-centric exploration of the 17-acre Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom site.
Rain or shine, the tour will go on (except in the case of dangerous weather). Sign up for the tour at: www.tinyurl.com/CWOCBugs.
Reservations are not required, but your RSVP makes it possible to contact you in case of cancellation.
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Como Parks & Rec
Fall activity registration is now open. Activities and events are available for all ages. Browse upcoming activities and events.
North Dale Rec Center (1414 N. St. Albans)
Northwest Como Rec Center (1550 N. Hamline)
*Registration Required
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 Applications/Renewals
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Ted’s Recreation (1084 Larpenteur): Liquor License is up for renewal Sept. 25. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 5 Council Member Amy Brendmoen: ward5@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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Best Western (1010 Bandana Blvd): Liquor Licenses are up for renewal Sept. 1. Anyone with input should email the Como Community Council or contact the office of Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali: ward4@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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FOOD: TOO GOOD TO WASTE
Did you know that about 1/3 of all food in the U.S. never gets eaten, and most of that waste is produced at the household level? This issue may seem too big to tackle, but there are many ways to make the most of your groceries and save yourself money. Learn more about why reducing food waste matters, and how to keep your food fresh for as long as possible in Ramsey and Washington Counties' new web campaign.
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Take the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Community Survey
The City of St. Paul is about to prepare a new Parks and Recreation System Plan, and they want to hear from you! Your input on this 10-minute survey will help to inform improvements and changes to parks like Como, the Zoo and Conservatory, athletic fields, recreation centers, trails and more. If you’re a regular parks user, follow this link to help guide the future of St. Paul’s parks!
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Office of Neighborhood Safety Seeking Members for New Community Council
St. Paul's new Office of Neighborhood Safety is inviting community members to apply to join the Neighborhood Safety Community Council (NSCC). As detailed in the city’s administrative code, this 15-member group will work with the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety to develop an annual strategic plan that identifies, recommends and prioritizes public safety initiatives, establishes areas of focus, and monitors justice and violence prevention metrics and indicators. This work will also include reviewing and reporting on the effectiveness of activities and initiatives undertaken by the Office of Neighborhood Safety.
The NSCC will also make recommendations for grant-making activities related to enhancing neighborhood safety, including reviewing and evaluating funding proposals. The recent announcement of $4 million for grants reflects the resources the NSCC will work with the Office of Neighborhood Safety to allocate in support of neighborhood safety efforts across Saint Paul.
The NSCC will meet at least four times per year, with additional meetings taking place as often as necessary. The council also may establish areas of focus and create a task force to support each area of focus. Task force members can include a combination of NSCC members as well as other community members who are not current appointees and will be selected by the continuing members. Members of the NSCC as well as members of task forces will receive a stipend of $50.00 per meeting.
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Save The Date: Budget Public Hearing - Sept. 20
5:30pm at Como Lakeside Pavilion
The City Council is planning another public hearing on the Mayor’s Proposed budget. It will be on Tuesday September 20th at Como Lakeside Pavilion @5:30pm.
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What's going on at the Fairgrounds? | |
Fairgrounds Access For Walking & Biking Closed | |
The fairgrounds will be closed Aug. 8-Sept. 9 due to fairgrounds events and the 2022 Minnesota State Fair.
Only those with fair business will be permitted on the grounds. The State Fair runs Thursday, Aug. 25, through Labor Day, Sept. 5. The fairgrounds will reopen Sept. 10.
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The State Fair is nearing once again. Many long-time residents are aware that the City has a special “Parking Overlay District”, (mostly between Snelling and Hamline) during the fair which allows, and regulates, things like yard parking, street vending, and merchandise peddling. D10 Como Community Council has a “Neighbor’s Guide” to these special rules and regulations, including detailed maps of the overlay district, and who to call to report violations.
New - The Como Neighbors Safety Initiative group that has been working on public safety coordination during the fair has helped add some safety tips to our guide, and is also offering opportunities to volunteer or get added to their email list during the fair.
We understand that enforcement of these ordinances is far from perfect, but if we can increase understanding of the rules amongst the community it may help us have a stronger footing for getting through these hectic few weeks ahead.
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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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