District Council News

Hamline Midway Council - District 11

By MELISSA CORTES, Community Organizer

A new Community Engagement Committee

Are you passionate about Outreach and Community Engagement? Do you feel that we can do more as a community? Then, this may be the spot for you!

Hamline Midway Coalition is looking for people with a passion for the Midway and the desire to work toward connecting with, and in, our community. The hope is that those who respond would be willing to work with our neighbors, businesses, and city on the ever-present issues in and around our coalition area. We are currently accepting applications for committee members.

Please send your interest to communityengagement@hamlinemidway.org or visit www.hamlinemidway.org/communityengagementcommittee for more information.

(NOTE: No meeting date has been set. If you are interested in the work of this committee and want to stay in the loop, please send us your name and email to be added to our newsletter.)

Environment Committee

The Environment Committee members are currently working to respond to the state legislature’s exemption bills for sustainable to-go packaging and plastic bag ban. This bill would preempt all Minnesota cities from passing their own ordinances on any single-use bag free and recyclable, reusable, or compostable to-go food containers. Not only is this a step backward for the environment and human health, but also for residents to engage in the democratic process with their local representatives.

Also, the Environment Committee members have committed to mobilizing for stormwater adopt-a-drain community engagement—see www.adopt-a-drain.org. If you’d like to participate or want to weigh in on this work, contact environment@hamlinemidway.org.

Garage Sale

Mark your calendars for Hamline Midway Coalition’s annual neighborhood Garage Sale Weekend, May 4-6, 8am-3pm. With this event gaining popularity every year, we have decided to make it a Garage Sale Weekend, for three days, May 4-6! To sign up visit www.hamlinemidway.org/garagesale or visit us in person in the Hamline Midway Library at 1558 W. Minnehaha Ave.

Como Community Council, District 10

By MICHAEL KUCHTA, Executive Director

You live here … vote locally!

Residents of District 10 can vote on Apr. 17 for eight open positions on the Como Community Council Board. Any renter, homeowner, or other resident of District 10 who is age 18 or older, is eligible to vote. So are authorized representatives from a business or nonprofit located in District 10.

Up for election this year are vice-chair, treasurer, one representative from each of the four geographic sub-districts, and two at-large representatives. Elections take place at the beginning of the community council’s annual meeting. The meeting is Tues., Apr. 17 at 7pm at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.

To find out more election details, including a rundown of candidates on the ballot, see the article on District 10’s website: www.district10comopark.org. Under the council’s bylaws, nominations also can be made from the floor on the night of the election.

Hostile vegetation is just the beginning

What you plant and where you plant it, the fencing you choose, and how you let your lights shine—all can be tactics to keep your property safer. Pick up advice in these areas and more during “Crime Prevention through Landscape Design,” the next presentation in District 10’s Sunday Series. Patty Lammers, crime prevention coordinator for the St. Paul Police, shares tips in natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, access control, and even hostile vegetation.

This free presentation is scheduled for Sun., Apr. 15 from 1-2:30pm at the Como Park Streetcar Station.

Get your gardening off to a great start

The Como Community Seed Library holds its 2018 May Mosaic on Sat., May 5, 11am-2pm at the Como Park Streetcar Station, 1224 Lexington Pkwy. N. The free event is a great opportunity to swap seeds, plants, and perennials; swap stories; get advice from garden experts; and more. For details, see https://comoseedsavers.geopoi.us.

A rain barrel is a bargain—advice is even better

District 10’s Environment Committee and the Capitol Region Watershed District hold a Rain Barrel Workshop on Sat., May 19 from 1-3pm at the Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave. Participants can get a rain barrel for the unheard of price of $29 (plus tax), and learn how to set it up, so it works the way it’s supposed to. (If you already have rain barrels at your home, you can show up and learn to use them correctly—for free.) Space is limited, so register now at www.bit.ly/d10-rainbarrels.

Fairgrounds drop-off is June 9

The annual Citywide Drop-Off at the State Fairgrounds is much earlier than usual in 2018: It’s Sat., June 9 from 8am-1pm. The Drop-Off, organized by St. Paul and District 10, is a great chance to get rid of the junk you can’t throw in the trash (for a reasonable price). If you volunteer to help staff the event, you can get rid of a load of your junk for free. Sign up to volunteer at www.district10comopark.org/volunteer_form.html

Other things to look forward to

• Sat., Apr. 21: Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Spring Cleanup, 9-11:30pm, Como Lakeside Pavilion.

• Sat., Apr. 28: 2018 City Nature Challenge, 9am-4pm, Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom. Track what lives in the woodland, part of a competitive “bio-blitz” in 60 cities worldwide.

• Sun., June 3: Block Party in the Park, 4-7pm, Orchard Park, 875 W. Orchard Ave. Neighbors hanging out with neighbors. You don’t have to live in South Como to join the fun.

• Sat., June 16: Como Neighborhood Garage Sale. By popular demand, it’s later than usual this year (cross your fingers for better weather).

• Sat., June 23: Como Lake Rain Garden Workshop, 9am-noon., Streetcar Station. Capitol Region Watershed District leads a hands-on workshop to identify locations for the next wave of boulevard rain gardens in District 10. These are among the most cost-effective ways to collect and filter polluted street runoff before it reaches Como Lake. The best part is the selected locations will get rain gardens installed at no cost.

Upcoming District 10 Meetings

• Como Community Council Monthly Meeting: Tues., Apr. 17

• Environment Committee: Wed., Apr. 25

• Neighborhood Relations and Safety Committee: Tues., May 1

• Land Use Committee: Wed., May 2

All meetings begin at 7pm, typically at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton. Community members are always welcome to attend and participate. Whenever possible, agendas are posted in advance in the “Board News” section of District 10’s website.