Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Shavek McKee, District 10 Executive Director

New vice chair, sub-district 1 member on board

A special election to fill two District 10 board vacancies was held in July. Como community members elevated sitting Sub-District 4 board member Benjamin Kowalsky-Grahek to the Vice Chair seat and … more

8/12/21

PLAN IT August 2021

Como Relays Aug. 18 & 25Every Wednesday in August Run Minnesota is hosting Como Park Relays at the intersection of Horton Ave. and Lexington Pkwy. Kids race (race 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile) start at … more

8/12/21

International Institute of Minnesota Expansion Groundbreaking Ceremony..©2021 Bruce Kluckhohn.#612-929-6010.bruce@brucekphoto.com

International Institute of Minnesota expands Como Ave. headquarters

The International Institute of Minnesota is expanding its headquarters building at 1694 Como Ave. The expanded facility is part of a $12.5 million project that will allow the organization to increase … more

7/23/21

St. Paul wrestles with rental ordinance, rent control

Rent control on ballot?The fate of a proposed November ballot question on rent stabilization or rent control is now in the hands of Ramsey County elections officials. Members of the Housing Equity … more

By JANE McCLURE St. Paul’s S.A.F.E. ordinance and its tenant protections were repealed on a 4-3 city council vote June 23. Council members have said they’ll start work immediately on a new tenants’ protection ordinance. That doesn’t mollify some h | 7/23/21

{ Monitor in a Minute }

Reparations committee formedThe St. Paul City Council June 16 appointed its Reparations Legislative Advisory Committee.In January, the city Council issued an apology for its role in institutional … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/23/21

Sophia Moore, Alex Le, Jesiah Mason, and Kimberly Sanchez-Mendez (left to righ) qualified for the JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl Championship in Washington D.C.

JROTC Academic Team heading to championships

The JROTC Academic Team composed of Jesiah Mason, Sophia Moore, Kimberly Sanchez-Mendez, and team captain Alex Le is heading to Washington, D.C. to compete in the JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 7/23/21

School supply drive July 26-Aug. 1

Teachers dedicated to serving students in under-resourced schools often purchase much-needed supplies for children out of their own pocket. Join us in supporting these educators and students by … more

7/21/21

olomon Hailie (left), who owns Bole Ethiopian with his wife, Rekik Abaineh, chats with African Economic Development Solutions Executive Director Gene Gelgule (center) and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter during the ribbon cutting event on May 27, 2021, one year after the restaurant burned to the ground in the civil unrest along University Ave. after George Floyd’s murder. “When we needed something, we knew who to call,” stated Hailie. “We appreciate your support and love.” They received a $50,000 grant through the We Love St. Paul/We Love Midway fund to help with the new space in the former Fox Trot Burger (1341 Pascal Street). “Thank you for leading the way,” said Midway Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chad Kulas. (Photos by Tesha M. Christensen)

Bolé Ethiopian reopens, moves to Como

6/9/21

Public hearing on Hamline library replacement, other CIP projects slated for June 14

Funding for Hamline-Midway Branch Library renovation or replacement is one of five projects that made it through the first round of the 2022-2023 Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process. … more

By JANE McCLURE | 6/9/21

Rebecca Calvo is the interim director at District 10 Como Council.

In Brief June 2021

St. Paul edges out MinneapolisSt. Paul bumped Minneapolis to third and took second in annual Trust for Public Land’s 2021 ParkScore® index. Washington, DC, is the best city park system in … more

6/9/21

The Como softball team’s victory on May 14 was the 400th win of John Fischbach’s coaching career.

Elements of normalcy at end of challenging year

The 2020-21 school year at Como concluded on June 11 for both in-person and distance-learning. In a challenging year for students, families, and staff, there were some elements of normalcy for those … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 6/9/21

District 10 Executive Director Michael Kuchta is leaving.

District Council Executive Directors bid farewell

Como District 10 and Hamline Midway Coalition are both looking for new executive directors.After almost six years in the position, Como District 10 Executive Director Michael Kuchta is moving out of … more

5/12/21

Folks ride with Mayor Melvin Carter to celebrate the opening of the newly completed trail along Ayd Mill Road on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Off-street trails along Como Ave. and Johnson Parkway were also completed in 2020. (Photo submitted)

St. Paul Bicycle Coalition advocates for safer biking options and connections

The bicycle system in St. Paul is improving each year, in part due to the advocacy of the St. Paul Bicycle Coalition.Co-chairs Andy Singer and Ian Buck point to the increased number of bicycle lanes, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/12/21

Who will get STAR grants?

Creation of an African retail plaza, a new home for the Keystone Community Services food shelf and improvements to the pavilion at Como Park are among the hopefuls competing for 2021 Neighborhood … more

By Jane McClure | 5/12/21

They’re representing you on the district council

In voting during annual elections in April, Como community members elected three new District 10 board members, re-elected four incumbents, and elevated two current members to officer positions. … more

By Michael Kuchta, Executive Director district10@district10comopark.org | 5/12/21

(L to R) Alice Wagner-Hemstad, Kai Sackreiter, Soren Sackreiter, and Zach Bollman advanced to National History Day for their website detailing the origin of modern educational technology.

National History Day Qualifiers

Como students and their History Day research projects have advanced from St. Paul regional competition, to State History Day, and now to the National History Day Finals.Kai Sackreiter, Soren … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 5/12/21

See "Summer of Soul" at an outside event taking place at Como Pavilion on Thursday, May 13. (Photo submitted)

40 years for International Film Festival

In a year that has seen its share of trauma with the ongoing pandemic and the tragedies of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) has reached an … more

By JAN WILLMS | 5/12/21

Nick Kor, of the Asian Minnesotan Alliance for Justice, said, “A fundamental belief of our alliance is that we have to name the racism against Asian Americans. We must be clear and we must speak up.” (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Asian Minnesotan leaders name the racism

In the wake of a shooting spree in Georgia that left six Asian Americans dead last month, the Asian Minnesotan Alliance for Justice is encouraging the community to name the racism.Nick Kor is a … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 4/14/21

A PATH FORWARD

Ramsey County doesn’t want to return to the status quo.While 2020 was a hard year with unemployment spiking at 11% last May, it brought ongoing workforce disparities to the forefront, and the … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 4/14/21

Minnesota’s First Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan implemented in Ramsey County

On March 23, the Center for Economic Inclusion (the Center) joined its peer consultants Fourth Economy, NEOO Partners, MZ Strategies, and Urban3 to present the first-ever Economic Competitiveness and … more

4/14/21