News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Patricia Lacy sings “What’s Going On” on June 19 at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza.

Governor calls Juneteenth part of ‘our history’

During the Juneteenth celebration in Rondo, Governor Tim Walz acknowledged the importance of remembering Juneteenth’s history and the dangers of trying to rewrite history. … more

By Aamira Redd | 7/14/23

Attendees of St. Paul Pride event stop by resource booths on Saturday, June 10.

First St. Paul Pride Festival

Kyle Rucker, of Ruck B Media , organized his first ever St. Paul Pride event at Rice Park, on June 10, 2023. His goal was to provide opportunities for young Black and BIPOC entrepreneurs and … more

By Talia McWright | 7/13/23

Politicians from Minneapolis and St. Paul throw shovels full of dirt as they celebrate the ground-breaking of a new Bus Rapid Transit Line that will connect the two cities. The B Line is expected to be operational in 2024. Work will primarily be done east of Hiawatha Ave. this year, and to the west next year.

B LINE: ‘LIVING-YOUR-LIFE-IN-THE-CITY LINE’

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN Marshall/Selby/Lake St. will be torn up over the next two summers to create the new 12.6-mile Bus Rapid Transit B Line. The majority of construction along this line will … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 6/7/23

CAUGHT BETWEEN

She lived in Minnesota for only five months and her daughter was born in Iowa, but Dani* has been dragged into family court in Minnesota nearly every one of the past 11 years by her ex-boyfriend. … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 6/7/23

Tameka Jones of Lip Esteem aims to help people of all skin tones feel beautiful with the plant-based, gluten free lipstick she sells.

She’s changing the landscape of beauty

Amidst the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uprising following George Floyd’s murder, Tameka Jones, a proud Rondo native and passionate makeup artist, emerged with a strong desire to … more

By Aamira Redd | 6/7/23

Jenne Nelson (at left) lives in Como with her family. (Photo submitted)

Meet Jenne Nelson

Hamline Midway Coalition has a new office and a new executive director. In February, the neighborhood group moved next door from the Hamline Midway Library into the Knox International Building. Jenne … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 6/7/23

“It is a travesty on so many levels that we have gotten to this point, given there are multiple win-wins for the community, including a renovation design commissioned by the city or a relocation of the library, something that has never been seriously considered but would serve the community better on a number of levels,” said Jonathan Oppenheimer of Renovate 1558.

Library closure starts May 28

The Hamline Midway Library building will check out its last book on May 27 and close on May 28, 2023. The historic building will be demolished and replaced with a new structure. Once closed, staff … more

By Jane McClure and Tesha M. Christensen | 5/10/23

Ker Cha, one of the team members that went to South Korea, practices at Frogtown Community Center.

It all started in a refugee camp

Gao Chang likes to play volleyball and soccer. But the sport that has captured his heart is sepak takraw, a game with three team members on each side of a net using any part of their body except … more

By Jan Willms | 5/10/23

Diane Schray, a real estate agent with Real Estate Masters, shopped on April 28 at the ReUse Warehouse, scoring vintage fixtures for a client who recently bought a tudor-style house in Como neighborhood. The clerk remarked that they had just come in that day.

Why throw away a house when parts can be reused?

From early 20th Century thrift to building cabins from contractor cast-offs, reuse of building materials had long been an informal norm. But in a more recent world, entire houses have been thrown in … more

By Margo Ashmore | 5/10/23

Angelina Hernandez spoke about the importanance of smudging. (Photo submitted)

Educator advocates for smudging policy

“All Native American students should have the right to smudge,” said Como Park High School teacher Angelina Hernandez. “We need to expand policies to protect the rights of … more

By Eric Erickson | 4/14/23

She helps students take risks, achieve goals

Sarah Ehlen, a math and science teacher at Prodeo Academy, finds joy in building connections with her students and watching them grow as learners. The veteran teacher believes it’s her job to … more

By Sarah Graves | 4/14/23

Rep. Leigh Finke of St. Paul (Photo by Jill Boogren)

‘You belong here’

Minnesota’s transgender community and supporters packed the State Capitol for Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, sending a clear and unapologetic message that reverberated throughout … more

By Jill Boogren | 4/14/23

Vanessa Jesci caught one of the larger fish. Winters can be frigid in Minnesota, but Karl Erickson, the woodworking program manager at Elpis Enterprises (2161 University Ave.) can find ways to make the cold weather both fun and a learning experience. The Elpis ice fishing program is open to youth from fourth grade and up at area schools. They learn how to identify species, as well as fishing regulations and cold weather conditions. “They are taught heater safety, hook safety and hole safety,” Erickson said. Sixth-graders from Sejong Academy experienced ice fishing on Lake Como on Feb.13, 2023. Vanessa Jesci caught one of the larger fish (above). Police cadets from the St. Paul Police Activities League assisted students at Como Lake.

Land of 10,000 outdoor hobbies

Winters can be frigid in Minnesota, but Karl Erickson, the woodworking program manager at Elpis Enterprises (2161 University Ave.) can find ways to make the cold weather both fun and a learning … more

By Jan Willms | 3/9/23

Citizens rally outside the Hamline Midway Library to express support for saving the historic building on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (Photo submitted)

Library earns national register designation

The Hamline Midway Library’s newly won spot on the National Register of Historic Places doesn’t guarantee its future. The building could still be demolished. But the decision, announced … more

By Jane McClure | 3/9/23

Help wanted

Businesses are struggling to find people to fill positions at all levels and departments with qualified staff who will be reliable and show up. “If you are an employer struggling to find … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 3/9/23

Leap Pediatric and Adolescent Care is a Reach Out and Read Clinic. Not only do kids get to take home books at well-child visits, but Dr. Julia Joseph-Di Caprio reads to them at visits. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Leap opens in Midway

When your physician looks like you and understands your culture, studies have shown your health outcomes are better.Knowing that, Dr. Julia Joseph-Di Caprio, a Black physician, decided to open Leap … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 2/8/23

Inspired

Nine months before Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on the bus to a White passenger. She was 15. Youth Performance Company (YPC)’s “Inspired by Claudette & … more

By Jill Boogren | 2/8/23

Reparations commission formed to address past wrongs

St. Paul has created a Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission, as a result of unanimous St. Paul City Council action Jan. 4. Approval was greeted with applause in the council chambers as … more

By Jane McClure | 2/8/23

Planning tool updated for Allianz Field site

Development around Allianz Field is anticipated to be scaled back from what was originally planned, according to an alternative urban areawide review or AUAR update completed late last year. … more

By Jane McClure | 1/17/23

Chocolat Céleste owner Mary Leonard adds a layer of chocolate to truffles at her Midway facility. Leonard battled breast cancer in 2020, but didn’t miss a day of work. She had chocolates to create, after all. Each chocolate is hand made with fresh whipping cream, small batch butter and the finest fair trade cocoas. The company that she started at age 46 was named after her beloved Bichon Frise. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

A sweet journey

Chocolat Céleste owner Mary Leonard didn’t take a day off work when she was being treated for breast cancer. Not even when she was dealing with severe radiation burns.It was her busy … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 1/16/23