News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Events - November 2023

CRANKSGIVING NOV. 18 Cranksgiving is a food drive where folks ride bicycles from store to store and purchase items to donate to a local food program. Participants on Saturday, Nov. 18 can choose … more

11/26/23

The Como volleyball reached the Section 4AAA Championship. The team is pictured with their second place trophy in front of their loyal supporters.

Volleyball makes section final

A talented and dedicated senior class led the Cougars to the Section 4AAA Final for a second consecutive season. While the Cougars lost the championship match, the back-to-back section runner-up … more

By Eric Erickson, Social studies teacher | 11/26/23

All Hamline Elementary School K-5 students crossed the street to tour Hamline University. (Photo submitted)

Two campuses, one community

News from Hamline Elementary We had a wonderful first month at Hamline Elementary as we welcomed our staff, students, and families back into the building. Teachers have been taking advantage of … more

By Karen McCauley & Jessica Kopp | 11/26/23

Best friends Adam Kado (second from left) and Hosie Thurmond (second from right) celebrate the grand opening of their third pizzeria on Sept. 15, 2023. Among those joining them were Neighborhood Development Center President and CEO Renay Dossman, Mayor Melvin Carter, and little Hosie Thurmond, Jr. “I was born and raised in St. Paul,” said Kado. “This is priceless to me.” >> (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Slice Brothers Pizza opens at Dale & University

Best friends Adam Kado and Hosie Thurmond of Slice Brothers Pizza join Tommie Daye of Tommie’s Pizza as Black owners of St. Paul pizzerias. Slice Brothers Pizza officially opened at Dale and … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/13/23

The project for the former Minnesota Chemical Company site includes a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, a patio, green space, and a playground. Exeter is seeking a variance for having less commercial/retail space than required.

Is West Midway becoming place of ‘bedrooms and breweries’?

The former Minnesota Chemical Company complex in West Midway could become home to almost 150 households, as a major redevelopment project moves ahead, but the quest to find a new use for … more

By Jane McClure | 10/12/23

Thi Synavone works as the executive director at Standpoint. (Photo submitted)

From their Standpoint

Thi Synavone came to the U.S. in 1979 as a Laotian refugee. After living in many states, her family settled in Minnesota in 1988. Synavone said that growing up, domestic and sexual violence was never … more

10/12/23

Representatives from local businesses, (left to right) Andrew Eklund of Ciceron, Michelle Tran Maryns of We Sparkle and Ron Lancaster of Structural, chat about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence on Sept. 20. The event was organized by the Midway Chamber and held at the Wilder Foundation.

AI: stuff of science fiction is now a business reality

Generative AI has captivated the world since the launch of Chat GBT on Nov. 30, 2022, observed Ron Lancaster of Structural, an Augeo company, but AI has been around much longer than that. … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 10/12/23

Celebrating the new lift zone and privacy pods on Sept. 21, 2023 are (left to right) Ron Orlando of Comcast, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Broderick Johnson of Comcast, Jane Graupman of the International Institute of Minnesota, Chad Kulas of the Midway Chamber and Kalyn Hove of Comcast. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

New Americans get internet lift at IIMN

Thanks to a Lift Zone, new immigrants will be able to attend virtual job interviews and telehealth appointments at the International Institute of Minnesota (1694 Como Ave.). Part of … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 10/12/23

Businesses seek STAR program funds

Project sponsors are lining up this month for their Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Program interviews. The 69 sponsors who are meeting with the Neighborhood STAR Board are seeing the … more

By Jane McClure | 10/12/23

These small lightboxes made by Longfellow artist Chris Miller can brighten tables and shelves. Other larger ones function as furniture. (Photo submitted)

How to add art to your home

Longfellow mosaic artist Chris Miller believes that art is like jewelry for your home. “I made this piece in glass a few years ago and I display it each September during LoLa Art Crawl. It … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 10/12/23

Voter Guide 2023

WARD 1 Vying for this position are Anika Bowie, Yan Chen, Travis Helkamp, James Lo, Lucky Tiger Jack Rosenbloom, Omar Syed, Suz Woehrle, and Jeff Zeitler. Anika Bowie … more

10/12/23

The first of 1,000! Tree Frogs celebrate their initial tree planting in 2011. Then-city councilmember Melvin Carter is in the center of the group.

Frogtown gets greener with 1,000 trees x 2

Frogtown residents who have spent more than a decade working toward a goal of “1,000 Trees for Frogtown Homes” will reach – and surpass – that goal this year. … more

By Patricia Ohmans, Frogtown Green | 10/12/23

National Merit Scholars

Como Park seniors Sophie Warner and Kai Sackreiter have earned the prestigious honor of being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. With elite academic credentials and exceptional scores on … more

By Eric Erickson, Social studies teacher | 10/12/23

University of Minnesota Extension educators from around the state learned about Rondo’s history during a tour of the area on Sept. 28, 2023. They posed by the Solar Peace Pole at Western Sculpture Park. (Photo submitted)

A place-based approach to operating

“There is much work ahead, and I believe that radical self-care will light the pathway to a newly imagined world.” - Dr. Joi Lewis “Compromise, if not the spice of … more

By Melvin Giles, peacebubbles@q.com | 10/12/23

Allianz asks approved

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Midway Center site can go forward. Various project approvals won St. Paul City Council support on Sept. 20, 2023, including plat approval and interim … more

By Jane McClure | 10/12/23

Know your Como?

Como Curb Cleanup this Fall Como Community Council is partnering with Capitol Region Watershed District again for the 2023 Como Curb Cleanup. When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients … more

By Shevek McKee, Executive director, district10@district10comopark.org | 10/12/23

This is the second church building for Jehovah Lutheran.

Jehovah celebrates 100th

Jehovah Evangelical Lutheran Church is observing its centennial with celebrations on five separate Sundays, beginning Reformation Sunday, Oct. 29. The congregation, a Midway mainstay, has chosen as … more

10/12/23

King Coil Spirits (550 Vandalia St.) holds a ribbon-cutting on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Openings and expansions

As someone who works for a chamber of commerce, one of the fun parts of the job is helping open new businesses. This means walking around with a giant pair of scissors and getting the odd looks that … more

By Chad Kulas, Midway Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, chad@midwaychamber.com | 10/12/23

In Progress

A brick building sits sedately along a quiet street in Saint Paul. Along the side of the building, plants are growing in small garden beds. Lawn chairs rest on the patio and there is a table with … more

By Jan Willms | 9/15/23

The fully inclusive playground was designed by Landscape Strucures, and will be the first of its kind in St. Paul.

United Village Phase 1:

A mix of skepticism and cautious optimism are greeting the talk of a fresh start for redevelopment of the longtime Midway Center superblock. More than 60 people … more

By Jane McClure | 9/15/23