News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

This Taco Bell building has been demolished and will be rebuilt.

A new Taco Bell restaurant is going up at 565 N. Snelling Ave., thanks to a successful court challenge by owner Border Foods. Neighbors were surprised that the longtime location was fenced off and … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/9/22

Shaunie Grisby hopes to create a place like The Den from the television series “Moesha”– a place that is a community hangout. Flava Coffee and Cafe at 623 University Ave. West serves beverages, breakfast and lunch. “I wanted to create a space like that where people loved being,” said Grisby. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

One latte at a time

Frogtown has a coffee shop again.Over three years of planning culminated with the official opening of Flava Coffee and Cafe on Aug. 27, 2022 in the newly built Neighborhood Development Center at the … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/9/22 | 1 comment

Como resident William Kent Krueger said, “I try to challenge myself in some way with every book. I want to be engaged. If I am engaged, the reader will be engaged.”

19 books into Cork series, and author says he’s still growing

There are some notable differences in William Kent Krueger’s latest book in the Cork O’Connor series, “Fox Creek.”His readers are familiar with Cork, the Irish-Anishinabe … more

By JAN WILLMS | 11/9/22

The audience pays rapt attention at ACLUMN breakfast. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

Upholding civil liberties, civil rights across the Twin Cities

When in the course of human events...* Sometimes coincidence sparks a column. During the second week of October my volunteer work with the ACLU and attending a Guthrie Theater play coincided with … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 11/9/22

City Landscape Architect Mary Norton (at right) explains the city’s findings about tree loss that would happen when constructing the bike lanes. The city is working with the Forestry Department of St. Paul and will continue throughout the process. (Photo by Chloe Peter)

Community divided over better bike lanes on Summit Avenue

The city’s proposal to remove mature trees and parking along Summit Avenue to create a bike trail is creating controversy throughout the Twin Cities. More than 150 people attended an open house … more

By CHLOE PETER | 11/9/22

Hamline Midway Library design released

Designs for a new Hamline Midway Branch library have been unveiled, as efforts to save the existing building continue. Designs and floor plans for Hamline Midway, Hayden Heights and Riverview … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/9/22

Sherburne Collective aims for deeply affordable housing

Developers of a changing and complex Frogtown affordable housing proposal have been given more time to put things together. The St. Paul City Council, acting as the Housing and Redevelopment … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/9/22

Be part of Como curb clean-up

Como Community Council is partnering with Capitol Region Watershed District for the 2022 Como Curb Clean-up. When it rains, leaves on streets release nutrients into the water that flows into storm … more

By SHEVEK McKEE Executive director district10@ district10comopark.org | 11/9/22

Development update November 2022

ALATUS PROJECT MOVES FORWARDLexington Station is chugging along, with excavation this fall and much more work to come for the next several months. The Union Park District Council (UPDC) land use … more

By JANE McCLURE | 11/9/22

Business award winners named in St. Paul

St. Paul’s 6th annual Business Awards winners have been announced. The awards recognize local businesses that provide critical services, contribute to the city’s community, invest in … more

11/9/22

Como’s award-winning Marine Corps JROTC program. (Photo courtesy James C. Kirkland)

MCJROTC earns national honor again

The Marine Corps JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) at Como has been recognized as a Naval Honor School Program for a seventh time. The award is reserved for the top 20% of all MCJROTC … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 11/9/22

WHAT IS THAT THING?

Don McCall estimates that he’s been asked that question more than 5,000 times since he bought his velomobile in 2017. The most memorable encounter was with the St. Paul Police, who pulled him … more

By Sonjie Johnson, Como resident | 11/9/22

A GLIMPSE INTO COMO PARK

This summer students and faculty from the St. Catherine University Summer Scholars program teamed up with community members to complete 10 oral history interviews of longtime Como Community members. … more

Submitted by Laura Oyen | 11/9/22 | 1 comment

PLAN IT November 2022

HOLIDAY CONCERT NOV. 18Four local composers will present their latest works at a concert of new vocal music. The concert will be on Friday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1697 Lafond Ave., … more

11/9/22

TIDBITS November 2022

URBAN GROWLER HONOREDThe Minnesota Retailers Association is pleased to award Urban Growler Brewing Co. with the Building Community Through Retail award as part of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s … more

11/9/22

New anthology celebrates youth writers

Third Reconstruction, Racial Reckoning – none of these words could fully encapsulate the reality of the quest for justice. On May 25, 2020, Mr. George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, Minn. … more

By Dr. Artika Tyner, dr.artikatyner@gmail.com | 11/9/22

A SAFER APPROACH FOR CUSTODY CASES

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? And how does it affect the kids?Figuring out family dynamics in custody cases can be tricky, but the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP) in St. Paul … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/12/22

VALUATION PERCENTAGE INCREASE 2018 vs 2022 - A look at trends from 2018 and 2022 is striking. Frogtown saw the greatest market value increase at 57.1 percent.

Average home taxes going up 14.8%

Area homeowners may want to open their mailboxes carefully in November. Truth-in-taxation statements likely will bring sticker shock with rising home values and property taxes.St. Paul, Ramsey County … more

By JANE McCLURE | 10/12/22

He began in praise and worship, transitioned to pop rock, and finally found his home in hip hop music as Nur-D.

NUR-D PERFORMS BENEFIT SHOW OCT. 28

Catch a Nur-D show and support local radio on Friday, Oct. 28, 5-9 p.m. at Urban Growler Brewing (2325 Endicott St.).“I love Nur-D’s energy and stage presence!” said WFNU co-founder … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/12/22

As a young mother, Robin Sherritt Gadban, now 69, often packed a picnic and brought her kids to Como Lake for the day. In the 1990s, she began exploring the locations of early park attractions. The Banana Walk, the Floral Parteer Gardens, Cozy Lake, the original Japanese garden – all gone. Intrigued, Robin began sifting through postcards of Como Park at antique stores. Today, Robin has a binder of more than 75 vintage postcards that portray the history of Como Park, from the late 1880s to early 1900s. Her postcards depict most of the early attractions she sought to find. Her collection earned a blue ribbon at the state fair. (Photo by Terry Faust)

A POSTCARD HISTORY OF COMO PARK

As a young mother, Robin Sherritt Gadban, now 69, often packed a picnic and brought her kids to Como Lake for the day. She dreamed of living in Como Park, and one day her dream came true. In the … more

By Sonjie Johnson Como resident | 10/12/22