News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

St. Paul resident, Robin Warshaw, enjoys the soundscape of "A Picture Gallery of the Soul" exhibit at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery on the University of Minnesota Campus West Bank. It runs through Dec. 10 and is free. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

A showstopper exhibitionWhen cooler temps and shorter days signal the Fall Arts Season in the metro area, there are many cultural activities competing for attention. As always, this column strives to … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 10/12/22

Neither side happy with rent control changes

Changes to St. Paul’s rent control restrictions take place Jan. 1, 2023, and are meant to jumpstart new construction and continue some level of renter protections. But if the sign of a … more

By JANE McCLURE | 10/12/22

A brown creeper is stunned after a collision with a window. Turning off as many night time lights as possible and making windows “visible” to birds during the day helps keep them alive. (Photo courtesy of Frogtown Green)

Save a bird: go dark ‘til Halloween

By Patricia OhmansFrogtown GreenAre you concerned about news of bird die-offs, and even extinctions? Turn off the lights! That’s one of two simple things you can do, according to experts at the … more

By Patricia Ohmans Frogtown Green | 10/12/22

DREAMING, VISUALIZING, PLANNING

“Let me just say: Peace to you, if you’re willing to fight for it.” ~ Fred Hampton “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” ~ Dr. … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 10/12/22

A community pollinator garden is installed at the Orchard Rec Center, and cared for by community members. (Photo submitted)

Join the Saint Paullinator team

On April 14, 2022, Como Community Council was awarded the Lawns to Legume Demonstration Neighborhood Grant through the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Funding is provided by the Environment … more

By SHEVEK McKEE Executive director district10@ district10comopark.org | 10/12/22

Seniors from the Class of 2023 (left) pull a team of juniors across the line in a tug-of-war contest at the Como Homecoming Pep Fest. (Photo by Eric Erickson)

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

Spirit week and homecoming fun Como students celebrated their school spirit during the last week of September with thematic dress up days, a pep fest to end the school day on Friday, and a full slate … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 10/12/22

TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY JOURNALISM

Hamline University School of Business Professor of Practice Jim Scheibel invited Midway Como Frogtown Monitor owner and editor Tesha M. Christensen to speak to his “The City as University: … more

10/12/22

Emergency hotel stay project launches for victim-survivors of domestic violence

Estelle Brouwer, Executive Director of Women’s Advocates, announced today that starting in October they will be launching an emergency hotel stay project that provides short-term lodging for … more

10/12/22

TIDBITS October 2022

YMCA LAUNCHES GEORGE WELLBEING INITIATIVE The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, and Penny and Bill George and the George … more

10/12/22

District 11: a place where your voice matters

What does a district council in St. Paul do? The answer is as varied as the people who live in district, Como resident Sarah O’Brien has discovered in the last year since she was hired to … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 9/18/22

NEW CAREER PATHWAYS CENTER

Volunteers from 3M helped ready the new Career Pathway Center on the Saint Paul College campus on Aug. 31, 2022. The new Saint Paul Public Schools learning space features classrooms, state-of-the-art … more

Submitted | 9/18/22

What will happen with rent control?

Changes to St. Paul’s sweeping rent control regulations could be adopted by the St. Paul City Council in mid-September. But with so many amendments and a looming legal challenge, it’s … more

By JANE McCLURE | 9/18/22

Is inclusionary zoning a good solution?

When people lose their homes or storefronts to involuntary displacement, what can be done? The St. Paul Planning Commission Aug. 19 voted to set up a community advisory committee to study and make … more

By JANE McCLURE | 9/18/22

There are easy woodland walks that don’t require heavy hiking. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

From the ‘Hood to the Woods

Beach to beechWhen I arrived in Minnesota as an east coast transplant in the late 1980s, my summer visions were of expanses of New Jersey beaches rather than expansive views of blue beeches, the … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 9/18/22

Jessica and Steven Willman, with (left to right) Adon, Sophie, Jack and Ollie. Two children were adopted after being fostered. (Photos submitted)

FOSTER THE FAMILY

What do you do when a foster child you have raised for several years is suddenly going home to her birth parents? How do you react the first time the school principal calls you in to discuss a … more

By JAN WILLMS | 9/18/22

Dan Hornsby does much of his writing at Milkweed coffee shop on East Lake Street near where he lives. He is a visting professor teaching creative writing at Macalester College. (Photo by Terry Faust

A priest named Dan

It is an exciting moment when a writer’s first novel is published. But when that first novel is also turned into a movie, the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction can be intense. Dan … more

By JAN WILLMS | 9/18/22

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

In unusual move, historic preservation committee didn’t support library nomination

Planning for a new Hamline Midway Branch Library continues, with a decision in August to not consider National Register of Historic Places designation for the 92-year-old structure. The State … more

By JANE McCLURE | 9/18/22

A second set of bleachers have been constructed at Como Park High School’s turf field. (Photo by Eric Erickson)

‘More normal year’ coming?

After hosting summer school classes for students from across the St. Paul Public School district, Como Park High School welcomed new and returning Cougars into the building at the start of … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 9/18/22

SPPS students show gains in all subjects on MCA test

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has released districtwide results for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELLs) for the 2021-22 school … more

9/18/22

Nigerian officials work with Books for Africa

His Royal Majesty Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle (JP), Okorefe l, Ovie (King) of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom (Urhoboland, Delta State, Nigeria), met with Books For Africa staff on Sept. 2, 2022 at the Books … more

9/18/22