Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

For home and business owners in the Twin Cities metro area who have been considering installing solar panels, there are two affordable reasons to go solar now. Solar United Neighbors is a national … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 2/11/21

‘Energy we can’t afford’

MN350 wants people to question whether natural gas is really clean-burning, safe and abundant energy, and they are fighting Xcel’s proposed new billion dollar fossil gas power plant in Becker, … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 2/10/21

Erin Pavlica’s daughter in 2013, riding the used upholstered horse that became the inspiration for the Midway-Frogtown Exchange. The group offers a place for Midway and Frogtown neighbors to buy, share and barter. (Photo submitted)

Midway-Frogtown Exchange helps reduce waste, foster connections

Eight years ago, environmental activist Erin Pavlica was looking for a used, rideable stuffed horse for her young daughter’s Christmas present. These toys are expensive, and Pavlica had no … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21

“Comets are amazing night sky objects to observe. They are relatively rare, and absolutely striking. Comet Neowise, pictured here, was the brightest comet seen from Earth in the last 20 years.” (Photo submitted by Mike Shaw)

In search of dark skies

Between the months of March-September on a clear, moonless night, it’s easy to find astrophotographer Mike Shaw. He will be in his car heading north.In August 2019, he was doing just that. … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 12/9/20

Frogtown Green volunteers planted the chestnut seedings around the perimeter of Frogtown Green’s Our Village Community Garden at Pierce Butler and Milton avenues. (Photo submitted)

Chestnut trees planted in Frogtown garden

By Rennie GaitherThe legendary chestnut tree, once dominant in the ancient forests from Connecticut to eastern China and Japan, stands firmly among the pantheon of classic American trees. This forest … more

By Rennie Gaither | 12/9/20

Artist Suyao Tian with a basket of her Modern Cover mittens. She said, “Hands for me have always had a very special meaning. They symbolize universal friendliness, helpfulness, and connection.” (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Hamline-Midway artist driven to ‘Do the most good’ with design

When Hamline-Midway artist Suyao Tian thinks back on her childhood, she remembers the freezing cold of winter. Tian grew up in a province of Northern China, near the border with Tibet. Her city, … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 11/11/20

Reinventing farming in the city

Coleen Gregor (left) and Joan James (right) with one of their signature garden beds. The co-owners of “A Backyard Farm” are dedicated to growing healthy food in the city. … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 9/18/20 | 1 comment

Explore a Frogtown Pollinator Garden

Take a self-guided tour of Monarch City Flowers, butterflies, and bees: oh my! For a fun ending to a warm August, visit Monarch City and take a self-guided tour. Butterflies and bees love this … more

9/18/20

New life for used plywood

ReUSE Minnesota Board President Jenny Kedward said, “We are leading the effort to collect, store, and distribute plywood used in the Uprising for reuse. We respect all artwork and … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 8/18/20

Como Golf Course clean water project begins

Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) and the city of Saint Paul began construction on a clean water project at Como Golf Course on July 6 that is expected to capture and clean 11 million gallons … more

8/18/20

Midway YMCA: community response hub

Senior checks, healthy meals, implicit bias trainings and more offered for free; childcare and fitness options available Children enrolled in school-aged childcare at the Midway YMCA enjoy swimming … more

By Margie O’Loughlin | 7/15/20

Community partnership provides repair vouchers instead of tickets

Program offers healing interactions with police Keep those car lights in working order! Previously, a broken head light, tail light, or brake light could spark a downward economic spiral that, for … more

6/9/20

Reusing electronic waste = free and affordable computers

PCs for People diverts electronics from waste stream, promotes digital inclusion PCs for People Tech specialist Chang Yang tests more than 100 donated computersevery day. If a computer can’t be … more

3/10/20

RRR: Pollinator Pathway workshops starting soon

Tara Nielson (left) is one of the two mosaic artists who will teach the community workshops at Mosaic on a Stick. Lori Greene (right) will design the mosaics. The monarch design for the first … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLI | 2/10/20

Zero Waste Saint Paul is on a mission: to advocate, connect, and educate for a better environment

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN Erin Pavlica, co-founder of Zero Waste St. Paul and longtime Midway resident. During a recent Intro to Zero Waste training, she said, “We’re not expecting anybody to be … more

12/29/19

Lawns to Legumes program will create new pollinator corridors

Homeowners may be eligible for funding to help boost Rusty Patched Bumblebee population Staff from the partner organization Blue Thumb led a Lawns to Legumes workshop at North Regional Library … more

12/12/19

Practicing what they preach

CRWD building showcases native plantings, pocket park, rain gardens, tree trenches, permeable pavement, and more By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN Midway resident Anna McLafferty said, “We can’t survive … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 12/12/19

Long buried toxic dump at Hidden Falls Park getting attention

The Mississippi River looks tranquil as it flows through Hidden Falls Regional Park, where people come to fish, hike, and relax. Just a few yards north of where this was taken, a cyclone fence … more

12/12/19

‘Green’ cemetery opens in Twin Cities

Catholic Cemeteries begins offering natural burials in three-acre restored prairie Executive director Joan Gizek stood on top of the plot she has already purchased in the natural burial section of … more

10/10/19

Citizens group reducing pollution in Como Lake

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN Anyone who has walked or biked around Como Lake this summer has got to wonder, “What is that smell?” The short answer is decomposing curly-leaf pondweed. The long answer is … more

8/11/19