News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Happy grateful New Year Monitor readers, I started writing this month’s column full of hope and gratefulness for surviving 2020. However, I can’t recall ever wanting a year to end and … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 1/14/21

{ Monitor in a Minute } January 2021

Homeless camps to close The push to close homeless encampments and relocate people goes on this month. St. Paul and Ramsey County officials are trying to get the homeless into shelter and out of the … more

By JANE McCLURE | 1/14/21

{ Development Roundup } January 2021

Wilder Square changesThe Wilder Square project is moving ahead, with assistance Dec. 9 from the city. The St. Paul City Council, acting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board, … more

By JANE McCLURE | 1/14/21

In Brief JANUARY 2021

Dale St. work pausedRamsey County’s Dale Street reconstruction project in Saint Paul All I-94 entrance and exit ramps at Dale St. and Interstate 94 opened to traffic on Nov. 19 at the … more

1/14/21

New year brings new board members to Hamline Midway Coalition

The Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC) Board of Directors welcomes newly elected members David Albornoz (subdistrict A), Nneka Constantino (subdistrict B), and Karl Hahn (at-large), and returning members … more

HAMLINE MIDWAY COALITION | 1/14/21

Banfield to open site on Larpenter

Banfield Pet Hospital has purchased and plans to expand an existing veterinary clinic on Larpenteur Ave. just west of Lexington. Banfield has acquired Larpenteur Animal Hospital, 1136 W. Larpenteur. … more

By Michael Kuchta, Executive Director district10@district10comopark.org | 1/14/21

PPGJLI children’s book takes top award in Minnesota Author Project contest

The children’s book, “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” has been selected as the winner in the first annual Minnesota Author Project … more

1/14/21

Niqui, April and Sean of St. Paul Camp Support with just some of the supplies they bring to the encampments. The group collects supplies at 2161 University Ave. W., on Wednesdays and Fridays, 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They always looking for clothing, camp stoves, towels or tents. (Photo by Jan Willms)

How will homeless weather winter?

Whether working for the state, the city or on the front lines, workers addressing the homeless situation in Minnesota strongly agree on two things: affordable housing is desperately needed, and the … more

By JAN WILLMS | 12/9/20 | 1 comment

Looking back to move forward

As a young child, Denise Pike experienced an attempted cross-burning on the front lawn of her family’s home in St. Louis Park. Her own family was multi-racial, and they shared the duplex with a … more

By CHLOE PETERS | 12/9/20

Trash fees increasing

What St. Paul’s residents pay for trash collection will increase in 2021. But the usually contentious issue of organized collection drew fewer than half a dozen public comments during a … more

By JANE McCLURE | 12/9/20

“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

‘Mr. Rondo’s Spirit: a story of a man and his community’

According to Rondo resident, educator, and artist Ericka Dennis, most children she meets don’t know the real story of the historic Rondo neighborhood. Dennis currently works as a Family Liaison … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 12/9/20

The Creative Enterprise Zone’s new executive director Angela Casselton. The 18 murals that now grace the mostly industrial spaces of the CEZ are a great way to experience art, especially during the pandemic when museums are closed. View the map of where they are located on the CEZ website at www.creativeenterprisezone.org. (Photos by Margie O’Loughlin)

Creative Enterprise Zone hires new executive director

Angela Casselton was recently named executive director of the Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ), a non-profit organization that attracts and supports creatives of all kinds to “make it … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 12/9/20

Players stand in front of the wall at Clayland Park. (Photo submitted)

‘All you need is a ball and a wall’

One wall handball wasn’t designed for the pandemic. But it’s a healthy solution to indoor courts for handball players.“All you need is a ball and a wall,” a player … more

By Carol Mahnke | 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 Gaither The 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 … more

By Rennie Gaither | 12/9/20

Young people help at Midway YMCA tree lot

Again Gary Ales and the Friendship Club turn out to help the Midway YMCA Men’s Club unload Christmas trees to help raise money for the Y programs. Over 50 people showed up the make hard work … more

12/9/20

{ Monitor in a Minute } December 2020

Hamline Park playground funds New playground equipment for Hamline Park is getting a boost in the form of a grant. On Nov. 18, 2020, the St. Paul City Council authorized the Department of Parks and … more

By JANE McCLURE | 12/9/20

Como seniors Kalid Ali has taken an active role in promoting political participation as interns with the League of Women Voters. (Photo submitted by Eric Erickson)

Teens serve as election judges

During the intensity of the 2020 General Election, many Como students took it upon themselves to participate in our democracy. Very few high school students are eligible voters, the exception being a … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 12/9/20

Thanks to the astounding generosity of Como residents, 150 seniors in the neighborhood and 50 homeless youth at Booth Brown House received freshly made Thanksgiving meals. Como residents donated more than $2,300 to make it happen, and nearly 50 volunteers delivered the meals in person. Here, Joan McKernan picks up meals to deliver from Molly Fitzel, executive director of the North End-South Como Block Nurse Program, who helped the Como Community Council coordinate the effort. (Photo submitted)

We’re making our list of best holiday decorations

The Como Community Council is looking for the best holiday decorations in the neighborhood. Here’s how it works. 1. Now: Sign up you house or a neighbor’s by filling out the form at … more

By Michael Kuchta, Executive Director district10@district10comopark.org | 12/9/20

Murray Goff, who has cystic fibrosis, hosts a radio show with his sister, Olive, each Sunday morning on Frogtown WFNU 94.1. After interviewing real estate agent Kris Lindahl, they got a billboard to showcase their weekly episodes. (Photo submitted)

Kids on the radio

When Murray and Olive Goff noticed the billboards for real estate agent Kris Lindahl popping up around the Twin Cities, they wanted to know how he got them.So they invited him onto their Frogtown … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/11/20