News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

One of the six Little Free Libraries installed as part of the 2021 “Love Letters for the Midway” project isn’t feeling the love. Matthew and Jamie Wright’s quest to keep their … more

By Jane McClure | 12/12/22

Cheniqua Johnson announces candidacy

Cheniqua Johnson, lifelong Minnesotan, public servant, community leader, and proud first-generation homeowner in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, hopes to continue serving Saint Paul residents … more

12/12/22

Luke Kabat is the assistant manager at Frattallone’s Como Avenue store, one of their many Twin Cities locations. Local stores carry items that can keep folks warmer this winter. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

Warming up for winter

Ever been accused of having a thin skin? When it comes to maintaining proper body temperature, this old adage is no joke. As we age, our metabolic rate decreases and our skin literally thins. Often, … more

By Susan Schaefer | 12/12/22

Gita Ghei, a longtime volunteer in both Hamline-Midway and Frogtown, holds up a tree that has just been extracted from a gravel-filled nursery bed. Gravel bed-grown trees form dense clumps of roots that aid in transplantation. (Photo courtesy of Frogtown Green)

Free trees for Frogtown, Hamline-Midway residents

Frogtown GreenSince 2011, volunteers in the Frogtown neighborhood have been planting free trees in residents’ homes. Inspired by those efforts, and alarmed by recent declines in urban tree … more

By Mae Macfarlane | 12/12/22

The Irreducible Grace Foundation is now operating the Black Youth Healing Arts Center at the former St. Paul City School building. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

Center for black youth opens

“Urban has become the new word for Black. Let us say Black Students.” - Lucky Rosenbloom “The bonds of our common humanity are stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and … more

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

Como students and staff posed together after competing in a friendly volleyball tournament. (Photo by Diego Guevara)

Athletes earn state honors

State swimmerCougar freshman Aleia Lueck entered the Section 4A girls swimming meet on Nov. 11, 2022 with a goal of setting a personal record in the 50-yard freestyle. When she touched the wall with … more

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

Local cleaning firm wins three awards

Good things come in threes. Mitchell Lallier can attest to that as his company, S & L Cleaning (1821 University Ave.), has won three awards in the past few weeks. Each award cites the … more

By Carol Mahnke | 12/12/22

Coins for Children’s cancer drive

Murray’s National Junior Honor Society group held a Coins for Children’s Cancer drive in October. They raised $329.98, so three staff members rose to the challenge and volunteered to have … more

12/12/22

Tidbits December 2022

SUNRISE BANKS HONORED Sunrise Banks has received Fast Company’s Brands That Matter award, a national accolade that recognizes companies making an impact beyond the bottom line and authentically … more

12/12/22

The Victoria Theater was built as a silent movie house in 1915.

Victoria Theater Arts Center to finally open in January 2024

Frogtown’s historic Victoria Theater could be in the spotlight in 2024, as the long-awaited community arts center opens its doors. The theater leadership earlier this fall accepted $1 million … more

By Jane McClure | 12/12/22

An Austin Film Festival Winner and Catalyst Story Institute Winner, Lillie Gardner was raised in the St. Paul before she studied writing and music at New York University. Her work is focused on women defying expectations in both contemporary and historical settings.

Sisters collaborate on animated show to highlight unknown female composers

Hamline-Midway resident Dr. Lillie Gardner took her animated kids TV show about women composers to Austin Film Festival in October. A piano instructor and screenwriter born and raised in St. Paul, … more

12/12/22

Programs for elders

Here are a few upcoming classes: • Arthritis-Friendly Exercise Program, Jan.17-March 9, Tuesday and Thursday 1:30-2:30 p.m. •Chair Yoga, Jan. 19-March 9, Thursday 10:30-11:30 a.m. • … more

By LAUREL COLLINS laurel@hmelders.org 651-209-6542 | 12/12/22

Plan it December 2022

APPLAUSE COMMUNITY THEATER SHOW Applause Community Theatre is excited to present another evening that showcases the talents of Minnesota playwrights in “More One-Acts? Heck Yeah!,” at … more

12/12/22

Time is running out to hold Big Tech accountable for abusing local news

Local journalism is facing an existential crisis because of Big Tech's abusive business tactics. In the early days of the internet, the news was something you had to go out of your … more

News Media Alliance | 11/10/22

Urban29 owner Joyce Sanders stands in her new store at 633 University Ave. W., in the new Frogtown Crossing building. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Streetwear at University and Dale

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN Urban29 lost its space at 804 E. Lake in Minneapolis when the building burned after the murder of George Floyd. Owner Joyce Sanders of Longfellow opened a pop-up location … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/9/22

Mike Reynolds (left) and Jessica Kopp stand by the new stoplight at Snelling and Englewood. (Photo submitted)

A LITTLE SAFER FOR ALL

For decades, neighbors have been asking that something be done to make it safer to cross the street at Snelling and Englewood. In October 2022, the city finally installed a stoplight. “I had … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/9/22

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

Judge allows new Taco Bell

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