Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

2021 Como Park Honor Roll recipients

In January, D10 Como Community Council accepted nominations for the 2021 Como Neighborhood Honor Roll, board members voted to select three honorees among the seven nominations, and the winners were … more

By SHEVEK McKEE Executive Director | 3/10/22

Students participated in a career fair at Como Park High School on Feb. 23. (Photo by Eric Erickson)

Students check out options during career fair

Thirty representatives from businesses, industries, and trade groups shared information and opportunities with interested Como students during the school day on Feb. 23. Students signed up for … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 3/10/22

PREPARE AND PROSPER

Finances and tax preparation can be challenging for even the most experienced. For many families and individuals who are also living on a low to moderate income, the challenges can be enormous.Enter … more

By Jan Willms | 2/10/22

‘I RAN’

At 25, Sarah* doesn’t speak to her dad. And she points the finger squarely at him and how he treated her before and after her parents’ divorce.She knows that people often blame mom when a … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 2/10/22

MSP Film reimagines St. Anthony Main Theater

A long-time dream of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Film Society (MSP Film) is about to come to fruition. The site of the MSP Film Society at St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 SE Main in Minneapolis, has … more

By Jan Willms | 2/10/22

NEW YEAR, NEW IDEAS

Dai Thao has been representing Ward 1 on the St. Paul City Council since 2013. With new challenges coming up in 2022, Thao aims to navigate the best possible outcomes for the communities of Frogtown … more

By CHLOE PETER | 2/10/22

Carmen Gutiérrez Bolger & Richard (dik) Bolger: Longtime Como residents, together 42 year

LIFELONG VALENTINES

With its mid-month Valentine’s Day holiday, February is synonymous with love. And countless couples seal their love by entering committed relationships, whether marriage or domestic … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 2/10/22

Both retail stores carry three main brands of computers: Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo. Large quantities of computers are sold to schools and non-profits, but community members are welcome to shop too. Wil James is the store manager of the St. Paul store.

Tech Dump recycles almost anything with a cord or battery

The non-profit electronics recycler Tech Dump just celebrated its 10th anniversary. With retail outlets now in St. Paul and Golden Valley, they provide an affordable, reliable source of refurbished … more

By Margie O’Loughlin | 2/10/22

At the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center food shelf (270 N. Kent St.), folks can get culturally specific foods, allergy/diet and religion restricted and pet food. (Photo submitted)

Combating hunger

In each county and district in Minnesota, people face the difficulties of figuring out where their next meal may come from, or if it will come at all. According to a study done by Feeding America, a … more

By CHLOE PETER | 2/10/22

Local women entrepreneurs have won awards from the city of St. Paul. Lip Esteem owner Tameka Johns, shown with her daughter, KiJana, won the New Kid on the Block Award.

Congrats, small businesses

Owning and operating a small business is seldom easy. The COVID-19 pandemic of the past couple of years has added to the challenges, and not every small business has made it through the tough … more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/10/22

Frog Food February 2022

Z Akhmetova | 2/10/22

Why wait for warm weather? Plant seeds in the snow now. All it takes to make a mini-greenhouse is a milk jug, soil and seeds. Photo by Rudy Hernandez, Frogtown Green.

Outdoor Gardening in February? You Betcha.

It’s early February: time to start planting garden seeds! That’s right, no need to wait until Memorial Day to get started gardening. But forget the grow lights, heat mats and inevitable … more

By Patricia Ohmans, Frogtown Green | 2/10/22

POWER OF SOLIDARITY

“It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up – that we will begin to live each … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 2/10/22

Study seeks to add ‘missing middle’ housing options

Zoning changes meant to make it easier to add dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods won unanimous St. Paul City Council approval Jan.19, 2022. Now the second phase of work on the one- to … more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/10/22

St. Paul City School second graders took a field trip to Base Camp where they got to rock climb. (Photo courtesy of St. Paul City School) St. Paul City School has received a $475,000 Full Service Community Schools grant (over 2.5 years). “This money will provide an opportunity to truly understand the needs of the community and resources to support families,” remarked executive director Meg Cavalier. “The Family and Community Center in the new building will connect the school, families, and the community with access to health care, mental health support, food, legal, employment, and housing supports. It is truly our dream to be a wrap-around community school and we are thrilled that this is coming!”

From school to youth center

A longtime Frogtown school will be transformed into a youth center housing up to 16 young people. On Jan. 21, 2022, the St. Paul Planning Commission Jan. 21 unanimously approved a conditional use … more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/10/22

IN BRIEF February 2022

NEW LIBRARY DIRECTORJake Grussing has been selected as the Director of Ramsey County Library. Grussing will be responsible for overseeing 99 full-time employees working across seven locations and a … more

2/10/22

PLAN IT February 2022

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT DRIVEA personal care and paper products drive for the residents at Emma Norton Services will be held noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27 at Hamline Church United Methodist, 1514 … more

2/10/22

Mayor visits students at St. Peter Claver

Scholars at St. Peter Claver Catholic School were treated to a lesson on leadership when Mayor Melvin Carter visited the school on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Mayor Carter, whose dad is a St. Peter … more

2/10/22

Join District 10 Como Community Council Board in 2022

Here’s your chance to tackle that new year’s resolution to get more involved: Eight seats are up for election in April to the District 10 Como Community Council board. The board recently … more

By SHEVEK McKEE Executive Director | 2/10/22

Sam Skinner and Chikamso Chijioke will represent Como at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. (Photo by Como debate coach Deb Hansmeier)

Students consider real-world issues, think critically on debate team

For a second straight season, Chikamso Chijioke and Sam Skinner qualified for the Minnesota State Debate Meet. Competing in the policy division, the duo advanced to the quarterfinal round of the … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 2/10/22