Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

PLAN IT August 2022

AUTHOR AT RICE STREET LIBRARY AUG. 20Summer may be winding down, but there is still a lot of fun to be had at the library. Summer Spark, the library’s reading and activity challenge program for … more

8/12/22

MANDALA DAY OF SERVICE

Twenty-four Africans from 15 countries who are part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders volunteered at the Books For Africa warehouse in St. Paul (717 Prior Ave. N.) on … more

8/12/22

SAINT PAUL COLLEGE HONORED

The State of Minnesota has designated Saint Paul College as a Yellow Ribbon organization, becoming the 84th Yellow Ribbon Organization in Minnesota. Being identified as a Yellow Ribbon organization … more

8/12/22

Harvest Fest coming to Tilden Park

Harvest Festival at Tilden ParkThe Como Community Council will be hosting a Harvest Festival at Tilden Park on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 3-5 p.m. Whether you come with your neighbors or come to meet … more

By SHEVEK McKEE Executive director district10@ district10comopark.org | 8/12/22

Before Nextdoor

You remember the one. The one who knew the best car repair shop. The one who knew someone to get your snow blower started, or find your dog that got out. If somebody’s kid was playing a local … more

By Sonjie Johnson Como resident | 8/12/22

Kari Olsen, at left, chats with a community member while working in the Shobi’s Table food truck., In 2021, Shobi’s served 4,691 meals through the food truck and brought 932 meals to other partners. (Photos submitted)

A COMMON TABLE

In the summer of 2021, a woman came to get lunch at Shobi’s Table, a pay-as-you-can food truck started by Christ Lutheran Church (105 University Ave. W.), just because she saw the big blue … more

By CHLOE PETER | 7/13/22

The site of the Midway shopping center (above) is empty on the east side of Allianz Field, while The Pitch and the Pivot, two six-story, multi-use buildings, have risen on the west side. The nearby sites where Big Top Liquor and DTLR Sports Dome were formerly located also remain vacant and covered by grass. CVS closed its location on the corner of Snelling and University. The locally-owned Lloyd’s Pharmacy rebuilt at its former location at 720 Snelling Ave. N. (Photos by Tesha M. Christensen)

Perspectives on University Ave.

How have businesses in the Midway weathered the dual challenges of the pandemic and racial unrest? Hear from two local leaders, one from the art community and the other from the business … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 7/13/22

Neighbor Sylvie Wolfson is pictured reading with George.

Midway signs inspire children’s book

By JAN WILLMS When children’s book author Ioana Stoian started taking her two and a half-year-old son, George, on walks to the Hamline-Midway Library, he would stop and point at the … more

7/13/22

City’s new deeply affordable housing to open in Midway

A unique and historic University Avenue building will become the Twelve22 University apartment building, as part of a larger effort to provide very low-income housing. The St. Paul City Council … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/13/22

"It's such a cool feeling to know we're able to help people in this way," said NACC Operations Manager Ashlee Jallen. (Photo submitted)

Native American Community Clinic combines medical care, classes and Indigenous spiritual practices

A patient who had an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine was having second thoughts. They were anxious to receive the vaccine and did not know if they wanted to continue on the day that they were … more

By CHLOE PETER | 7/13/22

On June 14, the new skate park and skater trail at Highland Bridge officially opened. (Photo courtesy of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation)

First skater trail opens in St. Paul

When a “skater trail” and other skater amenities opened in June at St. Paul’s Highland Bridge Gateway Park, supporters of other city skate parks watched with great interest. That … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/13/22

Neighborhoods pinpoint priorities for city CIB funding

Six area projects are candidates for 2023 and 2024 Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) funding, which is cause for cautious optimism in Frogtown, Union Park, St. Anthony Park and Como … more

By JANE McCLURE | 7/13/22

DIARY OF A PLASTIC-FREE WANNABE

Have you heard about Plastic Free July? It’s a decade-old movement to get people to reduce their use of single-use plastics. The hoped-for result: cleaner streets, lakes, rivers, and … more

By PATRICIA OHMANS | 7/13/22

Frog Food by Z Akhmetova July 2022

7/13/22

Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli from Indigenous Roots perform during the 2022 Peace Celebration. (Photo submitted by Abby Gessesse)

Celebrating truth and peace

“The naked truth is always better than the best-dressed lie.” – Ann Landers “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will… The limits of … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 7/13/22

Kids enjoyed treats and painting at the annual ice cream social. (Photo by Shevek McKee)

Thank you, thank you, thank you

It’s been a whirlwind few months at the Como Community Council, we’ve had lake clean-ups, blood drives, community gardening events, Como Tree Trek, Como Homo Hangout, new community events … more

By SHEVEK McKEE Executive director district10@ district10comopark.org | 7/13/22

Como Park senior Rais Jaffer raced to medals in both hurdling events at the Section 4AA track and field meet. (Photo by Eric Erickson)

Highlights at school year end

Graduation HighlightsSeniors from the Class of 2022 and their families were busy celebrating accomplishments in early June. Graduation took place at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in downtown St. Paul on … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 7/13/22

Little Jibril can now swim the length of the recreational pool at the Midway YMCA on Saturday mornings. (Photo by Mitchell Lallier)

LEARNING HOW TO SWIM AT THE YMCA

Little eyes brighten and smiles break out when mommy or daddy say it’s time to go to the pool at the Midway YMCA Saturday mornings for swimming lessons for infants and toddlers.Mitch Lallier … more

By CAROL MAHNKE | 7/13/22

Making St. Paul even more awesome

What do a Makerspace teacher at Randolph Heights Elementary School, the owner of a St. Paul Frogtown-based non-profit that provides medical supplies to Bolivians, and a library media specialist at … more

7/13/22

PLAN IT July 2022

SEE MACBETH JULY 22-31“Something wicked this way comes” as Shakespearean Youth Theatre presents Macbeth at the Crane Theater, 2303 NE Kennedy St. in Minneapolis, July 22-July 31. … more

7/13/22