Como Community Council Corner

By MICHAEL KUCHTA, Executive Director

Garage Sale

The annual Como Neighborhood Garage Sale is this weekend, June 15-17, 2018. For a map of where you’ll find the yard and garage sales and a list of what they’re selling, see District 10’s website: www.district10comopark.org.

Join the next wave of rain gardens

Capitol Region Watershed District leads a hands-on workshop and scouting expedition to identify locations for the next wave of boulevard rain gardens in District 10. These types of gardens are one of the most cost-effective ways to collect and filter polluted street runoff before it reaches Como Lake. The best part: the selected locations may get rain gardens installed at no cost. The free workshop is Sat., June 23, from 9am-noon, at the Como Park Streetcar Station, 1224 Lexington Pkwy. N.

Parking hassles?

District 10 is looking at how to deal with the pressures that major events put on parking on our streets. On Mon., June 25, we’ll have two similar meetings to explore challenges in different parts of the neighborhood.

The first meeting focuses on streets between Hamline on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Victoria on the east, and Arlington on the south.

Specifically, we’re looking for resident feedback on two ideas:

• Whether it makes sense to expand the number of streets on which parking is restricted to one side during the State Fair.

• Whether it makes sense to expand the parking overlay district during the State Fair, so more residents can park cars on their front lawns.

This first meeting is Mon., June 25, from 6-7pm in the Fireside Room at Como Park Lutheran Church, 1376 Hoyt.

The second meeting focuses on streets south of the lake and east of Lexington. This meeting has three main topics on the agenda:

• Whether to expand the number of streets on which parking is restricted to one side during the State Fair.

• A request by some residents to allow lawn parking during the annual Hmong Freedom Festival.

• Unveil the plan for new lane configurations on Lexington Pkwy., primarily for northbound traffic from Orchard to the Horton/Como intersection.

This second meeting is Mon., June 25, beginning at 7:30pm in the back room at Gabe’s by the Park, 991 Lexington Pkwy.

Make your ComoFest Plans now

District 10’s Ice Cream Social launches ComoFest 2018, which again offers affordable neighborhood fun the last three weekends of July.

The Ice Cream Social is scheduled for Fri., July 13, 5:30-8pm at the Como Park Streetcar Station. It’s a chance to kick back in the park with friends and family, enjoy the Baron of Bubble, enjoy music from the She Shells, learn about and talk with neighborhood organizations, enjoy Shakespeare in the Park (with “Romeo and Juliet” by the Classical Actors Ensemble) and, of course, enjoy ice cream. And, of course, it’s free.

The rest of the ComoFest lineup:

• Fri., July 13: North Dale Movie Night, 9pm, featuring “Coco,” 1414 St. Albans

• Fri., July 20: Lyngblomsten Mid-Summer Festival, 2-8pm, 1415 Almond Ave.

• Sat., July 21: ComoFest 5k Walk/Run for Everyone (benefiting Como Park Falcon Heights Living at Home Block Nurse Program), 8-10am, Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 Lexington Pkwy. N.

• Sun., July 22: ComoFest Art Fair, 10am-2pm, Como Lakeside Pavilion

• Fri., July 27: Northwest Como Movie Night and Campout, beginning at 6pm, featuring “Beauty and the Beast” (2017 version), 1550 Hamline Ave.

• Sat., July 28: TopLine Federal Credit Union Community Appreciation Picnic, 11am-1pm, 976 Lexington Pkwy.

• Sat., July 28: Gabe’s Mini Mania, 1-5pm, 991 Lexington Pkwy.

Get full details at www.comofest.org

Upcoming District 10 meetings

• Como Community Council Monthly Meeting: Tues., June 19

• Environment Committee: Wed., June 27

• Neighborhood Relations and Safety Committee: Tues., July 10

• Land Use Committee: Wed., July 11

All meetings begin at 7pm, typically at the Como Park Streetcar Station, which is at the northeast corner of Lexington and Horton.

Community members are always welcome to attend and participate. Whenever possible, agendas are posted in advance in the “Board News” section of District 10’s website.