Ramsey County Public Works invites you to attend a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Project staff will provide an update on the Dale Street Reconstruction project between Iglehart and University avenues in Saint Paul - including the bridge over I-94.
Rondo Community Library
Large meeting room
461 Dale Street N., Saint Paul, MN 55104
Staff will provide a short presentation at 6 p.m. on the construction schedule, potential assessments and public art followed by discussion.
All are welcome.
More at: www.ramseycounty.us/dalebridge

This dish is basic comfort food. By basic, I mean basic. You may want to take it up a notch by adding frozen peas and carrots in with the chicken. Serve this dish with a tossed green salad.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
5 to 6 eggs
Milk
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
2 1/2 pounds chicken, cut into pieces (or use breast strips)
3/4 cup of sour cream

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease a large 9 x 11" baking dish.
Make the Batter...
Combine 1 3/4 cups of the flour, eggs, and milk to create a batter resembling that of a thick pancake batter. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, mix well and pour into the greased baking dish.
Add the Chicken...
Salt and pepper the chicken pieces and arrange throughout the batter in the baking dish. Bake for about 40 to 50 minutes until golden. Remove from heat.
Finish the Dish...
Mix the sour cream with 1 tablespoon of flour and pour/spread it over the chicken dish. Return the baking dish to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, in partnership with Twin Cities Geek, is once again collecting new and gently used toys to distribute during the holidays to St. Paul families in need through Hallie’s Toy Shop.

What is Hallie's Toy Shop?

Hallie's Toy Shop is a lot like other holiday toy drives, but bigger and more locally focused. By running its own toy drive the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, organizers can multipurpose by collecting not only gifts for local families in need, but also books for the Women’s Prison Book Project. 

Hallie's Toy Shop allows families pick whatever toy their children would like best. Children can leave Hallie's Toy Shop with up to six new and gently used toys, and up to five books or comics!

How can I help?

Toy and book donations are being accepted all around the metro area through Tuesday, Dec. 11. 

Learn more about the event, volunteering opportunities, and what sorts of toy and book donations are most in demand.

Where can I drop off my donations?
Find a donation location on the following map:

Jen and Sidique returned from their vacation to find that their apartment and all of their belongings were lost in a fire. They are beginning the unimaginably hard task of putting their lives back together after a tragedy, and they need your help.

Please visit the link below to donate to their Go Fund Me campaign, and help them recover some of what was lost. 

Thank you!

https://www.gofundme.com/devastating-apartment-fire-thankfully-no-injury

Here's a few fun things that Saint Paul Parks and Rec has coming up in Summit-University!

Community Events
Sat, Dec 15; 1-4pm: Winter Beach Party (Jimmy Lee) 
(Swimming is $2 but all other activities are free.)

Wed, Dec 26; 12:30-4pm: Kwanzaa Celebration
(MLK) (Free)

Parents Day/Night Out
Need to get some last minute shopping done? Just need a break from the holiday craziness? Then these Parents Day Off programs are just the thing you need. Drop off the youngsters and use that extra time for whatever errands, chores, or relaxing time you need to get done!
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Sat, Dec 22; 12-5pm: Parents Day Off (Jimmy Lee)
Sat, Dec 29, 12-5pm: Parents Day Off (MLK)

Winter Break (December 26-28)
No School Days - Winter (Jimmy Lee) (Ages 6-12 | $15 | 8:30am-5pm)
Winter Blast (MLK) (Ages 6-12 | FREE | 1pm-4pm)

During the month of December, there are three ways you can donate to the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center when you shop at the Mississippi Market!

1. Round up your grocery purchase to the nearest dollar at the checkout.

2. Bring your own bag, and donate the credit at the checkout.

3. Purchase non-perishible food items, toiletries, and pet food and leave your donations in the bin by the door.
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Supporting Hallie Q. Brown helps them provide outstanding services to the community. Thank you to Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op for choosing them to be your December Positive Change recipient!

Over 200 children and 100 Saint Paul Police officers spent the first Saturday of December getting ready for the holidays. It was very busy at the Midway Target on Hamline, as children teamed up with officers to find the perfect gift for their loved ones. 

The Shop With Cops has been bringing cheer to Saint Paul for 18 years. The event aims to build positive relationships between youth and officers. Every year, children are paired up with officers who volunteer their time to help them pick out gifts for their family. After they are done shopping, the children eat lunch and wrap gifts with officers and community members. 

Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell stated on Facebook during the event:
" Sometimes I just can’t believe how fortunate I am to work and live in a community like ours. ... Well over 200 kids and over 100 officers participated. Our community really steps up for this program and I would like to thank each and every one for making this possible (too many to mention)."

The Shop With Cops program accepts donations year round to support the program!