Have a little rock star in the house? Beginning Guitar for kids 7+ has space available. Class meets Mondays 6-6:30pm. Need to dance and and get some exercise? Exercise Dance Classes (like Zumba) continue Mondays and Wednesdays 5-7pm and Fridays 4:30-6pm.

Toddler Tot Time is in full winter swing 5-8pm on Tuesdays. Along with lots of gym toys for the little ones, the kitchen is available if parents want to bring or cook food. For more info, stop by the park.

As always, if there’s interest, we’re always looking for programming suggestions and folks willing to teach and share their talents. What would you like to do at Corcoran Park?

Are you interested in vending at the Midtown Farmers Market? Quality vendors are the heart of the Midtown Farmers Market and we strive to create a balanced and diverse vendor mix each season. Applications from Minnesota and Wisconsin farmers, artisans and producers are welcome! Visit our website, www.midtownfarmersmarket.org or contact Market Manager Miguel Goebel at [email protected] or 612-724-7457, for more information and to access the 2016 vendor application.

Hennepin County broke ground in January on phase 1 of redevelopment of 2225 East Lake, the 6.5 acre property immediately south and west of Lake Street and Hiawatha. In addition to new retail, County services, and a public plaza and permanent home for the Midtown Farmers Market, plans call for a total of 565 new homes to be built by one or more developers who would partner with the County. Commissioner Peter McLaughlin asked the CNO Board to present its desired mix of housing for the overall development.

The Corcoran Neighborhood Organization's Land Use & Housing committee led a series of discussions, fact-finding and presentations, and community debates on these topics over the last 9 months with the final meeting on Jan. 7 attended by a diverse mix of renters, homeowners, longtime and new residents representing a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. Informed by these discussions, the CNO Board has finalized a 1-page policy to present to Hennepin County.

The board recognizes that development will play out over multiple phases and at least ten years of time, during which numerous economic and market trends will change and affect developer preferences, resources, and constraints. The policy emphasizes goals unlikely to be met by market forces alone.

Corcoran Neighborhood would not be the same place without the many leaders, who give time and their skills to building upon the strengths of this neighborhood. Every year, CNO hosts our Community Awards Dinner to celebrate the work that has occurred over the past year by dedicated leaders.

Join your neighbors at CNO’s Community Awards Dinner on Wednesday, February 24^th. Dinner will begin at 6:00 pm at Corcoran Park (3334 20^th Ave S), accompanied by music. Kabomelette owners and Corcoran Neighbors, Greg and Chelsea Miller, will cater the dinner.

If you happen to have a power line on your block, there is a good chance that you also have trees that have been pruned to look like the letter “Y.” This is quite an odd way for a tree to look – and grow. I know of a few places near my house where the trees look like this. If the tree is older, it is less obvious in the spring and summer. This time of year, however, it’s pretty hard to miss.

Did you know that your local neighborhood organization – CNO – is one of the most active and effective neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis?

Having lived in the neighborhood since 2006, it wasn’t until I joined the board in 2014 that I found out CNO does significantly more than publish the Corcoran News and host the used book sale. Since then, I have learned about the impact of CNO’s work in the neighborhood.

Because I value the contributions of CNO’s amazing staff and engaged volunteers, my husband and I are CNO Sustainers – donors who give a monthly or quarterly donation to support CNO’s work. Will you join us?

What Repairs Are Required in My Apartment is a visual guide created as a collaborative effort between the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and Minneapolis neighborhood/housing organizations, including Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, who support tenant organizing.

The guide aims to increase awareness and use of City of Minneapolis ordinance that governs health, safety and welfare conditions in rental housing, known as the Housing Maintenance Code. Content of the guide has been reviewed and approved by the City of Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services for consistency with city laws and policies.

Prepare to walk confidently through the home buying process with PRG, Inc's Home Stretch Homebuyer Workshops. Corcoran residents can register for FREE by entering the promo code ‘CORCORAN’ on the website registration page: http://prginc.org/homebuyers/register-for-workshops/. 

Not ready to take the class? Meet with a PRG homeownership advisor to talk about your personal path to homeownership. Homeownership advising is free!

Are you interested in pursuing additional training to help expand or start a small businesses? The Corcoran Neighborhood Organization has partnered with the Neighborhood Development Center (NDC) to provide the "Plan IT" entrepreneurship training program for area small businesses and residents. 

Over 60 residents gathered on Sept. 23 to discuss the future of Corcoran Park. CNO organized the meeting in cooperation with Corcoran Park staff in response to Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board requests for input on future improvements to park amenities, programs and services, and recreation centers around the city.

Everyone who attended shared what they love about Corcoran Park, and what they’d most love to improve or change. CNO gathered additional input through conversations at the park with families, Twin Cities Native Lacrosse and other frequent users, through door-knocking, through conversations with local day care providers, and through an online survey that closed Oct. 4. Through this process we heard from well over 150 households and we analyzed the input to identify the community’s top priorities.