The lawsuit continues against the owner of the Apartment shop buildings, which has more than 5 buildings in the Corcoran Neighborhood. The number of serious things uncovered during the process of this lawsuit has captured the attention of some local newspapers, writing subsequent articles on this situation in the apartment buildings. Frenz, which operates its rental properties under a company called Apartment Shop, which in turn is controlled by Equity Residential, had previously claimed full ownership of the buildings bought from Zorbalas.                

From the Star Tribune: “But Frenz, who is now being sued to keep up with repairs and improve the conditions of the apartments, said in court that Zorbalas companies' control 50 to 70 percent of Equity Residential Holdings, LLC, the owner of the apartments entity. Frenz has previously stated that he and his wife owned the company. In court, Frenz pleaded the Fifth Amendment repeatedly refusing to answer questions at least 60 times on the ground that their answers might tend to incriminate him on allegations that he committed fraud and perjury. He also refused to answer 75 questions contained in an affidavit filed by his lawyers.”

Akshay Paatram

Shashikant Bhojraj  Anurupa Maheshwari , and Susan Jensen

Midtown Farmers Market

Akshay Paatram might be a bit difficult to say or remember, but all you need to know is that it means bountiful vessel and from that vessel comes a never ending supply of the most delicious vegetarian food. The full inspiring story comes from Sanskrit and can be read on the Akshay Patraam Facebook page. 

Husband and wife duo, Anu and Shashi, met Susan back in 2002 when they ran Gopal at the University of Minnesota.  It was a kitchen that welcomed all and was priced based on one’s ability to pay. By 2008, they had combined their life philosophies with their cooking to create Akshay Paatram and started serving food at local farmer’s markets. 

Members of the Minneapolis City Council and Workplace Regulations Partnership celebrate progress on paid sick time

Rosie wakes early to make it to work at the Lake Street McDonald’s on time - she catches the bus at 4:15 a.m. to make it fifteen minutes early for her 5:00 a.m. breakfast shift. When her shift is over she goes straight to her night job as a janitor and comes home after dark to her three children. In December her youngest child, who goes to childcare at a neighbor’s house, comes home with a sniffle. Pretty soon the whole family, including Rosie, was sick. Rosie needed to stay home to heal herself and care for her children but her budget for the month is tighter than normal - she wouldn’t have been able to make rent and keep food on the table if she missed any shifts at work.

Summer is official here!   Despite the heat we have a few events to wet your whistle as you go about the month. 

GROWS Annual Campout- July 8-10^th at Interstate State Park.  We have a group site for both nights.  It's only tent camping at the site but you are always welcome to join us throughout the day for hiking, exploring and possibly canoeing.  This is potluck-style so bring something to eat and share with the larger group.  Please RSVP to [email protected] or the event page on facebook so we know who to expect and if you need supplies.  

Backyard Genius Tour – Sunday, July 31^st (3-6pm) – Map and starting point will be emailed and facebooked 1 week before the tour.  We will be visiting several houses in the neighborhood that are taking DIY to a new level.  For questions please contact Joe @ 612-722-6473.  

**I did hear a certain bird say that after our Genius tour on July 31^st there might be a neighborhood bash with food/fun and games.  Keep your eyes open for more spontaneous events throughout the month! 

Find more information at Corcoran GROWS on Facebook! 

Getting groomed up and all with the audience of K-9 & Kitty Kutter’s resident parrot keeping watch.

Are you looking for a unique, friendly, and appropriately priced groomer for your dog or cat? Then you are in luck! We are lucky enough to have “K-9 & Kitty Kutters” right in our backyard on the corner of 35th and Bloomington. The ladies here do an incredible job with grooming both dogs AND cats! And it is immediately apparent that the groomers here truly love their work and treat each pet as their own while they are in the shop. At K-9 & Kitty Kutters, the grooms come out beautifully every time and I have never had to wait longer than a day or two to get an appointment!

At Open Streets on Sunday, July 24th, the Humanize Hi-Lake Campaign had over 500 postcards signed for us to send to public officials to tell them that we need funding to improve the intersection. 

 How we can improve safety:

• Simplify and shorten pedestrian crossings
• Add bike lanes at crossings
• Eliminate free right turns for vehicles

If you would like to sign the petition and learn more please visit our Humanize Hi-Lake Petition at change.com 

To stay updated on information and action alerts like our Humanize Hi-Lake page on Facebook. 

"What would Dory do?" If you have ever found yourself over thinking something, try asking this question. Some "fishy" characters in the movie did and discovered surprisingly helpful results. I confess I had a fair amount of anxiety leading up to this long-awaited sequel, primarily because I did not want my memories of Finding Nemo - in my opinion Disney's flagship animated feature -- tainted. Finding Dory is not Finding Nemo, but nor does it try to be. It stands alone and succeeds on its own merit.

The pacing for the first hour felt a little slow until I realized later how the story was being masterfully set up…so hang in there! The final thirty-plus minutes are a nonstop rollercoaster of laughs, tears, and suspense, rekindling the best of Finding Nemo. One word to remember this go-around folks: "Otters!" Watching the opening night premiere from the front row with the swell of uproarious laughter behind me was an experience I will never forget.

Transportation is readily available in the Corcoran neighborhood. Whether it is bus, train or bike, all are just steps away. Today I will be talking about the modes of transportation that are available here in our neighborhood.

Metro Transit is a common provider of transportation throughout Minneapolis. Whether it beby train or bus, be sure that they have you covered. Metro lines running through Corcoran include the 21, 22, and 111, which are all bus lines, and the Blue Line, which is a train route. The 21 Line is a crosstown route that runs from the Uptown Transit Station in the West to Downtown St. Paul in the East. It travels along Lake Street, which is on the border of Corcoran, and along Selby Avenue in Saint Paul.  The 22 Line is a local route that connects North and South Minneapolis. In the north it ends at the Brooklyn Center Transit Center and runs to the VA hospital in the South, running right through downtown Minneapolis. It also runs right through the heart of Corcoran neighborhood, with stops along Cedar Avenue, 35th Street and 23rd Avenue. The 111 Line is a limited stop route that runs along Cedar Avenue to the University of Minnesota. The 111 bus line is a nice quick way to get to campus from our neighborhood. The Blue Line is also a source of transportation for the Corcoran Neighborhood. The Blue Line has stops at the Lake Street Station and 38th Street Station in and near our neighborhood. The Blue Line can take you from Downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America, and it is convenient for anyone looking to travel in between these locations.   

In July, we as a country celebrate our independence on July 4 th . Minneapolis and surrounding neighborhoods will have numerous celebrations and activities (see calendar) and of course firework displays starting at around dusk or 10pm depending upon the location. The noise and lights of the 4 th can be a stressful time for people suffering PTSD. It can also be a stressful time for pets (especially dogs) and their owners who have to calm them. Smaller, non-exploding fireworks are legal in Minneapolis but larger varieties are not. The laws and safety tips can be found on the City of Minneapolis website: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/WCMS1P-110442

Summer is now in full swing and so is the Midtown Farmers Market. As the temperatures rise the offerings of our vendors will grow and during the month of July you’ll see the summers first raspberries, blueberries, peppers, tomatoes and so much more! Here are some other great items you’ll find at the market this month: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, spinach, kale, lettuces, Asian greens, green onions, beans, radishes, beets, peas, cucumbers, summer squash and zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, a variety of meats, eggs, cheese, butter, yogurt, honey, maple syrup, artisan breads, baked goods, preserves, pickled veggies, fermented products, coffee, arts and crafts and a fantastic assortment of prepared foods from burgers and omelets to tacos and tamales to enjoy for breakfast or lunch at the market.