One of the founding members of the library, Rebecca Nutter, says the library believes in reducing its environmental impact when it comes to toys, that when toys are broken or unusable, there needs to be a way to recycle instead of tossing them in the garbage. Nutter thinks families will be excited to use the Zero Waste Box because it provides an option for recycling that is not otherwise available in Minneapolis.                                                                                                                                                     

“We know families have toys in their homes that break or a puzzle that is missing a piece,” said Nutter. “Donation centers won’t take these materials and some families don’t have the time to find where these toys can be recycled, so they probably just throw them in the garbage. Now, families can bring these items in to be recycled during one of our toy lending events.  It will be a big hit, we just know it!”

“You don’t have to attend every fight you’re invited to.”  These were words from a wise woman who I called my spiritual advisor for a great many years.  Unfortunately, I did not incorporate these words into my life until I was older. I had heard a similar message in my youth.  My grandmother told me to “pick your battles.”

Before engaging in a struggle of will or wit, ask yourself, ‘How important is it?’  Is a topic tendered a deal breaker, or is it something you can be patient with and allow circumstances to take their due course?  Can you trust that there is more to life than your perspective, and just sit back and observe?  Silence and circumspection goes a long way, and the better part of valor is oftentimes simply listening.  Remember the Three Second Rule:  before saying anything, especially in a stressful situation, wait three seconds.  In the heat of the moment, we might say something we'll regret later. It’s hard to undo the damage we generate when we seek to control solutions, or impose harmony. By waiting before responding to any given stressor, we avail ourselves of the opportunity to rise above the situation. By flying high like an eagle, (to the sea), we “see” the big picture.

Over time you’ll experience what it’s like to be a true Flight Attendant, rather than a Fight Attendant. And then maybe someday, when you've learned to compose yourself in the midst of big and small issues, you’ll become a Flight Instructor instead of a Fright Instructor. Choose your words well.  

 New Business in the Corcoran Neighborhood

                New features are popping up all over our area. There are new businesses being established that help our community, one of those being the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore. With this great business, you can get home goods for great prices and give back to the public.

                The ReStore is a home improvement outlet. They sell donated home furnishings and building materials for a fraction of the original costs. Everything found in their store is donation based and their merchandise comes every day from contractors, retailers, and private individuals.

At the ReStore you can get involved through buying, donating, and volunteering. Through shopping, the proceeds go toward Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to provide decent housing. You can donate to the ReStore, but please read their donation guidelines before doing so here: (https://restore.tchabitat.org/donate). They accept a wide variety of items and all donations are tax deductible and 100% used towards Habitat for Humanity’s mission. The third way you can get involved is through volunteering. You can volunteer as a group or as an individual. As a volunteer, your tasks could range anywhere from accepting donations, cashiering, or answering the phone. This great organization could not be run without volunteers, so if you’re looking for someplace to do so, the ReStore is a great option.

Did you know, that depending upon where you live in Corcoran neighborhood, your sidewalk and street water flows to either Lake Hiawatha or directly to the Mississippi River?  Too much leaf matter, lawn nutrients, sidewalk salt  -or yes, even garbage - washing out of the street when it rains creates poor water quality in the lake and river.  Leached-out leaf nutrients lead to algae growth in the water, causing a lack of oxygen and a poor environment for lake creatures, yucky water for swimming in, and ultimately, contributing to such things as the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.  Who knew that leaving the leaves in the street and the gutter is now totally not cool?!

Positively impacting the quality of the water flowing out of our neighborhood is part of a year-long focus on various water-related issues that Corcoran GROWS has committed to. In conjunction with other nearby neighborhoods, enlisting residents to sign a Clean Water Pledge and take actions such as  keeping their street gutters cleared of leaves is part of the plan.  

About 50 people came to Corcoran Park on Friday, November 4.
246 shoeboxes were packed
Going to Caribbean and south Africa.

Anyone who still wants to help can donate online at Samaritanspurse.org/occ

Once again, our Corcoran neighbors have proven to be excellent soup/chili makers!   Nearly, 50 neighbors filled the Corcoran Neighborhood office on Wednesday evening to enjoy our community and fill our bellies.   Over eleven soup-makers joined in the cook-off with savory, spicy, and homemade delights.  Each one was better than the next!

In the end, only three could be on top!  The winners were: Angie Brown and Laury Johnson's cutfoot curry soup. With Kim and Tom Medin's seafood chowder coming in second and Lauryn Przybylowski's cajun gumbo coming in third.

The only thing better than this year’s cook-off is looking forward to next years.  Keep on cookin' Corcoran!

Americans generate an extra 5 million tons of household waste, including three times as much food waste, during the holidays (World Watch Institute).  Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling encourages you to be realistic this holiday season about the amount of food you prepare to reduce wasted food:

• Get an accurate head count of guests that you will be cooking for and prepare amount of servings needed accordingly
• Make a list of the amount of food you need before going to the grocery store 
• Begin saving your old containers and tupperware and/or ask your guests to bring their own to take leftovers home from the holiday meal
• Delegate a specific dish for each guest to bring so you don’t end up with three uneaten green bean casserole and not enough dessert
• If you do have food scraps to dispose of, you can compost them through Minneapolis’ organics recycling program.  If you don’t already have an organics recycling cart visit www.minneapolismn.gov/organics or call 612-673-2917 to sign up.

For more information about how to reduce wasted food this holiday season visit www.SaveTheFood.com.  

Corcoran Park Rec Center has 5 openings for the PreSchool Kindertots program.  The program is held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am-3pm for ages: 3-5 (must be able to go to the bathroom independently).  The winter program runs from January 3, 2017-March 23, 2017. Take advantage of this time for your little one to make new friends while playing and learning new social skills. Each day your child will enjoy music, storytelling, and creating artwork. Parents, pack your child's favorite food for lunchtime each day at the park. You won't want to miss out on this opportunity for your little one. 

While the results of the Presidential election are well known here are the results for the rest of our precinct

Results taken from: http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1    

Remove Lawmakers’ Power to Set Their Own Pay
Yes    2265835
No    536272
Estimated Blanks    166174
Estimated Total Number of Voters    2968281
Estimated Percent of YES*    76.33%

SCHOOL DISTRICT QUESTION 1 (SSD #1) Show Question     134 precincts in contest. 1 of 1 precincts reported.
Party    Candidate    Totals    Pct    Graph
Nonpartisan      YES    1601    84.49%   
Nonpartisan      NO    294    15.51%   

Our neighborhood was rocked by the death of resident Paul Knobbe earlier this month. While the investigation is ongoing the MPD is unable to share more information at this time other than it is believed to have been a robbery. Karen Notsch (612-673-2856, [email protected]) our neighborhood’s Crime Prevention Specialist shared with me the following to help us protect ourselves.

ROBBERY PREVENTION

What you can do:

• Carry only what you need. Do not take large amounts of cash or unnecessary personal items with you.
• Be extra cautious about your surroundings. Trust your instincts. Be aware of strangers loitering in your area. If anyone is acting suspiciously, call 911.
• Don’t get distracted!  Cell phones, iPhones and other electronics can be a distraction to you and could draw the attention of someone who wants to take it from you.
• Be on the lookout. The police want you to call 9-1-1 for any suspicious activity such as strangers walking in yards or between houses, the sound of glass breaking or loud banging, and unfamiliar trucks or vans lingering in your alley.Talk to your neighbors about what you’ve seen and ask them to be alert to suspicious activity. We need everyone’s help.
• If you are confronted, stay calm and cooperate. Your life is worth more than your money or phone!
• If you are a victim of robbery, report it immediately by calling 911. Try to remember as much suspect information as you can when you are talking to 911.
• Thank you for your help!

Minneapolis Police Department