Chaska_120811

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Tasty treats

National Champion

Bakery puts twist on holiday sweets

Chaska grad wins cross country title

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www.chaskaherald.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011

CHASKA

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HERALD

To grandmother’s house we go Area sees housing boom for boomers BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com

A

merica’s senior population is growing by leaps and bounds, and their future needs are driving housing demands across the country. Nowhere is this truer than in cities like Chaska and

Semper fi: Always faithful

Waconia, where units for seniors are among the few housing developments proceeding, in spite of the recession. Auburn Homes and Services recently broke ground on a $9.8 million Auburn Meadows expansion adjacent to Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia that will open next September with 62 units for assisted living, enhanced assisted living and memory care. And last month, Minneapolisbased nonprofit developer Aeon received $ 8.5 million in funding

from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, allowing it to fi nally move forward on The Landing – the long-awaited 54-unit senior apartment project located in Chaska at the vacant southeast corner of Highway 41 and First Street.

DEMAND Although it has been several years since it took over the project, Aeon said the need for senior housing options has not changed.

Boomers to page 12 ®

“Our market studies say the 65-plus population [in Carver County] is going to quadruple to 25,000 by 2030.” Gina Ciganik Vice president of Aeon housing development

MORE ONLINE READ A Q&A WITH U.S. MARINE 1ST LT. ROB FAFINSKI III AND U.S. MARINE 1ST LT. BEN MULLANEY AT

www.chaskaherald.com

Residents projected to be ages 65+ in Carver County in 2030: 25,000 (13 percent of population) Nationwide over the last decade, the 65+ population grew faster than the total population The 65- to 69-year-old category grew by more than 30 percent in the last decade Source: 2010 U.S. Census; Aeon

PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO

Speaking up BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com

As the fi rst recipient of Chaska’s Human Rights Award, Jonna Herbstritt has set the bar pretty high for future nominees. T he 14 -yea r- old Chaska High School freshman was surprised with the award at Saturday’s Hometown Holiday’s tree lighting ceremony in City Square Park. She also received a plaque from Mayor Mark Windschitl at Monday night’s Chaska City Council meeting. “You’re pretty super,” said Windschitl. “This is a pretty big award,” he told Jonna, and family and friends

First winner of Chaska human rights award is 14

accompanying her, Monday night. “I don’t think you’re going to realize it until you’re older.” Jonna was recognized with the award for her work with the PACER Center’s Teens Against Bullying Advisory Board, in addition to other advocacy work she’s done. Jonna has been a member of the PACER bullying advisory board for the last two years. At just 12 years old, she was asked to join after speaking at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul about the challenges her family has faced with a special-needs child. Jonna is the eldest of three daughters born to Chaska’s Pam and Lane Herbstritt. Her 7-year-old sister Amber was born with hydrocephalous and

is wheelchair bound. “I don’t want her to have to go through anything hurtful,” Jonna explained. “I want to protect her from everything.” To that end, Jonna relays a message of respect and kindness to groups that she speaks to. Over the last year, Jonna has made a number of public speeches at events including a PACER walk, a school in Watertown and town hall meetings in Chaska. “I really like public speaking,” she said. Jonna has also developed two DVDs to accompany her presentations – one that alerts viewers to

Herbstritt to page 12 ®

INSIDE OPINION/4 OBITUARIES/6 HAWK TALONS/7 CALENDAR/9 SPORTS/13-15 CLASSIFIEDS/28-31 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6682 EDITOR: (952) 345-6574 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@CHASKAHERALD.COM.

PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO

Jonna Herbstritt is the first recipient of Chaska’s Human Rights Award.

OUR 150TH YEAR, NO. 15 © SOUTHWEST NEWSPAPERS

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24 7 EMERGENCY & URGENT CARE Just Minutes from Home Highways 212 & 41 in Chaska www.TwoTwelveMedical.org 220164

Residents ages 65+ in Carver County as of 2010 Census: 7,707 (8 percent of population)

As big, wet snowflakes fall on Saturday afternoon, the crowd gathered in City Square Park counts down to the Hometown Holiday tree lighting (and then counts down again when the lights fail to turn on). The city’s Human Rights Commission partnered again with downtown businesses for this year’s Hometown Holiday. The event included sales, a spaghetti feed, indoor farmer’s market, horse rides and a multicultural celebration. Downtown retailers were happy with the turnout and the Chaska City Council praised the event at its Monday night meeting.

BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com

Marines to page 2 ®

Residents ages 65+ in Chaska as of 2010 Census: 1,559 (7 percent of population)

WINTER WONDERLAND

Local Marines reflect on deployments As classmates at Holy Fa mily Catholic High School, Rob Fafinski of Chaska and Ben Mullaney of Chanhassen were acquainted, but 1st Lt. Rob they weren’t reFafinski ally close friends. Fafinski played football, basketball, and baseball a nd Mu l l a ney played soccer. “ We r e a l ly d i d n’ t b e c o m e friends until after we found out we were both go1st Lt. Ben ing to Marquette Mullaney ( Un ive r sit y i n Milwaukee, Wis.)” Fafi nski said in a recent phone interview. Both were interested in careers in law. And, they created a pact. “It was when we were freshmen in Marquette,” Fafinski said. “We decided to serve in the Marines. Both of us agreed that if one of us signed up, the other one would, too.” And they did.

Boomers come of age


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