‘Duck’ and the cat
Peggy the Riveter
More books from local duo
Woman recalls WWII service
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www.chaskaherald.com
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2011
CHASKA
$1
HERALD COOKIES AND GOOD CHEER
PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO
Two Twelve Medical Center opened in February with an average of 10,000 patients a month coming through its doors.
Top 11 of 2011
Chaska High School Key Club member Hannah Mornson offers some homemade Christmas cookies to Phyllis Willems at Auburn Manor in downtown Chaska during a recent visit. Read more about the Key Club on page 6.
Our picks for biggest stories of the year BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO & MARK W. OLSON mfrancisco@swpub.com & editor@chaskaherald.com
H
ere again are the Chaska Herald’s top news stories of the past year. Because we’re pushovers for alliteration and quippy headlines, we decided to add one story to our top 10, so it would be the top 11 of 2011. There’s no science in our choices, just the experience and gut instinct of Chaska Herald staffers, as well as reader response. If you disagree with the choices, send us a note. In 2011, the dismal economy continued its brutal steamroll of the nation – Chaska included. The river
PHOTO BY CHUCK FRIEDBAUER
Top 11 to page 5 ®
Library director turns the page Brechon helped pull libraries into new millennium
Privileges evoked Some seniors can leave school early
“Why not go out on the limb? That’s where the fruit is.”
BY CHUCK FRIEDBAUER friedchu@yahoo.com
new age of libraries,” said Wayne Mortonsen, who has been a member of the Library Foundation of Carver County. “All of the libraries became
Seniors at both Chanhassen and Chaska high schools will be allowed to leave school early one day per week as part of a recently adopted Senior Privilege program. “Most of us have worked hard to get to where we are,” said Chanhassen High School senior Ali Souza. “We deserve the privilege of deciding what to do with a small portion of our school week.” The program is set to begin in late January and would allow seniors to leave school about one hour early on Wednesdays if they meet a set of established criteria. Seniors must be approved by a
Brechon to page 10 ®
Privileges to page 6 ®
Quote by Will Rogers
BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com
Plaque in Melissa Brechon’s office
When Melissa Brechon was hired as Carver County library director in 1998, the Carver County Library Board had sought someone with experience opening libraries, someone not afraid of change. Betsy Chase, library board president at that time, was quoted saying, “The board and staff are excited that she will become director as we move into the next century.” Brechon, 69, is retiring Dec. 31, and closing a chapter of eventful growth, expansion, and new technology in the
Carver County Library system. During her 13-year tenure, three new libraries were built, two were updated or expanded, and express library services were brought to two communities. Not bad work for a woman who has described herself as a late bloomer. Brechon’s earlier career was stayat-home mom. When her children were older, she went to college, fi rst for her undergraduate degree at age 40, and then when she was 50, getting her master’s in library science at the
PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
Carver County Library Director Melissa Brechon pushed to bring new technology, new libraries, and new services to the Carver County Library system. Brechon stands near the reference desk at the Chanhassen Library, which opened in August 2003. Brechon will retire at the end of December after 13 years with the county. College of St. Catherine’s. She was library director in Champlin for Hennepin County Library, then public library director in Austin, Minn. “Melissa was the driving force in pushing Carver County into the
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