Fatal accident on Route 3. 'Aging in place' education is provided.All Saints Church Offers Workshops To Help You Get More Involved

A man from Northfeld died yesterday morning after his car struck a utility truck at an intersection at . Highway 3 and Honeylocust Drive.

At 9:50 yesterday morning, 83-year-old Gerald Maas was driving west on Honey Locust Drive when he collided with a truck traveling north on Highway 3, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Maas was airlifted to Hennepin. County Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott said the state patrol was continuing to investigate the incident.

Habitat for Humanity collaborates with Age Friendly Northfield on ‘Aging in Place’ education

As the largest generation of the 20th century ages, senior housing has become a major priority for communities. Nationwide, including Northfield, it is not recognized by significant non-profit organizations in the region.

Dana Norvold, executive director of Rice County Habitat for Humanity, said her organization has put together an Aging in Place program and joined the Age Friendly Northfield Steering Committee.

According to Norvold, the Aging in Place program was started because the most affordable places for seniors to live are the homes they already own. Habitat for Humanity helps seniors remodel their homes to suit their needs rather than selling them to move to a more senior-friendly environment.

Her top request was for the bathroom, where a standard bathtub could be turned into a walk-in shower, but Norvold said adding handrails, better lighting, and moving the laundry to the main level I can help you with that and everything else. She makes the house more comfortable.

Habitat’s Aging in Place program is not unique, she said. The City of Northfield’s Department of Housing and Redevelopment also has an aging program. According to Norvold and Nancy Just of Age Friendly Northfield, the trick is to spread the word about these programs.

To that end, Age Friendly has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to offer a series of Aging in Place community education classes.

The first month of November will focus on assisted housing units, supplementary living spaces in the home where elderly relatives can live relatively independently, as needed. Second, in January, we will discuss the services that the Aging in Place program can provide. Part 3 of the series provides help and suggestions on how best to downsize. Finally, the fourth class in the spring is a tour of the process home.

In addition to promoting the classes, she said the best way to educate the public about what Age Friendly Northfield can do is to grow the organization itself. He said it would be a rewarding experience.

“I know age-friendly Northfield has been around for a few years and is run by volunteers. To all the organizations, all the entities, the churches, the civic groups, and all the other great people in Northfield, a non-profit organization in Northfield says, ‘How can we address the needs of older people in our community? Should I emphasize that?”

According to Norvold, the class isn’t quite ready yet. She said attendance would be required. The best way to know when to sign up is to look at her website for Age Friendly Northfield at Age Friendlynorthfield.com.

You can listen to Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Age Friendly Northfield’s Dana Norbold and Nancy Just here

‘Speak Your Values’ Workshop Helps Communicate Better with Political Leaders

All Saints Episcopal Church of Northfield is sponsoring a workshop titled How to Talk About Your Values.

Christopher Ennis of All Saints Congregation says the idea behind the workshop is to help people gain the confidence they need to voice their opinions on issues in a clear and civilized way.

“A lot of times people feel bad about it or think, ‘I don’t know how to do this,'” he said. “But it doesn’t have to be William Shakespeare.”

Ennis sadly, there are some basic things a person can do to get their message across effectively. This workshop will cover different strategies and scenarios. Attendees will learn how to write effective letters to lawmakers. It also covers how to speak in public forums, among other topics.

This workshop was put together by an organization called Interfaith Power & Light. Interfaith Power & Light is a faith-based organization, but the workshop is not a faith-based program.

This is a technical workshop on how to write a good letter on a subject of your choice. Sponsored by two faith-based organizations, this is their mission. I consider it part of a Care of Creation, but it’s for people who want to write about very political or secular issues.”

The How to Speak Your Values ​​workshop is offered Thursday evening at 6:30 pm. The presentation includes audience participation and a question and answer session. Ennis said attendees should plan to last about an hour and 15 minutes.

Attendance is not required and the workshop is free.

You can listen to Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Christopher Ennis of All Saints Church here

Rich Larson is KYMN’s News Director. Please contact rich@kymnradio.net.