Chaska Staff Spotlight on Kylie Fick

Name: Kylie Fick

Years at Auburn: 9.5

Job Title: Therapeutic Recreation Assistant at Auburn Manor

Key Responsibilities: As a TRA I plan and implement programs each month to meet the recreation needs of residents based on their care plans. Recreation needs are social, physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. We do this on an individual level and by leading groups. My favorite groups to lead are music and art related. Music and art are powerful vehicles to promote residents’ self-esteem, self-worth and sense of belonging. I also help conduct MDS assessments and develop recreation area care plans.

Family: This is my husband, Matt, and daughter, Emersyn (almost 3yo). We’re expecting a baby boy due in January 2024.

Favorite Past-time: Playing piano, painting, crafting, hiking and experiencing new things with my family. We love to travel.

Favorite Travel Destination: Ireland! My husband and I traveled to Europe on our honeymoon and I fell in love with the history, culture and scenery.

I love working at Auburn Homes & Services because: I know I make a difference here. I love all the meaningful relationships I have within this community.

Directing the Tone Chime Choir in 2019.

Halloween 2018, "I made bird costumes for each hallway of Auburn Manor and got the Therapeutic Recreation Department to do a group costume."

Residents Recall their Favorite

Subjects in School

With school underway or about to start, we thought it would be fun to ask our residents what their favorite subjects were when they were in school. From music to math, the residents enjoyed sharing their personal favorite courses.

Arlene - Music was her favorite subject in school

Tim - He enjoyed both science and arithmetic.

Beth – Her favorite subject was History. She didn’t like Math.

Christian - favorite subject in school was science.

Betty- Music and Reading were her favorite subjects in school. 

Shirley - Biology was her favorite subject in school.

Diana - Her favorite subject was Reading.

Rose Marie - She enjoyed Home Economics the most in school.

Dick - His favorite subject was Math. English was not his favorite.

Pauline - History was and is still her favorite subject.

George – His favorite subject was Math.

Lauri - Reading was her favorite subject in school.!

Iris - History was her favorite subject in school. She didn’t like Chemistry or report cards.

Judy - Liked all of the subjects she studied in school!

Mary Lou - Her favorite subject was Biology

Rita - Her favorite subject was Math, but she didn’t like Geometry.

Nancy – Her favorite subjects in school were Speech and Art.

Mary - Her favorite subject in school was History.

Crown College Volunteers Visit

Chaska Campus

As part of Crown College's "Welcome Week", new students, freshmen and student leaders volunteer throughout Carver County to promote their culture of wanting to serve others. We are grateful to the group of Crown College students that volunteered on our Chaska campus by helping clean up window screens, the courtyard grill and flower boxes. A special shout out to Grace Sveum, on-call activities assistant at Auburn Courts, for organizing a group of students to come to our Chaska campus. Thank you!

Grace Sveum with Courts resident, Marie.

Crown College Volunteers

Waconia Staff Spotlight on Mary Krant

Name: Mary Krant

Years at Auburn: 9 Years

Job Title: Executive Director of Housing

Key Responsibilities: Tour families and assist residents with the move in process. Manage the housing departments including culinary, housekeeping and maintenance. Ensure the building operates efficiently and effectively.

Family: I have 3 sons, David who passed away in 2018, Matthew who lives in California and Logan who is a student at the University of Minnesota.

Favorite Past-time: I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family

Favorite Travel Destination: Hawaii – specifically Maui

When I retire I hope to: spend days on a beach reading a good book

"I started working at Auburn Meadows as the housing manager in August 2014. I have a passion for serving seniors and helping them find placement when they need more assistance. I enjoy getting to know each resident from the time they tour to when they are living their best life here at Meadows."

Festival of Trees 2023 ~ Save the Date

The 12th Annual Festival of Trees date is set for this November 16th and will once again be held at the beautiful Bavaria Downs in Chaska, MN. Mark your calendars and plan on joining us for an enchanting evening of fun, giving and fellowship. Money raised goes to the life enrichment of our residents. We hope to see you on the 16th!

Resident Fun at the Carver County Fair

The Carver County Fair is an event both our residents and staff alike look forward to every year and the 2023 fair was no exception. Both of our Auburn campuses spent a day at the fair enjoying the fair food, farm animals and all there was to see. A special "thank you" to the Chaska High School Boys Soccer team that came along and helped our Chaska residents get around the fairgrounds.

Auburn Homes & Services says Goodbye to Mike Senden, CEO.

After 27 years of service at AHS, Mike Senden is leaving his position as CEO of our two campuses. It is bittersweet for him as he cares deeply for all of the residents and staff he has come to know over the years. With this departure, Mike is ready to start a new chapter in his life and although we will miss him dearly, we wish Mike and his family all the best!

Residents, staff and friends stopped by on Friday, August 25th to say goodbye to Mike at a luncheon held in his honor.

Check out all of the fun activities our residents have to choose from in September~ including Labor Day picnics, Twins and Viking watch parties, barn quilt tour, a dinner boat cruise and much more!

Click on the appropriate link below to see the resident's September Activities Calendar:

Auburn Home, Auburn Meadows, 

Auburn Manor,  Auburn Courts 

Thank you to our dedicated and hard working staff for their years of service:

Anita Schiro CORPORATE, 8 yrs.

Ellie Millard CORPORATE 2 yrs.

Joetta Techmeyer COURTS 2 yrs.

Monica McGlynn COURTS 2 yrs.

Rebecka Marohl COURTS 6 yrs.

Yabsera Yidnekachew COURTS 2 yrs.

Anna Remer HOME 22 yrs.

Carrie Kamann HOME 15 yrs.

Colleen Deafenbaugh HOME 1 yr

Dana Sheehan HOME 15 yrs.

Jacob Livermore HOME 7 yrs.

Katina Yancey HOME 4 yrs.

Lisa Schlegelmilch HOME 19 yrs.

Margaret Wickenhauser HOME 1 yr

David Larsen MANOR 1 yr

Deborah Steinborn MANOR 11 yrs.

Dena Hill MANOR 5 yrs.

Donna Howg MANOR 1 yr

Gerene Ripplinger MANOR 11 yrs.

Kristine Ohnsorg MANOR 26 yrs.

Lisa Liebhard-Schneekloth MANOR 10 yrs.

Maria Galicia MANOR 13 yrs.

Nayelli Del Real MANOR 1 yr

Paige Niesche MANOR 5 yrs.

Ryan Paul Magnayon MANOR 4 yrs.

Abigail Hartman MEADOWS 1 yr

Carson Anderson MEADOWS 5 yrs.

Olivia Oscarson MEADOWS 3 yrs.

Sienna Hawkinson MEADOWS 1 yr

Trista Peitz MEADOWS 4 yrs.

Happy Birthday to the following staff members

celebrating a Birthday in July:

Ellie Millard, 5th

James Shelhamer, 7th

Jessica Dominguez, 18th

Krista Buesgens, 24th

Maddison Saulsbury, 24th

Matty Strickler, 19th

Elizabeth Meza Hernandez, 3rd

Grace Tierney, 11th

Ashley Seaver, 22nd

David Granlund, 21st

Jamie Kosek, 17th

Margo McClellan, 28th

Morgan Vieths, 15th

Natalie Vargas, 23rd

Anita Bronson, 20th

Danika Matson, 16th

Denny Johnson, 29th

Jennifer Hall, 14th

Julene Balfe, 6th

Julia Carns, 17th

Kyra Nieshe, 28th

Stephen Brown, 22nd

Claire Kauphusman, 5th

Nicholas Kauphusman, 6th

Olivia Oscarson, 7th

Sandra Wymore, 8th

Teagan Sherer, 21st

Patrick Chan, 2nd

Do you know what commandment is written the most number of times in the Bible? 

It is the command “DO NOT FEAR.” And if you count the times “do not fear”…. “do not be afraid”… and “do not worry”… you get a total of 365 verses. That is one verse for every day of the year! It is clear that God understands our human nature -- God knows we are a worrisome bunch! Some of my personal favorites include:

 Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 23:4 – “I will fear no evil, for thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Matthew 6:25 -- “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

The fact of the matter is, that there is a lot of fear in the world today. Some of it is very real, and some of it is fostered among people to keep them at odds with each other. There are many things that we could CHOOSE to be afraid of …. the future, the unknown, and change are all amorphous fears that could live in our heads. And concrete fears are there as well: changes in staff here at Auburn, the upcoming election cycle, inflation and the rising costs of life, growing children exerting independence, and aging parents leaning into dependence. If we allowed it, our fears could be overwhelming.

But we are called to live differently. God’s command is not to live in fear. And I think the 1 John verse sums it up the best. Because fear is the opposite of love. And what God wants from us is to live in love. God’s love truly can drive out fear, if only we can trust and let go of our need to worry. It is the commandment most often in the Bible because it is really so, so hard to do! When we say that as Christians we are to live in the world, but not of the world, this is a big piece of it. Letting go of fear, and leading always with love is showing the world a different way to be; it is rising above the fearfulness around us.

There is a popular Zach Williams songs out these days called “Fear is a Liar.” It couldn’t be more true! So follow God’s command and do not fear! Live by the love of God found in Jesus Christ instead.

And remember to include a special blessing for teachers and students as we head back to school this month. Teachers truly are a fearless bunch, leading from love every single day.

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Cathy M. Kolwey

The Next Resident Newsletter will be emailed

out on October 1, 2023

I would like to take this opportunity to let all of you know

that today is my last day at Auburn Homes & services.

It has been a pleasure to create this monthly newsletter and to share all of the fun happenings at AHS, as well as introduce residents and staff members to you each month.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best.

~ Michelle Yelich

Auburn Homes & Services

Mission, Vision and Values Statement