150th anniversary employee reunion

Photos by Mark Olson (did you really crop my skull on purpose?)

We met a new free-lance reporter for the Chaska Herald at the 150th anniversary wine and cheeser held at the Chaska History Center tonight. Nick Mason (center) covers the Carver City Hall these days, he's lanced all over the country, including Florida. His most memorable assignment? Remember the classroom scene where President George Bush got the stunning news about 9-ll while on stage listening to a reading of "My Little Goat?" Our man Nick Mason was there. We report. You decide.

We're talking Glory Days
Jeff and Ruby

At his side is long-time Herald employee (1976 hire, still kicking) Bob Suel at left, one of the hosts for the evening. All former Herald employees were invited to the affair, dozens showed up to swap stories and share some laughs. A toast was given to the old girl, wishing her another 150 years, and invoking the slogan former publisher, the late Bill McGarry, adopted in 1974 to inspire his staff: He had it hand-lettered on the newspaper office wall in an Old English font and in Latin, in vain hope of classing up the joint.
  "Illigitimi non carborundum."
Those words are still useful today in a tough newspaper marketplace, translated as "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down."

McGarry had eight children, each worked at one time or another at the newspaper, as did his wife, Maxine. She was there tonight with three daughters and they all paused for this photo with another co-worker.