Gallery Wall Photgraphy - It is always a special day when a new array of talented and skilled pieces arrive with their maker, enhancing our Gallery Wall and our space. John Otto has displayed a selection of photographs and memorabilia starring yesteryear Cannon Falls' folks and businesses! The awesome display includes contrasting glimpses of how our business community looked 'then and now'. Thanks to John for sharing this stroll down memory lane throughout the month. It is great hearing the stories and anecdotes shared by the intergenerational people stopping by to enjoy remembering and learning! Everyone is welcome to drop in between ten and three weekdays to take advantage of this opportunity for a nurturing 'time out' including a glass of cool, cold water (or coffee for the hard core)!

Respite Care - Thanks to Laura Coble and Judi Bryant for their leadership in collaborating with Shepherd's Center and Elder Network to coordinate this important service program. A new training session for additional respite caregivers is planned for early fall, 2006. Please give us a call if you think you may be interested in helping to provide respite care service. Trained respite caregivers volunteer to spend an hour or two "being with" someone in his/her own home, enabling the primary caregiver (wife, husband, friend or family member) to run errands, shop, attend church and/or spend some time with a friend. There is no fee for participation in this program. If you, or someone you know, could utilize these services, please call Shepherd's Center for information or with questions at 263-2136.

TRIAD– - It's a new word for us, and likely for you also. Rosie and Paul Schluter came to us after attending a session on this program elsewhere in Goodhue County, seeking collaboration and support for bringing this information to local Senior adults, their families and their friends. Rosie and Paul remain the impetus for enabling this national community policing initiative wherein Cannon Falls and Goodhue County law enforcement professionals, Senior adults and community groups partner to meet the crime-safety needs of Seniors. The first public meeting will focus on our vulnerability and victimization by Scams. Watch the Beacon for details.

Flu Pandemic– Cannon Falls Medical Center-Mayo Health System continues to host monthly community agency and organization meetings for proactive planning for disaster response. Shepherd's Center is pleased to be a partner in bringing churches and faith-based organizations to the collaborative planning table. It is important to utilize faith spaces, staff and members to maximize outreach without duplicating needed service. If you can help with your congregation's representation within this planning group, please let your Pastor or church office know and/or give us a call. Thanks in advance for your consideration of this need.

Stretching and Walking Walking, strolling and perhaps a long stretch to reach the fan and air conditioner controls top the list for many Seniors' exercise efforts as this summer of major heat and humidity persists! Discretion is the key word for activity is such weather! Take care, pace yourself, and please plan to more aggressively get back into shape with us when we resume utilization of the gym again in September. Chair Exercise and Strengthening sessions at the Stonehouse have also been discontinued until fall.

Econo Foods Receipt Program – As noted last month, with your ongoing support in the EconoFoods grocery receipt gathering, Shepherd's Center once again reached the $150,000 mark. Carol Lundell volunteers to keep the order and the ongoing total for this process, and tallied up a current amount of $28,700.14! Now we know for sure summer heat and humidity do not keep us from consuming our 'daily five' and a few treats! Thank you to Econo Foods, local shoppers, cooks and receipt delivery folks for continuing to save, collect and bring grocery slips to the Center. Please bring your slips in and we'll keep on keeping on…..

Upcoming dates to remember Whew!!! We decided to include a piece for 'dates to remember' when I looked at the number of post-it notes among reminders for this monthly Beacon update. TRIAD public meeting on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. at the Cannon Falls City Council Chambers. Minneapolis Commodores performance and Shepherd's Center fall fundraiser, Saturday, October 7 at 7 p.m. in the Community Center gymnasium. Senior Health Fair and flu shots on Friday, October 20 from 8:30 - 1130 a.m. in the Community Center gymnasium. Adventures in Learning on Friday, October 27 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (including lunch) at St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church. Looks like an interesting and mindful agenda for our mutual nurturing of mind and body; we look forward to seeing you.

Thank you –The Shepherd's Center Board of Trustees and Advisory Board of Past Trustees are grateful for the personal, church and business donations recently received. Shepherd's Center is also thankful for the donations given in remembrance of loved ones and is honored to be a partner in preserving their memories. Gifts have been received during the past month in memoriam for the lives of Stuart Berg and Howard McKinley. We are sincerely appreciative of the individual, church, business and organizational donations received during the past month, affirming our mission and our work. When there is someone you wish to memorialize, Shepherd's Center invites your consideration of our organization and its ongoing mission as the designated recipient.

As We Are - TThis is the time of year Members of Shepherd's Center Board of Trustees and Advisory Board of Former Trustees designate to seek vital funding in donations from businesses and professionals in the Cannon Valley area. The Center's Boards, staff and volunteers remain hopeful, thankful and prayerful for the ongoing validation of the service in our mission to promote lifelong community involvement through intergenerational, interfaith activities which promote significance, purpose and meaning for fruitful lives. Thank you to all, for your caring presence, and mostly for being… Kathy and Correne