At a recent meeting of influential people concerned with bringing gentleness, comfort and continued meaningfulness to the older adults of our community, everyone seemed to be agreed on the fact the elders “shall always be with us.”

Thank God for that. These are parents, grandparents and great grand parents. No one else would be on this earth had it not been for them.

The recent survey summarized and discussed, indicated that most of the older adults want to remain in place. A fact to keep in mind when making policy. They are the basis of long-lived and rooted communities.

Bringing in their replacements, young families with children may or may not affect Shorewood school enrollment as Jenny (Steinman Heyden) has indicated.

Now we are in the process of considering how to consolidate our school facilities.

We should be thankful to Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Blane McCann for another of his bold thoughts and announcements.

He indicated that he wanted to revitalize an “intergenerational program” involving older adults, a program that was originally initiated in Shorewood some time ago.

I'm sure that all of those present at the meeting and older adults throughout the community will be supporting these efforts.

We should also recognize Elisabeth Price's role, as Director of Senior Resources, in organizing these efforts right through the meeting itself. All of those involved including the Senior Resource Committee are to be congratulated.

Now let's continue to keep the ball moving and take advantage of the great asset that we have in this senior component, an outstanding element of community.