We all love the fair.

A month before the Mower County Fair starts, people at the center start talking about what they are going to look for this year at the fair.

The conversation starts and most have another part of the fair to add. This year, just in case you didn’t get enough at the fair, we are having one at the center for you.

There will be walking tacos, ice cream, hot dogs, cotton candy, elephant ears, caramel corn, nachos and cheese and games and prizes. Everything is ala cart. Do you remember doing the cake walk at the fair? We are going to have one of those to0. Everyone is welcome.

Seniors, bring your grandchildren starting at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15.

Getting older is a fact of life. While we fight the physical effects of aging with exercise and diet, we should also be concerned with our brain fitness. Seniors who see signs of memory loss may also fear losing their cognitive abilities as they age. However, new research shows that new brain cells continue to be produced even as we age.

Many studies of older people have determined that decline in brain power is not inevitable, but can be slowed by actively exercising our brains and challenging our new brain cells with a variety of stimulating activities. Sticking to familiar and routine activities will not stimulate these new cells.

Just as our bodies need physical exercises and training to keep fit, so our brains need to be exercised to keep fit.

The National Institute on Aging says that strategy games, board games, word games, Sudoku, crossword puzzles and card games are all brain fitness exercises. Some of these exercises are enjoyed alone while others have the added benefit and stimulation of social interaction.

Playing cards is one activity that many people have enjoyed all their lives. Continuing to play card games will help seniors maintain their brainpower as they age.

Cribbage is played every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. Cost to play is $1. If you can count you can play. No matter if you are new to the game or you know it well you are invited to play cribbage at the Senior Center. If you are a newcomer to the game come in at 11:30 a.m. and there will be experienced players here to teach you the game. You are all welcome.

Don’t forget our coffee shop where every day you can have homemade soup for $1 and a sandwich for 50 cents.

 Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood Pressure Checks, 9 a.m.;Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge),12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie, 1 p.m.

Tuesday: No Programs (Election Day Voting Site)

Wednesday: Macular Degeneration, 10 a.m., Ron’s Massage, 10:30 a.m.; Weight Watchers 11:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.; cards (Duplicate Bridge, Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; Open Chess, 1 p.m.

Thursday: Silver Sneakers, 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.; open chess, 1 p.m.; Hearing Aid Checks, 3:15 p.m.; Silver Sneakers 4:30 p.m.

Friday: Carnival, 11:30 a.m.; Cards (Duplicate Bridge, Pinochle, Cribbage),12:30 p.m.; Ping Pong, 3 p.m.

 Weekly Card

Results

Monday Bridge

July 28, two tables

1st Mary Johnsen, 2nd Arnie Lang, 3rd Quenten Fiala, 4th Carolyne Higgins, 5th Betty Jorgenson

Tuesday Duplicate Bridge

July 29, seven tables

1st Loren Cleland, 1st Dave Ring; 2nd Arnie Lang, 2nd Bud Higgins; 3rd Jaynard Johnson, 3rd John Karnes; 4th Judy Bungum, 4th Dave Solomonson, 4th Gail Schmidt, 4th Ray Schmidt, 5th Carolyne Higgins, 5th Quinten Fiala

Tuesday 500

July 29, three tables

1st Dennis Bray, 2nd Betty Fisher, 3rd Beulah Luthe, 4th Dorothy Stern

Friday Bridge

Aug. 1, two tables

1st Carolyn Higgins, 2nd Mary Johnsen, 3rd Dick Titus, 4th David Solomonson, 5th Betty Jorgenson

Wednesday Cribbage

July 30, two tables

1st Lottie Seira, 2nd Bernice Scholer, 3rd Russ Vaale,

Friday 500

Aug. 1, four tables

1st Dorothy Stern

2nd Eddie Hall

3rd Beulah Luthe

4th Dennis Bray