Virtual Jingle Bell Run
Light It Up
Community Living Essex County’s Career Compass has joined a provincial campaign to promote National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) by requesting local locations to Light It Up purple and blue on the night of October 22nd. 
  
NDEAM does several important things: 
  • Celebrates and Increases public and business awareness about the valuable contributions people who have a disability make in the workplace.
  • Raises awareness about the underemployment of people who have a disability.
  • Helps raise awareness that disability needs to be included in the conversation about workplace diversity and inclusion. 
 
Light It Up is a multi-city, multi-location special lighting event — a historic “first” in Ontario — recognizing DEAM, and the many contributions that people who have a disability make to businesses and communities all over Ontario. 
 
Multiple locations in Kingston, London, Timmins, Welland, Niagara Falls and Toronto are participating in Light It Up by illuminating municipal signs, landmarks, bridges and buildings on October 22. 

There will be a special lighting of the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex in LaSalle for Light It Up. 
Halloween Safety Amid COVID-19
In a year that's been plenty scary, this much is clear: Pandemic Halloween will be different than regular Halloween. Many traditional ways of celebrating are now considerably more frightful than usual, because now they bring the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

Classic door-to-door trick-or-treating and crowded costume parties are not recommended.

The higher-risk category includes both door-to-door trick-or-treating and events where kids get treats from the trunks of cars in a big parking lot. Also high-risk are indoor haunted houses where people will be crowded and screaming, which could send infectious particles flying. Going on hayrides with people who aren't in your household or fall festivals in rural areas also carry a risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

Instead, trick-or-treaters could pick up individually wrapped gift bags at the end of a driveway or yard while, still preserving social distance.

You could also organize a small outdoor costume parade where everyone is 6 feet apart. An outdoor costume party would also be considered moderate risk, as long as people wear masks and stay 6 feet away from each other.

Apple picking and pumpkin patch risks can be reduced if people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or apples, wear masks and maintain social distance.

If you want to be really safe, then you should plan for either virtual activities or ones that you do largely with your own household.

Lower-risk activities include carving pumpkins with your household, or outdoors with friends while socially distanced. A Halloween scavenger hunt looking for witches, spiderwebs and black cats outside houses while walking around — or a scavenger hunt for treats in your own home are also low-risk.

A costume mask is no substitute for a cloth mask, but don't double up with one over the other because that can make it hard to breathe. Instead, consider a Halloween-themed cloth mask. A costume mask can protect against spreading the coronavirus if it has two or more layers of breathable fabric covering the nose and mouth, without gaps around the face.

If you think you might have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who does, don't attend in-person Halloween activities and certainly don't hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Fun Things To Do This Halloween Season
A guide to all the ghoulish adventures, scares, and fun to be had this Halloween season in Essex County.
FREE Virtual Workshop
Supporting Individuals Who Have Autism
Supporting Individuals who have Autism
Community Living Chatham-Kent is pleased to present
Cynthia Lockrey

Date: Wednesday October 21, 2020
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual (Zoom - link will be emailed) Cost: FREE
RSVP: By Monday, October 19th, 2020 to Jodi Skipper at jskipper@clc-k.ca




Cynthia Lockrey has worked for over 20 years as a writer, communications professional, corporate trainer and patient advocate. Join this interactive workshop to learn advocacy skills to help people who have autism.
Recipe of the Week
Butternut Lasagna with Mushrooms and Sage
A delicious cozy recipe full of fall flavors. And it’s easily made vegan! Butternut squash is roasted in the oven and becomes the silky sauce that infuses the lasagna with such goodness. You will love it! 
The butternut lasagna can be made ahead (or in stages) and stored in the fridge until ready to bake. When it comes out of the oven, beautifully golden and bubbly, your house is sure to smell amazing!
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Weekly Poll Question
What do you love most about Halloween?
Trick or treating.
Dressed to thrill!
Scary movies.
Halloween candy.
Poll Results

What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year?

A nice dinner at home with the people I live with. 67.6%
A virtual Thanksgiving celebration! 0%
An outdoor Thanksgiving. 14.7%
Nothing special. Just relaxing at home. 17.6%