This Week's Possibilities Newsletter is Here

A Lost Item With a Happy Ending!

Nick recently lost his favourite Community Living Essex County mask while visiting the Atlas Tube Centre. After a few emails, one of his support workers, Sandy, was able to track down a new mask with the help of Tony DeSantis, Manager of Community Relations. Thanks to everyone for their help with finding Nick a new mask!

Lawn Bowling Tournament Winner

Philip is an active member of the Windsor Lawn Bowling Club. He's an enthusiastic bowler and always impresses people with his skills! For the past three years he has also lawn bowled during the winter in Florida.

Earlier this summer, Philip was on the winning team for the Presidents' Day Tournament. Congratulations to Philip and the entire team!

Back to School Tips for Families Caring for Children with Disabilities

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas? No, back to school season. For many families, back to school season is almost, or maybe, just as exciting as Christmas morning; kids getting back to their regularly scheduled programming and the sense of relief in knowing they do not have to worry about who's taking care of who or forgetting that summer camp ends at 4pm and not 5pm. Yet, despite the relief for some parents during back to school season, a sense of anxiety and worry may also arise for others, which rings unquestionably exponentially stronger for families living and caring for children with intellectual disabilities.

For students with disabilities, school is either a place where they find comfort and warmth or an intimidating place away from their support network. It is important to note that the same goes for the parents of these students.

Linked below is a helpful article illustrating different ways parents caring for children with disabilities can set themselves and their children up for a successful new school year anticipating possible obstacles and addressing them with your child and school board before they occur.

Happy back to school season to all!

Jessica and the Ensemble Committee

Call or email Ensemble

ensemble@communitylivingessex.org 519-776-6483, extension 225

Click Here For Back To School Tips

Community Living Essex is Hiring & We Need Your Help!

Click Here to Submit a Referral

Less Than Two Weeks Left to Complete the FOCUS Accreditation Survey

Our goal is to reach 80% or more submitted!

Complete your survey today!

We're on the road to re-accreditation, but first we need your help! Check your email for the unique survey link that was sent earlier this week and give us your feedback! All responses are anonymous, and the survey will take less than twenty minutes to complete!

Art by the River

This arts and craft festival, first held in 1967, is Essex County's original arts and crafts show. It has grown into an end-of-summer tradition in Amherstburg, attracting 170 artists and artisans from across Ontario. 2022 will be the 55th year of this event!

The show is taking place at Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada, 100 Laird Avenue, Amherstburg on August 27^thand 28^th from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Admission is $5.00. Children 12 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult.

Tecumseh Twilight

Food trucks, exotic cars, and a movie under the stars, sounds like the perfect evening!

Tecumseh Twilight will begin with an exotic car show, hosted by Windsor Exotic Car Club. After checking out the cars, grab a bite to eat from one (or more) of the food truck vendors that will be onsite from 6:30pm-10:00pm.

Don’t forget to bring along your blankets, lawn chairs and bug spray. At sunset, the showing of the feature film Shrek will begin!

Tecumseh local singer-songwriter, Carson Janik, will be onsite to perform live music from 6:30pm-8:30pm!

Tecumseh Twilight is taking place Friday, August 26^th at McAuliffe Park, 2391 Alphonse St.

Positive Thoughts

Birdseed Ornaments

Materials

2.5 cups birdseed
2 packages unflavoured gelatin 2 tablespoons total.
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 cup water
12 cookie cutters
3 drinking straws cut into 2" long pieces
Twine

Instructions

Add 1/2 cup cold water to a large bowl.
Pour the 2 packages of unflavoured gelatin on top of the water.
Add 1/2 cup boiling water to the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Add the corn syrup and stir until combined.
Add the birdseed and mix well.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes until the liquid firms up enough that it won't leak out from under the cookie cutters.
Set your cookie cutters onto a parchment lined baking sheet and fill them with the birdseed mixture. Using the back of the spoon, press down the birdseed mixture firmly to fill in all the gaps. Fill the cookie cutters to the top.
Press the drinking straws into each of the shapes leaving at least 1/2" of space between the hole and the edge of the shape.
Place the ornaments in the refrigerator overnight.
To remove the cookie cutters, gently pull the metal away from the edges on all sides then gently push the birdseed ornaments out of the cookie cutters. Gently pull the straws out.
Thread a piece of twine through the hole and tie the ends in a knot.
Hang the birdseed ornaments from tree branches, leaving room nearby for the birds to perch on while eating.

When you place the mixture in the refrigerator, right after you've added the gelatin to the birdseed, make sure you don't keep it in the fridge for too long.

If any of the gelatin "breaks" when you stir it, you will need to microwave the whole bowl to melt it and try again. The mixture needs to be thickened slightly in the fridge until it has the consistency of a thick syrup.

Binge Worthy TV

A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own is an American period sports comedy drama television series. It is an adaptation of the 1992 film of the same name with new characters and story lines, about the formation of a World War II era women's professional baseball team. One season streaming on Amazon Prime.

Recipe of the Week

Zucchini Cheddar Bread

Quick bread is a bread that uses leveners, like baking soda and baking powder instead of yeast. A lot like a biscuit dough only gooier. The beauty of this bread, besides the amazing flavor, is it’s all mixed in one bowl and no waiting around for it to rise!