CT Bulletin Board

I have been helping with college essays for years, and yes, even if EA or ED did not go your way, there is still plenty of time to get applications in. Please email ASAP to get started. -- Michele Tivey

🎁 Featured in Your Modern Family's Ultimate Gift Guide
"Welcome to the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide. It’s no secret that we love to find unique gifts. We have a full post on non-toy gifts for kids and meaningful gifts for your parents. This year, we are bringing you our favorite things (that we’ve personally tested) from 2024."
More from child development therapist Becky Mansfield at: YourModernFamily.com

🎁Colormeswiftie = items based around Tay’s lyrics!
🥤🥤Our insulated tumblers have the entire song printed on them.
🌟🌟Our friendship bracelet coloring books - a project my daughter & I started to enjoy friendship bracelets
when the Tour is over.
It’s the ultimate Eras Tour ✨time capsule✨:
• 198 pgs
• 400+ bracelets to color
• Every Song Title - 11 Eras
• Memes/inside jokes
• Puzzles

Colormeswifty.etsy.com Colormeswiftie

🎁 Featured in Your Modern Family's Ultimate Gift Guide

"Welcome to the Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide. It’s no secret that we love to find unique gifts. We have a full post on non-toy gifts for kids (so you can make memories!) and meaningful gifts for your parents (who already have everything.) This year, we are bringing you our favorite things ( that we’ve personally tested) from 2024."

See more from certified child development therapist Becky Mansfield on her blog: YourModernFamily.com

https://youtube.com/shorts/kB8jWZuQWD4?si=zHZFrwTN1AvJIi1V

November 29, 2024

Happy Holidays! If you're looking for some local holiday traditions, Compass & C0unsel is here to help.

Holiday Traditions in the Nutmeg State

Connecticut's holiday celebrations blend colonial New England charm with modern festivities. As winter descends on the Nutmeg State, historic town greens transform into magical scenes with their annual tree lighting ceremonies. In Mystic, the Lantern Light Tours at the Seaport Museum recreate a 19th-century Christmas, complete with period-costumed actors and traditional carols.
The Mark Twain House in Hartford offers a glimpse into Victorian-era celebrations, with the author's mansion beautifully decorated as it would have been during his family's festivities. Meanwhile, the Essex Steam Train becomes the Santa Special, delighting children with a nostalgic ride through the Connecticut River Valley.
Food plays a central role in Connecticut's holiday traditions. Italian families in New Haven continue the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, while Polish communities in New Britain gather for traditional Wigilia suppers. Local sugar shacks produce pure maple syrup for holiday baking, a tradition dating back to Native American practices.
One uniquely Connecticut tradition is the rush to pick up holiday pies from Lyman Orchards, a 1741 establishment that's become synonymous with seasonal celebrations. And no Connecticut Christmas would be complete without a visit to Vavala's in Rocky Hill for their famous chocolate-covered strawberries, a tradition since 1947.
As December progresses, many families make an annual pilgrimage to Winterfest in Hartford's Bushnell Park, where free ice skating under twinkling lights has created memories for generations of Connecticut residents.

Mark Twain House & Museum
www.marktwainhouse.org
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
www.essexsteamtrain.com
Vavala's Deli & Bakery
www.vavalasdeli.com
Mystic, CT Tourism (Official Visit Mystic Website)
www.visitconnecticut.com

Before visiting any of these locations, I'd recommend checking their current hours, prices, and special holiday events directly on their websites, as schedules and offerings can change seasonally. For the Mark Twain House holiday tours and Essex Steam Train's Santa Special in particular, advance reservations are often required as these tend to sell out early in the season.

Caring for Elderly Parents- Legal Documents

What legal documents do you need as a caregiver?

In order to step in as an effective caregiver you will need to be an advocate for your loved one. Your loved one will need to have the following documents in place to empower you to do so. Once the documents are finalized, they should be kept in an easily accessible but secure place. A good option is a lock box in the home. A water/fire proof document organizer is also a good solution.

The three most important documents are:

Will- Most people are at least familiar with the term Will. A will outlines an individual’s wishes in regards his or her assets after he or she passes away, such as gifting to family. A will is crucial because it can help avoid unnecessary confusion and family strife.

Living Will- Equally as important is a Living Will, otherwise known as Advanced Directive. This is a legal document which covers the individual’s wishes in regards to medical care and treatment. Some people will also opt to include a Do Not Resuscitate Order which indicates preference to not receive life saving measures.

Durable Power of Attorney- it is a good idea to have both a durable medical and financial power of attorney. These documents allow the individual to appoint decision makers for when they are unable to make decisions for themselves. I recommend that people appoint two different decision makers, one for financial and one for medical if possible. Doing so accomplishes a couple of important goals. It keeps the entire burden from being placed on one person which can be a lot to bear. It also removes any conflict of interest in regards to decision making.

Should I use an Attorney?
None of these have to be long and complex documents. They should be as simple as possible, avoiding legal jargon and ensuring they are easy to be understood. However even very simple documents should be reviewed by an attorney. Something you create on your own may not meet legal requirements.. An attorney can help with that.

Once the documents are finalized, they should be reviewed at least every five years. Additionally, they should be kept in an easily accessible but secure place such as a lock box in the home. A water/fire proof document organizer is also a good solution. Always give copies of the medical documents to your loved one’s primary care physician and other providers.

Capacity is a big factor in putting together these documents, which is why it is so important to plan ahead. If your loved one becomes incapacitated or diagnosed with a cognitive impairment, it will be much harder if not impossible to put the necessary documents in place to give you the legal authority you need to help them. The court may get involved to appoint a conservator or guardian, a lengthy and strenuous process.

from; theagingauthoritydotcom

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Italian Chicken Cutlets (The Best!) My family's Italian Chicken Cutlets are the best! I'm sharing all our secrets to make tender, juicy and delicious breaded chicken cutlets.

If these don't apply to your district, share with a friend who may benefit from the info!