Week of May 19th - 23rd, 2025

CLI LOVES Boots to Grasses!

We help volunteers help this non-profit 1-2x per week. We have room for more volunteers if you're interested!

Got a picture to share here? Send it in!

https://www.ohgoreach.org/

Have you seen anyone from CLI do something that impressed you? Did we do anything that made you wish we hadn't?

Take 3 minutes and fill out a quick survey to tell us about it. There's a FREE Ohio Lottery Scratch Off ticket in it for you-- and we'll keep it confidential if you want us to.

CLICK HERE to tell us something that we're doing right -- or not!

One of the best things about having our space at Seminary is that we can explore so many places downtown Norwalk without having to jump in a van!

The Usual--

We still have LOTS of reverse raffle tickets for our reverse raffle & cornhole tournament for August 8th this summer. We definitely need everyone's help selling (and buying if you're flush enough) these tickets! If you make eye contact with one of us, we're going to try to sell you a ticket. 100% of what we raise for the next year will go toward making Kenilee Lanes Bowling Center fully wheelchair accessible for our clients and the public at large. The reality is that most of us are connected to at least one person with mobility concerns. CLI is excited to make 1 more community resource fully accessible to people who use wheelchairs-- both as patrons and also as potential employees. We're pretty excited about this project because we think people will be really wowed by the finished design. However, it's a big lift! We've got 12 months to raise $200K!

This is our preliminary estimated budget. We've done some upgrades since we first purchased Kenilee Lanes in 2018. While costs have gone up, some of the work we've done (like electrical) will mean a slightly smaller scope of work.

Kenilee Lanes Projected Preliminary Renovation Budget:

Architect or Structural Engineer contract - $6,000

Permits - $3,000

Demolition - $10,000

Rough out interior (restroom + stairway + raise floor) - $70,000

Electrical - $20,000

Plumbing - $15,000

Counter, front kitchen + back galley build out - $25,000

Wheelchair accessible entranceway & facade improvements - $40,000

Misc. - $18,000

Subtotal: $207,000

So, we already have the first $535 in the bank thanks to our T-shirt & V-Day Flower Sale, so we only have $206,465 to go! Have I mentioned that I need everyone's help buying & selling reverse raffle tickets?!

Ohio's DD system's future status with on-going Medicaid is still in question. I'm sure that there are cuts that can be made, but a careful, methodical approach is necessary. Everything falls apart and all services for people for people with DD almost immediately stops if a blunt cut means that there is no longer the required federal Medicaid match.

If you are in a letter/email writing mood-- or just really love phone calls, our US politicians are:

Senator John Husted

198 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-3353

Senator Bernie Moreno

B33 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-2315

Representative Jim Jordan

2056 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 225-2676

Representative Robert Latta

2470 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 201510

(202) 225-6405

Governor Mike DeWine

Riffe Center, 77 S High St 30th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 466-3555

Representative Kelly Deeter

77 South High Street, 13th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 466-9628

Representative D.J. Swearingen

77 South High Street, 13th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 644-6011

Senator Theresa GavaroneSenate Building

Capitol Square

First Floor, 138

Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 466-8060

Thanks! Have a great holiday weekend!

John

Carole is collecting bottle caps for her next project. Angi made a collection bag for the workshop to support Carole's efforts--

What's new in Thrive?

Charles is our Employee of the Month. Charles is a very hard worker. He will do any task asked of him. He is an independent self starter! Way to go Charles!

Sandy is our CLI Star of the Month. Sandy is always smiling and greets everyone daily. She is adventurous and will join in on any climb offered! Way to go Sandy!

We are becoming more and more proficient in sign language. There are many items labeled around the building to show the sign and we practice in every class.

For the next few weeks in class, we will be concentrating on music. There will be exposure to different genres, instruments, and artists. Can you identify which artist plays which type of music, classical, rock, country or jazz?

Hank Williams, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Dizzy Gillespie, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Bach, Kenny G., Yo-yo Ma, Drake, Herbie Hancock

We are also going to learn how to play Boomwhackers! Watch for some great pictures to come.

Hank Williams, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Dizzy Gillespie, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Bach, Kenny G., Yo-yo Ma, Drake, Herbie Hancock

We are also going to learn how to play Boomwhackers! Watch for some great pictures to come.

We are always looking for businesses to visit. If you have any contacts, please send them my way.

Julie d'Aliberti

Community Access Facilitator

419-706-2635

Click here to email Haven to learn how to take a 5G iPad home

Want CLI to help you plan & do fun stuff with your friends?

Don't be shy!

Firelands Local LLC

James Johnson

james@firelandslocal.com

419-921-6400

We haven't gotten tired of the interactive whiteboards (AKA "smart boards) yet!

So many games & learning apps! It's basically like a huge smart phone that you can download anything from the android app store.

The Good News from the Good Works Cafe--

CLI's Good Works Cafe offers a free community lunch every Friday afternoon at the Norwalk Reservoir,

staffed entirely by volunteers with DD made from food donated by OHgo and other

community partners!

Congratulations to our Celebrity Chef Ashley!

Question of the week

Q: How do I get my picture in this newsletter?

A: Two easy ways! You can just email us your picture (or your article or art or anything really) -- or if you are around any CLI staff, just tell them to take whatever action shot you'd like for the next newsletter. They'll make sure it gets in!