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Tell Us Your Playlist Suggestions!

We want your playlist suggestions!

In Chapter 10: our songs, Bree discusses the importance of music to her friendship with Shelly.

“Music is powerful. It can awaken the past in a way nothing else can.”

Bree Housley

Housley then lists off a bunch of songs, detailing the special meaning behind each one, such as…

“We Are the Champions, by Queen. Remember Jump Rope for Heart? I do, and it’s mostly because of this song. In grades four through six, our whole school packed into the gym after seventh period and jumped rope for three hours to raise money for the American Heart Association. For the first two hours and fifty-seven minutes, Shelly and I hopped around like amateurs while flirting with the boy team next to us…But when We Are the Champions blared through the shoddy speakers, we knew it was our final three minutes to shine…I’m always catapulted right back to that moment when I hear that tune on the radio.”

Bree Housley

So we want your song ideas!

We’re creating a playlist to go along with our Adult Rollerskate in December (more details to come!). If there is a song you definitely want blasted as you skate with your best friend (or new ones!), please leave a reply in the comments section below! And thanks!

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Book Goals!

We have less than one month to go before our first Community Book Discussion! Be sure to join us at Tilford Elementary on October 21 at 7pm!

The goals of the One Book, One Community program are pretty straightforward–we want everyone in the community (who is able) to read the book & then participate in some way in the events we’ve planned around the book’s themes.

Throughout the book, the author Bree Housley looks back over the time she spent growing up with her best friend Shelly in Walcott, Iowa. When Shelly passes away suddenly at age 25 due to preeclampsia, Bree must figure out how to live without her best friend. Bree comes up with the idea to “live like Shelly” each week for an entire year–doing something each week Shelly most definitely would have done and Bree herself most definitely would not have done.

The fun events Just US has planned to go along with the book will be revealed on October 21 (hint: see photo below!). There will be things to do every two weeks. And all local! We are super excited for community groups, businesses, clubs, etc to sponsor a theme–while at the same time spreading the word about what they have to offer right here in Benton County!

One of the things that Bree and her sister do in the book is act like tourists in their own town. How many times do we have buses bring people to Vinton for a tour? And yet there are plenty of US who have never toured the Courthouse nor the Train Depot nor know the meaning behind all the beautiful new murals in town.

One Book, One Community endeavors to change that!

So be sure to pick up a copy of the book today and join us on October 21, ready to make some goals!

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Time to get reading!

If you haven’t picked up a copy of our first One Book, One Community read–Bree Housley’s We Hope You Like This Song–it’s time to do so & get reading!

Books are still available through Cameron’s, Nature’s Corner, & Vinton Library. Click here to find one!

But even if you don’t read the book–and we certainly hope you do!–you’ll definitely want to participate in the monthly resolutions/events beginning in November. Tailor-made for Vinton/Benton County! Continue checking the blog for more information in the months ahead.

A recent comment on our Facebook page regarding the book: “It’s a great read. Need some tissues though!”

Linda Fischer

With only six weeks remaining before the first Community Discussion–taking place at Tilford Elementary School–we hope you’ll make plans to join us!

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A New Community-Wide Initiative

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! COMING SOON!

Small town celebration + community involvement = a HUGE event in the making!!!

All will be revealed August 19th at Virginia Gay Hospital’s Family Movie Night, part of Vinton’s 150th Anniversary celebration!

The evening will kick-off with a youth book exchange & activities in the Hummel Pavilion (located in Riverside Park across from Virginia Gay Hospital) at 7pm.

Sully and friends from Disney’s Monsters University will be on hand for a story reading at 7:30pm with the help of the ‘Be The Change’ Fitness Group.

Bring your lawn chair or a blanket, enjoy FREE treats (snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, water), and take in an outdoor showing of Monsters University!

Movie will start at Dusk.

But the best part??? We will be officially announcing the book for the community book club One Book, One Community, Benton County!

Stay tuned and check back soon for more info!