Et Cetera

Ten Iowa communities have been selected to participate in the Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program in 2023.This award-winning program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to assist community leaders and volunteers in making sound and meaningful decisions about the local landscape.

What is it?3-Dimensional Patriotic Art ContestWho is Eligible to Apply?Students in grades 9-12 by the March 31 deadline who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States, its territories and possessions: or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence status (the application for which has not been denied) to become a U.

Dan and Linda Thies of Shellsburg are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were married October 28, 1972, in Palo, Iowa.Their loving family celebrates their long, happy marriage:  Grant, Michelle, and Mason Thies of Johnston, IA; Heather, Mark, Annika, and George Urness of Appleton, WI; and Jennifer, Charles, Sam, and Kai McDowell of Tucson, AZ.

In the Middle of Hickory Lane                     By Heather WebberReviewed by Connie Bennett, Vinton Public Library Clerk                                               Mystery/ History                                                Fiction    "Ho hum," was my first thought when I started this book.

 Instructions for Dancing                        By Nicola YoonReviewed by Connie Bennett, Vinton Public Library Clerk                                                       Young Adult                                                Romance, but more     I hadn't heard of author Nicola Yoon until this book was brought to my attention! As it turns out, she has written a couple of New York Times bestsellers, which have been made into movies!      Following the heartbreaking divorce of her parents, young Evie loses her faith in true love and gives away her extensive collection of romance books.

 The Birdcatcher                   By Gayl JonesReviewed by Connie Bennett, Vinton Public Library Clerk                                       Adult                                       Coarse, vulgar language                                       Graphic sexual activity   Up until now, I'd never met a book I didn't like.

Anna Bauer of Newhall, IA, was conferred a Bachelor of Science in Nursing by Mercy College of Health Sciences, 928 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.  To learn more about the health science programs offered at Mercy College visit our website at www.mchs.edu. Mercy College is the only Catholic college in Central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Heaven is for Real       By Todd Burpo with Lynn VincentReviewed by Connie Bennett, Vinton Public Library Clerk     I actually hesitated to read this book until a library patron returned it and insisted that it must be read! I'm really glad she did! Instead of being the poorly-written and unbelievable story that I expected, it was instead a gripping tale, straight from a father's heart.

October is National Financial Planning Month and National Estate Planning Awareness Week is October 17-23, calling attention to what estate planning is and why it is an important component of a personal financial plan. Less than half of U.S. adults have a will that indicates plans for their money and estate after their death, according to a survey conducted by Gallop in 2021.

It's always fun to eavesdrop in on Facebook conversations. Especially when it involves Vinton, or the history of Vinton. This week Darran Sellers noticed something in the river that looked odd, and it begged the question, "Has anyone else seen this in the river? It's on the east side of the bridge by the north shore."Residents weighed in guessing that maybe it was from old bridges that had been placed and later removed.