(Chelsea Update would like to thank Patty Roberts for the information in this story and apologize for the typo in Patty’s name.)
In its fourth year of reading together, the 5 Healthy Towns of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester, and Stockbridge once again unite their residents through the 5H Community Read program.
Books for the 5H Community Read are chosen based on the four Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation’s (CWF) initiatives. The 2012, 2013, and 2014 Community Reads explored the first three initiatives, “Eat Better”, “Move More”, and “Connect with Others in Healthy Ways” respectively.
This year’s book, Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos, will explore the last initiative, “Avoid Unhealthy Substances.”
In this honest and revealing personal account from a prizewinning author of over 30 books for young people, we follow Jack Gantos in the summer of 1971.Gantos was an aspiring writer looking for adventure, cash for college tuition, and a way out of a dead-end job. For $10,000, he recklessly agreed to help sail a 60-foot yacht loaded with a ton of hashish from the Virgin Islands to New York City, where he and his partners sold the drug until federal agents caught up with them.
While alcohol and marijuana distracted Gantos from his goal of being a writer and landed him in federal prison, this story comes with an important message about not letting your mistakes define you.
Over 2,000 free copies of Hole in My Life will be distributed throughout the five communities. Books will be placed at doctor’s offices, salons, wellness centers, coffee shops, and churches.
After reading the book, participants are encouraged to share it with others. If you can’t find a copy around town, visit your library in any of the five participating communities to check out a copy.
Free events supporting the CWF’s “Avoid Unhealthy Substances” initiative will be offered in all five communities in September and October, starting with a kick-off event at the Grass Lake Heritage Day Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Through these events, the 5 Healthy Towns hope to encourage an open and engaging conversation about unhealthy substances and how supporting strong communities can help. Stop by the 5H Community Read table at the festival, pick up a free copy of the book, and check out our fun giveaways.
The 5H Community Read is a district-wide initiative to promote a more active and better-connected community, while encouraging a love of reading. The 5H Community Read engages more than 10,000 people by putting a book in their hands. The goal of the 5H Community Read is to bring all five communities together in dialogue on the topic of wellness, focus on the importance of getting people together, and staying active.
For more information about the 5H Community Read and a complete listing of events in all five communities, visit 5hcommunityread.wordpress.com.
The 5H Community Read is a partnership between the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation, Chelsea District Library, Dexter District Library, Jackson District Library in Grass Lake, Manchester District Library, and the Capital Area District Library in Stockbridge. It is supported by a generous grant from our community partner, the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation.
