Author: Dede Roberts

“There’s something that happens to you when you come back to your hometown.” – Joseph Dougherty

Dunlap, our hometown.  What a beautiful place to be.  July is often a time for a lot of us who’ve left town to follow dreams or adventures, to come home for much needed visits.  A time to remember, catch up with friends, give hugs to family we haven’t seen in a bit.  And catch the feeling of being back in your hometown.

The float in this year’s parade, “Dunlap, Now and Forever”, was so meaningful.  It takes you back to how the town looked when we were young, makes you notice the new and exciting changes around us now and inspires us to think toward the future.  All the while focusing on keeping Dunlap the same small, friendly, loving, little town in the valley we’ve always loved, and we’ll want to come home to forever.

When my daughter was young and asked where she was going, she would always respond; “We’re going home to Dunlap Tennessee.”  I can’t say it any better than that!

The Sequatchie County Public Library has many, many great reads while you’re home for a visit or off on vacation.  Don’t forget to check out a few for your trip.

Hi everyone, I’m Dede Roberts.  I recently joined Friends of the Library in order to play a small role in helping our community. 

“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals.  When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.” – Jean Vanier.

I’ve always been one to raise my hand to join in any event in order to accomplish a common goal.  Volunteering in our community not only helps those around us, but it also helps us personally.  Volunteering creates self-awareness & improvement, accountability, and strength of character.  At the end of a project that helps uplift our community or an individual within our community, the sense of success and achievement obtained increases our own happiness.  During this month of June, while we’re thinking of the warm weather and getting outside, remember your community and the boundless ways to help. Volunteer and watch the happiness within you bloom!  Think about checking out V is for Volunteer by Michael Shoulders from our amazing library for your young community service helpers.