Hilty Memorial Home, 304 Hilty Drive, Pandora, will host an open house from noon to 2 p.m., Sunday, April 10, acccording to Joy Reichenbach, administrator.
The event will feature the Home's newly opened Transition to Home Unit and the new Assisted Living unit. A complimentary luncheon will be provide to the public.
While collecting bargaining is a hot topic in Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky and elsewhere, observe how the Bluffton school board and Bluffton school administrators handled pay raises for the 2011-12 school year.
The two groups agreed that no pay increase will take place for administrators next school year.
Realizing that issues such as this can divide states, congressional districts, counties and even school districts, The Icon congratulates the board and administrators on coming to an agreement on this issue as it did.
Bluffton school board accepted the resignations of three staff persons at it February board meeting.
Susan Gratz, sixth grade language arts teacher, will retire effect the last day of the school year. Bonnie Hammond, Title I reading coordinator in the elementary, will also retire the last day of the school year. In addition Vicki Kirdendall, cafeteria employee, resigned effective Feb. 28.
Administrative contracts were approved for 2011-12 school year. An agreement between the board and administrators resulted in no pay increased for administrators in 2011-12.
Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce members will learn about how two Bluffton residents have gone "green" in business. Bob Fett, co-partner with his brother, Dave, is the featured speaker at the 7:30 a.m., Friday, March 11, chamber breakfast.
The event, in the community room of the town hall, is open to the public, but requires an RSVP to attend. The complete and free breakfast is provided by Richland Manor. Serving begins at 7 a.m. The meeting begins at 7:30 a.m.
The season of Lent is upon us. Several Bluffton churches launch the season with an Ash Wednesday service (March 9). That service usually includes distribution of ashes.
A complete list of mid-week and other special Lenten services will be published next week. Here is a listing of Ash Wednesday services in The Icon viewership area:
o Bluffton Presbyterian Church - 7 p.m.
o First Mennonite - 8 p.m., in fellowship hall
o English Lutheran - 6 p.m.
Fellowship soup supper prior to service
Bluffton's Feb. 28 flood damages are estimated at $179,400, according to Rick Skilliter, Bluffton police chief. It is likely that the figure will climb.
Skilliter released additional figures for the response to the flooding:
o Village General Fund Expenditures (payroll, supplies, dumpsters) - $3,707.96
o Total sandbags generated - 2,354
o Volunteers (making sandbags, feeding assistance) - 182 (average 2 hours of work per person) = 364 hrs
A group of historical-minded Bluffton residents is contacting family members who may have ancestors buried in an old Bluffton cemetery.
"We want to contact all possible heirs and share with them what our hopes and desires are for what is known as the Shannon Cemetery on Bluffton's Jefferson Street," said Dick Boehr, who is spearheading the committee.
According to Boehr, the plan is to create a very nice park area, which could be maintained and would have an identification plaque, which would list as many people as can be verified, who were buried in the cemetery.
Bluffton University recreation students and intramural staff will host Kid's Night Out from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, March 26, in Founders Hall.
Open to children in grades 1-6, the event costs $13 per child if registered by March 24 and $15 at the door. Families who pre-register more than one child will pay $11 per youngster.
A parent must accompany any child who registers at the door. Checks should be payable to the Bluffton University Recreation Club.
