Bluffton's most asked question (after: "When in Halloween?") is: "Will there be fireworks?" This year is no exception. The Icon is already receiving emails and phone calls asking the fireworks question.
Here's the short answer:
Q: Will Bluffton have fireworks this summer?
A: Yes.
Q: When?
A: Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Blufton Community Swimming Pool during National Night Out. (Same as in 2015.)
This year’s Ride to Remember bike ride on Saturday, July 16, has several new features with special invitations to the community that turns the event into a community fun day.
Last year’s inaugural ride attracted 100 bikers to Bluffton. This year hopes to have more riders, plus activities for the community.
Here’s the plan so far:
• An 8 a.m. mass start takes place at Bluffton Family Recreation on Snider Road. The mass start includes a “parade” of riders southbound on Main Street to the Dairy Freeze where various routes split.
A Hancock County grand jury has indicted a Michigan man in connection with the April 5, armed robbery of the Circle K store located on Commerce Lane in Bluffton.
Police officers arrived within a minute of the robbery and were able to immediately secure the scene.
Bluffton-Pandora YFC weekly pool parties are underway at the Bluffton Community Swimming Pool, according to Jeremy Basinger.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of the summer:
July 6
July 20
July 27
Aug. 3
Aug. 10
Aug. 17
Parties are open to next fall’s sixth graders through high school seniors. Admission is $3 each. Parties are from 8:30 to 10 p.m.
The July 6 party has the following extras: more games and prizes, ga-ga ball, corn hole and kan jam tournaments, YFC t-shirt tie-dye, outdoor movie and more.
Doug Luginbill of Bluffton will become the conference minister of the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA beginning Aug. 15.
Locally, First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, and Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, and Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, are members of CDC. The conference includes 42 congregations in 10 states.
The Central District Conference office will remain in Goshen, Ind., and as conference minister, Luginbill will work from an office in Bluffton.
With an expected attendance of more than 2,500 people, the Western Ohio Aquatics League (WOAL) swim championships will return to the Village of Bluffton July 8-9. Bluffton is the host site for the WOAL every three years.
“We are excited to be the host pool for the 2016 WOAL swim champs,” said Jennie Wilson, president of the Bluffton swim team. “The WOAL summer swim program has more than 600 swimmers across eight teams, and with these swimmers come families, friends and grandparents.
The Ohio Mennonite Annual Relief Sale will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5-6 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wooster.
Food and booths open at 4 p.m. Friday, with the evening program at 6:30 p.m. Saturday begins with breakfast at 7 a.m., following by the 5K run and walk at 8 a.m., the woods, tool and art auction at 9 a.m., and the quilt auction at 10 a.m.
Bluffton First Mennonite Church will observe Peace Sunday on Sunday, July 3, with the theme of “Strangers no More," featuring Jackie Wells' art display of that title, and Mark Rupp as guest preacher.
Rupp is pastor of Columbus (OH) Mennonite Church. He is a Bluffton University graduate and earned a Masters of Divinity with a specialization in Feminist and Womanist Studies from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Before beginning seminary, he spent three years with Mennonite Voluntary Service working with Boys and Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, KS.
