October 2023

Not ready for volleyball season to end yet? From Nov. 16 to Dec. 21, Bluffton Family Recreation’s adult coed indoor volleyball league will be happening at the rec center, 215 Snider Rd., on Thursdays.

This league is open to ages 18+ and costs $300/team. A maximum of 3 men are allowed on the court.

There will be no games on Nov. 23 due to it being Thanksgiving; those games will be played Tuesday, Nov. 21. The tournament is Dec. 21. 

Registration deadline is Nov. 5.

Costumes are encouraged

Bluffton Family Recreation will be hosting the Halloween Adult Coed Sand Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 22 at Southgate Lanes, 9700 N Dixie Hwy. The tournament starts at 1 p.m. and costs $100/team. 

Games are best of 3, straight to 15 points. The tournament is planned to be double elimination, but could potentially be pool play with single elimination depending on the number of teams registered.

Registration deadline is Oct. 18.

Lauer Historical Farm, 800 Roush Rd., Lima, will travel back in time to World War II during a two-day event where guests are invited to Interact with 150-200 living history re-enactors and watch as the Allied Forces  battle with the oppositional Axis Powers.

This the is the largest WWII re-enactment in Northwest Ohio. On October 14  battles will be staged at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. On October 15 battles will take place at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In March of 1966, Petula Clark released the Sign of the Times on her My Love album. The song was written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, who wrote several songs for Clark. The song was previewed for the American public on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 27, 1966. The song peaked at 11 on the Billboard Top 100. The title would indicate a political statement, but in reality, it was a love song. 

Petula was born Sally Clark in England to parents who were both nurses. Her father invented her stage name of Petula and she was sometimes referred to as “the First Lady of the British Invasion.” Petula lives in Geneva, Switzerland and is still performing at the age of 90.  

Why the discussion on the sign of the times?

The National Foundation for Infectious Disease (NFID) sent a survey out to the American public to evaluate their knowledge and level of concern relating to the current circulating viruses. The NFID survey is not unique to 2023, but this year’s survey results have medical and public health advocates concerned. 

CROSS COUNTRY: Beaver harriers run at OWU Invite
DELAWARE__On Friday, Sept. 30, the Beavers were up at the line to start their races at Ohio Wesleyan University for the OWU Invitational. The weather conditions were ideal, and the course was ready for some great competition. FULL STORY (men’s team) and FULL STORY (women’s team).

Pirates visit Van Buren on October 10

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School girls soccer team scored two goals in the final five minutes to tie Columbus Grove 2-2 in a thrilling finish to their Northwest Conference-deciding clash Tuesday night, October 3, at Steinmetz Field.

With the dramatic tie on an unseasonably hot evening, Bluffton repeated as outright league champions and won its third NWC crown in the last four years.

A loss to Grove would have likely meant a shared three-way title with the Bulldogs and Allen East. But the comeback tie means the Pirates finished as the only undefeated team in the league with five wins.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School volleyball team defeated visiting Lincolnview 25-20, 25-18, 25-13 in a Northwest Conference match Tuesday evening, October 3.

The Pirates improved to 15-4 overall and 4-2 in the NWC with the win.

Lincolnview dropped to 10-8 overall and 3-3 in the NWC after the defeat.

Letter from William Kose, MD, JD, Vice President of Special Projects, Blanchard Valley Health System

As the days get shorter and cooler, community members should be aware that multiple infectious diseases will be more prevalent, including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). If you are someone who always gets vaccinated, here’s a reminder that this is the time of year to do so. And, if you aren’t, now could be a great time to start.

The Ohio State University Extension Agronomic Crops Team has developed an online, self-paced course for Certified Crop Advisors to earn CEU credits.

The course is designed as a series of eight video, each with a five-question quiz. Up to four CEU credits can be earned upon successful completion of all eight modules and quizzes with a passing score.

Tip line newly staffed by trained crisis response professionals

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced several enhancements to the state's free Safer Ohio School Tip Line (1-844-SAFEROH) that will make it easier for Ohioans to report school safety concerns. 

In addition to calling and texting the tip line, Ohioans anywhere in the state can now report school safety information through a new smartphone app and online web form.

"Not everyone wants to make a phone call or send a text--some are more likely to report concerns by sending a message through an app or website," said Governor DeWine. "We're making these upgrades so that it's as simple as possible for all Ohioans to quickly and anonymously report any potential school safety threats in a manner that makes them comfortable."

The new Safer Ohio School Tip Line smartphone app, available both on iOS and Android devices, and the online web form include pre-populated prompts to help users quickly upload information.

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