All Bluffton Icon News

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Art month is back at the Bluffton Public Library. The walls and shelf tops are filled with the creative efforts of youth artists from the Bluffton area. Art teachers from Bluffton schools have made submitted selections for their students and a selection of homeschool student art will also be included, as submitted by parents. A reception for the artists will be held at 6:00 p.m. on March 16. PHOTOS by Levi Sutkay.

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By Paula Scott

Representatives of SumiRiko Ohio (SRK) and Sumitomo Riko Japan hosted Bluffton elected officials as well as those active in parks and recreation development for the company's 35th anniversary land donation ceremony and luncheon on Thursday, March 1.

Kazushi Shimizu, president of Sumitomo Riko Japan, presented several acres on Snider Rd. as a donation to be used for youth soccer fields. Shimizu explained that Bluffton was the company's first overseas production base and that thanks to its success, the company been able to grow to 100 production facilities for anti-vibration automotive products in over 20 countries.

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Andreas Baumgartner, associate professor of art at Bluffton University, will present the Colloquium, “From the Studio to Santiago: Finding Creative Renewal Through AI Imaging, RC Modeling and the Footpath of the Camino,” at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 17 in Centennial Hall’s Stutzman Lecture Hall. 

Baumgartner’s Colloquium presentation is based on interdisciplinary studies and experiences from his spring 2022 sabbatical. During his time on sabbatical, Baumgartner explored various means of computer-driven image making, implementing mixed media practices involving AI-based datasets, scripting languages and traditional paper marbling. Baumgartner will use artwork, photographs and drone footage to display his inspirational travels of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. Involvement in radio-controlled modeling and competitive racing fuel Baumgartner’s passion to unite art, design and technology. 

This event is free and open to the public.

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Peter David Amstutz, 59, of Goshen died Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at his home.

He was born October 4, 1963 in Bluffton, Ohio to Frederick and Mary (Schmidt) Amstutz. On August 6, 1988, he married Portia Miller at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, Ohio.

Along with his mother and wife he is survived by a daughter, Christine (Shaun) Amstutz Moore of South Bend; two sons, Jeremy (Amber) Amstutz of Columbus Grove, Ohio and Ezra Amstutz of Bluffton, Ohio; two grandchildren, Ryan and Layne Amstutz and two brothers, James (Lorraine) Amstutz of Ephrata, Pennsylvania and Steven (Jana) Amstutz of Pandora, Ohio.

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Bluffton Boy Scout Troop #256 will be out Saturday morning, March 4 placing food collection tags on all the doors in Bluffton. 

They will be back out on Saturday morning, March 11 to pick up donations and take them to the Bluffton Food Pantry. Scouts will then help sort all the donations by type and date.   

Please have all donations placed outside by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11. 

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By Cort Reynolds

LIMA–The Bluffton High School boys basketball team had its season ended by top seed Ottawa-Glandorf 63-42 in the Div. III district semifinals at Lima Senior Wednesday evening, March 1.

Bluffton ended its solid season 16-9 after the defeat. Top seed O-G improved to 21-3 with the win, and advances to the district finals vs. Spencerville (21-2).

The second-seeded Bearcats defeated three seed Liberty-Benton 44-39 in the second district semifinal Wednesday night at Lima Senior.

O-G shot extremely well overall from the field and from beyond the arc with 10 three-pointers to eliminate Bluffton.

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