Meredith Bixel, 2011 Bluffton High School graduate, won a piano competition on Saturday, June 11, in Toledo.

She and two other student-musicians will be performing with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in April, 2012, according to Rachael Lewis, Bluffton schools strings teacher.

Bixel is the daughter of Dean and Brenda Bixel. She will attend Bowling Green State University this fall.

Bluffton's Sesquicentennial Committee has provide an update to events planned here June 24 to July 2. The latest schedule follows:

NOTE: A PRINTER-FRIENDLY SCHEDULE IS AN ATTACHMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY.

1) Festival of Wheels Car Show 2 pm on Friday, June 24.

2) Relay for Life Bluffton University Stadium starting at 4 pm on Friday, June 24. Fireworks will follow at dark.

3) The Sesquicentennial Grand Opening 11am to 3 pm on Saturday, June 25.

The Henry P. Huber Scholarship Committee has announced the recipients of the 2011-2012 Huber Scholarship grants.

Greg Denecker, Superintendent of Bluffton Schools and a member of the scholarship committee, reports a total of $16,250.00 was awarded to 11 students.

The Scholarships are for students planning to major in vocational agriculture, or related fields of study.

This year's scholarship recipients are as follows. An asterisk indicates the student was a Huber Scholarship recipient last year also.

The Bluffton Senior Center is busy getting ready for Bluffton's sesquicentennial.

"We have something planned for almost every day of the celebration," says director Tonya Meyer. "I am most excited about having all the former directors together for the parade."

The Senior Center will have a float in the parade as well as the Senior Center Bus. Riding on the float be former directors Vera Core, Betty Cookson and Rosemary Meyer as well as current director Tonya Meyer and some long time volunteers of the Center, Ralph Rammel and Ester Neff.

Bluffton council found a way to beat high gas prices. On Monday, council agreed to purchase three 2002 model golf carts from D&J Golf Carts of Bluffton. The total cost of the carts is $12,975. According to Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, the carts will be used in the every-day activities of the service department, sewer department and police.

He said that EMS had previously accepted a donated cart. That cart's use is extensive and it has proven to be efficient.

Pandora council is looking at a $39,203 street improvement program this year.

Stan Schneck, village administrator, told council at it recent meeting that he received a quote for varioius street, alley, curb and gutter repairs.

The complete minutes from the meeting follow:

The Pandora Village Council met in Regular Session on Tuesday,
May 24, 2011 at 7:00 PM at the Municipal Building with Mayor, John Schlumbohm, presiding.

Members Present: Painter, Vance, Fricke, Hall, Stall
Members Absent: Blank

Bluffton's Fair Trade Town status may interest Icon viewers in the latest issue of Fair Trade Town Crier. It is an e-mail resource for Fair Trade organizers.

"O God Our Help in Ages Past, Our Hope for Years to Come," is the theme of the Bluffton community worship service, held in conjunction with the sesquicentennial celebration on Sunday, June 26, at 9 a.m. on the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn.

Through prayer and praise, Scripture readings, confession, and vignettes by representatives of the historic faith traditions in Bluffton, the community will be invited to give thanks for God's blessings of the past 150 years, even as we look forward to the future.