Local artist Oscar Velasquez will offer a second drawing and painting course at Bluffton Public Library for youth and adults.

Youth classes (grade school through junior high) will meet at the library on Wednesdays for five weeks from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., beginning April 6. Adult classes will meet at the library for five weeks on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m., beginning April 7. No prior experience is necessary.

Have you ever wondered how to arrange a bunch of flowers? Bluffton Public Library will be offering a fresh floral arranging program hosted by Doug and Renee Smith of Panache on Main Street in Bluffton. The program will take place in the lower level of the library on Tuesday, April 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Each participant will receive free fresh flowers and tips and tricks for arranging fresh flowers. The workshop is free, but space is limited.

Bluffton Public Library's April calendar is now available to Icon viewers. Click here to view the calendar.

April is a very active month at the library. Among the events planned is the Friends of the Library book sale, April 9-16.

Lent services continue this week for several Bluffton churches. This week's schedule follows (Wednesday through Sunday):

St. Mary's Catholic^aEUR"
Wednesday, March 23 -^aEUR"6:30 p.m., Stations of the Cross;
^aEUR"7 p.m., Mass

English Lutheran Church^aEUR"
Wednesday, March 23 - ^aEUR"7 p.m., Theme: Let my people go - In faith and obedience!

Sunday, March 27, morning worship - ^aEUR"Let my people go - to the well!

Stratton Greenhouses, 9915 E. Lincoln Highway, Bluffton, will open for the 2011 season on Monday, April 4, according to Steve and Susie Stratton, owners.

Customers will find cool weather vegetables and flowers initially, with more plants being stocked as temperatures warm up.

Greenhouse hours from April 4 to 16 are Mondays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Monday, April 18 on hours will be Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday hours will be announced soon.

Some federal aid is coming in to Bluffton flood victims, according to Rick Skilliter, Bluffton police chief. He informed The Icon today that the following information was supplied by the Allen County EMA:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued an "SBA-only"disaster declaration for Auglaize and Marion counties as a result of
the flooding from late February.

This declaration also includes contiguous counties therefore Allen County residents are eligible as well for long-term, low-interest loans from SBA.

Bud N. lives in Putnam County. What's his last name? The Icon spotted this plate on Main Street.

Leroy Barber, president of the urban initiative Mission Year, issued a challenge to Bluffton University students last October when he addressed them during Spiritual Life Week on campus.

Over spring break, two dozen Bluffton students took him up on it.