Bluffton Icon Viewers:

We eagerly watch the numbers on the Icon. So when the odometer recently flipped over to 100,000 total views in just 10 months, we went into a bit of a tizzy. After all, 10 months ago, this whole project was an experiment filled with unknowns. All we really knew was that we wanted to continue to deliver small-town journalism in a way that would reach a variety of generations.

Ohio vanity license plates are now available for countless organizations. The Icon spotted this U.S. Armed Forces Veteran plate on Main Street.

The Bluffton Area Ministerial Association (BAMA) is planning a community worship service at 9 a.m., on Sunday Aug. 1.

This worship service comes at the end of a week of Vacation Bible School hosted this year at the First United Methodist Church. Children who attended Bible School will sing a few of the songs they learned during worship.

The community worship service will take place on the Presbyterian Church lawn. (In case of rain, the service will be held in the middle school cafetorium.)

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It was 100 years ago when this photo was taken. It shows the Bluffton third grade during the 1910-11 school year. Perhaps you have a relative in this photo.

Front row from left, Fairy (Berry) Musselman, Edmond Althaus, Howard Augsburger, Florence Johns, Beatrice (Steth) Conaway.

Second row from left, Helen Basinger, Geraldine Bigler, Harold Kemp, Mae McGeorge, Ruth Murray, Lester Hahn, Robert Swick, Bernice (Althaus) Carder, Frances Geiger, Opal Betzner, Carl Lewis.

By Fred Steiner

In a manner of speaking, the Mennonite Home officially gained senior citizen status this summer. It's 55 years old. It may now join AARP.

My connection to 410 W. Elm St. is unusual: I've never lived there, but know it pretty well. My mother worked there for over a quarter of a century, first in the laundry, next as a nurse's aide, then as an LPN and finally as a resident herself.

Here's a plate you don't see every day, week or month in Bluffton. It's a Connecticut plate. The Icon spotted it on Main Street.

Pandora's Riley Creek Festival is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13-14. For a complete schedule of events click here. Watch The Icon for more details in coming weeks.

Highlights of the Fest' include:

Friday

Car and antique tractor show

Carnival games for kids

Homemade ice cream

Musical "Wizard of Oz"

Saturday

5 K Run

Pancake breakfast

Bridenbaugh schoolhouse tour

Health fair