Her stomach growled loudly. She pressed her arms closer to try and hide the sounds. Since her father had given up his steady job and paycheck to start a new church that had no members and no money, the family had cut back drastically. Her new winter coat had come from the Dollar General store.
She sat on the school bus with her feet pushed violently under the seat in front of her. Maybe if she couldn't see the ugly tennis shoes that the popular kids had worn three years ago, no one else could either.
Bluffton University will host the Ohio Music Educators Association Ribbon Festival from 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21.
The event is sponsored by the Middle West district of the Ohio Music Teachers Association and is free and open to the public. Nearly 300 students will be performing throughout the day.
The Ribbon Festival allows music students of all ages an opportunity to perform in a non-threatening environment and receive comments from a highly qualified judge.
Dr. Jeanne Lemkau, professor emeriti, Wright State University School of Medicine, will present "The Gifts of Empathic Activism: Advocating for Cuban-American families" as a part of Bluffton University's weekly Forum series on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
The forum will be held in Founders Hall at 11 a.m. and is free and open to the public.
Lemkau has traveled to Cuba eight times since 2000 for research as well as for educational and humanitarian trips. She also traveled to Nicaragua in the 1970s, serving in a rural part of the country through the Peace Corps.
Bluffton University's music department has announced the soloists for its 114th performance of Handel's Messiah to be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Founders Hall.
The soloists for this years' performance are Crystal Sellers, soprano; Julia Szabo, alto; David Sawatzky, tenor; and Calvin Griffin, bass. The event is free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be taken.
Here's what we know about this plate. It's on a Dodge parked on Franklin Street between the Middle School and High School. Viewers, please help us on this on.
Members of the Bluffton Volunteer Fire Department will string Main Street garlands on Saturday morning, Nov. 14, according to Dan Bowden, fire chief.
Bowden said that if a rain date is needed, the garlands will be strung on Saturday, Nov. 21, instead.
Main Street businesses need to place their garlands in front of their business early Saturday morning on Nov. 14 so that the fire department has access to them.
"The holidays can be a particularly difficult time to cope with the loss of a loved one and the Tree of Remembrance Memorial Service provides a forum in which families can come together to express their grief but also find peace for years to come," said Gordon Diller of Chiles-Laman Funeral Home.
On Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Centre at Bluffton, 601 N. Main St., Bluffton, Chiles-Laman Funeral Home will hold a Tree of Remembrance Memorial Service for persons who have lost a loved one this year or in years past.
By Joanne Niswander
Most of us, by now, have made plans for where we will be on Thanksgiving Day and with whom we will celebrate. Many families will be getting together, and some of those without families nearby will plan to enjoy the day with friends. It's a day to renew relationships, share good food and watch football games. But it's also a day to celebrate our blessings. Here are a few different ones to think about:
