Two Bluffton families have forged a new business partnership on Vine Street. Liz and Bob Gordon-Hancock have become partners with Jonah Agner, chef-owner of Greenhorn restaurant at 112 Vine St.
ABOVE) Bluffton High School girls soccer team, fall 2024
By Cort Reynolds
WAPAKONETA __ The Bluffton High School girls soccer team kicked off its season at Wapakoneta with a 1-0 victory in a non-league battle Tuesday, August 20, at Ryan Field.
The Pirate girls improved to 1-0 by winning their opener. The Wapak team record dropped to 1-1 after the defeat.
The Pirates scored the game’s lone goal just 73 seconds into the fray.
Mya McDoogle netted the winner after beating two Redskin defenders on a counter-attack. She then put a shot past keeper Gianna Staas in a one v. one situation to make it 1-0.
Marilyn June Diller, 93, passed away August 20, 2024 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay. Marilyn was born June 21, 1931 in Elida to the late Cecil and Fenella (Habegger) Flick. On February 24, 1951, she married Cleo Diller who preceded her in death on January 3, 1984.
The Bluffton High School boys golf team won a dual match Tuesday, August 20, handily over Bellefontaine. The Pirates triumphed by 31 strokes, 171-202.
Bluffton’s Nick Lovett was match medalist with a nine-hole round of 40. Pirates Evan Speicher and Ethan Fifer tied for second in the 12-player field with a score of 43.
Grady Coonfare was the fourth Pirate scorer as he registered a round of 45.
Michelle Ann Sherick, 40, passed away August 18, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Michelle was born December 16, 1983 in Findlay. On June 24, 2006 she married Tyson Sherick who preceded her in death on January 10, 2018.
In this series, the Icon presents the Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow comprehensive plan in eight segments, which can be found in full on the Village of Bluffton website HERE. The Bluffton Public Library has two print copies.
Housing
Municipalities across the nation are reviewing housing supply data as societal evolutions change requirements. The number of occupants per home is decreasing and the average home is growing in square footage. Our earliest pertinent data for Bluffton was collected in 1970. Just over 50 years ago, each resident averaged 325 square feet of living space with the mean home spanning 1,500 square feet. The most recent decennial census in 2020 identified the average home size in Bluffton as 2,465 square feet, raising the living space to resident ratio to 431 square feet to one resident (Allen County Auditor data).
Similar statistics could be tracked in most American municipalities. Denser populations are the goal because they are more efficient. Running utilities 2,000 feet to 10 homes returns less revenue than the same distance for 20 homes. Income tax on 20 homes returns far more capital to the municipality than property taxes on large lots with proportional homes.
