Community

Carlin Carpenter entertains Bluffton senior citizens during the noon, Monday, Feb. 13, monthly potluck at the Senior Center.

Ruth Unrau will receive a life membership at the meeting, as a result of celebrating her 90th birthday. The dinner is a potluck and persons attending may bring a dish to share and your own table setting.

Bridge Home Health & Hospice, Findlay, will offer training courses for prospective volunteers beginning on Monday, Feb. 13.

The training will be held in the Wenner Conference Room at Birchaven Village, located at 15100 Birchaven Lane in Findlay, and will take place for seven consecutive Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Courses will cover the basic principles of hospice, understanding the needs of patients and their families, effective communication, patient care, pain and symptom management, spiritual care giving and understanding grief and loss.

The Allen County Environmental Citizens Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 3 p.m. in the Health Department Conference Room. Special reports for the meeting will include an update on Lima sewer issues from Gary Sheely, and a review of Flare Gas Recovery Projects by Husky Energy staff. 

Louis and Lee Ann Savage of Bluffton, announce the engagement of their daughter, Joy Savage, to James Harris. The wedding will be held at Old Town Chapel in Leander, Texas, on March 24, 2012.

Joy graduated from Bluffton High School in 2004 and Bowling Green State University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Education. Joy is employed by Starbucks Coffee as a shift supervisor in Georgetown, Texas, and by Docent Research Group as an assistant in Austin, Texas.

Bluffton Hospital provided The Icon with information about births that took place in the hospital since late November:

To view photos of these babies click here.

Plenty of Canada geese and ducks make the Buckeye their winter home. Here's the cast of characters on a January afternoon.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Saturday was "take down" day for the Ream holiday display and for Main Street snowflakes and garlands. This AEP volunteer was taking off the lights high above Main Street from the tree on the Presbyterian Church lawn.

Our bird of paradise tropical plant is in full bloom inside this glass house on the Bluffton University campus located on Rosenberger Drive.

The first community meal of 2012 is hosted by St. Mary's Catholic Church. The meal is at 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. The dinner is free and open to the public, sponsored by the Bluffton Inter Church Board.

The menu follows:

Beef vegetable soup
Chicken noodle soup
Ham and bean soup
rolls and butter
cookies and brownies
coffee and punch

Bluffton's January Relay for Life meetings are Thursday, Jan. 5, in the Bluffton town hall, according to Adam Blevins.

The Relay committee will meet at 6 p.m., and all teams are encouraged to attend our team meeting / rally at 7 p.m.

"If you haven't signed your team up yet, we'll have access to sign your team up online," said Blevins.