Several new faces are greeting customers at BFR this summer.
Derek Draper was hired in mid-May as the Front Office Manager. Draper is a recent graduate from the University of Findlay Sport and Event Management program. Not only does Derek bring a professional and friendly presence to the front desk, he also brings his collegiate baseball experience to the facility. A Riverdale High School graduate, Draper played four years on the Oiler Baseball Team. The front office manager oversees customer service at the facility, as well as special events and inside advertising.
BFR Sports & Fitness has two special events for young girls and boys planned for the week of July 14.
Super Heroes Day will be held on Monday, July 14 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for boys entering grades K-3. Super Hero Day will include fun activities as favorite super heroes, crafts, lunch and a chance to become a local hero.
The Icon heard from former Bluffton resident, Shane Geisheimer recently. He is the Communications Coordinator of Hope United Methodist Church in the Cleveland area.
Shane's helping to put on a prom with a different twist. Here it is in his words:
The Heart of Rock and Roll is an event that will feature a Prom for folks with Intellectual, Physical and Developmental Disabilities, ages 16 and older. Our event this year will be on August 15th at Garfield Memorial Church in Pepper Pike.
As you may know I am from Nigeria, and being from Nigeria in a different country there are a number of things that I miss and food is one of them. Here are some of my favorite Nigerian foods and snacks, most of these ingredients can be found at a whole foods store or an African store. Enjoy.
The next Maple Crest Senior Living, Bluffton, Sunday buffet is July 20, according to Daren Lee, director of Maple Crest.
The menu includes:
• Grilled flank steak with mushroom sauce
• Chicken florentine with pesto pasta
• Herb roasted red potatoes
• Fresh sauteed squash and zucchini
• Dinner rolls
• Sugar cream pie
• coffee and iced tea.
The buffet is in the Patio Room at Maple Crest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open to all adults 55 and older at a cost of $7.50 per person.
Beaverdam Volunteer Fire and Rescue will host its 59th annual Summerfest from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9.
The event features homemade food, games, live band (Chez Cheese), safety demonstrations and a raffle drawing for grand prizes and door prizes.
This year's prizes include a 4-foot Poly Glider, Stainless Steel Kenmore Grill, Air Hockey Table, $300 Meijer gift card, Inflatable Bounce House and an Ohio State campfire ring.
There will also be live chain saw carving by On Track Carvings.
Shirley Torsell’s love of reading was widely recognized, and she was known to frequently hand out free children’s picture books from her seat at the movie theatre ticket stand where she worked.
In honor of what would have been her 92nd birthday, Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Co., committed 100% of its sales on June 14 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in honor of Torsell’s love of children’s reading.
Mark Bixel, son of Dean and Brenda Bixel of Bluffton, was the winner of the 2014 Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne Gene Marcus Piano Competition.
He was the first place winner in the Senior Division. First round auditions were held May 17 and 18 with the final round of competition held in June at IPFW.
Mark, 16, will be a junior at Bluffton High School in the fall. He has been studying piano since the age of 4 with his teacher, Kathleen Price of Findlay. He performed Aufschwung, from Fantasiestucke, Op.12 by Robert Schumann for the winners recital.
