On June 19 the first annual Bluffton Art Walk brightened a rather damp Thursday afternoon. Thanks to the presence of downtown Bluffton awnings and ten participating shops, the event proved to be an excellent way to get out of the house and out of the rain.
The Bluffton Public Library will host the following events and activities during the week of June 23-28. For further details and dates, visit www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org/library-events.
Monday, June 23
StArt @ the Library: Abstract Paint (grades K-2) (R) - 10 to 11 a.m.
Retail and experience-based businesses added to downtown Bluffton
By Marlena Ballinger
Becky Avila is the owner of a newly renovated building located at 105 E. Elm Street which houses three new businesses: Avila’s boutique Fusion Designs on Elm and Rage in the Alley and tenant Bluffton Art Company.
Avila, along with her partner Lee Bowman, has fulfilled her lifelong dream of opening and operating a boutique. What started as playing “store” as a kid and led to pop-up shops held in the club house of Bluffton Golf Club, has now turned into a thriving downtown business.
Avila’s business has more ties to local entrepreneurs than one may imagine. When you meet her, you’ll recognize her as the receptionist at Spectrum Salon, owned by Mandy Kinn of Bluffton.
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The trails of Motter Park on Columbus Grove Rd. are firmly established but the views offered to hikers depend on the ever changing landscape and time of day. Here, Bluffton High School sophomore Roselove Jebsen experienced seasonal blooms and a dramatic evening sky.
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Here's a great example of a Bluffton community member who answered the invitation to "put a little more Bluffton in the Icon!" Call editor Paula Scott at 567-400-4266 during regular business hours to learn about content creation opportunities.
FROM FACEBOOK__The Bluffton Community Pool will officially open for the season this Saturday, June 21, with updated hours, swim lessons and pool rentals for residents and visitors.
Over my 32 years behind the camera, one truth has become clear: it’s not just about the action. It’s about the relationships—the quiet moments behind the scenes, the camaraderie between competitors, the traditions and quirks that make each athlete unique. The way an athlete bites their necklace for comfort. The lucky socks. The verse on their spikes. The pre-race prayer.
These are the moments you don’t see from the stands—but they are the soul of the sport.
FROM THE EDITOR: The Icon is fortunate to have a number of excellent sports photographers in the community. In 2025 Jamie Nygaard and Marvin Foster offered to take photos of the OHSAA DII State Track Finals. We asked them both for some of their favorite pictures and an account of their experience.
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By Marvin Foster
I believe this is the 14th time I have had a credential for State Track. Most of those years have meant grabbing a spot in the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium locker room turned media room, and calling it home base for the next two days. It is always interesting to see how the professional photographers and newspeople go about their job, and I will often be grateful that I am not trying to scratch out a living doing the same.
