April 2026

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By Erika Manis, MD, Sleep Medicine

Abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, dream enactment and nightmares, are referred to as parasomnias. They are generally categorized based on their sleep stage, NREM (non-rapid eye movement) versus REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This may be assumed based on timing since sleep onset, whether eyes are open or closed, recall and orientation. 

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FROM QUARRY FARM FACEBOOK__Six years into The Quarry Farm’s 10-year goal of removing invasive plant species like Amur bush honeysuckle that crowd out native trees and wildflowers, David Seitz has cleared so much of these invasives that it is time to plant trees that will benefit native wildlife. This April, we are planting 850 trees, including species of oak, hickory, serviceberry, buckeye, plum, persimmon, and viburnum. We will supply gloves, tools, and refreshments.

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By Paula Pyzik Scott

Did you know the Icon compiles a list of events of special interest for the entire year? April 2026 events are listed below. Get the full picture at What Brings You to Bluffton?, which lives on the Classifieds page.

Email events and updates to [email protected].

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PHOTOS provided / CLICK to enlarge

By Cort Reynolds

FINDLAY__The Bluffton High School track and field teams opened their season by competing at the rugged Liberty-Benton Relays meet on Thursday, April 2.

Grove won the girls meet with 112 points, with Fremont Ross second (88). The Pirate girls came in fourth at 61, behind third-place Eastwood (78).

Eastwood won the seven-team boys meet with 84 points, followed by Fremont Ross in second (81) and host L-B third (77).

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April is Community Banking Month

MEDIA RELEASE__Citizens National Bank will once again host Community Shred Day on Friday, April 24, for Community Banking Month, offering the public an opportunity to safely shred personal information. Items to be shredded will be accepted during normal business hours of each office. There is a limit of 3 standard office-size boxes or grocery bags per household. Items to be shredded could include:

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Compiled by Liz Gordon-Hancock

The following three land transfers took place in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District during the month of March 2026 as reported on the websites of Allen County Auditor Rachael S. Gilroy and Hancock County Auditor Charity A. Rauschenberg.

Address - Sale Date - Sale Price - Land Use - Owner - From/To

Residential

218 S JACKSON ST - 3/18/2026 - $216,800 - Single family Dwlg - From Helen Kathleen Madrigal Trustee to Samantha & Jaz Bluhm

5635 PORT ST, ROCKPORT - 3/16/2026 - $134,900 - Single family Dwlg, Other Residential Structures and Residential Vacant Land on ROCKPORT RD - From Brian & Kerry Edwards to Michael Aller

21359 COUNTY RD 15 - 3/27/2026 - $300,000 - Residential Dwelling Unplatted, plus Other Residential Structures - From Brent Foos to Grant Warner

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By Bill Herr

If you live long enough, you will someday meet a person who lives life to the fullest, and then some. I met several residents at Mennonite Memorial Home (MMH) like that when I was chaplain there.

One of them was Harold Lehman. During his short time as a resident, he made a deep impression on me and on all the members of staff and the other residents.

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Barbara Shapter, 1921-2026

Barbara J. Shapter, age 104, passed away April 1, 2026, at StoryPoint Memory Care in Waterville, Ohio, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and family devotion that spanned more than a century. 

Born June 26, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio, Barbara graduated from Columbus Central High School and went on to build a life rich in experience and connection. Over the years, she made homes in Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky, embracing each chapter with quiet strength and grace. 

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MEDIA RELEASE__On Thursday, April 16 the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commercie is hosting the next Lunch & Learn on the 3rd floor of the Town Hall building from Noon-1:00 p.m.

"Plan Today, Thrive Tomorrow" with Joel Griffiths

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By Jakob Demmitt, Student Pharmacist and Karen Kier, Pharmacist 
ONU HealthWise team

The idiom “well-preserved” describes something or someone who remains in good condition despite their age. It is often a way to say someone does not look their age in a positive way. 

Can food preservatives to maintain freshness not be the best way to preserve our health?

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