Last week strange sounds erupted from a large gathering room at Maple Crest - the booming of a bass drum, peals of laughter, shrieks and screams and infectious giggles.
What in the world was going on in there? "The Drum Guy" (Russ Welker) was leading a drum circle for residents, and everyone was responding to his enthusiasm.
Welker has played drum "on the side" for most of his life, but since 2009, he's been involved in a "dream job" - playing around with drums as his sole employment and seeing his love for "the beat" bring joy and relaxation to others.
Each year, the Bluffton Area Ministerial Association plans an ecumenical Good Friday service.
"We begin by carrying a cross to local Bluffton Area Ministerial Association churches, pausing to pray at each church entrance," said Louise Wideman.
This year the processional will begin at the English Lutheran Church at 11:30 a.m. From there, the cross will be carried to St. John's United Church of Christ, then to St. Mary's Catholic Church, to the Bluffton Presbyterian Church, Bluffton First United Methodist Church and finally to First Mennonite Church.
Here's a Bluffton scouting snapshot that we've never seen.
The photo shows member of Bluffton Boy Scout Troop #56 in the summer of 1944. The photo was taken in front of the Bluffton grade school, likely before departing for a week of summer camp at Shawnee Camps, now Camp Lakota, near Defiance.
Back row: Scoutmaster A.C. Burcky
Second row from left: Assistant scoutmaster Charles Triplehorn, Ronald Diller, Gene Patterson, and assistant scoutmaster Donivan Augsburger.
Icon viewer Richard Goodenbour sent us this interesting photo of the Bluffton sky as he viewed it eariler in the week. The photo shows East College Avenue at the bridge near Triplett Drive.
Trinity Lutheran School, Jenera, finished their basketball season with tournament play.
The boys won the consolation game at the Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, tournament and placed third in the league tournament at Huron Valley Lutheran High School, Westland, Michigan.
The girls won the consolation game at HVL. Avery Insley and Emily Heldman were named to the All-Tournament Team and the school received the Sportsmanship Award for demonstrating good Christian sportsmanship both on and off the court.
