All Bluffton Icon News

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn provided the attached 2025 Zoning Permits Summary for the village council at the December 22 regular meeting. The total dollar value of cost estimates is $12.9M with $6M in residential permits and $6.9M in commercial permits.

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Gerken Materials, Inc. is listed as submitting the largest project, an asphalt plant with a cost estimate of $6M. Commercial projects with estimates of at least $10K are:

MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Exempted Village School District is currently accepting applications from students interested in attending the school district through open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Students from any school district in Ohio may apply and enroll in Bluffton Schools tuition-free. Students are admitted on a full-time basis only. 

Applications are approved annually on a first-come, first-served basis and approval is subject to grade-level enrollment and educational programs.

The Quarry Farm Nature Preserve and Conservation Farm, located in Pandora, Ohio, has issued its Winter 2026 newletter (volume 16, issue 1).

Articles include a recap of Global Big Bird Weekend in October 2025, an update on the natural stream Cranberry Run and a spotlight on Guinea fowl, one of the QF residents.

coming up in February and June, The Quarry Farm will be hosting art workshops for student in grades K-12: Create a Bark Mask and Make a Leaf Stepper.

 

Morning programs

Winter Storytimes (R) January 14 through February 25! Join Miss Beth for a time of stories, games, crafts, and lots of fun while developing early literacy skills! Little Ones Storytime is open to ages birth-2 and Pre-K Storytime is open to ages 3-5. When registering, please specify if your child has any food allergies, as snacks are often provided. Register in person or online

By Paula Pyzik Scott

A first-class letter sent by the Icon from Bluffton, Ohio to Bluffton, Ohio took four days this past week. Hand-postmarked about noon on Wednesday, January 7, the letter was received at the Icon PO Box on Saturday, January 10.

The letter served as a test subject for the Bluffton, Ohio postmark, as explained in How and when to get a Bluffton, Ohio USPS postmark.

Heating Assistance Application Deadline: May 31, 2026

MEDIA RELEASE__The Ohio Department of Development and Area Agency on Aging 3 remindS older Ohioans that assistance is available to help with home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to eight members and 60% of the State Median Income for a household of nine or more members to pay their heating bills.

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