Committee above) Emily Hilty, Rachel Skilliter, Trustworthy Schumacher, Deron Martin (DJM419), Kathy Dickson Sider, Sarah Phillips. CLICK gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace.
By Paula Pyzik Scott
Organizers from First Mennonite Church (FMC) drew a broad sampling of permanent and temporary Bluffton residents to A Taste of Bluffton on Saturday, Aug. 23. The first-time event offered $5 servings from Bluffton restaurants, specialty food businesses and carryouts, as well as tunes by DJM 419, live music by Wendy Chappell-Dick and Phil Gratz, games, t-shirt dying and Bingo.
Created as a way to introduce Bluffton University students to food services in the Village, A Taste of Bluffton proved to also be a way for them to meet the people of Bluffton. The event was well received by local businesses with almost all local food purveyors participating. The FMC FUN committee spent almost a year working out the details.
Batteries don’t belong in trash or curbside recycling containers
MEDIA RELEASE__Rumpke Waste & Recycling experienced a fire at its new $100 million recycling facility in Columbus, Ohio in July 2025, which was caused by a lithium-ion cell phone battery. The business provides trash and recycling services to Bluffton residents.
“Fortunately, we were able to address it quickly; the facility didn’t experience damage, and no one was injured,” said Jeff Synder, senior vice president, recycling and sustainability. “Situations like this put people—our workers and firefighters in harm’s way, which is the ultimate risk we take when we all toss these batteries into trash and recycling containers.”
BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls soccer team defeated visiting Spencerville 3-1 in the Northwest Conference opener at Steinmetz Field on Tuesday evening, August 26.
The Pirate girls improved to 1-1 overall with the win, and start out 1-0 in league play in their quest to regain the NWC title.
The Bearcat girls fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the NWC after the loss.
Bluffton’s Lilly Dagani scored in the very first minute on an assist by Aubrey Burkholder to give the Pirates an early lead.
SPENCERVILLE__The Bluffton High School boys soccer team opened its Northwest Conference title defense with a 4-0 win at Spencerville on Tuesday, August 26.
The Pirates improved to 1-2-1 overall with their first win, and are now 1-0 in NWC play.
The Bearcats fell to 0-2 and 0-1 in the league after the defeat.
Calvin Derstine led the Pirate scoring with two goals.
Carter Steinmetz and Chase Kelly netted one goal apiece.
Emmitt Kidd and Truett Diller combined to earn the shutout in goal for the Pirates.
