MEDIA RELEASE__Jonathon Blake Turner, director of choral activities at Bluffton University, will present the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Forum, “Justice in the Key of Faith: The Sound of the Sanctuary and the Streets,” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in Yoder Recital Hall.
In this lecture-demonstration, Turner will explore how the Black Church shaped the sound and soul of the Civil Rights Movement. Weaving together history, theology and live music, he will demonstrate how spirituals, gospel music and freedom songs transformed faith into collective action.
MEDIA RELEASE__GriefShare is coming to Bluffton. GriefShare is a support group that meets weekly. The program is a warm, caring environment and you will come to see your group as an “oasis” on your long journey through grief. There are three key parts to the GriefShare experience.
Video Seminar: Encouraging information-packed videos featuring grief recovery experts.
Support Group: Small group discussion about the weekly video content.
Workbook: Journaling and personal study exercises that reinforce the weekly session topics.
Shirley Mae Hager, 88, passed away on January 13, 2026, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. Shirley was born August 2, 1937, in Lima to the late Marcus and Cleo (Ebling) Bales. On June 8, 1958, she married George "Samuel" Hager, and he preceded her in death on September 28, 2025.
Family Storytimes (R) Join us the second Tuesday of each month, January - April, at 6:00 p.m. for a fun evening of stories and activities in the children's activity room. Families with children of any age are welcome. We will be meeting Jan. 13, Feb. 10, Mar. 10, and Apr. 14. Register in person or online.
MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Exempted Village School District iscurrently 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.
