Events

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Gary Wetherill, President of the Swiss Community Historical Society, will speak at the Bluffton Lions Club meeting on Tuesday, March 18. The public is invited to attend the presentation, which will take place at noon at Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St.

Wetherill will provide an update on construction of the society's Heritage Center and events for the upcoming season at the Schumacher Homestead, 8350 Bixel Rd, Bluffton.

The Heritage Center is repurposing the Bixel-Basinger Swiss Settlement barn previously located on the Dan and Cindy Basinger Farm. The repurposed barn will be heated and air-conditioned and include a large event space, classroom, artifact storage space and public restrooms. The facility will allow for longer visits during tours and events, and eliminate weather restrictions for visits.  READ MORE

The annual Bluffton Music Booster's Chicken BBQ is this Friday, March 21. You are invited to join area families for an evening of student music and art.

BBQ meals are served from 4:00-6:30 p.m. in the Middle School Cafetorium. Tickets may be purchased HERE and in the Middle School office. Meals are available for pick-up/dine-in from 4:00 - 6:30. 

Music performances are in the Middle School Gym throughout the evening beginning at 3:50 p.m. Admission is free. Student artwork will be on display in the hallways.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

3:50 - 4:20 Strings 4, 5
4:22 - 4:37 Choir 7
4:40 - 4:55 Band 5
4:57 - 5:27 Strings 6, 7/8
5:30-5:45 Choir 8
5:48 - 6:03 Band 6

READ MORE

CORRECTION Event date is March 14 at 5:15 p.m.

Community members including the family of Bluffton teacher Katrina Riepenhoff, who passed away while awaiting a heart transplant in 2024, and the Village of Bluffton have scheduled an event celebrating the creation of the Bluffton Community Dog Park on Lake St.

At 5:15 p.m. on Friday, March 14, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony including remarks by Matt Ellerbrock and comments by the Riepenhoff family, Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd and Mayor Rich Johnson.

Sponsors and contributions will be acknowledged and a ceremonial groundbreaking photo opportunity will take place.

Work is expected to commence the following week including installation of a water line, concrete work and fencing.

The dog park is being funded by contributions and will be located on Village property adjacent to Cobb Lake on Lake Street.

It will provide "a safe, clean area where dogs can play 'off the leash' with other dogs." It will be maintained by volunteers. A public Facebook group for the project is located at https://www.facebook.com/groups/145984225110151/ 

The March 6 Community Meal at the Bluffton Senior Center, 132 N. Main St., will be served by First Mennonite Church. Watch https://bit.ly/Bluffton_Senior_Facebook for menu announcements.

St. John UCC will serve the March 20 meal.

All meals start at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public. A good will offering will be taken to help support the local food pantry.

Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 8375 Phillips Rd, Bluffton, will host a fish fry on Friday, March 14 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

The cost is $12/meal, dine in or carry out.

Carry out includes up to 3 pieces of fish, cheesy potatoes, green beans, applesauce and cookie.

There will be separate lines for dine in and carry out.

The March dinner meeting for members of the Bluffton Senior Citizen Center will take place on Monday, March 10 at noon. This is a potluck meal with soup provided by the center. Please bring a dish to share. 

MC: Gloria Bucher
HOSTESS: Barb Nusbaum, Louise Hampton
PROGRAM: The Maple Aires signing group

For more information about membership, call or visit the center at 132 N. Main St. Dues may be paid in person at the center, by mailing a check or over the phone with a credit card. The member newsletter is available by standard mail or by email.

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