People

Bill Croft and Vanessa Greer of the Bluffton Lions Club stand with Jerry and Lori Lewis

Jerry and Lori Lewis, of Jerry Lewis McDonald's Restaurant, were named Bluffton Lions Club citizen of the year for 2010 on March 29.

The couple join a long list of Bluffton residents recognized over the years by the Bluffton Lions Club. This was the 30th year for the award to be presented.

Jerry and Lori Lewis have assisted countless programs in the Bluffton community. These include athletics, the arts, churches, education and individual families.

Don Hurless with Meredith Bixel

Meredith Bixel, a senior at Bluffton High School and daughter of Dean and Brenda Bixel of Bluffton, was the recipient of the Hurless Award on April 2.

The $500 award was given to her by Don Hurless in memory of his late wife, at the 51st annual Young Artists Competition at the Ohio State University in Lima.

Meredith competed in the competition which is sponsored by the Friends of the Symphony. She performed the Piano Concerto Opus 23 No. 2 in D minor by Edward MacDowell and was accompanied by Kathleen Price who is also her piano teacher.

By Kirstie Runion, Bluffton University Icon Intern
From sweating in the sun to sweating in a tie during a business meeting, college students find themselves with whatever summer jobs they can get. In this economy, they have never been harder to find.

This summer I will be starting my new job, an internship with F&W Media in Cincinnati. I have worked at a restaurant for six years so this will be a change of pace. My advice to anyone looking for a summer job is to give it all you have-it's only for a couple months!

The Bluffton Senior Citizens Center will host a Mennonite Memorial Home program on gardening. The event is at 7 p.m., Monday, April 18, featuring Gretchen Staley as the speaker. The program will take place at the Senior Center, 132 N. Main St.

Staley, a master gardener, will talk about container gardens. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served by MMH.

An Easter bake sale is planned at the Mennonite Memorial Home from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 22. The sale is in the MMH lobby at 410 W. Elm St.Proceeds go to The Service Group of the Mennonite Memorial Home Communities of Ohio.

Five staff members of Mennonite Memorial Home were chosen from a list of nominees to receive special recognition this spring.

The five were honored at the 2011 Stars West Regional Employee Recognition luncheon, held March 29, at Otterbein, St. Marys.

Those recognized were:

  • Amanda Courtney
  • Kayla Herrmann
  • Emily Koogler
  • Kristen Niekamp
  • Karen Wilkins

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