Regional news

Bridge Bereavement Services will offer a workshop for understanding grief on Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the second floor conference room at Bluffton Hospital, 139 Garau St., Bluffton. The event is for individuals 18 years of age and older and is open to the public.

This three-hour workshop will help participants learn more about the grief process including how to identify essential physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual actions that will aid in healing.

Following the passage of the extenders legislation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today it anticipates opening the 2015 filing season as scheduled in January.

The IRS will begin accepting tax returns electronically on Jan. 20. Paper tax returns will begin processing at the same time.

The decision follows Congress renewing a number of "extender" provisions of the tax law that expired at the end of 2013. These provisions were renewed by Congress through the end of 2014. The final legislation was signed into law Dec. 19, 2014.

The Findlay Rugby Club will host a Pay to Play Wheelchair Rugby tournament on Saturday, Jan. 3, at BFR Sports & Fitness,  215 Snider Road, Bluffton. 

The event will feature up to 10 area rugby teams competing (in wheelchairs) against each other indoors on a gymnasium court. Players from the Adaptive Sports of Ohio organization will be featured, as well. Matches begin at 9 a.m.

Teams may still register for $125; the general public is welcome to watchwith a free-will donation.

The Village of Bluffton Service Department will pick up Christmas trees placed curbside on Wednesdays beginning the week after Christmas.

The first pick up is Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Here's a story that will interest all Bluffton railfans. It is reposted from The Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers (dba All Aboard Ohio). Click here for more information about All Aboard Ohio.

For advocates of rail transportation, one of the most enjoyable developments is to see a railroad line come back to life.

Bluffton is truly a Blaze of Lights each December. This year is no different.

Here are photographs of winning Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce downtown window lighting contest and Village of Bluffton residential light contest.

Judges considered residential lighting displays within the village limits. In addition, they looked at residences that requested to be judged.

PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ATTACHMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY AND IN FLIP-BOOK FORM ALSO AT THE BOTTOM.

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