A training in Mental Health First Aid will be offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, November 6 at Bluffton Presbyterian Church, 112 N. Main St.
The program will teach participants to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Skills needed to provide support to someone in crisis and expanded content on trauma, addiction, and self-care will be included. The training is free and open to community members, high school and college students, and faith leaders.
Have you been bitten by the photography bug? The Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan park district invites non-professional photographers to enter the 45th annual Nature Photography Contest. Deadline for entry is Sunday, October 31. Competition categories are:
Specific Nature Subject – Flora
Specific Nature Subject – Fauna
Landscape
Parks Potpourri
For "Parks Potpourri," photos must be taken in a park operated by the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District (including Bluffton's Motter Metro Park, 10740 Columbus Grove-Bluffton Rd.)
Registration is open for Fall Session 2 youth programs at Bluffton Family Recreation (BFR), 215 Snider Rd. The session runs from October 10 to November 6.
A variety of after school programs are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Costs range from $16-24 for BFR members and $30-48 for non-members. See attached flyer for programs and times.
All youth classes are run each session (Fall I-III) unless otherwise noted. The schedule is subject to change.
You know it's a Monday, Wednesday or Friday in Bluffton if you see folks lining up at the Et Cetera Shop, 327 N. Main. The Mennonite Central Committee thrift shop is staffed by volunteers and is open for sales from 1-5:00 p.m. three days a week. Donation days are Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Ben Thiel, the new Bluffton Elementary school principal, is originally from the Findlay area and graduated from Liberty Benton HIgh School. He attended Indiana Wesleyan University before transferring to Bluffton University in 2007, where he played football and graduated with a middle childhood education degree.
Ben and his wife Sarah started their teaching careers in Texas. He began his masters coursework at the University of Texas at Arlington and completed Principal Licensure at the University of Findlay.
