Musical duo learns, performs 50 songs for America 250
MEDIA RELEASE__John Jantzen and Wendy Chappell-Dick gave themselves a challenge: learn 50 songs in celebration of America 250! Popular in America from colonial times to the Civil War, these are the songs of immigrants, Native Americans, and enslaved African Americans about life, faith, work, and play, all accompanied by dulcimer, guitar, spoons, and harmonica.
Many will recognize songs from the beloved Little House on the Prairie books. The duo has a calendar of seven performances beginning on July 4:
July 4 Presbyterian Church, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
July 19 Little Riley Creek Farm, 1:00 – 5 p.m.
August 20 (Part 1) Bluffton Public Library, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
August 29, Play Music on the Porch Day
September 17 (Part 2) Bluffton Public Library, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
September 26 Fall Festival at the Schumacher Homestead
October 15 (Part 3) Bluffton Public Library, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
Stories Posted This Week
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- Bluffton area Women in Business meeting October 15
- Leo club glasses collection
- Night at the (Swiss Historical) Museum, October 24
- Woodcarving ornament workshop at Swiss Heritage Center
- Barefoot nature walks at the Nature Preserve
- Pirate volleyball seeded 4th
- Beavers sports roundup, October 6-11
- Bluffton leaf pickup scheduled for last week of October
- Pirate boys soccer shuts out Bellefontaine
- Watch an after school movie at the Bluffton Public Library
- Dunlap awarded OSBA humanitarian award
Monday, October 12, 2026
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Friday, October 9, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 9
- Pirate girls soccer loss vs. St. Marys
- Pirate volleyball sweeps Carey
- “The Trumpet Player” sculpture at Bluffton University receives conservation grant
- October 13 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Plenty of action at Oct 10 Dillinger robbery reenactment and motorcycle show
- Caitlyn Couch junior piano recital, October 16
- Bluffton community survey opens for Active Transportation Plan