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Joe Shriner

the Continued Operation of Hilty Preschool & Childcare Center

The Board of Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio (MHCO) is happy to announce plans for continuing operations of the Hilty Preschool and Childcare in Pandora, Ohio.

Following the January 2, 2024, announcement that the childcare would be closing on January 31, there was a groundswell of local effort to continue the operation of a childcare in Pandora. Parents reported frustration and inability to locate alternative childcare openings in Putnam County and long waiting lists at other facilities.

The Pandora Village Council heard their pleas, as voiced at the January 9 Village Council meeting. The Council had already approached MHCO, and these pleas supported their resolve to find a workable solution for everyone. The Putnam County CIC joined the Village in their efforts. Local businessmen, Zachary Buckland and Evan Schroeder, stepped forward to propose the purchase of the childcare operation. They have formed Hilty’s Faithful Foundations Preschool and Childcare, LLC, and it will remain in the current location. They plan to expand the childcare space into the adjacent space of the former Hilty Memorial Home.

In collaboration with MHCO, current operations will continue through March 31, 2024, by which time they expect to have the legal transactions and licensing processes completed. Meanwhile, the Village of Pandora submitted a purchase proposal to HUD, the loan holder for the empty facility. The Hilty Memorial Home was closed in December 2022, and the childcare was allowed to continue in the building. MHCO had attempted to find purchasers for the building and the childcare but was unsuccessful.

Pandora Mayor, Jeremy Liechty, shared these thoughts about the collaboration: “We believe that by attempting to purchase the building, Pandora will have the Hilty daycare remain in place and opportunities for other businesses to grow within our community,” Liechty said. “We appreciate how MHCO continued to maintain the Hilty facility, and we are hopeful that an offer for the building is accepted by HUD to keep moving forward in 2024.”

Once the transactions are completed, the Village will begin a strategic planning process to determine additional operations that can utilize other areas of the 60,000 square foot space. Families and staff have been informed of the plans for continuing childcare services, and the new operators are eager to move forward with their expansion plans.

Zach Buckland expressed hope that Hilty childcare families and staff will “hang in with us” as the transitions take place. “Evan and I know firsthand how difficult it is to find quality childcare close to home,” Buckland said. “This is what motivates us to take on this challenge. We are committed to making this a successful and permanent operation. And we are especially happy to have Amanda Dettrow continue as the Director, continuing her 17 years of leadership.”

MHCO Board Chair, Elizabeth Kelly, shared her enthusiasm about this turn of events: “We know that it takes a village to raise a child. We are seeing that it takes a village and a county and a group of committed parents and citizens to provide much-needed childcare in rural communities. We are thankful for the hard work that is making this possible.”

Latest News from Bluffton High School

Welcome to Bluffton High School – Where Excellence Meets Tradition!

At Bluffton High School, we pride ourselves on fostering an environment where every student is encouraged to reach their fullest potential. Nestled in the heart of our vibrant community, our school stands as a beacon of learning, innovation, and tradition. Here, students find a place where they can pursue their passions, discover new interests, and prepare for a successful future.

Academic Excellence: Our curriculum spans a wide range of subjects, designed to challenge and inspire our students. With advanced placement courses, dual enrollment options with local colleges, and a strong emphasis on STEM, we ensure that our students are well-prepared for the demands of higher education and the workforce. Our dedicated faculty members are committed to providing a supportive and enriching learning experience for every student.

Innovative Programs: Bluffton High School is at the forefront of educational innovation. Our state-of-the-art facilities include a modern science lab, a fully-equipped robotics workshop, and an arts complex that supports our thriving music, theater, and visual arts programs. Our commitment to technology integration means every student has access to the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century.

Athletics and Extracurriculars: Home of the Bluffton Beavers, our athletic teams are a source of pride and community spirit. We offer a wide range of sports, from football to swimming, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to excel and be part of a team. Beyond athletics, our extracurricular activities include clubs and organizations for every interest, including debate, environmental club, chess, and more, fostering leadership and teamwork.

Community and Service: At Bluffton High School, we believe in the importance of giving back. Our students engage in community service projects throughout the year, developing a sense of civic responsibility and compassion. Partnerships with local organizations and businesses provide real-world learning opportunities and strengthen the bond between our school and the community.

Future Ready: Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offer pathways in fields such as healthcare, engineering, and business, equipping students with the skills and certifications they need to enter the workforce or pursue further education in their chosen field.

Join us at Bluffton High School, where tradition blends with innovation to create a dynamic and supportive learning environment. Our commitment to excellence, community, and the future readiness of our students makes us more than just a school – we are a family, a community, and a launching pad for the leaders of tomorrow.

Stay Connected: For the latest news, updates, and achievements of our students and staff, follow us on our website and social media. Together, we are Bluffton – proud, strong, and united in our pursuit of excellence.

Making beautiful (stringed) music …Bluffton group plays “low key gigs”

Unbeknownst to a good number of people in the village, Bluffton actually has a “Dulcimer Musical Group.” The Rainbow Dulcimers (originally started in a home on Bluffton’s “Rainbow Dr.”) practice every Tuesday afternoon at either the Bluffton Library, or the Bluffton Senior Center.

What’s more, besides the practice sessions, they play what band member Cheri Slotter labels as “low key gigs.” That is, the group also does concerts at both the latter venues, at Maple Crest, and they played this year, for instance, at the Allen County Museum’s Christmas Tree Festival.

Some of their selections included the old German carol “Sweeter the Bells.” They also played “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” and “Christmas is a Coming.”

And, as practically everyone already knows (except me, of course), the word “dulcimer” originally referred to a trapezoidal zither, similar to a psaltery, whose many strings are struck by handheld “hammers.” Whatever all that means.

An old nursery rhyme comes to life… in Bluffton/Pandora: ‘Believe it or Not!’

“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe (‘er rather in the “Schumacher House”), “She had so many children, she… ENDED UP IN RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! Seriously!

The Rev. Peter and Elizabeth Schumacher, whose living quarters of yesteryear is the fulcrum for the Swiss Mennonite Memorial Society “Schumacher Homestead” here, were featured in the 1931 edition of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”

There is a portrait of Elizabeth, and below the portrait it reads: “Mrs. Peter Schumacher, Allen County, Ohio, has 163 grandchildren!” (*The couple had had 16 children themselves, who all, amazingly for the time, grew to adulthood and married.)

And that’s not the half of it, or even a tenth of it for that matter! In a booklet about the Schumacher Family Tree, published in 1982, the late Mark Schumacher wrote that there were 452 great grandchildren. And, conceivably now, over 1,0000 great, great grandchildren.

I tracked one down. As coincidence would have it, yet another Mark Schumacher grew up in Bluffton, moved several times, and is now currently living in Cincinnati. He was back recently to visit friends and attend the Swiss Mennonite Society’s Holiday Open House recently.

Mark is particularly proud of the local family heritage. Family roots, family genealogy, is important, he said. It is these early families who, not only established a community here, but they continue to be woven through the fabric of the local society.

And keeping that heritage alive was on full display at the Christmas Open House this year. The Schumacher House was chock full of early Swiss community memorabilia. Historical Society members were dressed in period garb. And even a somewhat svelte Swiss Santa was reading the young ones holiday stories from the old country.