RSS | Print | Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text | Bookmark and Share

Local News

Monday, August 24, 2009

Peace Center finds a home in Bluffton
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

It's been about 20 years since Libby Hostetler started the brainchild of her middle aged years, a legacy she hoped would outlive her: The Lion & Lamb Peace Center in Bluffton.

Now, she said, it has not only sustained itself, but helped thousands of kids, and a few adults, understand how to promote peace in the world.

But Hostetler was not sure her idea for a peace center would garner support.

"You know, peace is controversial, for some reason," she said. "Even today, if you talk about peace, people don't respond well."

But Bluffton turned out to be the perfect place to try out a crazy idea like peace. She found a supporter and financial backer in the late Herman Parent, a Lima businessman, and he brought his enthusiasm for community service to the project, along with $10,000.

"He was the kind of man who would drive down the street and pick up a homeless man, take him to breakfast and get him a job," Hostetler said. "He was the person to go to if you were going to make the world a better place."

The odds were still against them. Small colleges like Bluffton University were struggling in the 1980s, and could not fund new projects like the Lion and Lamb Peace Center. After promising Hostetler the $10,000, Parent decided that wasn't enough and added $10,000 worth of stock in his company.

After that, everything came together: friends and peace advocates created art that contributed to the decor of the center, which was and is still tucked beneath Bluffton University's Riley Court on Spring Street.

The center took off, and so did Hostetler's life. She began traveling to other nations promoting peace, including Japan and Serbia.

At the center, she concentrated on conflict resolution and other topics, relating to world events and international relationships.

The center also received plenty of recognition from well-known peace advocates.

William Sloan Coffin Jr., a minister from New York City who was also the president of Peace Action, the nation's largest peace and justice group, came to the center's dedication in 1987, along with actor Alan Arkin.

"It's amazing, when you have an idea people buy into, how much they will do to help make it work," she said.

She became dedicated to peacemaking as a teenager, when she joined the Mennonite church.

Hostetler has since retired, but still helps out when the director, Louise Matthews, asks. She does not help often, though, because she wants Matthews to run the center her own way, and has confidence that she shares Hostetler's philosophy.

Matthews said she thousands of kids visit the center each year. Most are elementary age along with a few older kids. Most kids come from the area, but she gets visits from adults other parts of the country and world, too.

The peace center served 2,665 people last school year, including 1,355 children and 635 adults, Matthews said.

She schedules events, then creates a program to suit the event.

She said child-aimed peace themes can reach kids' adult chaperones, too.

"Sometimes we forget to look at life from other perspectives," Matthews said.

Its mission -- to promote peace and introduce alternatives to violence -- continues. Hostetler said she wants to teach the message of peace as she was taught.

"I asked myself, 'How did I come to the message of peace?'" she said. "And it was through people teaching me to respond differently."

Events for schools and other groups can be scheduled at the peace center by calling 419-358-3207 or e-mailing at .

Reiter: 419-427-8497,

Send an e-mail to Michelle Reiter
Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail webmaster@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
   SPECIAL SECTIONS
Summer Coupons
   WEEKEND
USA Weekend

ANDERSON COOPER: Five years after Hurricane Katrina, the CNN reporter returns to New Orleans as the Gulf Coast faces even newer challenges.


Roses are red...

SOLUTIONS, NOT PROBLEMS: The University of Findlay plays host to competitive sailor who is a quadruple amputee.

ALSO IN WEEKEND: Area events,
prep boys and girls soccer and a trip to Niagra Falls.

   STAY IN TOUCH
The Courier on Facebook
   VIRTUAL VILLAGE
TisaWee Farm

Far Flung Guest Book

Virtual Village
   PHOTO GALLERY
Randy's Seen

IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.


You can purchase photographs from The Courier through our easy-to-use online system. Get prints, mousepads, T-shirts and more!

   LOCAL NEWS
  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
j wrote in article "Many winners named as Hancock Fair opens":
Good but little expensive
“ The fair was interesting, but at $5 for the more popular rides on the expensive side, same with the food, many people commented... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 10:37:10 AM
JM wrote in article "McComb couple is serious about fair competition":
Very nice!
“ What a lovely article. Will have to check out their goods at the fair. ” Read More...
9/2/2010 10:21:42 AM
Ed wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Dirt bag...
“ A head shot would have put an end to the both dirt bag's chance of getting more money. NATE: could it be that you have some fir... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 9:53:26 AM
Yfkm wrote in article "Heroin outbreak":
Denial
“ To Tony and TL Every good citizen, parent and public official advocates the eradication of drugs from our communities; you are n... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 9:08:20 AM
Penny Musgrave wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Benton Ridge Shooting
“ Although I am all for catching the criminal, I don't condone what was done to this guy. They converged on him like gangbusters b... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 8:43:07 AM
Yfkm wrote in article "Parole denied in murder case":
Unqualified reassurance
“ To Tony - here is another example of your inability to see situations as they really are. It is obvious that you are so self in... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 8:42:45 AM
JP wrote in article "Pigskin Picks":
Wood Shed???
“ "Bubba," why would a Tiger take a Polar Bear to the wood shed? Wouldn't it be more likely that: Tigers knock Polar Bears into a... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:16:48 AM
poor victim!!!!! wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Nate
“ Nate your a moron and obviously do not know a thing about use of force. Also most taser cartridges carried have a 15 ft to 35 f... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:15:05 AM
Ryan wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Research
“ It doesn't matter if there was a weapon found or not. An officer's job is based upon perception and their objective reasonablen... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:05:15 AM
Derek wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Nate......what???
“ Nate, first of all, police officer's don't carry mase. If they did, the would carry maCe. Now, if you did some research, you'd... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 4:02:04 AM
  U.S. Headlines
  World News
  Ohio News
Subscribe to The Courier - Current Offers
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.