Group exhibit opens Friday at Arts Place

A new exhibit opens Friday in the Hugh N. Ronald Gallery at Arts Place in Portland.

Entitled “Unstructured Structures,” the group exhibit involves work by painter Kathy Hirsch, printmaker Jill Kramer, mixed media and fiber artist Sue Nadis and ceramicist Ann Primack. 

The artists collaborated with small architectural and material specific inspired projects over the course of 18 months. The work in this collection represents an independent and continuing exploration of these themes: color, scale, space, line, texture, light, shadow, decay and mnemonic devices.

Admission to Arts Place to view the exhibit is free. 

Regular center hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.



Pops concert

The Jay County High School Patriot Band will hold its annual Mid-Winter Pops Concert in the Jay County High School Auditorium at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16.  The band will be performing a variety of music, including pieces from “Mama Mia” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Admission is free to the public.  The Patriot Band will also be introducing their “Mattress Fundraiser” program as well.  



2020 20s

Mark your calendar for Feb. 29.

Jay County Public Library is planning its first-ever Roaring 20s part to kick off the year 2020.

The dry event will feature live music, games, a 1920s costume contest and refreshments.

Tickets are free, and the event is open to anyone in high school or older.



FFA week

The Fort Recovery FFA Chapter will celebrate National FFA Week Feb. 18-21 with a number of activities and events.

 A tractor drive-in will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to promote the significance of production agriculture in our community. Members can drive in tractors to win the following prizes: cleanest, newest by hours, oldest by hours, biggest by horsepower, and smallest by horsepower. 

The Community FFA Breakfast and Food For America will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 19.  FFA members will make breakfasts for local business leaders, community leaders, FFA Alumni, teachers, FFA parents, and members that morning from 6 to 8 a.m. to show appreciation for all their support. 

The Food For America program will teach elementary students about food, where it comes from, and how agriculture affects their lives.   

 The elementary petting zoo will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20. The petting zoo will be held for preschool through second grade students to see and to learn more about agriculture.  

Anyone with young children in the community is welcome to attend.  The viewing times will be from 9 to 2:45 p.m. in the agricultural shop.



Get healthy

Purdue Extension in Adams County will be offering a Be Heart Smart program on four Monday afternoons — Feb. 17 and 24 and March 2 and 19 — from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Wellness Pavilion at Swiss Village in Berne.

Cost of the program is $5.



Nominations sought

Nominations for the 23rd annual Jack Cole Award for Volunteerism are being accepted by The Portland Foundation.

The award was established by the foundation’s board of trustees to honor Cole’s work as the foundation’s first executive eirector.

Nominations should be by letter of recommendation and include the nominee’s name, address and a brief background describing why the nominee is deserving of this award.

The winner will receive a commemorative plaque and a nominal cash award to be presented to the volunteer’s charity of choice.  The award will be presented at the foundation’s annual meeting on May 20.

Deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 19, 2020. They should be sent to the foundation office at 107 S. Meridian St., Portland. For more information, contact the foundation office at (260) 726-4260.



Chili Cook-off 

The Arthur & Gloria Muselman Wellness Pavilion at Swiss Village is inviting any senior 55+ to participate in a chili cook-off on Friday, Feb. 21, at 11:30 a.m.

Sign up at the Wellness Pavilion by Feb. 19. Those attending should bring their favorite chili to be entered into the contest.