Spring speaker series set

John Jay Center for Learning has announced its spring speaker series.

There’s no charge for the events, but reservations are required because of space limitations. All of the speakers are scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Here’s the line-up for March through May:

On Thursday, March 12, Jonathon Ferris, Wayne County’s Extension director, will speak on nuisance wildlife.

On Tuesday, April 7, Amy Bosworth, an assistant professor of history at Ball State University, will speak on the early history of the automobile.

On Tuesday, April 14, Melissa Gentry from the Ball State libraries will speak on Indiana sports history.

On Thursday, April 23, the featured speaker will be Elyse Faulkner from the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum, who will speak on the rise and fall of the Auburn Automobile Company.

On Thursday, April 30, local author Dean Monroe will speak on the history of Jay County boys’ basketball.

On Tuesday, May 5, Peggy Cenova, regional director of the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, will speak on the basics of branding.

The spring series winds up on Tuesday, May 12, when local military historian Jim Waechter will speak on the history of the flag.



Author visit

Axton Betz-Hamilton will be the featured speaker at a book signing sponsored by Jay County Public Library to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at Arts Place in Portland.

A Jay County native, she is the author of “The Less People Know About Us.”

Movie night

Evangelical Methodist Church, 930 W. Main St., Portland, will host a community movie night on Friday at 7 p.m. with a showing of “All Saints.” Refreshments will be served.



Chili out

Dunkirk Neighborhood Crime Watch is hosting its fourth annual chili cook-off from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, at the West Jay Community Center.

The cook-off is open to the public. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. To enter, contact Al Curts at 768-7584 or (765) 702-5723.