Open house is Wednesday

It’s time to celebrate.

West Jay Community Center will hold an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, to showcase new flooring and other recent improvements.

The event will include remarks by community center board president Derek Rodgers at 6 p.m. Dunkirk native Mark Hardwick will be the featured speaker. Hardwick, CEO of First Merchants Corporation, is a 1989 Jay County High School graduate who went on to play at Ball State University, averaging 9.4 points per game and shooting 44% from long distance during his senior season.

In July, Hardwick was selected as part of IBJ Media's Indiana 250. The list recognizes the state's "most influential and impactful business and community leaders, representing public and private companies, law firms, universities, not-for-profits, government and community organizations."

West Jay Community Center opened in 2001 with the gym added in 2004. In addition to flooring, recent upgrades have included heating, ventilation and cooling improvements, new fitness equipment, updated landscaping and masonry enhancements.