NORTH WEBSTER – The North Webster Community Center (NWCC) will host 2024’s first Free Family Movie Night this Friday, March 22 with activities starting at 5:30 p.m. in the gym.
“We have this great historic gym and love to show it off,” said NWCC Executive Director Emily Shipley. “We thought a fun way would be to host a Free Family Movie Night right in the middle of March Madness basketball season and have some fun celebrating another round of ‘Hoosier Hysteria.’”
The evening’s activities kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a free throw contest in 14 different age/gender categories competing while the Kosciusko County Historical Society displays traditional basketball memorabilia from around the county and the community center provides free hot dogs and popcorn.
“Letter Sweater” and “Letter Jacket” contests will be held all evening with a winner announced at the end of the day.
Warsaw dentist Steve Hollar, one of the basketball players in the original 1986 “Hoosiers” movie, will be on hand for a meet-and-greet session before the evening – including a showing of the classic “Hoosiers” movie - concludes.
“I don’t think anything celebrates basketball in Indiana more than this inspiring movie based loosely on the true story of the Milan Indians, a small Indiana town that made its way to the state championships in 1954,” Shipley said. “To watch it alongside the community under our historical barrel roof gym is a fun way to enjoy being a Hoosier even if you’re not a passionate basketball fan. It’s a must-see movie. We are also thrilled that Steve Hollar is willing to join us for the evening and share his personal Indiana basketball experiences as well as his own memories working on the legendary film.”
The NWCC, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation, was established in 2002 to restore and preserve the former North Webster elementary school as a unique asset for the community, said Shipley, adding that the NWCC’s board initially raised $1.4 million to renovate the building, which is currently being used by the entire surrounding community.
Today, it’s home to a number of local groups and businesses such as the Kosciusko Community YMCA, Senior Primelife Enrichment Center (SPEC), The Watershed Foundation Inc. and NWCC Massage Therapy. In addition, the Center hosts a variety of events from weddings to fundraisers to the Mermaid Festival pageants, election polls, health screenings, class reunions, birthday parties and countless Scout, lake association, town council, service club and support group meetings.
Contact Shipley at the NWCC in downtown North Webster or by phone at 574-834-1600.