Dedication set Saturday

CELINA - City officials expect a large crowd for the grand opening of the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater on what is forecast to be a beautiful, sunny Saturday with temperatures in the low 80s.

The amphitheater in the Bryson Park District along Lake Shore Drive will be inaugurated at 2 p.m. Saturday in grand fashion with a ribbon-cutting and tributes to Jones, an accomplished jeweler and city benefactor. A concert will feature Eagles tribute band Out of Eden, Scott "Allen" Hildebrand, a friend of the Jones family, told the newspaper.

The event is free and open to the public. It's also tailored to be family-friendly with no alcohol or coolers permitted. Bottled water will be available via a concession trailer, mayor Jeff Hazel said.

"We do anticipate a sizable crowd. People need to bring their (lawn) chairs," Hazel told the newspaper on Thursday. "I'm very excited. The amphitheater and the seating area just looks absolutely beautiful."

City workers on Thursday morning power washed the amphitheater concrete and marked parking areas in the grass. Hazel said the public is asked to park in the grass east of the amphitheater. The hot water hole parking area will be reserved for the band, crew, Celina Rotary Club members, Jones family members and those with handicaps, Hazel said.

Hazel also noted people are not permitted to drive golf carts up to the amphitheater at the band's request.

The event is being underwritten by the Jones family with assistance from the city and the Celina Rotary Club, Hildebrand said, adding that organizers plan to pull out all the stops to celebrate this milestone in Celina's growth.

"The Jones family wants to give back to the community that has given them so much and made such a wonderful home for their family for all these years," Hildebrand said. "Harley loved Celina. If you took his blood it would have Celina DNA in it. He just loved the community, loved the people. He did a lot of things for the community."

Harley Jones died at his home in Celina on March 20, 2016, at the age of 82. He was known for founding Jones Jeweler in Celina and serving on numerous local and state committees and civic organizations. Named the Mercer County Republican of the Year in 2015, Jones was more than an acquaintance of then-Gov. John Kasich; State Rep. Keith Faber, R-Celina; and former State Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville.

Looking to honor the memory of Jones, Hildebrand set out to secure an Eagles tribute band for the opening of the amphitheater. His search led him to the Cleveland band Out of Eden, which he characterized as an outstanding bunch of six accomplished musicians who enjoy a large following.

"I hope it gives a really good, positive boost to the community and everybody can take a great amount of pride in what the city and the state and the Bryson Trust Fund and everybody have come together to help to make this another jewel in the crown of Celina," Hildebrand said.

Out of Eden strives to reproduce note-for-note the music of the Eagles, vocalist-guitarist Ron White told the newspaper, noting the members are well-versed in the band's entire catalog, capable of pulling off the Eagles' monster hits and deep cuts with equal aplomb.

"We're really looking forward to Celina," White said "And to be the first band to play the amphitheater dedication, it's really exciting."

The band, which has really hit its stride, was booked for 40 dates between May and September, according to White. He said this will be Out of Eden's first appearance in northwest Ohio.

The band plans to deliver two hours of beloved Eagles classics on Saturday afternoon, White said.