The Yellow Springs News • An Independent source of community news in Yellow Springs, Ohio since 1880

Village Community Outreach Specialists Florence Randolph and Danny Steck struck a pose by their “cotton candy-colored” cruiser earlier this fall. (Photo by Reilly Dixon)

Meet your community outreach specialists

When federal SNAP benefits stalled this fall, Yellow Springs’ safety nets snapped taut in an effort to catch as many affected folks as possible. Among those nets, and often helping bind them together, are the YS Police Department’s Community Outreach Specialists Florence Randolph and Danny Steck.

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Web Features

YS Development Corp. poised to close on downtown buildings

Right around the turn of the new year, the Yellow Springs Development Corporation is expected to close on the purchase of two downtown buildings: 252 and 254 Xenia Ave.
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Duke Ellington’s ‘Nutcracker Suite,’ string-style, at the Foundry

String super-group Mr Sun will bring their reimagined version of the suite to the Foundry Theater on Thursday, Dec. 11: A string-band take on the suite based, in part, on Tchaikovsky’s original, but mostly on the 1960 big-band-inflected reworking by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn — a reinterpretation of a reinterpretation.
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25 years of Ms. Demure

This month, Ms. Demure will host a live holiday program on DATV featuring a number of guests — including Yellow Springs’ own Mayor Pam Conine — in celebration of the season, Ms. Demure’s 60th birthday, and 25 years on DATV’s airwaves.
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Arts (archives)

Annual Solstice Poetry Reading to benefit Tecumseh Land Trust, Glen Helen
The event, co-sponsored by Tecumseh Land Trust, Glen Helen and Tesseract Books, will take place Dec. 5, 7–9 p.m., in the Glen’s Vernet Ecological Center at 405 Corry St. Twelve local poets will read original works, followed by a wine and cheese reception and an open mic session.
Villager’s new novel heads west
"As with Geisel’s earlier work, the physical settings in 'Orcas’ Call' map directly onto real places: Orcas Island, the Salish Sea, the Olympic Peninsula."
‘No Visas’ for Foundry artists
“NO VISAS: A Hip-Hop Journey from Jaffa to Jerusalem to Yellow Springs,” will take place Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m., at the Foundry Theater.

Village Schools (archives)

School board to fix more eyes on state, federal legislation
At its Thursday, Nov. 13, meeting, the YS school board discussed ensuring that more eyes stay fixed on state and federal legislation as lawmakers at both levels make decisions that could dramatically affect public schools.
District talks state report card
District enrollment this fall stands at 608 students, with about 36% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Roughly 17% of district students are identified with disabilities.
John Gudgel honored for 45 years in YS Schools
“That’s the power of John Gudgel — to see what’s possible when others can’t, to open doors quietly but meaningfully, and to leave generations of students and families better because of his heart,” Assistant Superintendent Megan Winston said.

Economy (archives)

Card program aims to keep dollars local in Yellow Springs
The Yellow Springs Community Foundation and the YS Credit Union are joining forces to launch a new program aimed at incentivizing locals to spend more of their dollars in town.
Planning Commission approves preliminary plan for 190-unit subdivision expansion
At the group’s most recent meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 11, Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat application for a sizable addition to the Spring Meadows subdivision in the northwestern reaches of Yellow Springs.
Tom’s Market explores co-op model
For the time being, Tom’s Market, located at 242 Xenia Ave., is still privately and family owned — but owner Jeff Gray and others have begun a 45-day discovery process to determine the feasibility of and local interest in the co-op model.

Village Life (archives)

The Patterdale Hall Diaries | In the morning light
"If you see me wandering around Yellow Springs with a beatific expression on my face, I may simply have epiphanied — give me some space."
Take yourself on a tour, learn about Black history in Yellow Springs
The self-guided tour pairs permanent markers with an online map and historical notes designed for residents and visitors to follow on their own.
My Name Is Iden | At the speed of suffering
"I go for a lot of walks now. I go mostly in the morning. I like the morning time. It’s quiet, the whole day is open before me and so much still feels possible to me in the morning."

Government (archives)

Village Council approves 2026 budget with $558K deficit, but ‘strong’ cash reserves
At the group’s most recent regular meeting, Monday, Dec. 1, Village Council approved the 2026 municipal budget — one with a projected deficit of $558,100, with municipal expenses expected to outpace revenues.
Village Council approves a villagewide CRA, TIF agreement for schoolhouse
At the group’s most recent regular meeting, Monday, Nov. 17, Village Council members again turned their attention to two related, but distinct, economic development incentive tools that the Village aims to implement in the near future.
Miami Township Trustees talk property taxes
Miami Township Trustees spoke at their Monday, Nov. 17, meeting about statewide efforts to quell rising property taxes — including a citizen-led effort to abolish property taxes entirely.

Obituaries (archives)

Thomas Williams ‘Kimathi Asante’
Thomas Williams, Kimathi Asante, died suddenly of heart failure Dec. 1, 2025 in Toledo where he resided.
Matthew Adam Grote
Matthew Adam Grote, of Carlisle, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly Nov. 19, 2025, at the age of 65.
Shirley Strohm Mullins
The amazing life of Shirley Strohm Mullins, who died Aug. 7, 2025, at the age of 90, will be celebrated with “Shirley’s Grand Finale Concert,” on April 4, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church.
Peter Robert Witson
The tale here on earth of Peter Robert Whitson, age 85, ended peacefully Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, surrounded by his family at the VA Hospice in Dayton, Ohio.
R. Louise Dean
Held in love and God’s Light, Louise passed peacefully at 102 years of age on Nov. 25, 2025.

Higher Education (archives)

Varlotta takes the helm at Antioch University
When Lori Varlotta took office as the 23rd president of Antioch University on Aug. 11, she jumped right into getting acquainted with Yellow Springs.
New term, new students at Antioch College
For the 2025–2026 academic year, Antioch enrolled 115 degree-seeking students, down from 121 last fall. Of those 115 students, 42 are new to Antioch, 70 are continuing students and three are returning, or re-admitted.
Antioch College steps in as Job Corps future uncertain
Earlier this summer, Antioch College flew 11 young people from the Job Corps program to Yellow Springs, enrolled them in a summer academic program, and gave them dorm rooms, a meal plan, on-campus jobs and a path to pursue four-year degrees.

Sports (archives)

Bulldog Sports Round-Up | Dec. 5, 2025
The Varsity Bulldogs boys opened the season with a pair of nonconference losses, falling 64–57 to Southeastern on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and 61–28 to Preble Shawnee on Friday, Nov. 28.
Bulldog Sports Round-Up | Oct. 24, 2025
The Yellow Springs Bulldogs girls soccer team faced down a tough post-season road match on Thursday, Oct. 16, suffering a 15–0 loss at the hands of Legacy Christian Academy Knights in district tournament play.
Bulldog Sports Round-Up | Oct. 17, 2025
For the third year in a row, the middle school boys team won the Metro Buckeye Conference cross-country championships held at Emmanuel Christian Academy.