The Yellow Springs News won the top prize in its division at last week’s annual Ohio Newspaper Association convention in Columbus.

Village Council at its Feb. 7 meeting unanimously approved entering into a lease with villager Mitchell George for a new business located at the former site of Stutzman’s Nursery on U.S. 68 North.

At the Feb. 7 Village Council meeting, a citizen urged the Village to reconsider its tree-trimming policy in the wake of the recent ice storm that knocked out power for 80 percent of village homes.

The Village budget for the 2011 general fund is slightly leaner than last year’s budget, with anticipated expenses down 1.6 percent from 2010.

The Great Yellow Springs Ice Storm of 2011 had a silver lining, as the warmth of community softened Mother Nature’s blow.

As the News winds down its series on affordable housing, it seems appropriate to look at other communities that have taken steps toward addressing a need for affordable housing.

On Thursday, after the lights came back on downtown, villagers could be found sharing stories about the ice storm that crashed through town Tuesday night.

Village crews continue to work today, Thursday, Feb. 3, to restore power to village homes after Tuesday night’s brutal ice storm. Most villagers now have electricity, although about 30 percent of homes were still without power on Thursday morning.

At their Jan. 18 meeting Village Council members unanimously approved a resolution to place a renewal of the Village 8.4 mill property tax operating levy on the ballot in May.

The revived Antioch College is moving forward toward its goal of welcoming its first class of new students next fall, according to new President Mark Roosevelt at last Saturday’s meeting of the college’s pro tempore board of trustees.

The ice storm and winds that walloped Yellow Springs Tuesday night left about 75 percent of village residences without power overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, according to Police Chief John Grote.