December 27
Features
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2024 In Review | Village Life
Milestones were reached, celebrations held, good causes supported and more in 2024 — just another year of typical village life in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
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2024 In Review | Education
From ongoing facilities improvements, transfers of school property to incoming and outgoing educators — 2024 was a great year for education in Yellow Springs.
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2024 In Review | Top Stories
2024’s top stories in Yellow Springs: Low-income housing dominates local discourse, new apartments coming to Antioch College, locals protest firing at Wellness Center, March homicide claims local life and village home raided for marijuana.
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2024 In Review | The Arts
From penning innovative literature and producing surreal films; to painting, poeticizing and performing — Yellow Springs artists covered ample creative ground in 2024.
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2024 In Review | Businesses & Organizations
Several new businesses and organizations cropped up in Yellow Springs in 2024; several hit major milestones and others transitioned and expanded.
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2024 In Review | Government
2024 In Review: Village Government, Village Council, Planning Commission, Miami Township Trustees and the 2024 General Election.
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Dharma Center plans Winter Introduction to Meditation
The YS Dharma Center will offer a Winter Introduction to Meditation Course on Wednesday evenings for six weeks beginning Jan. 8.
December 20
Features
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The Briar Patch | Transformative sunrises
“Grief, as it ebbs and flows over time, never truly leaves, but the in-betweens can sometimes provide an opportunity for a clearing space. Memories can suddenly appear, seemingly out of nowhere. “
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School board talks ongoing initiatives, later erupts
Though the bulk of the school board’s most recent regular meeting Thursday, Dec. 12, was business as usual, the meeting’s last half hour was a return to the heightened tensions that have marked several of the board’s public interactions over the last few months.
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News from the Past: December 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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Local nonprofit YS Emergency Assistance provides financial help ‘right now’
The longtime local nonprofit YS Emergency Assistance, or YSEA — a charitable group previously known as STARFISH — works to help folks living in Yellow Springs with one-time gifts of financial assistance.
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Martin Luther King Day plans in Yellow Springs announced
The annual celebration will take place Monday, Jan. 20, with the theme “Stepping Up for Freedom 365.”
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
December 13
Features
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | A recipe for de-stressing
“I’ve been writing this diary for two years now. Putting my thoughts down has been enjoyable, and documenting this time of my life is kind of fun. I’m slowing down.”
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Local chess club makes moves
Over the last few years, the Fairborn Scholastic Chess Club’s founder, Tony Mumford, has expanded its reach to village youth, and he now operates the Yellow Springs Chess Club, introducing a whole new generation to the love of the game.
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Annual Yellow Springs Kwanzaa celebration set
The annual community Kwanzaa celebration will be Saturday, Dec. 28, beginning at 6 p.m., in the John Bryan Community Center gymnasium.
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Story Chain makes connections through voice
For a decade, local nonprofit Story Chain has worked to connect loved ones who can’t physically be together through the power of the voice. Since its founding, the Yellow Springs-based nonprofit has run successful programs at Dayton Correctional Institution, and in Greene, Montgomery and Clark County jails.
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Village Planning Commission recommends repealing Gateway Overlay District
At the most recent Planning Commission meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 10, the group revisited — and ultimately recommended to repeal — an anomalous and oft-under-referenced section of the Yellow Springs zoning code: the Gateway Overlay District.
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H.U.M.A.N. to host community coffeehouse
Local human rights organization H.U.M.A.N., or Help Us Make a Nation, aims to give folks a way to meditate on post-election questions, and others, at a coffeehouse event slated for Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Foundry Theater. The event is sponsored by Mad River Theater Works.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
December 6
Features
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My Name Is Iden | Searching for stillness
“Now, I think about warmth because I know cold. Now, I think about quiet because I know noise. That is waking. That is living.”
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Checking in with the Little Art Theatre
The Little Art Theatre is moving toward its 95th birthday next year with some updates already in its pocket — and more on the horizon.
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‘Mission to Malawi’ memoir recalls Peace Corps, Black experience
Yellow Springs resident Dr. John E. Fleming has spent much of his life working to bring visibility to American history — in particular, African American history — via his five decades as a historian who has helped establish museums throughout the U.S.
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Young thespians go postmodern in ‘The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’
All 209 of the fairy tales collected by The Brothers Grimm, presented in a little over an hour: Such is the promise of “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” the winter play presented by the young thespians of McKinney Middle and YS High schools.
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“Empty Bowls” fundraiser to benefit Yellow Springs soup kitchen
An “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for “Who’s Hungry?” will take place at the YS Senior Center, 5-8 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 12. $10 pays for the soup; $25-$45 pays for the soup as well as a handmade bowl to keep. All proceeds will allow the Yellow Springs soup kitchen to continue providing free food every Monday and Wednesday.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
November 29
Features
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News from the Past: November 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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Butter Flower Farm blooms on Fairfield
Butter Flower Farm, or BFF, is an 11-acre sustainable farm currently specializing in dried flowers. The farm is owned and operated by local farmers Evan Pitstick and Larissa Duprey and florist Brenn Busker.
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Agraria offers climate hope through biochar workshop
Agraria will host a biochar workshop Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, at Agraria Farm. The hands-on workshop will be led by instructors Mark Cohen, Gary Gilmore and Dale Hendricks.
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Village of Yellow Springs says, ‘Slow down!’
In a concerted effort to curb those drivers who don’t slow down as quickly as the law mandates, Village leadership has, in recent weeks, instated new traffic calming measures and infrastructure on several local roads.
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School board approves sale option for LIHTC project
Mirroring a decision made by Village Council earlier the same week, the YS Board of Education voted 3–2 during a special meeting Thursday, Nov. 21, to approve an option to purchase agreement with the Village of Yellow Springs.
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Annual Winter Solstice Poetry Reading to return
Slated for Friday, Dec. 6, in Glen Helen’s Vernet Ecological Center, the 13th annual Solstice Poetry Reading will feature 10 area poets, each reading original works that meditate on stillness. Co-sponsored by Tecumseh Land Trust and Glen Helen, the event will also include an open mic, a wine reception and sales of publications from the featured poets.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
November 22
Features
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | Truly an entangled life
“Raising children is hard and rewarding, and both Bob and Morris seem to be thriving. I’m glad we now have Patterdale Hall. I’m very tired and I need to rest. The Hall is the place where I will rest.”
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Down to Earth | October showers bring November flowers
“The severe drought we experienced in late summer this year has led to several interesting phenomena in the plant world.”
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LIHTC project ‘win-wins’ discussed
The latest update on the land, presented at the Nov. 14 school board meeting, is that Morgan Fields have been appraised at $339,000 by Cedarville-based real estate and auction company Sheridan & Associates.
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Bleything pleads guilty to murder, YSPD chief responds
On Monday, Nov. 18, Jackson Isaiah Bleything, 22, pleaded guilty to the March 14 murder of Yellow Springs.
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When the pain doesn’t go away
Local resident Keith Grzelak, who was diagnosed two years ago with complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS. Rare, little researched and little understood, CRPS is routinely described as one of the most painful chronic conditions known to medicine.
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Share the Joy holiday tree returns to the Yellow Springs Library
The Share the Joy holiday tree has returned to the YS Library — an annual community effort for residents of Yellow Springs and Miami Township who may need some help at the holidays.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
November 15
Features
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The Briar Patch | A fork in the road
“On election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, most voting Americans, particularly Protestant and Catholic white Christians, chose a vision of fascism and fear in the name of Jesus. Dietrich Bonhoeffer must be weeping in his grave.”
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Wamsley just keeps swimming
On Friday, Oct. 31, 2024, Amy Wamsley successfully completed the 11.5-mile swim around Coronado Island, taking 6 hours, 20 minutes, and 6 seconds to finish.
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Yellow Springs Youth Orchestra Association to host Fall Music Fest
As the village drifts into autumn and the days get colder, the Yellow Springs Youth Orchestra Association aims to bring area residents some musical warmth.
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Inward and out at Acorn & Owl
Acorn & Owl opened its Mongolian yurt earlier this year in Yellow Springs and offers holistic healing services, clinical therapy, guided meditation, yoga and more. It’s a circular, four-season space for the mind, body and spirit.
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Dirty Dozen comes to Yellow Springs
New Orleans musical legends the Dirty Dozen Brass Band are slated to take the stage at the Foundry Theater at Antioch College Wednesday, Nov. 20, bringing 47 years of musical innovation to a Yellow Springs audience.
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No bridge too far in Glen Helen
Over the last several months, the Glen Helen Association and crews has both completed and begun a handful of trail and infrastructure improvements with the aim of making the 1,125-acre preserve more accessible for all.
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Wellness Center kicks off food drive
Throughout the month of November, the Wellness Center at Antioch College is collecting nonperishable foods and useful household products for its semi-annual food drive.
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Yellow Springs Chorus and Chamber Orchestra to perform
The Yellow Springs Chorus and Chamber Orchestra will present W. A. Mozart’s dramatic and powerful Requiem (K 626), Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
November 8
Features
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Miami Township Board of Trustees — November 4
During his twice-monthly fire and EMS report, Chief Dennis Powell reminded those present that, though the burn ban instituted at the state level in September was lifted last month, dry conditions and wind could still create opportunities for fire.
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‘Still Life’ a play for the ears
The YS Senior Center will present a live performance of “Still Life,” a radio play adapted from the Louise Penny mystery novel of the same name, on Sunday, Nov. 24.
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After long night, Trump wins re-election
At press time, votes were still being tallied, but Trump had gained 277 electoral votes, crossing the threshold of the necessary 270.
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My Name Is Iden | Back up, one step at a time
“Friendships, romances, careers, children, writing and creating all take effort, and when you are depressed, that energy isn’t there, and that effort just doesn’t feel worth it.”
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Greenbelt farm land heads to sale
According to Tecumseh Land Trust, or TLT, Executive Director Michele Burns, the anticipated asking price is $22,000 per acre and “for sale” signs will likely be in the coming week.
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Chamber Music in Yellow Springs — Viano Quartet to perform on Sunday
The Viano Quartet will perform in concert Sunday, Nov. 10, as part of the Chamber Music in Yellow Springs 2024–2025 season. The 4 p.m. program will include works by Haydn, Barber, and Ravel.
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Yellow Springs Community Band to perform
The Yellow Springs Community Band, led by Music Director James Johnston, will perform at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in Westminster Hall of First Presbyterian Church. Admission is free.
Featured Photos
November 1
Features
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Seniors debut musical scenes in ‘Are We Americans?’
Two scenes from Heston’s original musical, “Are We Americans?” will be performed Monday, Nov. 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Senior Center Great Room. Admission is free.
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YS School District talks ‘State of the Schools’
District enrollment is up from last year, breaking a several-year trend of declining student numbers; there are currently 634 students being educated in the district, with 436 being residents and 198 open-enrolled.
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Goodman’s way of the Wu
Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12, longtime Yellow Springs resident David Goodman will kick off an eight-week, Wu-style tai chi class, set to be held in First Presbyterian Church every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m.
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Villager dons crown for ‘Macbeth’
The Clark State College performing arts department will present William Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy “Macbeth,” Nov. 1–3 and 8–10, in the Turner Studio Theater, located at 300 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield.
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YS Smokehouse takes it low and slow
Located in the former Calypso Grill space at 1535 Xenia Ave. — which closed after six years in October — the YS Smokehouse’s menu is slathered in classic southern Americana fare such as brisket, pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, boiled peanuts and more.
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World House Choir inspires election hope
The World House Choir will perform “Hold On/Hold Hope” Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m., at the Foundry Theater.
Obituaries
October 25
Features
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The 2024 Yellow Springs Election Guide
The 2024 Election Guide contains information about the local candidates and the local and county issues, including levies that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot for Yellow Springs and Miami Township.
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Demolished Yellow Springs home sheds light on Ohio law
“The Dohns spent a year designing what they called their ‘dream home’ on East Center College Street, and the contractor they hired broke ground on the home in September 2023. It was expected to be completed by June 2024.”
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Antioch School to secure land
After months of uncertainty, The Antioch School — touted as the “oldest democratic school” in the country, with 50 students currently enrolled — is set to expand its footprint by over five acres.
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News from the Past: October 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
Obituaries
October 18
Features
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The Briar Patch | I will not privilege my ideals
“Black people living in this country have, for a long time, subordinated our ideals out of sheer survival. This election year is no exception.”
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Miami Township Trustees hire consultant to improve fire department
Fred Kauser, a firefighter of 40 years and former Mifflin Township fire chief, now serves as a fire instructor, lecturer, trainer and consultant, as well as a professor and researcher with a master’s degree in labor and human resource management and a Ph.D. in workforce development and education.
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Fundraiser aids local resident
After a life-changing cancer diagnosis, 74-year-old Phyllis Braun told the News that she continues to love and trust in the healing process, even as she steps into the unknown.
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LIHTC, Gaunt Park raise questions
The school district and Village government continue to work together to flesh out the details and possibilities of a proposed 50-unit low-income housing development.
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Fall in love
On the dark and stormy night of Sept. 27, when the remnants of Hurricane Helene brought tropical storm force gales to Ohio, local home repairman and builder Antonio Molina took a near-fatal tumble.
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‘The Language of Dolls’ to be staged at Foundry Theater
“The Language of Dolls” will be performed Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18 and 19, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $5 for youth and Antioch College students.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
October 11
Features
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Senior Center series features local writers
On several evenings this fall, in the YS Senior Center’s Great Room, a chorus of shifting paper, scribbling pencils and insightful suggestions are illuminating a string of personal and nonfiction stories.
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Locals sound off on Issue 1
Village Council approved a resolution on Monday, Oct. 7, in support of Ohio Issue 1, and encouraging citizens to vote “yes” on the proposed constitutional amendment — the latest voter-led attempt at addressing the issue of gerrymandering in the state.
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Schools respond to tree concerns
Those traveling on East Enon Road in the last week will have noticed some changes to the landscape at McKinney Middle and YS High schools: A number of modular buildings have been delivered to the edge of the campus, and many trees previously on the property have been removed.
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Yellow Springs High School presents ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’
“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” will be performed Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 17–19, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m., at Turner Studio Theater, located at 300 S. Fountain Ave. in Springfield.
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | Harvest time at the Hall
“The semester is in full effect. Summer flew by. I saw turkeys again out at the Hall last night. Five hens were on the prowl around the house while I was reading in the great room.”
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Yellow Springs Street Fair to return Saturday, Oct. 12
The annual Fall Street Fair, presented by the YS Chamber of Commerce, will be Saturday, Oct. 12, with craft and food vendors open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. downtown and a beer garden open 11 a.m.–7 p.m. on the Bryan Community Center lawn.
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Mental illness, recovery support available
The area National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, hosts a local Connection Recovery Support Group for those living with a mental health condition, the second Monday of each month, 6:30–8 p.m., in Rooms A&B at the John Bryan Community Center
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Annual Apple Fest celebration set for Friday
The annual Apple Fest, hosted by First Presbyterian Church the evening before Fall Street Fair, will be Friday, Oct. 11, 6–9 p.m.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
October 4
Features
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First Presbyterian Church to evict bats
The recent discovery of bats living inside the historic 19th-century building has curtailed the use of the church’s sanctuary by both its congregation and the wider community.
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First steps toward 128 more apartments in Yellow Springs
Tentatively dubbed “Unity Village” by Columbus-based real estate developer Windsor Companies, the planned buildings will be composed of 32 two-bedroom and 96 one-bedroom units — 128 in total — ranging from 650 to 1,100 square feet.
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YS Schools talk Yondr pouches, nine months later
McKinney and YSHS Principal Jack Hatert, who spoke to the News last week, said using the Yondr pouches has been “really smooth” for the district thus far, and, in his estimation, worth the investment.
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Three-peaters
The Leftovers did it again — the team is, for the third year in a row, the reigning champs of the local adult softball league.
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Yellow Springs to host two FotoFocus shows
The biennial FotoFocus program — which highlights the work of photographic artists across dozens of venues in and around Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus and Northern Kentucky, all united by a common theme — returns this year.
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News from the Past: September 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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YSHS alumna comes home to Friends Care Community
Friends Care Community recently announced the tenure of a new administrator-in-training: Kelli Baxter, a 2019 YS High School alumna who has had a lifelong passion for healthcare.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
September 27
Features
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Sex and the Village | Teaching consent from the get-go
“It’s also important to note the difference between a boundary and a rule — and it’s never too early to teach children that difference.”
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Down to Earth | Celebrate Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is celebrated annually at public lands in the U.S. on the fourth Saturday of September.
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Antioch School Nursery teacher passes torch
“Throughout her decades as Nursery teacher, Ann Guthrie has maintained her scientist’s curiosity, remaining interested, she said, in the personalities and temperaments of each of the students she has shepherded as they grew within the Nursery program before moving on to Kindergarten.”
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | Wyatt’s predilection
“An exciting day: Yellow Springs Brewery is making the English pale ale ‘Wyatt’s Eviction,’ and so I shall show up to empty the mash tun and generally get in the way.”
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Chamber Music in Yellow Springs to open new season
Chamber Music in Yellow Springs, or CMYS, will open its 41st season Sunday, Sept. 29, with a 4 p.m. performance by Trio Zimbalist at Antioch University Midwest.
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Ellis Park prairie takes root
What was previously a continuation of the grassy perimeter around the pond, the new native prairie — stretching across 4,500 square feet in the northern reaches of Ellis Park — is now a dappled patchwork of milkweed, aster, ironweed, coneflowers and other native flowers.
Obituaries
September 20
Features
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Annual Black Farming Conference to return
The annual Black Farming Conference returns this year on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28 — this time in a new location.
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Planning Commission approves next steps in ongoing development projects
At the group’s Tuesday, Sept. 10 meeting, Planning Commission members approved: a phase two final plat application from DDC Management, a conditional use application from Ruetschle Architects on behalf of the Village School District and a zoning map amendment to rezone 3.612 acres of school district-owned land.
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Tecumseh Land Trust seeks protection on 184 acres
Approximately 184 acres along Dayton-Yellow Springs Road may soon go up for auction to the highest bidder; Tecumseh Land Trust intends to purchase that land or work with a buyer to protect it from future development with conservation easements.
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Burn ban set for county as drought persists
On Thursday, Sept. 19, the Ohio State Fire Marshal classified Greene County as experiencing an “extreme drought.” Following this, the marshal instated a burn ban for Greene and other Ohio counties under “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions.
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Free community meal welcomes all
The locally based Beloved Community Project offers a free community meal each month, typically on the third Saturday of each month, noon–2 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church. The next meal is Sept. 21.
Obituaries
September 13
Features
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Village novelist debuts ‘Fatal Errors’
Local resident and writer Cyndi Pauwels — known to readers by her nom de plume, C.L. Pauwels — has a new book ready to grace shelves: “Fatal Errors,” Pauwels’ fourth novel, published in August by Crossroad Press.
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Burkett new Village Mediation coordinator
A free conflict-resolution service in Yellow Springs since 1989, the Village Mediation Program, or VMP, helps feuding villagers and township residents get to the bottom of their issues.
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Wheeling Gaunt Day celebration planned
The 365 Project will host the third annual Wheeling Gaunt Day on Saturday, Sept. 14, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Wheeling Gaunt Statue plaza to commemorate the life of the Black real estate investor/philanthropist who donated nine acres of land, now Gaunt Park, to the village.
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Villagers Geisel and Gray fuse media in new exhibition
Fiber artist Pam Geisel and glass artist Sara Gray — often fused in their local art show coordination over the past two decades — have come together to create an exhibition entitled “Fused: Fiber and Glass” at Village Artisans.
Obituaries
September 6
Features
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Tin Can Economy | Lesser-of-two-evilism is bunk
“Vote for whomever you will, but please do not begrudge those with misgivings over checking the ‘lesser’ of the two evil boxes on Tuesday, Nov. 6.”
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Local swimmer’s goal spawns new nonprofit
Amy Wamsley is slated to swim across the English Channel next spring — a goal she’s held since childhood. At the same time, she’s currently working to build her newly established nonprofit, Amy’s Swimventure.
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YS Home, Inc. breaks ground on The Cascades
Last week, local affordable housing nonprofit YS Home, Inc. broke ground on the first phase of The Cascades, a 32-unit development focused on rental housing for seniors.
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Yellow Springs Film Fest to return for second year
The second annual YS Film Festival, which held its first iteration in fall of 2023, returns Friday–Sunday, Oct. 4–6. This fall’s lineup of events again features screenings of narrative and documentary films as well as special guest performances and Q&A sessions.
Village Council
August 30
Features
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Dispatches from Navajo Nation
Established in 2018 with coordination from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and members of the American Public Power Association, Light Up Navajo has, over the last decade, electrified nearly 7,000 homes within the Navajo Reservation.
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Growing local at Finca Taína
Local resident Amanda Duprey Hernandez has begun farming a new plot at the Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice thanks to grants from two nonprofits, Hall Hunger Initiative and the Yellow Springs Community Foundation.
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Eight hands, two pianos, one score
Local musicians and educators Cammy Dell Grote, Caryn Diamond, Barbara Leeds and Nancy Lineburgh will perform as an eight-hands ensemble Sunday, Sept. 15, as part of the Dayton Music Club’s season-opening September Musicale.
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Doggie Swim to end pool season
Gaunt Park Pool will conclude its season on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, with the annual Doggie Swim, from 8–9 p.m.
Village Council
August 23
Features
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Brooklyn author explores Virginia Hamilton’s magic
Brooklyn-based children’s author Nina Crews recently published “Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton,” a lyrical picture book biography of one of Yellow Springs’ most famed and beloved writers, Virginia Hamilton.
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Miami Township Trustees commit $113,000 to Tecumseh Land Trust
Tecumseh Land Trust is currently eyeing land along Dayton Yellow-Springs Road that is likely to come up for auction this year — land that has been identified by TLT and the Village as a priority for conservation.
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Yellow Springs music groups to begin rehearsals
Yellow Springs Community Music ensembles — including the Community Band, Community Chorus and Chamber Orchestra — will soon resume weekly rehearsals after a summer break.
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Sweet treats at Mariano Rios’ Matria Argentine Patisserie
Mariano Rios, owner of Matria Argentine Patisserie and the former La Pampa Mobile Grill, recently obtained a spot in Second Street Market in Dayton, as well as agreements to sell his pastries at local coffee shops in Yellow Springs.
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Yellow Springs home raided for marijuana
Tuesday, Aug. 13, began like any other day for the Lewis family — until the sound of a helicopter grew louder and louder, its shadow widening over their Wright Street home.
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Mills Lawn Bike Bus to begin Aug. 28
Beginning Aug. 28, the Mills Lawn Elementary Bike Bus will begin weekly rides each Wednesday.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
August 16
Features
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School board talks Morgan Fields
The YS Board of Education returned to the discussion of a potential affordable housing development on land currently owned by the school district at its most recent regular meeting Thursday, Aug. 8.
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Emerge Springs | Addiction recovery services, housing at Antioch College
Emerge offers addiction recovery services, housing and job training. It was founded by three area business owners who work in the skilled trades, and who themselves are in long-term recovery.
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Creepingbear hits the mats
A brown belt who has trained and competed throughout the country, villager Shane Creepingbear hosts a jiu-jitsu training class every Thursday, 7–8 p.m., on the top floor of the Antioch College Wellness Center.
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Several farm auctions, opportunities ahead for Tecumseh Land Trust
For sale are two, 20.6-acre tracts on Dayton-Yellow Springs Road — near the Snypp Road intersection, beyond Village limits — as well as two 19.9-acre tracts on West Jackson Road, just beyond Young’s Jersey Dairy in Clark County.
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Presentation to recall Antioch Publishing Company
On Sunday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m., a presentation on the history, labor and artwork of Antioch Publishing Company, titled “It Started with Bookplates…” will be held in the Senior Center’s Great Room.
August 9
Features
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Dawn Patrol Rendezvous World War I Fly-In
The Dawn Patrol Rendezvous World War I Fly-In will take place Friday–Sunday, Sept. 13–15 at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in neighboring Springfield.
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News from the Past: August 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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Antioch College earns Federal Work College designation
The Federal Work College system is an evolution of the traditional work-study program. While the latter typically benefits students from lower-income backgrounds, the work college model mandates that every student living on campus must work, regardless of their financial background.
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91.3 WYSO’s ‘The Ohio Country’ centers Indigenous history
The planned 12-part series aims to expand its listeners’ understanding of Ohio’s history by providing a perspective that has often been overlooked or obscured — the history of Ohio’s Tribal Nations.
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A good summer for Glen Helen’s reopened Trailside Museum
Glen Helen Nature Preserve’s Trailside Museum, a stout building located atop the head of the Inman Trail, reopened its doors to adults and children alike earlier this summer after being closed since 2020.
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Yellow Springs water, electric meters to go remote
Soon, Yellow Springs residents will have meters that can be read remotely and quickly — each producing hour-by-hour usage data. The goal of this initiative? To help local utility customers better monitor usage, and as a result, save money and resources.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
August 2
Features
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Sankofa Talk | Keep showing up for John Crawford
Despite being emotionally mauled at every step toward justice for John Crawford III, we will continue to acknowledge that he was, in fact, a human being who did not deserve to die in the name of sport-hunting of Black men.
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Gratitude for 54 seasons of Perry League fun
The final night of T-ball also means trophies. Each child was recognized with a Perry League “helmet” or “ponytail” trophy.
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Sex and the Village | Flipping the ‘dimmer switch’
“Someone who is used to the ‘on/off switch’ will likely have a hard time understanding the ‘dimmer switch’ as an option for gender expression.”
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Shakespeare Reading Group to meet Aug. 11
The Shakespeare Reading Group will continue reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream at its next meeting, Sunday, Aug. 11.
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Free community meal welcomes all
The locally based Beloved Community Project offers a free community meal each month, typically on the third Saturday of each month, noon–2 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church. The next meal is Aug. 17.
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Vesper Energy identifies potential land for utility-scale solar
Vesper Energy has located a potential 10,000-acre swath of land along the existing Clark-Greene 138 kV electric transmission line where the Aviation Energy Center could be sited.
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40th annual Art on the Lawn set for Aug. 10
The 40th annual Art on the Lawn festival, a juried fine arts and crafts festival sponsored by Village Artisans and featuring nearly 100 vendors, will be Saturday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
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Will Davis named director of WYSO’s Eichelberger Center
Last week, WYSO announced that it has hired Will Davis to lead the Eichelberger Center, where up-and-coming audio storytellers from around the Miami Valley learn audio production and digital storytelling.
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More than just hardware
Yellow Springs Hardware has been buzzing with activity, and not just from the power tools. Over the last few months, the local store has been a host to a variety of classes, activities and events, dubbed “The Hardware Store Sessions” by owner Dan Badger.
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YS Baking Company expands with new cafe, bakery
The YS Baking Co. is opening up a new, brick-and-mortar bakery and cafe at 108 Dayton St.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
July 26
Features
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Sumayah Chappelle’s ‘Renaissance’ at Crome Architecture
The artistic expressions on display in “Renaissance,” Chappelle said, are deeply intertwined with both her personal and spiritual journeys, with the exhibition serving as both a reflection of her Islamic faith and her personal growth.
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For errands, call ‘The Walking Man’
He’s Shane Johnson, but he calls himself “The Walking Man” — and he’s hoping to put his steps to good use for the residents of Yellow Springs.
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Apartments coming to Antioch College
Last month, Columbus-based real estate developer Windsor Companies purchased the vacant Antioch Student Union for $500,000.
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | In the midst of life
“Betty had a piercing bark. She was an 18-pound terrier with a pair of fully functional lungs. Our house in Yellow Springs is next to the Catholic church, and Betty was in full voice on Sundays.”
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News from the Past: July 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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Foundry Theater slates second season of programming, performances
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College will kick off its 2024–25 season Saturday, Aug. 10, with a party that aims to give folks a taste of what the second season holds in store.
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Perry League wraps up T-ball play Friday, July 26
Friday, July 26, is the final week of Perry League 2024, including the shortened play and cookout. Our all-volunteer program is noncompetitive, free, and open to children aged 2–9.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
July 19
Features
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Exciting baseball season nears end
“Action continues as Yellow Springs Youth Baseball nears the end of another exciting season.”
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Rogue sounds in Perry League play
“In the interim, every time the sound of this rogue whistle filled the air, there was a pause in T-ball action.”
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Spring(s) | On Juneteenth, Blackness and the Fourth of July
“We are and have been our own city on a hill. Let the newfound elevation of Juneteenth and its own comment on freedom and equality, now welcomed into the fold, help us to remember that.”
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Ongoing benefit aids local musician, friend
“Life has a way of making you sit still and re-evaluate things; the community’s support has been overwhelming and humbling,” said Charles “Chuck” Arthur Williams, who is currently battling cancer.
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Parade, fireworks set for Aug. 3
The parade and fireworks planned for the annual Fourth of July celebration, which were canceled due to inclement weather, will be rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 3, and will be combined with the Village’s annual Touch-A-Truck event to form YS Community Day.
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Class of ’04 honors past classmates with scholarship
The remaining members of the Yellow Springs High School Class of 2004 seek to honor these former classmates through the establishment of a memorial scholarship fund, to be managed by the YS Community Foundation.
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Peace, love — and bubbles
For the past year and a half, the infamous “Bubble Man” — along with his dog, Buddy — have been adorning the streets of Yellow Springs with bubbles, peace signs and messages of positivity.
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Village native Giardullo hired as project lead
Village native Elyse Giardullo, 31, was hired last month as the Village project lead — a new job housed in the Village offices, upstairs in the John Bryan Community Center.
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School board approves soccer fields resolution
At its Thursday, July 11, regular meeting, the YS school board approved a resolution that could help bring a proposed 50-unit affordable housing development closer to fruition — provided several further hurdles are cleared.
Village Council
Obituaries
July 12
Features
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Perry League play doesn’t disappoint
“The dirt was compacted, but not yet mud, and kids were not interested in interacting with this type of dirt to the degree we have seen on past Friday evenings — an interesting phenomenon.”
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Themography at the Mindfully Well Center
Emily Jasenski, founder of the Crescent Center in her hometown of Greenville, Ohio, will offer thermography — infrared imaging that detects a body’s heat patterns and blood flow — and homeopathic treatments at a second office located in the Mindfully Well Center.
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‘Bigger and Better’ sketch comedy at the Foundry Theater
“Bigger and Better” — the third sketch comedy show produced by local duo Elliot Cromer and Adam Zaremsky, and the second accompanied by band The Boogie Bros — will elicit laughs from audiences Thursday–Saturday, July 18–20.
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PTO raises funds for school supplies
Though summer vacation is still in full swing, the Mills Lawn Parent Teacher Organization, or PTO, is already preparing for the 2024–25 school year: Last week, the PTO kicks off a fund drive that will help provide school supplies for local students.
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Historical walking tour to visit cemetery
The 365 Project’s next Blacks in Yellow Springs walking tour will be Saturday, July 13, at 1 p.m., and will focus on “The African American History of Glen Forest Cemetery.”
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The value of a soccer field
If, in the coming months, all the local stakeholders agree that the Morgan Fields are, in fact, the best site to build the future housing development, then where would all the soccer players go?
Featured Photos
July 5
Features
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Yellow Springs Schools | Athletic leadership changes hands
Jeff Eyrich, who has served as both the district’s athletic director and its director of operations for the last four years, will move fully into the latter role, with Shawna Welch taking up the mantle of athletic director as her full-time charge.
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Many draws at Perry League
Many thanks to all who step up to help us every week, we couldn’t do it without you! Perry League is into the second half of our 2024 season next week, please join us!
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YS Development Corporation asks $40k of Village Council
Yellow Springs Development Corporation is requesting $40,000 from the Village to hire a part-time director of the local quasi-governmental, community improvement corporation.
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GravityWorks takes to the air in ‘She Grows Wings’
GravityWorks Circus will take to the air for the first time in their home venue, the Foundry Theater, with a trio of performances this month. “She Grows Wings” will be performed Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 14, at 2 p.m.
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Go round on Young’s Dairy’s new carousel
Cowtherine’s Carousel will open at Young’s Jersey Dairy Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m., giving rides until midnight. The opening event will also feature live music, and the Young’s On the Moove food truck will be on-site.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
June 28
Features
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Nook Overland sets up camp in Yellow Springs
Appealing to the outdoorsy spirit of Yellow Springs and its wayfaring inhabitants is the village’s newest business: Nook Overland, a camper dealership located in the Millworks Business Center.
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Antioch College graduates 17 for ’24
Antioch College held its commencement Saturday, June 22, with 17 students crossing the stage in the Foundry Theater.
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Yellow Springs to celebrate July 4
The July Fourth holiday will be celebrated in the village Thursday. The YS Chamber of Commerce is hosting the day’s festivities, beginning at 2 p.m. with the annual community parade.
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Springers 4 More Springers seeks zoning reform, more low-income housing
Springers 4 More Springers is a citizens action group that seeks to work with local elected bodies and residents to reform the Village zoning code, support affordable housing initiatives such as Home, Inc’s 50-unit project and serve as an advocate for tenants.
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What heat? Perry League T-ballers revel in dirt
The children seemed to revel in the opportunities presented by this alignment of circumstances and savored every moment. They kicked dirt and dust, they rolled in it, they filled their hats with it, and they threw dust in the air by the handful.
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Phillip O’Rourke named Chamber of Commerce executive director
The YS Chamber of Commerce announced this week that it has hired local resident Phillip O’Rourke to serve as its executive director, beginning July 1.
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News from the Past: June 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
June 21
Features
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New flavors at Trail Town Brewing
“We’ve got smoked chicken wings with multiple flavors, fresh-cut fries, and poutine—a Canadian treat with gravy, braised beef, and cheese curds,” Brummett said.
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Down and dirty on the Perry League diamonds
Whether as a result of halftime popsicles or tongues protruding for improved at-bat concentration, many kiddos inevitably had patches of brown dirt stuck to their upper and lower lips. What a look!
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School board updates facilities design
The facilities improvement project is slated to begin construction in January 2025, with completion expected by August 2026.
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | The entourage effect
“There are plenty of critters there at the moment: mama and baby deer, coyotes and, rather wonderfully, turkeys — big ones. As an Englishman I am constantly delighted by animals that are not wild in the U.K.”
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Incarcerated chorus sings out in ‘Les Mis Inside’
Under the direction of local resident Catherine Roma, the NIA Men’s Chorus at Chillicothe Correctional Institution performed “Les Mis Inside,” a pared-down version of the popular musical with choral arrangements.
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Antioch College Reunion kicks off
The campus of Antioch College will soon be buzzing with over 100 alumni from across the country at the 2024 Antioch Reunion, Thursday–Sunday, June 27–30. The celebration will be filled with an array of events for alumni, including campus tours, panels, community meals and dances.
Village Council
Obituaries
June 14
Features
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Mad River Theater Works | ‘Mysteries’ in youth theater
This year, the summer residency focuses on the theme of “Mystery.” Over 10 days, the students have explored the theme through discussions, games, exercises and collaborative vignettes.
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Pounding pavement— Villagers improve Yellow Springs sidewalks
Mitzie Miller’s mission has been to make Yellow Springs sidewalks cleaner and more accessible for residents and visitors of all abilities.
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‘Simple Steps’ at the YS Arts Council
“Simple Steps,” an exhibition currently on display at the YS Arts Council, aims to attune those who view its pieces to what can be experienced by the senses — and beyond.
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Yellow Springer Krista Magaw to run for Ohio House
Villager Krista Magaw is running as the Democratic candidate for representative of Ohio House District 71, which encompasses all of Clinton County, the eastern half of Greene County — including Yellow Springs — and a southern portion of Clark County.
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Aerolieff Aviation takes flight over Yellow Springs
One of just a handful of flight-training companies in the Dayton regional area, and headquartered five miles north of Yellow Springs, Aerolieff offers instruction for wannabe pilots with aspirations of all kinds: private flying, commercial careers, military ambitions and more.
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2024 Yellow Springs Juneteenth activities set for Saturday
The 2024 Yellow Springs Juneteenth observance will take place Saturday, June 15, beginning with an historical walk from the front of Antioch College.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
June 7
Features
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Chris Glaser’s artistic realms
“Sometimes the art encompasses putting your heart out there for other people to connect with.”
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School board approves substitute levy
The substitute levy, if passed at the polls Nov. 5, would not constitute new revenue from local voters, but would combine and continue for 10 years annual revenue of $1,975,000 already collected by two emergency levies passed in 2015 and 2017, which are set to expire in 2025.
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Antioch College earns work college title
Antioch College officials announced earlier this spring that the college had been accepted into the formal federal designation of Federal Work Colleges, marking a historic milestone for both the institution and the state of Ohio.
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Yellow Springs Public Works employees to bring power to Navajo Nation
Participating in the “Light Up Navajo” mutual aid initiative are five Village Public Works employees who will connect Native American residents living without power to an electrical grid for the first time.
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New in Yellow Springs — In Salon’s downtown ‘dos
In Salon — short for the business’ tagline, “Inclusivity, Independence and Inspiration” — is now located at 120 Dayton St. and, in addition to offering salon services, will also feature a small boutique.
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Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame nominations open
The Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame Committee is currently accepting nominations of outstanding Greene County women for induction into the 2024 Hall of Fame.
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‘The Outside Presents’ wraps up first season of free experimental music shows
Experimental music performance series “The Outside Presents,” which has found its home in the Foundry Theater’s black box space, will go live with the final show of its first season Monday, June 10.
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Great Council State Park now open
Centered around Shawnee and natural histories, Great Council State Park opens its doors to the public for the first time on Friday, June 7. It’s located at the site of the now-demolished Tecumseh Motel at 1587 U.S. 68 — about six miles south of the village — near Xenia.
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Annual Yellow Springs Strawberry Fest set for Friday
The event features the sale of strawberry shortcake fixings, with fresh berries from Tom’s Market, ice cream from Young’s Jersey Dairy, home-baked cakes and lemonade, water or coffee.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
May 31
Features
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News from the Past: May 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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Horror-comedy filmed in Yellow Springs
Movie magic was in the village air last month, when a five-day shoot for a short film was held at a home on the south end of town.
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Tin Can Economy | Home away from home
“Diasporas and vacations can occur in tandem; prosperous arrivals and unfortunate departures can be simultaneous.”
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Street Fair to return Saturday, new focus on waste reduction
Street Fair returns Saturday, June 8, in downtown Yellow Springs — this time, with a heightened focus on sustainability and waste reduction. The YS Chamber of Commerce announced this month that it had received a $43,600 Recycle Ohio grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
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Yellow Springs Film Festival establishes Julia Reichert Award
To honor Reichert’s legacy, the Yellow Springs Film Festival and PNC Bank have announced creation of the Julia Reichert Award, a $3,000 short film prize to be given to an emerging female documentarian.
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The Antioch Review and Writers’ Workshop to be revived
After a four-year hiatus, the Antioch Review — the college’s independent literary magazine founded in 1941 — is set to emerge from its publishing pause, now with a new editorial vision and business model that includes the simultaneous revival of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop.
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St. Mary Development Corp. exits low-income housing talks
St. Mary Development Corporation has “decided to end discussions” regarding the pursuit of a tax credit application that could have financed a 50-unit, low-income housing development.
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Roundabout construction on 68/235 intersection to begin
The Ohio Department of Transportation, or ODOT, has announced that preliminary work on the construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 68 and State Route 235 — between Yellow Springs and Xenia, near Oldtown — will begin Monday, June 3.
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Yellow Springs Ukulele Club moving to new home
The regular gathering of the YS Uke Club, which meets the first Saturday of each month, is moving this month — June 1, 6–8:30 p.m. — from its longtime home at the YS Arts Council building to YS Senior Center Great Room to accommodate a growing number of participants.
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Yellow Springs Graduation 2024
Thursday, May 23 was a big day for Yellow Springs students — it was the last day of school for the “fearless thinkers” of Mills Lawn Elementary and McKinney Middle and Yellow Springs High schools.
Obituaries
May 24
Features
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Miami Township Trustees approve firefighter pensions
After a month-and-a-half of deliberation, Miami Township Trustees unanimously voted at their regular meeting Monday, May 20, to approve a resolution to reclassify three Miami Township Fire-Rescue, or MTFR, positions as full-time, pensioned positions.
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Annual Yellow Springs 10-Minute Play Festival returns
The annual 10-Minute Play Festival, sponsored by the YS Theater Company, returns this year Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1, on the grounds of YS High School.
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Villager’s new book engages with ‘inner critic’
A book launch event for “Dear Inner Critic: A Self-Doubt Activity Book” will be held Friday, May 31, 6–7:30 p.m., at Epic Book Shop on Xenia Avenue. The book is currently available at Epic Book Shop and Dark Star Books.
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The Little Art Theatre to redesign its marquee
Little Art representatives told the News last fall that a portion of the funds from the grant would go toward a redesign of the theater’s marquee, using the theater’s past art-deco-style marquee as inspiration.
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Elected bodies weigh low-income housing proposal on school land
For the first time in public meetings, YS Home, Inc. unveiled a new, large-scale affordable housing proposal: the development of a 50-unit, low-income rental complex that may one day be sited on three acres of school district-owned land.
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The 365 Project’s Blacks in Yellow Springs walking tours to return
On Saturday, June 1, a General African American History of Yellow Springs tour will begin at 1 p.m. in front of the Mills Park Hotel.
May 17
Features
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Open Air Village to host fundraiser yard sale
Early education center Open Air Village, which offers nature-based preschool for ages 3–5 and additional programming for infants and kids through age 10, will hold a multi-family yard sale Saturday, May 25, with proceeds to support the private institution.
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Perry League T-Ball season to begin
Perry League is the village’s beginner baseball program for all children ages 2–9, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or level of skill.
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What’s the buzz around Yellow Springs?
To mark the seasonal deluge of honey and to celebrate both the two-legged and winged workers who made it, the Greene County Beekeepers Association will host the annual Honey Harvest on Saturday, June 15.
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Miami Township Trustees | Firefighter compensation, retention talks continue
Miami Township Trustees continued last week to discuss firefighter compensation and retention — a discussion which will now be aided by a former Mifflin Township fire chief, and which is slated to culminate at an upcoming Monday, May 20, meeting of the trustees.
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YS Police Department fully staffed — a first in five years
The Yellow Springs Police Department is composed of 19 employees: seven dispatchers, one community outreach specialist, one property manager and 10 officers — three of whom were recently hired and are still in training.
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Folk duo closes inaugural season at Antioch College’s Foundry Theater
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College will hold the final performance of its inaugural programming season Friday, May 17, 7–9 p.m., with Kristin Andreassen and Chris “Critter” Eldridge taking the stage.
Featured Photos
May 10
Features
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Tar Hollow Camporee slated
A 60-plus-year tradition continues this month with the annual community “Camporee” event at Tar Hollow State Park.
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Porter Fitch to perform at the Foundry Theater
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College will feature a performance by musicians Marisa Anderson and Jim White, with former Yellow Springs resident Porter Fitch, this Saturday, May 11.
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | What lies beneath
“Spring is springing, the daffodils are flowering, and another bloody critter has dug a hole under the kitchen of Patterdale Hall.”
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Glen Helen Nature Preserve gears up for annual Ecocamp
Glen Helen is gearing up for this year’s summer Ecocamp for youth, held annually in and around the Outdoor Education Center, or OEC. Beginning June 10 and continuing through Aug. 2, campers will have the chance to explore the flora and fauna of the Glen.
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Sister Trillium makes moves
Sister Trillium, which previously operated out of the YS Farmers Market, will roll out its one-of-a-kind creative reuse center model — collecting unused art and craft supplies and selling them at a discounted rate — in a new-to-them brick-and-mortar space.
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The Yellow Springs Community Foundation’s half-century of giving and grants
This year, the Yellow Springs Community Foundation turns 50 and celebrates its homegrown legacy of supporting the village’s 100-plus nonprofits, spearheading social justice initiatives, bolstering the arts, providing economic relief and, of course, funding good ideas.
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Low-income housing proposed, transparency concerns raised
YS Home, Inc. and community stakeholders have, since early March, discussed a proposal to site a 50-rental-unit development for low-income families on three acres of school-owned land north of McKinney Middle and Yellow Springs High schools.
May 3
Features
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Spring(s) | On legend and legacy
“Might it be the water that so closely holds together our tightly knit community?”
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‘Who’s Hungry?’ — New project serves free food to all
In December last year, longtime local residents Carl Moore and Jim Zehner announced their intention to offer free meals to those who need them in the village by way of their newly formed nonprofit organization, “Who’s Hungry?” This month, the nonprofit will take its first steps into testing Moore and Zehner’s concept, with an opening event Monday, May 13, at MAZU.
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Lumber yard, market concept for sale
Built in 1940 and spread across 11,000 square feet, the lumber yard is being sold for $1.27 million by Massies Creek Ventures, a local LLC that had visions of transforming the site into a public market and eatery since the group purchased it in 2021.
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Larry & Joe to bring a ‘most joyous’ fusion to the Foundry Theater
A melding of sound and tradition promises to ring out from the stage as the Foundry Theater continues its inaugural season of programming with a performance by strings duo Larry & Joe on Tuesday, May 7.
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Miami Township Trustees wrestle with operations costs, firefighter retention
What’s the best way to balance operations costs with the need for adequate shift staffing and long-term employee retention?
Obituaries
April 26
Features
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Latin flavors at Salsa Brava
As spring returns warm weather to the village, both local residents and visitors may be enticed by a relatively new food option making its way around downtown Yellow Springs.
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Down to Earth | Green Space Fund enables open space preservation
“The histories of the Yellow Springs Green Space Fund and the Jacoby Green Belt illustrate the Village Council’s ongoing commitment to uphold the longstanding goal of preserving open space around the Village.”
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News from the Past: April 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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School board discusses operations levy options
At its most recent meeting Thursday, April 11, the YS Board of Education returned to the topic of an operations levy to be brought before voters.
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‘On the Mad River’ | Villager’s new novel brings Ohio town to life
In the novel “On the Mad River,” author and Yellow Springs resident Lucrecia Guerrero breathes life into a fictional 1980s Ohio town and its inhabitants as they confront a changing world and their own changing desires.
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Yellow Springs News wins ‘Newspaper of the Year’
The News was named “Newspaper of the Year” in its division at the Osman C. Hooper Non-Daily Newspaper Competition, presented by the Ohio News Media Association, or ONMA.
Village Council
Obituaries
April 19
Features
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Chamber Music in Yellow Springs to present 39th Annual Competition for Emerging Ensembles
Hesper String Quartet and Amnis Piano Quartet are this year’s finalists in the 39th Annual Competition for Emerging Ensembles presented by Chamber Music in Yellow Springs.
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World House Choir to perform ‘Weather: Stand the Storm’ at Foundry Theater
The World House Choir will return to its home stage in the Foundry Theater at Antioch College Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, to perform a program of music that includes the 20-minute choral piece “Weather: Stand the Storm.”
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YS Schools present: Dark, lighthearted ‘Addams Family’ musical
The young thespians of YS High and McKinney Middle schools are gearing up for their annual spring musical — a performance that promises to be creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky.
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Agraria breaks ground on Mary’s Way
The Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice announced this week that the local nonprofit is moving ahead with Mary’s Way — a project more than four years in the making.
Village Council
Featured Photos
April 12
Features
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GunderKline sworn in as Miami Township Fiscal Officer
New Miami Township Fiscal Officer Jeanna GunderKline was sworn in by Trustee Chair Don Hollister at the most recent regular meeting of the Township Trustees Monday, April 1.
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Village rallies around ‘Brother Bear’
In a tale of resilience and community support, local resident Patrick Harney — known affectionately by villagers as “Brother Bear” — recently shared with the News his story of overcoming health challenges while grappling with the financial strain it has placed on his coffee business.
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Locals protest firing at Antioch College’s Wellness Center
The community push for mediation between former Wellness Center employee Guy “Tron” Banks and Antioch College continued Friday, April 5, when several dozen local residents held a demonstration on college grounds.
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Sankofa Talk | A victim of Jim Crow tactics
“The longer I live, the more incidents of mistreatment, ranging from covert to blatantly overt, keep piling up. Sometimes it feels like I’m at the bottom of a pile of football players and they just keep jumping onto the pile.”
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Porchfest on hold, for now
Beloved local music festival Porchfest is likely on hiatus, according to the event’s organizers — though they hope it’s a temporary one.
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Yellow Springs Theater Co. climbs to new heights in ‘Roof Man’
“Roof Man” will be staged on Fridays and Saturdays, April 12 and 13, and April 19 and 20, at First Presbyterian Church; curtain is at 8 p.m. each night and admission is $15.
Featured Photos
April 5
Features
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March 14 shooting suspect pleads ‘not guilty,’ claims insanity
Since his arraignment last week, Bleything has entered a plea of “not guilty” by reason of insanity. Pending the court’s motion for competency — which determines a defendant’s mental acuity — a tentative trial date has been set for Monday, May 20.
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | History repeating
“This year I will be getting myself another knife; I have accepted that I have a knife habit. It is a fixed-blade all-rounder of a knife made by Helle of Norway, and it’s called ‘Sigmund,’ which is cute.”
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Storytellers to headline Antioch School Scholarship Gala
The Antioch School Scholarship Gala returns Saturday, April 20, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Foundry Theater at Antioch College. Headlining this year’s event are Sam Bartlett and Omopé Carter Daboiku, each of whom will bring their distinctive brands of storytelling to the Foundry stage.
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Royal Prevail brings fresh ink to Yellow Springs
Royal Prevail Tattoo — a sister shop to one of the same name in Fairborn — officially opened last week and is taking new clients.
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‘Like a war zone’ | Yellow Springs residents remember the 1974 Xenia tornado
This year, grim memories of the Xenia tornado turn 50. To mark the occasion, the News talked to several dozen current and former local residents who shared their stories of that fateful and fearful day, what came after and how they were — and continue to be — affected.
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Yellow Springs Film Fest to showcase ‘Mini-Fest’
Yellow Springs Film Festival is gearing up to present its Mini-Fest at the historic Little Art Theatre Saturday, April 6, offering audiences a lineup of films that promise to leave a lasting impact.
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School board discusses Mills Lawn greenspace preservation
At the regular school board meeting Thursday, March 14, local advocacy group Citizens to Preserve Mills Lawn Greenspace brought forward a potential plan to place a conservation easement on a portion of land on which Mills Lawn Elementary School is located.
March 29
Features
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News from the Past: March 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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A village and a virus, four years on
This year marks the fourth anniversary since the novel coronavirus began spreading uncontrollably throughout the world, shuttering businesses, upending routines, overwhelming hospitals and ultimately claiming the lives of over 1 million U.S. residents.
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Antioch vigil honors Nex Benedict
Nearly a quarter of Antioch College’s student body gathered alongside Antioch President Jane Fernandes on the steps of the old student union building Sunday, March 3, to attend a candlelight vigil in honor of Nex Benedict.
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The legacy of Raymond P. Harris, a forgotten Black artist
“Artistry Re-Kindled: The Raymond P. Harris Retrospective Exhibit” — curated by Nearon in collaboration with the artist’s son, Robert Lee Harris — will debut at the Herndon Gallery at Antioch College on Saturday, April 6, with the exhibition on display through April 27.
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Miami Township Trustees | Fiscal Officer Margaret Silliman signs off
After serving for 24 years in the position, Silliman retired this month; her successor, Jeanna GunderKline, who was elected last fall, will take over as fiscal officer beginning in April.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
March 22
Features
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Farewell to a kiln, and its master
With paper cranes folded by his children nestled as tinder among a stack of wood, on Friday, March 15, Brad Husk struck a flame and set the paper wings alight.
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‘OPEN’-ing hip-hop in Yellow Springs
Local resident Justin Herman, with Yellow Springs’ burgeoning hip-hop community, is working to create an open space for creativity, collaboration and collective vision.
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School board to hire contractor to investigate alleged policy violations
The YS school board returned to discussion of the censure of a board member at its most recent regular meeting Thursday, March 14. Though a resolution to authorize the proposed censure was on the agenda for the evening, it was not voted on.
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EXTENDED COVERAGE | March 14 homicide upheaves Yellow Springs
Following a four-day manhunt, and amid an ongoing investigation by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, or BCI, Jackson Isaiah Bleything, a Springfield resident and 2020 graduate of Yellow Springs High School, was taken into custody Sunday, March 17.
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Yellow Springs Hardware to launch concert series, pilot classes
Yellow Springs Hardware will host the first in an anticipated series of “Hardware Store Sessions,” featuring locally based musicians George Bieri and Friends, on Friday, March 22, 7–9 p.m.
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2024 OHIO PRIMARY RESULTS | YS Schools substitute levy fails
Preliminary results of the Tuesday, March 19, primary election are now available. Locally, a 9-mill YS Schools substitute levy failed at the polls, with 589 votes for and 722 votes against.
March 15
Features
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Miami Township Board of Trustees | Tax rate reduced, grants pursued
Greene County Auditor David Graham explained that local millage rates for a 2.4-mill levy passed in 2017 to fund the construction of the current fire station have been reduced over the last two years.
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Seniors say ‘yes, and…’ to life
Through exercises that build confidence, foster humility and sharpen wit, village resident and lifelong improv actor Justin Howard is teaching local seniors how to say “yes, and …” to life.
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Dine and shine at Arise Café
Longtime villagers Shaun Craig and Jake Siemer recently took over at Arise Café and Catering, a small brunch-and-lunch joint located at 2960 W. Enon Road, in Xenia Twp.
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Crockett explores ‘dual selves’ in ‘4 a.m. Girl’ exhibition
Iden Crockett again opens herself up to the world with “4 a.m. Girl,” an exhibition that will open to the public this Friday, March 15, with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. in the YS Arts Council’s Robert F. Baldwin Gallery.
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Free community meal welcomes all
The locally based Beloved Community Project offers a free community meal the third Saturday of each month, noon–2 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church. The next meal is March 16.
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‘The Hunchback Variations’ dissects creative process
The Foundry Theater will welcome Chicago-based theater collective Theater Oobleck to its experimental black box theater stage for three performances of “The Hunchback Variations” Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m.
Village Council
Obituaries
March 8
Features
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School board discusses upcoming levy, facilities
The Yellow Springs School Board also approved the selection of a construction manager for the facilities project and discussed the substitute levy that will appear on March 19 primary ballots in the village.
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X the Detective brings beats, unity to The Gulch Saloon
A rhythmic detective has emerged in Yellow Springs, solving musical mysteries and bringing people together through the power of hip-hop.
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Yellow Springs prepares for April 8 eclipse
On Monday, April 8, Yellow Springs will have a front row view of a once-in-a-lifetime event of astronomical proportions: a total solar eclipse.
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Chamber Music in Yellow Springs to host PUBLIQuartet
Chamber Music in Yellow Springs will continue its 2023–2024 season with a performance by the multi-Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church.
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Women’s Voices Out Loud returns to Yellow Springs
An evening of Women’s Voices Out Loud performances will be held Saturday, March 9, 5–7 p.m., in Antioch College’s Herndon Gallery, with an accompanying installation of art to hang in the gallery through March 24.
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World House Choir, MUSE to perform
The World House Choir will join forces with MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, for the locally based community choir’s second annual “BREAD & ROSES: A Celebration of International Women’s Day” concert Friday, March 8.
March 1
Features
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News from the Past: February 2024
Contributing writer Don Hollister dove into the YS News archives to uncover past articles and more in his most recent installment of his News from the Past column.
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Vegan skincare at Rooted Essentials
Yellow Springs residents now have a local place to find eco-friendly personal care products right downtown: Rooted Essentials, located at 213 Xenia Ave., #3, over The Winds, held its soft opening last weekend.
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Firing at Wellness Center causes local concern
Local resident Guy “Tron” Banks has experienced an outpouring of community support in the last few weeks after he was terminated from his position as a personal trainer at the Wellness Center at Antioch College, a position he’d held since April 2022.
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Man arrested in connection with Hawthorne Apartments fire
On Monday, Feb. 26, a local resident was arrested in connection to the fire that erupted at the Hawthorne Place Apartments last summer. He is being charged with aggravated arson, burglary and possessing criminal tools, and is presently in custody at the Greene County Jail.
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Jury trial delays, new civil suits for Gronbeck
Donald Gronbeck, a former Yellow Springs physician accused of sexually assaulting 15 patients, is now facing several civil lawsuits in addition to his ongoing criminal case. After five continuations, Gronbeck’s first jury trial is now set for March 3, 2025.
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Caribbean-inspired restaurant Calypso Grill for sale
Calypso Grill is up for sale — but if you’re a regular customer of the Caribbean-inspired restaurant, worry not: it remains open for business as usual.
Featured Photos
February 23
Features
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Miami Township Board of Trustees | Feb. 21 Meeting
The Miami Township Board of Trustees held its second regular meeting of the month Wednesday, Feb. 21.
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91.3 WYSO awarded $5 million to preserve HBCU radio archives
A $5 million grant was recently awarded to 91.3 WYSO to fund the preservation of radio station archives for the 29 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, in the U.S. with a radio station.
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Fundraiser for Palestinian aid organization set
A soup supper fundraiser to raise funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, will take place Saturday, March 2, 5:30–7:30 p.m., in the social room of Rockford Chapel on the Antioch College campus.
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Gailz Tattooz draws to a close
Tucked away on Glen Street, Gailz Tattooz has operated for nearly three decades, leaving an indelible mark not only on the skin of its patrons but also on the fabric of the community itself.
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Glen Helen meets $4.25 million campaign goal
The Glen Helen Association has announced the completion of its $4.25 million campaign, launched in June 2020, to purchase Glen Helen Nature Preserve from Antioch College, reopen the preserve to the public and more.
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Attempt to censure school board member stalls
A special meeting of the YS school board — scheduled Thursday, Feb. 15, in order to discuss and vote on the censure of a board member — ended about eight minutes after it started due to a lack of quorum.
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Jonathan Richman to perform at Foundry Theater
The Foundry Theater at Antioch College continues its 2023–24 live performance series on Tuesday, Feb. 27, when famed singer-songwriter and cult icon Jonathan Richman takes the stage for a bare-bones, acoustic set.
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Annual sugar shack tour planned
Tecumseh Land Trust, or TLT, will host its annual sugar shack tour Sunday, Feb. 25, 2–4 p.m., at Flying Mouse Farms, 100 E. Fairfield Pike.
Village Council
Obituaries
February 16
Features
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | Poetry in motion
“Things fall apart, the center cannot hold. Burst pipes and a new sediment filter set me back $600. I hope I can maintain the house above freezing through February and early March, but we will have to see.”
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News from the Past | Villagers save Whitehall Farm
As the result of communitywide activism and campaigning, villagers raised $1.2 million to save the 940-acre Whitehall Farm from development.
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Black-owned businesses thrive in Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs has seen a steep decline in its African American population, from around 30% in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, to the current population of less than 12%, but Black businesses continue to thrive in the village.
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Antioch College | ‘amuse-bouche’ exhibition highlights staff, faculty art
“amuse-bouche” — a new exhibition centering the creative accomplishments of Antioch College’s staff and faculty — opened Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Herndon Gallery.
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Down to Earth | Bobcats and coyotes and foxes: Oh, yes!
“Their presence signals that the environment is healthy enough to support these creatures, which they in turn help to maintain through their regulation of prey populations.”
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Residents, educators air concerns over school performing arts space
On Thursday, Feb. 8, local residents, students and educators implored the members of the school board not to divert funding away from the performing arts space planned for the district’s facilities improvement project.
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Local, state deer population mounts
Yellow Springs resident and professor of biological sciences at Wright State University Don Cipollini told the News last week that there are currently around 800,000 deer in the state.
Obituaries
February 9
Features
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Gandhi, King families speak on peace, social justice
The Coretta Scott King Center, in collaboration with the Dayton International Peace Museum, orchestrated a profound dialogue Sunday, Jan. 28.
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Nipper’s Corner under new ownership
The Patels, hailing from Waynesville and already seasoned in the gas station business, told the News this week that they bring with them a commitment to community and a vision to transform Nipper’s Corner into a hub — and market.
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Feufollet to bring Cajun music, food to the Foundry Theater
The Foundry Theater will welcome Southwest Louisiana band Feufollet to the stage Wednesday, Feb. 21, beginning at 7 p.m.
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ODNR to lead annual winter hike
Naturalists with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will lead the annual six-mile winter hike through John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
February 2
Features
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | Hunkering down in the Hall
“I will head out to the Hall and get a fire going, then will travel back and forth to keep an eye on both Karen and the fire.”
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EXTENDED COVERAGE | Villagers stage pro-Palestine march
What started as a conversation between coworkers at a local flower shop, blossomed into two consecutive days of collective action this past weekend.
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School board to hire Ruetschle Architects facilities improvement design
The school district’s facilities improvement project — particularly its timeline for both design and construction — was the topic of focus at a special meeting of the school board Wednesday, Jan. 24.
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2024 Adventure Summit | A dirtbag climber’s tale
Local resident Molly Finch’s multiyear journey of mountainous highs and dumpster lows is the topic of a public presentation at Wright State University on Saturday, Feb. 10, 4:45 p.m., as a part of Five River MetroParks and the university’s Adventure Summit.
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Batter up at Nukes Warehouse
The newest tenant at Millworks is sure to be a big hit in Yellow Springs. Coming soon to the industrial park is Nukes Warehouse, a nearly 7,000-square-foot professional baseball and softball training facility.
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Charles Fox to present one-person performance
The Central State University Theatre Arts Program will present “Reunion: Journey with Ancestors,” written and performed by change agent and visionary Charles Fox, on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m.
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Chamber Music in Yellow Springs to present saxophone ensemble
The Aero Saxophone Quartet is the next ensemble to be featured in the Chamber Music of Yellow Springs, or CMYS, 2023–2024 season, with a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at First Presbyterian Church.
Featured Photos
January 26
Features
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Editorial | Ceasefire now
“We believe we are witnessing the horrors of genocide, that it is wrong, and that we, as reporters — no matter how small we are — must stand on the side of truth in relaying this tragic reality.”
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News from the Past: January 2024
“Several dozen villagers and students from Yellow Springs High School and Antioch College assembled at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to protest Operation Desert Storm, which began in full mid-January 1991.”
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Miami Township Fire-Rescue reviews 2023
According to Interim Fire Chief Dennis Powell, MTFR currently staffs 26 firefighters and EMTs and works with an annual budget of $1.4 million.
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After Council, life goes on for Marianne MacQueen
Since Village Council reconvened in 2024 without Marianne MacQueen, the lifelong Yellow Springs resident has spent her January days looking back and looking ahead — even beyond her new aquamarine workplace.
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New Chamber of Commerce chair, upcoming events slated
Area resident and co-owner of the Mills Park Hotel Alex Price, has taken charge of the Chamber as its new board chair. Price, 34, succeeds Mark Heise, whose three-year term expired in December.
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Take a hike with ‘The Naturalist’ on Channel 5
Outfitted with a GoPro camera and decades’ worth of knowledge to share, local resident Don Cipollini brings viewers along on journeys that delve into the natural world on “The Naturalist” — the newest original program to be broadcast by Community Access Yellow Springs Channel 5.
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International Peace Museum to launch nonviolence campaign
The International Peace Museum in downtown Dayton is participating in a global initiative addressing the documented escalation in hate crimes and violence in recent years.
Obituaries
January 19
Features
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Ten-Minute Play Festival seeks scripts
The Yellow Springs Theater Company is accepting script submissions for the 2024 annual Ten-Minute Play Festival, featuring a selection of plays no longer than 10 minutes.
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Architect firm chosen for school facilities project
Ruetschle Architects, and in particular firm Vice President Mike Ruetschle, worked with the district in 2022 and 2023 as a consultant to create a master facilities plan to put before voters.
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Young artists bring ‘OTIS’ to life
A newly released short film produced by a group of current and former YS Schools students, “OTIS,” is a meta meditation on the unpredictable nature of art, among other themes.
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2024 Yellow Springs Martin Luther King program unites, invigorates
In a moving tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the village of Yellow Springs came together Monday, Jan. 15, to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the federal holiday, established in honor of the civil rights icon on what would have been his 95th birthday.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
January 12
Features
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The Patterdale Hall Diaries | Occupational hazards
“This is why we bought Patterdale Hall, so we can exist in the now and enjoy every second of it.”
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Book Review | Kiser’s ‘Young Woman’ hits home
Local author Jo Ann Kiser’s new novel, “A Young Woman from the Provinces,” unspools a journey to the self, the only reliable home that is everyone’s birthright.
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Art Book Circle makes art, community
In 2023, 10 local residents spent the better part of the year filling 10 books with original art, a page at a time.
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Miami Township Trustees discuss new-year business, solar
The Miami Township Board of Trustees held its first regular meeting of the year Wednesday, Jan. 3. Most of the meeting was focused on settling first-of-year business.
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Conversation on the Village Cafe menu
When conflict arises in a community, sometimes the best strategy for engaging with that conflict is to talk about it. The Village Cafe event will be held Sunday, Jan. 21, 2–4 p.m., in the Mills Lawn gym.
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Benefit to help local’s medical needs
In support of longtime area resident Phil Kumbusky, and to help cover mounting medical costs associated with a rare genetic disease, a benefit concert and fundraiser will be held at Peach’s Grill on Saturday, Jan. 13.
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2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Yellow Springs
The Yellow Springs Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance will take place Monday, Jan. 15, on what would have been the assassinated civil rights leader’s 95th birthday.
Obituaries
January 5
Features
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Mad River Theater Works to debut March on Washington play
A new play by Mad River Theater Works, or MRTW, “Keep Marching: The Road to the March on Washington,” aims to delve deeper into the grassroots history of the historic event.
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A bright future for Village Solar
Launched in 2020 by village resident and former Antioch College student Alex Rolland, with the mission to provide sustainable and reliable solar power to area residents and businesses, Village Solar has grown significantly since its inception.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
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