FROM THE PRINT EDITION, 2022
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2022
March 30
March 24
Obituaries
March 17
Features
- Donate to relocation fund for East Palestine family
Following a Feb. 3 freight train derailment that was carrying hazardous materials, and a resulting chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, village resident Jenny Johnson established a fundraiser to help relocate a family who lived a quarter mile away from the wreckage.
- Yellow Springs business owners denounce plastic ban
The message from a number of local business owners at a recent town hall was clear: The proposed legislation to restrict commercial single-use plastics is too hasty.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
March 10
Features
- Building Community | A lifetime at the movies
Jenny Cowperthwaite Ruka’s longevity at the the Little Art Theatre— her “continuity of experience,” as she called it — helped make it a welcoming place for community members over the years, no matter the changes to policy, practice or even the theater’s physical space.
- ESports program debuts at Yellow Springs High School
There’s a new sports team at Yellow Springs High School — but you won’t find its members on a court, field or pitch. Several days a week, the ESports team is in the media center, competing against other schools in their league via computer.
- New cannabis store opens in downtown Yellow Springs
After years of learning about CBD, its medicinal effects and the business side of the industry, Shane Ayrsman and his wife Sarah DeVore recently opened Tweedle D’s on Xenia Avenue, in the heart of downtown Yellow Springs.
- Police chief introduces therapy dog
At the regular Council meeting on Monday, March 6, a new Village staffer was sworn in: two-year old Shazam, the front-running candidate for the Village’s new therapy dog program.
- Layoffs, restructuring at Antioch College
Antioch College President Jane Fernandes publicly announced in a Feb. 21 statement that the college had eliminated nine staff and faculty positions and has plans to “restructure” an additional eight positions with title changes and salary reductions.
Village Council
Obituaries
March 3
Features
- Emergent Verse | A poetry workshop
“Poet and Yellow Springs resident Maggie Dean has kindly let me use her wonderful poem “Mental Math” to demonstrate some aspects of poetic craft I’ve learned over the years.”
- Community opines on facilities options
The second listening session was held on Feb. 21 to gather feedback and suggestions from community members on the future of the school district’s infrastructure as the board works to place a facilities levy on this November’s ballot.
- East Palestine train derailment | Village water safe, experts say
In the five weeks since a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, concerns about water and air safety have come home to Yellow Springs.
- Yellow Springs Schools to debut ‘Mamma Mia!’
McKinney Middle School and Yellow Springs High School will present “Mamma Mia!,” the jukebox musical based on the songs of Abba, at the John Legend Theater in Springfield on Thursday and Friday, March 9 and 10, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 11, at 2 and 7 p.m.
- Trans rights focus of Xenia protest
On Saturday, Feb. 25, over 100 demonstrators assembled on opposite sides of the street outside the Xenia YMCA to express their views on the fitness center’s policy that allows transgender people to use the locker room that aligns with their identified gender.
- YS News secures new printer; publication day now Friday
The News is happy to announce that our new printers — Eagle Print in Delphos, Ohio — have worked with us to retain our large-format newspaper size, for now.
February 23
Features
- Sankofa Talk | More intensive antiracism work needed
“Despite our touted reputation for social justice, and interracial harmony, has Yellow Springs secretly, silently, begun surfing the waves of racism and white supremacy that have been cascading across the county in recent years?”
- Schools debut ‘Bulldog Blitz’ podcast
The community can look forward to the second round of Exhibition Nights for this school year in May — but until then, if you want to know what the Bulldogs are up to, just put on a pair of headphones and tune into the district’s new podcast, “Bulldog Blitz.”
- Planning Commission | Residential zoning changes proposed
At their most recent meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, the members of YS Planning Commission voted to initiate the process of amending some text of the Village Zoning Code.
- Village seeks tenants for 201 Walnut Street
An open house last week provided nearly two dozen inquiring villagers the opportunity to survey the 88-year-old building and ask Village Manager Josué Salmerón questions about his administration’s intent to lease the structure.
- Longtime printer to close, YS News publication day to change
The AIM Media Midwest production plant in Miamisburg — where the YS News has been printed for nearly 20 years — will cease operations Friday, Feb. 24.
- Yellow Springs nonprofit Agraria announces furloughs, hiatus
Yellow Springs nonprofit and educational farm Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice has announced a hiatus of its operations and programs effective Thursday, Feb. 16., and all employees — about 30 — have been put on a three-month furlough.
Village Council
Obituaries
February 16
Features
- The Briar Patch | Why I left ‘higher’ education
“I was also exploited, through the insidious drum beat of indoctrination that many of us believe — you know, that I chose this profession not to make money, but out of some higher noble purpose.”
- Building Community | Meet your mayor
That Mayor Pam Conine sees the village as one giant classroom should come as little surprise, considering that she was an educator for over four decades.
- School board considers additional facilities options
At the school board’s regular meeting, held Thursday, Feb. 9, architect Mike Ruetschle presented a preliminary fact sheet briefly detailing eight potential facilities plans for both the school board and community members to consider as the next facilities listening session approaches on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Village Council
Obituaries
February 9
Features
- Building Community | Sharing a lifetime of soaring
During a recent interview with the News, village residents and co-founders of The Jael Group, or TJG, Steven and Jalyn Roe, often mentioned a spiritual concept related to “the way”: an opening, path, direction, even a process that at times means finding “a way out of no way.”
- Miami Township Board of Trustees | Monday, Feb. 6 Meeting
Chief Colin Altman reported that Miami Township Fire-Rescue has responded to 35 EMS calls and eight fire calls since the last regular meeting of the trustees.
- ‘Miller Knew’ | Geisel pens ‘Appalachian noir’ novel
Villager Scott Geisel’s newest book, “Miller Knew,” published at the end of 2022, takes a turn outside of the village, however, heading due east into the hills of Appalachian Virginia.
Village Council
February 2
Features
- My Name Is Iden | How to say I love you
“Love is the center point from which we chart all other human emotion. We owe it to each other, and to ourselves, to recapture and appreciate anew the great gift it is to be able to give and receive love.”
- Unsolicited Opinions | ‘The fierce urgency of now’
“How quickly can we reimagine what accountability looks like? How many more hashtags do we need before a true reckoning happens?”
- Anchoring the Coretta Scott King Center in Black history
This month, the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom, or CSKC, will host programming in honor of Black History Month, including the A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Lecture on Feb. 24, 6–8:30 p.m.
- Facilities listening sessions begin
The purpose of the event was to present to community members potential plans for upgrading the district’s schools that have already been discussed over the last several months by the Facilities Committee — as well as plans that have not yet been discussed — and listen to community feedback on those plans.
- A tale of two pilgrims
For longtime Yellow Springs residents Diana Glawe and Emily Foubert, the famed Camino de Santiago — Europe’s longest and most storied pilgrimage route — offered lessons in love, loss and letting go.
Obituaries
January 26
Features
- Turner steps into director role at YSCCC
A Columbus native now living in Springfield, Turner has been part of the staff of the Children’s Center since 2018, and replaces former director Dana Zackey after serving as Zackey’s assistant director since last summer.
- YSHS senior brings back cheer camp
Senior Sophie Clouse-Taylor and the Yellow Springs High School cheer team hosted 37 Mills Lawn Elementary students for a three-day mini cheer camp. Clouse-Taylor organized the event for her senior capstone project.
- Miami Township trustees | Kingwood opposition continues
The Miami Township Board of Trustees continued to discuss the recent decision by the Ohio Power Siting Board, or OPSB, against Texas-based Vesper Energy’s proposed 175-megawatt, utility-scale Kingwood solar project at the trustees’ most recent meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18.
- Movie Review | Of whales and love’s conditions
Darren Aronofsky’s 2022 film, “The Whale,” is an exercise in discomfort. Audiences are spurred to shift in their seats as they watch the protagonist of undeniable size — played by the almost universally beloved Brendan Fraser — struggle to help himself time and again.
- Down to Earth | Fall webworms, friend or foe?
There is a spectacle that occurs in summer each year around Yellow Springs that generates both amazement and concern among citizens and visitors of this town. No, it’s not Street Fair; it’s the return of fall webworms to their local perches.
- Greene County to build new jail
After two failed attempts to levy funds for a new jail through sales tax, and nearly a year of decisions about finance, design and size, the Greene County Commissioners and sheriff’s office will break ground on a $61 million, 250-bed jail this spring.
January 19
Features
- My Name Is Iden | ‘Best self’ over being ‘the best’
The new year is upon us. A time for reflection and, for many of us, resolution. This is the time for getting to work on being our “best selves.”
- Anthrotech takes expertise to courtroom
Last year, Anthrotech collected data and provided expert testimony for a criminal trial, in which the events detailed spanned thousands of miles, from the United States to Zambia and back again.
- Millworks gains more tenants
As of the beginning of the year, Local affordable housing program Yellow Springs Home, Inc., villager-owned landscape company Fox Trot Services and a new tattoo parlor called Studio Uncommon all have a new home at Millworks.
- School board broaches levy restrictions
With a levy to address shoring up village school facilities expected from the school district this fall, the Yellow Springs Board of Education considered how it will present that levy to the community at its first meeting of the year on Jan. 12.
- 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day | ‘The fierce urgency of now’
Around 200 villagers assembled on Jan. 16, to contemplate Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to action through the “fierce urgency of now,” in observation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
January 12
Features
- News from the Past: January 2023
From the Jan. 12, 1966 issue of the News: “Leo Hamilton, one of eight winners of $25 each at last Saturday’s Appreciation Day drawing, displays his winnings, while others nearby are happy for him.”
- T.R.I.B.E pilot program to support health workers
“Trauma and Resiliency Informed Birth Education,” or T.R.I.B.E., recently launched a nine-month pilot program geared toward bolstering the health and wellbeing of healthcare practitioners — particularly doulas — through a “trauma-informed strategy.”
- Facilities Committee split on renovation
The YS Schools Facilities Committee continued to discuss potential options for renovation of the district’s public school buildings at its most recent meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5.
- Housing, education at the former Greene County Career Center
Once completed, the 290,000-square-foot Emerge Trade and Recovery facility will offer live-in recovery services, provide job training and provide a place for those recently emancipated from the foster system.
- Trustees settle first-of-year business
At their first meeting of the new year, the Miami Township trustees handled their first-of-year business, mapping the three-person board’s foundation for 2023.
- 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day events set in Yellow Springs
“The Fierce Urgency of Now” is the theme of the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities scheduled Monday, Jan. 16, in the village.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
January 5
Features
- What does tradition mean to you?
This year, we asked our readers to share some of their most-loved traditions with us — old, new, lost and missed — and what tradition means to them. Below are the responses we received — as well as a few submissions from News staff.
- Village ends lease with Lawson Place tenants
At the last Council meeting of 2022, Council members heard from several Lawson Place residents voicing their concern for two long-term residents whose lease had been terminated by Village Manager Josué Salmerón, who is acting as property manager for the apartments.
- ‘Freedom Flight’ play to debut
“Freedom Flight,” a play for young audiences detailing the historical tale of Addison White, who escaped from enslavement in Kentucky and stood against pursuing federal marshals in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, will be performed Friday, Jan. 13, at the Foundry Theater.
Village Council
Featured Photos
December 29
Features
- 2022 In Review | Village Life
Yellow Springs came alive in 2022 with manifold events, celebrations, commemorations, new arrivals and departures.
- 2022 In Review | The Arts
Impromptu music performances, live theater, new murals, book publications, films and so, so much more — Yellow Springs was a fountain of art in 2022.
- 2022 In Review | Miami Township
Perhaps the most significant piece of news to come out of Miami Township in 2022 was the passage of a levy that will generate about $670,000 per year for Miami Township Fire-Rescue and will be used to pay MTFR personnel.
- 2022 In Review | Planning Commission
In 2022, Yellow Springs Planning Commission reviewed a new major subdivision, approved a plan to rezone land to accommodate a new agricultural business, approved the demolition and rebuilding of the structure that previously housed Earth Rose and more.
- 2022 In Review | Local Business
It’s been a big year for business in Yellow Springs. While a number of locally-owned businesses opened their doors this year, several well-known brick-and-mortars closed up shop or moved out of town.
- 2022 In Review | Education & Sports
This year in education and athletics around Yellow Springs: The Facilities Committee was formed, young thespians staged a number of blockbuster performances, 30 students graduated from Antioch College, The Antioch School celebrated its centennial and more.
- 2022 In Review | Top Stories
From significant Village Council decisions to the return of many in-person events throughout the village, 2022 was a big year for Yellow Springs.
- COVID Update | Dec. 29, 2022
Greene County has moved from a “medium” to a “high” community level for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s most recent assessment, released Thursday, Dec. 22.
- SWAT standoff ends peacefully
A 46-year-old Yellow Springs man was taken into custody Saturday evening, Dec. 24, after a four-hour standoff with police and SWAT at his home in the 100 block of Brookside Drive.
Village Council
Obituaries
December 22
Features
- YSDC considers reconfiguration
At the Yellow Springs Development Corporation’s, or YSDC’s, regular meeting in October, YSDC President Corrie Van Ausdal proposed establishing a committee whose responsibility would be “to plan and present a future configuration for the YSDC.”
- EXTENDED COVERAGE | Kingwood solar project application denied
The Ohio Power Siting Board, or OPSB, has denied the application of Texas-based Vesper Energy to establish the 1,500-acre Kingwood solar project in Greene County.
- COVID Update | Dec. 22, 2022
Greene County remains at a “medium” community level for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent designation, released Thursday, Dec. 15.
- Township, Schools, Council | Joint group talks finances
On Wednesday, Dec. 7 — the most recent meeting between members of the Yellow Springs Board of Education, Village Council and Miami Township Trustees — the three entities discussed their respective financial futures.
- Harold Wright’s poetic life
This year, villager and Antioch College Emeritus Professor of Japanese Language, Literature and Culture Harold Wright released “Bridge on the Shikishima Way: 100 Poems by Emperor Meiji.” The book presents the poems in both Japanese and in English, translated by Wright.
Village Council
Featured Photos
December 15
Features
- My Name Is Iden | 12 months of being honest
“It was exhilarating for Iden that first day that I stepped out into the sun. At last, my suffering was over. At last, my pain was behind me. Or so I thought.”
- Facilities Committee | What might renovation cost?
That question had more than one answer for committee and community members present at the meeting, as architect Mike Ruetschle and Michael Murdock, of maintenance plan advisor firm Motz Engineering, laid out two potential directions for the committee and, ultimately, the school board to consider.
- ‘Rising Holistic’ | Healing, wellness center opens
In early December, villagers Jessica Holihan and Shaun Craig opened a new location for their holistic arts practice, Rising Holistic, at 144 Cliff St.
- COVID Update | Dec. 15, 2022
Greene County reported a slight increase in the number of new cases per 100,000 residents over the most recent two-week period, with 228.5 as of Dec. 8, compared to 226.8 reported Dec. 1.
- Dave Chappelle to demo, rebuild downtown Yellow Springs structure
On Monday, Dec. 12, Yellow Springs Planning Commission members unanimously approved a plan for the demolition of the commercial and residential building at 221 Xenia Ave. — which formerly housed the independently owned retailer Earth Rose International Imports — and the construction of a new, more modern-looking structure there.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
December 8
Features
- IN MEMORIAM | Julia Reichert’s legacy in truth, film
Julia Reichert work in film will be remembered for holding a megaphone to the voices of women and the working class — a thematic thread that ran through many of her most important works.
- Quietly sharing the joy each year
All the requests for this year’s Share the Joy tree have been made, and tags with gift requests are waiting to be filled at the Yellow Springs Library. The deadline for filling the requests is Friday, Dec. 16, by the library’s closing time at 6 p.m.
- COVID Update | Dec. 8, 2022
Greene County’s number of new cases rose during that period, with 249 cases for Nov. 23–30, compared to 168 cases for Nov. 17–22. The 45387 ZIP accounted for nine of those cases, compared to three the week before.
Village Council
December 1
Features
- News from the Past: November & December 2022
In the winter of 1963, villagers wrapped in their warmest garb gathered downtown on Short Street to visit the man in red himself, who patiently listened to holiday wishes and handed out candy canes.
- Council holds 2023 budget work sessions
Since late October, Village Council members Carmen Lee, Marianne MacQueen, Gavin DeVore Leonard, Kevin Stokes and Brian Housh have engaged in a series of work sessions centering on the 2023 Village budget. These discussions have involved staff, including Village Manager Josué Salmerón and Public Works Director Johnnie Burns.
- Village Council discusses vendor fees
At its most recent meeting on Monday, Nov. 21, Village Council members heard a first reading of an ordinance aimed at tracking and regulating door-to-door sales people and itinerant vendors who sell their wares in the village. If the legislation passes as read, vendors will be required to register monthly with the Village and pay a $25 fee each month.
- Miami Township Trustees— Locals sound off on solar possibilities
At its Monday, Nov. 7, regular meeting, the Miami Township Board of Trustees held a public hearing to listen to community feedback on large solar power installations from residents of the township, which includes Yellow Springs.
- Family of John Crawford III pursues wrongful death charges
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals revived a wrongful death claim against Walmart by the family of John Crawford III.
- Michael Casselli helms the Antioch College Herndon Gallery
This summer, artist and Antioch College Associate Professor of Sculpture and Installation Michael Casselli was named the creative director of the on-campus Herndon Gallery.
- COVID Update | Dec. 1, 2022
Greene County’s number of new cases rose during that period, with 168 cases for Nov. 17–22, compared to 100 for the week of Nov. 10–16.
November 24
Features
- Antioch College | Students demand sexual misconduct policy updates
Over the last several weeks, Antioch College students have called for updates of the Sexual Offense Prevention Policy in response to the college administration’s handling of an investigation that revealed a sexual encounter had occurred between an Antioch professor and student last summer.
- YS Schools | Student, faculty awards presented
YS Schools announced the November recipients of student and faculty awards at the Nov. 10 Board of Education meeting.
- COVID Update | Nov. 24, 2022
Greene County’s number of new cases fell for the week of Nov. 10–16, with 100, compared to 155 for the week of Nov. 3–9. The 45387 ZIP reported no new cases, compared to four the week before.
- Community dance concert to return
The Valerie Blackwell-Truitt Community Dance and Performance Arts Concert and Art Exhibition returns to the Foundry Theater on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2 and 3 — the first such concert in more than three years.
- Home, Inc. unveils new senior housing plan
At a public presentation on Thursday, Nov. 17, affordable housing nonprofit YS Home, Inc. unveiled its latest planned project: a 32-unit development on 1.8 acres along Marshall and Herman streets.
Village Council
Obituaries
November 17
Features
- School board discusses facilities, levies
School facilities were at the center of much of the discussion at the most recent meeting of the Board of Education on Thursday, Nov. 10.
- ‘Before All the World’— Rothman-Zecher talks new novel
Former villager Moriel Rothman-Zecher’s new novel, “Before All the World,” was published through Farrar, Straus and Giroux in October of this year.
- YSPD budgets $1.7 million for 2023
A recent spike in officer and dispatch turnover, higher overtime costs and mounting expenses to maintain and replace outdated equipment are among ongoing challenges identified by the Yellow Springs Police Department in proposing a 2023 budget totaling $1,731,805.34.
- Students take flight in ‘Peter Pan’
McKinney Middle and Yellow Springs High schools will present “Peter Pan and Wendy,” adapted by Doug Rand from the original play and novel by J.M. Barrie, Thursday–Sunday, Nov. 17–20, in the Yellow Springs High School gym.
- COVID Update | Nov. 17, 2022
Greene County’s number of new cases rose for the week of Nov. 3–9, with 155, compared to 146 for the week of Oct. 27–Nov. 2, according to the CDC.
Village Council
November 10
Features
- Unsolicited Opinions | What is an antiracist tomorrow?
“As a person of color in this community, I often find myself torn between feeling lucky to live where I do and wanting to scream at the constant state of ‘white people just not getting it.'”
- Facilities Committee | Upgrade costs still unclear
At the Facilities Committee’s Thursday, Nov. 3, meeting, Timothy Bennett of THP Limited assessed the school facilities and made recommendations on needed repairs, upgrades and maintenance strategies.
- Donnell Rawlings finds home in the village
The stand-up comedian and actor known for his regular appearances on “The Chappelle Show” among other television, film and live performance work officially became a townie after purchasing a home this past summer.
- YS Equity pilots guaranteed income program
What could you do with $300 a month for 24 months? That’s what members of YS Equity, a subsidiary of the Yellow Springs Community Foundation, want to find out through their new Guaranteed Income program, which launched last week.
- Art collective’s works now on display
The next time you step into The Winds, expect to be transported into a world of whimsical impressionism and colorful, modern improv — among other visual expressions.
- COVID Update | Nov. 10, 2022
Greene County’s number of new cases fell for the week of Oct. 27–Nov. 2, with 146, compared to 208 for the week Oct. 20–26, according to the CDC.
- 2022 Midterm Election Results
Republican candidates swept the majority of state races in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 midterm elections, according to unofficial results posted by the Office of the Ohio Secretary of State as of Wednesday morning, Nov. 9.
Village Council
Obituaries
November 3
Features
- My Name Is Iden | A Testimony of Sadness
“I have many stories. Every paramedic does. “War stories,” we call them. Some we tell over and over to anyone who hasn’t heard them, and anyone who has.”
- Noncitizen voters focus of state Issue 2
Voters in the Nov. 8 Ohio election will decide on a ballot issue that would constitutionally disallow noncitizen voters from participating in local elections, if passed.
- Gronbeck pleads not guilty
Following a secret indictment and arrest, Donald Gronbeck pleaded “not guilty” to 50 counts of sex crimes at an arraignment hearing on Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Greene County Common Pleas Court in Xenia.
- School’s ghouls: Mills Lawn School Halloween parade
After a three-year hiatus, the long-loved Mills Lawn School Halloween parade and town-wide trick-or-treating returned Monday, Oct. 31.
- School play meditates on antiracism
“Five Scripts Toward an Antiracist Tomorrow,” will be mounted by the young thespians of McKinney Middle and Yellow Springs High schools Thursday–Sunday, Nov. 3–6, at the Foundry Theater. Admission is free.
- COVID Update | Nov. 3, 2022
For the second week in a row, Greene County is at a “medium” community level for COVID-19, according to the latest determination by the CDC, reported Thursday, Oct. 27.
Village Council
Obituaries
October 27
Features
- Trustees to talk large-scale solar
On Monday, Nov. 7, village and township residents will have the chance to sound off on large-scale solar farms and voice their concerns and opinions, whether in support or opposition.
- ‘Harry Potter’ house returns for Halloween
To experience the “Harry Potter” display, visit Jean-Michel Lamoine’s house at 117 E. Davis St. during Beggars Night on Monday, Oct. 31. 6–8 p.m.
- COVID Update | Oct. 27, 2022
After two weeks with a “low” community level for COVID-19, as determined by the CDC Greene County’s new case and hospitalization numbers put it back in the “medium” range.
Village Council
October 20
Features
- Village Council, school board, Township hold joint meeting
The objective of the meeting was for the three entities and the public to come together in order to better understand tax structures, learn about each entity’s financial needs and talk about ideas for future collaboration.
- YS Schools receive state ratings
The district’s highest average proficiencies across all tested subjects were social studies, English language arts and science. The lowest-scoring subject in achievement was math, which averaged 54% across grades three through eight and high school algebra and geometry.
- ‘Spring Meadows’ to go before Village Council
A proposed 90-home major subdivision — dubbed “Spring Meadows” — is one step closer to being developed in Yellow Springs.
- 2022 midterm election guide
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Ohio voters will elect a representative for the U.S Senate, governor, state auditor, attorney general and many other state and local officials, including judges.
- COVID Update | Oct. 20, 2022
Ohio surpassed 40,000 COVID-19-related deaths — with 40,037, as of Oct. 13 — since the start of the pandemic.
- Local actors star in ‘Baskerville’
Villagers and actors Ellen Ballerene, Reilly Dixon and Robb Willoughby will star in Beavercreek Community Theatre’s production of “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery,” Fridays–Sundays, Oct. 21–23 and 28–30.
Obituaries
October 13
Features
- Unsolicited Opinions | Read before you vote
“What does author bell hooks have to do with the 2022 Senate race in Ohio?”
- Facilities Committee discusses maintenance plans
The Facilities Committee formed earlier this year to consider the costs of a phased, permanent-improvement plan to upgrade the district’s buildings compared with building all-new facilities.
- Creator’s Market opens at Clifton Crafthouse Co-op
The co-op — located three miles down the road from Yellow Springs in Clifton — is a $2-million project that, when completed, will feature a taproom that will offer beverages from local brewers, community and performance spaces, an commercial kitchen and affordable housing.
- Watch tower: Antioch College’s decommissioned smokestack comes down
The 125-foot-tall smokestack, the most visible part of the decommissioned Antioch College power plant, was demolished Monday, Oct. 10, as part of a $4.25 million grant, the Campaign to Secure the Future of Glen Helen.
- Antioch School celebrates a century
Last year, The Antioch School — oft-billed as the nation’s “oldest democratic school” — turned 100 years old. The school is hosting a three-day celebratory reunion from Thursday, Oct. 20 through Saturday, Oct. 22, which will include music, workshops, art projects, skits, the long-loved Harvest Supper Potluck — and plenty of memories.
- Fair weather fare
The return of Street Fair on Saturday, Oct. 8, also saw the return of crowds to downtown streets. Despite temperatures in the 30s for much of the morning, visitors came out to peruse seller wares and enjoy food and music.
- Springfield man found dead after Street Fair
A 34-year-old Springfield man was pronounced dead on Saturday night, Oct. 8, after being found unresponsive on Corry Street following Street Fair.
- COVID Update | Oct. 13, 2022
Greene County was one of 63 in Ohio designated as low. Twenty-five counties are at a “medium” level, and for the first time in several months, none are “high.”
Obituaries
October 6
Features
- YS Development Corporation fetes ‘Action in Evaluation’
The motion set forth and approved by members of The Yellow Springs Development Corporation, or YSDC, on Aug. 4 — for a sum of $1 — to contract with ARIA Group under the helm of Jay Rothman to “pilot a proposed collaborative visioning and planning methodology and to assess the methodology’s potential for the greater community.”
- School board talks sex education
The YS Board of Education discussed health and sex education in the schools during a work session on Thursday, Sept. 19. Discussion focused on the schools’ current curricula in those areas, as well as future steps the schools may take.
- ‘Louverture Exchange’ — Black legacy through music
History, generational struggle and legacy will be the unifying themes of “Louverture Exchange: A Musical Dialogue,” a performance featuring the World House Choir, hip-hop artist and local resident Tronee Threat and headlined by international performer Napoleon Maddox on Thursday, Oct. 13.
- COVID Update | Oct. 6, 2022
Greene County remained at a “medium” community level for COVID-19 for the fifth week in a row, according to the latest update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, released Thursday, Sept. 29.
Village Council
Featured Photos
September 29
Features
- Emergent Verse | LIVE at the Epic!
What if you could sit outside on a fall evening, close your eyes and savor poetry and poetic prose composed and performed by talented pairs of (mostly) villagers? Well, thanks to the ambitious vision of Gail Lichtenfels, owner/operator of Epic Book Shop, 232 Xenia Ave., you can.
- Peace Corps dream takes flight
On Monday, Sept. 26, Yellow Springs resident Dan Robrish and 16 other Peace Corps members arrived in North Macedonia, where they will serve until December 2024.
- Fire department levy is Issue 25 on ballot
If Issue 25 is approved by voters, the levy will generate about $670,000 per year for Miami Township Fire-Rescue; it will cost taxpayers $122.50 for every $100,000 of appraised property value.
- Village vies for more municipal solar
The Village of Yellow Springs is looking to build solar photovoltaic arrays on a number of municipal properties. Sites up for consideration are the Village-owned Sutton Farm, located on State Route 343; the parking lot at the John Bryan Community Center; and the rooftops of several Village buildings.
- COVID Update | Sept. 29, 2022
Greene County county reported one death for the week of Sept. 15–21. The county’s total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic is 525.
Village Council
Obituaries
September 22
Features
- News from the Past: July, August & September 2022
As published in the July 5, 2012, issue of the News: “Over 80 people showed up to kick off Yellow Springs’ first Pride weekend, with a march led by Melissa Heston as Wonder Woman.”
- State court blocks six-week abortion ban
On Sept. 14, the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas placed a 14-day restraining order on Senate Bill 23, the six-week abortion ban that outlaws abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
- Yellow Springs nonprofits receive county grants
The Greene County Board of Commissioners granted over $150,000 to eight local nonprofits through the Greene County Nonprofit grant program, a program created by the Commissioners to disburse American Rescue Plan Act dollars the county received from the federal government.
- Unique art finds home in village
With galleries and arts-centric programming aplenty, Yellow Springs is known not only for drawing in art-lovers, but also artists of all stripes themselves — including Lindsey Williams, a Centerville-based digital artist whose unique work has found a home at the local store Urban Handmade.
- Commentary | The songs and sounds of my village
One really could not have asked for a better setting for this year’s PorchFest. The sky was dotted with clouds; the sun shone brightly yet not too hot, and the air was light and breezy with moderate humidity.
- EXTENDED COVERAGE | YS Credit Union suffers massive fraud attack
The Yellow Springs Federal Credit Union recently became one of many targets of a widespread debit card-based fraud attack. Of the local credit union’s 2,000 person membership, 161 card-holding members were affected by the attack as of Monday, Sept. 19.
- Paul Laurence Dunbar documentary debuts at festival
“Paul Laurence Dunbar: An American Poet,” produced by the Xenia-based Caesar’s Ford Theatre and directed by the theater’s project manager and playwright, Kane Stratton, will debut at the Dayton Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 23, at the Neon theater between 7 and 9 p.m.
- COVID Update | Sept. 22, 2022
Greene County remained at a “medium” community level for COVID-19 for the third week in a row, according to the latest update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, released Thursday, Sept. 15.
- IN BRIEF | YS Credit Union suffers massive fraud attack
The Yellow Springs Federal Credit Union recently became one of many targets of a widespread debit card-based fraud attack. Of the local credit union’s 2,000 person membership, 161 card-holding members were affected by the attack as of Monday, Sept. 19.
Obituaries
September 15
Features
- H.U.M.A.N. library opens at Antioch College
A newly minted library honors H.U.M.A.N.’s founders, Antioch professors William D. Chappelle and James N. Dunn and community activist Glynna Garrett.
- My Name Is Iden | The Blues Man’s Daughter
“Before he was an artist, before he was a husband, before he was a father or a grandfather, he was a Blues Man.”
- Bondurant to be inducted into Women’s Hall of Fame
Teresa Bondurant, who is 60, will be honored for her long service to area youth and elders at the Hall of Fame’s annual Recognition Day Luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 24.
- School board discusses facilities renovation drafts
The draft plans included a number of deep renovations and some new construction intended to address issues including security, functionality, space and accessibility in the schools.
- COVID Update | Sept. 15, 2022
Greene County remained at a “medium” community level for COVID-19 for a second week in a row, according to the latest update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, released Thursday, Sept. 8.
Village Council
Obituaries
September 8
Features
- YS Schools Facilities Committee | Ruetschle presents draft floor plans
Architect Mike Ruetschle presented drafts of potential floor plans for updated facilities at Mills Lawn Elementary, McKinney Middle and YS High schools at a meeting of the district’s Facilities Committee on Thursday, Sept. 1.
- Tin Can Economy | An ode to the walnut trees
“Walnuts make wieldy metaphors. Imagine Prince Hamlet preparing for his fourth soliloquy, but rather than Yorick’s skull, I’m out in the field holding onto one of those raucous little nuts.”
- COVID Update | Sept. 8, 2022
After eight weeks in a row during which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined Greene County to have a “high” community level for COVID-19, the county was listed at a “medium” level in the agency’s most recent weekly update, Thursday, Sept. 1.
- EnviroFlight leaves Yellow Springs
After 13 years of operations, EnviroFlight has officially left Yellow Springs. Founded in the Millworks industrial park in 2009 by Glen Courtright, the sustainable agriculture company produces animal and plant feed made from black soldier fly larvae.
- Black Farming Conference slated
“Roots, Food and Storytelling” is the theme for the Agraria Center for Regenerative Practice’s third annual Black Farming Conference planned for Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 10.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
September 1
Features
- Racial justice, one book at a time
A new Little Free Library is on track to be installed at Gaunt Park this month, and the library will be filled with books themed around social and racial justice.
- Village Impact Project changes hands
The Village Impact Project was recently acquired by the National Conference for Community & Justice of Greater Dayton.
- Unsolicited Opinions | Why we still need Toni Morrison
“Almost three years and one month after the death of Morrison, her novels, including “Beloved,” have reentered the public discourse as we see pundits and public figures decry her work as being a part of a critical race theory plot.”
- School district digs deeper into safety, security
During a presentation on new safety and security policies and equipment adopted by the district, Superintendent Terri Holden asked the board to consider the possibility of installing fencing at Mills Lawn, which would enclose the school’s younger student playground.
- Natural cheesemaking set at Heartbeat Gardens
Internationally recognized Canadian cheesemaker David Asher will be in the area for a five-day workshop at Heartbeat Learning Gardens from Sept. 7 to 11.
- Yellow Springs Schools 50th reunion scholarship expands
It happens almost every year like clockwork: Former students from Yellow Springs schools return for a day or a weekend of fellowship with their former classmates to reminisce about their days in the schools.
- COVID Update | Sept. 1, 2022
Free rapid antigen tests continue to be available through the U.S. Post Office until Friday, Sept. 2. According to covid.gov, the program is being suspended because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.
August 25
Features
- All I Care to Eat | Time enough at last (for eggs)
My family and I went to the Ohio State Fair this month, an annual tradition for us that returned for the first time in three years. I was bristling to get there and check out all my favorite haunts.
- ‘Dance on the drum’ classes set
For the past 10 years, Manieri has studied a traditional southern Italian form of community drumming and dance called Tammurriata, or “Dance on the Drum,” and will be offering classes for five weeks through the Wellness Center at Antioch College on Tuesdays, from 6–7:30 p.m., beginning Aug. 30.
- School board approves new school visitor policies
At its regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 18, the YS Board of Education approved new procedures for visitors and volunteers who enter school buildings.
- Checking in with the Glen
Since 2020, Glen Helen Nature Preserve has undergone an ownership change, moving from the care of Antioch College to the independently operated Glen Helen Association; received major grants for improvements; and become the home of some very industrious and popular beavers — and, of course, weathered it all through a pandemic.
- Where the sidewalk begins
On Monday, Aug. 22, Ohio Department of Transportation crews began work on a sidewalk that will extend the length of the walkway going along Limestone Street.
- COVID Update | Aug. 25, 2022
For the seventh week in a row, Greene County is listed as having a “high” community level for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, according to its most recent weekly update, Thursday, Aug. 18.
Village Council
August 18
Features
- Kyoto Perry connects to the ‘spirit world’
Owner of Kyoto Intuitive, Tarot Readings and Medium, villager Kyoto Perry works with people who want to communicate with their loved ones through her work as a medium.
- Theorizing Gloria Anzaldúa in ‘Shapeshifting Subjects’
Kelli Zaytoun, a villager who teaches literature courses and heads the English language graduate studies department at Wright State University, recently published a new book, “Shapeshifting Subjects: Gloria Anzaldúa’s Naguala and Border Arte.”
- Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse to take final bow
After 27 years, the curtains are closing on one of the village’s longest-running and most beloved theater companies. Earlier this month, the Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse announced that the youth theater company is dissolving.
- The Briar Patch | Love thy neighbor
“I guess I took it for granted that both Richardsons would always be around. They greeted me when I arrived home for the first time wearing that yellow outfit.”
- Miami Township Trustees propose zoning code changes
The request from the Zoning Commission concerns the removal of sections 18.51 and 18.52 from the Zoning Resolution. The sections in question, which can be read in full at bit.ly/3zW53Zn, concern temporary structures and property uses.
- COVID Update | Aug. 18, 2022
Greene County is among 55 other counties in the state with a high designation amid the spread of the highly contagious Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Village Council
August 11
Features
- My Name Is Iden | The wisdom of the weeds
“Humans are strange. Is there a creature that craves novelty more than a human? Or one more fearful of change? Is there another animal as fundamentally paradoxical as a human?”
- Astrology resurgence— Aquarius, herbalism and Pluto
Yellow Springs has always been a community that welcomes different faiths, philosophies and spiritual centering, and has usually been more accepting of alternative beliefs. This bears out when it comes to astrology.
- Down to Earth | Drawing pleasure in gardening
“He was a great painter, Monet, but he actually thought of himself as a gardener first and a painter second. Late in life, eyes failing and tired of traveling, he asked his village for permission to divert a small river onto his land.”
- MTFR employs app to help lost hikers
The what3words app will be used by MTFR staff to locate lost hikers in John Bryan and Glen Helen. When a person becomes lost, rather than relying on descriptions of surroundings to alert rescue personnel to their location, they can use the app to pinpoint their location via GPS coordinates.
- ‘Silverberg Business’ scouts strange planes
Wexler’s fiction has, in the past, been described — including a few times in this publication — as defying genre. “The Silverberg Business,” too, is ineffable in its way; in a recent interview with the News, Wexler described the book as “a Western…ish.”
- 2022 Special Primary Election Results
Preliminary results of the Tuesday, Aug. 2, special primary election are now available. The election was scheduled for August following the initial May primary due to ongoing legal disputes over the redrawing of Ohio district voting maps.
- Art on the Lawn set for 37th year
More than 75 artists from Ohio and beyond will gather under the shade trees on the grounds of Mill Lawn School, in the heart of the village, to show and sell their original fine arts and crafts at this year’s Art on the Lawn fair Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
- E&A’s Big Dumb Show to debut this weekend
The sketch comedy production, “E&A’s Big Dumb Show,” is open to audiences at the YS Arts Council building on Friday, Aug. 12, at 8 p.m., twice on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 2 and 8 p.m., and again the following weekend, on Friday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m., and finally on Saturday, Aug. 27, at both 2 and 8 p.m.
- COVID Update | Aug. 11, 2022
For the fifth week in a row, Greene County is listed as having a “high” community level for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, according to its most recent weekly update, Thursday, Aug. 4.
Obituaries
August 4
Features
- YSDC considers ARIA Group visioning
The Yellow Springs Development Corporation, or YSDC, originally established as a quasi-government organization charged with improving economic development prospects for the village and the township, has been engaged in a months-long visioning process that will determine the future direction of the organization.
- YS Theater Company debuts ‘Pop-Up Shakespeare’
This month, the Yellow Springs Theater Company will debut its “Pop-Up Shakespeare” performances, which will be mounted outside, in public spaces downtown, on weekends.
- Perry League | T-ball season ends with smiles
Time most certainly flies. Perry League Summer 2022 is a wrap! Although the final game on July 29 was abbreviated due to the annual cookout picnic, there was plenty of action on the T-ball field.
- COVID Update | Aug. 4, 2022
Greene County is among 48 other counties in the state with a high designation amid the spread of the highly contagious Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Village Council
Obituaries
July 28
July 21
Features
- Board of Education discusses safety, MPA
The majority of comments from the public, including letters that had been submitted by those who could not attend, focused on the physical safety of students in consideration of the deadly May shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
- COVID Update | July 21, 2022
For the second week in a row, Greene County was listed as having a “high” community level for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, in its most recent weekly update, Thursday, July 14.
Village Council
Featured Photos
July 14
Features
- Mud rules the Perry League field
“The wet weather early in the week, in addition to a rain-soaked Friday, created a new field medium for the children to play in — MUD, lots of slippy, sloppy, slimy mud!”
- All I Care to Eat | A taquito, please — hold the shame
“Taquitos are delicious, and there’s just no getting around that. What can be bad about cheese and meat, or any number of other things, wrapped in a lovely container of milled and fried corn?”
- Ex-principal’s licensure suspended
Former McKinney Middle School and YS High School Principal Tim Krier’s Ohio assistant superintendent and high school principal licensures were suspended effective June 1.
- Township Trustees talk local cemeteries
The dialogue began with villagers Theresa and Jerome Borchers proposing the establishment of an advisory and work group to address issues with invasive and nuisance plants at Glen Forest Natural Burial Cemetery.
- McDonalds purchase Ha Ha Pizza
The mother-daughter pair of Karen and Megan McDonald recently bought the restaurant from longtime owner and operator B.J. Walters, who has been with the local pizza parlor for the last 25 years.
- COVID Update | July 14, 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, last week moved Greene County from the prior week’s community spread level of “medium” for COVID-19 to “high.”
- Antioch alumni return to campus for 2022 Reunion
For the first time in two years, Antioch College alumni have returned to campus en masse to celebrate the college’s annual reunion this weekend.
Village Council
Obituaries
July 7
Features
- A night of many Perry League firsts
Our all-volunteer program is noncompetitive, free, and open to children aged 2–9, regardless of their race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, spiritual inclination or practice, ability or disability.
- Crome Architecture brings new life to old church
Max Crome is nearing completion designing and renovating an architecture studio located at the former site of the predominantly African American First Baptist Church.
- Emergent Verse | Sensuality of loss
“I like to keep an open mind and see if poets can work naturally within their chosen forms so that nothing feels stiff or manipulated, the rhymes unpredictable, the whole pleasing and surprising, yielding a complete meal for the mind and senses.”
- COVID Update | July 7, 2022
After months listed at a “low” community level for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control, Greene County rose to a “medium” level last week, according to the CDC’s website.
- Township Trustees approve fire levy
At its June 27 meeting, the Miami Township Board of Trustees voted to approve a resolution of necessity to move forward with placing a 3.5-mill continuing levy on the November ballot.
- Fourth of July, 2022 — mixed messages
In addition to the traditional reds, whites and blues, the village’s annual Fourth of July celebrations took on several other hues this year: anger and sadness swirled and clashed with jubilation to color the festivities.
Village Council
Obituaries
June 30
Features
- Perry League T-ball | T-ball sluggers find joy in the dirt
Although hitting, chasing and fielding baseballs are the primary activities for the participants, playing in the dirt ranks a close second.
- For the love of The Bard, the Shakespeare Reading Group returns
The Shakespeare Reading Group meets each Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. New members and drop-ins are always welcome.
- Glen Helen secures funds to improve trail accessibility
The Glen now has an additional $750,000 in capital funds to use toward improving accessibility for people with limited mobility on trails.
- SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade, Yellow Springs responds
In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States has overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that affirmed the right to an abortion.
- New state park breaks ground in Oldtown
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz and Gov. Mike DeWine announced on June 27 that the upcoming park, slated to be completed by 2024, will be named Great Council State Park.
- COVID Update | June 30, 2022
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on approved COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months, on Saturday, June 18, local families have reported difficulty finding a provider offering vaccinations for children younger than 3 years of age.
Village Council
June 23
Features
- COVID Update | June 23, 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, on Saturday, June 18, approved COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months.
- Abundant happiness at Friday T-ball
If you happened to be at Gaunt Park just before 6:30 p.m you would have been watching nearly 20 children running circles in the sand while waiting for another game of Yellow Springs Perry League T-ball.
- School board OKs negotiations with MPA
At its regular meeting on Thursday, June 16, the YS Board of Education unanimously approved moving forward on negotiations with a maintenance plan advisor, or MPA.
- New fireworks law in effect
A new state law allows Ohioans to discharge consumer fireworks on specified holidays, unless their local political subdivision bans the use.
- Greene Canteen to close doors
If you’re a fan of The Greene Canteen’s healthy food options, now’s the time to make a trip downtown: The restaurant is closing Thursday, June 30.
Village Council
Featured Photos
June 16
Features
- Perry League T-ball | A village affair
Here in the Village of Yellow Springs, a unique marker has signified the arrival of summer to generations of children raised in the village: Perry League T-ball.
- Down to Earth | ‘Keystone species’ vital
“Whereas native species are always better than non-native species in fueling food webs, not all native plants are equal. Keystone native species are superior because they support many more wildlife species.”
- Facilities Committee wavers on MPA
An MPA would assess certain aspects of the school facilities’ needs and make recommendations to the Facilities Committee and the district on necessary long-term maintenance.
- Village to treat Ellis Pond for algae
After several attempts at environmentally friendly mitigation techniques, the Village plans to treat the pond with herbicide to kill the algae.
- Walk to honor Juneteenth, Black history
In its second year as both an official Village and a federal holiday, Juneteenth will be celebrated in Yellow Springs on Sunday, June 19, beginning with a 10-mile walk from Wilberforce to the village and culminating in a celebration at the Bryan Center.
- Feminist Health Fund receives large donation
Last week, members of the nonprofit Feminist Health Fund met with members of the giving group 100 Women Making a Difference in Greene County, to accept a large donation of $12,600.
- Miami Township to pursue MTFR levy
At the Miami Township Trustees’ regular meeting on Monday, June 6, Trustee Chair Chris Mucher said the financial needs of the township’s fire department and emergency medical services have risen significantly in recent years.
- COVID Update | June 16, 2022
Greene County, with a population of 168,937, reported an increase in its per 100,000 total, with 267.6 as of June 9, compared to 224.9 as of June 2.
- Community Colloquy | ‘White privilege and everyday life‘
At the next event on June 16, psychologists Judith Skillings and Frederick “Pete” Peterson will discuss what white privilege is and isn’t, and clarify what microaggressions mean.
Village Council
June 9
Features
- Perry League T-ball | All smiles on the diamond
It was a perfect and beautiful evening for opening day at T-ball. Those present, including approximately 60 players and an equal or greater number of spectators, enjoyed an hour and a half of chaos and fun.
- New business | Salsa’s Tingz for Black hair
Yellow Springs resident and natural hair stylist Kafisalah Salahuddin fills a special niche in the community for African American residents — providing natural hair care services and products through her company, Salsa’s Tingz.
- Pop Wagner Trio to perform at Antioch College
Dubbed The Pop Wagner Greene County Trio, three musicians with ties to Yellow Springs will perform in concert Thursday, July 7, at the Foundry Theater on the Antioch College campus.
- Emergent Verse | Bending time, form, convention
As intricately executed as Ravndal’s use of the villanelle form is, it was actually tone that first attracted me.
- Zackey settles in at YS Community Children’s Center
Though she’s only been at the helm of the YS Community Children’s Center for about three weeks, new Director Dana Zackey told the News this week that she’s settling in at the 75-year-old village school and making it feel like home.
- District looks to hire student advocate
The YS Board of Education held a special meeting Tuesday, May 31, in order to approve some time-sensitive actions, including the job description for a new student advocate to be hired for the district. The position as described was unanimously approved by the four board members who voted.
- COVID Update | June 9, 2022
The number of new cases in the state, tallied for May 27–June 2 was 17,530, compared to 19,546 for the week of May 20–26.
Village Council
Obituaries
June 2
Features
- My Name Is Iden | Calling all rainbows
“This month will be my second time celebrating Pride as an out transgender person and this time I want to see more than just a momentary gathering of little rainbows.”
- News from the Past: May & June 2022
50 years ago, in 1972: Anti-Vietnam war protest blocks WPAFB gate. “Between 50 and 70 of the April 20 Wright Patterson AFB demonstrators are in Greene County jail.” [154 demonstrators were arrested, including two Air Force doctors.]
- Haller to retire from YS schools after 30 years
After three decades of work in the YS Schools, high school intervention specialist Donna Haller is retiring.
- The Briar Patch | Seeing the Self Beyond Addiction
“Through my own family experience, I know the throes of addiction can be a revolving door, a process that challenges even the saintliest of saint’s capacity to forgive.”
- Artist Profile | Clean Gene and his record machine
For over half a century, at a number of local venues, bars, dances and stations, longtime villager and renowned disc jockey Gene Lohman has filled the sonic spaces of Yellow Springs with his eccentric and eclectic record spinning.
- Mechanical failure causes sludge spill
On Saturday, May 28, around 6 p.m., a mechanical failure at the Village’s municipal water and wastewater treatment plant led to nearly 750 gallons of sludge spilling out of the facility.
- 10-Minute Play Festival returns
The 2022 Yellow Springs Annual 10-Minute Play Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4, at 7 p.m. on the south lawn at YS High School. Admission will be by donation. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
- Graduation 2022 | Last steps, first steps
Last Thursday, on May 26, 65 Yellow Springs High School seniors walked under the arches to take their last steps as high schoolers and first steps into the wider world.
- COVID Update | June 2, 2022
The number of COVID-related deaths across the state for the week of May 20–26 was 38, compared to 40 for May 13–19.
Village Council
Obituaries
May 26
Features
- Down to Earth | The free advice of birds
“Since 1970, North America has lost three billion individual birds, nearly 30% of its total, suffering the heaviest losses among 12 bird families that include sparrows, warblers, finches and swallows.”
- YS Schools budget shortfall delayed slightly
At the regular meeting of the Board of Education two weeks ago, district Treasurer Jay McGrath presented the revised five-year forecast for the district’s budget for general operations funding.
- Nails, naturally, at Namaste
Kara Edwards, owner of Namaste Nails, offers an assortment of nail colors including the popular, “Earth Day” blue. Edwards recently opened her nail studio at 100 Corry St. for weekend appointments.
- Friends Care Community emerges from pandemic
“With that return comes questions about what’s next for FCC. Do leaders pick up expansion plans where they left off more than two years ago? Did new factors arise during the pandemic — or as a result of it — that affect the facility’s future operations?”
- Comedian Donnell Rawlings to host local events
The four-day series, dubbed “Donnell Land,” will include shows at Wiley’s Comedy Club in Dayton, kayaking down the Little Miami, and a kickball game in Gaunt Park.
- COVID Update | May 26, 2022
The number of new cases in the state, tallied for May 13–19 was 19,556, compared to 15,950 for the week of May 6–12.
- Celebrate YSHS Class of ’22
The Class of 2022 will take its final bow at graduation on Thursday, May 26, at YS High School. However, because of projected rain, commencement ceremonies have been relocated to the gym.
Village Council
May 19
Features
- Director Malissa Doster bids farewell to Children’s Center
After nearly five years of meeting goals and setting new ones, Doster has stepped down as the director of the center, or YSCCC.
- School Facilities Committee assesses issues
Among the issues identified by building users, the largest concerns discussed at the meeting were heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems and air quality; bathrooms; and safety and security.
- Dogwood Festival to celebrate spring, community
The center’s first Dogwood Festival is slated for Saturday, May 28, 2–10 p.m., at the Agraria Farm. The event, which organizers plan to make annual, will feature activities throughout the afternoon and into the evening, including tours, a scavenger hunt, lawn games, music, a bonfire, a barn dance and more.
- Students walk out to protest racism
The walk out was a response to an incident between a white teacher, Karleen Materne, and a Black student after the teacher was overheard saying the N-word.
- COVID Update | May 19, 2022
The number of new cases in the state, tallied for April 29–May 5, was 11,013 compared to 8,731 April 22–28.
Obituaries
May 12
Features
- Coretta Scott King luncheon lifts up
Community organizing, healing and relationships were among the themes highlighted during the sixth annual Legacy Luncheon ceremony presented by the Coretta Scott King Center on Friday, April 29, at the Wellness Center on the Antioch College campus.
- My Name Is Iden | My kids call me ‘Deedee’
“I didn’t know what it would be like to raise my children as a transgender woman, but I was pretty sure it would be awful.”
- Book examines college readiness
Barbara Fleming spoke to the News last month about her two-year research and writing process and her intentions for the work, which she said she hopes will be a reference text for educators and community leaders.
- Revisiting the Kingwood Solar project
Thousands of pages of testimony, motions, exhibits and other related documents have been filed in the ongoing effort by Texas-based Vesper Energy to build and operate a large-scale solar power field that encompasses land in Miami, Xenia and Cedarville townships.
- The Briar Patch | The Myth of Reproductive Agency
“We stand on the precipice of a time in which the reproductive rights of millions of teenage girls and women hang in the balance in the shadow of a disintegrating medical system and toxic patriarchy.”
- Meet the new owners of the Mills Park Hotel
Mills Park employee Ryan Aubin and his husband, Alex Price, purchased the business and 1.6-acre property on April 27 for nearly $4.5 million from the Yellow Springs-based Hammond family. Jim Hammond, his wife, Libby, and daughter, Katie, have owned and operated the hotel since the family opened its doors in 2016.
- Abortion Rights | Locals decry leaked SCOTUS draft
About 30 people gathered at the corner of Limestone Street and Xenia Avenue on Saturday, May 7; the reason — abortion rights.
- YSHS students inducted into Honor Society
On Monday, May 2, 12 YS High School students were inducted as new members of the Yellow Springs chapter of the National Honor Society.
- COVID Update | May 12, 2022
The number of new COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Ohio and Greene County last week, according to the latest data released by the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday, May 5.
Village Council
May 5
Features
- Extended Coverage | More Chappelle shows at Wirrig Pavilion OK’d
Another summer of outdoor shows presented by Dave Chappelle at the Wirrig family pavilion got the green light Thursday evening, April 28, when the Miami Township Board of Zoning Appeals, or BZA, voted to approve a temporary conditional use request by property owner Steve Wirrig.
- ‘Returned’ join World House Choir
Twelve “returned,” or formerly incarcerated, artists, including rap performers and visual artists from several area prisons, will join the World House Choir to present “Solidarity Dividend: Art in Action,” Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 15, at 3 p.m., in the Foundry Theater on the campus of Antioch College.
- COVID Update | May 5, 2022
The number of new COVID-19 cases rose again in Ohio and Greene County, according to the latest weekly data released by the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday, April 28. The number of new cases in the state, tallied for April 22–28, was 8,731, compared to 6,890 for April 15–21.
- 2022 Ohio Primary results
Of the 118,083 registered voters in Greene County, only 29,706 county residents cast their votes — just 25% of eligible voters. A total of 22,014 Republicans voted, 6,957 Democrats and 735 non-partisans.
Village Council
April 28
Features
- Emergent Verse | The quiet work of the heart
“With ‘Concert for my Mother,’ Larry Hussman transitions from writing primarily nature poetry into the realm of confessional verse. The result is a deeply affecting and well-crafted narrative poem.”
- A community vision by Yellow Springs Development Corporation
The group’s recently elected president, Corrie Van Ausdal, suggested that the nonprofit widen, rather than narrow, its lens, with the goal of creating a shared community vision.
- New leaders for Perry League T-ball
T-ball lovers of all ages — but particularly those ages 2–9 — have reason to celebrate: A new slate of volunteers have stepped up to the plate to lead Perry League, the village’s beloved, 52-year-old T-ball program.
- ‘Shrek: The Musical’ to debut
This week, the young thespians of YS High School and McKinney Middle School were in the last galvanic days before that transformation as they prepared to perform “Shrek: The Musical.” The production will be staged Friday–Sunday, May 6–8, in the Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Central State University.
- 2022 Primary | Two villagers vie for precinct captain
Precinct captains promote voter registration, work to encourage early voting and support election-day processes. They provide important information to their precincts about candidates running for office and hot-button issues that may affect voters’ lives.
- The Veganry joins local food scene
The Veganry, the newest addition to Yellow Springs’ smorgasbord of restaurants, will hold its grand opening on Saturday, April 30. The limited menu will appeal to vegans and nonvegans alike.
- COVID Update | April 28, 2022
Ohio’s number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations also rose, from 317 for the week of April 8–14 to 428 for April 15–21.
Obituaries
Featured Photos
April 21
Features
- Down to Earth | ‘Capture the positive’ on Earth Day
“The human species is facing so many difficult issues in our world community right now, ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change. Let’s use this Earth Day to capture the positive.”
- YS Schools Facilities Committee begins
At its first meeting on Thursday, April 7, the YS Schools Facilities Committee, recently formed by the school board, focused on clarifying its purpose and dividing tasks between its members to work toward that purpose.
- HB 126 could impact school tax revenue
A bill passed earlier this month by both the Ohio House and Senate is on track to impact the ways school districts are able to collect tax revenues — including in Yellow Springs.
- Samples show COVID in Yellow Springs wastewater
Recent local wastewater samples show an increase in COVID-19 viral shedding in the village over the past couple of weeks
- Planning Commission reviews ‘Spring Meadows’
Miamisburg-based development company DDC Management LLC presented a preliminary plat application for a 92-lot subdivision to the Yellow Springs Planning Commission during the commission’s most recent meeting Tuesday, April 12, conducted online via Zoom.
- Dave Chappelle seeks more outdoor shows
A request to allow another ticketed series of summertime outdoor shows to be hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle at the Wirrig family’s pavilion, just north of the village, will go before the Miami Township Board of Zoning Appeals, or BZA, on Thursday evening, April 28.
- COVID Update | April 21, 2022
The number of new COVID-19 cases rose last week in Ohio, but dropped in Greene County, according to the latest weekly data released by the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday, April 14. The number of new cases in the state, tallied for April 8–16, was 4,808, compared to 3,828 for April 1–7.
Village Council
Obituaries
April 14
Features
- YS school board considers levies timing
Yellow Springs school district Treasurer Jay McGrath told school board members during their last regular meeting that now is the time to start thinking about what they want to do about the current permanent improvement levy that expires at the end of 2023.
- My Name Is Iden | Crutches
“So what’s the answer? How do you remove a stigma that is as deeply rooted as the one against mental illness? My advice is the same advice I always give. Start with yourself.”
- Ohio voters face split primary
Absentee and early voting for Ohio’s May 3 primary election opened on schedule Tuesday, April 5, but not all contested races are on the ballot, as the state’s redistricting efforts continue to face legal challenges.
- News from the Past: March & April 2022
74 years ago, in 1947, a radio was stolen. “‘Please bring our radio back,’ pleaded the third grade pupils of Dayton Street School Wednesday. A thief had taken away their prized new radio during the night.”
- New pastor at Methodist Church
Latoya Warren, a native of Dayton, was appointed to head the 185-year-old church last month after the departure of Rick Jones, who had served as pastor since 2015. Jones is now pastoring Oakwood United Methodist Church.
- Big gains at Posterior Chain gym
Owner and operator of the aptly named Posterior Chain, LLC, Truitt recently moved his personal training operation into a new space: a multi-room suite in a former Bushworks building on Cliff Street.
- COVID Update | April 14, 2022
The CDC now recommends that those who are immunocompromised and/or 50 years of age or older get an additional booster shot four months after their first booster.
April 7
Features
- All I Care to Eat | Ham, cheese and memory
“I had the best sandwich of my life in the summer of 1993. I was 9 years old, and my dad had just installed a cheap, above-ground swimming pool in our backyard. We lived in Jonesville, Ky., a rural community of about 150 people at the time.”
- Yellow Springs celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility
The message relayed through the village’s first Transgender Day of Visibility Celebration, or TDOV, held at the Coretta Scott King Center on Antioch’s campus on March 31 was clear: There is love and support for transgender people here in Yellow Springs.
- A violin unlike any other
Amanda Ewing is working to produce a violin for Anne Harris — the first such instrument produced by a Black woman luthier for a Black woman fiddle player in recorded history.
- Mary’s Way construction stalled
Mary’s Way, named after the late Mary Donahoe, covers land that was donated by Derick Donahoe, land on Agraria’s property and land purchased from Yellow Springs School District by the Village of Yellow Springs.
- Yellow Springs News wins again at Hooper Awards
For the 12th year in a row, the Yellow Springs News won the top prize at an annual state competition for weekly newspapers.
- COVID Update | April 7, 2022
COVID-19 case numbers continued a mostly downward trend last week, with new cases decreasing slightly across Ohio, while the number of new hospitalizations and deaths increased.
Village Council
Obituaries
March 31
Features
- Six months of living in the Glen Cottages
Six months in, the residents of Glen Cottages are beginning to feel at home. Inspired by the Bowen housing needs assessment, the project’s goal was to “fill the gaps” in the village’s housing needs. The total project cost approximately $2.29 million.
- Emergent Verse | Sonorous Sibilants
“Poets love form — even free-versers like me, who let go of strictly prescribed numbers of syllables in each line (meter), number of lines (like sonnets, villanelles) and rhyme schemes.”
- Yellow Springs restaurants persevere
As the pandemic winds into its third year, Yellow Springs businesses are still adapting. Closures, illness and difficulty obtaining needed items continue to be cited as elements that have had lasting effects on local businesses — but so have perseverance, optimism and gratitude.
- Dave Chappelle documentary comes home
“Dave Chappelle Live in Real Life,” which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the rural outdoor comedy shows presented by the locally based comedian against the catastrophic backdrop of summer 2020, opened at the Little Art Theatre on Thursday, March 24.
- ‘A Powerful Thang’ returns to Yellow Springs
On Saturday, April 2, “A Powerful Thang,” which was shot in large part in the village, will screen at the Little Art Theatre, where it debuted upon its release more than 30 years ago. Filmmaker Davis will make her return to the village for the screening.
- COVID Update | March 31, 2022
COVID-19 numbers continued to hearten health officials last week, with new case numbers rising slightly in Ohio while decreasing in Greene County, and the number of new hospitalizations and deaths going down across the state and locally.
Village Council
March 24
Features
- Sankofa Talk | Thoughts on a ‘better way’
“A partnership involves listening to another’s point of view. Ask the students if they have experienced that. I might add that a partnership does not involve accusing anyone you claim to be wanting to partner with to be the purveyor of misinformation, especially when there is no evidence of that.”
- Preschoolers celebrate World Down Syndrome Day
Mike Anderson and Katie Warber helped students in the school’s morning and afternoon classes celebrate at story time by reading Amy E. Sturkey’s “‘D’ is for Down Syndrome,” which uses each letter of the alphabet to introduce young readers to aspects of life growing up with Down syndrome.
- A brief history of Omar Circle
One of the nation’s few housing subdivisions built by an African American developer is nestled in a location that spans 21.2-acres and includes houses situated across the street from Yellow Springs High School, and just down the road from Gaunt Park.
- Extended Coverage | Paige Burge sworn in as YSPD chief
Nearly eight months after the resignation of Brian Carlson, Interim Chief Paige Burge has been named the chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department. She is the first woman and member of the LGBTQ+ community to take the helm of the YSPD.
- School facilities committee moves forward
Recently elected board members Judith Hempfling and Dorothée Bouquet, who were on different sides of the previous facilities plan that was defeated by voters this past fall, presented a joint proposal for moving forward on the issue last month.
- Planning Commission approves new village farm
A proposal for a small farm and adjacent farm goods store within the village was given the green light, with several caveats, by the Yellow Springs Planning Commission.
- Extended Coverage | New Yellow Springs subdivision proposed
Miamisburg-based development company DDC Management, Inc., is seeking to build a 89-lot subdivision in northwestern Yellow Springs.
- COVID Update | March 24, 2022
The state’s number of new cases tallied from Thursday, March 10, through Thursday March 17, were 3,605, with the total number of active cases reported by the ODH on the 17th at 4,923.
Obituaries
March 17
Features
- Speech & Debate competes at state
Several members of the Yellow Springs High School and McKinney Middle School Speech & Debate team competed in the state-level tournament earlier this month.
- My Name Is Iden | Finding my voice
“I now see passing for what it is: a fear-induced response to internalized transphobia. I wanted to pass because I was afraid to be seen as transgender.”
- Tackling trauma, teaching resiliency
This article is a follow up to the Feb. 25 News story, “Learning the nature of trauma,” in which Whitacre told the News that trauma is often misunderstood.
- Antioch School turns 100
Those emotions ring true for the Antioch School community as well, as the school looks back on the 100 years since its founding in the fall of 1921 and looks to the future in a world where its supporters believe the school’s version of child-centered education is needed more than ever.
- Downtown fossil shop closes
A downtown store that traded in prehistoric wares will soon join the ranks of history itself: This week, villager Eric Clark closed the fossil shop, Rock Around the Clark, after selling its stock to Fairborn resident Frances Coynes.
- Pharmacy policy raises questions
Recent changes at the downtown pharmacy are raising questions about the business on the northeast corner of Xenia Avenue and Glen Street.
- Antioch College gets grant to demolish old student union
Antioch College is slated to receive just over $100,000 from the State of Ohio to help fund the demolition of its original student union building.
- Yellow Springs buys sludge press
The Village of Yellow Springs is now the proud owner of a nine-ton, seven-foot-tall sludge press. Its purpose? Simply put, to squeeze out any remaining water from the biosolids that run through our municipal water and wastewater treatment plant.
- COVID Update | March 17, 2022
According to data disseminated by the Ohio Department of Health, COVID-19 numbers across the state continued to decline over the past full week, with Greene County numbers also reflecting a downward trend.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
March 10
Features
- Ohio Legislature eyes divisive education bills
Two bills that target the teaching of “divisive” issues in Ohio’s schools continue to be discussed in committee after being introduced last year.
- Channel 5 public access — Building community through TV
Public access television channel Community Access Yellow Springs — Spectrum Channel 5 — content is curated for its local cable audience, but it’s also, as was the intention for public access when it was originally conceived, meant to be utilized as a tool for creation by anyone in the community.
- COVID Update | March 10, 2022
According to data disseminated by the Ohio Department of Health, COVID-19 numbers across the state continued to decline over the past full week, with Greene County numbers also reflecting a downward trend.
- Masks optional at Yellow Springs public schools
In a letter dated March 6 and sent to district families and staff on Monday, March 7, Superintendent Terri Holden announced that mask wearing in the schools would become optional effective Wednesday, March 9.
Village Council
Obituaries
Featured Photos
March 3
Features
- Jim Malarkey contextualizes conflict in Ukraine
The News followed up with Malarkey to get his views on the latest developments, and to discuss key factors that Malarkey believes contributed to the war.
- Down to Earth | The allure of local nature
“What is it about nature and its allure? Why do some of us feel pulled to rush into the lush wildness that lies apart from the busyness of our societal spaces?”
- Anthrotech under new ownership
The business, which focuses on research and consulting around anthropometry — the study of the dimensions of the human body — changed hands in January of 2021.
- Police Chief candidates introduced
Several months after naming an interim chief to fill the position left by Brian Carlson, Village Manager Josué Salmerón has announced three finalists for Chief of the Yellow Springs Police Department: Paige Burge, Selvain McQueen and Keith Salyers.
- New owners at the Springs Motel
The Springs Motel, Yellow Springs’ own little funky roadside respite has some new owners. Moving in from just three miles down Route 68 is the Knickerbocker family, proprietors of local business Knickerbocker Pools & Spas.
- School board approves facilities committee
The board’s new plan involves forming a committee that will explore the costs and ramifications of a phased, permanent-improvement plan to repair and upgrade the district’s buildings, compared with the costs and considerations associated with new or partial construction.
- COVID Update | March 3, 2022
As of last week, 10 of Ohio’s 88 counties dropped below the threshold for “high” COVID-19 incidence, measured at 100 or more new cases per 100,000 residents over two weeks.
Village Council
February 24
Features
- The Briar Patch | Venerating our Black girls
“Black women in this community are not a monolith — there are plenty of us who had different experiences within the social framework of this community.”
- School board hears Greenspace plan
A local group seeking to preserve about five undeveloped acres on the western side of the Mills Lawn Elementary School property presented a land conservation proposal earlier this month to the Yellow Springs school board.
- 91.3 WYSO receives $25,000 grant
The grant money will be used to purchase new broadcasting equipment and have it installed, pay for the “highly specialized” acoustic treatments for the studio spaces and purchase new furniture for the WYSO team.
- Antioch exhibition honors Black experience
In “Black History: A Work in Progress,” a new exhibition on view through March 28, gallery visitors are invited to serve as witnesses and in turn celebrate the contributions and “constant influence” of Black lives in the United States as well as this specific area of the country.
- Feminist Health Fund seeks donations
For more than 40 years, the village-based nonprofit Feminist Health Fund has helped women around Greene County pay for a variety of health-related costs, funding everything from prescriptions to operations.
- Meet the Glen Helen land manager
It’s a lot to look after: The Glen contains over 1,100 acres of land and a 15-mile network of footpaths. It’s home to deep-seated Indigenous histories, untold numbers of flora and fauna, geologies and ecologies, waterways and wildlife.
- COVID Update | Feb. 24, 2022
COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations continue to decline across Ohio from the mid-January peak fueled by the Omicron variant.
Village Council
Obituaries
February 17