At the Dec. 7 Village Council meeting, Village Manager Mark Cundiff recommended that the Village increase water rates next year in order to address water department capital needs. The last water rate increase was in 2001, and expenses have gone up since then, while some major utility users have been lost, according to Cundiff. Consequently, the water utility fund is operating at a deficit.

In an interview this week, Cundiff said that, while Stutzman remained current with rent payments, he had not responded to a request from Council many months ago for a plan regarding how he planned to keep current with rent over the winter months. Stutzman’s lease is being terminated due to his not responding to Council’s request for a plan, Cundiff said.

Mary Pauline Davis, age 87, of Springfield, died Wednesday, Dec. 9. Mary was born April 13, 1922 in Clark County, the daughter of the late Albert Scott and Bessie Marie (McHenry) Smith. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Springfield, and their Philathea Sunday school class

Gretchen Walker died with her family by her side at Friends Care Center on Sunday, Dec. 13. She was 78.

Geraldine E. Gaines of Xenia, died Friday, Dec. 4, at Greene Memorial Hospital. She was 64 years old. Born June 13, 1945 in Xenia, Gerrie was the daughter of William E. and Esther M. (Johnson) Bruce, both of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, LaVonne Gaines, a son, Edward K. Saunders V; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, William “Butchie,” Murl “Danny,” Robert “Bobby” Bruce and a sister, Edith Burns.

The YSHS boys basketball team shocked Dayton Stivers in non-conference play with an 81–72 win on Saturday, Dec 12. The Bulldogs handily beat Metro Buckeye conference foe Middletown Christian 94–59 on Friday, Dec. 11, and moved their season record to 3–0.

In the interest of supporting energy conservation measures, Village Council members agreed at a special meeting on Friday, Dec. 11, to sign the Village on as a municipal sponsor of a grant proposal to develop an affordable home retrofit process for energy efficiency. The Village will support Community Solutions and an area business in the application for federal stimulus grant money, which if awarded, will need further action by Council to participate in the program.

Gertrude “Trudy” E. Durgans, age 83, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Friends Care Community in Yellow Springs. She was born Dec. 7, 1925, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of the late William Henry Sr., and Cleola Rodgers Durgans.

Playing mostly for the fun of the game in their season opener on Friday, Dec. 4, the Bulldog boys basketball team mowed down the Mechanicsburg Indians 61–48. The home crowd cheered on this year’s team, which includes eight seniors, six of them returning, whose bulk and spirit promise a competitive and entertaining winter on the court.

In many classic children’s stories, seemingly common and mundane entrances disguise the most fantastical places. For Alice, the gateway to Wonderland was through a rabbit hole, while the four Pevensie siblings discovered the bewitching world of Narnia through an old wardrobe. The driveway to Erik and Deirdre Owen’s home is no different. Looking (and feeling) […]