Lauren Shows was born to a preacher and a preacher's wife, and spent the majority of her earliest childhood years rollin' 'round the bible belt, to end up in Panama City, Florida. After graduating from Florida State University in Tallahassee, she spent the next several months in existential crisis, making lattes for snowbirds and spring-breakers, before moving to Kentucky to get an MFA in writing from Spalding University. A chance meeting at Spalding landed her in Yellow Springs. She was graciously hired by the News, though her only previous dealing with newspaper publication was in third grade, when she wrote a story about a bunch of skeletons rising from the dead on Halloween, which was printed in the Owenton News-Herald. Lauren enjoys cheese, giant squid, and Michael J. Fox.

• Walk to honor Juneteenth, Black history

  By Lauren ShowsJune 22, 2022

  

  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

  By Lauren Shows

  

  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.

• Zackey settles in at YS Community Children’s Center

  By Lauren ShowsJune 17, 2022

  

  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

  By Lauren ShowsJune 13, 2022

  

  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.

• YS Schools budget shortfall delayed slightly

  By Lauren ShowsJune 6, 2022

  

  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.

• 10-Minute Play Festival returns

  By Lauren ShowsJune 3, 2022

  

  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.

• School Facilities Committee assesses issues

  By Lauren ShowsMay 28, 2022

  

  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

  By Lauren ShowsMay 27, 2022

  

  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.

• Book examines college readiness

  By Lauren ShowsMay 21, 2022

  

  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.

• Board of Education weighs levy options

  By Lauren ShowsMay 11, 2022

  

  A permanent improvement levy passed in 2018 is set to expire in 2023. Two emergency levies of $1,060,391 and $917,417 will expire in 2025, and a $4.5 million bond issue passed in 2000 to pay for renovations and additions at both campuses will be paid down at the end of 2026.