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.

• Getting a handle on conflict

  By Lauren ShowsApril 27, 2021

  

  This month, the Village Mediation Program — which has helped individuals and organizations navigate conflict for nearly 34 years — offers villagers the opportunity to learn more about the resources it offers.

• More businesses, institutions talk reopening

  By Lauren ShowsApril 19, 2021

  

  After more than a year of temporarily shuttered buildings, virtual-only programming and uncertain futures due to the pandemic, villagers may see a few more “open” signs downtown over the coming weeks — although some doors will remain closed for the time being.

• Thought for Food— Beer cheese soup

  By Lauren ShowsApril 5, 2021

  

  This recipe yields a prima donna of a soup, one which requires a lot of attention and encouragement.

• ‘What’s Done in the Dark’ — Play eyes racism, police violence

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 31, 2021

  

  “What’s Done in the Dark” will be performed Friday and Saturday, April 2 and 3, beginning at 7:30 p.m., in the Paul Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Central State University. The performance will be streamed live at the same time at facebook.com/CentralState87 and youtube.com/CentralState87. Admission to the in-person performance is by donation; the play may be streamed for free.

• ‘Open Air Village’— Where kids, nature take the lead

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 24, 2021

  

  Open Air Village focuses on child-led education and, as suggested by its name, is committed to keeping its young students engaged with nature by spending large swaths of the school day outside.

• Scam calls target vaccine information

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 8, 2021

  

  Greene County Public Health, or GCPH, recently announced that it has been alerted to the possibility of scam phone calls, texts and emails from people posing as public health officials.

• Annual Gaunt event honors foundation, author

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 26, 2021

  

  The third annual Wheeling Gaunt Community Service Award presentation event, sponsored by the Wheeling Gaunt Sculpture Project Committee and the YS Arts Council, was held virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

• New small business incubator— Coactive YS offer room to grow

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 12, 2021

  

  The newly opened Coactive Yellow Springs, a collaborative working space, is the first small business incubator of its kind in the village.

• Tracy Phillips takes reins at library

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 5, 2021

  

  Yellow Springs native Tracy Phillps began her position as head librarian at the local branch of the Greene County Public Library in October of 2020.

• ‘small ohio town’— See filmmaker work-in-progress

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 14, 2021

  

  Filmmaker Steve Bognar wasn’t initially intending to document the life of a small town when he set out — but for over 12 years, that’s just what he’s done as he’s continued to film the cycles of Yellow Springs life.