Imagine a village that looks a lot like this one, but it’s entirely self-sustaining, with its own independent infrastructure, economy, governance — and a whole lot of secrets.

There’s hidden treasure in Xenia, if you know where to look. Under the unassuming green awning is the Greene County Archives. That name might not suggest intrigue, but for those with a passion for the past and with no fear of digging, it can be a trove of historical exploration.

This week, Village Council reversed its decision to ban clapping in Council meetings. In place of that decision is a new one: beginning Monday, April 1, all attendees of Village Council meetings will be required to clap for everything.

For those who don’t know much about the life of Wheeling Gaunt, the Yellow Springs man who bought his own freedom from slavery and for whom Gaunt Park is named, there’s a handy resource out there — and it was written by Mills Lawn’s 2017–18 first-grade class.

If you’ve ever lamented the amount of recyclable plastics that end up in your trash every week, take heart: One of Yellow Springs’ own is coming to the rescue.

Dr. John E. Fleming’s office at his home on Corry Street is a testament to his decades-long body of work: the walls are decorated with art by celebrated African-American artists, and his bookshelves are packed with books. Numerous plastic bins of papers and photos are neatly stacked against two walls. He sat comfortably in his office discussing his life’s work during a recent interview.

Joel Levinson’s feature-length comedy film “Boy Band,” had its Yellow Springs debut on Saturday, March 2, at the Little Art Theatre.

Within the first few minutes of “Project Blue Book,” a new show premiering next week on the History Channel, villagers watching may recognize two familiar sights: the ubiquitous acronym “WPAFB” emblazoned on an aircraft hangar, and the face of Michael Malarkey.

On Oct. 10, Florida’s Gulf Coast was assaulted by Hurricane Michael, a Category 4 storm with winds sustained at 155 miles per hour — 2 miles per hour shy of being classified as a Category 5.

As each year comes to a close, the village — and the world outside — celebrates a variety of holidays, traditions and rituals, creating a diversity of celebration throughout Yellow Springs during the darkest time of the year. Despite the darkness, through the celebration of Hanukkah, Yule, Christmas and Kwanzaa, villagers take time in December to remember and consider the light — each in their own ways.