The Yellow Springs News • Page 18 of 1446 • An Independent source of community news in Yellow Springs, Ohio since 1880

From Saturday, June 14 through Saturday, Oct. 11, the Village will restrict Short Street to pedestrian access only; concrete barricades will block vehicles from entering onto the street from both Xenia Avenue and Walnut Street. Village Manager Johnnie Burns’ vision for the road is to create a new public gathering space — one that may benefit downtown businesses and decongest crowded sidewalks on busy weekends. (Rendering courtesy of the Village of Yellow Springs)

Short Street to close for summer

Village Manager Johnnie Burns’ vision is to restrict the road, which connects Xenia Avenue and South Walnut Street, entirely to pedestrian use — a public space for residents and visitors alike to gather, eat and lounge.

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Web Features

Yellow Springs artist fights trans erasure

In June — Pride Month — villager Iden Crockett unveils “Gender X,” an exhibition featuring gender-nonconforming artists, hosted by Bentino’s Pizza.
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Invasive spotted lanternfly spreads in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Agriculture announced earlier this month that it has expanded the state’s quarantine area for the spotted lanternfly to six additional counties in northeast and northwest Ohio.
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Windsor to return to Planning Commission with 96-unit apartment proposal

Last month, the developer had requested Planning Commission’s approval for a 128-unit apartment complex; when met with sizable public pushback on the density of the proposal, Windsor went back to the drawing table to come up with a plan for fewer units.
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Arts (archives)

UFO/alien costume contest to precede ‘ET’ film screening at Little Art
A UFO and alien costume contest will precede a screening of “ET the Extra-Terrestrial” at the Little Art Theatre on Friday, June 6.
10-Minute Play Festival returns this weekend at new location
The annual 10-Minute Play Festival, produced by the YS Theater Company, returns Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7, beginning at 7 p.m. each evening.
Executive order threatens WYSO funds
That executive order, titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” could mean Yellow Springs-based NPR member station 91.3 WYSO loses $300,000 in expected funds for its upcoming fiscal year.

Village Schools (archives)

School board honors district retirees
“We are losing such an incredible cohort of staff and educators this year,” school board President Rebecca Potter said. “Having an impact on others at such a formative age, an impact that they’ll never forget — the teachers and staff members who are retiring have done just that.”
School leaders urge against budget cap
The budget bill — passed by the Ohio House in April — will, if passed by the Senate as written, affect Ohio’s public school districts by eschewing the Fair School Funding Act, which aims to address the state’s overwhelming reliance on local property taxes to fund public schools.
Huber hired as new Mills Lawn principal
YS Schools announced yesterday that it has hired Becca Huber as the next principal for Mills Lawn Elementary School, beginning Aug. 1.

Economy (archives)

Good buds at The Joynt
Equal parts head shop and consignment boutique, The Joynt opened its doors last month at 124 Dayton St., the site of the former Import House, which closed after 39 years this March.
New business— Fun and fashion at Funky Flamingo
The Funky Flamingo, a new store featuring plus-size women’s clothing, men’s and women’s accessories, Italian leather bags and a variety of unique finds, opened this month at 108 Dayton St.
Low-income housing project not selected for funding
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency's recent announcement means that plans to build a 60-unit apartment complex — one that would have provided rentals for individuals who fall between 30% and 80% of the area median income — are now stalled indefinitely.

Village Life (archives)

Agraria grows slow and steady
Over the last two years, Agraria has steadily rebuilt its operations, maintaining a steadfast volunteer base to continue working the farm and restart its educational programming.
New Senior Center van to expand programming access
When the Rev. Dr. Wesley Matthews founded the Senior Center in 1959, it was with a view to enhancing the quality of life for local senior residents. A major part of that view, Executive Director Caroline Mullin told the News this week, was transportation.
Still hungry?
The "Who's Hungry?" program started out with meals once a week and grew to twice a week, and has since fed hundreds of local folks at no cost. Expenses have continued to rise, however, and the program is in need of donations.

Government (archives)

AT&T contractors conducting structure inspection in village
AT&T contractors will be conducting a simple inspection throughout the village for the next few days.
Rescinding previous offer, Township Trustees now commit $50k to land trust
The Miami Township Trustees again turned discussion at their recent regular meeting Monday, May 19, to setting aside funding to help local nonprofit Tecumseh Land Trust fund conservation easements on farmland just outside the village on Dayton-Yellow Springs Road.
Village aims to annex 84 acres into Yellow Springs limits
At the most recent Village Council meeting, Monday, May 5, the group authorized a resolution that could soon grow Yellow Springs’ physical size by 84 acres — the latest effort of several in recent months to expand municipal limits.

Obituaries (archives)

Barry Dillon
It is with a wounded heart I write of my brother, Barry Dillon’s passing.
Ryan T. Botkin
Ryan T. Botkin, 44, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on April 25, 2024, as the result of a tragic automobile accident involving a drunk driver.
Melanie Rose (Bauer) Acton
Melanie Rose (Bauer) Acton, 83, of Yellow Springs, passed away peacefully at Friends Care Community on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 7:10 p.m., after a courageous battle with a malignant brain tumor. Melanie lived a life centered on love, family and community.
Denny M. Powell II
Miami Township Fire-Rescue Chief Denny M. Powell II passed away at Greene Memorial Hospital on April 15, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest due to a brief illness.
John Fiske Wing
John Fiske Wing, 93, passed away on April 17, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio.

Higher Education (archives)

Antioch College’s financial distress designation removed
Good news came down for Antioch College last week: The Higher Learning Commission has removed the financial distress designation it assigned to the college in November 2024.
Antioch College to host presentation from Narwhal Divers
Based in San Francisco, Narwhal Divers creates access and safer spaces for trans and queer people interested in scuba diving.
‘Loving is Key’ | Antioch College celebrates Bayard Rustin, Coretta Scott King
Set in a rural midwestern community in the aftermath of the vandalism of a public mural, “Loving is the Key” reenacts excerpts from the speech that Bayard Rustin delivered at Antioch College on April 6, 1965, and Coretta Scott King’s 1982 Antioch College commencement speech.

Sports (archives)

Bulldog Sports Round-Up | May 23, 2025
For the first time since 2019, the Yellow Springs High School girls team won the Metro Buckeye Conference Track Championship.
Bulldog Sports Round-Up | May 16, 2025
"The depth of the girls team was strongly evident with second-place finishes by Liliana Herzog (100 hurdles), Tiger Collins (high jump) and the 1600-meter relay team of Elise Bongorno, Herzog, Hapgood and Violet Matteson."
Bulldog Sports Round-Up | May 9, 2025
"The Yellow Springs High School boys and girls track teams avoided the rain last Friday night at the Mechanicsburg Invitational. The girls squad finished in third place among the eight team field while the boys earned a fifth-place finish."