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PAGE 4 DECEMBE R 30 , 2021 C O M M U N I T Y F O R U M YE L LOW SPR INGS NEWS Printed on recycled newsprint YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS An Independent Community Newspaper 253½ Xenia Ave., P.O. Box 187 Yellow Springs, OH 45387 937-767-7373 ysnews@ysnews.com | www.ysnews.com Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., or by appointment; hours may vary. Cheryl Durgans .................................... Editor Carol Simmons ................................. Reporter Jessica Thomas ................................. Reporter Lauren Shows ................. Village Desk Editor, Reporter Tim Walker ..................... Advertising Manager Lynda Highlander ............... Office Manager; Classifieds, Circulation Matt Minde .................................. Production Reilly Dixon .................... Production, Reporter Kitty Jensen, Karen Gardner ..... Proofreaders Jeanna GunderKline ................ Bookkeeping Jeff Vawter ...................................... Distribution Editor Emeritus: Kieth A. Howard, 1946–1976 Publisher Emeritus: Ken Champney, 1950–1992 Bookkeeper Emeritus: Peg Champney, 1951–2019 DECEMBER 31, 2021 – JANUARY 5, 2022 I used to harbor the thought that one year of Nature chronology would finish the job — would rob succeeding years of new chronolo- gies. Even though I walk forever on the same paths and in the same woods and fields, and even note the same phenomena, each year will bring a new chronology, for my view of life is ever changing. —Charles Burchfield, Journal, January 9, 1915 The First Week of Deep Winter The waning Sandhill Crane Migration Moon reaches perigee, its powerful posi- tion closest to Earth, and then becomes the Tufted Titmouse Moon at 1:33 p.m. on Jan. 2. Rising in the morning and setting in the evening, this moon passes overhead in the middle of the day. Perihelion, the point at which the earth and the sun are closest to one another, occurs on Jan. 4 at 2 a.m. The Quadrantid meteor shower occurs between Jan. 1 and 5, and it reaches its best — up to 40 meteors in an hour — on Jan. 3 and 4. Look for these meteors in the eastern sky, near the constellation Bootes after midnight. Orion will be over in the west by that time. The Year in Review, May through August Selected highlights of the summer, while not necessarily surprising, may be reassuring measures of the normalcy of the year. The markers mentioned here refer to events that have happened in the past and stand for or point to patterns that help to create the context in which we live. The season and the climate would be com- pletely different if such markers could no longer be found or if their sequence was significantly altered. MAY: After March and April’s above-aver- age temperatures, the warmth receded just a little, and May’s average was a degree below normal, with average rainfall. This year’sMay was themonth of the 17-year cicadas. Bobwas the first to report Brood X on the 21st: “We had an anticipated visitor today. The wings were still wrinkled, and no sound could be detected. More relatives to follow, I am sure.” Before the onslaught of the cicadas, a few people were encouraged by the presence of insects killed on their windshields in night driving (nighttime insects having become relatively rare during the past several years). Although Rick found the first mon- arch butterfly in his milkweed on the 26th, many species of butterflies were absent through much of the month. The Glen reported that this year’s spring bird count was 99, down just a little from pre- vious years. Some obvious omissions: belted kingfisher, wild turkey, screech owl, killdeer. Goslings, on the other hand, hatched on schedule. and Aïda reported cedar wax- wings in her yard at the end of the month, as she had in many years past. that occurred in other parts of the world, triple-digit highs in the Southwest, forest fires in the Northwest, floods in New Jersey and Massachusetts. Heavy rains in Ger- many flooded entire towns. In southwest- ern Ohio, farmers brought in a successful crop of winter wheat, and local fruits and vegetables were plentiful. AUGUST: Field and ground crickets joined the katydids and the annual cicadas to create the familiar August insect chorus this year, and then tree crickets added their voices to the symphony. Temperatures were warm, about four degrees above normal. Yellow jackets became aggressive defending their nesting areas, but they appeared less fre- quently than in past years. The frequency of sightings of larger butterflies, such as monarchs, swallowtails and fritillaries, was down by at least half, according to some observers. Farm crops remained mostly in good condition, however, and farmers began the cutting of corn for silage on schedule. * * * DECEMBER 31 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:20 Record hi/lo: 67 (1951)/–6 (1976) Average hi/lo: 36/21 Moonrise/set: 5:36 a.m./3:15 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 28 days/365 days JANUARY 1 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:22 Record hi/lo: 61 (1952)/–8 (1968) Average hi/lo: 35/21 Moonrise/set: 6:54 a.m./4:09 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 29 days/1 day JANUARY 2 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:22 Record hi/lo: 61 (1916)/–11 (2018) Average hi/lo: 35/21 Moonrise/set: 8:06 a.m./5:14 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 1 day/2 days JANUARY 3 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:23 Record hi/lo: 65 (1897)/–17 (1904) Average hi/lo: 35/20 Moonrise/set: 9:07 a.m./6:27 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 2 days/3 days JANUARY 4 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:24 Record hi/lo: 63 (1897)/–18 (1904) Average hi/lo: 35/20 Moonrise/set: 9:56 a.m./7:43 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 3 days/4 days JANUARY 5 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:25 Record hi/lo: 62 (1939)/–22 (1884) Average hi/lo: 35/20 Moonrise/set: 10:35 a.m./8:58 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 4 days/5 days JANUARY 6 Sunrise/set: 7:57/5:26 Record hi/lo: 66 (1946)/–22 (1884) Average hi/lo: 35/20 Moonrise/set: 11:07 a.m./10:08 p.m. Age of Moon/Year:: 5 days/6 days If you think you’ve seen or heard cranes, call Bill Felker at 767-7434 or send an email to wlfelker@gmail.com . A Y E L L O W S P R I N G S A L M A N A C K B Y B I L L F E L K E R EVERY YEAR, readers of the Yellow Springs News continue to keep its Com- munity Forum pages alive with contemplation and discussion by writing letters on issues of national, local and personal import. The News wishes to thank the following letter writers for their valuable contributions to the Yellow Springs News this year: Lisa Abel Amy Achor Dale Adams Kathy Adams Lynn Adams Susan Alberter Denise Allen Sarah Amin Dinah Anderson Shep Anderson Rebecca André Lori Askeland Megan Bachman Douglas “Thor” Bailey Alva Banks Linda Bankston Rubin Battino Brittany Baum Colvin Bear Paul Beck Jill Becker Anna Bellisari Gina Benning Jennifer Berman Alex Bieri Michael Blevins Andrée Bognar Christopher Bongorno Naomi Bongorno Dorothée Bouquet Bruce Bradtmiller Bob Brecha Yunus Brevik Beth Brevik Nya Brevik Barbara Brookshire Anita Brown Patricia Brown Roger Brucker Parker Buckley Richard Bullock Ben Bullock Paige Burge Nancy Bussey Krista Caley Mary Cargan Andy Carlson Kelly Carpe Joe Carr Andrea Carr Dan Carrigan Kate Anderson Carrigan Matthew Carson Donna Caslin Hap Cawood Donald Chafin Joan Champie Joan Chappelle Diane Chiddister Eric Clark Abigail Cobb Pam Conine Tim Conlon Steven Conn Susan Conner Joe Cook Paul Cooper Ann Cooper Olive Cooper Jim Corbin Carol Cottom Linda L. Cox Shane Creepingbear Connie Crockett Mark A. Crockett Iden Crockett Connie Crockett Barbara Brezine Crowe Denise Cupps Laura Curliss Steve Current Karyn Current Ken Dahms Patti Dallas Tony Dallas Mark Davenport Ed Davis Gabriel Day Steven Deal Myra Louise DeanBanion Simone Stave Demarzi Linnea Denman Donna Denman Pat Dewees Celia Diamond Caryn Diamond Reilly Dixon Rick Donahoe Antonia Dosik Jo Dunphy Mary Eby Helen Eier Jane Fernandes Piper Fernwey Scott Fife Alma Finch Joy Fishbain Mattie Fitch John Fleming Julie Ford Emily Foubert Jennifer Hubbuch Fritsch Kathleen Galarza Karen Gardner Scott Geisel Sam Gentry Helen C. Geyer Kathleen Glover Mel Goldfinger Denise Goodrick Philip Greene Nancy Grigsby Liz Grote Cammy Grote Erika Grushon John Gudgel Wayne Gulden Ann Guthrie Gyamfi Gyamerah Audrey Hackett G. Todd Hahn Anna Hall Kate Hamilton Robin Hamilton Marin Harbur Olga Harris Susan Harrison Bruce Heckman John Hempfling Judith Hempfling Deb Henderson Vickie Hennessy Melissa Herzog Tracy Hoagland-Clark Terri L. Holden Don Hollister Ben Hooper Heidi Hoover Ellen Hoover Jon Horvath Brian Housh La Howard Angie Hsu April Li Huan Brenda Hubbard Jean Allen Hunt Jeff Huntington Eli Hurwitz Bob Huston Madeline Jacknin Ellis Jacobs Judy James Sean Jenkins Susan Jennings Arielle Johnson Dawn Johnson Eric Johnson Jenny Johnson James Johnston Madrid Joy Bea Karthaus-Hunt Jeanne Kay Lindie Keaton Thomas Kellar Bette Kelley Jonina Kelley Todd Kennedy Robert Kent Anne Kershner Sandy King Phil King Amanda Kinney Matthew Kirk Alexandra Klug Karl Koehler Barbara Krabec Albee Len Kramer Shirley Kristensen Rebecca Kuder Mary-Margaret LaViska Gerald Lang Carlos Landaburu Richard Lapedes Ruth Lapp Moira Laughlin Philip B. Lawson Kate LeVesconte Carmen Lee Gavin Leonard DeVore Norma Lewis G. Robert Libecap Georgia Lindsey Nancy Lineburgh Flo Lorenz JK Lourens Maureen Lynch Debra Mabra Marianne MacQueen Tom Macauley Farzaneh Mader David Mader Krista Magaw Amy Magnus Jeremy Main Jim Malarkey Barbara Mann Rebecca J. Mark Vivian Markley Anna Marsh Laura Marshall Ellen Brucker Marshall Aimee Maruyama Lunde Benji Maruyama Kevin Matteson Westina Matthews Theresa Mayer Jim Mayer Dani McCoy Richard McDonough Deborah McGee Kevin McGruder Sommer McGuire Karen McKee Nan Meekin Megan Meier Alex Melamed Aïda Merhemic Lauren Mikesell Carmen Milano Mitzie Miller Lauren Miller Kim Miller Edith Minde Sharon Mohler Marilan Moir Bomani Moyenda Michael Mucher Caroline Mullin Shirley Mullins Henry Myers Robert Nelson David Nibert Pam Nicodemus Ursa Northstar Ned Oldham Locksley Orr Luisa Owen Lang Phillip O’Rourke Harvey Paige Jerry Papania Rourke Papania Sue Parker Tami Parker Bruce E. Parker Lisa Parker Bernadine Parks Judith Parson Hilary Peirson Rose Pelzl Patricia Peters Jonathan Platt Kim Plinovich Gilah Pomeranz Liz Porter Rebecca Potter Catherine Price Robert Pryor Steve Ramey Anne Randolph Matthew Raska Janeal Ravndal Carolyn Ray Dimi Reber Bronwyn Reece J. Pan Reich Kay Reimers Macy Reynolds Marcia Ridgley Luisa Bieri Rios Erin Ritter Julian Roberts Jeff Robertson David Roche Jalyn Q. Roe Catherine Roma Betty Ross Jay Rothman Moriel Rothman- Zecher Linda Rudawski Mel Rudolf Libby Rudolf Dan Rudolf Darlene Russell Don Sak Jane Sak Josué Salmerón Paul Sampson Steven Saus Jennifer Scavone Daria Schaffnit Uta Schenck Annette Schooler- Zanders Johanna Schultz- Herman Jane Scott David Scott Sherraid Scott Linda Scutt Emily Seibel Katharina Seidl David Seitz Moya Shea Hee-Young Shin Linda Sikes Neil Silvert Mikasa Simms Jeff Simons Michael Slaughter Liz Smith Terry Smith Louise Smith Alfred C. Spencer Lamar Spracklen Brian Stifler Susan Stiles John Stireman Laurie Stober Kevin D. Stokes Malcolm Stokes James C. Stone Anita Stratton Joan Straumanis Jerry Sutton Jane Sweet Spencer Keith Swigert Maryam Tahririha Jessica Thomas Melissa Tinker Kenneth Tiven Heather Townsend KellyAnn Tracy Paula Treichler David Turner Jeananne Turner-Smith Larry Turyn Barbara Tuss Steve Vrooman Bo Waite Henry Marcia Wallgren Dianeah Wanicek Mary White Maria Whittaker Barbara Wieland Karen Wolford Harold Wright Christopher N. Wyatt Stuart Young Carol Young Gary Zaremsky Catherine Zimmerman Richard Zopf Karen Zukowitz Carol van Ausdal Paul van Ausdal Corrie van Ausdal Zo van Eaton-Meister Malte von Matthiessen Pam von Matthiessen E P I S T O L A R Y G R A T I T U D E We have concerns about the proposed Oberer development based on housing den- sity, road access and increased traffic. We have previously expressed those concerns to Council. Our concern in this letter is about comments we have read in the YS News about possible new residents to the village. The early European settlers of YS were farmers and tradespeople. Then came the academics. Did the farmers welcome them? Did the academics welcome the artists who may have distracted their students from Latin and Greek lessons? Did all of the townspeople welcome the many African American, German and Japanese families who moved here after WWII? When the last of the Nosker farm was sold to build large homes on large lots on Allen Street, many neighbors were outraged. However, it did not result in the end of village values and culture. When Antioch College sold land for Birch III, people were unhappy. Some resi- All should be welcome dents of Birch III are now, ironically, oppos- ing this new, more diverse development. There will likely be no “watering down” of the artistic culture in YS if families build new homes in the Oberer development. Believe it or not, there are many great creative, inventive and interesting people who hope to live here. These “other people” might become your friends and parents of your children’s classmates. Last week, Bruce met a South Asian person who, with his wife, recently bought land here to build a home and raise their child. He’s not an artist or writer, but can certainly contribute to the village. Kevin Stokes made the point that one of the village values is to be a welcoming and inclusive place. We need to think carefully about who gets to decide who are the “right people” to live here. The signs around town say “all are welcome here.” Is it true? —Carol Cottom and Bruce Bradtmiller Climate researchers sometimes lament the regional imbalance of power built into the U.S. Constitution, which favors rural areas and states, and which is exploited by the present Republican par ty in its drive to maintain disproportionate power. Why might this be particularly relevant to our climate? Because trends in climate are superimposed on regional variability. The portion of the USA west of the Mis- sissippi is expected, in a relative sense, to get warmer and drier compared with areas east. Thus, regional variability tends to increase the effects of warming in the west and reduce them in the east. In the absence of universal scientific literacy, how people view global warming and its impact on the future of humanity depends strongly on their personal experience, and the effects of climate change are blunted here. In accord with general scientific under- standing, the Great Lakes’ water levels have approached or reached historic highs, while the American West, which has always been more susceptible to drought, is entering a regional water crisis. As the climate changes, the voters of the Midwest, who are most stubbornly resistant to recognizing the dan- gers of climate change, have not had the mis- fortune of seeing its severest impacts. At the same time, however, the boundary between Eastern humidity and Western aridity has already moved east approximately 100 miles, from the 100th meridian to the 98th, and by 2050 Ohio’s climate is projected to be the same as today’s Arkansas climate. Thus, in the not too distant future, Ohio’s apparent resilience to change will erode. It is not just our local future, however, which affects our shared future. The fate of California’s water is relevant to everyone in the USA, on account of its enormous contribution to agricultural productivity, if for no other reason. When we have warmer winters, California tends to have wetter ones; when ours are colder, theirs tend to be drier. A recent letter to the editor noted that our fall here was extraordinarily warm, in accord with this year’s cool, wet fall in California. Will that experience hold up throughout the winter, perhaps changing some minds as well as relieving the Califor- U.S. climate interconnected nia drought? The sea surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean currently correspond to La Niña, which often causes brutally cold winters in the Midwest and a strong Hudson Bay vortex, together with warm and dry winters in California. Since this particular pattern typically doesn’t set up until early January, and lasts into March, it may be that the fall will remain only as a blip on people’s memories. It is probably easy, in the context of climate catastrophes, to neglect the gnaw- ing cancer of inequity. But the warming of our planet only exacerbates this inequality, since the rich can use any destabilization to their advantage, while the poor have fewer means with which to adapt. Let us not forget, however, that part of the strength of a country depends on supporting its interconnectedness and interdependences, while acknowledging that such links exist also between countries and within the biosphere at large, of which we are only a small par t. Human resilience cannot be based on regionalism, parochialism, anthropocentrism and/or brutal inequality, of which any of the four can destroy our common future. Understand the climatolo- gists’ hope that the signal of future prob- lems of global warming for our area will not hold off so long at California’s expense that our region’s people will have had the chance to bake in a ruinous future. —Allen Hunt Keep future in YS I would like to ask the Village Council members when they plan to put up the new signs at the edge of the village? You know, the ones that will say “Welcome to Chappelle Springs” — since it appears that Mr. Chap- pelle plans on taking his ball and going home! According to a news article in the Spring- field-NewsSun,Mr.Chappellewas “adamantly opposed” to the development at a public meet- ing on Dec. 6, in which he also threatened to pull his financial interests from the village. I believe that Mr. Chappelle has obtained most, if not all of the requested changes that he wanted from the Council regarding the property purchases he has made in Yellow Springs. Of course, this would make higher returns for him on his investments in the long run. Money speaks very loudly! Being a lifelong resident of Yellow Springs, along with being retired, I have some con- cerns about not being able to afford to live here much longer. We have a chance to expand, in a good way, the housing situation in the village. No plan will be ever perfect for everyone involved. Some have better chances than others. This plan appears to address many lifestyles. Think about this when you pay your property and school taxes in the future. Keep your future here! —Norma G. Lewis Bothersome talk In last week’s YS News, Kevin Stokes reflected on comments being made that people moving into Oberer’s homes will have different cultural values than we resi- dents do. He, and others, were bothered by these comments. I also am bothered, but I do sometimes wonder if we have any common values at all, considering how often we bicker over almost everything. Interestingly, I do not recall anything like this during Birch III being built. What about Omar Circle? —Henry Myers Letter refreshing The Dec. 9 letter by new school board member Judith Hempfling was refreshing in its overview of the preferences that villagers have twice communicated by their votes, what stepsmight be taken in assessing priorities for repairs and maintenance of school facilities and what villagers value in having the elemen- tary school in a centrally located greenspace. She wrote: “Many want this magical schoolyard to be permanently preserved for the benefit of the entire community and that goal should be pursued once a perma- nent improvement plan is completed.” Judith speaks in terms of a positive out- look for the whole community, of which the school district is a component. Hearing spe- cific thoughts and ideas of a school board member in the newspaper was a great step forward in communication, and let’s hope that all of the new school board members will feel comfortable not only to express their own thoughts publicly, but also to be ready to engage in citizen discourse at future school board meetings. —Terry Smith JUNE : This past June brought a return of above-average temperatures, three degrees above normal, and plentiful rainfall. The warmth reflected the over-all conditions for the United States, the hottest June on record. Fireflies liked the heat and moisture. Shep saw the first firefly on June 7, and I encountered the first chiggers of the season on the 14th. The cicadas of Brood X chanted throughout the first three weeks of the month, then suddenly stopped, cicada bodies falling to the roads and sidewalks throughout the village. Butterfly sightings became even less common. On the 18th, tropical storm Cynthia struck NewOrleans as evening thunderstorms pum- meled southwestern Ohio, with a tornado sighting east of Dayton. Throughout the month, crop conditions were mostly good, nurtured by the sun and rain. JULY: July’s average temperature was 74.9, one degree above average, and rain- fall was low, at about two inches. Although the 17-year cicadas had stopped calling, Matt repor ted hearing the first annual cicada — the green ones — and fledglings were common in village yards. Local ponds showed signs of fecal sacks being dropped there by birds caring for their nestlings. By the end of the first week, however, a virus that was killing a great number of local birds was reported, and people were advised not to feed birds and to clean their feeders and remove anything that would encourage them to gather and spread the disease. In spite of the losses, Jane reported murmurations of starlings on the 22nd. Annual cicadas sang all month, and Matt heard the first katydid on the 20th. Yellow Springs was spared the extremes Fig. I: Brood X “magicicada”