105 years ago: 1921
Fifteen hundred watch basketball victory. “One of the most glorious events in the history of Yellow Springs was when the local high school basketball team cleaned up on the Xenia team in the tournament last Saturday evening before fifteen hundred spectators at Kelly Hall [gymnasium in Antioch Hall, now an auditorium]. The boys were not content to merely win, but they piled up a score of two to one, 9 to 18. … Playing for Yellow Springs were Bausman, Donley, Williams, Shoup, Weiss, LeSourd, Gegner, Hudson, McCallister.”
Lawn fertilizer? “Spreading manure on the lawn is likely to introduce a lot of weed seed.”
80 years ago: 1946
General Motors sells to Morris Bean. “Morris Bean announced yesterday that negotiations with General Motors had been successfully completed for his new company to take over the manufacturing equipment now housed in the Antioch Foundry.”
Spillan development. “L.W. Spillan, representing an estate of which the heirs are himself, his sister and brother, approached the village council Monday night to obtain their reaction to the plans for real estate development which the Spillans are planning south of the village. … More than thirty acres, lying just south of present village limits would be sub-divided and at some future date added to the village.”
Hardware specials. “Deaton’s Feature of the week: Mailboxes. Black, all metal — 59 cents; All glass — $1.50.”
Speed limits rise. “Fifty-mile-per-hour speed limit signs will be back on all highways in Ohio. … The President’s 35-mile-an-hour Victory Speed Limit signs were removed at the close of World War II.”
50 years ago: 1976
Gay awareness. “Members of Human Relations Commission appeared before Council to ask $500 for the financing of a ‘Gay Awareness Weekend’ during which it would bring speakers to Yellow Springs and conduct other programs in an effort to end ‘myths’ about homosexuality and thus to end discrimination against homosexuals.”
Short Street farmers market. “Village Council voted 3-1-1 Monday to close Short St. the last four Saturdays of July to permit a fruit and vegetable market to operate there. … The vote came after a petition signed by 33 local retail businesses was presented asking the use of Short St. for the market. … [Councilman Robin] Levitt said that the NEWS, the bank, Erbaugh and Johnson, Deaton’s and Weaver’s [Tom’s] had not signed the petition.
Store expands. “Another unused downtown Yellow Springs business building is back in use this week. Baltic Avenue Used Furniture and Antiques moved this past weekend to 108 Dayton St., the former KBS Hardware building. One feature of the new Baltic Avenue will be home-ready antiques restored by local craftsman John Bush, of Bushworks, Inc.”
Route 68 reopens. “The bridge over the Little Miami River on Route 68 at Goes was opened to traffic around noon today. The bridge had been closed since March 1 for rebuilding.”
40 years ago: 1986
Business incubator growing. “In its seventh month of operation, the Yellow Springs-based Miami Valley Regional Small Business incubator is moving along on target. … To date, six businesses have moved into the incubator, which is located in the former Fels House [Sontag Fels building on Livermore Street], and three more are expected by the end of the month. Hopes are to house 25 clients by the end of the year and up to 100 in the future.”
30 years ago: 1996
Omar Robinson dies. “Omar Anthony Robinson … died unexpectedly Sunday, March 24. As a local businessman and real estate developer, Mr. Robinson was responsible for the development of the Omar Estates subdivision. It was the first development built specifically to meet the housing needs of blacks in Yellow Springs, who because of racial prejudice at the time had difficulty finding and financing homes locally.”
Co-housing meetings. “Meetings on developing a co-housing project in Yellow Springs will be held each Sunday at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.”
Affordable housing needed. “A ‘substantial number’ of people who live and work in Yellow Springs would be interested in affordable housing if it were available, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the Council-appointed Affordable Housing Task Force. … Forty-six percent said they would be interested in participating in a ‘sweat equity’ program, which involves homeowners in the construction of their own homes.”
25 years ago: 2001
Children’s Center anniversary. “The center marks its 55th year since it was incorporated in 1946 … ‘The needs of the children have always come first,’ said Rae Dewey, who’s been involved with the Children’s Center since it began, first as a volunteer, then board member, then as a consultant. … The center’s forerunner, the Elm Street School, began in 1929. … It was the town’s second nursery school. The Antioch Nursery, begun in 1926, was one of the first in the country.”
Protestors arrested. “Hazel Tulecke and Bill Houston … were arrested for participating in a November 21st protest at the United States Army School of the Americas (SOA) at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. … Activists want the school shut down because they believe its graduates are responsible for numerous violent acts throughout Latin America, including the murder of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador in 1989.”
15 years ago: 2011
Bill Hooper dies. “William Hooper, well known contractor, former Antioch and Miami Township Trustee and local activist, died. He was 91 years old. … Bill was the developer of Westgate [Ridgecrest & Robinwood Drives and Keystone Court], the second integrated housing development in the United States, in the late 1950s.”
College reboots. “Antioch College continues its forward motion toward admitting new students next fall, announcing this week that the college has hired its first three tenure track faculty members.”
A recent kitchen fire at Mills Park Hotel was quickly contained by Miami Township Fire-Rescue crews last week, according to Fire Chief James Cannell, who praised firefighters’ response as he reported to the Miami Township Trustees during their meeting Monday, May 18.
Miami Township Fire-Rescue was dispatched just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, to Ellie’s Restaurant at Mills Park Hotel after smoke was reported in the kitchen. Though business was briefly halted, Ellie’s was back in full swing the following day.
Cannell told trustees the fire — caused by a “large bowl of grease still burning in the kitchen” — occurred during an MTFR shift change, allowing the department to respond with additional personnel.
“We were able to get plenty of people out there and get to it very, very quick, and the crew did a fantastic job,” Cannell said, adding that responding personnel were able to keep smoke and fire damage “very, very minimal.”
Elsewhere in his report, Cannell said the department has temporarily dropped to two-person daytime staffing on some days due to a medical issue affecting a member of the crew, though MTFR’s community paramedic Steffinie Brewer has been helping fill staffing gaps. Trustees later approved the hiring of Madison Terry, a certified firefighter and EMT from the Columbus area, as a part-time firefighter/EMT.
During the meeting, trustees also discussed an upcoming transition to a new Township website and email system, set to go live June 1.
Trustee Lori Askeland said the Township is moving from its current “.net” domain to a “.gov” domain, a change she said is aimed at improving both cybersecurity and public trust.
“If you reach a .net or a .org website, you don’t know what that organization could be,” Askeland said, noting that government entities must complete an application process to receive a “.gov” web address.
Under the transition, current Township email addresses and the existing MiamiTownship.net website will continue to function for a limited period of time, though officials encouraged residents to update contact information once the new system launches.
The meeting’s longest and most contentious discussion came near its end, when trustees voted 2–1 to publicly discuss a previously confidential letter from Greene County Prosecutor David Hayes regarding the legality of reimbursing health insurance premiums for Trustee Chris Mucher.
As the News reported last month, trustees voted at their April 6 meeting to end the Township’s practice of reimbursing health insurance premiums for elected officials who opted out of the Township’s group health insurance plan. Mucher said at that meeting that he had accumulated several thousand dollars in healthcare premiums that would previously have been reimbursed by the Township; trustees agreed during the meeting to request that Prosecutor Hayes review the situation and identify any legal options for reimbursing Mucher.
Hayes delivered the requested advice to the trustees in a May 14 letter, obtained by the News via public records request. In the letter, Hayes pointed to ORC 505.601, writing that Ohio law allows townships to reimburse employees or officials for healthcare premiums “with no danger of a legal action” if the township “does not offer a healthcare plan to its employees.”
“Alternatively, the Township may continue to offer healthcare coverage to its employees, but may not offer premium reimbursement,” Hayes wrote.
Hayes went on to explain that Miami Township may elect to continue to pay premium reimbursement while also offering a group healthcare plan and adhere to state law if trustees approve a resolution to authorize reimbursement payments, but that doing so would “potentially violate provisions of the Affordable Care Act and subject the Township to penalties by the IRS.”
Hayes noted that his office found no cases of Ohio townships being penalized by the IRS for premium reimbursements, but that electing to approve such reimbursements “would involve balancing that risk,” and advised trustees to consult an attorney experienced in ACA and tax law before proceeding with any resolution approving reimbursements.
During discussion Monday, Mucher argued trustees should take Hayes’ advice to seek additional legal guidance and maintained that prior boards had used the reimbursement practice for years without issue.
“To this point I have been, for whatever reason, financially punished to the tune of $6,558,” Mucher said.
“It is unlawful to have both a group insurance plan and to be reimbursing people for insurance premiums outside that plan; the letter we got clearly stated that it’s either/or,” Moir said.
Askeland argued that trustees could not retroactively authorize a reimbursement benefit that had never been formally adopted through policy or resolution, and pointed to Hayes’ remark that authorizing both a group health plan and premium reimbursements via resolution would introduce the Township to potential IRS penalties.
“I do not support going to a tax attorney,” she said.
The discussion grew heated at times, with Mucher opining that Moir and Askeland were treating him unfairly, and Moir repeatedly rejecting those suggestions.
“Unfortunately, I see it as being personal, and I believe you’re really doing a disservice to the Board of Trustees, to me personally, and the fluid business of Miami Township at this level,” Mucher said. “I think you should be ashamed of yourselves.”
“I don’t care if you think I should be ashamed of myself,” Moir answered. “You’re asking me to break the law for you.”
Ultimately, Mucher moved that the board resolve to consult further with a tax attorney; the motion expired without a second.
Yellow Springs Street Fair will return Saturday, June 13, and will feature more than 200 vendors, with an expected attendance of about 25,000 people.
New this year: Acoustic Sessions on Short Street will feature local and regional unplugged performers; a new Street Fair Guide will highlight village shops, dining and attractions; and an expanded Kids Zone will offer additional family activities near Mills Lawn Elementary School.
Vendor hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The accompanying Backyard Beats + Brews Fest & More, featuring Yellow Springs Brewery, will run noon–7 p.m. on the lawn of John Bryan Community Center.
Shuttle parking will be available at Young’s Jersey Dairy.
More information is available at http://www.ysstreetfair.com
The YS Board of Education’s most recent meeting Wednesday, May 13, marked the near-end of the 2025–26 school year — and the near-end of Superintendent Terri Holden’s time at the helm of YS Schools, as she is set to retire May 31.
Board President Amy Bailey reflected on Holden’s seven years as superintendent, which she noted began just a few months before “one of the most difficult moments public education has ever faced” with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bailey went on to thank Holden for her emphasis on long-term planning during a period of transition for the district, including the ongoing facilities project, which is set to wrap up before the end of the calendar year.
“Your focus this past year has not been, ‘How can I get out of here as fast as possible?’” she added, addressing Holden. “Instead, your focus has really been, ‘How can I make sure this district is set up for success when I’m gone?’”
Incoming Superintendent Megan Winston — currently the district’s assistant superintendent — also lauded Holden, joking about the superintendent’s detailed knowledge of the facilities project and construction process.
“As a matter of fact, she can probably tell you the exact name and number of every paint color that is going in each building,” Winston said. “She’s an expert.”
Winston described Holden as a mentor, and said district administrators — including herself — are “better leaders” because of the opportunity to work with Holden. Winston’s remarks were followed by a video featuring Mills Lawn students offering Holden retirement advice: relax, sleep in, travel to Hawaii, pursue hobbies — and, of course, return to visit the schools.
Accepting gifts from both the district and the YS Alumni Association, Holden thanked board members, district staff, students and community members.
“It’s my honor to stand before you here at the close of seven incredible years in this school district,” she said.
Reflecting on relocating to the village with her wife, Holly Smith-Conway, in 2019, Holden noted that they moved “55 miles north” from their established community in Hamilton County, where Holden had previously been executive director of teaching and learning at Winton Woods City School District, to a place where neither had family or connections.
“I will not lie, it was very difficult … but I can look out here and point to those of you who made [us] feel welcomed, respected, part of this community,” she said. “Over time, through this generosity and kindness, we developed many friendships, and the village of Yellow Springs now truly feels like home.”
Holden added that she was leaving the district “with deep gratitude and confidence in the future of the district under the leadership of Dr. Winston,” who officially begins her tenure as superintendent June 1.
An “exit interview” feature on Holden’s retirement is planned for a future issue of the News.
Facilities project update
As one of her final official acts as superintendent, Holden presented a facilities project update during the meeting, introducing a list of costs that have accrued during construction and renovation as unexpected issues have arisen.
Holden reported that the district has encountered more than 100 “change events” — that is, deviations from the original scope of the project — for Mills Lawn. Unexpected costs have included drainage and storm piping investigations to address water pooling issues near Mills Lawn, revised restroom groups, electrical work and structural modifications.
At Yellow Springs Middle and High School, the district has recorded 101 change events thus far, including unexpected utility work, stormwater revisions, electrical conflicts, asphalt replacement and modifications related to the building’s new mechanical systems.
“We expected some surprises,” Holden said. “We have had far more than we expected.”
With these additional expenses in mind, Holden revisited discussion of the district’s capital campaign, which launched late last year to help offset project costs not covered through state funding or the bond issue approved by voters in 2023.
Holden told the board the district had initially anticipated needing to raise about $2 million through the campaign, but that the expected need has been winnowed in the past few months, because district Treasurer Jacob McGrath “is fiscally responsible and has worked very hard to make sure a lot of what you see here, we were able to right.”
“We got a lot of pushback from the community about our capital campaign,” she added. “But I can tell you that these two buildings will be showcases for the district … and our goal is to provide the best environment for our children, to provide the best payback for taxpayers. They are investing in something that is beautiful, that will last, that is safe.”
Full-building occupancy at YS Middle and High School is expected by Aug. 14, and at Mills Lawn, by Oct. 15.
For more information on the district’s capital campaign, go to ysschools.org/capital-campaign.
Property tax discussions
District leaders and board members also discussed recent state property tax legislation affecting public school funding, as well as a potential November ballot issue that would abolish property taxes altogether in the state.
House Bills 129, 186 and 335 were signed into law late last year and went into effect this March; as the News reported before the bills were passed, the measures limit the kinds of levies school districts can pass, cap growth in local property tax collections tied to rising property values and limit the calculation of the state’s 20-mill floor — the minimum effective tax rate school districts collect.
“You will see our property taxes are going down next year, and that is due to some of the state changes,” Treasurer McGrath said during his financial report. “We are losing on this deal.”
Later in the meeting, McGrath said public schools have increasingly shouldered the burden of funding education as the state’s share of financial support has declined over the past several decades.
“One thing [the state says] all the time is, ‘We’re giving more money to schools than ever before,’ but they ignore inflation entirely,” McGrath said. “If you give me $10 today, that’s more than $9 40 years ago, but it’s still not that much more because of inflation.”
The board also briefly discussed the ongoing movement to abolish property taxes in Ohio. The movement — led by a group called the Committee to Abolish Property Taxes, or AxOHTax — is currently seeking enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment before Ohio voters in November. In late April, multiple state media outlets reported that the group had collected about half of the signatures needed ahead of the July 1 filing deadline.
The proposal from AxOHTax has drawn concern from YS Schools — and from school districts and municipalities statewide — because of the host of municipal bodies and services that rely on property tax revenue to operate. At the same time, AxOHTax has not suggested a replacement for the revenue that would be lost if the measure passes.
“For small communities like Yellow Springs, this would impact not only the schools [but] the village,” Holden said. “It would impact senior services, it would impact police and fire.”
With these things in mind, the school board unanimously passed a resolution declaring, in short, that educating the public on the effects of the proposed constitutional amendment “constitute a proper public purpose.”
The resolution reads, in part: “The Board hereby determines School District actions and expenditures regarding education and raising awareness about the Constitutional Amendment, the lack of a revenue replacement mechanism and resulting School District impacts are reasonably related to funding the School District’s statutory duties, thus a proper public purpose.”
“The consequences of [the potential amendment] are pretty devastating,” Holden said. “That’s why we’re not just going to stick our heads in the sand on this issue and hope that it goes away. So we hope that folks will pay attention, and we’re happy to see this resolution.”
Perry League T-ball, a free beginner baseball program for children ages 2–9, will begin its summer season Friday, June 5, at Gaunt Park.
Games and activities will take place Fridays from 6–7:30 p.m. through Aug. 7, excluding July 3 because of holiday fireworks.
The program is open to all children, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, disability or level of skill. The rules of Perry League are few, and unique: There are no teams, no assigned positions, no batting order, and every batter gets 1,000 strikes. Perry League is intended to provide a positive start to team sports for kids and their caretakers.
A companion program, Perry League Plus, will offer additional skills coaching for older participants interested in eventually joining the Yellow Springs Youth baseball program. Perry League Plus sessions will take place Fridays in July on the adjacent baseball field during regular Perry League play.
The volunteer-run program is free; optional tie-dye T-shirts will be available for purchase. Each child will receive a free baseball cap. Organizers request that guardians accompany younger children and encourage volunteers to assist throughout the season.
Register online at bit.ly/PerryLeague26Register. For more information, contact Margi at 937-768-5036 or PerryLeagueYS@gmail.com.
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