Saturday night at Clifton Opera House

Front Porch Revival

Front Porch Revival will be performing on Saturday, March 24th at the Clifton Opera House. Their show starts at 7:30pm, it will be the first of what we hope will be many performances in Clifton. This Columbus based duo has been performing traditional street blues all over Ohio.

Noah Shull has been playing Blues music professionally for nearly 20 years, and has been blessed enough to have studied with some wonderful musicians throughout his years of musical development, to name a few, Jorma Kaukonen(Hot Tuna/Jefferson Airplane); G.E. Smith(Hall & Oats/SNL); Jimi Vincent(Stallion); and Chuck Day(Mommas & the Pappas/Johnny Rivers Band) During a stint on the west coast in late 2005-early 2007 Noah was playing in and around the San Francisco Bay area, Marin County, California.

Steve Frye has seen and done just about everything a man can see and do in one lifetime, and he's boiled all that experience down to an incredibly insightful and rhythmic blend of New Orleans/Mississippi Delta soul and funky washboard rhythm. "Teamed together, Noah and Steve bring a unique blend of incredibly moving and beautiful blues music, and a wealth of knowledge of the American blues music catalog." - Tom Noonen, Vino Where You Live

They hope to entertain your hearts and souls with music. Box office opens at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:30pm. The Clifton Opera House is located at 5 So Clay Street, Clifton. Call 937.767.2343 for more information or visit www.cliftonoperahouse.com.

New Series at Little Art

Environmental Film Series Announced

The Little Art Theatre is proud to announce a new film series devoted to the issues, stories, and environmental challenges we, and our planet, face. Beginning this month, The Environmental Film Series, will showcase six premiere documentary films dealing with subjects as diverse as sustainable agriculture and the commercial meat industry, to patenting the world’s food supply, to the power of wind and one person, the challenges of living directly off the land, and the startling beauty of Earth.

The series opens at 4:00 PM, March 24th with American Meat (85min.), a solutions-oriented, macroscopic documentary surveying the current state of the U.S. meat industry. The film documents the arrival of the current state of industrial meat production. Feedlots, confinement houses, and the plight of cattle are filmed, not through hidden cameras, but through the eyes of the farmers who live and work with these animals. From this perspective, the documentary then reveals the current revolution developing in animal husbandry, led by the charismatic and passionate Joel Salatin. With his lead, farmers across the country have changed their lives to start grass-based farms, and American Meat highlights every day, tangible solutions people can take to change our nation’s agricultural footprint. We are pleased to have Director Graham Meriwether on hand to lead a question and answer session at the end of the film. American Meat is free and open to all.

A short of list upcoming films completing the series includes:

The World According to Monsanto (109 min.), Saturday, March 31st, 3:00 PM, Admission: free. Director: Marie-Monique Robin
Monsanto’s controversial past combines some of the most toxic products ever sold with misleading reports, pressure tactics, collusion, and attempted corruption. They now race to genetically engineer (and patent) the world’s food supply. This widely praised film exposes why Monsanto has become the world’s poster child for malignant corporate influence in government and technology.

Arctic Son (150 min.), Sunday, April 1st 3:00 PM. Admission: $6.00.
Director: Tom Irons
In the spring of 1992 author Jeanie Aspen, daughter of Alaskan adventurers Constance and Bud Helmericks, set out with her husband, Tom, their 6-year-old son, Luke, and friend Laurie, for fourteen months alone in Alaska’s remote Brooks Range. Flown into the wilderness, the four strive to gain a foothold before winter reclaims the land, a hundred miles from the nearest other people. The following summer they face a perilous 600-mile downriver canoe journey back to the world they left behind. Tom Irons himself will be present for the screening and to answer Q&A afterwards. Don’t miss this special film and a chance to speak with Tom about their experiences and what has transpired since their adventure.

Windfall (83 min.), Saturday, April7, 4:00 PM. Admission: Free.
Director: Laura Israel
Wind power… it’s sustainable … it burns no fossil fuels…it produces no air pollution. What’s more, it cuts down dependency on foreign oil. But there is also a dark side of wind energy development and the potential for highly profitable financial scams. Windfall invites thoughtful discussion rather than agenda driven pronouncements and opens real discussion as to the promise of wind power and its shortcomings. The film has garnered accolades from film critics across the nation: "CRITIC'S PICK! Urgent, informative and artfully assembled. The film's implications are clear: The quest for energy independence comes with caveats. Energy companies remain eager to plunder nature's bounty in pursuit of profit." - Andrew Webster, The New York Times.

Force of Nature (93 min.) Sunday, April 15th, 7:00 PM. Standard Admission: ($7.50 Adults; $6:50 Seniors and Children)
Director: Sturla Gunnarsson
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. David Suzuki will be at the Little Art to lead a 30-minute Q & A session immediately after the screening. Mr. Suzuki is a leading environmentalist, author and speaker. For many years he hosted a Canadian Television program, "The Nature of Things" and has authored more than forty books. He is the founder and chair of The David Suzuki Foundation (http://www.davidsuzuki.org/). The documentary explores, in gorgeous color and sweeping camerawork, the life and times of this brilliant keeper of the environmental flame. Suzuki, at the outset, mounts the stage for the lecture like a tiny Asian Steve Jobs, not there to present a new device, but to glorify the basics of the human species.

Home (118 min.), Sunday, April 22, 4:00 PM. Admission: Free.
A film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, narrated by Glenn Close.
Through utterly visually stunning footage from over fifty countries, all shot from an aerial perspective, Yann Arthus–Bertrand shows us a view most of us have never seen. He shares with us his sense of awe about our planet and his concern for its health. With this film, Arthus-Bertrand hopes to provide a stepping-stone to further the call to action to take care of our Home. Home is the first film to exclusive use aerial footage. The film marks artist-activist Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s feature film directorial debut.


The Little Art offers a full concession bar, wine and beer, and accepts donations for films offered free of charge. Please visit the Special Events tab on our website at littleart.com and join us for our new series.

Lisa Hunt's feeling groovy

Antioch University Names New Chancellor

In a unanimous decision, the Antioch University Board of Governors has appointed Ms. Felice Nudelman as the university’s 5th chancellor, effective July 1.

Felice Nudelman is the Executive Director of Education for The New York Times Company where she is responsible for developing and overseeing education initiatives, including The New York Times Knowledge Network. She has helped lead the strategic thinking and implementation of their national and international education programs. She also led the development of a business model in e-Learning that includes collaboration with colleges and universities to create and deliver on-line courses. “I understand the importance of executing at the highest standards while maintaining the ability to be agile,” she said, adding “I am extremely delighted to have the opportunity to serve this national university as an innovative and collaborative leader.”

Antioch’s long-standing commitment to social justice and the common good resonated with Ms. Nudelman, who has a deep appreciation for the quality of education Antioch University provides its adult learners, both inside and outside the classroom. “I am thrilled to join a community that has such exceptional faculty and academic programs like the PhD in Leadership and Change, and I am honored to serve Antioch during this next phase of development,” said Nudelman.

Before joining The New York Times, Ms. Nudelman served as executive director for Pace University’s School of Education, receiving Pace’s Outstanding Contribution award for her work. In her work with faculty, students, and administration at Bloomfield College, Ms. Nudelman’s leadership as associate dean of academic affairs led to increased focus on student-centered services and faculty support, gaining Bloomfield a national award in the area of academic advising.

“We were looking for a leader who not only will build on what is here, but a leader who is innovative and can make the good ideas come to life quickly to benefit the entire institution. Ms. Nudelman is known for her significant experience in national and international initiatives and excellent relationship-building skills,” said Lawrence Stone, Ph.D., chair of the Board of Governors. “The board is ecstatic that she has agreed to make this commitment to lead Antioch University to a position of strength and vitality.”

Known for her significant experience in national and international initiatives and excellent relationship-building skills, Nudelman described her vision for Antioch University as one in which “the institution develops its concepts to drive growth across the entire system. Antioch is in the process of identifying new opportunities that will advance the institution in a variety of ways. This is a very exciting time.”

In 2007, she led the creation of The New York Times Knowledge Network, a service that works collaboratively with colleges and universities in the design and delivery of e-learning courses and certificates. An innovative partnership, the Network worked successfully with the Texas Education Agency to launch Project Share in 2010. Project Share is a learning community initiative which offers professional development programming to the 400,000 teachers and four million K-12 students across Texas (www.projectsharetexas.com).

Mr. Art Zucker and Dr. Charlotte Roberts, members of the Board of Governors and co-chairs of the search committee, expressed their excitement with the outcome of the committee’s work.

“I am extremely proud of the process we followed. It was inclusive and collaborative, garnering input through various forums from the faculty, administration, staff, and our boards,” said Zucker, who also serves as the board’s vice chair. “Felice is clearly a creative thinker with proven strategic, organizational, and interpersonal skills.”

“We had a truly impressive pool of candidates in this search, and all of us feel a deep sense of satisfaction with the outcome,” said Roberts, president of an executive consulting firm whose work in systems and leadership extends to boards. “With representatives from all sectors of the University present around the table, we collaborated with one goal in mind and that was to select a leader who will take this institution to the next level and beyond. Ms. Nudelman’s track record for identifying opportunities and mentoring teams for successful implementation align perfectly with the challenges Antioch University faces.”

In 2003, Nudelman partnered with The American Association of State Colleges and Universities to launch the American Democracy Project, a multi-campus initiative involving more than 240 institutions focused on higher education’s role in preparing the next generation of informed, engaged citizens for our democracy (http://www.aascu.org/programs/ADP/).

She has brought her insights and wisdom to her service on the Board of Trustees for the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), and as a board member of Epsilen LLC, the Education Writers Association, NYU-Poly Enterprise Learning Board, and SXSWedu Advisory Council. She is also a member of the College Board Innovation Advisory Board, has served on the University of North Texas Board of Visitors, and was Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors for The National Teachers Hall of Fame.

An alumna of the 1995 Harvard Management Development Program, Ms. Nudelman obtained her B.A. in Fine Arts and Philosophy from Allegheny College, and her M.F.A. from the Pratt Institute.

Ms. Nudelman succeeds Dr. Tullisse Murdock, who announced her retirement last November effective June 30, 2012, after 15 years with the University – 8 as President of AU Seattle and 7 as University Chancellor. “I’ve known Felice since we served on the CAEL Board together, and could not be more pleased with the Board’s selection of her as the next chancellor. Felice’s enthusiasm for Antioch’s core values – excellence in teaching and learning, nurturing student achievement, supporting scholarship and service, a commitment to social engagement, and building and serving inclusive communities – will serve the system well. This University is in good hands.”

A native of New Jersey, Ms. Nudelman will make her new home in southwest Ohio.

Coming soon to a cornfield near you

"The World According To Monsanto" will be coming to the Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs as part of The Community Presents Series. It will be shown on Saturday March 31 at 3 PM.

Admission is free, however donations are strongly recommended to support our gem of a theatre in YS. This is not a film to be missed. You will realize why this information has been under many people's radar, and why 50 nations in the world require mandatory Genetically Modified food labeling while we in the US appear to be asleep at the wheel of a vary fast moving train.

This movie is intended to help wake us up from this slumber. We will be sharing resources and information after the movie of steps we can take in very simple ways to slam on the brakes!

http://films.nfb.ca/monsanto/onepager-monsanto.pdf

"A Dangerous Method" - film and discussion

Free post-film discussion with guest speaker

A post-film discussion led by Jungian psychoanalyst Richard J. Sweeney, Ph.D. will be held at the Little Art Theatre on Friday, March 23rd at 9:00 PM following the 7:00 screening of David Cronenberg’s "A Dangerous Method."

Movie: $7.50; Discussion: Free – Donations Appreciated

Drawn from true-life events, "A Dangerous Method" takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Into the mix comes Otto Gross a free-thinker who encourages Jung to cross therapist-patient boundaries. This exploration of sensuality, ambition and deceit sets the scene for the pivotal moment when Jung, Freud and Sabina come together and split apart, forever changing the face of modern thought.

Dr. Sweeney is a Jungian psychoanalyst and licensed professional clinical counselor practicing in Columbus and Cincinnati. He holds a doctorate in psychology and religion from The Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, and a diploma in analytical psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute, Zurich, where he serves as a member of its international faculty wing. Those who have already seen the movie may attend the discussion. The Little Art invites such persons to look for a donation box in the lobby, contributing what they wish to the non-profit theatre.

WYSO Fund Drive

Special Programming on Sunday, March 18th

Tune to WYSO on Sunday, March 18th for special programming from 2 to 5pm. In a show we like to call All Hands on Deck, we'll celebrate local programming on WYSO: news, music Community Voice and more. You'll hear WYSO staff and volunteer hosts alongside special guests including the Eleventh Hour singing group from Kettering Fairmont High School.

Volunteers needed for tonight

WYSO is looking for a few volunteers to answer phones tonight from 8pm to midnight. Show your support for bluegrass on WYSO by helping us tonight during the spring membership drive.

If you're available to answer phones tonight from 8pm to midnight, simply reply to sbuckingham@wyso.org.

Many thanks!


WYSO 91.3FM
WYSO Public Radio

Chamber Music at the Little Art

Click on image to enlarge.

Boys Night

An evening of dialogue and engagement

Boys Night will take place on Friday March 23 at YSHS from 7:00-10:00 p.m. All young men in grades 7-12 are invited to attend this evening of dialogue and engagement that will focus on a variety of topics pertaining to decision making skills, social skills, self-identity, and peer pressure. A number of local professionals will be in attendance at this event that is being sponsored by the YS Schools, Human Relations Commission of YS, Village Mediation Program of YS and the 365 Project. Food will be provided. Contact Principal Tim Krier at YSHS for more details.

Update on pet treats from China

Dogs are getting sick - many dying

Holly Rudawski McCutcheon of Springfield, whom I mentioned yesterday as one of the folks who turned me onto the Chinese dog treat issue, was recently interviewed by ABC News. The article appeared on their Website today.

ABC News: Toxic Treats from China Killing US Dogs, say Pet Owners

Original Post: Warning for Dog Owners

Destination YS

More Weekend Fling Events

Women's Voices Out Loud 100 Dayton St.
An evening of Performances; 3/17, 7p

Antioch College Various locations on campus
Ann Filemyr Poetry Reading; 3/15, 7p; Olive Kettering Library
Harlem Quartet Performance; 3/17, 7:30p; Herndon Gallery

McKinney School Chili Cook-Off YS High, 420 E. Enon
Enjoy a great chili dinner and help pick the winner; 5-6:30p

Chamber Music Yellow Springs 314 Xenia Ave.
Harlem Quartet Performance; 3/18, 7:30p

Tecumseh Land Trust 5531 Far Hills Ave. Dayton
A Premiere for Preservation; Meadowlark Restaurant; 3/19, 6-9p

Arts & Culture

Yellow Springs Banner Festival Xenia, Corry & Dayton St.
See the beautiful banners around town all made by local artists.

Emporium Wines 233 Xenia Ave.
The work of photographer Kevin Miyazaki, through 3/31

Glen Helen Atrium Gallery 405 Corry St.
Russ Shaw's "Birdsong Hill: low relief wood images" through 4/29

Glen House Art 1221 Glen Rd.
The African Sculpture Collection of Glen Owen through 4/11

John Bryan Community Pottery Gallery 100 Dayton St. (rear)
Geno Luketic "New Works"; Sa & Su 12-4p

Spirited Goat Coffee House 118 Dayton St.
The Works of Claire B

Village Artisans 100 Corry St.
Sue Brezine's "March Mindfulness" exhibit through 3/31
Reception Friday, March 16; 6-9p

Winds Cafe 215 Xenia Ave.
Libby Rudolf & Jennifer Berman Watercolors

Women's Voices Out Loud 100 Dayton St.
2nd Floor of the John Bryan Community Center, March 1-31

Nature & Recreation

Glen Helen Nature Preserve 405 Corry St.
St. Patty's Mustard Pull - 3/17, 9a-1p; Glen Helen Bldg Auditorium;
tools, training & pizza provided.

Wildflower ID Hike - Sunday 3/18, 1-3p; Trailside Museum
Name the Snake - Open Sa 9a-3p, Su 9a-1p; Trailside Museum

This Saturday at Antioch College

Click on image to enlarge.

Tree work on the South End

Local company Arbor-Care of Ohio has the contract to trim tree limbs away from the village's electric wires. That's Derek Willis in the bucket, trimming the black walnut in my backyard.

St. Patrick Matinee at Clifton Opera House

Friday afternoon, March 16

On Friday afternoon, March 16th an Opera House favorite will take the stage. Glen Parks Banjo Entertainment will be bringing his charming stories and music to Clifton for our special St Patrick's Day Afternoon Matinee, the show starts at 1:30pm. Glen provides a treasure trove of entertainment with his funny jokes and banjo music. Everyone is Irish on Friday afternoon! Banjo music is happy music, join us! The box office opens at 12pm. Suggested door donation $5.00. www.cliftonoperahouse.com

Warning for dog owners

Dog treats manufactured in China

Anyone who follows my "Back Story" column on this blog is surely aware that my dog has been sick on-and-off for the past couple months. It started with her ingestion of a black walnut that she picked up in our backyard - and I still believe to this day that the naughty nut was the cause of her original illness. But since then she has been getting ill with similar but not exact symptoms every two weeks or so. I can assure you she has not eaten any more of the poisonous fruit. We did, however, suspect that she has been eating other nasty objects she has managed to sneak by us.

As it turns out, we may have been feeding the poison to her ourselves in the form of what are supposed to be dog treats. The US Food and Drug Administration has been getting complaints for several years about dogs being made sick and even dying from eating chicken jerky treats that are made in China. Back in November they issued a warning that lists symptoms exactly like those my dog has been exhibiting:

• decreased appetite;
• decreased activity;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
• increased water consumption; and/or
• increased urination.

I just became aware of this today from a post on Facebook by Yellow Springer Linda Rudawski, whose sister Holly Rudawski McCutcheon of Springfield has been active in trying to influence the FDA to do more and to get the word out to dog-owners, since her own dog was taken ill after eating chicken jerky treats made in China. She has been interviewed for several articles and is working with Senator Sherrod Brown to get faster action out of the FDA. (See article in Springfield News-Sun). The companies involved are some of the biggest names in the business. The FDA is powerless to force them to recall these poisonous products. Any recall will have to be voluntary. Meanwhile, I won't be feeding them to my dog anymore.

Items and articles of interest:

ABC News: Toxic Treats from China Killing US Dogs, say Pet Owners

Sen. Sherrod Brown Press Release

Food Safety News

MSNBC

Sign a petition

Burn Notice

The Morris Bean prairie burn originally scheduled for last week will take place tonight (Wednesday) beginning around 6:45 PM.

Original post: Burn Notice

Soul Fire Tribe needs video hits

Watch this!



Local Yellow Springs performance group Soul Fire Tribe is in a contest to win free tickets to a fire workshop in College Corner, Ohio. The video with the most hits by Thursday at noon wins. Hit it!

Friday night at Clifton Opera House

Sweet Betsy


They're back! "Sweet Betsy" returns to Clifton on Friday, March 16th at 7:30pm. Two kindred souls from very different backgrounds melding together a unique blend of old school soul and jazz, with roots and traditional music. Sweet Betsy opened our 2010 season and we are happy to report that they are back! This show will include special guest "Windsor Knotts".

Sweet Betsy's "Americana" music will delight with a variety of styles. Mike McDermott is on mandolin, guitar, and vocals and Pam Baugham plays guitar, and vocals. They have put together soaring harmonies, mixed in the melodic sounds of the Midwest and top it off with a healthy dose of bluegrass, country and the blues. That's the unique sound of Sweet Betsy...different...and diff'rent is good. Sweet Betsy records exclusively with *Pittfall Studios! They have just released a new disc entitled "So Long For Now" Pick up your own copy at the show.

The Clifton Opera House is located at 5 So Clay Street, Clifton. The box office opens at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:30pm. Call 937-342-2175 for information or check out the website www.cliftonoperahouse.com

Saturday night at Clifton Opera House

C & M Bluegrass



We would like to introduce you to the "C & M Bluegrass" band, they will be performing on Saturday, March 17th at 7:30pm. A Sister & Brother band with good traditional Bluegrass harmonies that only a brother & sister singing together since childhood can produce. Joined by Cathy's husband Rick of 38 years playing a solid hard driving rhythm upright bass , Jeff Causey on mandolin and last but not least by any measure they are proud to introduce you to one of the best 17 year old banjo pickers anywhere, Mr. Houston Slone from St. Mary's, Oh. Only playing banjo for just over 2 years he is truly an amazing talent with command and drive of the instrument this young man has is amazing already. C & M was formed 5 years ago and have played many shows around the Miami Valley and Central & Eastern Ohio. Houston and Jeff joined about 2 years ago. Together they are really doing a fine show of good traditional bluegrass music combined with some fresh newer bluegrass music and some old country songs done in bluegrass style.

The Clifton Opera House is located at 5 So Clay Street, Clifton. Suggested door donation $7.00, box office opens at 6:30pm. Calll 937.767.2343 for more information.