A sign of the times

Coming Saturday: Mixed greens with Ham Hocks (or without); Southern Fried Chicken; Slabs of Ribs; Beef Brisket; Fried Catfish and plenty more.

Related Post: Two local men to offer soul food at CJ's in the old KFC space

Soft Serve Playhouse 10 Minute Play Festival

At the Corner Cone, starting at noon on August 14

I've got a horse in this race...

Click on image to enlarge.

Bench to Nowhere: Stemming the flow

A Cool Town Toon

Click on image to enlarge.

Community Band to perform on the Fourth

In what has become an annual tradition, the Yellow Springs Community Band will perform at the Fourth of July Celebration on Sunday again this year. So come early for the fireworks and get a good spot on the hill at Gaunt Park. The band will perform an eclectic assortment of mostly patriotic favorites. The music starts at 8:00 p.m.

As an extra added treat, guest-conducting this year will be Yellow Springs own Whitney Finster.

The program:

On the Mall - Goldman
The Blue and the Gray - Grundman
Americans We - Fillmore
Celtic Ritual - Higgins
His Honor - Fillmore
Pirates of the Caribean - Badelt
Daughters of Texas - Sousa
Espana Cani - Marquina
The Liberty Bell - Sousa
Cumberland Cross - Strommen
The Stars and Stripes Forever - Sousa

Winged Migration at Little Art Theatre Saturday

1 pm, Saturday, July 3
Glen Helen Association 50th Anniversary Movie


Bring your whole family to see a fun, family-oriented nature movie, Winged Migration, at the Little Art Theatre to benefit the Glen Helen Association.

from www.spiritofbaraka.com

"Academy award-winning filmmaker Jacques Perrin takes on his greatest challenge yet: exploring the mystery of birds in flight. Five teams of people (more than 450 people, including 17 pilots and 14 cinematographers) were necessary to follow a variety of bird migrations through forty countries and each of the seven continents. The film covers landscapes that range from the Eiffel Tower and Monument Valley to the remote reaches of the Arctic and the Amazon. All manner of man-made machines were employed, including planes, gliders, helicopters, and balloons, and numerous innovative techniques and ingeniously designed cameras were utilized to allow the filmmakers to fly alongside, above, below and in front of their subjects. The result is a film of staggering beauty that opens one's eyes to the ineffable wonders of the natural world."

For more 50th Anniversary event info, go to

http://antiochcollege.org/glen_helen/calendar.html

WYSO Needs your help at Cityfolk

We need volunteers at our booth for the CityFolk Festival!

This Saturday, July 3rd

We need 2 or 3 people per shift and we'll have two shifts on Saturday:

Noon to 5 PM for set up and 5 to 9 PM for tear down.

You'll get to hand out WYSO fans so everyone can stay cool at the festival, give out window clings and program grids while listening to great music.

Our booth will be located at on north side of Monument near the corner of Monument and Patterson Streets....

So...if you can help us, please contact me as soon as you can at jmayer@wyso.org

For more information on the CityFolk Festival including a schedule of activities, click here.

Thanks for all your help,

Jacki Mayer
WYSO Public Radio

Arts Council to open two gallery shows

Yellow Springs Arts Council Opens Dual Gallery Shows, New Space, Yellow Springs Experience

On Friday, July 9, the Yellow Springs Arts Council will kick off the first Yellow Springs Experience by opening two art shows simultaneously, following a launch party for the Yellow Springs Experience. Fittingly, the beautiful handcrafted building at 309 Xenia Avenue – a work of art itself – is the NEW Yellow Springs Arts Council home and gallery space as well as the Welcome Center for the Yellow Springs Experience. From 4:00-6:30 p.m., visit the Welcome Center and the Barr Property next door for the launch party, which will include live music, refreshments and a chance to meet the artists and practitioners of the Experience.

From 6:30-9 p.m., the Xenia Avenue space will host the opening reception of "Transitions: Traces and Spaces," a group show by artists working for the YSAC, featuring artist Sarah Leavens. Multidisciplinary artwork included in Transitions explores change, movement between spaces, and the traces left by and on the spaces we inhabit. This opening includes readings at 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. For more information contact Leavens at slleavens@gmail.com.

From 6-9 p.m., the Arts Council Art Space gallery at 108 Dayton Street (2nd floor) features the opening reception for "Life Paintings by Buck Truitt." Paintings on display derive from the artist’s life experience and relay meaning and emotion to the viewer. Additional gallery hours are July 16, 6-9 p.m. during 3rd Friday Fling and Saturdays July 24 and 31, 1-4 p.m. For more information, contact the artist at valbkyle@yahoo.com or (937) 532-4106.

Schedule of events:

4-6:30 p.m.: Launch party for Yellow Springs Experience at Experience Welcome Center (309 Xenia Ave.)

6:30-9 p.m.: Show opening in Xenia Art Space (309 Xenia Ave.); readings at 7 and 8:30 p.m.

6-9 p.m.: Show opening in Dayton Street Art Space (108 Dayton Street, second floor)

Yellow Springs Fireworks Display

The skies of Yellow Springs will come alive on Sunday, July 4th with a dazzling display of fireworks. The free display is open to the public and should begin between 9:30 pm and 10 pm at Gaunt Park. In the event of heavy rain, dangerous lightning or high winds, the rain date is Monday, July 5th. This year’s show will again feature exhibitor Nick Pitstick and his team.

The event is sponsored by the Yellow Springs Lion’s Club in cooperation with the Village of Yellow Springs, Yellow Springs Police Department and Miami Township Fire-Rescue. The fireworks are generously supported by donations from individuals and local business.

Prior to and immediately after the display, Gaunt Park’s ball fields will be shut down so that the fireworks can be safely set-up. The path to Gaunt Park from S. High Street will also be closed during this time. Limited parking is available at the park; residents are advised to walk or bike if possible. Picnicking is allowed at the park; however, alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

MTFR reminds residents that the only types of fireworks that can be legally purchased and discharged in Ohio are trick and novelty devices. These include items that smoke, sparkle, snap and snake. For those who choose to have their own display using these legal fireworks, the fire department encourages residents to follow some important safety tips:

• Handle and discharge trick and novelty devices only under adult supervision.
• Appoint one adult to be in charge; this person should know the hazards of each type of firework being used.
• Carefully read and follow the label directions on the trick and novelty device packaging.
• Light only one sparkler at a time and hold it away from your body and other people.
• Sparkler wires, which can burn at temperatures of up to 1800 degrees, should immediately be placed in a bucket of water to avoid injury as they remain hot for several minutes after burnout.

If someone gets burned, run cool water over the wound for 2-3 minutes and seek medical attention when necessary.

For more information, contact Chief Colin Altman at 767-7842 or the Yellow Springs Police Department at 767-7206.

WYSO news reporters win national recognition

Public Radio station WYSO 91.3 won two first place awards for reporting in 2009 from Public Radio News Directors, Incorporated. Jerry Kenney won first place for his news feature “HIV – Alex’s Story,” a profile of a Dayton man who is HIV-positive. And the entire news staff was recognized for their series called “My House: Facing the Mortgage Crisis” which was produced and edited in association with Yellow Springs freelance producer Aileen LeBlanc. WYSO staff members who contributed to the series were Emily McCord, Juliet Fromholt, Jerry Kenney and LeBlanc.

Both awards came in the small-market public radio station category.

McCord and Kenney accepted the awards Saturday, June 26 on behalf of WYSO at the PRNDI annual conference in Louisville, KY. PRNDI is a non-profit, professional association that serves public radio journalists all around the United States.

“These national awards inspire us to stay focused on our goal of serving our listeners. WYSO has a long tradition of local news in this community and we intend to honor that,” said WYSO general manager Neenah Ellis.

These two national awards to WYSO come on the heels of ten state-wide Associated Press Awards, received by the WYSO staff and Aileen LeBlanc earlier this month.

WYSO 91.3 is licensed to Antioch University with studios in Yellow Springs. It serves the entire Miami Valley on multiple platforms: fm broadcast, HD broadcast, internet streaming at WYSO.org and multiple podcasts.

Author’s Book Talk: George Kraus

At the Library, Tuesday June 29, 6:30 p.m.

Local author George Kraus will talk about and read from his book, A View From the Cosmic Mirror: Reflections of the Self in Everyday Life. This fascinating self empowerment guide is immensely compelling in its scope and vision. Incorporating the wisdom of the ages, it will take you on an extraordinary journey into the very heart and soul of yourself.

Bench to Nowhere: What will be the next big thing?

A Cool Town Toon

CJ's to open Saturday

Carl Moore (on ladder) and Jim Zehner were testing fluorescent bulbs in preparation for their new sign this morning. Their restaurant, featuring southern cooking, will open this Saturday.

Related Post: Two local men to offer soul food at CJ's in the old KFC space

Clooney at the Movies

By Susan Gartner



Villagers cleaned up real good for the "Clooney At the Movies" Auction Gala, Friday night, June 25, held at Antioch University Midwest. The event included a silent auction, wine and buffet, video Tribute to the Little Art by Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar, live auction with auctioneer Doug Sorrell, and guest speaker, journalist and author Nick Clooney addressing "The Movies That Changed Us."

Little Art Theatre Board of Trustees Chair Maureen Lynch and Clooney At the Movies Committee Chair Kipra Heerman, armed with an army of volunteers, sponsors, auction item donors, and catering staff, presented a fun and festive night to remember for Little Art Theatre Executive Director Jenny Cowperthwaite and all who attended. I'm still dreaming of the Mashed Potato Bar and the multitude of topping variations I didn't get a chance to try.

Nick was a charming presenter with a wonderful sense of humor and I appreciated the thought-provoking clips --- especially the one from "The Best Years of Our Lives," which I've heard about so many times but have never seen.

Thanks to all who made the night such a success. We appreciate all your thoughtfulness, energy, and hard work all these months to pull this very complicated event off!

Photos by Susan Gartner

Click here for more photos from "Clooney at the Movies."

Last day to vote for Caputo Book

Today (June 28) is the last day to vote in Round Two of the Next Top Spiritual Author competition. Yellow Springs "New Thought" author Joanne Caputo hopes she has your vote for her dual non-fiction book, Margaret Garner.

Link: www.nexttopauthor.com


Photo by Susan Gartner, YS News

YSKP Presents "The Conference of the Birds"

Cast and Puppets from the YSKP"s production The Conference of the Birds. Front Row: Lela Dewey, Lili Rudolf, Greta Kremer. Back Row: Zeb Reichert, Ben Green, Lenaya Leeds, Lindsey Leist, Alex Thorp.
Photo: Pierre Nagley

The YS Kids Playhouse Wings of Wisdom Season, takes flight with The Conference of the Birds, a new jazz musical based on the 12th century Sufi fable by Farid ud-Din Attar, directed by YSKP Artistic Director, John Fleming, with original music by Neal Kirkwood. Twenty youth actors, ages 12-17, will perform the musical under the stars in the Antioch College Amphitheater on Corry Street, Thursdays-Sundays, July 8-18, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 and $12 at the gate, or five tickets for $35, available only as advanced purchase. www.yskp.org, or call 767-7800.

The musical uses the acclaimed stage adaptation of The Conference of the Birds by Peter Brook along with lyrics by John Fleming. The story recounts the journey of a group of birds on their way to the mythical land of Simorgh searching for a new King. Although each bird has a special talent and significance, they want to drop out; each offering an excuse why they are unable to endure the journey. Themes of longing, unity, and self-realization are addressed as each bird finds inner strength to continue on. When they finally arrive in the land of Simorgh — all they see is their own reflection in the lake. "The Conference of the Birds holds a message of unity, hope, and the power to overcome self-doubt." says Fleming.

Neal Kirkwood, accomplished musician and composer from New York, returns for his third year with YSKP. Music for the show will be performed by the Gorilla My Love Band featuring Harry Mann, also of New York. The visually stunning production will feature both hand-held and large puppets by D. Tristan Culp of Dayton’s Zoot Theater Company. Pierre Nagley, area muralist and artist, tries his artistic hand with costumes and again gives the production its dramatic mural in the amphitheater. The production’s choreographer is dancer, Tricia Gelmini and will feature Sufi dances and movement inspired by G.I. Gurdjieff. Brian Springer, media artist, stages special effects. YSKP alum Peter Keahey, on summer break from Ithaca College is the stage manager, and Callie Schuterra, a Cincinnati Conservatory of Music student, is the acting coach and production assistant.

---

YS Kids Playhouse features three additional events to The Conference of The Birds production as part of the Yellow Springs Experience, a 10-day immersion in the arts and culture of Yellow Springs, with workshops, tours, arts making, and performances. On Saturdays, July 10 and 17, the public is invited to join in traditional Sufi Dance at 6pm at the Antioch Amphitheater on Corry Street. On July 13, Neal Kirkwood and Gorilla My Love will perform at a Jazz and Wine Tasting at The Emporium, from 7-9pm.

Back story: The spider

The waiting area at the Eyemart in Beavercreek consists of a dozen chairs placed around a coffee table upon which are a half-dozen magazines and a white cardboard box, just a little too small to hold a bowling ball, with the words “Comment Box” written on it. In the top of the box is a slot through which customers can insert their comments. I wondered at the strange wording as I sat there waiting for Amy and her two kids to get new glasses. Wouldn’t “suggestion box” have been more appropriate? I thought. I also noticed that there were no cards on which to write comments, as if they didn’t really want to know.

Sitting there, kicking myself for having forgotten my e-reader, I resorted to amusing myself by watching the people come and go in the large open space, especially in the waiting area. At one point, a young female employee who had been sitting behind the service counter came over to the table and rearranged the items on the table and picked up all the discarded pieces of paper. Under the circumstances, this counted for entertainment.

I had been there about an hour when a stranger in one of the other seats finally spoke to me. He was a young man who had accompanied his wife to get glasses. I missed what he said when he first spoke, partly because I hadn’t expected it and partly because he seemed to be whispering, as if not to disturb someone.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that,” I said when I finally realized that he was trying to get my attention.

“There’s a spider over there,” he said a little bit louder this time, pointing.

I thought that was an odd way to open a conversation, but I had been party to a number of weird conversations with strangers while waiting for Amy to shop herself out at the mall. In one such conversation at the outlet mall in Jeffersonville, a man visiting from Alabama explained the process of noodling catfish. Noodling involves swimming underwater to where six-foot long catfish are hiding under a ledge formed by the shore of a river and rubbing their bellies until they become hypnotized and float to the surface. But that’s another story.

I looked over at the guy’s wife who was squiggling in her seat, apparently freaked out by the spider. Then I looked to where the guy was pointing. It took me a few seconds to spot the miniscule arachnid. It was on top of the comment box close to one of the corners. It was nowhere near his wife. I didn’t know how to respond, so I said something stupid like, “Oh, look at that. He’s so tiny.” I guess the man had been amused by the fact that the young woman had straightened the box and never even noticed it.

For the next fifteen minutes the three of us were totally engaged with watching the spider as it moved from the box onto the table top where it explored everything on the surface before returning to the exact spot where it had started. The more I watched, the more I became convinced that this was a very special little spider, more intelligent than your average eight-legged creature. If I got close enough, I could see its mouth moving, as if it was constantly tasting the air. Sometimes it would move slowly and at others it would dart from place to place, covering ground so quickly it didn’t seem possible for something so small. Part of my fascination with the little bugger, no doubt, came from the fact that I had just read a story by David Sedaris about a spider he had once kept as a pet.

After awhile, the spider climbed down from its perch and started to explore again. I was curious if it would follow the same pattern as before. But this time, it found a spot it liked on one of the magazines and settled down. This was just a couple feet from the guy’s wife, who was still having trouble with the idea of a spider wandering freely about the waiting area of the Eyemart.

“If it comes down on the floor, I’ll step on it,” the guy reassured her.

“Oh, don’t do that,” I said. “He’s a cute little fella.”

“He is cute,” the man agreed.

I figured we had settled it. We were not going to kill the spider, which by now I was thinking about somehow taking home with me to be my pet.

The spider must have been there on the magazine for a good five minutes when Amy and her daughter came back to wait while the technicians did their work of grinding lenses and putting them into frames. As she passed by the end of the table, Amy’s daughter reached down and started to pick up the very magazine where our little spider was lounging. Simultaneously, the three of us rose out of our seats and almost shouted, “No!” I went on to explain that our concern was not for her, but for the bug.

“Eeew,” she said as she recoiled from the magazine. She and Amy took seats and our little friend was safe once again.

Shortly, the young woman was called to the counter and her husband left with her. That left just Amy, her daughter and me sitting around the table. I got up and walked over to where the magazine had been moved so that the part of it with the spider was hanging off the table and very gently slid it back to safety.

“There you go, little fella,” I said leaning in close to the spider so that my face was only a few inches away.

Before I even got a chance to regain my seat, Amy got up and grabbed the magazine. She shook it until the spider fell onto the floor and raised her foot in preparation to stomp on it. What happened next was in slow motion, like the time when the judge I worked for in New York, a woman of 72 years of age, stepped on a plastic fork someone had dropped on the courthouse floor and slipped and went down. The whole incident seemed to last several minutes, but I was powerless to stop it from happening.

“No!” I yelled.

Everyone in the store stopped what they were doing and looked in our direction as Amy’s foot came down hard, crushing the little guy.

“I wanted to take him home,” I moaned.

“I know,” she said.

Carpenter Reception - Photos from Thursday

Works by former Yellow Springs resident Laura Carpenter are currently on display at "Would you, could you" In a Frame through July 12th. The artist, now living in Colorado, came through town this week for her artist reception on Thursday, June 24, and to visit family and friends. Laura is pictured above chatting with reception guests Jane Brown and Harvey Paige.

The side of a barn at 1710 Spillane is currently showing additional work by the artist. Gallery hours are 7 a.m. to 7 a.m.

For more info on Laura and her work, visit www.lauraberchcarpenter.com.

Photos by Susan Gartner

More Flower Power

It’s the time of year when we have flowers everywhere. The JAFA girls have been busy “flowering” up the business district and if you stroll down almost any residential street you’ll find a wide variety of flower gardens.

I started wondering the other day if we should have an official Village flower. The US flower is the rose, the Ohio flower is the scarlet carnation, Tipp City has the mum, Cincinnati has geraniums and what do we have?

Based on sheer numbers, it looks like the daylily may be the obvious winner. Earlier this week I heard someone call them “ditch lilies” – seems appropriate since every ditch in town has at least a couple of them.

Perhaps the Village Council will pass a resolution naming the “ditch lily” as the official flower for Yellow Springs. Whatever they’re called, even if they are not the official Village flower, they certainly brighten up the walking and biking routes for many of our neighbors.

A. Reader

Rocky & Pee Wee: Immersed in Arts and Culture

Tonight!

Summer Spectacular
Benefit Concert
First Presbyterian Church

Featuring Brian Mayer
and graduates of N. Illinois and Northwestern
and
Minnita Daniel-Cox, soprano
artist-in-residence, University of Dayton

and

Soup & /Salad Supper
Saturday, June 26

Supper at 6pm
$7

Concert at 7:30pm
Suggested donation of $10

Supper and Concert
$15

proceeds benefit the church

Get the Yellow Springs Experience

Attend a workshop, performance, reading or salon

The Experience is an immersion in arts and cultural, that includes workshops, tours, readings, hikes and performances from July 9-18. Participants can hone their acting skills, learn to throw pots, walk in Glen Helen, get feedback on their fiction, invigorate their bodies and expand their minds during the Experience.

The Experience concentrates everything that makes Yellow Springs unique into ten days. It will include popular traditional events like the Antioch Writer's Workshop, YS Kids Playhouse "The Conference of the Birds" and Glen Helen EcoCamps. It also features new events such as wellness classes, arts workshops, sustainable building and farm tours and a daily women's Red Tent to name just a few.

Special performances include Bruce Cromer's "Underneath the Lintel", Sandy Crew's Yellow Springs Theatre Project with "20%" and "Rose Johnny" and AACW presenting a John Booth poetry jam.

Unique events for all ages include the Cirque Carnival on July 16, Skate Music Fest on July 11 and the Launch Party on July 9, from 4 to 7 with live bands, arts exhibits and demos, kids performances, food, beverages and more at the Experience Welcome Center, also the new home of the YS Arts Council at 309 Xenia Ave.

Events will be held at locations throughout the village including artist studios, educational institutions and community centers. Look for the insert in the Yellow Springs News with a listing of all the events and and easy to follow map.

It is easy to pre-register for events on the Experience website. The workshops and many other events require advance tickets or you can sign up that day at the Experience Welcome Center.

You can also Be a Volunteer and assist in the following areas: Welcome Center, Ticketing, Website Workshop and Technical.

For more information about volunteering or attending, contact Coordinator Carole Braun at or via email.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council has partnered with several non-profit community organizations to create the Yellow Springs Experience including Antioch University Midwest, Antioch College, Center for the Arts Steering Committee, Glen Helen, Little Art Theatre, Nonstop Institute, Tecumseh Land Trust, Village of Yellow Springs, WYSO, Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce and YS Kids Playhouse.

Little Art gets press re nonprofit movie houses

The Dayton Daily News, yesterday, had a nice piece about two area single-screen movie theaters that are getting a boost from 501(c)(3) status. The article noted that the Little Art Theatre "is on stronger financial ground after becoming a nonprofit organization in October 2009 to insure its sustainability" and highlighted the upcoming "Clooney at the Movies" auction gala tonight at Antioch Midwest that will feature former American Movie Classics host Nick Clooney. All 250 seats have been sold, according to the article.

Dayton Daily News: Independent theaters get lift from nonprofits

Bench to Nowhere: Do I smell smoke..?

A Cool Town Toon

Click on image to enlarge.

Ten Days to Get the Experience In Yellow Springs

Yellow Springs opens its arts and cultural doors with a launch party to kick off the Yellow Springs Experience from 4 to 6:30 PM Friday, July 9. The Experience is a 10-day immersion of workshops and performances in Yellow Springs, July 9-18. The launch party, sponsored by the Yellow Springs Arts Council and its partners, celebrates the Arts Council’s move to 309 Xenia Avenue, a unique new location, with live bands, art exhibits, dance improvisation, a kids’ performance, refreshments and more. Details about the launch party and the Experience are at www.yellow-springs-experience.org.

More than 80 events are planned for the Experience, which brings together the Yellow Springs Arts Council and dozens of other partners, including area colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, artists and cultural presenters, to welcome one and all to sample, stay and play for the week as a part of the community. Wellness classes, arts workshops, readings, women’s retreat, sustainable building and farm tour, street carnival, skate music concert, youth and adult theater and dance are just some of the diverse tastes to enjoy.

The Yellow Springs Experience is the village’s most expansive invitation to the region and beyond with activities for all ages. The Experience is designed to support local artists and cultural practitioners of every stripe and represents thirteen areas including visual arts, literature, theater, dance, music, environment, culinary, media, 3-dimensional, wellness, crafts, innovation and design. Popular summertime events such as the Antioch Writer’s Workshop, YS Kids Playhouse performances and Glen Helen EcoCamps are included in the Yellow Springs Experience schedule.

Events will be held at locations throughout the village, including artist studios, educational sites and community centers. Tickets will be available for purchase online until July 18.

The Yellow Springs area historically has been the center of events like the Experience. Chautauquas were held at Antioch College at the turn of the next-to-last century. The Experience developed from efforts over the past five years by the Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce and YS Kids Playhouse to gather the village's many summer events into a shared time frame.

The partners in the Yellow Springs Experience are the Yellow Springs Arts Council, Antioch College, Antioch University Midwest, Antioch Writer's Workshop, Center for the Arts Steering Committee, Glen Helen, Little Art Theatre, Nonstop Institute, Tecumseh Land Trust, Village of Yellow Springs, WYSO, Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce and YS Kids Playhouse.

Elaine's Bench

Photo by Susan Gartner

New knit graffiti from Jafagirls ("Just Another Flippin' Artist") Corrine Bayraktaroglu and Nancy Mellon

4th of July Parade info (repost)

The Odd Fellows Lodge of Yellow Springs will sponsor the annual Yellow Springs Fourth of July Parade. Dave Triplett will continue as Chairman of this project. All previous participants and volunteers and any new persons or organizations are invited to join in continuing this happy event.

The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. (Rain date: July 5) Lineup will be on the circular drive behind Friends Care Community. Participants are asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m. The parade will commence from Friends Care, proceed north on Xenia Avenue to Corry Street and end at Bryan Center.

To facilitate parade setup, please call in advance if you intend to participate. Last minute participants welcome. For information or to sign in, please call Dean Severtson at 232-5454 or e-mail: deansevertson@yahoo.com or Dave Triplett at 767-2012.

We are looking forward to a good time and hope you will join us.


Submitted by Bob Fisher
Odd Fellows Lodge of Yellow Springs

Opening Artist Reception tonight for Laura Carpenter

"Would you, could you" In A Frame presents paintings, monoprints & charcoals by Laura Carpenter. Artist's Reception is Thursday, June 24, 6-9 p.m. at 113 Corry Street. Call (937) 767-2962 for more information.

Up a tree

By Susan Gartner

Photo by Paul Abendroth

Last month, a call came into the Greene County 911 center reporting a 7-year-old girl stuck in a tree. MTFR sent a fire engine and medic unit to the scene. Once it was determined that the ground ladder would be unable to reach her, firefighter/EMT Jeremy Rea climbed the tree to make contact with the girl who had climbed her way up over 20 feet into the tree but couldn’t get back down. Rea made sure she was okay and kept her calm until the Village crew got there with their bucket truck. The girl was then handed over to Village crew member Kelley Fox in the bucket truck. Cedarville Township Fire crew was also on hand with their ladder truck. The little girl was safely returned to her family.

Thanks to all our hard-working emergency and rescue personnel. We are lucky to have you.

Book discussion at the Library

Monday, July 19, 2010, 6:30

Yellow Springs Library
New participants are welcome!

Bench to Nowhere: The man that time forgot

Villager laughs her way to fame

Yellow Springs resident, Emporium Friday Night Wine-Tasting Wine Steward, Motivational Speaker, and Laughter Therapist Joanne "Dr. Maxine" Augenstein has recently submitted an application for Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star.

Click here to watch her video and vote.

For more info on "Dr. Maxine," visit www.drmaxine.com.

Good luck, Joanne!

Kathy Simpson at Brandeberry Winery Saturday

Singer-songwriter Kathy Simpson, who has performed at several Third Friday Flings, will be performing at Brandeberry Winery this Saturday, June 26, 6:30-9:30 p.m. She’ll also appear at the winery on Saturdays, July 10 and 31 (same time). Enjoy the music, beautiful countryside, assorted cheeses, bread and appetizers. Purchase 6 wine tastings for $5 and you get to keep the wine glass. Our own Little Sonoma, just outside of town. For more info, visit www.brandeberrywinery.com or www.kathleen-simpson.com.

Cool stuff coming in Yellow Springs, July 9-18!

I just completed registration for some Summer Experience classes through the website. There are some really great offerings of all prices and for all ages. Do you know about this cool event in Yellow Springs July 9-18? If not, read on. AND BE SURE TO PASS THE WORD.

The Yellow Springs Experience, an Immersion in Arts & Culture, embodying learning, nature, wellness as well as the arts will run from July 9 through 18.

Visitors can hone their acting skills, learn to throw pots, walk in Glen Helen, invigorate their bodies and get feedback on their fiction during the Experience.

The Experience has been organized by the Yellow Springs Arts Council to concentrate everything that makes Yellow Springs unique into ten days. It will include popular traditional events like the Antioch Writer’s Workshop, YS Kids Playhouse and Glen Helen EcoCamps. It also features new events such as wellness classes, arts workshops and a sustainable building and farm tour. Performances include a street carnivale and a skate music concert.

Events will be held at locations throughout the village including artist studios, educational institutions and community centers. Tickets for events and a complete listing of the ten-day schedule will be available at the Experience website soon.

The Yellow Springs Arts Council has partnered with several non-profit community organizations to create the Yellow Springs Experience including Antioch University Midwest, Antioch College, Center for the Arts Steering Committee, Glen Helen, Little Art Theatre, Nonstop Institute, Tecumseh Land Trust, Village of Yellow Springs, WYSO, Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce and YS Kids Playhouse.”

Anita Brown

YS as a 21st Century village

This from Michael Kremer:

I was reading through some articles this morning when this one jumped out:

The Battle Is Raging for Control of the Internet -- and Big Corporations May Come Out on the Losing Side.

This article touches on something I've often thought would make sense in Yellow Springs: a Village-owned Internet subnet. In this article are mentioned several municipalities, many small, which own their own Internet networks and provide fibre-optic networking to the home, at very competitive prices. Every time I hear the phrase "business incubator," two thoughts come to mind: first, Yellow Springs cannot significantly compete in a physical industry, but we are more than capable of competing in information industries. Second, how attractive a place would this be to live, raise a family, bring and build a business, if each and every location had a fibre connection and the entire business center of Dayton St. and Xenia Ave. was one giant, free wireless hot-spot.

This is one of my wishes for this community to remain vibrant.

I'd love to hear what you think of the article above.

Spotted around town

Photo by Susan Gartner

Juneteenth Video

Video by Jo Caputo

Chamber Music Yellow Springs 2010-2011

Red Priest

Chamber Music Yellow Springs
2010-11 Season

September 26, 2010:
The Escher Quartet from Lincoln Center
Favorites by Haydn, Bartók, and Beethoven


October 31, 2010: Red Priest from England
an Elizabethan Halloween

January 30, 2011:
The Poulenc Trio
unusual works by this extraordinary ensemble

March 20, 2011: (new date!)
Cuarteto La Catrina from Mexico
Masterworks by Ginastera, Villa Lobos and Revueltas.

May 1, 2011: Finals of the CMYS Competition for
Professional Ensembles.
2010 First Prize: Terzetto

Bench to Nowhere: Economic sustainability at last!

A Cool Town Toon

Glen Helen Association 50th Anniversary Calendar of Events

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

7 - 9:30 pm 50th Anniversary Juried Art Exhibition & Sale - Opening Reception
Location: Glen Helen Building Atrium, 405 Corry Street, Yellow Springs 45387

Original works of art inspired by Glen Helen and surrounding area. Come meet the artists and enjoy wine, appetizers and live music. Artwork will be for sale. Prizes will be awarded for best in show. Admission is $15 per person. Partial proceeds to benefit the Glen Helen Association. RSVP by June 21 to Joan Horn .

Art will be on display from July 3 – 17, 2010. The Atrium Gallery is open Monday – Friday from 9:30 – 4:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 10 – 4 pm.


Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Nature Hikes
Location: All hikes depart from Trailside Museum, 505 Corry St.

8:00 am Nature Hike: Glen Helen History with Joan Horn
9:00 am Nature Hike: Trees of the Glen with George Bieri
10:00 am Nature Hike: Wildflowers with Dan Pearson
1:00 pm Nature Hike: Glen Helen Geology with Peter Townsend


11:00 am Raptor Center Presentation with Betty Ross
Location: Raptor Center off 1075 SR 343 Entrance

1:00 pm Movie: Winged Migration
Location: The Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Ave.

3:00 pm “Meet and Greet” with Ralph Ramey
Location: Glen Helen Building Auditorium, 405 Corry St.

Stop by for a casual visit with Ralph Ramey who served as the Director of Glen Helen for 16 years.

7:30 pm FEATURED SPEAKER:
Lecture and Reception - Dr. Stephen W. Kress
Location: Glen Helen Building Auditorium, 405 Corry St.

Dr. Kress founded the Glen Helen Raptor Center 40 years ago and later achieved international recognition for his work restoring Atlantic Puffins populations to the United States, earning him the nickname “The Puffin Man.” He is an associate at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and Director of the Audubon Seabird Restoration Program. His groundbreaking conservation methods are featured in the June 2010 issue of Smithsonian magazine.


Sunday, July 4th, 2010

9:00 am Nature Hike: Morning Bird Hike
Departs from Trailside Museum, 505 Corry St.


All activities are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
For more information call Liz Schneiders at (937) 769-1902 x103 or visit www.glenhelen.org.

Concert at Presby Church Saturday, June 26

Resume workshop at library

A repetition of groundhogs: Thwarted

Click on image to enlarge.

Taken yesterday: This few-month-old groundhog tried unsuccessfully to get into my neighbor's garden. At one point, it climbed about a third of the way up the fence. It was actually trying to scale the six-foot high obstacle to its dining delight, but gave up in favor of eating whatever leaves it could reach through the links. The reason why it could not tunnel under the fence is because my neighbors took care to bury fence wire horizontally a few inches underground along the perimeter.

Click here for some solid advice on dealing with groundhogs from a garden center in Pennsylvania.

Rocky & Pee Wee: Geographical considerations

On the YS stroll

Images from June 18 Art Stroll in Yellow Springs, OH, including paintings by Deborah Housh, artwork by Sarah Strong, and music by Jonathan Hamilton.

Photos and video by Susan Gartner

Sounds of Summer

We have lots of birders living in the Village and they never cease to amaze me with how easily they identify a wide variety of bird calls. “Over there - it’s a Towhee” or “Behind us - a Kingfisher.” And of course everyone knows the sound of a Pileated Woodpecker…. hmmm.

About this time every summer the sounds I hear most often are Harleys, Suzukis, Hondas, Ducatis and Yamahas. They’re often as colorful as the birds but they have much louder territorial calls – there seems to be some status in having the biggest chrome muffler. Most of them have two riders, often dressed in matching helmets and leather chaps. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the males from the females, but generally the females ride in the back. I think that allows the males to catch the bugs.

Since we have so many motorcycles in town on summer weekends, we probably ought to know what to call them when they arrive in packs. Birds are easy. You have your descent of woodpeckers, murmuration of starlings, mutation of thrushes, convocation of eagles and my favorite, an exaltation of larks.

But what about those motorcycles? Maybe it’s a plume or a raucous or perhaps a conflagration of motorcycles. I also like a roar, an exhaust, a slick or even a flamboyance of motorcycles. This is not just idle pondering, we need new parking signs in town and terminology is important.


A. Reader

Note: In a recent blog, VH asked what you call a group of groundhogs – the all knowing Web says it’s a “repetition of groundhogs.” I’m sorry that one was taken; it might have been good for those long lines of motorcycles coming through town.