Local quilter blankets region

Pam Geisel

The summer has been busy for Yellow Springs fiber artist Pam Geisel. She had an article featuring her art quilts and note cards published in the summer issue of “Art Quilting Studio” magazine, and her art quilt, “Early Morning Nine Patch – Montana Sky,” won “Best of Show” in the Rosewood Art Centre’s annual juried landscape competition, “The View.” In addition, she joined the Village Artisans cooperative and is the featured artist for the month of July in their gallery. She has several new art quilts on display through the end of July. A reception for Pam will be held at Village Artisans from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. as Yellow Springs celebrates Third Friday on July 20. You can see more of Pam's work on her website www.ForQuiltsSake.com.

Friday Night at Clifton Opera House

Whinestopper

Come to the Clifton Opera House on Friday night and find out for yourself! What does a band named after a sailboat sound like? Whinestopper, a Columbus, Ohio-based quartet, is made up of a group of musicians who intentionally defy being labeled.

Though influenced by numerous genres of American music, Whinestopper has managed to dodge being categorized as playing only one type of music. There are swing tunes, standards from the 1930s and 1940s, haunting folk ballads, up-tempo hard-driving tunes that come perilously close to rock ’n roll, and more…all on the playlist.

Here’s the bottom line: these kids just want to have fun, and very little is off limits when it comes to picking material. The members of Whinestopper have all been playing music since an early age, and appreciate the joy music brings to them and to others.

So whether Charlie Flowers is singing and finger-picking his way through a classic like "Ain't Misbehavin'," or Teresa Schleifer and bassist Renilda Marshall are singing a haunting folk duet, chances are that the audience will be smiling and singing along. The band also includes Pat Casey on vocals, accordion, and occasional percussion…if he remembers to bring his drum.

Whinestopper is looking forward to seeing you at the Clifton Opera House on Friday, July 20th. The show starts at 7:30pm. Box office opens at 6:30pm. Call 937-767-2343 for more information.

Change for Wednesday YSKP Event

Concert and Cook-off moved indoors

Because of possible weather conditions, the YS Community Chorus Mozart concert and YSKP Chicken Cook-off dinner has been moved to the Methodist Church for Wednesday evening. Dinner at 6:00, concert at 7:30 in the air-conditioned sanctuary.

Friday Matinee at Clifton Opera House

On Friday, July 20th the much awaited Scott Oglesbee returns to Clifton Opera House. "Scott started performing at a very young age, he is an accomplished pianist, entertainer and even tunes pianos in his spare time. He has performed more than 3000 wedding ceremonies, receptions and provided music for many studio recordings and TV commercials over the years. In the 80s, he traveled the U.S. as a performing artist for Kawai Piano Corporation and Kimball International." We look forward to his return on Friday afternoon at 1:30pm!

The Clifton Opera House is located at 5 So. Clay Street, Clifton. Box office opens at 12:00pm, door donation $5.00

Bench to Nowhere: Oh the horror!

A Funky Town Toon

Click on image to enlarge.

A Final Note from the “Save the Downtown Trees” Rally

 by Chris Till

            I have been heartened to read and hear all the dialogue on this blog and a certain social networking site about the downtown pear tree removal. I have equally enjoyed learning the arguments both for and against the new plan. Unfortunately, as our family-size just increased by one yesterday, I cannot go the Village Council meeting tonight. Nor can I likely continue to attend the downtown rallies. (Having been working or in the hospital for the last four days, I’m not even sure if they are still happening.) 

            This is one issue that I do hope I am wrong about because it seems likely, though not certain, to happen. Everything I wrote and said was out of a true-love for downtown Yellow Springs. Downtown not just a tourist zone for me, or an economic development zone; it's where I do most of my shopping and much of my socializing. 

            Since my lucky arrival here in 1998, this Village has been wonderful for, and to, me. If I wrote or said things that were too pointed and personal about this issue, I will do my best to be less pointed and personal in the future about local issues. Most of what I wrote and said was done in a state of near-shock to learn of the sudden new plan for the downtown pear trees. 

            Personally, though I realize that some find the downtown pear trees ugly and stinky, I've always found them attractive. I lived downtown above the hardware store for four formative years and gazed upon their verdant canopies daily and gladly. Then again, perhaps those who say that the downtown pear trees are basically dead and a grave hazard are correct; I am no arborist. I do agree that this is an issue in which there are well-meaning people are on both sides.

            Please pardon me if this post is a bit scattered. The new addition to our family is taking his first nap at home!

Received a nice gift, today

Sue Parker sent me over this t-shirt this morning, after reading the latest "Rocky & Pee Wee. She made up a bunch of these some 15 years ago. Reading the detail below (click on image to enlarge), one can see that the characteristics are as relevant as ever. Thanks, Sue! I love it!

Rocky & Pee Wee: Ruffling Feathers

Show your stuff in Cinti

This YS Life

Back Story: To tree or not to tree

Put down your signs, brothers and sisters! I like a good protest as much as the next fellow, but I have no use for Bradford pears - never did. When they started popping up in towns all over the country, mid-80s - mid-90s, I thought it was cookie-cutter kind of bad idea. They look nice when they are flowering, but that's only a couple of weeks-a-year. The rest of the year, they are just blah, often severely cut-back, like ours, and not offering that much shade. Some people are highly allergic to their pollen. My dislike for them was formed even before I heard they are considered to be an invasive species. 

The village should remove them - never should have planted them in the first place. I was really surprised to find them in Yellow Springs the first time I visited. I thought folks here had a stronger sense of individuality and originality. I don't know what council was thinking when they chose this tree for our downtown. I find it hard to believe the Tree Committee would have put their stamp of approval on such a plan. They are a junk tree.

This is not to say that I agree with everything council is considering for downtown YS. If there is a good reason to replace the street lights, and we can afford to do so, go for it! But if the plan is to make Xenia Avenue look like every other cutesy-wootsey Main St. in small town America with some kind of faux antique fixtures, forget it! That would be the same kind of cookie-cutter bad idea that brought us the Bradford pears in the first place. Now that would be worth protesting.

-vh

Experience Wellness Weekend, Sept 21-23

Greetings fellow YS Wellness Practitioners,

The YS Arts Council will be hosting the second annual Experience Wellness Weekend, Sept 21-23. Some of you may remember this event last Spring, with workshops and offerings from various wellness practitioners in town. I have been hired by YSAC to coordinate the events, and I am very excited about what we have in the works! This year will be a different type of Experience.

We have an amazing community of wellness practitioners and it's time we gather as a community and exemplify what Yellow Springs has been known for throughout history, a destination for healing and wellness. The main event of the weekend will be a Wellness Fair on Saturday September 22 at the Bryan Center. There will be tables for Practitioners to set up around the perimeter of the gym to promote their services. We will also have a schedule of demonstrations on stage, and classes upstairs in the dance room throughout the day.

In addition to promoting the services offered by wellness practitioners in town, we would also like to promote products related to health and wellness, natural body products, etc. We plan to extend the Fair onto the lawn of the Bryan Center with music, health and earth conscious wares as well as healthy food. This is a Free event open to the public.

Here's how you can participate:

1.) Be a Sponsor of the event
2.) Set up a table for your organization/business for $25 (fee helps to cover gym rental, advertising, etc.)
3.) Offer a class/workshop
4.) Offer a demonstration
5.) Volunteer to help coordinate/work the event

We will also be asking for your help to promote this event to your clients, mailing lists, etc. We hope to draw an audience from all over the Miami Valley.

Please reply to monica@yogasprings.com by Monday, July 30 and let me know how you would like to be involved in this event. I will be sending more information out as everything evolves.

Practitioners who live and/or have a wellness affiliated business in Yellow Springs will have priority. Please help spread the word to fellow wellness practitioners.

If you prefer not to be included on future emails for this event, please reply unsubscribe wellness.

Peace,

Monica Hasek, ERYT, director
Yoga Springs Studio
Yellow Springs & Springfield, Ohio
www.yogasprings.com
monica@yogasprings.com
937.767.9300

Killer pears attacked by Master Gardener

I would like to weigh-in on the debate about the removal of bradford pears in the center of the Village of Yellow Springs.  I appreciate having this blog as a public forum to disperse some information.  In 1982 the bradford pear, Pyrus calleryana Dcne, was voted the second most popular tree by the National Landscape Association. But since then it has moved to the top of the worst tree list in many states including Ohio.  What happened?

This cultivar of bradford pear came from China and was planted as rootstock for cultivated pears in the early 1900’s.  Since it was not self-pollinating, it produced no fruit.  However, when it was planted near other pear varieties, it eventually cross-pollinated to become a much different tree by producing fruits, thorns, and seeds and by growing taller.  Its spread into natural areas began in Maryland and Pennsylvannia where these hybrids produced small fruits that birds, especially starlings, loved.  The seeds spread by birds sprouted, grew, and quickly began to knock out stands of dogwoods and redbuds.  Instead of growing about 20 feet tall as they did when they didn’t produce fruit, the fertile bradford pear grows up to 60 feet tall and spreads to 30 feet.  The tree lives about 25 years if it survives without splitting in a wind storm which many do.  We are in trouble.

This tree is being declared invasive in southern, eastern, and midwestern states including Ohio. Kathy Smith, Ohio State University Extension forestry specialist in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, said at last year’s the Farm Science Review, "You drive into Columbus during the spring when the pears are blooming and they appear to be everywhere.  Once established, they dominate a site just as most of the invasive species do. There are places in Ohio where there are groves of pear so thick you can't walk through them and each of those plants has the ability to reproduce."

A Southwest Ohio Ohio Department of Natural Resources regional forester describes the trees, “They are colonizing waste areas and open fields, and are very tough to control.  Most of you are eyeing all of the greening bush honeysuckle this time of year.  Look carefully and you will see that callery pear will pop up among the honeysuckle.  Yes, callery pear is out competing exotic bush honeysuckle!”  In addition, the ODNR invasive plant webpage listed it as one of its Invasive Weed of the Month. 

In Yellow Springs, many volunteers have removed invasive garlic mustard and honeysuckle from the Glen. Do we want to add thorny bradford pears to this list? Nick Boutis, Director of the Glen Helen Ecology Institute, is already seeing them in the Glen.  For a change, we have a chance to remove the seed source before the trees overwhelm the Glen and prevent the oaks, maples, and other natives from growing.

In addition to their invasiveness, our village pears are in poor shape, not healthy as some critics claim.  They naturally want to be big and spreading, but to avoid hitting buildings and overhead wires, they have necessarily been pruned into unnatural shapes.  Their roots are not compact enough to fit in the small tree wells so they are heaving the sidewalk to find water and nourishment.  These are not healthy trees.  In addition, the bradford pears are notorious for their tendency to split in storms. We are fortunate that one hasn’t already come down on a car, building, or pedestrian.

In other words, bradford pears are no longer appropriate street trees. For the safety of people doing business in town, for the health of the Glen and other natural areas, and for the enjoyment of seeing trees that look like trees, it’s time to replace the pears when sidewalks are installed and wires buried. I’m confident that a committee of experts who know street trees will choose one or more suitable species that will once again provide us with welcome shade and ample branches for artists to decorate. 

Macy Reynolds

Greene County Master Gardener

Ohio Master Gardener Tree Specialist

YS Tree Committee Secretary

Back Story: Bench Life in Shallow Springs

Dusty is lost in thought alone on the bench in front of Bill's Market. It is a typical summer morning in this small town in Ohio. Characters come and go stopping briefly to sit and chat with the exception of one constant, Dusty, who seems to be there all the time, good-naturedly harassing pedestrians that pass by the bench or cross the street to and from the market and the Lazy Dog Coffee House on the other side. A retired actor, Dusty is the town character, looked at askance by some and with affection by others. He is dressed in a straw hat, fishing vest, and flowery shirt. He has all kinds of things hanging from his neck, including a whistle. He also has a small bullhorn next to him on the bench.

Ernie the bag boy comes out of the market through the door on Dusty's left. He is wearing a long white apron. They greet each other as he takes a seat.

Dusty: They got the buck-fifty biscuit and sausage gravy special, today?

Ernie: Yeah.

Dusty: Say, you get a free cup of coffee with that?

Ernie: You ask me the same thing every Tuesday, Dusty. The answer is still, “No.”

Dusty: Well, a buck-and-a-half is kinda steep for a breakfast that doesn’t come with a cup of coffee.

Ernie: You’ll have to talk to Bill about that. I’m just the bag boy.

Dusty: Well now, don’t sell yourself short. You provide a valuable service to this town. How’re all those old ladies gonna get their groceries to their cars, if you don’t help them?

Dusty grabs his bullhorn and pops up from the bench, shouting to someone across the street, "You there in the red cap, no jay-walking!" Someone in a passing car yells for him to get a job.

More characters come and go. Dusty continues to harass the town folk and the occasional "Get a Job!" pierces the air in an ongoing repartee between Dusty and the world at large.

It develops that, aside from waiting for Bill's Market to lower the price on it's breakfast special and kick in a free cup of coffee, Dusty has a plan, a much bigger plan that will draw on his theatrical and elocutionary talents that he shares with his friend Harvey the writer as he joins him on the bench.

Harvey: So, what’s new?

Dusty: (Muttering to himself – head down – thinking) What’s new? What’s new? (Lifts his head up – smiling) I’ll tell you what’s new. You know that tour bus from Cincinnati to Cleveland that makes a side trip here every once in awhile..? Well, I talked to the lady over at the Chamber of Commerce about a little something I’ve been thinking about. (Pointing) You know they stop right there across the street. Annoying as hell… The driver leaves the engine running and he tells the passengers they’ve got fifteen minutes to take care of business. It’s so noisy you can’t hear yourself think and after awhile, the air gets so bad it runs everyone off the bench.

Harvey: Well, that can’t be all bad.

Dusty: No, it’s not, because I got this idea. I could go on the bus with my bullhorn and offer to show the passengers around – for a fee, of course. The Chamber lady said she thought she might be able to arrange it - get them to make the town a regular stop on the tour. Get them to stay longer.

Harvey: Wait a minute. She said you could go on the bus with your bullhorn..?

Dusty: Well, we didn’t go into the details…

He continues the thought when his friend Dell comes along.

Dell: What kind of job are you talking about?

Dusty: Self-employment, entrepreneurship, independent contractor work…

Dell: You got anything more specific in mind?

Dusty: You bet. I’m thinking of running a tour service in conjunction with the bus tours that come through here.

Dell: That doesn’t sound too steady. I’ve seen that tour bus to Cleveland. It hardly ever comes through here.

Dusty: Oh, it will. And when it does, I’m gonna get the Chamber of Commerce lady after them.

And he shares more with s skateboarder who happens along.

Skateboarder: You still do any acting?

Dusty: Not really, but I’m working on setting up a gig where I can draw on my theatrical skills. All I have to do is snag that tour bus that comes through here every now and then and give the driver the Chamber Lady’s business card.

Skateboarder: Why don’t you just call the tour bus company?

Dusty: I never caught the name. As I recall there was no sign on the side of the bus. It was just a big white bus with the destination sign above the front windshield that read “Cleveland.” Say, you didn’t happen to catch a company name anywhere, did you?

Skateboarder: Sorry. I don’t remember seeing one, either. If I did, I wouldn’t remember. The last time I saw that bus was months ago.

Dusty: Ah, yes… The elusive white ghost bus…

Skateboarder: What kind of theater gig you gonna get on a tour bus, anyway?

Dusty: (Grandly) I will draw upon my intimate knowledge of this historic little burg and my professional enunciation skills to conduct a guided tour. Once I get the chance to pitch my idea to them, I’m sure I will be able to convince the bus company to stop here on every one of their trips from Cincinnati to Cleveland and vice versa. I will thrill their ridership with tales from the Underground Railroad, haunted houses and perhaps a few soliloquies from Hamlet and Macbeth as I show them the old opera house.

And again when his friend Sam has his doubts.

Sam: Hell, that bus may never come through here again.

Dusty: (Head down, nodding sadly) Oh it’ll be back. You can count on that. And when it does, I’m gonna get on it. It might take me the whole three hours to Cleveland to convince that driver that I’ve got quite the plan. But in the end, they’ll come around.

Ernie sticks his head out the door and announces that they have reduced the breakfast special to a buck and Bill will throw in a cup of coffee. Dusty wastes no time in getting inside to take advantage of the deal. While he is inside, the bus comes.
 

Bus Driver: (Announcing over the PA system) Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived in Shallow Springs. You have fifteen minutes to do whatever you like. There are restrooms right here in the Lazy Dog. Please be back in your seats promptly at 12:15, so we can be on time in Cleveland.

Time passes as the denizens on the bench sit frozen in shock. No one has the presence of mind to go inside the market where Dusty is wasting time chatting up a woman he has encountered.

Bus Driver: Is everyone on board? Okay. Thanks for being on time. Next stop, Cleveland.

The bus leaves and Dusty returns to his accustomed spot juggling a stack of Styrofoam food containers.

Dusty: (To Harvey) Oh, you’re back. I’ve got a good feeling about today. I better hurry up and eat my food. That bus might suddenly show up. It’d be just my luck if the driver wouldn’t let me bring my lunch on board.

No one on the bench has the heart to tell Dusty he just missed the bus. All heads are lowered, looking at the ground. Finally, someone speaks.

Sam: I don’t know why you’re so sure this is the day your ship will come in, Dusty. It’s been months… But don’t worry.  If it doesn’t come today, it’ll surely come someday.

All the denizens are sympathetic and offer their reassurance, perhaps a little too exuberantly.

Dusty looks at the demonstration on the bench, becomes suspicious, rises and looks off into the distance toward the north. But, before he can spot the bus in the distance, he becomes distracted by something going on across the street. He blows his whistle and shouts through the bullhorn. 

Dusty: You there in the plug-in Prius, a little closer to the curb, if you please…

Play synopsis for "Bench to Nowhere." Look for it in the Yellow Springs 10-Minute Play Festival, Oct. 26 & 27.

-vh

Next weekend is gonna be huuuuge!

2012 Yellow Springs Experience Cirque Carnival
(presented by the Yellow Springs Arts Council & DestinationYellowSprings.com)

Cirque Carnival – Friday, July 20, 2012 (3pm-midnight)
Location: Dayton & Corry Streets, Yellow Springs, Ohio

Yellow Springs Experience: A Celebration of Arts & Culture – July 20-22, 2012
Location: Yellow Springs, Ohio

Come to Yellow Springs for a three-day celebration of the whimsical, colorful and electrifying! Play at the Carnival…Interact with local artists…Join in the dance…Connect with nature…Delight your senses…Pursue a passion. The YS Arts Council, DestinationYellowSprings.com and our partners invite you to truly Experience Yellow Springs!

Highlights of Friday’s Cirque Carnival include aerial and fire feats by CincinnatiCircus.com & Soul Fire Tribe in the Ring of Amazement, performances from the YS Kids Playhouse, Egyptian Breeze & The Show on the Cirque Stage, storytelling & acoustic music at the Hippie Heritage Stage, entertaining workshops from local artisans, the Kids Side Show play area, Zoot Theatre’s giant roaming puppets, and a vibrant music & arts festival – Experience Art. Cirque is all about audience participation, so put on your costumes, bring your toys and be ready to have fun!

YSKP will perform “Mo’s Night at the Opera” on July 21 & 22, and don’t miss DJ JuJu’s Dance Piazza with Salsa Underground on Saturday night or “Dance through Glen Helen” on Sunday morning. The Opening Reception for “Emerging Artists” at the YS Arts Council Gallery is on Saturday, July 21 from 6-8pm, featuring local “Novel Sonic Texture” band Speaking Suns. Visual and performing artists lead creative community workshops throughout the weekend.

For a complete listing of events, visit www.yellow-springs-experience.com or call 937-319-1116.

YSAC – Your Arts Council Connecting Art, Culture & Community.