Director’s Comments
How did you arrive in Yellow Springs? Was it a job, college, retirement destination, perhaps joining a family member? Many Yellow Springers have lived in the village since birth.
However it happened that this place became your home, the long and interesting history of this village surely played a part. Many innovators, educators and altruistic citizens helped shape the community. The long list of those leaders would be impressive for a community ten times as large.
The path laid for our village by forerunners continues to allow us to grow and learn together. Programs started in our village have been examples and inspiration for other communities.
Yellow Springs has one of the oldest Senior Centers (1959), pioneering educational options (Antioch College 1852, The Antioch School 1921, Community Children’s Center 1926), and a rich history of activisms.
The Senior Center celebrates the many varied backgrounds and life experiences of those who gather here. We also seek ways to continue innovating and learning from each other.
If you have ideas of how the Senior Center can expand, develop, or prepare for the future I would like to hear from you.
Let’s continue to build the path so that the next generations will thrive and determine that the village is their home, too.
With great appreciation for those who got us here...
– Caroline Mullin, Executive Director
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday, a community-wide fundraiser through the YS Community Foundation, has helped to fund village nonprofits.
The generous support of the Senior Center during 2020’s Giving Tuesday supported the bronze plaque honoring the Center’s founding director, Wesley Matthews.
This year our Giving Tuesday goal is to raise funds for improvement of outdoor space, creating an improved courtyard area with seating between the Senior Center building and the Emporium.
Please visit the website www.yscf.org to donate to the Senior Center and other organizations on this year’s Giving Tuesday on November 30. |
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Community Excellence Award |
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In October the Central Chapel AME Church held their 155th Celebration where they recognized the meaningful work of the Village of Yellow Springs, YS Schools, YS Senior Center, YS News, Friends Care, and several other local nonprofits and community leaders. Here is YSSC executive director Caroline Mullin accepting the certificate in recognition of the work of YS Senior Center staff, volunteers and community services. |
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Use the buttons below to visit our website for the most up-to-date information about our classes and groups. |
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Upcoming Events & New Activities |
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The Writer’s Group is back in the Great Room at 3 pm on Thursdays. Also, do you have an idea for a person who might like to be a speaker for the Center’s “Local Knowledge” series which is upcoming? If so, please give a call to 937-767-5751. The Pebble Art Workshop in October was fun, led by Linda Sikes, Encore Miller Fellow for the Senior Center. She has more art ideas to come!
– Corinne Pelzl, Program Assistant
Knit/Crochet Group
Wed. Nov. 3, 10, 17 & Dec. 1, 10:30 am
Do you like to knit and/or crochet, and would you like to create for a good cause? The group is making Valentine’s Day gift bag items for foster students in college. The group will meet in the Great Room for four Wednesdays. A great way to enjoy the company of others and be creative at the same time! Led by Linda Sikes. Bring useful items if you have them. Please sign up by calling 937-767-5751, or email [email protected].
A Concert for Everyone
Cocoa, Cookies, & Carols Social
December 14, 2 pm
Please come for free hot cocoa, cookies, and carols on Tuesday, December 14 at 2 pm provided by Friends Care Community. It will be held on the outside “patio” (aka the carport) so dress for the weather. Everyone is welcome but please call ahead at 937-767-5751 to reserve a spot.
Visits at a Distance
Have relatives afar, or is someone in your world isolating again? The Senior Center’s Zoom “studio” and big screen in the Great Room may be scheduled during our open hours for Zoom “visits at a distance.” Yellow Springs and Miami Township residents may use the service free of charge; certain restrictions apply. Call 937-767-5751.
Tablet Lending Program
Do you need access to a computer, or know of a senior that doesn’t have access to a computer, and would benefit from having one? The Senior Center has tablets to lend to seniors to access Zoom classes and events. Call 937-767-5751.
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Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy brats, pretzels, and rootBEER at the Oktoberfest Social, and a big thanks to Becky Baker from Friends Care Community who provided the festive food. Fortunately the weather cooperated and we were able to partake on the “patio” (aka the carport). And thank you to our new neighbor “The Veganry” vegan restaurant for samples of ice cream. |
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Assisting With Needs
Arms are stretched wide embracing the senior villagers to assess and assist with a variety of needs. We are midway through a busy season of Medicare checkups. There is ongoing help for seniors who need assistance (light housecleaning, cooking, errands, etc.) to remain comfortably in their own homes, aging in place. The generosity
of our villagers knows no bounds, and we have a donated supply of wheelchairs, assistive devices, Depends, bed pads, etc. So before you spend your money call us, we may have the very item you are looking for.
–Teresa Bondurant, Homemaker & Outreach Manager
Medicare Enrollment
Medicare plans (both Part D prescription and Advantage plans) may CHANGE for 2022. The open enrollment opportunity to review and change plan options for 2022 ends December 7, 2021. The YSSC staff can help you review your current plan, compare options, and sign up for a new plan. Call 937-767-5751, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.ysseniors.org to get information or a form to be completed prior to your appointment. We look forward to serving all seniors in the Village of Yellow Springs and Miami Township.
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Fall is finally here! It is one of my favorite times of the year and I am thankful to be part of the Yellow Springs Senior Center family, a group of caring and dedicated people who are great examples of what it means to be part of a community. The Senior Center is here to help you with your questions and concerns. I look forward to hearing from you!
A little bit about me: I moved to Yellow Springs in 2010 with my husband and four children. My degree is in nursing and I am also a substitute school nurse. I enjoy being outdoors in my garden.
– Stephanie Lawson, Support Services Manager,
Choosing the Right Gift
…I see a kid looking for a ride home…
I say to myself,
I’ll give him a ride if he wants, and I even
begin to slow down, but he didn’t
put up his thumb. Just when I went by, he waved,
real quick and shy, but still like he was trying
to reach me. I drove on. Then I bust out crying.
–Eternity Blues, Hayden Carruth
We live, by necessity, in a cash economy. We are able to complete routine personal and anonymous transactions daily – efficiently and dispassionately – to the extent our budget will allow.
Gift giving offers insight as to the limits of this cash economy. Granted, many gift exchanges are so prescribed, there is little thought beyond meeting no need to share or gain anything of personal value in the transaction. We simply buy a gift in accordance with group expectations. Such examples as holiday exchanges, white elephant family gift swapping, a dropped $10 bill into the seasonal charity pot come to mind. We have invested little of ourselves in the gift.
In our intimate circles, gifts carry greater import. Yet, even in this web, one sometimes strategically wheels and deals token gifts that point to, emphasize and substitute for gifts of the heart – allowing us to mask our own vulnerable spirits. The cash economy – guided by social conventions and economic prerogatives – offers limitless suggestions to help us find “just the right gift.”
What is the alternative? How do we give in a manner that might lessen our “eternity blues?” We all know the answer, of course. We, each of us, have received that crayon and macaroni masterpiece, the leather lanyard or handpicked bouquet of flowers given freely by a child. These are gifts asking for no reciprocation. Gifts that lighten our step, fill our heart with indescribable joy.
We can do the same in our daily encounters: lending a neighbor a helping hand, taking time to talk to the person at the park, a friendly wave at the intersection, finding ways to be present and mindful in the world as much as you can – every day. In this way, you create a gift that moves – from you, through another, and on and on and on...
– Robert Libecap, Transportation Manager
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Ripples 2022
The seventh edition of Ripples, the Center’s literary magazine, was published and inserted in the July/August newsletter. Thank you to everyone who submitted their work.
The Ripples Committee hopes that you will be inspired to write your stories and poems early for the 2022 edition. Extra copies and guidelines are available at the Senior Center and on the website
Please mail to:
YSSC – Ripples, 227 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, OH 45387
The committee includes Suzanne Patterson, chair; Jane Baker, Mary Cargan, Lee Huntington, Janeal Ravndal, Marianne Whelchel, Pam Geisel, YSSC Staff; and Caroline Mullin, YSSC Director.
Grocery Delivery
The Senior Center continues to shop for groceries weekly from Tom’s Market for anyone who is homebound due to transportation, mobility, or health issues. Deliveries are on Fridays and orders are due to the Senior Center by noon on Thursdays. Orders are accepted one of three ways:
Credit Card/Debit Card/EBT cards are accepted, and a representative of the Senior Center will call on Thursday to get card information. This is a free service. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Mobile Farmers Market
The Foodbank, Inc., has a Mobile Farmers Market in the Yellow Springs area. Their Mobile Farmers Market program is a free food distribution with a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. It is held every third Thursday of the month from 1–3 pm at First Baptist Church, 600 Dayton Street. This is a walk-up mobile market. Please bring bags or a cart for transporting items to your car.
Community Thanksgiving
The organizers of the annual Yellow Springs Community Thanksgiving Dinner have announced that the event has been canceled for 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.
eNewsletter
On the Center’s website there are PDF files of the bimonthly Newsletter going back to 2019. Starting with this edition, an electronic Newsletter will also be sent to everyone who is signed up to get the weekly email blasts. If you don’t currently get the email blasts and would like to, send an email to [email protected] or go to the website and sign up using the link on the home page.
Covid Policies
General Policy: As Covid policies continue to adapt, the Center is monitoring the recommendations of the CDC, local and state health and the Ohio Department of Aging’s recommendations including masking requirements. Check the website at www.ysseniors.org for the most up-to-date information.
Transportation Department: Unvaccinated potential riders please call for more information.
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Greene County Council on Aging |
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Caregiver Support
The Greene County Council on Aging can provide to caregivers compassionate and knowledgeable professionals who can listen, share information, and help solve problems.
Team members are available to meet in person to discuss concerns and frustrations and answer questions.
The GCCOA has resource materials available on many subjects and offers respite care for caregivers, either through adult day services or in the home, to give caregivers some deserved time away. Calls and e-mails to the Council are confidential.
Contact them for assistance or information at 937-376-5486.
Caregiver Support Groups
The GCCOA also sponsors monthly support groups for caregivers, both in-person and online. While perhaps not for everyone, attending a support group can provide a caregiver with useful information, and a connection to others in similar situations.
- First Tuesdays of the month at 2:30 pm, at the GCCOA main office in Xenia
- Second & fourth Tuesdays at 9:30 am, Peace Lutheran Church (lower level) in Beavercreek
- Third Tuesdays at 2:30 pm, online only
Reservations and masks required for in-person groups.
2021 Holiday Gift Soiree
The GCCOA’s annual Holiday Gift Soirée is Wednesday, December 1 from 10 am–6 pm at the Xenia Community Center next to the Council’s office. There will be one-of-a-kind handcrafted items and homemade treats available to purchase.
2022 GCCOA Calendar
The GCCOA’s 2022 calendar will be available at the Greene County senior centers, libraries and other community locations. There are still two more months of the beautiful 2021 calendar, but many people are already scheduling appointments and activities into 2022 and there is no better place to record these than the Council’s printed calendar!
Other GCCOA Events
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Grief & Loss Group: November 8 (the second Monday) from 10 am–noon at Peace Lutheran Church in Beavercreek
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Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease: Wednesday, November 10 from 2:30– 4:30 pm at the Xenia GCCOA Office
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Medicare 101: Wednesday, November 17, 3–4:30 pm at the Beavercreek GCCOA Office
Contact GCCOA with questions or to register for these events at 937-376-5486.
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Walking is Good Exercise! |
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The GCCOA had a Fall Prevention Awareness challenge during the month of September to walk with great purpose and for any length of time in any location. The YSSC staff took a few group walks in downtown and along the bike path. |
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Use the button below to visit the calendar our website for the most up-to-date information about our classes and events. Virtual classes and events will also have the links to these events. |
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November
11/00 - Beth Holyoke
11/01 - Dan Robinow
11/02 - Vernon Courtney
11/02 - Linda Chernick
11/03 - Christopher Cox
11/03 - Chris Murphy
11/03* Richard Simons
11/04 - Diane Diller
11/04 - Pamela Gillespie Dapore
11/04 - Lisa Kuhbander
11/06 - Christine Roberts
11/07 - Linda Cox
11/08 - Mitch Coleman
11/09* JoAnn Kiser
11/09* Ruth Darrow
11/09 - Florence Randolph
11/11 - Nancy Farnlacher
11/12* Peggy Erskine
11/13 - Janice Bishop
11/13 - Connie Collett
11/14 - Lynda Ream
11/14* Mary Cargan
11/14 - Dione Greenberg
11/14 - Margo McDaniel
11/17 - Cindy Piatt
11/18 - Barbara Orr
11/19 - Marcilina Meigs-Kilby
11/20 - William Barnette
11/20* Rosa Martinez
11/21 - Harriett Dadras
11/21 - Sally Lane
11/24 - Franklin Halley
11/24* Ernest Koerlin
11/24 - Jane Scott
11/24* Grover Criswell
11/25 - Barbara Treadwell
11/27* John Lane
11/27 - Janice Corlett
11/28 - Tom Logsdon
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December
12/01 - Christina Smith
12/01 - Carl Champney
12/02 - Julia Harris
12/04 - Rebecca Ramsey Fenton
12/04* Dave Anthony
12/04 - Betty Ross
12/04 - Fred Bartenstein
12/05 - Victoria Brookshire
12/05* Juanita Richardson
12/06* Edmond Vernot
12/08* Dee Krieg
12/08* Anna Bellisari
12/10 - Simone Stave Demarzi
12/11 - Dawn Clark
12/12* Sharon Mohler
12/12 - George Wanicek, Jr.
12/12 - Michael Meier
12/15* James Felder
12/15* Marcella Link
12/16* Juanita Johnson
12/17 - Joe Beatty
12/18 - Judith Schimpf
12/18 - Nancy Zant
12/19* Tia Huston
12/19 - Darlene Russell
12/20 - Ken Dahms
12/20 - Eve Odiorne Sullivan
12/20 - KellyAnn Tracy
12/21 - Holly Knight
12/22 - Sandra Damewood
12/22* Allen Hunt
12/23* Dolores Conrad
12/23* Joe O’Conner
12/23* Ann Higdon
12/24* Patricia Simon
12/24 - Karen Coy
12/25 - John Layh
12/27 - Marianne MacQueen
12/27 - Kate Anderson
12/27 - Grace Lefthand-Jennings
12/28 - Gayle Gyure
12/29 - Elizabeth Porter
12/30* Dr. Carl Hyde
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*Indicates those known to be 80 or older.
We apologize to anyone who may have been left off the Birthday List by mistake. We include current members who have shared their birth date.
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Welcome NEW Members!
Barbara Candella
Cindy K. Diehl
Rosemarie Friz
Barbara Hartwick
Luan Heit
Jim Leonard
Michael Meier
Sally Meier
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An on-line Musical Fundraiser for the Yellow Springs Senior Center
Friday, November 12, 7–9 pm live online
Join in for a variety of music performances
$25 suggested donation, RSVP by Nov. 10, 2021
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The Yellow Springs Senior Center newsletter is published every other month, coming out at the end of the even numbered months. Copy deadline is the 5th of even numbered months. PDF versions of this and past issues can be found on the website.
All YSSC members receive a hard copy mailed to their home. Memberships are $20 annually with $15 for each additional member. Make checks payable to YSSC and mail to: YSSC, 227 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, OH, 45387 or use the button below to go to the website to pay with a credit card.
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