January/February 2025

Director’s Comments

We are in a time of renewal – more than just the beginning of a new year. Welcome to 2025 with all its potential. The YSSC team is getting energized and organized for the initial stages of planning our future building. We are delighted to announce that we have hired LWC architecture firm to design our space, starting with a Space Usage Study in the coming months. You may recognize some of their other projects, such as the downtown Dayton Library, Aullwood Audubon Center, and Benham’s Grove Event Center. See LWCinspires.com.

January is the month all YSSC memberships are renewed. Yellow membership envelopes are included in the newsletters. During 2024 the YSSC by-laws were revised for some clarity – when a donation is made by someone who has not paid their annual dues yet, the cost of their dues can be deducted from the donation so that they don’t have to send a separate payment. 

What are the advantages of being a YSSC member? You will stay in the know of what’s happening, receiving our bi-monthly newsletters in the mail, a free copy of Ripples literary journal, as well as emailed Constant Contact weekly updates. A discounted rate for Great Room rental and making copies is available to our members, as well as eligibility for members-only art shows. 

We’ve been able to re-home several sets of lost keys when members have our tag on their keyring – people recognize our logo, deliver the keys here and we can look up the owners. We also keep information about emergency contacts for each of our members on file, which has proven helpful during many events, especially because the YSPD know we can assist them. Please make sure your membership renewal includes this information.

We need a small cadre of dedicated members with a variety of skills to represent the YSSC in the community and provide feedback to the board and staff. The group will meet every third Wednesday of the month, from 4 to 5 pm in the Fireplace Room, and share via emails and texts in the interim. Contact Sara Beltran at sbeltran@ysseniors.org with your interest in helping at this exciting time.

Members are key to decisions such as who serves on our Board of Trustees and this year also will have important input as we design our new building. Please mark your calendar to participate in some of the conversations about our facility planning (see below).

Membership dues make up a very small portion of our annual budget – just 2%. However, our ever-growing number of members (currently at 558) demonstrates to the community, our funders, and fellow members that we care about the future of this organization and one another. In the last few years YSSC membership numbers have grown along with our population above 60. However, anyone is eligible to be a member, regardless of age or residence. We have a 7-year-old member, and some as far away as Oregon and Maine (Hi, y’all!)

 – Caroline Mullin, Executive Director

937-767-5751 x 101, cmullin@ysseniors.org

Public Meetings with the Architects

Tuesday, January 28 at noon:

Presentation of senior center trends, with lunch starting at 11:30 am.

Thursday, February 13 at 3:30 pm:

Presentation of visions of the new building.

Thursday, February 27 at 3:30 pm:

Presentation of what LWC has learned about our future needs.

Use the buttons below to visit our website for the most up-to-date information about our classes and groups.

Community Colloquy Series

3rd Thursday, 7 pm

The Senior Center hosts monthly guests to share their expertise and knowledge with the community. 

Jan 16: Meg Leatherman, Yellow Springs Planning and Zoning Administrator, will speak on “Village Zoning Explained.” Meg will discuss the Village’s current zoning framework, update the audience on active projects, and offer suggestions for resources.

Feb 20: Maxwell Mullin, a data engineer, will present “Demystifying Artificial Intelligence.” Topics will include: how AI works, what AI does at large companies, how everyone can use AI and more. 

Programs meet in the Great Room and on Zoom. All are welcome. To get the Zoom link, register on MyActiveCenter.com, call 937-767-5751, or email info@ysseniors.org.

Daytrips

Dayton Art Institute

Wed. Jan. 15, 1–3 pm

We’ll see the Special Exhibit “Merry Grinchmas.” Meet at the Bryan Center at 12:30 pm to carpool to museum. $10 admission for seniors. Contact Maggie to register.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Wed. Feb. 12, 10 am–noon

We’ll take a group tour, maximum of 10, for $12 per person. Contact Maggie and pay by January 29 to register. The carpool leaves Yellow Springs at 9 am with lunch to follow tour; restaurant TBD.

Brunch Bunch

1st Tuesday, 11 am

Let’s brunch together! Explore local and nearby restaurants and build community through sharing food. Either meet at John Bryan parking lot at 10:30 am to carpool, or meet us at the restaurant at 11 am. Please RSVP to Maggie one week prior if possible, so group reservations can be made.

Jan 7: Linh’s Bistro, 5532 Airway Rd. in Dayton for Vietnamese Cuisine. 

Feb 4: Viva La Fiesta, 42 N. Fountain Ave. in Springfield for Mexican Cuisine

Valentine’s Social

Friday, February 7, 3–4 pm, Great Room

Create Valentines for “homebound” community members and enjoy some treats!

Third Thursday Potlucks

3rd Thursday, 11:30 am–1 pm

Join us in the Great Room for monthly potlucks. Please bring a side dish to share. 

Jan 16: Chris Westhoff from the Foundry Theater will share his creative path and how he found himself at the Foundry Theater, the upcoming season, and much more.

Feb 20: Jay Williams will talk about “My Life as a Zookeeper.” 

Genealogy Group

Mondays, 9:45–10:45 am, Great Room

Join a mix of beginners and experienced genealogy researchers to share and learn information about building a family tree, how to use DNA test results, and other on-line resources. Come once or multiple weeks. Bring laptops, pencil and paper, questions, and answers! More info on Annie Blanchard’s website.

New Classes & Groups

Monday Night at the Movies

Mondays, 6:15–8:30 pm, Great Room

Gather to enjoy these films which explore the theme of personal agency. Enlivening conversation hosted by Karen Nelson may follow. Bring a personal snack, beverage, and blanket (if you run cold). Please enter through the side entrance (red door under the carport), as the front will be closed. The films will be selected from the following list: Whale Rider, Snow Falling on Cedars, Babette’s Feast, Daughters of the Dust, The Snow Walker, Bagdad Café, Ever After, The Mists of Avalon, The Painted Veil, and Arrival.

Meditation Basics 

Mondays in January, 10–11:30 am, Fireplace Room

Debra Williamson will share various meditation systems. Contact Maggie to register.

The Artist’s Way Journaling Workshop 

Mondays in February, 10–11:30 am, Fireplace Room

Join Debra Williamson on an journey to a more creative self, using Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way as your guidebook. Contact Maggie to register.

Pinochle 

Mondays, noon–4 pm, Fireplace Room

New game offering! Contact Maggie for more info.

Draw What You See, Beginners Only

Tuesdays, 10–11:30 pm, Fireplace Room

Limited to six participants who have not taken a class with Don Sak with preference to those who have been on a wait list. Contact Maggie to register. 

Beginning Spanish 10-week course

Fridays, 9 am, starting Jan 10

Spanish at a beginner’s pace using “Easy Step-by-Step Spanish” by Barbara Bregstein. Participants are encouraged to attend all ten classes. Contact Judith to register at JudithSkillings@yahoo.com.

Easy Folk Dancing 

Fridays in January, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, Great Room 

Jay Williams will teach the basics of folk dancing. Any level is welcome. Easy and fun! 

SoulCollage® Drop In

Third Sundays, 2–5 pm, Great Room

Karen Nelson will lead monthly drop-in sessions to gather and play in the evocative world of images. Images will be available but participants should bring their collage kit or get a supply list from Maggie. 

Home Energy Efficiency Tips

Thursday, January 23, 11 am, Fireplace Room

Kathryn Metz from the Ohio Consumers’ Council will do a presentation on easy home energy efficiency tips and how to make wise energy choices and CenterPoint Energy’s proposed rate increase. 

YSSC Feasibility Session

Sun. Feb. 2, 2–3:30 pm, Great Room

Is our community able to support a new Senior Center? Your input will help us plan for the future of YSSC. Graduate Students in Wright State’s Master of Public Administration are helping us as they complete their Capstone Research Project on the Feasibility of us raising enough funds to be successful with our Capital Campaign. This gathering will augment their other work with individual interviews and community studies. Snacks and warm beverages will be provided. Results of their research will be available in April.

A Perfect Pup Performance

Sunday, February 9, 2 pm, Great Room

Senior Center actors join with Yellow Springs Community Children’s Center students for this intergenerational, feel-good production. Directed by Amy Bennett, and featuring Angela Beltran, Luan Heit, Jane Blacklock, and Jenn Zaytoun.  

Wednesday Lunch

12:30–1:30, Great Room

Antioch College’s kitchen has generously offered to help us resume lunch service once a week, starting in February. The meal is free, but donations are appreciated. Please register at MyActiveCenter.com, 937-767-5751, or info@ysseniors.org so we can plan to have enough food. 

Save the Date!

The annual Garden Dinner Party will be on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Register for classes and events at MyActiveCenter.com, 937-767-5751, or info@ysseniors.org

Art by Don Patty

December 30, 2024–February 24, 2025

Reception Friday, February 14, 4–6 pm

Don Patty grew up on the family farm near Bradford, Ohio and attended the Dayton Art Institute’s four-year program majoring in Industrial Design and minoring in Sculpture. Don worked as a clay modeler at the General Motors Styling Center in Warren, Michigan from 1967 to 1969. While visiting Stuttgart, Germany he worked as a clay modeler at the Porsche Design studios in Zuffenhaussen in 1971. He returned to the family farm and was a full-time grain farmer until 2009, when he retired to spend more time exploring photography and exhibiting in regional galleries. 

The show can be viewed during the Center’s open hours of Monday–Friday from 9:30 am–4 pm, unless there is a class in the Fireplace Room. 

Calendar

Use the buttons below to visit the calendar our website or MyActiveCenter for the most up-to-date information about our classes and events.

To participate in virtual classes and events using Zoom, you must register through their account on MyActiveCenter. Zoom links are emailed to participants one hour prior.

Soliloquy to the New Year

Sometimes it happens a storm or fear hits... Whatever, you turn your face calmly toward what comes: it will pass... sometimes it happens.

 –A Child’s Face in a Small Town,

William Stafford, a glass face in the rain (1982)

A new year just begun. After the celebrations, the gaiety, the toasts, I lift my head from the pillow, stand, stretch and look about and out the window, marveling at the wonder of it all. How did I ever get here? What was it that so preoccupied me that I never thought about this day’s arrival until a week ago. What, if anything, is different than before? Is there something I should do now? Anything I should I prepare for? First things, first...think...how does that Buddhist proverb go...

Chop wood. Carry water.

Maybe I should reconsider a couple of those New Year’s resolutions. Really? That one? Wasn’t it on last year’s list – and the one before?! The more things change...makes me smile. Still, try, try again as they say.

Chop wood. Carry water.

Let me tend to the quotidian details at hand starting with paying greater attention to my presence and connections with family, friends and community. Maintaining those bonds builds a sense of accomplishment and momentum that, in turn, can strengthen resilience, enthusiasm and resolve to face future challenges and decisions. 

Chop wood. Carry water.

Using what is in hand, whether a pen, a spatula, a musical instrument or a pick and shovel, I will join with others to help shape the future I can imagine. Relying on what Alexander Pope called the “genius of place” – local lore, knowledge and skills – I can hope to be the change I want to see in the world.

Time keeps on slippin,’ slippin,’ slippin’ into the future...

Fly like an eagle!

– lyrics by Steve Miller (Fly Like an Eagle)

  – Robert Libecap, Transportation Manager

937-767-5751 x104, rlibecap@ysseniors.org

Services for Seniors

This year during Medicare Open Enrollment, the Senior Center helped more than 75 seniors save over $83,000 by comparing their Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans. I am available throughout the year to assist you with questions about Medicare, including initial enrollment. We also have information on housing and food assistance and other services that can help seniors age in place in their own homes. Please reach out if you have any questions or need some assistance. I look forward to working with you in the coming year!

 – Stephanie Lawson, RN, Support Services Manager

937-767-5751 x108, slawson@ysseniors.org

25 years post Y2K

Remember Y2K? at the time it seemed so Sci Fi, a far fetched reality. A whole new Millennium; rumors and fear that at midnight January 1, 2000 computers unsure of the year would fail to operate, there would be massive power outages, transportation systems would shutdown, and all banks would close. Well as it turned out some water heaters had to be reset manually and there were reports that some computers displayed incorrect dates on the screen, but we all survived. 25 years later with the same talk of wars, famine, and disastrous weather, we should know by now that the world will keep on rolling until it doesn’t. That the good will of women and men will continue to prevail. And right here in Yellow Springs, Ohio USA, the Yellow Springs Senior Center hopes to continue to be a beacon of good things proving help, activities, and happiness to all that care to come. Think about starting off your new year with us, come see what we have to offer.

 –Teresa Bondurant, Homemaker & Outreach Manager

937-767-5751 x107, tbondurant@ysseniors.org

Fun & Games

Did you know that the Senior Center has Bridge, Rummikub, Scrabble, Mahjong, Ping Pong, and is starting a Pinochle group? A new in-person Euchre group is meeting at Friends Care on Thursdays from 10–11:30 am in their dining room. If you are interested in joining the fun, or bringing another game to the community, please contact Maggie.  

Greene County Council on Aging

Other GCCOA Events

• Caregiver Support Group: Mondays, Jan. 6 and Feb. 3 (the first and Monday) from 6–7:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Yellow Springs.
• Grief & Loss Group: Mondays, Jan. 13 and Feb. 10 (the second Monday) from 10 am–noon at Peace Lutheran Church in Beavercreek.
• Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease: Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 2:30– 4:30 pm at the Xenia Community Center (XCC) next door to the GCCOA Office.
• Medicare 101: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 3–4:30 pm at the Xenia Community Center (XCC) next door to the GCCOA Office.
• Legal Chat: Thursday, Jan. 16 and Feb. 20 (third Thursdays) at 2:30 pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 3530 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek. Enter at lower level door with awning. 

Contact GCCOA with questions or to register for these events at 937-376-5486 or email yourfriends@gccoa.org.

Ripples 2025

Ripples, an annual literary magazine featuring poems and articles by or about older adults in Yellow Springs or Miami Township, is accepting submissions of stories, poems, and photos created by or featuring residents age 55 and over. Submission guidelines are available at the Center and at ysseniors.org/Ripples. The deadline is March 15, 2025.

Submissions should be emailed to pgeisel@ysseniors.org; please include the information from the submission form. If email is an issue, typed entries, with a submission form, can be dropped off or mailed to: YSSC–Ripples, 227 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, OH 45387. 

Copies of past issues are available at the Center and can be read on the website at the address above.

Grocery Delivery

The Senior Center shops for groceries weekly from Tom’s Market for anyone homebound due to transportation, mobility, or health issues. Deliveries are on Fridays and orders are due by 11 am on Thursdays. Orders are accepted one of three ways:

• e-mail to info@ysseniors.org

• ysseniors.org/grocery-delivery-program

• calling 937-767-5751 Mon.–Fri. 9:30 am–4 pm 

A Credit Card/Debit Card/EBT card is used. This is a free service; donations gratefully accepted.

Welcome NEW Members!

Janet Benning

Becky Hatton

Michelle Lynn

Rajan Kose

Violette-Anne Onfroy-Curley

Don Patty

Julia Roberts

Barbara Stewart 

20% of Club Cowvin Sales will go to the YS Senior Center and the YS Community Children’s Center when passes are purchased online at 

YoungsDairy.com/club-cowvin-ys

A Cow-lendar Year of Fun! 

The Club Cowvin 2025 Pass (YS Edition) includes UNLIMITED FUN: 

Cowtherine’s Carousel

Cowvin’s Fast Slide

Cowvin’s Kiddie Corral 

Moovers & Shakers Rides

Udders & Putters Mini Golf

Batting Cage

Wagon Tour Rides

Driving Range

Cowvin’s Corny Maze (seasonal)

Child Passes $85 / Adult Passes $135 

Membership Renewal

January is the month that ALL YSSC memberships renew. Annual membership is $25. Each additional household member is $15 extra. If you are unable to pay the, contact Stephanie Lawson, Support Services Manager, to discuss a reduced rate.

Make checks payable to Yellow Springs Senior Center, and drop off at or mail to: YSSC, 227 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, OH, 45387 or pay online at ysseniors.org/membership.

​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 1st of even numbered months. PDF versions of this and past issues can be found on the website.

All YSSC members also receive a hard copy mailed to their home. Memberships are $25 annually with $15 for each additional member and are due in January. 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.

Email updates are sent weekly and the eNewsletter is sent every other month.