November/December2026

Director’s Comments

Gratitude and kindness season is here…does it sometimes feel that way? Suddenly the days get shorter and colder, there are imminent holidays and a ridiculous amount of consumerism encouraged. While we strive to show our appreciation for the work of volunteers and generosity of donors all year long, we do enjoy this annual opportunity to brag on the kindness of our YSSC supporters.

Please take a moment to look over the list on page 10 of the many kind people who have helped this year in more ways than we can list. Almost everything YSSC does is aided by volunteers, and about half of our funding comes from generous donations. This year was a landmark for both. We have already set new records in 2026 for the number of volunteers, hours of volunteer service, number of members, and how many rides we provided.

Our reliance on the community’s financial support of our operations (staffing, equipment, utilities, etc.…) is something we never take for granted. Response to our Annual Appeal is humbling every year, but especially this year as we know the cost of living has been getting tough. Thank you to each person who has helped to fund our services and programs. We do our best with those funds to improve the quality of life and health for as many people as we can.

Beyond the general operating support, though, has been a new landmark: we have purchased 108 Cliff Street and at last have a location that will serve the next several generations of seniors. There were many challenges along the way, requiring energies of dynamic and enthusiastic volunteers and donations from almost 100 people who share our vision for the building YSSC has needed for over 20 years. 

The next few years will require even more – we’ll be starting the much larger fundraising process to develop the plans and property. More volunteers, more hours, more donations. We won’t necessarily get to see the gratitude of the people who benefit from our time and treasure, but we’re going to keep building on the legacy provided by others who helped YSSC get to where we are now.

On that note, a heaping amount of gratitude is owed to Andree Bognar. Her vision for services for seniors helped to create much of what benefits the community and region today. She helped to form the Greene County Council on Aging, and later created the “Home Assistance Program” which continues today as YSSC’s Supportive Services. Andree passed away in August, just shy of her 97th birthday. The programs and services she developed will continue to serve countless others for generations to come. Thank you, Andree. 

Thank you to everyone who helps each other, regardless of the season. 

 – Caroline Mullin, Executive Director

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

Thank You

To our Square Dance sponsors: Shelly Blackman Group Realtors/Plum Tree Real Estate Marketing, Conroy Funeral Home, Springs Market, and Reichley Insurance Agency/One Digital. Thanks also to the band The Corndrinkers and square dance caller Ceal Turnbull!

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

Village Voices

Nov 19: Linda Parsons, professional art appraiser, will discuss “Downsizing at Any Age.” She’ll cover what to consider when disposing of your tangible assets, or those of a loved one; what to look for and questions to ask when negotiating with professional disposal agents, including auction houses, galleries, consignment shops, and other venues; and how to avoid scams and rip-offs.

Village Voices is taking a break in December.

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

Lunch Bunch

1st Wednesday, 12 noon–2 pm

The Lunch Bunch meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 12 noon–2 pm. RSVP to Maggie one week prior so group reservations can be made.

Nov 4: Piccolo Orsetto (Little Bear in Italian), a new breakfast, brunch, and lunch concept from the chefs of Meadowlark and Wheat Penny. Meet at 11:30 am at the John Bryan Center parking lot if you wish to carpool; otherwise meet at the location at noon. $5 suggested donation for use of van.

Dec 2: The Sunrise Café in Yellow Springs. Maggie will not be there and no need to RSVP.

Events

YS Brewery Community Cheers

Wednesdays in Nov. & Dec., 5–7 pm, starts Nov. 4

Join us at the Yellow Springs Brewery for Community Cheers. $1 from every full beer pour goes to YSSC.

Daytrip: Mr. Mac’s Discount Grocery Outlet

Wednesday, Nov 11, 10 am–12 noon 

Meet at the John Bryan Center parking lot on at 9:30 am to carpool to Mr. Mac’s grocery. At least one hour will be given to shopping in this discount store, owned and operated by a YS family. Plus, Wednesday mornings are senior discount day!

Fall Prevention 

Thursday, November 12, 3:30–4:30 pm, Great Room 

Lynn Hardman will educate on fall prevention and floor safety with chair-based activities and Q&A.

Quarterly Dorothy Lane Market Trip

Wednesday, November 18, 10 am–12:30 pm

Ride in the Transit Van. Minimum of 5; max of 11, $5 suggested donation. Register with Maggie.

Ukulele Christmas Singalong

Sunday, December 6, 2–3:30 pm 

Lyrics will be projected so everyone can join the singing, or just listen. Cookies and good company will be provided. Enter at the red door by the carport. 

Holly Days at the Dayton Arcade 

Wednesday, December 9, 3:30–8 pm

Let’s keep the holiday tradition alive and head back to Holly Days at the Dayton Arcade followed by dinner at Wheat Penny. Meet at John Bryan parking lot at 3:30 if you wish to carpool to the Arcade. Reservations at Wheat Penny will be made for 6 pm; must RSVP to Maggie no later than Dec 1. 

Classes & Workshops

Chronic Illness Support Group

Wednesdays in November, 10–11:30 am, starts Nov. 4

This group is intended to create a place where people can all come together, share what it is like to live with illness, and build a community to support each other. This is not a medical or treatment group and there will be no lectures or medical advice. Facilitator Chris Knotts brings more than 40 years’ experience as a social worker and knows firsthand about living with illness. In the Fireplace Room; registration not required.

Movement Therapy

Wednesdays in November, 1–1:40 pm, starts Nov. 4

Debra Schoepflin leads this 4-class series, a form of activity and exercise that incorporates nervous system regulation, posture and movement architecture, somatic awareness, expressive movement, dance therapy, and more. In the Great Room. $8 per session; 25% to YSSC. Registration not required.

Let’s Face It

Thursdays, 10–11:30 am, starts Nov. 5 

Don Sak leads this 6-week portrait-drawing class in the Great Room. Max of 10; register with Maggie. 

Phonophobia 

Thursdays, 10–11:30 am, starts Nov. 12

4-week class led by Debra Williamson in the Fireplace Room. $10 suggested per class; 25% goes to YSSC.

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

Rides to the Polls on Tuesday, November 3 – If you need transportation to the YS precinct site on Enon Rd., contact us at 937-767-5751.

Greene County Council on Aging

Brain Blast

Greene County Council on Aging presents a fun afternoon for Greene County adults with prizes, appetizers, and drinks, along with brain stretching activities on the theme of “Comfort Food” on Wed., Nov. 4 from 2–4 pm. Cost to participate is a food pantry item and reservations required by Oct. 29.

Holiday Open House & Gift Shoppe

The Greene County Council on Aging’s Holiday Gift Soiree will be held on Wed., Dec. 9 from 2–6 pm and Thurs., Dec. 10 from 11 am–4 pm at the GCCOA offices, 1195 W. 2nd St. in Xenia. Meet the staff and purchase unique handcrafted items and homemade treats. Free admission and no reservations needed.

Other GCCOA Events

• Caregiver Support Group: Mondays, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7 (first Mondays) from 4–5:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Yellow Springs.
• Grief & Loss Group: Mondays, Nov. 9 and Dec. 8 (second Mondays) from 10 am–noon at Peace Lutheran Church in Beavercreek.
• Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease: Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 2:30–4:30 pm at the Xenia Community Center (XCC) next door to the GCCOA Office.
• Medicare 101: Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2:30–4:30 pm at the Xenia Community Center (XCC) next door to the GCCOA Office.
• Legal Chat: Thursday, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 (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 send an email to YourFriends@gccoa.org. Information is also available on their website at gccoa.org.

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 by:

  • 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.

“Embroidery Through Time” Fiber Art by Bette Kelley

November 5–December 28, 2026

Reception: Fri., Nov. 20, 5–7 pm

The YS Senior Center is featuring Embroidery Through Time” on display from November 5–December 28, 2026 in the Fireplace Room with a reception on Friday, November 20 from 5–7 pm.

Bette Kelley has been a lifelong artist and dancer. She comes from a family of artists and storytellers and has had a number of careers that include teaching. Her arts oriented careers have been doing stained glass, beadwork, and costuming. She’s currently focused on textile art with an embroidery emphasis. Her inspirations come from nature and a fascination and love of color.

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

The Member’s Show will be in March and April of 2027. More information about participating in that show will be in next month’s newsletter.

The Ageless Art Auction will be held in early March. If you have art pieces you’d like to donate to the auction, contact Pam at 937-767-5751 or pgeisel@ysseniors.org.

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.

The Pursuit of Peace

“We pray, not / for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye, / clear. What we need is here.”

“Wild Geese,” by Wendell Berry

From Selected Poems of Wendell Berry (1999)

The six-week window spanning late autumn to early winter holds a unique position on the calendar, hosting a number of deeply connected holidays connected by a single, evolving theme: the pursuit of peace. 

The journey begins November 11 with Armistice Day, a solemn commemoration born from the silence that fell over the battlefields of World War I. At its core, this day represents a political truce – the physical laying down of weapons and the cessation of conflict. Armistice Day – now Veterans Day – brings to mind the “empty chair at the table” – offering to all a time of quiet reflection and remembrance, honoring the immense sacrifices required to halt violence and establishing a baseline for peace.

As November progresses, this political peace transitions into a social awareness of peace. Thanks­giving offers a “cri de coeur” – a cry from the heart – that communities and families reunite, gather and celebrate through acts of shared gratitude and resources. The focus shifts - transforming the quiet relief of a truce into the vibrant warmth of human connection. It reminds us that true peace does not – cannot – exist in isolation; it requires a welcoming table where we acknowledge our shared humanity.

Finally, the season culminates in December with many religious and cultural celebrations that elevate the concept of peace to a spiritual and universal ideal. Moving past signed treaties and festive tables, these voices champion the ultimate message of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” These celebrations call for an internal transformation of the human heart, rooted in unconditional love, generosity, and hope for a harmonious world.

Our Festive Season offers not just a series of isolated holidays – but the gravitas of profound sequential steps toward an understanding of peace. Veterans Day secures the quiet safety of the home, Thanksgiving fills the home with gratitude and family, and Christmas – in accord with Hanukah, Laylat al-Raghaib and Kwanzaa – fills our dwellings with universal love. Together, they remind us that peace is a continuous journey and – as singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer sings – “Here and now we can be the beloved community. There is room at the table for everyone.”

  – Robert Libecap, Transportation Manager

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

Medicare and Housing

We are still in Open Enrollment season and you have until December 7 to review your prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan and make changes if needed. It is important to review your plan, because coverages may change from year to year. I am available to assist you in reviewing your current plan, comparing options and signing up for a new plan. There is a form to fill out, prior to your appointment, that can be found at ysseniors.org/medicare by scrolling to the bottom of the page. If you don’t have access to a printer, you can stop by the Center and pick up a paper form.

The help you receive from the Senior Center is provided by OSHIIP volunteers and is unbiased, free, and not based on a commission. Please be very wary of advertisements on the television, insurance mail you receive that appears to be from Medicare and unsolicited phone calls from people claiming to be from Medicare. All of these may actually be marketing ploys trying to get a commission, and Medicare will not call you on the phone.

The Homestead Exemption Program provides seniors, surviving spouses, and disabled persons who meet certain criteria a reduction in their real estate taxes. Information about this program and an application can be found at the Greene County Ohio government website at greenecountyohio.gov/388/Homestead-Exemption.

 – Stephanie Lawson, RN, Support Services Manager

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

Slips, Trips, and FALL!

Climate changes have made huge and vastly different circumstances across the world. Torrential rain led to catastrophic landslides in Nepal. The lack of rain in numerous areas has caused the loss of miles and miles of acreage due to fires. Those are drastic events, however there are less dramatic results that affected us, for instance the rain left us Midwesterners with green grass throughout the summer and the promise of a majestic color display and an abundant amount of leaves this fall. 

But beware. These leaves are a slipping hazard on sidewalks and driveways, both inside and outside of our homes. Help with sweeping the porch and the inside the home is an easy task our homemakers would love to take on; call us – we will help.

 –Teresa Bondurant, Homemaker & Outreach Manager

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

A BIG THANK YOU!

End of year thanks to volunteers – some work in the building, some lead classes, others drive passengers or make grocery deliveries. The over 5000 hours of unpaid labor provide much of the service of our organization. We apologize to anyone whose name was accidentally omitted.

Ven Adkins

Susan Alberter

Katherine Anderson

Catherine Annis

Joyce Reena Appell

Julie Arias

Diana Atkins

Sue Augustus

Brianna Ayers

Jim Bailey

Jill Becker

Angela Beltran

Amy Bennett

Shelly Blackman

Jane Blakelock

Dale Blanchard

Michael Blevins

Sherry Borke-Harding

Susan Bothwell

Karla Bristow

Andrew Brody

Kathleen Buck

Steve Bujenovic

Arati Cacciolfi

Mary Cargan

Berch Carpenter

Dawn Clark

Dianne Collinson

Robert Conard

Glen Courtright

Sarah Courtright

Linda Cox

Mark Crawford

Ed Davis

Emberlee Deal

Shiloh Deal

Steven Deal

Tom Degenhart

Bren DeLacy-Egan

Mark Delozier

Simone Demarzi

Susan Doubt

Deborah Downey

Margaret Dunn

Arida Emrys

Scott Fife

Judith Fors

Simon Freeman

Larry Gerthoffer

Alan Gilbert

Teresa Gill

Valerie Gomez

Theresa Graham

Dione Greenberg

Cammy Grote

Wayne Gulden

Gayle Gyure

Lynn Hardman

Lynda Hardman

Amy Harper

David Heckler

Erin Heilman

Luan Heit

Melissa Heston

Anacel Hidalgo

Kristine Hofstra

Anna Hogarty

Andy Holyoke

Beth Holyoke

Angie Hsu

Lee Huntington

Robert Huston

Chara Hutchinson

Kim Iconis

Artie Isaac

Francis Jennings

Jim Johnson

Kathy Johnson

Charles Keller

Bette Kelley

Jo Ann Kiser

Michael Kittles

Barbara Klopp

Mia Knight

Chris Knotts

Deborah Kociszewski

Melissa Kuhns

Lina Landess

Doug Lantry

Moira Laughlin

Pegeen Laughlin

Gabriele Leventhal

Todd Leventhal

Kathryn LeVesconte

Scott Lindberg

Peggy Lindsey

Brock Lubbers

Molly Lunde

Farzaneh Mader

Barbara Mann

Rebecca Mark

Ellen Marshall

Sara Martin

Aimee Maruyama

Linda Mates

Steve McColaugh

Kevin McGruder

Lawrence McKever

Nancy Mellon

Joyce Morrissey

Maxwell Mullin

Paul Mullin

Chris Murphy

Susan Neff

Sharen Neuhardt

Desiree Nickell

Paulette Olson

Harvey Paige

Gerald Papania

Laura Pardo

Linda Parsons

Cynthia Pauwels

Diana Quirk

Macy Reynolds

Roger Reynolds

Dorothy Rike

Patricia Robinow

Elizabeth Ross

Libby Rudolf

Donald Sak

Jane Sak

Albert Schlueter

Tania Sci

Jalyn Scott

Linda Scutt

Cynthia Shaw

Judith Skillings

Michael Slaughter

Mary Kay Smith

William Spohn

Marcia Sutherland

Jerry Sutton

Barbara Treadwell

James Treadwell

David Turner

Holly Underwood

Elizabeth Valenti

Pamela von Matthiessen

Malte von Matthiessen

Aamil Wagner

Ahmad Wagner

Amani Wagner

Pete Wehner

David Welsh

Maddie Welsh

Elizabeth Wiley

Jacinta Williams

Debra Williamson

Matthew Willis

Susan Wolf

Sam Young

Richard Zopf

Membership Dues 

Fees are increasing in January 2027 to $40 annual membership and $20 for each additional household member. Anyone with difficulty paying may speak with Stephanie Lawson about available discounts.

Make check payable to YSSC. 

Drop in door slot or mail to: 

YSSC, 227 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, OH, 45387

Or pay online at: ysseniors.org/membership

Welcome NEW Members!

Corrine Bayraktaroylu • Susan Bules

Mary Dahl • Carol Eubanks

Jane Hockensmith-Reich • Anita Holihan

Robin Hull • Johnetta Kitzmiller

Tucker Malishenko • Michael McGue • Jim Orme

Pan Reich • Cleo Reporter • Catherine Reynolds

Michael Reynolds • Debbie Walters

Heartstrings & Friends Holiday Concert 

The musical group Heartstrings will present a holiday season concert at the Senior Center on Saturday, December 12 at 4 pm. The musicians, Mary Beth Burkholder, Linda Scutt and Carol VanAusdal perform instrumental and vocal music from the Celtic, Appalachian and Scandinavian traditions. Joining them will be guest musicians Mark Delozier, Asa Duffee, Cammy Grote, and Paul VanAusdal. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. Suggested donation of $20 benefits the Senior Center.

​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.