November 24, 2005

EDITORIAL

List of thanks for Thanksgiving

List of thanks for Thanksgiving This week it seems appropriate to acknowledge the many good people and institutions that make Yellow Springs the community that it is. In the past, during the week of Thanksgiving, this space has included a list of some of the people and things in Yellow Springs that deserve thanks. Here’s a revised version of that list:

• Voters, who on Nov. 8 reaffirmed their support for Miami Township Fire-Rescue by overwhelmingly approving an operational levy; approved a significant increase in the levy for the Greene County library system; and elected a number of excellent — and diverse — candidates to local office

• Support staff, assistants and secretaries, who keep the community’s institutions, organizations and businesses running

• Village staff members, who continue to work diligently during this challenging year of transition

• Teachers, administrators and principals, for providing Yellow Springs children with a high-quality, engaging education

• Taxpayers, who help pay for that education

• Volunteers, who work tirelessly for the causes and projects that make this town a better place

• Musicians, artists, filmmakers, writers and performers, who entertain and make people think

• Yellow Springers who attend meetings and forums so they can better understand what is happening in their community

• Elected officials, for sticking their necks out, working long hours and serving their community

• Antioch College, for recognizing that changes needed to be made on campus, then devising a plan for making those changes

• Glen Helen, for providing the community and Miami Valley with a beautiful, natural sanctuary

• Friendly neighbors, who prove that one of the best things about living in a small town is receiving a simple “hello”

• Villagers who have tried to make decision-making and planning in Yellow Springs more inclusive

• Yellow Springs young people who participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities, for giving us something to cheer about, for entertaining us and for making us proud

• The Village Public Works crew, for keeping the lights on, the water flowing, the streets in good condition and the roads cleared during snowstorms

• Businesses, for providing jobs, services and goods to Yellow Springs residents

• The customers who support those businesses

• People who exercise their right to free speech and assembly

— Robert Mihalek