August 24, 2006

By Lauren Heaton

In planning for the village’s future, some believe local residents should remember the role that Antioch College has played in building Yellow Springs’ past. Starting next week, leaders of the Yellow Springs Community Round Table (CRT) and Antioch College will host a series of five events called “Renewing the Connections” to reinvigorate the mutual support between the Antioch College community and the village.

A month before villagers gather on Sept. 30 for the Third Annual Yellow Springs Community Forum to discuss “Qualities of Growth” for the future of Yellow Springs, the college and the CRT members encourage villagers to warm up by thinking about possible collaborative efforts between the town and its local gown. Part of the upcoming village forum will focus on how the economic health of the village is still tied to the stability of the college, organizers said.

“A strong Antioch College is crucial as far as planning the Village’s economic, cultural and educational well-being,” according to CRT member Sharen Neuhardt. “We have one of the richest legacies of any village around the country, and because of Horace Mann, we’re part of the foundation of the American education system. It’s silly not to work hard with the college to build on that.”

Renewing the village-college ties is particularly important as the college continues its own physical and curricular renewal process, and the village looks to increase its economic stability, Neuhardt said.

The series begins next week, on Aug. 30, with a presentation by Antioch College Executive Vice-President Rick Jurasek on the progress of the college’s renewal plan. Villagers are invited to meet Antioch College President Steve Lawry at an ice cream social on Sept. 4, followed by a repeat of Jurasek’s presentation on Sept. 9. Antioch College and the Smart Growth Education Task Force will sponsor a walk along the Livermore Street Corridor and discuss plans to renovate facilities on the college campus and the current campus of Antioch University McGregor, which plans to relocate to the Center for Business and Education.

On Sept. 17, Yellow Springs Historical Society members and college representatives will sponsor another walk on the college campus to discuss the historical and architectural significance of certain buildings and features on campus. Then on Sept. 30, the community is encouraged to attend the Community Forum.

According to Round Table member Len Kramer, “These sessions should help people figure out what we as a community can do to help Antioch be successful,” he said.

The Renewing the Connection events lead logically into the third annual Community Forum, to be held all day on Saturday, Sept. 30, in the Antioch College Science Building. The event starts at 8 a.m. with a review of last year’s local policy decisions and economic development activities. Forum participants will then break out into small groups to discuss the state of the village with regard to economic development, housing, public services and revenues, education and Antioch College and the community.

As at past forums, the whole forum will then reconvene so that small groups can share their ideas with others, and participants will try to agree on goals for the following year. Forum participants will also elect new members to the Round Table.

Since it began in 2004, the community forum has been a “periodic assembly of community leadership to address common concerns in a way that the community can be proactive as opposed to reactive,” Kramer said.

The village’s relationship to the college will be a part of this year’s forum because Antioch has always been and always will be a huge part of the village’s identity, he said.

Contact: lheaton@ysnews.com