8th Annual Pumpkin Launch at Moonshadow Farm

8th Annual Mullin Family Pumpkin Launch
Saturday, November 5, 2-5 p.m.
Moonshadow Farm
4300 State Route 370
Yellow Springs, OH

Bring your Jack O'Lantern and set it flying! The Mullin Family trebuchet is ready to break previous distance records.

Click here to read original post.

New performance series: Experience Saturday

Yoga with Patricia Schneider

Monday Night Yoga with Patricia
Patricia Schneider is back and teaching a 4-week series.
Classes begin Monday, November 7 and run through November 28

6:30 pm - 8pm
Bryan Center Dance Studio, 2nd floor
4 week series = $50
$15 drop in

Registration is requested:
patricia@brainfingers.com
937-767-7727

Monday Morning Artists meet Nov. 7

Monday Morning Artists is an artist group that meets the first Monday of each month. Open to all. All mediums welcome. All experience levels welcome. They meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 314 Xenia Avenue, 9:30 a.m.-noon.

Visit their blog: monmornartists.blogspot.com

Click here to watch a local news clip about the group.

Bring your materials and creative spirit!

Closing symposium for "Rhythm of Structure" exhibit

Antioch College hosts closing symposium for 'Rhythm of Structure' exhibition

An exhibition exploring the intersections between mathematics and arts will come to an end with a closing symposium Nov. 4-6 at Antioch College. Rhythm of Structure: Mathematics, Art and Poetic Reflection was originally curated by John Sims ‘90 for the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. It focuses on the visual language of mathematical ideas and process as a way to explore a spectrum of themes from geometric landscapes to the socio-political.

Miami Valley visual artists, poets, dancers, musicians, community members and students are invited to attend the closing symposium. Events begin Friday evening at 7 p.m. and continue throughout the weekend, including a gallery talk, artist talk, mad poetry workshop, film screening, panel discussion and community response. All events are free to the public and reservations are not needed.

Visiting New York poet Kristin Prevallet, along with Yvonne Seon, John Booth, Maria Booth, Bomani Moyenda, Ella Miller Toy, Bing Davis and Kevin Dean, will be featured in the closing symposium.

The community is invited to present poetic responses to the exhibition during the open mic section of the program at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. The Community Response segment will be followed by an after-party reception at the Herndon Gallery.

Click here for Symposium schedule

Farmageddon at Little Art -- Wednesday

On Wednesday, November 2 we are bringing back the documentary FARMAGEDDON for one screening. Showtime is at 7 PM. There will be a post-film discussion. Our regular admission will apply: $7.50 for adults. $6.50 for children, senior citizens and college students with valid photo I.D. More info. can be found on our website at: http://www.littleart.com/coming-soon

Farmageddon: The Unseen War on American Family Farms

Americans’ right to access fresh, healthy foods of their choice is under attack. Farmageddon tells the story of small, family farms that were providing safe, healthy foods to their communities and were forced to stop, sometimes through violent action, by agents of misguided government bureaucracies, and seeks to figure out why.

Filmmaker Kristin Canty’s quest to find healthy food for her four children turned into an educational journey to discover why access to these foods was being threatened. What she found were policies that favor agribusiness and factory farms over small family-operated farms selling fresh foods to their communities. Instead of focusing on the source of food safety problems — most often the industrial food chain — policymakers and regulators implement and enforce solutions that target and often drive out of business small farms that have proven themselves more than capable of producing safe, healthy food, but buckle under the crushing weight of government regulations and excessive enforcement actions.

Farmageddon highlights the urgency of food freedom, encouraging farmers and consumers alike to take action to preserve individuals’ rights to access food of their choice and farmers’ rights to produce these foods safely and free from unreasonably burdensome regulations. The film serves to put policymakers and regulators on notice that there is a growing movement of people aware that their freedom to choose the foods they want is in danger, a movement that is taking action with its dollars and its voting power to protect and preserve the dwindling number of family farms that are struggling to survive.

Astrologer Joshua Hayward at Eden World

Free Lecture

Joshua Hayward
2012: The Story Continues-
Initiating The Change

Where: Eden World, 253 Xenia Ave
When: Tuesday, November 1, 7:00 PM

Visionary Astrologer Joshua Hayward presents the second event in the 2012 series. Astrological transits and the Mayan Calendar indicate a dramatic shift, but what is it? How will it affect our lives?

After addressing the timing and meaning of the paradigm shift, Joshua will demonstrate how we can become global leaders of change by transforming our own lives--our perspectives and our circumstances--through a meditative process.

Come and learn how to “Be The Change”.

Winter Herbal Home Apothecary (for women)

Wise Woman Herbal Explorations and Self-Care Workshops
with Marybeth Wolf, Amy Chavez & Nicole Manieri

Winter Herbal Home Apothecary (for women)
Sunday, November 13
1-4 p.m.

Bhakti House: Bodywork, Birth Support, Botanicals
217 E. Herman Street
Yellow Springs

We will make some herbal respiratory/immune syrup to have on hand for the winter, and learn other winter herbal immune support & self-care. We like to create fun, experiential, & cozy events.... Join us!!

--Marybeth, Amy & Nicole

Cost: $30 (includes supplies) pay on the day of the event
Limited to 12 women... please RSVP
For info and reservations, call Marybeth Wolf at 937-767-5077 or mfrancescawolf@sbcglobal.net

http://www.bhaktihouse.info/botanicals/

Live music at Dancing Goats Cafe

Music by Daniel and Emily Kohavi

Friday, November 4
6:30-8 p.m.
Dancing Goats Café
(formerly Brother Bears Cafe)
118 Dayton Street

Daniel and Emily are newly wedded as of May 28, 2011. Neither one of them looking for a significant other, were matched up by a mutual friend just a year ago and fell head over heals in love. Emily is a recent graduate of Cedarville University. She studied Viola and is a performance major. While in college she toured with "The Heartsong" group as well as a band called "The Demerits". Daniel is a self-taught guitarist and naturally gifted singer. When he isn't playing college basketball for Cedarville University (He is a Senior) he spends most of his time with a guitar in his hand singing alongside his new bride. The first song they wrote together was "Will You Fall In Love" and was featured in their wedding. Currently Daniel and Emily are doing wedding gigs to help support their new life together. They plan on attending Belmont University in Nashville during the 2012 school year.

Click here to hear a sample of their music.

YSKP: New Actors Club starts Nov. 1

Be a part of the winter Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse show, The New Bremen Town Musicians, by being a member of the New Actors Club

With Ara Beal
Grades 4 and up
Begins Tuesday, November 1st.

Classes meet T/TH from 3:30-5 p.m. for 5 weeks
Info and registration at www.yskp.org or 767-7800

YSKP Playhouse, 910 Corry Street, on the Antioch College campus

Yellow Springs Green Home Tour

Yellow Springs Green Home Tour

Saturday, November 5
2-4 p.m.

Sponsored by Yellow Springs Home Inc.

Come and see what your friends and neighbors are doing to reduce their energy costs, reduce their carbon footprint and live in an environmentally responsible manner. Get ideas on what you can do.

Eight homes in the Yellow Springs area will be open for inspection that demonstrate active solar, solar panels and a wind turbine for generating electricity, straw bale homes and a passive solar home. Brochures of the tour, containing a map, can be obtained by calling Yellow Springs Home, Inc. at 767-2790.

Yellow Springs Home, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen community and diversity in Yellow Springs and Miami Township by providing permanently affordable and sustainable housing through the Community Land Trust model. Home, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 to carry out these goals. Home, Inc. is a certified Community Housing Development Organization by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

Yellow Springs Home, Inc.’s purpose is to build and acquire affordable housing for persons who are poorly served by the prevailing housing market. Home, Inc. is also a member of the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association and the National Community Land Trust Network.

Yellow Springs Home, Inc.
Box 503
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
937.767.2790
www.yshome.org

A sweet treat of a Halloween

Just ran out of candy.

This year, I didn't have a costume ready in advance for Tom and myself. I went to the 4 p.m. showing of "Traces of the Trade" at Little Art (excellent documentary) and didn't have a lot of time before the 6 p.m. trick-or-treating.

I had just recently dismantled my "Keep Yellow Springs Weird" scarecrow due to it not being structurally sound and becoming comically obscene as it slowly succumbed to the elements. So I had a lot of torn sheets laying around the house. I decided to try to make Tom into a mummy. We set up a table, lamp, and chairs out in our driveway with our candy supply. At 6 p.m., just as the kids started to make their way down our street, Tom was put in charge of the candy and I started ripping sheets.

Mummy-making takes a lot longer than what I anticipated. An unforeseen added bonus was that the process provided entertainment for our little guests and their onlooking parents. Forty-five minutes later, it was a race to see if I could finish his look before the candy ran out.

I've heard a lot of people complain about the number of kids that show up at their house on Halloween. I know there is a debate about whether it's a good thing for out-of-towners to come to our village for Halloween, especially in light of dwindling funds for our tradition of neighborhood bonfires and eats. For most of my adult life, I've lived in houses or apartments that didn't get trick-or-treaters or got very few. This year definitely drew a big crowd to our street---possibly because the weather was so good.

We didn't spend a lot on candy because we didn't know how many to expect. Our supply lasted til 7 p.m. We had two pieces left just as three trick-or-treaters approached our driveway. The one young girl who didn't get a piece simply shrugged, smiled at us, and said very graciously, "That's okay. Happy Halloween!" Tom loved being a mummy and seeing all the kiddies in their sweet costumes. Who knows how many of our guests were villagers or who was from out-of-town. It was impossible to tell. What they all saw was a whole town participating in a community event, joining in the silliness, being a safe neighborhood, and welcoming everyone equally.

As a marketing strategy, it's brilliant.

At 7 p.m., when the candy ran out (as well as the sheets), we brought in our furniture, turned out the porch light, and settled down on the couch to watch Jaws.

Trick or Treating and Monster's Ball

Saturday, October 29
Trick or Treat, 6-8 pm
Neighborhood Bonfires

~~ then ~~

You are cordially invited to attend The Monster's Ball. This event will be held Saturday, October 29th, 8:30pm-10:30pm on Corry St. in Yellow Springs. DJ Creepingbear will be spinning some spooky tunes and The Yelloween Scarecrow Project will host a parade! Dress to impress as your favorite monster or scary character! This is a family friendly event and it's FREE!! This is a community event and potluck, please bring a light snack, dessert or beverage to share!

See you on the dance floor!

For the full schedule of weekend events, click on Liz Taylor on the right side of this blog to go directly to the Chamber of Commerce calendar.

Creepy Carnival and more at Ye Olde Trail Tavern

Click on image to enlarge.

Ye Olde Trail Tavern presents Creepy Carnival: Yelloween Festivities behind the Tavern in King's Yard Saturday, Oct 29th from 2:30 till 10pm. Tricks for the kids with games, snacks & treats. Music provided by DJ "Hallow Gene"

From 7-10 p.m., listen to The Hanging Deadmen and sample Special Brews from New Holland Brewery.

The Hanging Deadmen
LIVE at Ye Olde Trail Tavern

Chris Bingman- mandolin/ vocals
Zach Johnson- guitar/ vocals
Shawn Riley Dingeldein- bass/ vocals

Based out of the Springfield/South Charleston area, the Hanging Deadmen started out pickin' around fires and porches alike. It didn't take much time to bring it to the next step. With three very different styles of music, the "Deadmen" will take you through songs filled with amazing mandolin leads, bass fills, and a guitar you can set your watch to. Always open to new musicians, the Hanging Deadmen will often bring up fellow pickers at any given show.

Ye Olde Trail Tavern is located at 228 Xenia Avenue.

For more info, go to www.yeoldetrailtavern.com

Open House today at Grinnell Mill B&B

The Grinnell Mill Bed & Breakfast, along with Jim Hammond & Randy Gifford, invite everyone to come to the Mill on Saturday, October 29, from 1-5 p.m. for our special Yelloween Open House. The Grinnell Mill B&B is open for business: guest lodging, retreats, conferences, parties, reunions and more.

Tour the Mill, ask questions, get answers, meet Jim & Randy.

3536 Bryan Park Road
Yellow Springs
GrinnellMill@gmail.com

Call 767-0131

Visit our Blog: http://grinnellmillbandb.blogspot.com/

See the article about the restoration process in this week's print edition of the YS News.

"Traces of the Trade" documentary at 4 p.m.

Elaine Comegys Black Film Festival
And the 365 Project present

TRACES OF THE TRADE
Saturday, October 29, 4 p.m.
Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Avenue
FREE ADMISSION • YOUTH ENCOURAGED

In the feature documentary Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, filmmaker Katrina Browne discovers that her New England ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. She and nine cousins retrace the Triangle Trade and gain powerful new perspectives on the black/white divide.

Join the post-screening discussion with the youth facilitators. For more information, please visit the Little Art Theatre website at www.littleart.com

WE WISH TO THANK OUR SPONSORS: Village of Yellow Springs Schools, the Human Relations Commission, and the 365 Project

Click here to watch trailer.

10-Minute Play Fest---TONITE

You're invited to....an entertaining evening of local talent and local playwrights!

The Night will be filled with surprises and stars, such luminaries as BRUCE CROMER! WALTER RHODES! JERRY BUCK! SHIRLEY MULLINS! JEROME BORCHERS! MARYBETH BURKHOLDER! ZYNA BAKARI! LYDIA JEWETT! JASON SINE! CHARLIE CROMER! and MANY MORE!!

Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: First Presbyterian Church, 314 Xenia Avenue
Admission: $5

*SEATING IS LIMITED SO DON'T BE LATE---WE'RE EXPECTING A SELL OUT*

Dog Park "Pawty" Benefit for WYSO

Click on image to enlarge.

Request for used toys

A request has come in for used toys to be used for play therapy for children, ages 3-5, who are victims of childhood trauma/abuse.

Here's what is needed:

action figures
legos
lego people
dishes and cups
rubber/plastic animals
cars & hot wheels of all types even emergency cars
baby dolls
all kinds of people dolls (like for a doll house)
wooden doll house accessories
old thomas the train sets

Please contact tszora@woh.rr.com if you can help.

Thanks!

Zombie love from the Community Food Pantry

Notice the creative use of red paint and the Zombie caution tape

Just had a wonderful phone call from Patty McAllister, coordinator of the Community Food Pantry, who told me the sweetest story about the surprise that was waiting for her at the Methodist Church after the Zombie Walk on Saturday night.

"I didn't know where all the food was coming from!" she told me when she arrived at the church the next morning to see all the donated food from the walk. "I had to call the Presbyterian church to ask, 'Did you have a big food drive recently?' What a wonderful thing it was. I don't know how many bags were there. It took us three hours to [sort the food] and take it down to the church basement. Thank you all so much!"

Thanks to all who participated in the walk and helped to raise money for Home Inc. (over $700) and helped to stock the Community Food Pantry.

This news and this picture warms my little zombie heart.

Home Inc. volunteer, Tom Osborne

Yelloween events

Click on image to enlarge.

Lots to do this weekend. For details on above events and more, click on the Liz Taylor chalk drawing on the right side of this blog. It will take you straight to the Chamber of Commerce calendar and all the events happening in town.

The Undercovered at Emporium Friday night

The Undercovered is playing live dance music
at Emporium Friday night, 7-10 p.m.
Theme of the evening will be the Roaring Twenties at the Flamingo Lounge.
Wine-tasting. Costumes welcome, but not required.
Stop by and join in for a Charleston...(or just watch!!)

Emporium Wines and Underdog Café

233 Xenia Avenue

Yellow Springs, OH

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YSAC presents Experience Saturday

Click on image to enlarge

The Yellow Springs Arts Council presents Experience Saturday, November 5, 7:30-10pm at 309 Xenia Avenue. This multi-arts evening will include musical acts along with “infamous” local artists, the JafaGirls, and their unique Hairy Art Palace exhibit.

The evening begins at 7:30pm with a gallery tour accompanied by musician Ben Hemmendinger. Like the JafaGirls, who explore knit graffiti and other public works of art, Hemmendinger is well known on the streets of Yellow Springs. He creates impromptu performances with his accordion in a fusion of Baltic, Irish and 60’s rock.

At 8pm JafaGirls Nancy Mellon and Corrine Bayraktaroglu will present a salon chat on Craft Activism, a movement explored in the new Random House book, Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade. The JafaGirls are featured in a full chapter of the book and signed copies will be available at the event.

Singer-songwriter Dawn Cooksey rounds out the evening, from 8:30-10pm, performing original music. Cooksey is a favorite at numerous Yellow Springs and Dayton venues. Her music can be described as folk-rock with both country and alternative influences. Cooksey’s soulful lyrics and delivery exude the power of the feminine.

Experience Saturday promises to be a unique, mulit-arts evening talked about on the streets. Don’t miss this event, open to the public with a $5 suggested donation at the door (kids 12 and under free). Snacks and beverages will also be available for purchase during the evening. Proceeds benefit local artists and art programs.

YS Chamber Orchestra and Triple Helix

James Johnston directs another Yellow Springs music event! A renowned piano trio and local musicians present a varied program of familiar hits and an unusual new work.

The Chamber Orchestra collaborates with guest artists Triple Helix in Beethoven's Triple Concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra. Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3 features the Orchestra. The Community Chorus sings with Triple Helix in Yo-Hui Chang's It Is An Illusion You Were Ever Free, the regional premiere of a 2010 piece first performed last year, with text by Frank Bidart. The music is accessible, by turns lyrical and jazzy.

The performance is Saturday November 5 at 7:30, at the First Presbyterian Church, 314 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs. Admission is $10 at the door ($5 for students), which supports the continued performances of ensembles of Yellow Springs Community Music (the Community Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, and Community Band).

Jewelry Workshop at Springs Gallery

Discover the Goddess Within
A Jewelry Workshop with Catherine Wicks

Springs Gallery, a fine art/fine craft gallery in Yellow Springs, Ohio, is offering a jewelry workshop with Dayton artist Catherine Wicks on Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 2–4 PM. The fee is $40.00 and most materials and supplies are provided. The workshop is titled “Discover the Goddess Within.” Participants will be able to take home one or more finished work of their own creation.

We are all Goddesses - beautiful in spirit and in our desire to adorn ourselves with sparkle and color. This workshop is a personal time to make a beautiful, personal piece of jewelry. Raid your jewelry box for odd earrings, broken pendants and non-jewelry mementos, and raid your tool box too - bring needle-nose pliers if you have them. We will not just recycle —- we’ll up cycle (repurpose for a better use). Students will make a necklace and earrings that will remind us of the unique, colorful spirit and joyful energy that we radiate every day; a time to make one-of-a-kind jewelry that reflects our personalities.

The workshop will be led by Catherine Wicks, artist and breast cancer survivor. Wicks is an Ohio transplant from Birmingham, England. She has a fine arts degree from Sinclair Community College in Dayton and has taught jewelry-making classes to women's groups in the Dayton area. Her unique jewelry designs and creations are represented by Springs Gallery in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Registrations for the workshop are now being accepted. Forms are available in Springs Gallery and on the gallery site. Minimum participant age is 18. Minimum class size is 4; maximum is 10. On the day of the class, students must present a paid receipt to receive their materials and participate. The deadline for cancellations with refund is the Sunday of the week before the workshop. Free parking is available behind King’s Yard, off Walnut Street, and on surrounding streets.

Springs Gallery is located in King’s Yard at 220 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH, 45387. For questions or to register, call 937-409-5047, email: springsgallery@earthlink.net, visit the gallery site: www.springsgallery.blogspot.com; or stop into the gallery during business hours: Wednesday-Sunday, Noon-7PM and on the 3rd Friday (Fling in the Springs) Noon–9 PM.

photo courtesy of Catherine Wicks

Honeysuckle Daze

Saturday, November 5
9 AM - 1 PM
Honeysuckle Daze

Join a one-day work crew to help us remediate aggressive Amur Honeysuckle from acres of Glen Helen. On-site training provided. Wear boots, bring your gloves (some provided) and get ready to lop and drag this invasive species to the chipper.

A fun and healthy way to work out aggressions. Feel a sense of Ohio pride and instant gratification being a part of restoring the natural and indigenous beauty to the Glen. Warning: This activity can be addictive.

Corry Street parking lot, 9am-1pm.

CONTACT: Glen Helen Building 937-769-1902

Food Day attracts foodies

Food Day is a national grassroots campaign to reduce diet-related diseases by promoting healthy foods; support sustainable farms; expand access to food and end hunger; reform factory farms; curb junk-food marketing; and obtain fair pay and safe conditions for food and farm workers.

A local Food Day effort was coordinated on Monday, October 24, by Amy Magnus, Assistant Professor at Air Force Institute of Technology and blogger of The Village Gravy. Participants were treated to a delish and healthy dinner of chicken, rice, salad, and cooked veggies and demo samples as well as a raffle with prizes donated by local merchants.

Food Day demos included sprout-growing with sproutmaster David Kuder, canning fruits and veggies with Jenny Haack and Faith Morgan, and cooking demos with Amy Magnus and Akhilesh Nigam of the Corner Cone Farmers Market.

Amy is also the coordinator of the Winter Farmer's Market. She can be reached at discover@thevillagegravy.com

photos by Susan Gartner

Zombie Walk photos

While I wait to hear the final tally for the amount of money raised for Home Inc. and the local food pantry from Saturday's Zombie Walk, I'll post some photos.

Click here to see photos from Dayton Daily News.

Two other sites to see photos: "Zombie Walk Yellow Springs" Facebook page; "Yellow Springs, OH" FB page has a Zombie Walk 2011 photo album.

Here are a few I took:

Tom Clevenger, Home Inc. Program Manager

Emily Seibel, Home Inc. Director

from Jamie Seither

photo of Tom Osborne and me by Neenah Ellis

I really enjoyed seeing so many different ages participating in the walk. Thanks to all who came out, participated, set up booths, entertained the crowd, and cheered us on.

Reception and Firing at John Bryan Community Pottery

ARTIST’S RECEPTION for
TIMELINE: Revealing our past, Inspiring our future

Saturday, October 29, 2011, 4:00 P.M.
John Bryan Community Pottery retrospective exhibit of its forty year history. Come meet the artists and help fill in the interactive timeline. Our third wood firing coincides with this exhibit. The community is invited.


WOOD FIRING
Saturday, October 29, 2011 Early A.M. until Night
Our third wood firing in our new Manabigama (beautiful teaching kiln) is scheduled for Saturday. The kiln will be firing all day, reaching peak temperature in the early evening hours. If you have not seen a wood firing in progress, stop on down to the biggest Halloween bonfire in Yellow Springs. The wood firing coincides with the Artist’s Reception for TIMELINE.

John Bryan Pottery is located in the Penguin Building, behind the Community Center and Village Offices at
100 Dayton Street
Yellow Springs, Oh 45387
www.communitypottery.com
jbcp@communitypottery.com
937.767.9022

Halloween Party at Emporium -- Friday

Halloween Party and wine-tasting
at the Emporium with music by
The Undercovered
Friday, October 28, 7-10 p.m.

Make sure your costume gets noticed -- show it off on the dance floor! Halloween is a great time to cut loose and have a blast, so come on down to The Emporium and get yer ya-ya's out!

Emporium Wines and Underdog Café
233 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH

Potluck at Presby -- Wed., 6 p.m.

Yellow Springs Community Potluck
Meet the new Antioch College students
Wednesday, October 26, 6 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
314 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs

These potlucks are an opportunity for Antioch students, faculty, and staff to get to know villagers and vice versa. Please feel free to attend and invite others who may have missed the opportunity to meet this amazing bunch of talented youngsters.

Please bring your favorite main dish, salad or dessert to the Presby Church on Wednesday and join us!

Glen House Inn Gallery -- Open Hours Sunday

Gray Matters by Dan Reddinger

September 25-October 31: Paintings by Dan Reddinger

Open Gallery Hours: Sunday, October 30, 2-4 p.m.

Glen House Inn Gallery
Glen House Inn B&B
1221 Glen Road
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
Phone: 937-767-7899

Dan Reddinger’s paintings appear to be torn from abandoned city walls, layered with experiences and offering a penetrating look at the patterns of urban life.

8th Annual Pumpkin Launch at Moonshadow Farm

8th Annual Mullin Family Pumpkin Launch
Saturday, November 5, 2-5 p.m.
Moonshadow Farm
4300 State Route 370
Yellow Springs, OH

Bring your Jack O'Lantern and set it flying! Our trebuchet is ready to break previous distance records.

A special extra this year: we will have an author signing by Paul's brother Michael. His debut novel, Ashfall, will be released in October and may be on the bestseller list by November. It's fun to have a book-signing at the farm since you will find some familiar references to it in the book.

One other bit of fun this year will be multiple potato cannons competing during the trebuchet breaks. Bring your earplugs if you plan to be up close. Old potatoes are appreciated for ammunition.

--Caroline Rees Mullin

Click here to read article in YS News about the First Annual Midwest Pumpkin Chuck, which took place at Young’s Jersey Dairy on October 22 and featured homemade catapults and trebuchets. The Mullins won in the adult division and for “Most Entertaining Launch”.

Click here for Mike Mullin’s author site and read review of Ashfall

See Facebook site for more info: Pumpkin Launch 2011 - Eighth Annual!

Thriller final practice dates

Weekly teaching sessions have been held in the Senior Center’s Great Room for those interested in learning the Thriller dance steps. The dance will be performed Saturday, October 29 at 10 p.m. at the Bryan Center, 100 Dayton Street, as part of "Thrill the World 2011" -- the annual, worldwide, zombie-filled, simultaneous choreographed dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

The Senior Center is located at 227 Xenia Avenue. Here is the remaining teaching schedule:

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 5-6:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29, noon-1:30 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Oct. 29, come to the Bryan Center at 8:15 p.m. for the final teaching session prior to the 10 p.m. official performance. There is talk of other performances, weather permitting.

Check with organizers for additional scheduled performances in October in conjunction with other events. E-mail melheston@yahoo.com or thomaswalkey@sbcglobal.net

photo from 2009 Thrill the World

Horror Marathon aftermath

This weekend's Horror Marathon wrap-up from Little Art Theatre Executive Director Jenny Cowperthwaite-Ruka:

"A profound thank you to Zack McGhee who not only conceived of, programmed and organized our Horror Marathons these past 5 years but has also been the projectionist for the entire 12 hours. Zack also staffed the marathon each year with great volunteers including his partner Tony Black and their good friends Carrie Landers, Cindy Lindsay, Jared Ream and Hillary McNabb. A hail and hearty thank you to you all for such dedicated service! We had 115 marathon goers this year - I hope everyone has caught up on their sleep!"

Zack McGhee

Click here to read fun behind-the-scenes blog account of the event by Zack.

Photos by Carrie Landers