SUMMER HOURS: An The News will close INDEPENDENT Fridays at 1 p.m. JOURNAL of NEWS throughout the summer and OPINION until after Labor Day. YELLOW SPRINGS NEWS SINCE 1880 YELLOW SPRINGS, OHIO THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010 VOLUME 131, NUMBER 27 PRICE: $1.25 Green towns offer new ideas By Lauren Heaton This is the second in a two-part report on As sustainability gains ground as an municipal energy conservation. integral component of city planning, many municipalities across the country are creat- restaurants, according to an article in Sus- ing ways to use less energy and ensure that tainable Industries magazine in March. the energy they use comes from renewable Oberlin, population 8,200, is one of 17 sources. cities around the world to join the nation’s Several cities researched for this article Climate Positive Development Program, have mandated that all new construction which will offer international partnership meets the Leadership in Energy and Envi- and technical support for the project. And as ronmental Design (LEED) energy-efficient an integral partner in the project, the city of standard. Other cities have established Oberlin has a $60,000 sustainability reserve funding mechanisms to provide incentives fund, generated through renewable energy for residential and commercial retrofits. credits purchased by Oberlin College, City The city of Oberlin, Ohio, and Oberlin Col- Manager Eric Norenberg said this week. lege have embarked on a green approach The city disperses the funds for efficiency to urban revitalization, while one tiny town projects, including seed money for a home in Kansas aims to become the country’s top weatherization program for low- to moder- model green community. ate-income families. In addition to helping While so far in its approach to sustainabil- to develop a sustainability curriculum for ity Yellow Springs has focused on discreet its secondary and vocational schools, the solutions, the Village’s formation of an city hopes to stimulate the private sector to energy task force and this week a new Vil- invest in green solutions, such as generat- lage Energy Board reflects a renewed com- ing biomass energy, and create jobs for the mitment in its approach to sustainability as local economy, Norenberg said. a systemic issue. While the full impact of While there is no overall budget estab- these new efforts is not clear yet, the Vil- lished for the Oberlin Project, Norenberg lage has an opportunity to share with and said both the city and the college are work- learn from other communities that are on a ing to draw funds from various sources. similarly green course. The college is fundraising for its downtown buildings, including a hotel, an auditorium PHOTO BY MEGAN BACHMAN The Oberlin Project and an art museum. And the city is look- The cast of YSKP’s latest production, The Conference of the Birds, jumped for joy at dress rehearsal in anticipation of the show’s The city of Oberlin along with Oberlin Col- ing at ways to subsidize residential and opening on Thursday, July 8. Pictured are, from left, Lilli Rudolf, Talia Boutis, Jaylen Mitchell, Lenaya Leeds, Lindsey Leist, Greta Kremer, lege is working toward a vision to turn the commercial retrofits through utility rate Anna Knippling and Lela Dewey. Obscured are Romy Farrar, Naomi Guth, Benjamin Green, Zeb Reichert and Alex Thorp. city into a carbon-free energy system. Under increases, as well as incentivize the retrofits the guidance of David Orr, the college’s Paul by offering utility rebates, Norenberg said. Sears Professor of Environmental Studies, the city began the Oberlin Project this year Greensburg goes green Puppets, Persian poetry, and change as an integrated approach to sustainable and When the town of Greensburg, Kan., was economic urban development. leveled by a category 5 tornado in 2007, out By Megan Bachman per week for the last month in preparation. In addition to producing two plays each According to an Oberlin College press of the disaster its leaders saw an opportunity. “It’s one of the most intense acting expe- summer, YSKP hosts acting workshops release in March, at the core of the project is Using the boost it received from insurance In its 16th year, YS Kids Playhouse contin- riences,” said 15-year-old Claire Heister, a and classes. The nonprofit also recently a 13-acre city block, where a dozen new and companies and the Federal Disaster Man- ues to produce innovative youth theater for first-time cast member. “You have to apply published a book on its unique approach to renovated buildings, largely owned by the agement Agency, the town of 900 people adults and children alike. Its latest musical, yourself every day.” youth theater. college, are planned. The block is designed decided that it was going to rebuild in the The Conference of Birds, explores themes of Because YSKP shows are all original, Documented in the book is how an edu- as a LEED platinum neighborhood and will spirit of its name as a complete green town. transformation and self-realization through its youth cast members are challenged to cational component works in tandem with serve as an arts district, an economic stim- According to the U.S. Department of a 12th-century desert fable. create their own characters, according to YSKP’s productions, according to Hunt. ulant and a sustainability educational center. Energy, which partnered with Greensburg Performances run from Thursday, July Fleming. This requires more creativity and Participants learn confidence, persever- Surrounding the core, project leaders hope as a sustainability consultant, the town 8, to Sunday, July 11, and from Thursday, group problem-solving, as the whole cast ance and discipline in addition to the acting to establish a 20,000-acre working greenbelt adopted an ordinance that all new city July 15, to Sunday, July 18. All shows start figures out how to tell the story. skills which many YSKP alumni later use in including 40 to 50 farms that would have a at 7:30 p.m. at the Antioch Amphitheater “The environment in Yellow Springs is college and professional theater. Hunt esti- guaranteed market in the local schools and CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 and admission is $10 for adults and $8 for more conducive to creativity,” said Cincin- mates as many as 10 percent of alumni have children, students and seniors. nati-based acting coach Callie Schuttera. gone on to other theater experiences. Along with the original music and stun- “Its truly about making art — and finding “At its essence, YSKP is about engag- ning visual displays audiences have come the message.” ing people in a creative process,” Hunt New Energy Board created to expect of YSKP shows, new for this According to YSKP Executive Director said. “It’s a rich, diverse, hands-on learning production is the use of puppets onstage. Lisa Hunt, each production incorporates laboratory in the process of doing shows.” By Diane Chiddister because its work is ongoing, and not a And while the plays have more recently themes that speak to both youth and adults. The second production of the season, short-term project. The new board will explored teen technology, director John The Conference of the Birds explores unity, Oceans of Notions (Lakes of Mistakes) with At their July 6 meeting, Village Coun- have nine members, including the six cur- Fleming wanted to bring back a cultural hope and pushing through to reach one’s a younger cast, opens at the end of the cil members unanimously approved the rent members of the Energy Task Force, focus with this year’s production. goals. month. establishment of a Village Energy Board, who are Pat Murphy, Jerry Papania, Reggie “I wanted to do something really differ- “YSKP is not typical for youth theater,” Visit ysnews.com for an exclusive audio an ongoing citizen volunteer group with a Stratton, Brian Strawn, Larry Gerthoffer ent,” said Fleming, who co-founded YSKP Hunt said. “It’s sophisticated theater that slideshow featuring the cast of The Confer- charge to work with Village staff to help and Terry Graham, with Judith Hempfling in 1995. “All of the lead characters are also rivals adult productions, but is done by ence of the Birds. reduce the Village’s carbon footprint in a the Council representative. puppets, which is the idea of transforma- children.” Contact: [email protected] variety of ways. The new board seeks two new members. tion.” The new board was created at the sug- At the July 6 meeting, Council member Fleming adapted the script for The Con- gestion of the Energy Task Force, which Karen Wintrow urged the Village to appoint ference of Birds, originally based on a Sufi THE YELLOW SPRINGS EXPERIENCE BEGINS had been created a year ago to explore members from the business community to options for energy conservation and poem by Farid ud-Din Attar, from a 1970s Starting Friday, July 9, villagers may take part in more than 80 events that make the open seats. renewable power generation. That group Peter Brooks book. The story follows the up the Yellow Springs Experience, which continues through July 18. For a complete Board members will serve three-year, evolved from the Electric System Task journey of a group of birds across the listing of events, log on to www.yellow-springs-experience.org. All participants staggered terms. The remaining two seats Force, commissioned several years ago desert in search of a mystical land. Accord- need to sign up for events online, even if the events are free. Here’s a few of this should be appointed before the end of the by Council to explore whether the Village ing to Fleming, the birds are really search- weekend’s events: year, according to a memo from Village ing for an inner life.