Voni Grimes greets a small crowd standing in a pouring rain at a diversity and peace rally in April 2006 in York. During the event, York Mayor John Brenner praised Grimes for his efforts to unite the community. Background posts: Two 'connectors' would make York County's list of most influential, A short test of your York black history knowledge and 10 tips to write a book-length project.

This photo did not make it into Voni B. Grimes just-published memoirs, but it typifies the man, who perhaps knows more York countians than any other person.

There's the Bamberg, S.C., born/World War II vet/retired Penn State administrator standing in the rain on a Saturday morning. Only a few turned out for this diversity rally.

A few here and a few there and pretty soon you change hearts. That's how Voni Grimes would see it.

So via his memoirs "Bridging Troubled Waters," this man, who knows so many people, can himself be known... .

Posted in Black history Books & reading Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research God & York County Local journalism & Web Nostalgia & memories People War World War II York Town Square

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The Yellow Breeches Creek is an appealing recreational waterway. But there are dangers on even the most scenic streams. Background posts: 'The Edison of the Cumberland Valley', When the bridge over the Codorus moved and Picturesque bridges going way of covered predecessors.

The scenic Yellow Breeches, scene of a drowning death this week, is an often-overlooked part of York County.

The presence of the low-head dam where the drowning occurred suggests its water power was harnessed to run a mill.

For years, covered bridges have crossed it and then their metal replacements.

For years, it has served as York County's northern boundary, giving the top angle of the triangular-shaped county a snakelike border... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Small-town life Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square

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York County's second female state legislator has decided to call it quits in Harrisburg.

Bev MacKereth, a four-term Republican legislator, is taking a position as the executive director of the York County Human Services Department.

Interestingly, in a legislative world of long terms, York County's first female state legislator also served a relatively short time.

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web People Women's history York Town Square York celebrities

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York County has produced many star athletes, but not that many Olympians in recent years.

There were those decades that weightlifters from York Barbell were kings of that sport. About 40 lifters, coaches or trainers with ties to York Barbell went to the Olympics, and earned 11 gold medals.

And, according to the York Daily Record/Sunday News sports department, Hans Gerhard Boetzelen won a silver in 1932 in rowing (double sculls).

And Robert Sohl won a bronze in 1948 for the 200-meter breastsroke.

And Linda Myers picked up a fifth and seventh places in 1972 and 1976, respectively.

Recently, the county has produced two medalists.

Scott Strausbaugh picked up a gold in canoeing in the 1990s.

And the most recent medalist, Whitney Metzler, won a medal in swimming in 1996.

Now, Whitney Metzler is back in York... .

Posted in Events For photo fans Local journalism & Web People School days Women's history York Town Square York celebrities York sports

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That mile-a-minute vine, with supposed York County origins, that is becoming viewed as the kudzu of the east?

Well, its origins are actually are muddy. But it's damage is clear, as evidenced by the damage it's causing to tree and other plant life at Lake Redman.

Teresa Boeckel of the York Daily Record/Sunday News (6/29/08) explored the weed and its supposed origin at a nursery in southern York County:

Posted in Events Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Small-town life York Town Square

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This Civil War poster can be accessed at http://www.inyork.com/gettysburg. Readers can pan or scroll to read the presentation. Background posts: Gettysburg Visitors Center gets buzz but courts to decide about old cyclorama, Gettysburg battlefield produces steady supply of news and History making evening on rebel surrender of York.

Several things came together to inspire the York Daily Record/Sunday News to produce the poster "A soldier's life."

The opening of the new visitors center at Gettysburg is one. And it's the 145th anniversary of the battle. Interest grows on these fifth-year anniversaries.

And York County's interest in the Confederate occupation is increasing. (See the beefed up York Daily Record/Sunday News Web site East of Gettysburg... .

Posted in Books & reading Civil War Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Quizzes & (fun) tests War York Town Square

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Tourists looking at downtown York's many sites may wistfully view winding steps leading to the closed-down Continental Square comfort stations.

Up to 1978, these underground restrooms, nearing their 80th birthday, were consistently open.

Since then, they've been closed, opened and then mostly closed, depending, in part, on the financial condition of the city.

But these restrooms are grounded in history... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories Unsung/obscure sites War World War II York Town Square

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Confederate Gen. Jubal Early issued this handbill touting his magnanimity in not burning the town. Some people in York saw the address as an attempt to undermine the authority of the U.S. government. Background posts: The horrors of Civil War struck York after Sumter, Chambersburg seminars spread awareness of south central Pennsylvania Civil War history, Was York's surrender justified?

A large crowd attended a panel presentation this week on the Confederate occupation of York - the invasion that commenced 145 years ago today.

A suggestion that seemed to resonate was to hold a daylong symposium on various aspects of the town's surrender and occupation. With more time, we could present a true pro/con on the surrender decision, something beyond the scope of this week's panel.

Stay tuned for all that.

The following (to be published in the York Sunday News - 7-29) is adapted from my opening and closing remarks as moderator of the panel made up of Mark Snell, Scott Mingus, June Lloyd and Scott Butcher:

Posted in A.B. Farquhar Civil War Events Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks War York Town Square

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Charlotte Halpin and others from C.B. 'Red' Klinedinst's bike shop pose outside the store at 113-117 S. Duke St. in York, circa 1950. Now it appears the shop's days are numbered. Background posts: Cyclist uses legs on York County rail trail, York County rail trail extension to follow canal towpath and Downtown thrived in post-World War II York.

York County's rail trail system has revived interest in local cycling.

But county residents were taken to cycling 100 years ago, as evidenced by the establishment of C.B. "Red Klinedinst's" shop, still in operation.

Those were days when bike races on the track at the York Fairgrounds were well attended.

Back then bikes meant bicycles, not Harleys... .

Posted in Explanations/controversy For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories People Wheels of York Women's history York Town Square

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'All in One Room,' a 100-page book on one-room schools in York County and beyond, is back from the printers. To order the $34.95 book, call 717-767-6397, stop by 1891 Loucks Road or York Borders or check on the Web at http://www.inyork.com/schoolhouses. Background posts: Can you name this mystery school?<, No church-state separation here and One-room schools fascinate readers.

York Weekly Record editor Joan Concilio noticed the stirring of intense interest when handling print and Web stories involving one-room schools.

She created a one-room school Web section that just served to generate even more interest.

Then she floated an idea: Why don't we do a one-room school book.

That concept became reality, and the York Daily Record/Sunday News' "All in One Room" returned from the printers today.

And it contained the following introduction by Joan Concilio with a poignant story about John O'Keefe, who was in a one-room school most of his long life:

Posted in Books & reading Explanations/controversy Farms & fields For photo fans Genealogy/research Local journalism & Web Local landmarks Nostalgia & memories People School days Small-town life Unsung/obscure sites York Town Square

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