Some readers of our YDR Facebook page offered a number of insights into my previous blog posting. Here are some of their tips on finding corners in York County that are better than some far-off lands.
FROM STEVE MILLER: The area near Holtwood is pretty wild. I saw a flying squirrel when I was surveying near there in the 1980s. At the time, I would have called someone crazy if they said they had seen what I had. The area of the Susquehanna near there is awesome. Although the river is technically in Lancaster Co. we have access. I think it is one of the “wildest” places in the State. It’s populated once again with Bald Eagles. How cool is that!
FROM TERRY HAWKINS: Pennsylvania is the most beautiful in the country and York County has some of the most awesome sights to see. … Wrightsville is also beautiful along the river. It’s not till you see some of these things that you understand why people move here from places like Florida and California — it used to puzzle me when I was younger, now I know it’s so much more.
FROM PATRICIA G. McKELLAR: I lived in Europe and Germany for some time. I love driving around York County and being reminded of the German countryside. I always say “No wonder the Germans came here.” It is wonderful.
FROM JEAN DELOUIS: There are some cool places in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Years ago my daughter and I walked around and I took pictures of her at an Egyptian tomb and other settings that made us feel we were in other places
FROM MAGGIE SAMMONS: I recently moved here from Arizona, and I am amazed every time I leave the house. It is so beautiful here.
FROM Heather Bradford Turnage: The old houses make me feel I’m somewhere else!

My wife and I have traveled a lot of places over the years, which is a virtue of growing older and still having our health.
We are in a phase these days, however, of re-discovering our own backyard.
That has taken us on hikes at a number of different parks. We have been concentrating on York County.
The other day, we did a hike around the lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park, a place we have been to a number of times over the years. There are certain bends in the paths that give you views of the water that would rival anywhere else in the world.
“Look,” I said to my wife. “That view is something you could see in Europe or Germany.”
She agreed.
I wish I had taken my camera, so I could show you, too.
People often think that they aren’t having a vacation unless they travel some place exotic. All they really have to do is look for and explore such places a short drive away.
For more on the state parks, go to this link.

I haven’t had a chance this summer to go swimming at the Graham Aquatic Center off North Newberry St. at the park.
But what a gem.
The facility is run by the Y, so members get a discount that can be as low as $75 for a family membership, according to a brochure I picked up there the other day.
The hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., so that is perfect if you have a day off, especially during the week. The daily pass is $8 for the day, or $5 for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Call 843-7884, ext. 263 or 718-1968, ext. 100 for more information about rates or summer events.

Perhaps it is the engineer in me — that gene is most guys that makes us watch with interest construction projects — that had me smiling as I walked around the neighborhood.
Crews are out building sidewalks and perhaps repairing pipes under the roads throughout The Avenues, mostly along streets that split off Pennsylvania Avenue.
York has been doing a good job in recent years of repairing its infrastructure, an intimidating word that doesn’t conjure up much that might be interesting to most people. But the fact is a city can’t grow if all the sewer pipes and utility lines are rotten.
The curbs and sidewalks are a nice touch. Too bad there isn’t enough money to go all out and replace them citywide.

Seems like every year at this time the craziness starts in the city. In our neighborhood, a number of cars were vandalized. Someone walked up or down Lincoln Street in the middle of the night recently and broke out the windows to about five cars.
My guess is that it has something to do with school letting out. Who else would risk their job or stature in their neighborhood except for a foolish teen pulling a prank.

In a quiet corner of Farquhar Park, not far from the community bandstand, two benches serve as memorials to Lillie Belle Allen and York Police Officer Henry Schaad. Allen, a black woman, and Schaad, a white man, both were killed during the 1969 race riots. The community placed those memorials as part of a process to heal the wounds of that awful summer. The trials came more than 30 years after the summer of 1969. One of those charged in Allen’s death was former York Mayor Charlie Robertson, who was a police officer in 1969. He was acquitted and left office a decade ago, retiring to his home in York.
Recently, Robertson was asked to join former Mayor John Brenner and Mayor Kim Bracey to throw out baseballs to start the season at the Sovereign Bank Stadium. All three are credited with supporting baseball in York. Surely, I told a colleague, there is more to this event than just a season-opener gimmick.

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The debate never seems to end over schools and who is to blame for students who don’t take full advantage of the public education system.
I’ve often thought that a basic civics question should be asked from the time each child enters school: Who is going to take care of you when you grow up?
The answer to that question would be telling. When all children answer “I am,” that will be the day our education system is on its way to being fixed.

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Here is a photo I got from Jim McClure, the editor here at the Daily Record/Sunday News.
Pretty interesting. View image Can anyone tell exactly where that is?
Jim has his own blog. Go to this link to see it.

I wrote recently about how litter can be a sign of who cares about a city and who doesn’t, focusing on who leaves trash in their own yards. Joe Stein responded to say that public places full of trash are a measuring stick, too. Luckliy, The Avenues and other neighborhoods have “Angels in the Park” programs that clean up after thoughtless neighbors leave their trash. (For information about city trash rules, go to for more information.) But here is how Joe put it:

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Here is one thing we love about our house in The Avenues — all the nooks and crannies to put a chair and have a cup of coffee or read or just think. Windows by the back yard, windows that overlook the park, chairs on the front porch, chairs on the side porch, a place by the fire. But our house has nothing on the bed and breakfast owned by Jean and Jim Leaman. My wife and I were walking around this weekend when we bumped into Jean, who gave us a tour of their magnificant Victorian house. To learn more, go to this link.