Jeff Stike recorded his 'Gettysburg' album in the living room of his Peach Bottom Township home. Stike, who has ancestors who fought in the Civil War, scoured books for accounts of the battle from soldiers who lived through it. He used those to create his song lyrics. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS--JASON PLOTKIN)

Jeff Stike could talk about the Civil War for hours.

"It's just the humanity of it," he explained. "When you put yourself in that position and think about what these men did ... it illustrates what a human being is capable of."

About two years ago, Stike decided to write a series of songs about the Battle of Gettysburg. He picked away at the album, scouring Civil War texts and carving out time in the wee hours to record music. He got lost in first-hand accounts of the war, and the project morphed into an oral history of the battle through song. The soldiers, he said, would tell their stories once more.

At the time, the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg wasn't on his radar. But the finished product - released last month - will coincide with battleground activities this summer.

Stike grew up in Street, Md., just across the Mason-Dixon Line from York County. He said he's always been interested in military history. His grandmother's brothers served in World War II. His uncles are Vietnam War veterans. On trips to his grandparents' North Carolina farm, his family stopped at Civil War battlefields.

"Little boys love that kind of stuff," he said.

Music was also a part of Stike's upbringing. His parents sang in church. They added guitars when they got home.

Stick picked up a six-string when he was 8. His uncle taught him country and bluegrass tunes. He learned music theory and became a session musician and studio producer. In his teens and 20s, Stike played classic and Southern rock with garage bands and wrote gospel songs.

Around that time, he took his first trip to Gettysburg and fell in love with the place. It was close enough to his home that he felt its history. Then, he found a family connection while researching Civil War genealogy.

That led Stike to a group that acted as the 4th regiment of the North Carolina infantry during Civil War re-enactments. They

Jeff Stike of Peach Bottom Township did research for his 'Gettysburg' album with books, including 'East of Gettysburg' by Jim McClure. Stike's album contains 17 original tracks and narrations that follow Union and Confederate armies through the Battle of Gettysburg. Stike didn't set out to make the album for the 150th anniversary of the battle, but he said the CD, released last month, will coincide with festivities this summer in Gettysburg. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS--JASON PLOTKIN)

Stike said his great-great-grandfather eventually dropped "leather" from the family name to make it shorter. About six years ago, Stike met 4th regiment re-enactors in Gettysburg and has since obtained a copy of John Stikeleather's war memories from the University of North Carolina.

Stike said he just kept reading about the war. Another moment that captured his curiosity was when Union troops burned the Wrightsville Bridge to prevent Confederate forces from crossing the river.

"When I realized how that all played into it, I thought, 'what a great story to tell for myself and for everybody,'" he said. "That's what started it all."

The album began to take shape. Stike wrote notes and lyrics in a spiral bound notebook. He used his small, in-home studio to record songs, mostly between 4 and 6 a.m. - when he said his voice and mind were fresh. He played all the instruments on nine acoustic tunes and added narration to walk listeners through the events leading up to and during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Local musician, history teacher and friend of Stike, Matt Kineke, helped edit the project. Mike Males, who runs the local music site MyRuralRadio.com, heard about Stike through other area musicians. They finally ran into each other at a Rutter's several months ago.

"I love the guy's voice," Males said. He offered to help Stike finish the project by designing the cover art and a color-coded battlefield map to accompany the music. Stike started to play with Males' band American Hollar.

"The last two months have been harder than the last two years," said Stike, who spends most days working jobs with his backhoe loader and dump truck. "It's a busy time."

The finished "Gettysburg" CDs arrived in April, and Stike started to book Civil War-related gigs. He played during Jeff Shaara's book signing at a branch of Harford County Public Library. The author, who's written several books related to the Civil War, signed a CD for Stike. Next month, Stike will give guided tours of Gettysburg using his album.

Stike, 41, who now lives in Peach Bottom Township, has never re-enacted before. But he's been invited to carry the flag for a Virginia regiment during the re-enactment of Pickett's Charge July 3 in Gettysburg.

"I don't think the clothes will fit a dude my size," Stike, who's 6-foot-4, observed with a laugh.

But he's excited to act out the Civil War tactical moves, mistakes, heroics and turning points he wrote about in songs.

"It's your grandparent's grandparents," Stike said. "It's not that long ago. I really enjoy telling the story for future generations. People need to know it and learn about it. It's about as beautiful and moving of a story as you can get."

Hear Jeff Stike

• June 28 - John Wright Restaurant, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville


• June 29 concert and battlefield tour - Hotel Carlisle, 1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle


• July 1, 2, 3 and 4 - Flex & Flanigan's, 240 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg


• Album is available at these stores in Gettysburg, Maryland and southern York County: Flex & Flanigan's, The Regimental Quartermaster, The John Wright Restaurant and Store, The Whiteford Pharmacy, The Whiteford Business Center and Scotty's Liquors, Music Land, Jarrettsville Pharmacy, Dave Kings Auto, The Farnsworth House, Noteworthy Music, Aces High


• For details, visit jeffstikemusic.com.
  

  Civil War memories from Stike's great-great-grandfather

  
  

  Our stay in (Pennsylvania) up to the opening of the battle of Gettysburg July 1st was quite pleasant. The battle opened some few hours before sundown. The town of Gettysburg lay almost in our immediate front; and, between us and the towns in some large fields were two or three lines of battle plainly visible. We swept right over the field, never stopping till the left of our brigade which was the fourth regiment rested in the main street of the town.

  
  

  The grand artillery duel the next two days, the world renowned charge of (Pickett's) division and other commands in Longstreet's corps, the fourth day of the fight and the final result of the battle are all matters of history not necessary to detail here. There was in some particulars, as much of the pomp and circumstance of war as much of that that was terribly and grandly sublime in the battle scenes of Gettysburg as was (seen) on any other field during the war. North Carolina again poured out much of her best blood. It required more than ordinary courage to go into battle with a gloomy presentiment hanging over the mind. It was never my lot to have to pass (through) such a trying ordeal (as some of the other troops), whether I could have done so, has often been a question in my mind.

  
  

  The panic among the citizens of Gettysburg was very great the evening of July 1st as we swept into the town, no men were seen anywhere they had left home or were (concealed) somewhere. The panic among the women and children was (pitiable) to behold, they imagined us to be no better than some semi barbarians and ... it is not to be wondered at that they were badly frightened. Our officers used their utmost endeavors to prevent violence of any kind to them in person or property.

  
  

  A little after dark a comrade asked me to go uptown with him, saying, he had found the cleverest family of people he had ever seen. (I) consented to go with him and see for myself. I found it as he had said. The family consisted of a mother and two daughters, one eighteen years old perhaps, the other not more than six years old. The husband and father had fled the city upon our approach. He was an editor, and I think Chancellor of the University of that place. The family's position was socially good, and, notwithstanding the trying circumstances under which they were placed, they exhibited much of refinement in their conduct toward the soldiers.

  
  

  I remained with the family till ten o'clock, when I spoke of returning to my regiment. Mrs. K (the eldest daughter) then said if I could not stay with them, that she would not remain at her own home that night, but go to a relatives nearby, and, asked me to accompany them to the house of the friend before I returned to my regiment. This I cheerfully consented to do. After gathering up two or three baskets of valuables, the family under my escort went out from their home a few blocks distant to the place mentioned above, where I left them, and have never seen or heard from them since, but sincerely hope no harm befell them.

  
  

  - Excerpts from "Recollections of the Civil War in the United States" by John A. Stikeleather, Olive, N.C., May 27, 1909; Obtained from the University of North Carolina by and submitted by Jeff Stike

  
  

  Related story

  
  

  Civil War battle inspires songwriter to tell stories

  
  

  About "Gettysburg" album

  
  

  The album contains 17 original narrations and songs by Jeff Stike. He used quotes from accounts of the Civil War from Union and Confederate soldiers. The music takes listeners through key moments leading up to and during the Battle of Gettysburg. The CD package contains a color-coded battlefield map to accompany the songs. Here's what the liner notes say about each track:

  
  


• "Brandy Station" (June 8, 1863): Gen. Robert E. Lee arrives at Brandy Station, Virginia, to meet with his Chief of Cavalry, J.E.B Stuart. Stuart's troopers paraded and charged their horses past Lee causing an enormous dust cloud, which gave away Lee's position. That evening 11,000 Union soldiers moved along the opposite side of the river, planning an attack at daybreak that would cripple Stuart's Cavalry. On June 10, Lee headed into Pennsylvania, without his Cavalry.


• "Wrightsville Bridge" (June 28): Thousands of Confederate soldiers march through York. Twelve miles to the East, Gen. John Gordon bombards Wrightsville in an attempt to capture and control the Wrightsville Bridge. After an hour and a half battle, Union Gen. Jacob Frick gave the order to destroy the bridge. The heroic stand and burning of the Wrightsville Bridge effectively ended Lee's plan to capture Harrisburg


• "Hold This Ground" (July 1): Union Gen. John Buford's dismounted cavalry meets Gen. Henry Heth's Confederate Division on the Chambersburg Pike near Herr's Ridge. Buford's badly outnumbered men hold long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The morning standoff is broken at 3 p.m. when Confederate troops pour in from Carlisle and York. The Union Army retreats back to Cemetery Hill, where they regroup.


• "Go Around" (July 2): Lee had not planned on fighting at Gettysburg, but without Stuart and his cavalry, Lee was blind in enemy territory and decided to stand and fight. Gen. Longstreet would plead with Lee not to fight here or attack the high ground of Cemetery Hill.


• "Strong, Lucky or Dead" (July 2): Longstreet attacked after 4 p.m. By that time, Union Gen. Dan Sickle had disobeyed orders and moved his men into the areas between the Peach Orchard and Devil's Den - directly in the path of Longstreet's attack. Some of the most savage hand-to-hand fighting of the war happens here.


• "The Round Tops" (July 2): The Confederate Army began to swarm up the slopes of Little Round Top. Their attempt to capture the high ground and flank the Union Army was stopped by the 140th New York and Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine. This track uses recording of Confederate soldiers from a Gettysburg reunion in the 1930s.


• "Musket balls & Blade's" (July 3): Lee's new plan was to cut the Union line in half. At 1 p.m., Lee unleashes 150 cannon in an attempt to clear the guns off Cemetery Ridge. For two hours, cannons dueled until smoke reduced visibility. At about 3 p.m., 15,000 Confederates started the 1-mile march toward the Union line on Cemetery Ridge.


• "Soldier's Prayer" - As the Confederates crossed the field, shells began bursting in the midst of them, taking down whole rows of men. Still the Confederates pushed forward. There was little more they could do but pray.

The York City School District is looking at no tax increase in its 2013-14 budget just a few months after it looked as if taxes could increase substantially.

The proposed $114 million final budget, set for a vote Wednesday, June 19, is based on an assumption that more students will come back from charter schools, cutting down on charter tuition payments, and on the district receiving a loan from the state, said business manager Richard Snodgrass.

Those two measures would eliminate the need for a tax increase, which would be a welcome respite, since taxes have gone up nearly 14 percent the past two years.

"We just couldn't go there this year," said board president Margie Orr.

York City previously considered raising taxes by as much as 5.67 percent, which would add $94 to the property tax bill of a $50,000 homeowner.

With a zero tax hike, the mill rate would remain at 33.74, still the highest in York County.

"The belief here is the taxes in the city are high enough. In the long run, it's counterproductive to be raising taxes any further," Snodgrass said.

Working together: Snodgrass said he and chief recovery officer David Meckley have been working in tandem on the plan.

Meckley was appointed by the state in December to help right the district's finances and implement a financial recovery plan.

The zero-tax hike budget "represents confidence in the recovery plan to improve the district in a way that brings more eligible students back to the district over the next few years," Meckley said. "With the provisions of the recovery plan and students coming back to the district, the long-term financial condition of the district will improve."

The $11 million no-interest loan is part of that plan to help York City get out of debt in the next two years, along with improving district academics with themed magnet schools to help lure students back to city schools from charters. The district was facing a $10 million deficit next school year.

Snodgrass said the budget would also avoid program and staff cuts, another major departure from recent years in which every budget seemed to include furloughs and program reductions.

"We really are at a staffing level that we need to maintain," Snodgrass said.

Online learning: In other district financial news, York City schools are getting a $30,000 federal grant to help implement online learning programs.

The district might use the money at the high school level to help with math instruction.

- Reach Andrew Shaw at ashaw@yorkdispatch.com

YCEA is participating in FirstEnergy's Regional Marketing Support Program as a part of the South Central Team PA region, along with Adams County Economic Development Corporation, Greater Reading Economic Partnership and Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation.

MD&M East 2013 is part of the organization's business attraction/foreign direct investment strategy.

Participating York County companies planning to attend are encouraged to contact YCEA in advance and visit the Team Pennsylvania booth, #2635.

Companies not attending the show can contact Katie Miles to discuss ways in which the YCEA may be able to promote or assist their company at MD&M East.

MD&M East will bring together five shows covering the following clusters: medical device manufacturing, packaging, design and manufacturing, automation/assembly, and sustainability manufacturing solutions.

The fifth annual Aviation Days will come to the York Airport next weekend, and there's a lot of buzz about a new feature.

The event, presented by York Flight Training, will feature a Father's Day-friendly display of antique World War II airplanes and food for sale, as well as helicopter rides and WWII-era T-6 Texan rides.

The free event is held at the York Airport, off Route 30 near Thomasville.

"It's just kind of an open house," said Steve Nagorny, York Flight Training's co-owner.

And a special exhibit, the Rise Above Traveling Exhibit, will come to Sovereign Bank Stadium to educate attendees about the Tuskegee Airmen, black fighter pilots who overcame adversity in WWII. The display, featuring a panoramic theater presentation, will be open to scheduled groups from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday prior to the open house.

The theater, housed in a semi rig, seats about 35 people and will present a video about the Tuskegee Airmen. The exhibit also features a P-51C Mustang and travels to air shows, events and schools across the country.

Nagorny said the event usually welcomes a wide range of ages and people, such as those who have never been in an airplane before.

For the city: Dale Pritz, 60, has an A36 Bonanza at York Airport and has been flying since the¥'90s. But he didn't coordinate the Rise Above exhibit because of his love of planes.

He did it out of love for York City.

"I think we need to help the young people in York to understand that they can advance in life," Pritz said. "This (movie) works on the inner city and the young generation to teach them that life can be better."

He said the film brought him to tears.

It illustrates how oppressed the pilots were in the 1940s and how, through their resilience, they came to become the best P-51 fighter group around, Pritz said.

"That was the greatest generation," he said. "And I feel that we need to build the greatest generation again."

Pritz said he wants kids in 2013 to realize their potential.

"If these fighter pilots could do what they accomplished under the circumstances they had, imagine what you can do," he said.

Pritz said the exhibit coming here was made possible by serendipity, and it's likely the only time it will come to York.

"For this thing to show up here, it's never going to happen again," he said.

If you go: A display of antique World War II airplanes will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at the York Airport, off Route 30 between York and Gettysburg.

The event is free, and plane and helicopter rides are $35 and up.

The Rise Above Traveling Exhibit:

Separate but in conjunction with Aviation Days, a presentation on the Tuskegee Airmen, black fighter pilots in WWII, will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at Sovereign Bank Stadium in York City. It will feature a panoramic movie about the pilots and a P-51C Mustang.

The event is free and open to the public. To make a group reservation and receive a free dog tag, call 717-845-7385.

-Reach Mollie Durkin at mdurkin@yorkdispatch.com.

David Stluka/AP

This tiger is no longer on the prowl.

Former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader and high school teacher Sarah Jones is engaged to Cody York, the student she got busted for bedding while he was underage.

RELATED: FORMER BENGALS CHEERLEADER WHO HAD SEX WITH UNDERAGE STUDENT BACK IN COURT

The couple took the next step while vacationing with Jones' family in Florida on Thursday, according to Jones' Facebook page.

Patrick Reddy/AP

Former Dixie Heights High School teacher and Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader Sarah Jones arrives at the Kenton County Justice Center, in Covington, Ky., in July 2012 for a motion hearing on charges of first degree sexual abuse for allegedly having sexual contact with a student when she was a teacher.

This social media page also shows Jones, 28, wearing a ring while kissing York, 19, on a beach.

RELATED: FORMER BENGALS CHEERLEADER TO STAR ON REALITY TV?

Jones secured her probation office’s permission to leave Kenton County, Ky. before leaving for the Sunshine State, reports The Cincinnati Enquirer.

The northern Kentucky woman admitted to sleeping with York when he was a 17-year-old senior at Dixie Heights High School, where she was a teacher.

Patrick Reddy/AP

Sarah Jones (left), the former Dixie Heights High School teacher and Cincinnati Ben-Gal cheerleader, with her mother, Cheryl Jones (right), in court last year.

RELATED: EX-BENGALS CHEERLEADER ‘DEVASTATED’ EX-HUSBAND’S FAMILY

She pleaded guilty last October to felony custodial interference and misdemeanor sexual misconduct for having sex with a student and agreed to never teach or coach children again.

York is now a student at Northern Kentucky University and Jones works as a paralegal with Eric Deters, her attorney.

Jones is suing Scottsdale, Ariz.-based gossip website thedirty.com for $11 million because of two posts that said she probably has two sexually transmitted diseases and had sex with every football player on the Bengals. She denies both allegations.

mwalsh@nydailynews.com

York softball coach Drew McGuire patiently waited for his young team to start winning games.

The Dukes a Class 4A regional title last season but lost most of their starters, so McGuire expected some rough moments this season.

York followed McGuire's expectations, losing five of their first six games, including four to start the season. But the Dukes pushed along during the next three weeks, finally getting over the .500 mark with a 12-11 victory against Glenbard West on April 29.

The Dukes turned their season around, though, with nine wins during an 11-game stretch. York lost both of its games last weekend in the Class 4A state tournament, but McGuire called the season a success.

"These girls went down fighting," he said. "It just wasn't our weekend. These girls are young and we learned a lot from this experience and will only get better.

"They just started believing in their ability. These girls got a ton of talent and they just believed in themselves."

The Dukes (23-16) lost 6-3 to eventual state champion Minooka in Friday's semifinal and fell 5-1 to Barrington in Saturday's third-place game. Junior left-hander Brooke Bandy (15-9) lost both games but held the two potent lineups to a combined 20 hits and eight earned runs.

York senior Gracie Sullivan said team unity carried the Dukes to state.

"I'm glad that we got to end our season at state," Sullivan said. "We never felt pressure. This weekend was rough, but we took fourth place out of so many teams."

With just one senior starter, the Dukes arrived at state ahead of schedule and beat highly regarded Trinity in a sectional final and a hot Sandburg team in the supersectional along the way.

"They've competed all year long against some of the best teams in the state," McGuire said. "We always came up just short. They finally started believing how good they could be. This weekend wasn't necessarily our weekend. It's been an awesome run. It's just looking up for this program. I think the sun is going to shine on York for a few years."

triblocaltips@tribune.com

The York City School District has registered children at three schools for a new cafeteria payment system that scans students' fingers to access their accounts, and the district will roll out the system in other schools next year.

In May, Jackson Elementary School parent Tyease Turner raised concerns about students' finger images being registered without parental consent, after her daughter texted her that morning, saying registration was to occur there.

At the time, the district said the issue was a matter of lack of information, and they would communicate with parents again.

Tamara Willis, assistant superintendent for K-8 education, said Tuesday that after the parental concerns expressed at Jackson, registration for the system was halted for the year. The district will roll out registration at Jackson and the other schools next year.

At the three schools that did register students, she said, parents were given the option of opting out. Their students will continue using pin numbers. It's not something the district encourages, since it will take longer for students to retrieve their lunch account information, she said.

Joseph Otranto, the district's food service director, told the school board Monday that students were registered at Devers, Davis and McKinley elementary schools.

He said that 1,275 children were registered, and the parents of 250 students opted out. That's a bit higher

Otranto told the school board that four sets of parents came in to see the system, some bringing their children. After seeing it, two elected to register their children because the system was "not what they had been led to believe," he said.

District officials have emphasized that the system is not fingerprinting. A letter to parents said the system doesn't store any images permanently, and that the image is made up of more than 16 pressure points converted into a mapped template, stored as a series of random numbers and letters that are linked to a student's number in the point-of-sale system.

Otranto said a handful of teachers and one board member have registered for the system. He said he will be working with administrators on a plan for the next school year.

Summer meals

The York City School District, along with the York City Parks and Recreation Department, will again run a summer lunch program, offering free meals to kids.

Lunches will be served at 12 enrolled sites, like day care centers or others with summer programs, and one open site at William Penn Senior High School, according to Joseph Otranto, the district's food service director.

The walk-in program at William Penn will be offered for students 18 and younger Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays, from June 24 to Aug. 1, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., according to a notice on the district website.

Otranto said the district is adding some efforts to market the program this year. In addition to promotions through radio and print media, the school principals will be making announcements before school ends, and automated phone calls will be made to families before the program begins.

Upcoming events to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in York County:

Saturday

Book signing: Mark Nesbitt, author of "Ghosts and Gettysburg," will sign books from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at Irvin's Books, 2159 White St.

Wednesday, June 19

Book signing: Local attorney Ron Hershner will sign and talk about his new book, "Letters from Home: York County, PA in the Civil War," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at the York County Heritage Trust Historical Society Museum, 250 E. Market St. Hershner's book is based on a collection of 23 letters written to Civil War soldier John Harvey Anderson from his York County family and friends. The event is free.

Thursday, June 20

Walking tour: Historian and author Scott Mingus will host a walking tour of the Confederate occupation of York City beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20. Participants should meet at the northwest corner of Continental Square. Tickets are $12, and advance registration is required. To register, call Downtown Inc at (717) 849-2331.

Saturday, June 22

Re-enactment: On Saturday, June 22, the public is invited to a re-enactment of the Confederate raid on Hanover Junction. The free event will begin at 12:30 p.m. Steam Into History, a group that built a steam train to promote Civil War history, will participate.

Wednesday, June 26

Roundtable: Historians Scott Mingus and Jim McClure will host a book signing and roundtable talk about the Civil War in York County at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26 at the York County Heritage Trust Society Museum, 250 E. Market St. The event is free.

Thursday, June 27

Speaker: As part of the York County Heritage Trust's Distinguished Speaker Series, "Gods and Generals" author Jeff Shaara will appear from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27 at the Country Club of York, 1400 Country Club Road. Reservations are required. For tickets, call the Heritage Trust at (717) 848-1587.

Friday, June 28

Fireworks: Memorial: Rivertownes PA USA, a nonprofit group, will host "Flames Across the Susquehanna: Burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge" on Saturday, June 28 at the John Wright Restaurant, 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville. The event commemorates the destruction of the mile-long bridge, which thwarted the eastward movement of Confederate soldiers bent on marching into Lancaster County. The event will begin at 7 p.m., with fireworks scheduled to begin at 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 29

Exhibit: The York County Heritage Trust Historical Society Museum will open "The Fiery Trial: York County's Civil War Experience," an exhibit to highlight York County's and the southcentral Pennsylvania's role in the Civil War to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 at the museum, 250 E. Market St.

Event: Beginning at 9 a.m. June 29, re-enactors will stage a day of Civil War memorial events at Ketterman Park, 1730 Butter Road, Dover. A talk about Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart is scheduled for 3 p.m. The event is free.

Walking tour: Wrightsville's role in the Civil War will be on display for two days near the banks of the Susquehanna River. Walking tours scheduled for 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 29 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 30 will feature visits to churches that survived the war and the stories of people who lived in Wrightsville during the time. Tickets are $5. Participants should gather at 309 Locust St.

Tuesday, July 2

Re-enactment: The Land Conservancy of Adams County will host a re-enactment of the Battle of Hanover, an engagement that delayed Confederate cavalry on their way to Gettysburg. More than 200 people and horses will re-create the battle scene on the Sheppard Farm in Union Township, Adams County. The 600-acre farm includes some of the land where cavalries fought in 1863. The event is open to the public. Beginning at 1 p.m., spectators can interact with vendors and re-enactors. The re-enactment is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12-18, and those under 12 get in free.

The Box Lunch Revue in downtown York has been on Maria Wilson's summer concert schedule for about 17 years.

Wilson, a contemporary guitarist, plays shows throughout central Pennsylvania, but her lunchtime performances at the shaded outdoor stage in Cherry Lane Courtyard have been some of her favorites.

"I love playing here," she said Tuesday during her show. "It's very chill. It's fun."

Each summer, the free concert series put on by the City of York attracts more musicians than there are performance slots, said Mary Yeaple, York special events organizer.

"As soon as the series is over, they'll start calling and asking to be booked for next year," Yeaple said.

Many of the regular performers, like Wilson, have cultivated a local following.

"When we saw Maria was here, we thought we'd come see her," said Mike Abel of York. Wilson, who plays original compositions and classic rock covers, has a unique sound, Abel said.

The mid-day revues offer "a break from the daily routine," Abel said.

Tom Bodnar of Strinestown and Larry Markel, Mayor of Windsor Township, stopped in for lunch at Central Market, but stayed when they when they heard Wilson start to play.

Bodnar, who has lived in the city for more than 21 years, said he had never heard of the revue.

"It's a nice way to relax," Bodnar said. "She (Wilson) knows her music."

Markel, who also owns a bus company, is planning to make his next trip to the revue a company-wide affair. He said he treats his employees to lunch often and thinks their next trip will be to the revue.

"We'll bring the whole crew in here. It'll be fun," he said.

Wilson underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome in April and Tuesday's show was one of her first following her

Lorrie Hall, of Mount Joy, enjoys a book on Cherry Lane Tuesday while the Box Lunch Revue was happening nearby. The concerts run Tuesdays and Thursdays through the summer. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL)

Giving up music was never an option, she said, because it's part of her identity.

Returning to the Box Lunch Revue was a welcome opportunity for her. When she plays in Cherry Lane Courtyard, Wilson said she feels "that people are really listening."

Up next

The Box Lunch Revue will return to Cherry Lane Courtyard Thursday with a performance by Mossy Moran, an Irish musician.

Moran will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to a news release.

There is no cost to attend, and the revue will run Tuesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 29.

This year's schedule includes a number of local and regional bands, as well as national performers, said Mary Yeaple, York special

Maria Wilson's album covers at Box Lunch Revue on Cherry Lane in York Tuesday. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL)

The concerts will span many genres, including jazz, folk, indie, country, classic hits, Irish, Hawaiian, blues, cigar box guitar.

@hsawyerydr; 771-2032

Heather Wagner looks through 584 individual red threads to find the broken strand to resume production of the red stripes of the Star Spangled Banner at Family Heirloom Weavers in York Township. (Sonya Paclob -- Daily Record/Sunday News )

Red yarn for the red strips of the Star Spangled Banner feeds into the loom. Weaver Heather Wagner watches the loom for any issues Tuesday at Family Heirloom Weavers in York Township. (Sonya Paclob -- Daily Record/Sunday News)

The Star Spangled Banner is being replicated in York Township.

Family Heirloom Weavers will replicate the flag currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

The Maryland Historical Society commissioned the local business because of the company's reputation in replicating material for other treasured American homes and museums.

Their work can been seen in many historical sites, including nine presidential homes. Also, they made reproductions for Steven Spielberg's movie “Lincoln.”

Twenty pounds of yarn for each of the flag's colors were purchased from Maine and weaved at the family-owned business.

The weaving family had bunted other flags before, but not at the size. The replica will be 30 feet by 42 feet.

“We took it as a challenge,” said Matt Barley, vice president of the company.

They studied the Smithsonian's report on the original flag. The yarn must be durable, yet be able to fly.

The flag will be sewn by hand in six weeks at the historical society and scheduled to be flown at Fort McHenry during the Defender's Day in September.

Looking for volunteers

The Maryland Historical Society is looking for volunteers to help assemble the flag. The deadline to sign up is June 19. Check out for more information: www.mdhs.org/events/stitching-history

The

Mary Pickersgill, a local flag maker had sewn the original flag with her family and an African American indentured servant. It took six weeks to complete.

It was made from English wool bunting, loosely woven, lightweight material.

— Source: Maryland Historical Society

Have you seen this man? Police are looking for information for this man who allegedly robbed the Fulton Bank in York Township Tuesday afternoon. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Submitted)

Police are looking for identifying information for this man. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- Submitted)

Update: York Area Regional Police are asking the public to help identify a man who allegedly robbed the Fulton Bank, 2057 S. Queen St. in York Township Tuesday afternoon, according to a news release.

The man is described as a dark skinned white, light skinned black or possible Hispanic man, about 6-feet tall with a muscular build, police said.

He had a very close hair cut or possibly balding dark hair, police added. He was wearing a light blue button-down shirt with dark colored khaki pants and gray framed sunglasses with yellow tinted lenses.

Police said he was last seen leaving the on foot around the back of the bank down Donna Lane.

Anyone with information is asked to call York Area Regional Police at 717-741-1259.

Previously reported

York Area Regional Police are investigating a bank robbery this afternoon at a Fulton Bank branch in York Township, according to York County 911.

The robbery occurred just before 2:45 p.m. at the branch, 2081 Springwood Road. There were no injuries, according to York County 911.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-741-1259 or 911.

PINE GROVE -- West York's magical postseason continues to roll on.

The Bulldogs captured yet another thrilling, come-from-behind victory on Tuesday evening to advance to the PIAA Class AAA state championship baseball game.

Brett Kinneman's two-run, one-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Bulldogs to 5-4 victory over District 2 champion Abington Heights in a semifinal game at Walter Stump Stadium in Pine Grove.

The Bulldogs, the third-place team from District 3, are the defending state AAA champions.

West York (20-8) will attempt to defend its state title at 1 p.m. Friday at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Bulldogs will face District 1 runner-up Upper Moreland (21-4-1), which earned a 3-1 win in Tuesday's other semifinal over Keystone Oaks, the third-place team from District 7.

West York trailed 3-0 entering the bottom of the sixth vs. Abington Heights when the Bulldogs exploded for three runs on Carson Fries' RBI double and Brandon Rauhauser's two-run single.

Abington Heights scored in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead, setting the stage for West York's dramatic winning rally.

Joe Prego started for West York, and Fries came on in relief in the top of the seventh. Fries was credited with the win.

For an updated West York game story, return to this site later Tuesday night.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Gerrit Cole throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of the baseball game on Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Pittsburgh. It was Cole's major league debut. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The top pick in the 2011 draft, Cole allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings after being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day. He began his highly touted career with a three-pitch strikeout - all 96-mph fastballs - of Gregor Blanco and struck out two overall. He did not walk a batter.

Pedro Alvarez went 3 for 3 with a home run to back Cole. Starling Marte also homered and Andrew McCutchen and Russell Martin had two hits each.

San Francisco put two runners on in the first and loaded the bases in the second against Cole (1-0) but failed to score in either inning.

Cole then set down 13 in a row, starting with Marco Scutaro's flyout to end the second. The Giants finally broke through in the seventh inning but the Pirates had built a 5-0 lead by then.

Many of the 30,614 in attendance cheered every move made by the pitcher who is expected to be the Pirates ace of the future.

The sizable crowd for a weekday game, though, caused problems for the organization, which instituted a new security measure for fans entering the stadium. The use of electronic wands slowed down the entrance procedure and Pirates President Frank Coonelly issued an apology during the game.

"We made the decision several weeks ago to enhance the security at the gates beginning with tonight's game, but unfortunately we failed in our preparation and execution. We stopped the wanding procedure at the start of the game and were able to clear the lines at the gates by the end of first inning," Coonelly said in a statement. "The experience was simply unacceptable and we will ensure this does not happen again."

Tim Lincecum (4-6) gave up four runs - two earned - on seven hits in 4 2-3 innings while striking out four and walking two. It was the two-time Cy Young Award winner's fourth loss in his last five starts.

San Francisco reliever George Kontos, who gave up a two-run home run to Alvarez in the seventh inning, was ejected for hitting McCutchen with a pitch in rear end in the eighth. There were a total of four hit batters in the game.

Cole snapped a scoreless tie when he lined a two-run single into right field in the second inning with one out and the bases loaded. Cole did not have hit during his two seasons in the minor leagues, going 0 for 6 with three strikeouts.

Martin, Alvarez and Neil Walker singled to load the bases with no out. After first baseman Brandon Belt reached two rows into the stands to catch Clint Barmes' foul pop, Cole delivered in his first plate appearance.

Lincecum was knocked out during a two-run fifth that pushed Pittsburgh to a 4-0 lead.

McCutchen walked with one and scored from first when right fielder Hunter Pence misplayed Garrett Jones' single on a low liner for a two-base error. Jones then scored on Alvarez's infield.

Marte's solo home run, his sixth, made it 5-0 in the sixth.

Three of the Giants' first four batters in the seventh had hits, including pinch-hitter Tony Abreu, whose one-out RBI double broke up Cole's shutout bid and ended his night. San Francisco closed to 5-2 when pinch-hitter Brett Pill drove in a run with a ground out.

The Pirates answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to increase the lead to 8-2. Martin singled in a run and Alvarez hit his two-run homer, his 14th.

NOTES: San Francisco placed 3B Pablo Sandoval on the 15-day disabled list with a strained tendon in his left foot and recalled INF Nick Noonan from Triple-A Fresno. Arias started at third base. . Pittsburgh placed LHP Wandy Rodriguez on the 15-day DL with tightness in his left forearm to open a roster spot for Cole. RHP Charlie Morton, who had Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery last June, is expected to come off the DL and pitch Thursday against the Giants in Rodriguez's place. . Giants LHP Barry Zito (4-4, 4.06) faces Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (4-2, 1.75) on Wednesday night.

BALTIMORE -- Both teams were outstanding defensively. The pitching was sharp, too.

A well-played game between the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles was ultimately turned on one swing by Nick Markakis, who has made a habit of delivering the big hit in pressure situations this season.

Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run over eight innings and Markakis hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning to give Baltimore a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.

Light-hitting Ryan Flaherty contributed two well-timed hits for the Orioles, whose third straight victory put them a season-high nine games over .500 (37-28). Baltimore will seek to complete a three-game sweep on Wednesday afternoon.

With the score tied at 1, the Orioles used two-out infield hits by Danny Valencia, Steve Pearce and Flaherty to load the bases in the seventh. Left-hander Scott Downs was then brought in to face Markakis, who lined a single to center for a 3-1 lead.

"You want to be in those situations," said Markakis, who's now batting .346 with 10 RBIs when there are two outs and runners in scoring position. "I've faced Downs enough to know what he's going to do up there. He tries to sink the ball in on lefty's hands and he does a good job of it. I was just looking for a ball up in the zone.

"Anything up that I could reach, I was swinging. He left one up over the plate, I put a good swing on it and we scored two runs."

Markakis also made two fine plays in right field, third baseman Manny Machado made several fine pickups and first baseman Chris Davis snagged a smoking line drive that began an unassisted double play.

But Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos made the defensive play of the night, robbing J.J. Hardy of a two-run homer in the first inning. After retreating toward the warning track, Bourjos pressed his body against the wall with a perfectly timed leap, stuck his glove well over the 7-foot barrier and caught the ball.

"When fans come to a game, that's what they expect -- good defense, hitting and good pitching," Markakis said. "You saw that tonight, and it was a good ballgame."

Especially for the Orioles. Los Angeles lost its fourth in a row despite getting a solid outing from left-hander Jason Vargas and a home run by Mike Trout that traveled an estimated 448 feet.

"Both guys were throwing the ball well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I really liked the way Jason Vargas pitched tonight. Three infield hits in the seventh inning kind of set the table for them and they got the big hit from Markakis."

Vargas (5-4) allowed three runs, seven hits and a walk in 6 2-3 sharp innings. The loss ended the left-hander's five-game winning streak -- a run that started with a shutout of Baltimore on May 3.

"That happens when you leave runners on base," Vargas said. "Granted, the balls weren't hit that well."

Howie Kendrick had two hits for Los Angeles, which has dropped nine of 11.

Gonzalez (4-2) gave up four hits, walked one and struck out five.

Jim Johnson got two outs in the ninth before Josh Hamilton doubled and scored on a single by Albert Pujols. Johnson then struck out Mark Trumbo to earn his 23rd save, and third in three games.

Poised to throw his first career complete game, Gonzalez was removed by manager Buck Showalter after throwing 96 pitches.

Asked if he wanted to go nine innings, Gonzalez said, "That would have been fun. But Buck knows what he's doing, and J.J. did a good job finishing the game."

Trout put the Angels up 1-0 in the fourth with his 12th home run, the second in two nights. It's the ninth time in his career he's homered in successive games.

In the bottom half, Hardy was thwarted in a second straight at-bat. After being victimized earlier by Bourjos, Hardy popped a foul toward the seats in left. As Trout prepared to make the catch, a fan wearing a Trout jersey stuck his glove in the way. The ball bounced off the fan's mitt and landed on the ground, but third base umpire Joe West called Hardy out because of fan interference.

Held to two hits through five innings, the Orioles pulled even in the sixth. No. 9 hitter Flaherty singled and Markakis followed with a single that momentarily handcuffed Bourjos for an error, putting runners at second and third. Manny Machado followed with an RBI grounder, providing Baltimore with its first run against Vargas in 15 innings this season.

NOTES: Machado extended his hitting streak to nine games with a first-inning single before being picked off first base by Angels C Chris Iannetta. ... Baltimore's Chris Davis ended an 0-for-16 skid with an infield hit in the first inning, although replays showed he was out at first. ... Jason Hammel (1-3, 7.33 ERA at home) starts for the Orioles in the series finale Wednesday. Jerome Williams will be on the mound for L.A. ... Trout's eight homers against Baltimore are his most against any opponent.

Periodically, over the last few years, Joselyn Martinez would try to find information about the man accused of shooting and killing her father outside his restaurant on Nov. 22, 1986, when she was 9 years old.

Beginning in 2006, she trolled Myspace and Facebook for information. In 2011, she wrote a letter to "America's Most Wanted." Through it all, she spent her own money, dishing out payments of $69.99 to various online search programs that turn up potential addresses and phone numbers for people.

And on Friday, her efforts were vindicated when police arrested Justo Santos on charges he murdered her father, Jose Martinez, outside his Dominican restaurant in the city's Washington Heights neighborhood 27 years ago.

"It's amazing," Martinez, 36, said Tuesday. "I didn't plan for this. It's been surreal."

Police said Santos, whose arrest in Miami was first reported by the Daily News, has made statements implicating himself in the killing. On Tuesday, Santos agreed to let police return him to New York later. He was in police custody Tuesday and wasn't available for comment, and there was no information on whether he had an attorney. He has a Miami court date later this month.

Witnesses to the 1986 killing said they had seen Santos, and he was quickly named by detectives as a suspect, but he fled to the Dominican Republic shortly after.

Martinez, who has appeared in Spanish-language music videos, radio commercials and a video game and wants to be in TV shows and movies, said there was "no plan" in her search efforts over the years.

"It was totally, absolutely in my eyes, totally random," said Martinez, who has appeared on the Dominican TV show "Divertido con Jochy," or "Fun with Jochy."

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters on Tuesday that Santos, 43, had been jailed in the Dominican Republic in an unrelated case about two years after the Martinez killing but served just more than a year before he was released. Kelly said Martinez's case was closed upon news of Santos' incarceration in the Dominican Republic—something that should never have happened.

"They should not have closed the case," Kelly said.

Unlike today, the New York Police Department did not have liaisons in the Dominican Republic at that time.

But Joselyn Martinez continued her own search, saving her search results to a folder on her laptop dedicated to solving her father's killing.

"I didn't suddenly find him. This took years of putting away efforts," she said. "It just took many years, and I felt like I was doing something. I didn't tell anybody. I didn't want people to think I was crazy."

Martinez said in February she met with detectives from a cold-case squad to turn over all the information she'd uncovered, including a search result with Santos' name, address and phone number in Miami. She said detectives from the cold-case squad used her information and traveled to Miami, where they made the arrest without incident.

"I just feel like I had to do it for my father," she said, "and it's up to New York state to decide what happens next."

TUSCALOOSA | Running was once the last sport Kaitlin York might have considered remotely fun. In fact, the first time she ever took a serious fast-paced step, she hated it. Until she ended the run.

“I was about 12,” remembered York, who is now 16, “and my best friend, Olivia Goldsby, made me go to practice with her one day. I did not want to go. I threw a fit about it. She still made me go. I cried. We did maybe 2 miles at NorthRiver (Yacht Club), which is really, really hilly. That day I was pretty dead, but I really liked it.

“There was this guy that I’ve known for most of my life, and there is this hill at the very end, and I beat him on the hill. That kind of made me like it a lot more.”

She joined the track team, and the American Christian Academy junior is now not only outracing guys her age, she made what is believed to be West Alabama road race history two weeks ago at Gordo’s 10th annual Mule Kick 5K. With a time of 19 minutes, 23 seconds, one that’s not even her best and came after taking time off, York was the race winner, besting the field of men, women and children.

It is the first time a female has been the overall winner in Gordo’s Mule Day race. In fact, Tuscaloosa Track Club officer Ed Freeman has been a longtime participant and organizer of running events in West Alabama, and he believes York’s win to be a first in the entire area.

“I’ve been involved with road races here for 12 years, and there’s never been a female in any of our races who has been the overall winner before this. There’s been a girl at UA who came close, but no one that any of us can remember has been the overall winner. And, believe me, as fragile male egos go, I would know. We’d remember,” Freeman said, laughing.

That York is outrunning all of the competition comes as no surprise to her ACA coach, Charles Tiller.

“More than anything in terms of a young athlete is her focus and her drive,” Tiller said. “Most kids today don’t have a lot of goals, or if they’ve got goals, it’s to be well-rounded. They want to do a multiple of things. With Kaitlin, this is what she wants to do. If she had her way about it, it would be the only thing she did. She is so driven. We run a summer program and practice five days a week. Last summer, she missed one day.”

“She’s accomplished a lot, and she’s been consistent at it,” Tiller said of the three-time All-State cross country pick and 2012 and ’13 Tuscaloosa News Springs Sports Track MVP.

York entered her first

5-kilometer race at age 12 at the Nucor 5K in Tuscaloosa.

She is pleased with her accomplishment at the Mule Kick, but she’s taking it in stride.

“I thought some other girls might have won before me,” York said. “I was pretty happy about it, but I think it’s about time for girls to start winning.”

Her prize for the win was a used horseshoe, spray-painted gold, likely the oddest of many trophies that she’ll take home in the coming years.

“I’ve done one 10K, and I loved it,” said York, who typically runs 8 to 9 miles six days a week. “It was long, but it was fun, and my time was decent. I’d like to do it again. I’m not planning on stopping any time soon. I have some pretty big dreams. I want to get into the marathons, the half-marathons someday. It’s something I just really enjoy.”

The West York Bulldogs celebrate their victory over Abington Heights Tuesday.

MORE BULLDOG PHOTOS (John A. Pavoncello)

PINE GROVE --West York delivered another improbable, incredible ending on Tuesday to continue its run through the state baseball playoffs.

The Bulldogs, who refuse to lose, scored their fourth straight victory in their last at-bat to edge Abington Heights, 5-4, in a PIAA Class AAA semifinal.

West York, 20-8, will seek its second-straight state title on Friday when it takes on Upper Moreland, the District 1 runner-up. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Upper Moreland, 21-4, defeated Keystone Oaks, 3-1, in the other state semifinal.

West York, which was just 9-7 at one point this season, has won 11 of its last 12 games to earn a chance to play for another state crown.

"It's awesome," said Bulldogs' sophomore outfielder Brett Kinneman after cracking the game-winning hit on Tuesday. "If you would have asked me if we would have been in this position, I would have said 'heck, no.' We've done a great job of battling the last two months."

The left-handed hitting Kinneman doubled into left-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to score the tying run from third base and the winning run from second base. Kinneman connected with one out and facing an 0-2 count.

"The first pitch was a real good one, and I took a big swing at it," he said. "The second pitch I should have swung at it, but I didn't. After that, I knew I needed to take a two-strike approach and hit the ball the opposite way."

Prior to the drive into the gap, Kinneman lined a ball down the left-field line that landed just outside the foul line.

"At first, I thought it (the game-winning hit) was going to be a sacrifice fly," Kinneman said. "But then I saw he (Abington Heights left-fielder Brad Smertz) was playing down the line, so I thought, 'all right, I might get a double out of this, get two runs in and win the whole thing.'"

That's exactly what happened. The Bulldogs, after being blanked for five innings, scored five runs in their last two at bats.

Trailing 3-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, West York tied the game with four hits.

Cole Bixler started the rally with single, and following an out, Carson Fries drilled a double into right-center field.

Sam Eyler, the courtesy runner for Bixler, kept going around third and headed for the plate. The throw beat Eyler, but his slide hit the catcher's glove and jarred the ball loose to score his team's first run.

Nick Traettino then supplied a pinch-hit single to put runners at the corners.

Traettino stole second, and with two outs. Facing a 3-2 count, leadoff hitter Brandon Rauhauser stroked a clutch two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3.

"I've been struggling all season. I knew I had to come up big for my team there," Rauhauser said. "I did and I'm very happy for it."

Asked how West York keeps putting together game-winning rallies, Rauhauser said: "We play for each other. We don't play for the fans, although they're nice coming so far to see us play, and we don't play for the coaches. We have confidence in each other no matter if we're down 10 runs, down two runs or have two strikes on us."

West York was down by one run heading to the bottom of the seventh after the Comets put up a run in the top of the seventh. However, the Bulldogs again found a way to win.

Brett Kinneman and Carson Fries collected two hits for Coach Roger Czerwinski's club.

"I'm so proud of the way they hustled and battled," Czerwinski said. "Let's face it, that pitcher (Abington Heights' Dave Manasek) shut us down for six innings. Our kids were struggling with the arm angles. He was throwing from three arm slots, throwing balls that were going up, balls that were going down."

West York solved Manasek just enough to gain a return trip to State College.

"It means the world (to be playing in the state title game again)," Czerwinski said. "The kids mean the world to me. They're like my second children. Even if we don't score there (in the seventh inning), I'm so proud to say that these young men represent the school."

Czerwinski was particularly happy for Rauhauser, a team captain, who he said had been struggling a little bit.

"He's our leader, and when he talks, they (the players) listen," Czerwinski said. "He may be 5-foot-6, but his 5-foot-6 rose today and was 6-4 when he hit a base hit up the middle to tie the game."

-- Reach Dick VanOlinda at dvanolinda@yorkdispatch.com.

Like any other savvy skipper on the Chesapeake Bay, Capt. Samuel Travis took extra care when he moored his ship in the York River on the windless evening of June 12, 1813.

For more than four months, the sailors and marines of a relentless Royal Navy blockade had chased down almost every American vessel that came into sight, and the Williamsburg mariner knew his federal revenue cutter would make a tempting target.

That often deadly threat helps explain why — at least according to the best guess of a sailor who knows these waters well — Travis probably moored in an out-of-sight location on the east side of the York River just north of Gloucester Point rather than in the more exposed, less easily escaped anchorage south of the fast-moving current that pours through the narrows.

It also underscores why he and his crew of 24 readied their 6-pound deck guns, laid a small armory of loaded pistols, short-barreled muskets and cutlasses on the deck and then hung boarding netting around the perimeter of their ship before setting the first night watch.

That thoroughness was followed by both courage and determination a few hours later when — after a warning shot fired by their sentry boat — Travis and his men made their stand in one of the storied battles of the revenue service during the War of 1812.

Taking up their weapons in the rain and pea-soup gloom, they fought and held their own in hand-to-hand-combat with a British boarding party more than twice their size, surrendering only after their inch-by-inch struggle across the deck became futile.

"They fought in the face of overwhelming odds, knowing that their chances of success were very slim — and they did it without shirking," says Director David Niebuhr of the Watermen's Museum, which will stage a series of programs commemorating the Surveyor's valiant fight Thursday through Sunday on the Yorktown waterfront.

"This was an honorable defense in every way, and they fought right up to the moment that everyone knew it was useless to continue."

In harm's way

Born into a Virginia family with deep colonial roots, Travis' history of clashes with the British reached back to his childhood.

Though it's not certain if he was living on his family's Jamestown farm during the attack, he certainly would have heard stories of the Nov. 17, 1775, Royal Navy shelling that destroyed their kitchen chimney.

He also would have heard tales about fighting British seamen from his uncle, who served as a captain in Virginia's Revolutionary War navy, and his father-in-law, a Hampton mariner who became Travis' skipper on a revenue service cutter after a heroic war career commanding the brig Southampton.

Still, the experienced sailor knew all too well that his modest ship — armed with only six small guns — was built for speed and fighting smugglers rather than head-to-head clashes with the British navy.

But after President Thomas Jefferson mothballed most of the American navy's frigates in favor of building diminutive gunboats, the revenue cutters were often the only vessels left to fight back during the War of 1812.

"Of 14 revenue cutters that fought in the war, half were lost," Coast Guard Atlantic area historian William B. Thiessen says.

"They definitely were going in harm's way, and they were often on the front line in the fight against the British. So you had a lot of huge mismatches in which they had no choice but to do their best."

Still, Travis' opponents on the night of June 12 were not British frigates or men of war but rather a stealthy flotilla made up of two ship's boats and two large, oar-driven barges manned by as many as 65 sailors and marines from the 32-gun HMS Narcissus.

Standing off at the mouth of the York — and possibly uncertain about navigating in unfamiliar waters — the frigate's captain attacked in a way that had worked again and again against American ships in the Chesapeake Bay, especially those trying to evade capture by fleeing to the shoals.

"The British were very well-trained — and very good at boarding and capturing ships with these fast, maneuverable barges," says Williamsburg historian Stuart L. Butler, retired assistant chief of the military archives branch of the National Archives and author of "Defending the Old Dominion: Virginia and its Militia in the War of 1812."

"So when they sent these boats to attack the Surveyor, they knew exactly what they were doing."

TUSCALOOSA | Running was once the last sport Kaitlin York might have considered remotely fun. In fact, the first time she ever took a serious fast-paced step, she hated it. Until she ended the run.

“I was about 12,” remembered York, who is now 16, “and my best friend, Olivia Goldsby, made me go to practice with her one day. I did not want to go. I threw a fit about it. She still made me go. I cried. We did maybe 2 miles at NorthRiver (Yacht Club), which is really, really hilly. That day I was pretty dead, but I really liked it.

“There was this guy that I’ve known for most of my life, and there is this hill at the very end, and I beat him on the hill. That kind of made me like it a lot more.”

She joined the track team, and the American Christian Academy junior is now not only outracing guys her age, she made what is believed to be West Alabama road race history two weeks ago at Gordo’s 10th annual Mule Kick 5K. With a time of 19 minutes, 23 seconds, one that’s not even her best and came after taking time off, York was the race winner, besting the field of men, women and children.

It is the first time a female has been the overall winner in Gordo’s Mule Day race. In fact, Tuscaloosa Track Club officer Ed Freeman has been a longtime participant and organizer of running events in West Alabama, and he believes York’s win to be a first in the entire area.

“I’ve been involved with road races here for 12 years, and there’s never been a female in any of our races who has been the overall winner before this. There’s been a girl at UA who came close, but no one that any of us can remember has been the overall winner. And, believe me, as fragile male egos go, I would know. We’d remember,” Freeman said, laughing.

That York is outrunning all of the competition comes as no surprise to her ACA coach, Charles Tiller.

“More than anything in terms of a young athlete is her focus and her drive,” Tiller said. “Most kids today don’t have a lot of goals, or if they’ve got goals, it’s to be well-rounded. They want to do a multiple of things. With Kaitlin, this is what she wants to do. If she had her way about it, it would be the only thing she did. She is so driven. We run a summer program and practice five days a week. Last summer, she missed one day.”

“She’s accomplished a lot, and she’s been consistent at it,” Tiller said of the three-time All-State cross country pick and 2012 and ’13 Tuscaloosa News Springs Sports Track MVP.

York entered her first

5-kilometer race at age 12 at the Nucor 5K in Tuscaloosa.

She is pleased with her accomplishment at the Mule Kick, but she’s taking it in stride.

“I thought some other girls might have won before me,” York said. “I was pretty happy about it, but I think it’s about time for girls to start winning.”

Her prize for the win was a used horseshoe, spray-painted gold, likely the oddest of many trophies that she’ll take home in the coming years.

“I’ve done one 10K, and I loved it,” said York, who typically runs 8 to 9 miles six days a week. “It was long, but it was fun, and my time was decent. I’d like to do it again. I’m not planning on stopping any time soon. I have some pretty big dreams. I want to get into the marathons, the half-marathons someday. It’s something I just really enjoy.”