The study of York County history helps create and maintain a sense of place

I'm sharing here my opening and closing comments at the York Daily Record's York History Storytellers evening.

York County writers Joan Concilio, Jamie Kinsley, Scott Mingus, Stephen H. Smith, June Lloyd, Jeri Jones and Jeff Kirkland each presented on their favorite photos, past and present.

I'm hoping that my comments will help explain the importance of the local history enterprise.

So, here's an adaptation of my opening at this fourth annual history storytelling event:

About 4 years ago, we had the idea to have an unscripted panel of about 4 historians who would say a few things and then we'd open it to the public for questions. And that was to be that!

You know, we had planned to make it really simple.

Well, you - the audience - have made it so successful that we’ve added to it with videos, honors to our history contributors who have passed away and more. We’ve moved to larger and larger venues with great sound and visual systems.

It’s become quite a show, and we thank you for that and believe you’ll leave wanting to know even more about York County and its great history.

More:Glenalvin Goodridge: 7 things to know about this pioneering African-American photographer

More:York history: Storytellers will do a show and tell about favorite pictures from the past

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And my closing ... .

Wendell Berry is a farmer, philosopher and writer, who works a small spread in a tiny river town in Kentucky, my own long ago home state.

Berry has written many times that big problems are usually not best solved by big solutions. In fact, big solutions sometimes bring negative implications.

Here's my take on what he's saying: Our large problems often can be dealt with in small steps by our regular personal practices and community work. 

We take very intentional steps toward the right compass point, a long journey in the same direction, one step at a time.

An example of this might be the creation of the national Buddy Bench movement - an idea spawned by Central York first-grader Christian Bucks five years ago. The simple idea: If a child is feeling lonely, he or she can sit on the playground bench. That's a sign for other students to know that a classmate needs a friend. 

Wendell Berry also says many of the problems today enter from the past. He has written: "And so the first right thing we must do today is to take thought of our history. We must act daily as critics of history so as to prevent, so far as we can, the evils of yesterday from infecting today."

This panel of historians on the stage are practicing both of these ideas. They are working to solve large community problems in small steps. And they're doing it with honesty, candor and inclusiveness, pointing out those times we as a community have fallen short and capturing those moments of achievement.

Through their stories or blog posts, on social media, public presentations, and books on the region’s history, members of this panel are influencing public policy making and enhancing the quality of life for all in York County. 

Every book, speech and story is yet another gift to York County residents.

They are building and reinforcing a sense of place - that community identity felt by our residents and those visiting our soil - in York County.