By PAUL BRAVERMAN
Promotions, communications manager,
York Revolution

Local youth teams can win free York Revolution tickets and take the field with the players for the National Anthem this season thanks to PNC Bank, sponsor of the “Field of Dreams” promotion.

Coaches or other recognized leaders of youth groups or teams can enter at any York County PNC Bank location. Winners will be drawn all season, and there is no limit on number of entries during the season and no purchase or customer affiliation with PNC is required to enter. Fans can visit YorkRevolution.com for full contest rules.

York County PNC Branches are located at:

2991 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion
1 W. Market St., York
2430 E. Market St., York
3405 Rosstown Road, Wellsville
2300 S. Queen St., York
1511 Kenneth Road, York
1416 Baltimore St., Hanover
25 Carlisle St., Hanover
453 Eisenhower Drive, Hanover
880 Carlisle St., Hanover

Winning teams will receive 10 tickets to a Revolution home game along with the opportunity to take the field with the players at each position for the National Anthem.

“We’re drawing this for 30 games this season, and the more you enter, the better your chance to have the thrill of running out onto the field with the defending Atlantic League Champs,” said Eric Menxer, Revolution president and general manager.

Winners will be drawn for the season between May and July.

Children and adults are invited to the York County Astronomical Society’s Astronomy Day, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at John C. Rudy County Park.

The event will feature:
– Radio astronomy: listen to the mysterious sounds of the universe using a small radio telescope.

– Solar observing: safely observe the sun through various types of telescopes.

– Solar system walk: help build a scale model of the solar system.

Learn how to use your telescope. Daytime is the best for learning how to use that telescope gathering dust at home, bring the telescope, any accessories and instructions to the observatory to get help from experienced astronomers.

After the event, return to the park at 8 p.m. for a two-hour observing session. See all that the April sky has to offer. Bring your own telescope or view through the YCAS telescopes.

The daytime program is free and will be offered rain or shine. Solar activities will only be offered if it is not cloudy. The evening observing session will only be offered if it is clear or partly cloudy. Call the 578-9109 or check www.ycas.org after 5 p.m. that day if the weather is questionable.

For more information, email info@ycas.org, visit www.ycas.org or call 578-9109.

The York County Heritage Trust will host its third annual Family Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 28 at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum, 217 W. Princess St., and the Colonial Complex, 157 W. Market St.

Featured activities are:

– Museum: A full O scale model railroad display set-up; an airplane-making station; a grain discovery station; an ice block igloo building area; and musical entertainment by Matt Dodd. Tours are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and swing dance demonstrations will be from 2-3 p.m.

– Complex: Rope making and colonial children’s games; exploration of the four-square garden; and clock making. Tours are at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. A program featuring colonial children’s life will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Colonial Court House.

– Explore the York Murals while completing a murals scavenger hunt. Walking tours will be at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. from the Colonial Court House and a family friendly bike ride on the Heritage Rail Trail County Park will begin at noon from the museum.

For more information, visit www.yorkheritage.org.

The York County Department of Parks and Recreation will present a Nature Fun at Home program, 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at Richard M. Nixon County Park.

Parks naturalist Amber Carothers will show participants how to turn backyards into an outdoor haven for kids of all ages. During the program, participants will learn an inexpensive way to create a nature playscape at home. The program is free with no registration required.

For information on this and other programs, go to www.yorkcountyparks.org.

Weis Markets will hold a What Earth Day Means to Me coloring contest for children ages 12 and younger, in stores from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22.

All entrants will color on Weis paper bags. At the end of the contest, each store will choose three winners based on creativity and environmental themes. The winners will each receive $50 Weis gift cards.

The People’s Shakespeare Project, in conjunction with Keystone Art and Culture Center, will celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday with a party, 4-6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the center, 420 Pearl St., Lancaster.

Professional harpist, Hannah Eagleson, will be playing a selection of Celtic and Renaissance music. There will be food and drink and birthday cupcakes for all. A performance of “Shakespeare Love: Hot and Cold” begins at 5:15 p.m.

Tickets for the family friendly event are $15 for adults and $10 for students in advance or $20 and $15 at the door. For tickets, visit www.KeystoneArt.org.

Penn State York student Rose Marie Devlin is collecting books to be given to children during a book fair at 9:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. April 19.

The book drive is part of her internship with Early Head Start of York County. Drop-off boxes can be found on the Penn State York campus, in the lobby of the main classroom building and outside the Lion’s Den of the Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center. Books will be gathered through Tuesday, April 17.

For more information, email Devlin at rmd183@psu.edu.

The York County Department of Parks and Recreation will present a Salamander Stroll, 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Richard M. Nixon County Park.

Naturalist and amphibian expert Gretchen Young will lead this indoor and outdoor experience. Participants will learn about the interesting lives of local amphibians and also have a chance to go outside and look at these fascinating critters. Participants will look for frog and toad eggs, adult frogs and toads and native salamanders, and listen for mating calls.

Participants should dress for the weather. There is no fee but registration is required. For more information and to register, please contact Nixon County Park at (717) 428-1961.

Autism York is sponsoring its annual Autism Expo, Walk for Autism, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at Central York High School.

The two-themed event is held indoors. The expo features a vendor fair, a talent showcase, a supervised children’s play area, and family activities. Admission is free. The walk is held on the gymnasium track. To become involved, go to www.autismyork.org and click on the Expo & Walk tab for participation information.

The event is a major fund raiser for the organization, to support the ongoing free programs offered to local families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders.

For more information, call Stacy Kunkel at 578-5217 or email info@autismyork.org.

The Red Brick Bakery & Tea Room, 55 N. Main St., Red Lion, is hosting an American Girl Doll Tea Party at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15.

The menu will be a three course kid-friendly meal. Participants will make a take-home craft for their dolls. Bring-your-own doll for seating at a special table.

The cost is $14 per person and reservations are required by calling (717) 332-7427.