Weekend Features, Fayette Italian Heritage Festival - 8/26/2012

Mary Ferro (middle) of Pittsburgh teaches festival attendees including Fran Gigliotti (left) of Greensburg, Maria Pasquini of Washington County and Gianna Bella Maria Dzimiera, 5, of Monessen to dance the Tarantella at the Fayette Italian Heritage Festival in Dunbar Township, Sunday afternoon. Ferro continues her family tradition of teaching Italian dancing in honor of her late parents.

Kendra Moore (top) of Connellsville and her best friend Keithette Quarnick of Uniontown partner up for the grape-stomping competition at at the Fayette County Italian Festival in Dunbar Township, Saturday afternoon. Quarnick is the sister of Walt Vinoski, the owner of Greendance Winery who was supplying the prize of a case of their award-winning wine.

Sara Konopa, 6, of Uniontown enjoys the fun and excitement of the Carousel at the Fayette County Italian Festival in Dunbar Township, Saturday afternoon. Konopa spent the day with her dad at the festival as her mother volunteered as a vendor.

Josh Hoffman of Pittsburgh swallows a large amount of pasta at the Italian Heritage Festival spaghetti eating contest in Dunbar Township, Saturday evening. Hoffman was the first of eight contestants to consume six pounds of spaghetti and subsequently won a collection of gift cards to various Italian restaurants.

Francine Sampson, owner of Mom Maruca's Pizza Shop in Uniontown, chops fresh-grown basil for her homemade bruschetta at the Fayette Italian Heritage Festival in Dunbar Township, Saturday evening.

Dance partners Michelle Hartosh of Uniontown and Earl Marker of Farmington dance together at the indoor arena at the Fayette Italian Heritage Festival in Dunbar Township, Sunday afternoon. Hartosh and Marker have been dance partners for seven years.

Aidan Burnworth, 8, and his grandfather Don Burnworth of Uniontown double team Nathaniel Valente, 10, of Brownsville on the bumper car ride at the Fayette Italian Heritage Festival in Dunbar Township, Saturday evening.

Howard Mincone, juggler and physical comic, juggles five balls at once at the Fayette Italian Heritage Festival in Dunbar Township, Sunday afternoon.

Black/White Photography, Monongahela River - 8/22/2012

Early morning fog over the water - Homestead, Pa.

Railroad bridge spanning the river - Homestead, Pa.

Weekend Features - 8/19/2012

Chloe Nicklow, 7, of Normalville enjoys a front-row ride aboard the American Flyer kiddie coaster at the Bullskin Township Fair, Friday evening.  Nicklow had ridden the coaster several times that evening and was noticeably eager to continue riding.

Makayla Fekety (left), 12, and her friend Maddie Swank, 12, both of Ruffsdale, make the most of their time at the Bullskin Township Fair by enjoying the dizzying effects of one of the rides at the fair, Friday evening. Fekety and Swank come to the fair every year to enjoy the festivities and tractor pull competition.

E.J. Lowery of Uniontown (left) and State Representative Tim Mahoney cut the ribbon for the new Miracle League Field in Uniontown, Sunday afternoon. Lowery, along with his parents and late grandfather, founded the Challenger Little League in 1993 which grew into the Miracle League over the years.

Damian Smith, 3, of Uniontown hits the ball off the tee at new Miracle League Field in Uniontown, Sunday afternoon. This is Smith's first year with the Miracle League following a recommendation from his early intervention group so that he would be able to experience sports play and interaction with kids his own age.

Weekend Features - 8/12/2012

Fran Lemansky of Hopwood spends his Sunday afternoon practicing his chipping wedge on the soccer field at Hutchinson Park. Lemansky chooses the soccer field due to his role as the founder of the Laurel Highlands High School soccer program, several subsequent programs and all the memories he associates with the field. "It's an addiction" he says when asked about the game and the kids. "When they're having fun, I'm having fun."

Kiley Turner of the Nemacolin Wildlife Academy allows kids to touch the tail of Taz, the Argentine Black and White Tegu Lizard at the 21st annual Areford Area Neighborhood Picnic, Saturday afternoon in Areford Park. The event was sponsored by the Areford Area Picnic Committee and was open to all current and past Areford Area residents.

Residents of Connellsville and around Fayette County raise their glasses in toast to the city of Connellsville and its people at the inaugural Savor the Avenue event on Crawford Avenue in Downtown Connellsville. The event was sponsored by the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce with all proceeds benefiting the chamber.

Weekend Features, Fayette/Greene County Fair - 8/4/2012

Aleshia Hissem, 14, of Acme kisses her calf, Joker, for good luck at the Animal Dressing contest at the Fayette County Fair in Dunbar Township, Thursday afternoon. According to Hissem, Joker "likes to watch the Pirates and drink Pepsi."

Mia Cuppett, 9, of Uniontown preps her goat Sweet Pea for the Animal Dressing contest at the Fayette County Fair in Dunbar Township, Thursday. Sweet Pea was a last-minute entry and yet she took first place in the occupation category.

Josh Grimes of Waynesburg helps his friend Lyndsey Huhn (not pictured) prep her lamb Milley for the Animal Dressing contest at the Fayette County Fair in Dunbar Township, Thursday. Milley took first place in the funniest costume category.

Christa Ziefel of West Greene is crowned 2012 Queen of the Greene County Fair by outgoing queen Samantha Morris at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Waynesburg, Saturday afternoon.

Leonard "Duck" Dulaney of Wyanesburgh leads his Belgium Draft horse, Ike, into the stables at the Greene County Fair on Saturday. Dulaney has been working with horses for over 30 years and has been working specifically with Ike for six years.