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Local politicians put on hats of a different kind Friday at the Unity Township Senior Summer Picnic.

Township supervisor Timothy Quinn served beverages, and after a lunch that included hot dogs and haluski, supervisor Jacob Blank and state Sen. Allen Kukovich served vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup for dessert.

Entertainment was by the Blair Elton Band, accompanied on accordian by Christopher Feliciani, a judicial candidate for Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.

The event was sponsored by the township's recreation board and board of supervisors, and was held at the Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department social hall.

More than 200 people were addressed by Kukovich; U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy; state Rep. Jess Stairs; Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Ceraso; Ted Kopas, chief of staff for Commissioner Tom Balya; Michael O'Barto, chairman of the board of supervisors; the current Mrs. Pennsylvania, Patty Pezzano; and "Ice Cream Joe" Greubel with Valley Dairy.

Discussion included senior health care.

Recreation director Sherry Sanner-Bolha was pleased with attendance at the township's first summer picnic for senior residents.

"This really confirms the need," Sanner-Bolha said. "Hopefully it's something we can continue to do."

Seen at the event: Blair O'Neal, Bill Reed, Lou Zecchini, John Stevens and Ed Kistler, all members of the Blair Elton Band; former Unity Township supervisor John Stas and wife Ethel; Sharon Sweeney; Ben and Hilda Solick; Folson Foster; Elsie Bossart; Carole Stemmler; Dorothy Hoffer; Erma Stephenson; Virginia Goodman; Helen Stemmler; Chuck and Sally Hines; Miles Nelson; Joe and Phyllis Sable; Betty Veto and Grace Kaminski.

Colonial festival

There was something for everyone at the 10th Annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival on Saturday.

Dave Stoner, vice president of Family Festivals Association Inc., owner of the festival, said in spite of early rain, about 5,000 people turned out Saturday. The event began Friday and concludes today. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"The nice thing is, there's a lot of blacktop, and half of the show is inside," Stoner said. "We still (had) a respectable crowd (Saturday)."

The festival, at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds, in Mt. Pleasant Township, features more than 200 booths selling handcrafted goods, food and other items. Activities include glass-blowing demonstrations, horse and buggy rides, and face painting.

At a Civil War-era encampment, members of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company I, a reenactment group, have been sleeping in a row of tents lined with straw, rain or shine.

Monica McIlvain, of Youngwood, has been minding the camp's company store, selling a variety of items, from tent stakes to canned goods and aspirin.

"I'm sort of the convenience mart for reenacting," she said.

Raina Kellerman, of New Alexandria, was dressed in a black hoop skirt on Saturday. She said her role from the era was as a "professional mourner."

"There were women paid to cry at funerals," Kellerman said. "That's where I come in."

Seen at the festival: Lee and Kim Miller, with sons Job and Jacob; John Wible and son Eric; Melissa Strobel; Edward Bartley; June Arner; Martha Webber; Bill and Carol Heller; Susan Watters; Barry and Michele Burick; Harry and Luetta Smitley; Elmer Knopf and Ngu Mbandi.

Trying some festival food: Pat Hoffman; Pamela Burke and Becky Davis.

Seen visiting the the reenactment: Paul and Carrie Webber, with sons Bobby and Ethan; Jody Miller with son Andrew; and Watson and Margaret Lupher.

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