This year marked my third consecutive Latrobe Fourth of July parade which is always a challenge to make different every year, as stated in my June blog. But red, white and blue flags, balloons, hats and floats always create for compositional fun.
July also showcased a fireman's carnival, farmer's markets and other summertime features as well as the midpoint of our intern Alexandria Polanosky's time with our staff. Personally, I was fortunate to have another young woman on our team to share anecdotes about sexism and unwanted advances while working in the field.
Not only is she a great listener and friend, she took the time to help me get to and from a rental car shop to ease an insurance claim. Ironically, my parked car was hit by a fireman's truck in a parking lot at a fireman's convention on my way to cover a fire (the first frame shown below was quickly photographed while standing on a fire truck before learning of my severely dented car caused by a fire chief and racing to the far-away fire). What are the chances! Only in a journalism career...
A firefighter is silhouetted against the setting sun and hose puddles as he and others from New Haven, Connellsville Township, South Connellsville, Everson, Dunbar, Morrell, Monarch, Dawson and DL&V companies compete in the gear scramble during the Fayette County Firemen’s Convention on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in Connellsville.
Army veteran Darrell Moody, 88, of Latrobe watches floats from inside his assisted living home during the 4th of July Parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Latrobe. "I am a World War II veteran, a Korean veteran and a veteran here (in the home)," Moody said laughing.
John Clarchick of Greensburg watches a fleet of antique John Deere tractors roll along during the 4th of July Parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Latrobe.
Members of New Haven compete in the tug-of-war during the Fayette County Firemen’s Convention on Friday, July 24, 2015 in Connellsville.
Mike Bazley and his wife Ina of Simply Acres in New Derry are silhouetted against the first sunny day in a week as they discuss their grass-fed meats to customers during the Greensburg Community Farmers’ Market on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Lynch Field. Bazley said he received a letter yesterday naming him the farmer of the year by the Westmoreland Conservation District.
Penn-Trafford's Casey Aunkst and Jeannette's Julian Batts, the Tribune-Review's Athletes of the Year, are photographed on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at Penn-Trafford High School. Aunkst, who will be playing soccer at Duquesne University, holds the school record for football field goals, basketball all-time assists and was named all-state for soccer. Batts, who will be playing basketball at a junior college in Connecticut, is the school's second all-time leading scorer and a star quarterback.
A boy waits for a storm to pass with his skateboard under the shelter of a parking garage on Thursday, July 10, 2015 in Latrobe.
John Richey of Connellsville wipes sweat from his eyes under the bleachers at Falcon Stadium during the 33rd John Woodruff Race on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 in Connellsville. The race honors the late John Woodruff, a South Connellsville native and gold medalist runner at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
Caroline Tressler, 5, of Grapeville kneels and prays for the Pittsburgh Steelers during a Black and Gold service on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at St. Vincent Basilica in Latrobe before the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.
Larry Woodward walks past his burned house on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 1629 Route 130 in Unity Township. Oxygen tanks, acetylene tanks and ammunition were present in the building, said Fire Chief Rich Levay Dry Ridge Fire Department.