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Higashioka homers twice to power RailRiders past Columbus

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PHOTO GALLERY: Wyoming Valley West Graduation

<p>EDWARDSVILLE &#8212; The borough&#8217;s annual Pierogi Festival drew fans from well below the Mason-Dixon line for its opening night on Friday.</p><p>&#8220;We had family members come up from South Carolina for the event and the food &#8212; especially the clam chowder,&#8221; said Alice Lesecki, of Edwardsville.</p><p>To Lesecki, the event embodied the essence of what a small town should be &#8212; a hub of fun and fellowship.</p><p>In its third year, the event provides people from all over the area a chance to enjoy something to eat and drink, a chance to listen to a variety of music, to visit with neighbors and to take part in fun activities.</p><p>Beyond the food and fun however, the event, organized by the Edwardsville Hometown Committee, aims to promote the borough.</p><p>&#8220;In October 2013, we formed the committee to unite our community,&#8221; said festival committee member Jackie Moran.</p><p>Moran said the festival was originally going to be called the &#8220;Community Festival.&#8221; That name received a lukewarm response from residents and potential vendors, however.</p><p>&#8220;Someone said we should give the festival a food name,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And we thought &#8216;pierogi&#8217; and the idea took off.&#8221;</p><p>Last year the committee, which raised over $5,000 at the festival, donated to the ambulance, police and fire departments. The committee also donated new jackets to the street department.</p><p>&#8220;A favorite of the kids was a pumpkin play day,&#8221; said Moran. &#8220;Every kid got a pumpkin.&#8221;</p><p>Christmas lights funded by the committee were also on display at the festival.</p><p>Max Benjamin, of Wilkes-Barre, said that he grew up on the West Side and enjoyed coming to the event every year.</p><p>&#8220;Its getting bigger and bigger,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And tomorrow, I&#8217;m coming for the food competition.&#8221;</p><p>Denise Johnson, from Community Bank, said the bank sponsors the event every year.</p><p>&#8220;We love to do it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And we&#8217;ll definitely come back year after year.&#8221;</p><p>Johnson said she felt that those on the committee were truly friends and deeply cared about the borough.</p><p>Those who came hungry were not disappointed with everything from the expected pierogi to ice cream, pickles and hot sauce being offered.</p><p>Tamra Smith, of Boyer Brothers Barbecue &amp; Deli, said the &#8220;Polish Prince,&#8221; a sandwich which incorporated pierogi, kielbasa and kraut, was a crowd favorite.</p><p>Mark and Debbie Robbins, of Pi Rho Peppers, offered samples of their hot sauces.</p><p>&#8220;It was our first year here and we&#8217;re a bit away from the center,&#8221; said Debbie Robbins. &#8220;But we&#8217;re enjoying it.&#8221;</p><p>Non-food vendors were on hand to provide information, recreation and support.</p><p>Representatives from Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services said the crowd had been a good one and they were able to give out educational coloring books and pamphlets geared to adults.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">TJ Belt demonstrates how to make different balloon art to Chris Tecotle, 11 of Edwardsville, Hugo, 12 and Irenec Panecatl, 9 of Lynwood. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>TJ Belt demonstrates how to make different balloon art to Chris Tecotle, 11 of Edwardsville, Hugo, 12 and Irenec Panecatl, 9 of Lynwood. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Shannon Shovlin of Plymouth takes a photo of her children Katelyn, 3 and Nicholas, 5 posing behind a pierogi and butter friendship cut out during Edwardsville&#8217;s Pierogi Festival Friday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Shannon Shovlin of Plymouth takes a photo of her children Katelyn, 3 and Nicholas, 5 posing behind a pierogi and butter friendship cut out during Edwardsville&#8217;s Pierogi Festival Friday afternoon. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2></caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Volunteers Michael Malek of Stewarts Town and Laura Konefal Warman of Edwardsville fill pierogi orders during the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Volunteers Michael Malek of Stewarts Town and Laura Konefal Warman of Edwardsville fill pierogi orders during the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival Friday night. </caption3><photoCredit3>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Addisyn Davies, 2 of Edwardsville plays a kids game of golf with help from her grandfather Dave Cordes. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-5-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Addisyn Davies, 2 of Edwardsville plays a kids game of golf with help from her grandfather Dave Cordes. </caption4><photoCredit4>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">John Stevens and The Double Shot Polka band of Swoyersville perform for a crowd at the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival on Main st. Friday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-6-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>John Stevens and The Double Shot Polka band of Swoyersville perform for a crowd at the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival on Main st. Friday night. </caption5><photoCredit5>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-7-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ryan Bobb, 4 of Luzerne gets his face painted as Spiderman by Ernest Wachter of Puppet Meister Productions Friday afternoon at the Edwardsville Pierogi festival. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-7-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Ryan Bobb, 4 of Luzerne gets his face painted as Spiderman by Ernest Wachter of Puppet Meister Productions Friday afternoon at the Edwardsville Pierogi festival. </caption6><photoCredit6>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-1CMYK-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">TJ Belt demonstrates how to make different balloon art to Chris Tecotle, 11 of Edwardsville, Hugo, 12 and Irenec Panecatl, 9 of Lynwood. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-1CMYK-1.jpg</photo7><caption7>TJ Belt demonstrates how to make different balloon art to Chris Tecotle, 11 of Edwardsville, Hugo, 12 and Irenec Panecatl, 9 of Lynwood. </caption7><photoCredit7>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-2CMYK-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Shannon Shovlin of Plymouth takes a photo of her children Katelyn, 3 and Nicholas, 5 posing behind a pierogi and butter friendship cut out during Edwardsville&#8217;s Pierogi Festival Friday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_ttl061116pierogifestival-2CMYK-1.jpg</photo8><caption8>Shannon Shovlin of Plymouth takes a photo of her children Katelyn, 3 and Nicholas, 5 posing behind a pierogi and butter friendship cut out during Edwardsville&#8217;s Pierogi Festival Friday afternoon. </caption8><photoCredit8>Amanda Hrycyna | Times Leader </photoCredit8></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Annual Edwardsville event pleases visitors once again</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>If you go &#8230;</strong></p><p>The annual Edwardsville Pierogi Festival continues on Saturday at 10 a.m. with a parade at 11 a.m., a cook-off contest at 2 p.m. and festivities continuing until 10 p.m.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Edwardsville Pierogi Festival kicks off