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7/5/2008 3:32 AM

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WAYNESBURG - Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will bet his hat against the rain on Rain Day July 29.

Ravenstahl will place his bet with Waynesburg Mayor Blair Zimmerman.

In his fifth year as mayor, Zimmerman has placed bets with celebrities such as Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, actor Will Ferrell and real estate mogul Donald Trump. He believes the celebrity hat bets have helped to generate publicity for Rain Day, the annual Waynesburg holiday during which rain has fallen 110 times over the past 133 years.

Celebrities who have lost their hats in the past include Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Jay Leno, the Dixie Chicks and Harry Anderson, whose Rain Day ball cap was a fixture on the bookshelves behind his desk on the "Night Court" television set.

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Ravenstahl became the 59th mayor of Pittsburgh on Sept. 1, 2006, upon the untimely death of Mayor Bob O'Connor.

He was officially elected mayor in a special election on Nov. 6, 2007. The 28-year-old Pittsburgh native holds the distinction of being the youngest mayor of any major U.S. city. He will serve out the remainder of O'Connor's term, until 2009.

Ravenstahl's ascent to the top of Pittsburgh government began less than three years earlier, when he became the youngest member ever elected to Pittsburgh City Council. Two years later, his colleagues unanimously voted him council president.

The mayor is embracing technology to establish Pittsburgh as a technology and research business hub, as well as creating a development environment that makes the city a national leader in green building.

Ravenstahl is a 1998 graduate of North Catholic High School. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington & Jefferson College, graduating with honors in December 2002.

Ravenstahl and his wife, Erin, live in Pittsburgh's Summer Hill neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman, a Waynesburg native, has participated in his share of Rain Days, and he enjoys being part of the entire celebration.

"It's a great time to be in Waynesburg," he said. "I have lived here all my life, and I have always looked forward to Rain Day. It's a great day to be mayor."

The annual Rain Day celebration will feature live entertainment, food, crafts, games and the Miss Rain Day and Baby Rain Day pageant winners.

For more information on Rain Day, call the Waynesburg Borough Special Events Commission at 724-627-8111.

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