That’s how they roll in Hermitage

The Mahoning-Shenango Valley now has a second roller derby team, an upstart squad comprised mainly of former members of the first team.

The newly formed Pennsylvania Underground Roller Rebellion (PURR) will play its first match Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Olympic Fun Center in Hermitage, Pa., against the Pittsburgh East Roller Villains.

PURR has 11 skaters from Mahoning, Trumbull and Mercer counties and is looking to recruit more (go to its Facebook page for information). The new team is followng the path first skated by the Little Steel Derby Girls, whose home track is the Salem Fun Factory in Salem.

What sets PURR apart, however, is co-ed. Men and women skate side by side on the track.

Little Steel, on the other hand, is in an all-girl league.

PURR player-spokeswoman Chelsea Miller – like most of her teammates – played for Little Steel before jumping to the new team. She is joined by skaters from Boardman, Cortland, Masury, Girard, Sharpsville, Hermitage and other towns.

Saturday’s match is being billed as “Valhalla in the Valley,” a celebration of Norse fighters. It will be followed by a Goths vs. Danes scrimmage. Not sure exactly what that entails, but fans who dress as a Viking will get a free raffle ticket.

Admission is $12 ($10 in advance at www.bpt.me).

There was no word on when – or if – PURR and Little Steel will go at it head-to-head.

ROBERTO’S NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS

The Greater Youngstown Italian Festival is this weekend and – as has become its custom – will be open for lunch today and Friday.

Naturally, that isn’t welcome news for downtown eateries who mainly rely on the lunch trade from office workers. The festival’s arrival sets off grumbling every year in those quarters. Some eateries have been known to close for lunch on festival Friday.

At Roberto’s Ristorante, the lunch trade had already sunk so low that the West Federal Street establishment dropped it altogether earlier this summer.

But as of a few weeks ago, Roberto’s expanded its hours in another direction. It began opening on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. to cater to families who want an Italian feast after Mass.

The sit-down restaurant with a traditional menu made the move in response to requests from its customers, said co-owner Debbie Calcagni. She pointed out that Roberto’s will be open all weekend, with the Italian festival right at its doorstep.

WEST VIRGINIA DERBY PARTY

It’s West Virginia Derby weekend at Mountaineer Racetrack-Casino near Chester, W.Va. Post time for the big race is 5:10 p.m. Saturday, but the festivities will begin Friday with a show by comedian Billy Gardell. The fun continues Saturday with the Third Turn Party, which starts at 11 a.m. at the track. Like the derby, it is free to the public. Tickets for Gardell’s show start at $25; call 800-804-0468.