Chestnut repeats victory in Coney Island’s annual hot dog eating contest

October 7th, 2009 1,725-pound pumpkin takes the prize in OhioCANTON, Ohio — A teacher from Ohio has won top honors in a pumpkin-growing contest with a 1,725-pound behemoth that could land worldwide bragging rights. Christy Harp of Jackson Township near Canton took first place at the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers annual weigh-off Saturday in Canfield.

September 4th, 2009 In water since 1911, Coney Island bell retrievedNEW YORK — A 500-pound brass bell that sank to the ocean floor in a 1911 fire has been pulled out of the water off Coney Island. The 3-foot-by-3-foot bell sat on the pier during the amusement park's heyday.

July 29th, 2009 NYC council votes for mayor's Coney Island renewalNEW YORK — Summer on Coney Island was sweetness by the sea for generations who reveled in the tacky splendor of the Brooklyn beachfront. Visitors still crowd the boardwalk, scarfing down hot dogs on what was dubbed the People's Playground.

July 26th, 2009 Texas man wins Ernest Hemingway look-alike contestKEY WEST, Fla. — A 55-year-old Texan wearing the requisite white beard and sporting a sweater won an Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest — one of the highlights of a six-day annual festival honoring the late Nobel prize-winning author.

July 8th, 2009 Mass. company pulls plug on Conn. power plantWATERBURY, Conn.

July 5th, 2009 LONDON - A man from California wolfed down 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes to smash the previous world record of 66 and to win America's Coney Island annual hot dog eating contest. Joey Chestnut defeated Takeru Kobayashi- six-time titleholder from Japan- in the food competition to retain the title at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating for three consecutive years now, Sky News reports.

July 4th, 2009 NEW YORK - An eating competition held in Coney Island saw three elephants downing 505 hot dog buns, while three of their human contenders downed only 143. Eric "Badlands" Booker, 40, Juliet Lee, 43, and Gravy Brown did their best in the first-ever Elephants and Humans six-minute eating competition, but they were no match for the three circus elephants, Bunny, Susie and Minnie.

July 4th, 2009 Chestnut wins NY hot dog eating match, againNEW YORK — Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hot dogs, capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat. Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., hoisted the American flag and then stood proudly like an Olympic athlete as "The Star-Spangled Banner" played following his 68 to 64½ dog victory over his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi.

July 4th, 2009 Chestnut wins NY hot dog eating match, 3d in rowNEW YORK — Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hot dogs, capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat. Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., hoisted the American flag and then stood proudly like an Olympic athlete as "The Star-Spangled Banner" played following his 68 to 64½ dog victory over his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi.

June 7th, 2009 Sewage concerns close NYC's Coney Island beachNEW YORK — Swimmers are being kept out of the water at Coney Island and nearby Manhattan Beach because of concerns about a sewage overflow. The New York City Parks Department posted signs Sunday saying swimming wasn't permitted at the two Brooklyn beaches.

May 31st, 2009 Japan's Kobayashi beats Chestnut in eating rematchCULVER CITY, Calif. — In a chewy chow-lenge, Takeru Kobayashi outlasted Joey Chestnut when the eating titans faced off to see who could devour the most pizzas.

April 13th, 2009 LONDON - Former tennis star Monica Seles has opened up about her eating disorder that she struggled with for nine years. The 35-years-old Seles said she started eating excessively soon after she was knifed in the shoulder during a match in 1993.

March 31st, 2009 PATNA - Veteran socialist leader George Fernandes, whose Janata Dal-United (JD-U) denied him a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls, Tuesday said he would contest the elections on the nomination of a party and not as an Independent candidate in Bihar. He, however, refused to name the party that would give him the ticket for contesting from the Muzaffarpur constituency.

March 4th, 2009 MOSCOW - A pancake-eating contest in Russia's Kaliningrad region ended in tragedy when the winner died, a popular daily said Tuesday. The incident occurred in the town of Chernyakhovsk during open-air celebrations for the last day of Maslenitsa, or Pancake Week, Sunday.

February 7th, 2009 LONDON - Argentina has expressed unease after learning that Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, is to be deployed to the Falkland Islands as part of his military duties. Britain and Argentina fought a bruising war in 1982 over the Falkland Islands, which are claimed by both countries.