CELEBRATING A SLICE OF AMERICANA.Byline: Serena Maria Daniels Daniels is a surname that may refer to:
SUNLAND-TUJUNGA - Within an hour of recruiting for a watermelon-eating contest at the annual Lions Club fair Saturday, about 30 people had already signed up to stuff their faces with the juicy summer fruit. A crowd of onlookers at the 44th annual Watermelon watermelon, plant (Citrullus vulgaris) of the family Curcurbitaceae (gourd family) native to Africa and introduced to America by Africans transported as slaves. Watermelons are now extensively cultivated in the United States and are popular also in S Russia. Festival cheered on adults, children and teens as they devoured as much melon melon, fruit of Cucumis melo, a plant of the family Curcurbitaceae (gourd family) native to Asia and now cultivated extensively in warm regions. There are many varieties, differing in taste, color, and skin texture—e.g. as possible - without using their hands. ``My technique was bite, chew chew Chewing tobacco. See Smokeless tobacco. , chew,'' said 10-year-old Amy Devorkin of Tujunga, who won first place in the children's division. The annual event, hosted by the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club, has attracted thousands of Foothill-area residents every year, but this was the first year it offered up a watermelon contest. Watermelon eating, seed-spitting and melon-carving were among a few new attractions, which were sponsored by the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce. One of the contestants, 16-month-old Emma Rose Hamilton Hamilton, city, Bermuda Hamilton, city (1990 est. pop. 3,100), capital of Bermuda, on Bermuda Island. It is a port at the head of Great Sound, a huge lagoon and deepwater harbor protected by coral reefs. of Sunland, took enormous bites out of a slice that was nearly the size of her tiny body. ``She's always loved watermelon; in fact, this is how she always eats it,'' said her mother, Anne Hamilton, as she held the melon in place for her daughter. The contestants got moral support from the boisterous crowd and contest announcer Victor Castro. Like many of the other festival organizers, Castro, 35, volunteers at various organizations in the Sunland-Tujunga communities. ``I've been in Sunland for 35 years,'' said Castro, also a board member of the chamber of commerce. ``I'm involved in the Rotary Rotary can refer to:
Since its first year, the three-day event three-day event a competition in the pleasure horse sport comprising usually one day each for dressage, cross country and show jumping. has raised thousands of dollars for local nonprofits in the area, serving youth groups and services for the blind. Marynance Schellenbach, the 2005 festival chairwoman who has been working with the Lions Club with her husband since 1961, said the annual event is the perfect way to ensure that local residents are contributing to the community. ``The money we raise here in the community, stays here,'' said Schellenbach. ``It's not so much about watermelon as it is having a better town to live in.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Fairgoers sail through the air on the Swinger ride during the 44th annual Watermelon Festival in Sunland Park Sunland Park may refer to:
(2) Kids on Stage for a Better World perform during the festival. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer |
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