The prize that Anante Cox won at a community gathering on Saturday doubled as a nice birthday present.

 

He turned 10 and collected a Spy Watch Walkie Talkie as winner of the watermelon eating contest at the 5th Annual Heritage Fesitval, which took place at Somerset Park on the North Side.

 

A host of other competitions and fun activities gave residents of the Heritage complex and neighbors plenty to do throughout the day on August 15.

 

Most interns try to get their feet wet in business or some endeavor of interest. Summer intern

 

Gina Mahone didn't stop with her feet, allowing her entire body to get soaked at the target in the event's dunk tank. Considering the heat and humidity, a nice dip into the water didn't seem like such a bad thing for the 15-year-old student at Linden-McKinley High School..

 

Education and community services had their places at the event as well.

 

The Columbus Division of Fire allowed families to go through its mobile Safety house, AEP provided coloring books promting safety with electiricty and volunteers staffed other tables promoting back-to-school giveaways for Harvest Time Ministries International Church and Columbus Christian Church.

 

Ohio United posted a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Eagles in the soccer match that replaced the festival's annual basketball game. Organizers realized that soccer might appeal to more young people in the complex, many of whom are Somalis, said Betty Howton, community relations manager for The Heritage.

 

Allamagan Abdullahi, 17, a recent graduate of Mifflin High School who plans to study premed at Ohio State University, said that he and friends were glad to follow Howton's directive.

 

"Miss Betty told us to come out and play soccer and have fun," he said.

 

A menu change from pork hot dogs to beef franks also reflected cultural sensitivity among organizers.

 

Nurse consultant Jean Rayford, who took blood pressure readings for all who stopped at her table, marveled at the consistenly good numbers recorded among the young men who took part in the soccer competition. Even so, she cautioned them to maintain healthful eating habits as they age to avoid the hazards related to hypertension.