NORTH WEBSTER - Allied and Axis tanks battled. World records were broken.
And a giant banana and frog walked among the children and adults Saturday during North Webster Community Center's all-day family festival.
The day's events started at 8 a.m. with a Banana Split 5K Run/Walk. Community Center Executive Director Tracy May said 42 people participated in the run, with an additional 12 people walking.
From 10 a.m. to noon, tours were given of the community center. Froggy 102.7 was on hand during most of the day for a live remote, and provided the giant walking frog.Beginning at 12 until 4 p.m., kids of all ages enjoyed a carnival.
The world's record for most bananas snapped in a minute was 81 as of Saturday. There was talk throughout the day that the Guiness Book World Record would be broken.
In the afternoon, people tried to snap as many bananas as they could as fast as they could. Toward the end of the afternoon's events, the top four "snappers" competed in the finals, having one minute to try to break the world's record.
The first person to break the record was Jamie Rex, with 91 bananas snapped in a minute. Uriah Diemer then also broke the record with 91. J.D. May managed to break the record, too, but at 89 bananas snapped, was two short of the new record. In the youth division, Cody Bevins snapped 76.
The entire event was video-taped and Town Marshal Greg Church signed an affadavit attesting to the accuracy of the banana count.
All information was submitted to the Guiness Book for certification, Tracy May said.
While the banana snapping was going on outside, inside was a battle of another sort.
The Michiana Armored Combat Vehicles club battled in the "city" set up in the community center with their 1/16th-scale radio-controlled vehicles. Allied tanks fired at Axis tanks around houses, trees and other objects.
The club also had other radio-controlled vehicles on hand such as semis and trucks, said Lynn Pentelow.
Saturday's battle, however, was the first battle the club had in eight months. Members come from all over northern Indiana from Plymouth to Auburn, said Pentelow. One member even is from Rockford, Ill. Pentelow said they are the only club in a five-state area, and are in their sixth or seventh year of existence.
Sometimes, the club sets up and runs battle scenarios. "Most of the time," Pentelow said, "we just go for it."
Members are very informed about the type of tanks they use and their history. Darrell Farrington, North Webster, explained some of the history of the Sherman, Tiger I, King Tiger (Tiger II) and T34 tanks. Each tank is very detailed, and were purchased either online or at hobby stores.
Other activities inside the community center included a book sale by the community library, and free banana splits from the Kiwanis.
Clay artist Elizabeth Wamsley demonstrated her work from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wamsley's art has been demonstrated in more than 50 art exhibits from Chicago to Los Angeles to Indianapolis.
She does Raku, Pit and High fire pottery. She recently won the purchase prize award at the American Midwestern Museum of Art, Elkhart. Elizabeth works in art with family members Ellen and Steve.
"This has been our dream for the past 23 years, to work as sisters," said Ellen.
Having moved back to North Webster from California, Elizabeth Wamsley will be offering a four-week clay class at the community center beginning Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Classes will meet Oct. 25, Nov. 1, 8 and 15. Cost is $90 per student and $15 for a firing and lab fee.
"It's going to be a great class," said Elizabeth.
One table people couldn't stay away from was the Chocolate Falls Co. table. They had a chocolate fountain, which people could dip everything from cookies and marshmallows to Rice Krispy treats in. The business, operated by Jay and Melisa Van Sickle, Leesburg, features Sephra Belgian chocolate from California that is imported from Belgium. The Web site for their business is at www.chocolatefallscompany.com
Information tables on Camp Crosley and Iris Trails also were located in the community center.
The Banarama Dinner was 4 to 7 p.m., offering pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans and a drink.
A raffle offered donated prizes from area merchants.
The community center held the festival in collaboration with Camp Crosley, North Webster Day Care, area churches and other youth-oriented groups. The Dekko Foundation provided most of the funding for the Center Fest.
The North Webster Community Center is at 301 N. Main St., North Webster. A not-for-profit organization, the Center's Web site is at www.nwcommunitycenter.org
For more information, call 574-834-1600, Ext. 0. E-mail is northwebstercommctr@earthlink.net
