It’s ‘War of the Watermelons,’ selectmen-style

SWAMPSCOTT – As selectmen Glenn Kessler and Matt Strauss prepare to go head-to-head with each other, Strauss said he will be taking extra caution not to choke – on a watermelon seed.The two will be the only participants out of five board members in the selectmen-only round of the Swampscott Farmers Market watermelon-eating contest Sunday at 11 a.m. at Swampscott High School. The winner will eat the most watermelon in a given period of time.”I’m happy to be there, I think it’s great,” said Kessler. “The town should come out and support it and cheer on their favorite watermelon eater.”As of Wednesday, neither selectman was predicting a heated, fruit-flying brawl. Strauss said his strategy for success was “like a marathoner,” although not a competitive one. “I’m just trying to finish,” he said. “I like watermelon, but it’s not high on my list of things I eat all the time.”Kessler was also counting on a tortoise-like approach, calling himself a “meticulous” watermelon eater, and even contemplated bringing a plastic knife for assistance.Sources have yet to confirm whether the watermelon will be seedless or otherwise, which Kessler said was the obvious make-or-break factor in “any thinking man’s watermelon-eating contest.”Though some may say the real contest will be a measure of what the two selectmen can swallow faster – their watermelon or their pride – Kessler said it’s all in the name of fun.”The problem in this town is everybody takes everything so seriously,” he said. “This is a perfect opportunity to have fun and poke fun at each other in a harmless way.”The watermelon-eating contest will include other rounds for anyone of any age to compete, starting at 10:30 a.m.