Worldly flavor at party

Since the early 1890s, the olive has been one of the mainstays to life in Corning.

That fact was celebrated last week with the 21st annual Olive Festival, which ended with a grand party at the city's Woodson Park on Saturday.

People from all over the world came to enjoy the festive mood the town had to offer, including Johnny Holland of Andros, Bahamas, who was visiting the states with his family.

"This is delicious olive oil and spreads," Holland said as he sampled goods at the Corning Olive Oil booth during Saturday's event.

Chamber of Commerce Manager Valanne Cardenas said the entire week was a "great success."

"There were more people in attendance than last year, more vendors at the park and a lot of plain good fun," she stated.

The festival offered not only good fun, but some unique types of fun as well.

Following Friday's Olive Festival Parade, which featured a lot of businesses and political candidates, was Corning's one and only "Corning Does it Better Bed Races."

The competition consists of two teams pushing beds on wheels down Solano Street to a finish line. Halfway down the track each of the beds' riders must take off a dress, put it on one of the bed pushers who then jumps back onto the bed and the bed is pushed over the finish line.

If that wasn't enough crazy fun, during Saturday's party at the park the Rotary Club dropped 2,250 wooden olives off the Corning Fire Department's 75-foot ladder to a target on the ground. Whoever bought the olives that came closest to the bull's eye won a prize.

This year it was Corning Rotary President Steve Barrett who braved climbing the ladder to drop the olives.

The dunk tank was a splash as city officials and city council candidates took turns being dunked. Some of the candidates were even dunked by other candidates setting a theme to this year's race.

Hundreds of festival attendees enjoyed food, arts, and crafts booths that lined the park in every direction, and the many olive themed booths which offered samplings of oils, vinegars, olives, relishes and spreads.

The Dutch Oven Cook-Off gave judges a great variety of dishes to taste from as there were six contestants this year, and the Olive Dish Contest brought in the crowds to sample uniquely olive fare.

Jon Wallingford and Sean Wilson were the announcers and disc jockeys for Friday and Saturday's events and both had a grand time introducing contestants in the talent show and other entertainment.

And of course, the newly crowned 2010 Miss Corning Anne Trevino did a fine job reigning over all of the festivities.

Olive Festival winners:

• Olive Dish Contest: Grand prize, Cheryl Butts, twisted meatballs; 1st place, Sharon Searcy, chicken enchiladas; 2nd place, Wyatt Haywood, tapenade rowlade; 3rd place, Cheryl Butts, shrimp and olive crepes.

• Dutch Oven Cook-Off: Main dish - 1st place, Warren and Roberta Duke, bracteole; 2nd place, Dan Jimenez, broccoli olive chicken roll; 3rd place, Roger and Suez Bylund, prosciutto olive stuffed pork loin; Bread - 1st place, Warren and Roberta Duke, spinach and cheese; 2nd place, Nancy Enos, olive bread; 3rd place, Vicki Gomes, beer bread; Dessert - 1st place, Dan Jimenez, dutch apple bread pudding; 2nd place, Roger and Suez Bylund, fudge pudding spoon cake; 3rd place, Dina Wideman, heavenly cake; People Choice Award - Main dish, Ron Judson, green olive chili verde; Bread, Warren and Roberta Duke; Dessert, Dan Jimenez.

• Parade: Best marching unit, Corning Cardinal Marching Band; Best float, Corning Tea Party Patriots; Best miscellaneous, Chico Shrine Mini Cars; Best senior equestrian, Corning Cowboys; Best jr. equestrian, Jazziah Sherrod; Best vehicle, Kelly Griggs House.

• Bed Races: 1st place men's team, Bed Bugs from Harvest Christian Center; 1st place women's team, US Bank; 1st place mixed team, The Flower Bed from Corning Florist.

• Olive Drop - 1st place, Tammy Koehler; 2nd place, Carolyn Darrow; 3rd place, Tim Robertson; 4th place, Michael Linnett; 5th place, Joi Evans; 6th place, Mary Johnson; and 7th place, Peggy Pritchard.