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CNN Live Saturday

Mysterious Melons

Aired July 05, 2003 - 14:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: In New York State, a slice of watermelon. Mysterious melons are popping up all over New Rochelle. Someone is painting watermelons on businesses and walls. Reporter Bob Hole (ph) with affiliate News 12 investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): There's a new look in downtown New Rochelle, but one not everyone is happy about. While the police are not around, watermelon slices are being painted on buildings all over the city.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's kind of odd.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Beautiful. It makes the place look nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Way up high on buildings along Main Street, in New Rochelle, many are wondering how and when the watermelon slices were painted. Some, like this giant slice, are even showing up in other municipalities, like on top of this Docs Clinic in neighboring Largemont (ph).

(on camera): So what do they mean? Police are investigating but aren't saying much. The people we spoke with do have some ideas about the meaning behind the melon.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard they were like a watermelon gang or something, and they were putting them all over the place. I see them, like, one in each town. There's one here in (UNINTELLIGIBLE), one here, there is a couple on the highway.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): But some say the melons are not the work of artistic gang members, but of actual artists trying to make a statement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is art, that's not graffiti.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (on camera): Do you think this might be the watermelon gang?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): But not everyone appreciates the fruit slices. Scott McKenna says he got a $150 fine from the City of New Rochelle for not removing a melon slice painted on the side of his building last month. He did take it off, but then another one showed up.

SCOTT MCKENNA, BUSINESS OWNER: I'll have to pressure-wash it off again before the city comes and slaps me with another fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some are even questioning the artist' abilities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not good art.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (on camera): You don't think it is good art?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Look at the lines in between.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you an artist?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not really.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at an artist. So it doesn't bother me, but I realize it's probably -- it bothers people who have businesses here who pay for, you know, a wall space. What do I think about it? It's cute, it's charming, but enough of that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): And for some of the business owners affected, there is a humorous side.

MCKENNA: I wouldn't mind if he came back and finished the rest, put a little strawberries, bananas, you know, spruce it up a little bit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Perhaps Gallagher? You tell us. Well, thanks to affiliate News 12 for that story.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired July 5, 2003 - 14:56   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: In New York State, a slice of watermelon. Mysterious melons are popping up all over New Rochelle. Someone is painting watermelons on businesses and walls. Reporter Bob Hole (ph) with affiliate News 12 investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): There's a new look in downtown New Rochelle, but one not everyone is happy about. While the police are not around, watermelon slices are being painted on buildings all over the city.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's kind of odd.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Beautiful. It makes the place look nice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Way up high on buildings along Main Street, in New Rochelle, many are wondering how and when the watermelon slices were painted. Some, like this giant slice, are even showing up in other municipalities, like on top of this Docs Clinic in neighboring Largemont (ph).

(on camera): So what do they mean? Police are investigating but aren't saying much. The people we spoke with do have some ideas about the meaning behind the melon.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard they were like a watermelon gang or something, and they were putting them all over the place. I see them, like, one in each town. There's one here in (UNINTELLIGIBLE), one here, there is a couple on the highway.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): But some say the melons are not the work of artistic gang members, but of actual artists trying to make a statement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is art, that's not graffiti.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (on camera): Do you think this might be the watermelon gang?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): But not everyone appreciates the fruit slices. Scott McKenna says he got a $150 fine from the City of New Rochelle for not removing a melon slice painted on the side of his building last month. He did take it off, but then another one showed up.

SCOTT MCKENNA, BUSINESS OWNER: I'll have to pressure-wash it off again before the city comes and slaps me with another fine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some are even questioning the artist' abilities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not good art.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (on camera): You don't think it is good art?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Look at the lines in between.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you an artist?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not really.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at an artist. So it doesn't bother me, but I realize it's probably -- it bothers people who have businesses here who pay for, you know, a wall space. What do I think about it? It's cute, it's charming, but enough of that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): And for some of the business owners affected, there is a humorous side.

MCKENNA: I wouldn't mind if he came back and finished the rest, put a little strawberries, bananas, you know, spruce it up a little bit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Perhaps Gallagher? You tell us. Well, thanks to affiliate News 12 for that story.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com