Residents react to rodeo and parade cancellation, plead with City Council to protect traditions
Girl, 10, calls for City Council to save both
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Dani Sommerhauser, 10, of Thousand Oaks loves horses, and the CVD parade and rodeo

A tearful 10-year-old Dani Sommerhauser of Thousand Oaks pleaded with the Thousand Oaks City Council to please save the Conejo Valley Days parade and rodeo.

"Me and my horse both enjoy that and you guys are taking it away and I'm very, very sad," was all she could get out before she became too choked up to continue.

"She is beyond sad," said her mother Tammy Sommerhauser, after the meeting.

Dani isn't the only one in Thousand Oaks who's upset over the cancellation of this year's parade and rodeo by Conejo Valley Days organizers. Several people showed up at the council meeting to ask for help in continuing the 50-year-old traditions.

Brad Merville of Thousand Oaks also spoke at the Council meeting asking the Council to look into alternative funding, possibly from local corporations or other interested parties. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley and watched that community give up its traditions and turn into a place with concrete, gangs and violence, he said.

Then, he moved to Thousand Oaks.

"It's 20 miles away-it's amazing-it seems like hundreds of miles away, because we still have the spirit of a small town community," Merville said.

Merville is concerned that if people do not rally, the decisions of a few are going to affect the majority of the people in Thousand Oaks who still want a parade, he said after the meeting.

He has ridden his horse in the parade for the past six years and said he thinks there were more people watching the parade last year than he remembers in previous years, he said.

His wife, Diana who also has ridden in the parade, agreed. She also noted there are a great many people who consistently participate in the parade. The schools, equestrians and others groups come out-many include children displaying their talents, she said.

"The parade route fills up with people in clusters with lots of people at the beginning and even more at the end, with groups of people gathered at various points in the center," Diana Merville said after the council meeting.

She described her past rodeo performance as a highlight of her life and asked the council to keep the rural feel of the city founded by ranchers and shepherds.

"Please don't let our western heritage fade away," she said.

Barbara Kloster, a 33-year resident of Thousand Oaks, begged the Council to use their infinite wisdom to help the community preserve their history.

"Five generations of my family have participated in the parade," said Marilee Ullmann, a 44year resident. "I have pictures of my kids, who are now in their forties, with Walter Brennan."

"Hopefully people can rally and try to keep and preserve it," said Brad Merville.

After hearing their pleas, Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña, an equestrian, asked the city manager how soon a report could be put together and brought back to the Council and put on the agenda so she and the other members could discuss it.

The next council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, is too soon- possibly the meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, he said.

City Manager Scott Mitnick cited reports of dwindling participation as a cause for the events cancellation.

Hopefully, someone will be able to get an accurate count before the issue comes before the counsel, because there seems to be a disagreement on that point by some who attend the events, Tammy Sommerhauser said.

"We walk from our house to the rodeo every year and the stands in the rodeo are always full," she said.