Eat, drink and be merry because Conejo Valley Days is in full swing. The carnival started yesterday and will continue through Sunday at Conejo Creek Park North.

Please also attend this year's Conejo Valley Days Parade. Today's Thousand Oaks Acorn includes a four-page pullout that lists the parade entrants. It's in the center of the paper--pages 33, 34, 35 and 36. Extra copies will be distributed at the parade.

The parade was fading away until concerned residents rallied their support. Aviara Real Estate stepped up to the plate with $15,000 to breathe new life into the CVD Parade.

Now it's your turn. Please be there Saturday morning along Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Duesenberg Drive and The Lakes shopping center. If you arrive on time, you can park free at the Civic Arts Plaza and find seating at The Lakes. The parade begins at 9 a.m. If you're not an early riser, you might want to bring along some lawn chairs.

After the parade, a variety of family-oriented activities will be available at The Lakes, including live entertainment.

A parade is only as good as the crowd that gathers to watch it. Please join the festivities and show your enthusiasm.

We ask, too, that sports teams and other groups please make a point next year of not scheduling games or other activities on the first Saturday in May. Instead of playing that day, why not join the parade as entrants?

Everyone, after all, is a winner in the Conejo Valley Days Parade--spectators and participants.

Conejo Valley Days is important because of fundraising. When you support CVD, you'll be helping a variety of service clubs and philanthropic organizations. Most of the proceeds stay right here at home, so it's local groups that reap the rewards.

They, in turn, spend money where it's needed the most. Thank you in advance for your support of the Conejo Valley Days Parade and carnival.