CVD grand marshals in good company

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers DYNAMIC DUO- Conejo Valley Days Parade grand marshal candidates "Li'l" Hannah Santos, 9, an Aspen Elementary School third-grader, and Michele "Montana" Larson campaign from the seat of a 1907 Runabout car during Saturday's Conejo Valley Days Kickoff Picnic and Car Show at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The two are raising money for arts programs at the school. Michele is a former Miss Montana.

Candidates in two separate categories are participating in the Conejo Valley Days Grand Marshal race.

The Grand Marshal candidate is Irene "the Singing Cowgirl" Brennick. Brennick is running to raise money for the Hospice of the Conejo. Brennick serves on the board of directors of the nonprofit organization. It serves the Conejo Valley, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Calabasas. Brennick is also the director of community services at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center.

A new category this year- the "Dynamic Duo"- pairs a community leader with a youth partner. The candidates are Michele "Montana" Larson and "Li'l Miss Hannah of the Aspen Territory" Santos of Aspen Elementary School. Larson is director of the Aspen New Millennium Chorus. Santos is a thirdgrader at the school and a member of the chorus. The two are raising money for the Aspen Elementary Parent Faculty Association.

On Fri., April 27 a final fundraising party will be held at the Cameron Center, 288 Greenmeadow Drive, Thousand Oaks.

All candidates are asked to judge at the CVD Chili Cook-off, Tiny Tots and Whiskeroo contest. They will ride in the parade on Sat., May 5.

For more information on donating to the candidates, call Diana Javurek at (818) 881-8900 or Pamela Whiting at (805) 7137609.

To contact the candidates' campaigns, call Maria Prescott, (805) 495-2145 for Irene Brennick and Michelle Larsen at (805) 732-8345 for the Dynamic Duo.