Races begin for Conejo Valley Days grand marshal and junior grand marshal
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Conejo Valley Days grand marshal and junior grand marshal races have begun, with four contenders organizing fundraising events to collect money for local charities. The titles will be won by the adult and the youth who raise the most money.

The two junior candidates are Kyle "Chuckwagon" Ruda, a Newbury Park High School freshman, and "Rustlin'" Jeremy Ryan, a freshman at Westlake High School.

The adults running are "Whiskeroo Rick" Herrera, who is raising money for the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks and Hospice of the Conejo, and Marlon "Lone Star" Williams, who is raising money for the Conejo Valley Neighborhood for Learning Adopt-A-Future program.

Fundraising events for the candidates include lots of food, parties and even garage sales. All of the grand marshal candidates will be hanging out and selling badges at the kickoff picnic and classic car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., April 19 at the Civic Arts Plaza.

The Final Countdown will be at the Goebel Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, from 7 to 11 p.m. Fri., April 25. That's when the grand marshal and junior grand marshal will be announced. Admission is free. There will be raffles, entertainment and auctions.

Kyle "Chuckwagon" Ruda

Ruda is raising money for Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for kids with cancer. His events include a fundraiser at Johnny Rockets restaurant, 322 W. Hillcrest Drive, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thurs., April 17.

Print a flyer from CVD's website, www.conejovalleydays .org, and bring it to the restaurant to show before ordering.

Ruda will also have a garage sale at 7 San Antonio St. from 7 to 11 a.m. Sat., April 19.

"Rustlin' Jeremy" Ryan

Ryan is raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. His events include a Fit 2B Thai restaurant fundraiser at 593 N. Moorpark Road, from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, April 17 and April 24.

A similar fundraiser for Ryan will take place at Applebee's restaurant, 3980 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village, from 5 to 10 p.m. Wed., April 23. To participate in the restaurant fundraisers, print a flyer from CVD's website at www.conejovalleydays.org and bring it to the restaurant to show before ordering.

"Whiskeroo Rick" Herrera

Herrera is raising money for the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks and Hospice of the Conejo.

Herrera will be the honored guest at the Elks Lodge, 158 Conejo School Road, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thurs., April 17. For $20 each, $10 for kids, chicken, ribs, salad, beans, garlic bread and dessert will be served. There will also be a silent auction and a raffle. For more information on this event, call (805) 4951688.

Dave and Alina Biedebach will open their backyard, at 3089 Grand Oaks Drive, Westlake Village, for a fundraiser for Herrera from 6 to 9 p.m. Fri., April 18.

The Biedebachs' backyard was featured on The History Channel's "History of BBQ" show and has won awards for its beauty. For $20 each, finger foods will be served and wines from Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County will be offered. Also featured will be a backwards wine auction, with prices dropping as the evening progresses. Prices will start at retail rate and go down 5 percent every 10 minutes. For more information on this event, call (805) 492-2133.

Herrera, a retired horticulture teacher, will teach people with brown thumbs how to take care of plants from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Mon., April 22, at 1253 Encino Vista Court. Those who pay $25 each to attend will take home cuttings or seeds. For more information, call (805) 495-1688.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wed., April 24, Herrera supporters, or anyone who likes to help charity, smoke cigars and taste scotch, are invited to enjoy an evening of good food, friends, a raffle and silent auction at 906 Evenstar Ave., Westlake Village. For more information, call (805) 492-2133.

Presales for a $5 Thousand Oaks High School carwash that will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., April 26, will go to the grand marshal race. Sales on Saturday will go to the school.

Marlon "Lone Star" Williams

Williams is raising money for the Conejo Valley Neighborhood for Learning AdoptAFuture program.

An old-fashioned barbecue fundraiser for Williams will take place at Acorn Acres, 2323 N. Moorpark Road, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun., April 20. Chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and lots of fixings will be served. The $10 donation will include food and raffle tickets.

California Pizza Kitchen, at The Lakes, 2200 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., will have a fundraising event for Williams all day Mon., April 21. After dinner, those who want to continue to help Willams make money for charity can walk over to a Ben & Jerry's ice cream fundraiser, also at The Lakes.

All day Tues., April 22, there will be a Fuddruckers restaurant fundraiser at 401 N. Moorpark Road.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wed., April 23 a Stuft Pizza restaurant fundraiser, at 398 N. Moorpark Road, will take place for "Lone Star."

For up-to-the-minute grand marshal fundraiser events or for more information, go to www.conejovalleydays.org.