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battle for 1993 title
Conejo Valley Days, an annual celebration of the beauty and quality of life in Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Newbury Park was launched for 1993 with the introduction of candidates for grand marshal for the 37th annual community festival. The carnival and country fair program runs April 28 to May 2 at Conejo Creek Park adjacent to the Route 23 Freeway and Janss Road. The 1993 candidates are Kathy "Cat Ballou" McLean, "Diamond Dan" Urbaniak and Lance "The Cow-Wash Guys Winslow. McLean attended her first CVD celebration at age 4 in 1963. Now married and the mother of three children, she is reminiscent of last year's pretty-women candidates Roseanna Bandanna Abbondondola and Mary "Lulu Belle" Miller. Miller went on to be '92 grand marshal, a source of great pride to Zonta, her designated service organization and First United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks where as a member, she traditionally prepares gallons and gallons of cole slaw dressing for the church's annual CVD barbecue dinner. A real estate agent, McLean has chosen Tammy Smith and Michelle Steinle, two title company supervisors, to manage her campaign. She has designated the multiple sclerosis fund, Manna and the Ventura County Shelter for Battered Women as recipients of her fund-raising. In addition to appearing at all scheduled CVD events, McLean scheduled a dinner dance-Monte Carlo night at Sherwood Country Club and in a different touch for the Wild West event, she scheduled an art auction with wine and cheese party. Winslow's campaign has some non-traditional touches, too. Winslow's wife, Leslie, heads up his campaign team, which will benefit athletic teams from Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Newbury Park, and Oak Park high schools as well as AYSO, Conejo Valley Unified Soccer Teams, Boy Scouts and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. A mobile-car wash entrepreneur, Winslow is basing his fund-raising on, yes, car-washing. Youth-sports team members all over the Conejo Valley are selling car-wash tickets with proceeds dedicated to his campaign. Another unique approach by Winslow was inviting the Thousand Oaks chapter of Ross Perot's citizen watchdog group, United We Stand, to participate for his benefit at the CVD Kickoff picnic. A more traditional campaign is being waged by Diamond Dan Urbaniak, the Kiwanis nominee. Urbaniak has an especially savvy campaign team of fellow Kiwanis Club members, headed up by former grand marshal Ray 'Boom Boom' Carafelli and 'Buffalo Bob' Rickards who are veteran contenders. With 12 fund-raising events in addition to CVD appearances, Urbaniak's fund-raising coffers should bill up quickly. Happy hours, bingo games, wine-and-cheese auctions dinner dances, and comedy nights part of the mix, indicate Kiwanis is not overlooking any interest groups. Funds will go to Casa Pacifica, an interim-care facility for children who are wards of the court. Overseeing this year's contest are two longtime CVD volunteers, former grand marshal candidates Betsy Bourse and Jim Slough. The winner will be announced after the campaign ends Friday. Reprinted from News Chronicle, April 22, 1993. |
