CAMARILLO : Donations Needed Soon for July 4 Gala

Repeating their warning that Camarillo’s July 4 celebration may be canceled, the Camarillo Pageant Assn. has set April 19 as a deadline for local businesses and residents to offer donations for the event.

Association President Rod Franz has written Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District officials, advising them that organizers will wait only about 10 more days before deciding whether to cancel the annual Fourth of July Spectacular.

After losing about $4,000 on the event last year, the association is short of funds for putting on the celebration this year, Franz has said.

He estimates the association needs at least $11,000 in donations to salvage the event, which is held at Camarillo Airport.

Herb Holler, co-chairman of the pageant association’s Fourth of July committee, said he has been disappointed by the lack of community response to organizers’ requests for donations.

“Right now I don’t have much hope” for the event to continue this year, he said. “Things just aren’t looking good.”

The pageant association has asked groups and individuals interested in contributing to the Independence Day celebration to call Rob Giles, recreation supervisor at the Camarillo Community Center, at 482-1996.