SHERMAN OAKS : Street Fair Earnings Decline This Year

The Sherman Oaks Street Fair and Carnival earned $16,000 less than last year, according to preliminary figures, a spokeswoman for the Greater Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday.

Maricel Pabalan, who co-directed this year’s annual Chamber of Commerce event, attributed the decline in profits to a struggling economy. Fewer corporations signed up as sponsors, and consumers at the fair bought less, she said.

Altogether, the fair raised about $34,000 this year, compared to $50,000 last year, Pabalan said.

Despite the decline, Pabalan said organizers are satisfied with the third year of the carnival and street fair.

“Our big goal this year was to control the event better,” Pabalan said. “We didn’t get one complaint from any business or resident.”

The street fair--featuring food, rides and more than 200 booths--closed a quarter-mile stretch of Ventura Boulevard on Oct. 3 and drew about 70,000 people.

About $20,000 of the profits from the event will go to Chandler, Dixie Canyon Avenue, Sherman Oaks, Kester Avenue and Riverside Drive elementary schools.

More than 600 parent volunteers worked three-hour shifts to run the event. Volunteers served soft drinks, worked at parking lots, collected trash and helped open and close the event.

The remainder of the profit is used to fund a variety of Chamber of Commerce projects.