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Subject: VENTURA Mardi Gras Century Celebration 07'<br>
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 17:46:13 -0800<br>
From: "Liz Bailey" <lbailey@affinitygroup.com><br>
To:</blockquote><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=2>Hello Friends on
the Road,</font> <br><br>
<font size=2>I'd like to personally invite yall to Ventura for a Great
Ride & Wonderful Party we're having @ Ventura Harbor Village on
2/24/07. This ride is a Amgen CA Coast Classic Training Ride &
will be held in the AM along the route of the Amgen CA TOUR Race which
will roar by the same afternoon! . <br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>Afterwards we've got LIVE Zydeco Music, bellydancers, beads,
prizes & delicious all-you-can-eat buffet including GUMBO @ the
legendary GREEK @ The Harbor! We are a Federal 501c Nonproft &
all funds are going to charity. Please call me if you have any questions
after you read the press release below or go to ACTIVE.com/mardigras.
<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>See yall on the road!</font> <br><br>
<font size=2>Liz Bailey</font> <br>
<font size=2>President</font> <br>
<font size=2>VENTURAVELO.ORG</font> <br>
<font size=2>805-815-5258 cell</font> <br><br>
PRESS RELEASE <br><br>
Saturday, February 24th, MARDI GRAS comes to the Southland...
California’s Southland that is! In the picturesque village of
Ventura Harbor, a couple of Louisiana transplants are producing a BIG
Mardi Gras Celebration at The Greek at Ventura Harbor Village.
Funds raised will go to NOLA Habitat for Humanity, The Arthritis
Foundation and Ventura County’s bicycle paths all through local
non-profit, VENTURA VELO.ORG. The MARDI GRAS CENTURY BIKE RIDE
begins at 7AM, serving traditional King Cake & Coffee. A HOT
Breakfast Buffet will be available @ a nominal fee. Riders, coming from
all over the U.USA, will follow a rigorous 100 mile scenic tour of
Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard and Port
Hueneme. There is FULL SAG support, with bike mechanics,
roving SAG trucks and several rest stops where volunteers will hand out
New Orleans' Po-boy sandwiches! The Half Century is 60 miles, following a
similar path as the Century, but with a shorter return back to The Greek
at the Harbor. The Quarter Century is an easy 25 miles,
staying in Ventura and is designed to be a fun & safe ride for
Families. The MARDI GRAS Celebration Dinner Party will get underway @ 1
PM back at Ventura Harbor’s The GREEK, for riders, guests, sponsors and
is open to the public. Authentic Cajun music will be provided by
the Zydeco Zippers and DANCERS are WELCOMED! Beautiful
Bellydancers, buckets of Mardi Gras beads plus plenty of PRIZES for Best
Costumes & Best Decorated Bicycle will be awarded. Price includes a
special New Orleans All-You-Can-Eat Buffet with authentic GUMBO ! A
No-Host Bar will also be available. Tickets are available for the Mardi
Gras Celebration Party online at ACTIVE.com or by mail. Prices are
$20 ($25 @ door), $10 (ages 6-12), Kids 5 & under FREE! Bicyclist
Registration is $50 at ACTIVE.com and is $60 @ the door. All
donations are tax deductible. Sponsors include: Ventura Harbor
Village, The GREEK, The Bike Depot, Ojai Valley Inn, Performance Bikes,
Trader Joe’s, Green Thumb, StarBucks, & RoadID.com. Avid cyclist,
Paul Callaway, founded VENTURA VELO after the 2005 storms took out parts
of Ventura County bike paths. Distressed about so much damage but no
funds for repairs, Callaway started the nonprofit with a handful of bike
enthusiasts and a charter to raise funds to help. The organization
first held a Three Harbors Tour Bike Ride September 2005, just days after
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf. The Tour was a success, funding the
group’s startup and attracting over a hundred riders. The
Organization’s Board has since made contributions to Katrina/Rita victims
via Habitat for Humanity, The Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast
Classic as well as continuing to improve, develop and maintain Ventura
County Bike paths, safety & fellowship. As the Gulf Coast continues
the painful rebuild, Ventura Velo decided the Mardi Gras ride should
continue help aid the efforts of New Orleans Area Habitat for
Humanity. V.V.President and native Louisianian, Liz Bailey
explains, “Holding a Mardi Gras Celebration Bike Ride is a great way to
get people into the spirit of Mardi Gras. I’ve heard folks say they’d
like to help New Orleans, but don’t know how. By participating in
the VENTURA MARDI GRAS , they will get a REAL taste of Mardi Gras, help
Habitat in New Orleans, plus we’ve got a lot of work to do here locally
improving bicycle paths & safety. It’s a win-win situation, so
Yal’l come join us for some great cajun music, food & fun. For more
information on the February 24th 07’MARDI GRAS CENTURY EL BRATION
& BIKE RIDE go to:
<a href="http://www.venturavelo.org, /" eudora="autourl">
www.venturavelo.org, </a> call 805.815-5258 or write Ventura Velo, P.O.
6101, Ventura CA 93006. </blockquote></body>
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