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Weather limits Street Faire crowd
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Scattered showers and cooler weather probably played a role in keeping attendance visibly down for the 21st annual Ceres Street Faire.

A light to moderate rain hit Ceres at the outset of the event on Saturday which probably kept some people away. Promoters said attendance fared better on Sunday due to better weather.

The Street Faire included a Saturday car show, street vendors, community service organization booths, entertainment by local groups, arts and crafts vendors and children's carnival type games.

Ceres police reported few incidences.

"The crowd appeared to be somewhat smaller but we had only one arrest made at the Street Faire and that was for public intoxication," said Deputy Chief of Police Mike Borges.

The California Highway Patrol attended to a hit-and-run accident at Fourth and El Camino with the suspect fleeing into the Street Faire crowd in an attempt to get lost. He was eventually captured.

"From our standpoint it was one of the ones where we had less issues. The cooler temperatures probably kept the beer consumption down."

Many of the non-profit organizations selling food at the faire reported brisk sales. The Ceres Lions Club booth sold out of their popular tri-tip sandwiches by 3 p.m. Sunday.

"I was in the sandwich booth all day long and it was steady from noon until we ran out," said Lions Club president Dave Bailey. "Saturday was kind of an average day but I think weather was a little bit of a factor. Beer sales were down on Saturday but picked up on Sunday."

The club carved up and barbecued 1,500 pounds of beef tri-tip.

"We were real pleased with the turn-out," said Bailey. "It's better to run out than to have any left over."

Raffle takes place

The CUSD Foundation used Saturday's Street Faire to conduct its 2nd annual Raffle Fundraiser. Proceeds from ticket donations support activities at Ceres schools and provide supplemental instructional support for Ceres teachers. With cash prizes of $2,500, $1,000, two $500 and five prize packages valued at $500 or more, anticipation was in the air at the drawing. However, ironically none of the winners were present.

The $2,500 cash grand prize went to Luz Elena Lerma who purchased her ticket from daughter Janet, a Central Valley High School freshman. The cash prize was donated by Bank of the West.

Dianne Kelley, noon duty aide at Sam Vaughn Elementary, won the $1,000 cash prize donated by Ceres Rotary.

The two $500 cash prizes donated by Ceres Pro Tow went to Jason Donchak and Keith Crawford.

"Each of these cash prize winners were so thrilled with their good fortune and were all smiles when they claimed their checks," said Julie Lynn Martin, CUSD Foundation representative.

Mike Haller won the entertainment package donated by Black Oak Casino that included dinner for four at Three Sisters, gift bags filled with a variety of items and more.

Rosa Ibarra won a $500 gas card donated by Barbour's of Ceres and United Inspection of Hughson. Included in the prize package was a car wash kit donated by the CUSD Foundation.

Breanna Freitas was thrilled to win a $500 grocery certificate from Cost Less Foods displayed in a basket filled with a variety of items for a picnic or barbecue.

Alex Tavizon's name was drawn for a outdoor gas grill barbecue donated by D&B Wholesale Transport.

Joe Mendez won a china hutch valued at $2,800 donated by Stuart's Fine Furniture.

A surprise bonus package donated by Bank of the West branch manager Emily Carlson - a huge baby grizzly bear was a big hit with the little ones, many of who convinced their parents to get a ticket for a chance to win. Angela Garza won the huggable baby grizzly bear.

Participating in the drawing of the winning tickets were students: Virginia Parks first-grader Mason Foster, La Rosa first-grader Scarlett Lloyd, Adkison first-grader Xitlali Toscano, and Carlson, CUSD Foundation Board President Dave McConnell, and Jay Simmonds, director of Educational Options for Ceres Unified School District. For the second year, Eric Ingwerson, former mayor and PMZ real estate agent, was the emcee for the drawing.