Award goes to Reyes Adobe campaign

The Agoura Hills Recreation Department was recognized by the California Parks and Recreation Society for its marketing campaign of last October's inaugural Reyes Adobe Days festival.

The society, which represents agencies and cities in California, Arizona and Hawaii, presented the recreation team with an award of excellence for its comprehensive, eye-catching marketing campaign at a special dinner event in Ontario in mid-March.

The entire recreation department attended the event. On hand were Dale Sumersille and Donna Conlin, recreation managers; Amy Jones-Brink, director; Greg Ramirez, city manager; and Nick Newkirk, Emily Melo and Merideth Petit, community services coordinators.

Ramirez showed off the award, an engraved glass sculpture, at last week's city council meeting. There were more than 250 applications for awards this year, Jones-Brink said.

The recreation team also participated in a "Best of the Best" event sponsored by the society. The city's booth was among 50 agencies displaying marketing materials from such categories as media campaign, best program, community center and facilities.

"It's a thrill to be the project manager for this event," Sumersille said. "It was great to be recognized. I had a great team working with me."

Sumersille said graphics for the marketing campaign were designed by Michael Lang of Locomotive Design in Westlake Vil

lage, and Judi Uthus, a Calabasas resident, assisted the team with public relations.

"The logo says it all," Sumersille said, adding that it captured the essence of the event, the combining of family fun with the history of the Reyes Adobe site.

The logo was used in every aspect of the city's campaign, from invitations, brochures, tickets and bookmarks to the fliers, posters and banners that were displayed around town before the festival, which drew thousands of residents.

The Reyes Adobe Days fall festival was staged in the tradition of a Rancho-period fiesta, which offered family fun as well as an educational and cultural experience. The event was kicked off with a senior luncheon and tour of the historical property, followed by a teen "Hay Fever" dance. A Saturday parade led to the Reyes Adobe historical site, where families enjoyed an all-day fiesta featuring early California music and dance, children's games and pony rides, Native American crafts, and demonstrations on blacksmithing, rancho cooking and adobe brick making.

"Reyes Adobe Days was created to offer an appreciation and understanding of early California history and celebrated the oneyear anniversary of the Reyes Adobe historical site in a family fun atmosphere," the event program stated.

Reyes Adobe Days ended with an action-packed Sunday, starting with an 8K Run, followed by a pancake breakfast and horse "play day" at the Old Agoura Equestrian arena. A "Taste of the West" cook-off and a family concert concluded the event.

More than 11,300 people attended, according to city officials.

"By hosting Reyes Adobe Days in various recreational locations throughout the city, the Department of Community Services showcased all its public facilities and programs," said Sumersille.

"There was an overwhelming response of over 225 community volunteers who worked with the Department of Community Services to help organize this multiday event. Reyes Adobe Days brought everyone together for a spirited weekend of goodwill and celebration. The entire community (businesses, organizations and residents) embraced the city's past heritage, its presentday family lifestyle and its future with an annual signature event to look forward to each fall," said Sumersille.

Mayor Denis Weber said the recreation department had "vision" and "great talent."