Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs Join Forces for Ramona MusicFest & BBQ

Ramona Rotary and Ramona Kiwanis clubs are working together to present the town's first Ramona MusicFest & Barbecue fundraiser on May 3. It will be a lively afternoon of sun, fun, music and lip-smacking beef barbecue.

Donation is $50 per person and includes a barbecue dinner and great music by the Eve Selis Band, featuring Eve Selis, and the Citizen Band, featuring Jeff Berkley.

San Diego's own Eve Selis has sold more than 35,000 CDs, her music is in four films and she has performed live on CNBC, ESPN and BBC Radio.

Members of the Eve Selis Band include Ramonans "Cactus" Jim Soldi and Sharon Whyte. Soldi played with Johnny Cash for four years and Ricky Skaggs for two years. Soldi, Whyte and fellow Eve Selis Band member Mark "Twang" Intravaia are also members of their own band, Cactus Twang & Whyte.

Citizen Band is fronted by San Diegan singer/musician/ songwriter Jeff Berkley, who is one-half of the award-winning Americana/folk duo Berkley Hart. His recently formed Citizen Band meets his outlet for rockin' and rollin'. Berkley has shared the stage with artists such as Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Ben Harper and Bruce Cockburn.

Citizen Band. Photo by Masen Larsen Courtesy of citizenband.us website

In addition to the music and beef barbecue, Ramona MusicFest will include a live auction, no-host beer and wine sales, and a reverse raffle - the last ticket drawn wins $1,000! Only 300 reverse raffle tickets will be sold. For information on the auctions and raffle, contact Sharon Greene at 760-788-6960 or Norm Malklowski at 760-440-9899.

Ramona MusicFest is a fundraiser for Rotary and Kiwanis community service projects, including Project Lifesaver, Senior Scholarships, Witch Creek Fire Relief, Kids Bike and Safety Fair, July 4th Family Picnic and Fireworks and more.

This event begins at 3 p.m. at Dos Picos Park, 17953 Dos Picos Road, Ramona.

Kiwanis and Rotary are seeking community support for this event through sponsorships ($250, $500 and $1,000) and the donations of goods and services for the barbecue and for the live auction. For sponsorship information, contact Bob Hailey, 760-789-4624 or at bob.hailey@cox.net.

The Eve Selis Band. Photo by Rick Lakin Courtesy of eveselis.com website

The major sponsors include Daniel's Liquor and Deli, Daniel's West, Stone Brewery and Anytime Towing. The music sponsor is Julie Walker of Walker Communications and Media Services.

For ticket information, contact ramonamusicfest@ cox.net or visit www.ramona musicfest.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Cheers, 2475 Main Street; Ramona Chamber of Commerce, 960 Main St.; Ramona Music, 1045 Main St.; Ramona Journal, 709 D St., Suite 104; and Ramona Pharmacy, 677 Main St.