Skate Park benefit May 31

Local skateboarders celebrate the news that a longtime skate park supporter has contacted Skate Ojai to issue a $50,000 match challenge to the community. Every donation will now be doubled, helping to reach the $350,000 goal; $227,000 has already been raised, leaving $123,000 needed by June 30 in order to build the new 10,000-square-foot concrete skate park. Check out the web site at ojaiskatepark.com for updates and payment options or mail or take donations to Ojai Community Bank, 402 W. Ojai Ave. For more information, call 646-3774.

Skate Ojai and the City of Ojai Recreation Department presents a Skate for the Green benefit event May 31 from noon to 4 p.m. celebrating skateboarding, the environment and Ojai youth.
There will be skateboarding demonstrations, a raffle, local food and vendors, plus instructors on hand to give tips to those with boards and helmets.
A skate contest with prizes will take place for a suggested $2 donation. The first 100 contest participants will receive goodie bags. Disc jockey Skitz and KFYV Live 105.5 FM will broadcast the event.
After the skate event, the movie “United by Fate” will be shown at the Chaparral Auditorium from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The video is a series of short films by Globe that features Mark Appleyard, Shane Cross, Jake Duncombe, David Gonzalez, Chris Haslam, Greg Lutzka, Rodney Mullen and Matt Mumford. Tickets cost $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
Mullen, a professional freestyle skateboarder, will be at the May 31 event to sign autographs and lend his support to helping to raise the $123,000 needed by June 30 in order to build the new 10,000 square-foot concrete skate park.
For more information, contact Dale Sumersille at 646-1872, Sunday Rylander at 766-1366 or go to ojaiskatepark.com.