TASTY TREATS-Suzy Lesiak, far left, of the Moorpark Women's Fortnightly Club, helps judges sample the apricot goodies. With Lesiak are Moorpark Chamber of Commerce President Virginia Hayward, Valerie Aver of the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, and Scott Mosher of the Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark. The second annual Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Apricot Festival at Moorpark College last Saturday was a success, according to Leisa Ormsbee, event coordinator for the chamber.

Altogether, five Apricot Festival royalty candidates raised $6,591 for three charities, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark and Catholic Charities' food pantry. The Kiwanis Club sponsored the contest.

Lauren Ormsbee, 16, was crowned queen of the Apricot Festival. She raised $2,561 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Ormsbee said she chose to raise funds for MS because it's a frightening disease that "progresses differently in everyone."

Ormsbee said one of her mother's friends has the disease. "She takes me to school a lot and helps with the family," said the teenager, who worked on the project for about a month.

She gathered money through family and friends and by placing fliers around town.

Marni Deckter, spokesperson for the National MS Society, said the organization is thrilled that Ormsbee chose to raise funds for the fight against multiple sclerosis.

"Lauren is a terrific example of a young leader in the fight against multiple sclerosis," said Leon LeBuffe, president of the society's Southern California chapter.

Aside from contributing financially, Lauren is also raising awareness about the disease, he said.

She was closely followed by runner-up Lisa Leal, who collected $2,505 for the Moorpark Food Pantry of Catholic Charities.

"She did really well for them," said Leisa Ormsbee, Lauren's mother.

The other three contestants- Ruben Brentwood, Sarah Rolfe and Dale Parvin-raised about $1,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark. Brentwood won the title of king by about $40.

"The concept of people running for king and queen to support the local community is fantastic," said Scott Mosher, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club. "It helps our organization in a big way."

Above: ROYALTY FOR A DAY-From left are festival winners Second Princess Sarah Rolfe, King Reuben Brentwood, Queen Lauren Ormsby, First Prince Dale Parvin, and First Princess Lisa Leal. The contestants raised more than $6,000 for local charities. Upper right: REPTILE AWARENESS- Sara Zavaola, 3, of Moorpark, doesn't know what to make of the corn snake in Cara Davis's hands. The snake and other animals on display were from the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College. Along with crowning royalty and helping nonprofit organizations, the Apricot Festival also featured games, vendor booths, apricot-related dishes and an opportunity for community members to socialize.

Although the 500 pounds of apricots at the Scattaglia Family Farms booth sold out by noon, the little oval fruit still found its way to the Fortnightly Women's Club booth, where contestants were invited to enter their recipes that included apricots.

Lou Lankusch won in the breakfast category for her apricotpineapple jam.

Above: SWINGING GOOD TIME-Jared Broussard, 3, enjoys a ride at the Moorpark Apricot Festival. Below: JUST DESSERTS- Don Ormsvee digs into a funnel cake. The festival had 20 more vendors than the previous year. In spite of the heat, a good-sized crowd turned out for the annual event. Donya Krystkowiak and her three daughters, Kayley, 8; Jenny, 6; and Amy, 4 won in the lunch and dinner categories.

About 170 vendors offered a variety of goods, services and food.

Catalina Paredes, Megan Wisler and Chaya Turrow hosted the Miss Moorpark organization booth. Miss California Jacquelynne Fontaine, whose family lives in Moorpark, came by to pay a visit.

Paredes, Wisler and Turrow are local winners of the Miss, Miss Teen and Princess titles in the 2006 Miss Moorpark competition.

"I think we had at least 7,000 to 8,000 people," said Leisa Ormsbee.

A shuttle van took visitors from the upper lot down to the event at the soccer fields. "The Moorpark Presbyterian Church donated (the van)," Ormsbee said.