Cruise-in draws cars and community for relaxing Friday nights

Staff Reports Posted 19 June 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Marsha Rivers

MEDINA – After rain forced cancellation of the Friday night cruise-ins the first two weeks of June, organizers were squinting happily as they welcomed dozens of antique and classic cars to the Canal Basin tonight.

Event coordinator Dave Green (pictured above) counted about 70 cars by the official start time of 5:30 p.m. He said he expected 10 or 20 more would join the party.

Green is pictured greeting Vern and Brenda Wetherbee of Holley with their two-tone green 1957 Chevy.

Elizabeth Gallo (standing) chats with cruise-in participants Rick and Donna Miller of Hilton.

“It really is a social event,” said Gallo, who with her husband Terry was showing two classic Ford Mustangs at the show, as well as helping organize other entrants. “We enjoy the beautiful cars, but it’s the people who are the icing.”

Gallo sells 50/50 raffle tickets at the cruise-ins, with the proceeds benefiting United Way of Orleans County. The event recurs every non-rainy Friday through Aug. 26, which is the culminating Super Cruise-In night throughout downtown Medina.

Sisters Autumn and Bailey Lusk of Medina get a peek inside the 1941 Cadillac Coupe owned by Rick and Donna Miller of Hilton.

Organizers expected to welcome 80-90 cars in tonight’s Canal Basin Cruise-In.