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SOUTHGATE IS EPICENTER OF CRUISE ACTIVITY
SOUTHGATE — The city
enjoys its place Downriver.
It is a commercial capital in the
area, and, according to Mayor Norma Wurmlinger, with three big banquet
centers and scads of eateries, it is the “dining capital of Downriver,
too.”
It’s also will be the epicenter
Friday and Saturday of the annual summer auto-quake known as “Cruisin’
Downriver.”
“It’s very exciting for the
city,” Wurmlinger said. “People take their chairs and their coolers out
along Fort Street. … Anything festive that gets people out talking is
good for all the communities.”
Just as in years past, the hot
spot to give your hot rod a breather for the event will be the parking
lots of Meijer and Kmart supercenters, between Eureka and Pennsylvania
roads along the cruise route.
Sitting in the Meijer lot will
be Patrick D’Anna, founder of the Roam’n Chariots car club.
“Downriver has always been a mecca of car building,” D’Anna said.
“It goes back to the drag-racing
days. Downriver was heavy into that, and (these) people grew up with
those hot rods.”
D’Anna’s Roam’n Chariots, which
began with eight Downriver members and has grown to more than 500, will
sponsor a ceremony for veterans from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Master of ceremonies “Rockin’
Ronnie,” who will be spinning tunes at various times throughout the
event, will inspire the crowd with music as the car club presents eight
veterans and current servicemen with a plaque sponsored by St. Pius X
Catholic Church.
On Friday night, the “Teen
Angels,” an oldies rock ’n’ roll tribute band will play in the parking
lot. On Saturday night, the music will be provided by “Vocal Point,”
playing popular music of the past and present.
Throughout, Meijer will have
concessions, carnival games such as go-cart races and a basketball
hoop-shoot, and inflatable toys for kids.
This is the third year Meijer has
worked with the city, providing $2,000 to offset the costs.
Nearby Kmart and Southgate Ford
also are planning similar entertainment.
Southgate Recreation Director
Ronald Jewell said that while the children’s entertainment will be
supervised, it is not a place to deposit youngsters.
There will be a solid police
presence all along the route Friday and Saturday.
Southgate Lt. Roy Bruce said the
participating cities — Lincoln Park, Riverview and Wyandotte, along with
Southgate — already have had a few interdepartmental meetings.
“We’ve basically just
reiterated what we’ve done in the past,” he said.
Police will not permit “burn
outs” along Fort Street, Bruce said. Not only do such stunts deface the
pavement, but an out-of-control vehicle could jump the curb and harm
pedestrians who gather very close to the street.
No open alcohol will be permitted
either.
Bruce is quick to add, however,
that there have been no problems in the past with Cruisin’ Downriver.
“It’s been a good event,” he
said.
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