Event Recap: 5th Annual "Cruisin' on the Ave"

By Jennifer Ersalesi

Photos by Bonnie Corcoran

On June 25th the Rutherford Volunteer First-Aid Ambulance Corps held its 5th Annual “Cruisin’ the Avenue” Car Show Fundraiser on Park Avenue. This year more than 120 vehicles participated in the annual car show fundraiser. There were cars and trucks from the early 1920’s through to present day. The vehicles were on display along Park Ave, from Ames Ave to the World War I Monument by Lincoln Park. "We attribute the great turnout to the reputation of our show as a wholesome event for people of all ages. As we went to other car shows leading up to ours, people would talk about how much they looked forward to our show, or that they had already pre-registered thanks to word-of-mouth within the car community and Rutherford365. It feels good when people say they want to be at our show," explained Mark Ellard, one of the coordinators of the event.

This year 50 trophies were awarded, which is nearly double the amount from the previous shows. Mayor Joseph DeSalvo selected a beautiful red 1957 Chevrolet 210 Sport as his favorite car for “Mayor’s Choice" which was a new category this year. Special thanks to our six judges and secretary for assisting us this year," Mark Ellard told TIR.

The event drew a huge crowd. Mark said, "Thankfully Mother Nature pulled a complete 180 and gave us blue skies and sun after a gloomy morning. I would estimate a couple thousand people must’ve walked along the Avenue throughout the night. The restaurants had full tables and the Borough’s Summer Kickoff was happening at Lincoln Park with live music. People from car clubs came to check out the show, grandparents showed off classic cars from their youth to their grandchildren, and it was a reason for many to have a unique night out in town. As the evening went on, more people seemed to come out."

The Rutherford Volunteer First-Aid Ambulance Corps would like to recognize the following vendors:

Event Sponsor: BCB Bank

Diamond Sponsor: Kearny Bank

Gold Sponsors: Quality Auto Mall and Felician University

Silver Sponsors: Ferazzolis Kitchen and Dan Meredith Agency,LLC: Allstate Insurance Company

Bronze Sponsors: Frank's Truck Center, Inc., Nick's Towing, Inc., and DCH Montclair Acura

The Rutherford Volunteer First-Aid Ambulance Corps members are very grateful for the sponsors, participating restaurants along the Avenue, the vehicle owners, as well as the people who came out in support of our cause. "Without them, the fundraiser would not be what it is. We are excited to see the continuous growth of the event and the potential for next year. As an organization made up of volunteers, this event helps us continue to provide life-saving services free of charge to all our patients. The funds generated go towards purchasing medical equipment—from bandages to the ambulances themselves. I like to think of it as the community proactively giving back to itself. It also brings awareness of who we are and what we do. It gives us the opportunity to interact with members of the community in a non-emergency setting. A few people approached us regarding membership, or to simply say thank you—a bonus income we can’t put a price on," explained Mark.