Published: August 25, 2008 01:07 am      

MEDINA: Super-cruise to take place along Main Street

Ever the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley will grace the stage at Medina’s Super Cruise-In on Friday.

Played by Terry Buchwald of Buffalo, Presley will perform all of his greatest hits as he swoons the ladies with his glamorous, star studded costumes and his famous gyrating hips.

“He comes driving through everything on his motorcycle ... with his glittery cape,” said Donna Bushover, co-chair of the summer-long event. “He goes among the crowd; he puts scarves on the ladies. ... They love it.”

The Super Cruise-In will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 9 p.m., she said. It will close the weekly Friday night tradition for the season. As always, raffle proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross in Orleans County.

Up for grabs are a handmade quilt and a 42-inch plasma Panasonic HD TV. Tickets are three for $10 or $5 each at the American Red Cross, 421 Main St., Donna Bushover’s General Insurance, 419 Main St., or at the Cruise-In.

The drawing for the TV will take place Friday, while quilt raffle tickets will be sold through October, Bushover said. Also available will be 50/50 raffle tickets.

The Red Cross will use the money to replenish their Local Disaster Relief Fund, according to David Green, a long-time Red Cross volunteer and co-chair of the summer Cruise-Ins. Administrators announced at the end of July that the fund had completely depleted due to a decline in donations and increased community need.

A successful Super Cruise-In will help put them back on their feet.

“They need help desperately,” Green said.

Last year’s Super Cruise-In saw more than “250 cars and lots of people,” he said. He hopes to see the same enthusiasm again on Friday. Much depends on the weather, as owners won’t risk ruining their restored, vintage vehicles if there is rain.

The best part of the event is the car talk, Green said. He will bring his 1941 Chevy, which he has restored to look like an old sheriff’s car.

“I love to see the cars,” he said. “You meet a lot of nice people that come from all over.”

Rick Soule of Waterport will bring one of two vehicles he has lovingly restored — a red 1957 Chevy and a blue 1957 four-door Chevy hard top.

He purchased the red Chevy in 1980 for $50 and has since restored it three times, he said. He originally considered junking it due to its desperate condition. The car lacked a motor and transmission, and holes speckled the floor.

Soule eventually decided to give the vehicle a second chance. Today it is in pristine condition — every teenage boy’s dream car.

Participants in Friday’s Super Cruise-In can begin pulling in just before 5 p.m., Bushover said.

“They have to come in off of Pearl Street to be parked,” she said.

The evening’s spotlight organization, the Medina Masonic Lodge No. 336, will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, soda and ice cream. The Boy Scouts will sell snow cones to benefit the Red Cross.

The newest addition will be a dunking tank. Step up to dunk Mayor Adam Tabelski, Trustee Andrew Meier, Trustee Tom Snyder, plus more.

Every Cruise-In this summer has had a theme and spotlight organization, Bushover said. Last Friday’s recognized the area’s veterans with patriotic music.

Cooper’s Funeral Home, Hartway Motors, Avanti Pizza and Grill, Orleans Ford Mercury, Notes of Class, Lyons Collision and the Country Club Restaurant donated funds for the weekly DJ, Hank Nevins.

Super Cruise-In sponsors include the Medina Lions Club, United Way of Western Orleans County, the Medina Business Association, the Medicine Shoppe, the Medina Masonic Lodge, Rudy’s, the Shirt Factory Cafe, Rosenkrans Pharmacy, Brunner’s, the Medina Railroad Museum, Movie Quest, the Medina Savings and Loan Association, BMP, Bank of Castile and Art Hill Excavating.