Brothers Connor, left, and Lucas Russell stand next to their cars they drove to the car show they organized at the Sprenger Village of the Falls retirement and assisted living facility in Olmsted Falls. They brought the event to the facility’s residents to make a car show more accessible to them. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)
OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Aljorie Mason was ecstatic as she saw cars from various decades parked at the Sprenger Village of the Falls retirement and assisted living facility where she resides. More than 30 vehicles were parked in the lot recently for the facility’s first car show.
“This is fantastic,” Aljorie said. “I’m a car nut. I just love cars. It’s just so wonderful to have this here. I hope they come back.”
Sonny Reckart brought his 1986 “Bad to the Bone” Corvette, which is equipped with a nitrous oxide system to boost the car’s horsepower for racing. He calls his Corvette “a work in progress.”
The Olmsted Township resident learned of the car show and wanted to be part of it.
“I have never heard of a car show at a retirement home,” he said. “I’m enjoying it and so are those who live here.”
Don Manas of Bay Village admires a 1979 Pontiac Catalina that Paul Gedney of Parma owns. Don calls it “an awesome car that is as long as a city block.” (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)
Connor Russell, 17, put the car show together with the help of his brother Lucas, 18. His mom, Renee, saw a post on an Olmsted Falls community Facebook page asking about the possibility of bringing such an event to Sprenger.
Fern Legat, the facility’s activities assistant, said Wilber, a resident who turns 91 this month, wanted to see a car show, but cannot travel to see one.
“I asked about how to do one. They not only responded, but answered by doing it themselves,” she said.
Connor used social media -- and personal contact -- to introduce his first car show endeavor to the public. He posted flyers on various Facebook pages seeking cars for the show. He even established a Facebook page dedicated to the car show. He and Lucas went to various car shows on Father’s Day and distributed flyers.
“We originally had about 15 cars, but we had more than 30 cars show up today,” Connor said.
The brothers enjoy cars. Connor said Lucas’ passion for cars ignited his interest in them. Lucas’ “passion” began when he was quite young.
Ron Gutzman of Strongsville drove his 1979 Pontiac Trans Am to the Sprenger Village of the Falls car show in Olmsted Falls. He did all the work on the car he has owned since 1980. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)
“I began playing with Hot Wheels when I was 2,” Lucas said. “That was the start and it grew from there.”
Connor has a 2001 Ford Mustang. Lucas owns a 2017 Subaru WRX that he has revamped to make it his own. Lucas works at Spitzer as a service adviser. His goal is to become a manager and “build cars.”
The brothers enjoyed organizing and being part of the car show.
“It is great. Watching the residents walking around and look at the cars, asking questions. It was great. I’m thinking of doing it again in the fall,” Connor said.
Fern could not stop admiring the brothers in bringing the show to the residents.
“Some (residents) went to bed with their (day) clothes on because they didn’t want to be late. They were sitting at the windows waiting for it to start this morning,” she said.
“The car show stirred such memories for them. It is good seeing them out here enjoying the cars. This experience has been wonderful. We live in such a wonderful community. It is amazing what has occurred here today.”
Vehicles from different eras offer the residents of Sprenger Village of the Falls retirement and assisted living facility in Olmsted Falls a blast of the past. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)
A special thanks to the Russell family, including daughter Mia and dad Dan, all the car owners and the Sprenger’s dedication in bringing the good ole days back into the lives of their residents.
Kampus kudos: Local students Olivia Bongiovanni and Emily Kovach graduated from Capital University recently. Emily also earned the president’s list the spring semester. Students must achieve at least a 3.85 GPA for the honor.
Addie Quinlan achieved the dean’s list at Capital for the spring semester. To be named to the dean’s list, full-time, degree-seeking students must earn between a 3.5 and 3.69 GPA.
Local resident Mitchell Windahl earned the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the spring semester. He is studying computing security. Students must earn at least a 3.4 GPA to receive the honor.
The following local residents graduated from Miami University recently. They are Maille Drellishak, public administration, strategic communication; Audrey Pagel, interactive media studies; and Kristen Rabbitt, biology, premedical studies.
The following graduated from John Carroll University this spring semester. They are Rebecca Abbott, Sara Abu-Ukkaz, Shannon Carr, Katie Cutts, Ruth Ortego and Jon Siudowski.
Michael Dulin Jr. graduated from The Citadel with a degree in intelligence and security studies. He was part of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2022 that was one of The Citadel’s largest incoming classes four years ago.
Polaris Open House: The annual Polaris Adult Job and Career Training Program Open House is from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 4.
The free event features teacher meet-and-greet sessions, tours and an introduction to new program options.
High school seniors, recent graduates and adults who are exploring job training and career opportunities are invited to attend the open house at Polaris Career Center, 7285 Old Oak Blvd. in Middleburg Heights.
The featured programs include automotive service technician; building maintenance; cardiographic technician; cosmetology academy; dental assisting; early child care education/child development associate; heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration; manicurist; medical assisting; medical billing and coding; phlebotomy certification; police academy; precision/CNC machine technology; and welding.
Interested students are encouraged to attend the open house to begin the enrollment process, since many popular programs fill up quickly. For more details, call Theresa at 440-891-7697, email tliska@polaris.edu or go to Polaris.edu/openhouse.
Soccer fundraiser: Try your luck in a euchre tournament set for 6:30 p.m. July 21.
The event is an Olmsted Falls High School soccer fundraiser that includes a night of gaming, raffles and, of course, fun. It is at Tony K’s on Bagley Road.
The cost is $100 per team that includes two people and $25 for non-players. Prizes to the first- and second-place winners. Raffle tickets will be available for prizes from local businesses. Food and refreshments are included in your ticket price. Adults only.
To enter the tournament, Venmo @jennifer-pinzone.
School supplies: You have the opportunity to help little ones in the Olmsted Falls City School District come to school next month ready with all the supplies they need.
The Falls-Lenox Primary School and Early Childhood Center PTA has created an online list of items students will need this coming school year. They include backpacks, water bottles, headphones, plastic supply boxes, soft zippered lunch boxes, crayons, red/green/yellow/blue spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, washable markers, highlighters, Post-it notes, hard binders, three-ring binders, tabbed dividers, index cards, glue sticks, pink erasers, scissors, various plastic folders with prongs, gallon-size Ziplock bags, quart-size Ziplock bags, sandwich-size Ziplock bags, Scotch tape, masking tape, dry erase markers, dry erasers, sharpies, pencil pouches, hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes.
There is an online signup link to the list at https://bit.ly/3o2Pdqk. You may drop off your purchases at 1440 Loriann Drive, Berea; Grand Pacific Popcorn on Columbia Road next to the railroad tracks; and 6986 Grace Drive, Olmsted Township.
They will accept donations until Aug. 17. Your generosity is appreciated.
Bike rodeo: There is still time to register your child for the July 27 Bike Rodeo at the school district’s Early Childhood Center.
Olmsted Falls Cub Scout Pack 102 invites boys and girls in kindergarten through grade 5 to have fun while learning bike safety and maintenance.
There will be two obstacle courses in which the riders may win prizes. Local police officers will be on hand to help kids in this fun activity.
To register, go to https://bit.ly/3ONUuxH.
Upcoming: The second Vintage Marketplace in downtown Olmsted Falls is from noon to 5 p.m. July 31. That day is also the next Concerts in the Park performance, from 6 to 8 p.m. at East River Park. The Raybans will entertain the crowd.
The Young at Heart senior group at St. Mary of the Falls will meet from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in the parish’s community room. The cost of the luncheon is $10. Reserve your spot by calling Judy at 440-235-2222, extension 122.
Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at jdumound@yahoo.com. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.
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