Pubdate: Sat, 12 Aug 2006
Source: Register Citizen (CT)
Copyright: 2006 Register Citizen
Contact:  http://www.registercitizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/598
Author: Charles W. Kim
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

D.A.R.E. CRUISE DRAWS 2,000

TORRINGTON - Around 2,000 people strolled Main Street  from 5:30 p.m. 
to 9:30 p.m. Friday night checking out  more than 300 show cars to 
help the city's Drug Abuse  Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

"We had many more cars this year," D.A.R.E. Officer  Chris Donovan 
said as he directed the display vehicles  to their parking spots. 
"Last year we had 180, this  year we are over 300."

The 17th Annual Friday Night D.A.R.E. Cruise, sponsored  by the 
Torrington Police Department, Gary's Hilltop  Auto repair, Price 
Chopper, Royals' Garage, J&M  Suppliers and The Yankee Pedlar Inn, is 
the main  funding event for the D.A.R.E. program, Donovan said.

"It is nice to see the city come out to support the  kids," Board of 
Education member Valerie Royals said.  "It is an excellent program. 
Both of my daughters were  in it."

The national D.A.R.E. program was founded in Los  Angeles, Calif., in 
1983 to give kids the tools to  avoid drugs, gangs and violence. It 
is currently in 75  percent of the nation's schools and also has 
chapters in 43 countries serving an estimated 36 million  children, 
according to the organization's Web site.

The money raised through the car show will supplement  funding from 
the city budget to enhance the program in  Torrington, Donovan said. 
The local program added three  units that were dropped in the 
national program a  couple of years ago because the nine city 
D.A.R.E. officers felt the items were important, Donovan said.

Display cars paid $10 each to show their vehicles and  compete for 
nine trophies. Each car received a  certificate and dashboard plaque 
for participating.

New Hartford resident Brian Atwood and his wife were  among those 
admiring the vast array of classic, muscle  and show cars.

"We heard about (the show) and came out," Atwood said.  "It is a good 
night out."

Atwood's favorite car was a 1932 Ford with an Ardun  Hemming motor.

Donovan, who organized the event with fellow D.A.R.E.  Officer 
Richard Dowd, said they considered moving the  event to the Timken 
parking lot, but decided to keep it  downtown for the "nostalgic feel."

Scents and Sensibility on Main Street owner Jorge  Coelho agreed.

"Events like this bring out the best in people," Coelho  said. "It 
reminds me of the old fashioned gatherings  (in the city)."

Three members of a local car club displayed their vehicles.

Mike Box, 27, Chris Hughes, 23, and Gary Clinton, 30,  formed the 
Higher Image Car Club three years ago to  find others interested in vehicles.

The club now has about 15 members that get together for  shows and 
other outings, Clinton said.

"We go to shows in Massachusetts to show respect to the  other car 
clubs," Box said. "The more guys and nice  cars you have (in the 
club), the better your club  looks."

Box, who works as a detailer for Torrington Honda,  displayed the 
1995 Honda Civic that he has been working  on for three years.

"It is my winter projects," Box said. "I like Hondas."

Box paid $2,000 for the car and has since put another  $11,000 into 
it including hydraulic lifts for each  wheel of the car.

For his efforts, Box took home the Best Import trophy  Friday night.

Not all the people displaying their cars competed for  trophies. Some 
were looking to sell.

Len Dube displayed his 1994 Harley Davidson motorcycle,  side car, 
and a unique casket trailer. The trailer Dube  wants to sell for 
$1,600 contains a real 20-gauge steel  casket he said was used by 
motorcycle clubs to  transport tents and coolers to various outings 
back in  the 1960s.

"It is for sale," Dube said. "I've only had lookers (so far)."

In addition to the entry fee, donated hot dogs from  Price Chopper 
and beverages from J&M Supply were sold  to benefit the program.

Police Chief Robert Milano spent most of the show  cooking and 
selling the hot dogs.

"The best hot dogs in the world," Milano said.

Donovan said this year's show should make more than the  $3,000 
raised last year.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman