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Community Corner

Cars for the Kids

Local car show raises money for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

They were cruising for the kids on Sunday at Scranton Motors on Talcottville Road in Vernon. The fourth-annual Cruise For The Camp Car Show was hosted by the Connecticut GTO Club and sponsored by Scranton Motors, Inc.

“Our first three shows raised a total of $5,300 for the Hole In The Wall Camp,” GTO Club President Robert Heim said. “We have such a great weekly cruise night at Hooters in Wethersfield that four years ago it was suggested we host a benefit car show for the camp.”

The group will present this year’s check at the Hole In The Wall Walk-a-Thon in October. The camp is based in northeast Connecticut. 

"We’ve won the top award among groups making donations to The Hole In The Wall, and we’ve had a great time doing it,” Heim said. 

“An event like this helps kids who have serious or life-threatening illnesses attend the Hole In The Wall Camp without any charge,” according to Cindy Lehmann, the chair of the HITW Walk-A-Thon.  “The camp is a place that lets kids be kids.” 

There are activities for every camper. Even the kids in wheelchairs can go into the swimming pool. The camp has 44 acres of water, so the kids can go fishing and boating.

Paul Newman started the camp more than 20 years ago. He had a cottage on the campgrounds and would come out when the kids were there. He also threw Christmas parties at the camp for the kids. After Newman’s passing, his widow, Joanne Woodward, remains committed to the Newman family presence at the camp.

Brian Frederick didn’t have far to come from Somers and brought a piece of history with his 1936 Chevy Coupe. Grace Wiley originally won the car when she was voted Miss Rockville at the Elks Club Carnival in 1936. Frederick showed off paperwork that indicated Wiley won the car on Aug. 29 and took delivery on Sept. 1 of that year. In 1965 a friend of Frederick’s bought the car from Wiley and then Frederick became the third owner.

Steve and Mary Lee Lachowetz turned heads on their drive from South Hadley, MA in their 1958 Cadillac.  

“This summer is the first time we’ve had the car out,” Steve Lachowetz said. “We bought the car from the niece of the original owner and since it didn’t run, we had it delivered on a tow truck. We’ve got more than 3,000 hours invested in the car. We get a lot of attention in it. This is such a neat car.”

Al and Donna Poulin have owned their red 1930 Ford Model A, called “Ultimate Climax”, for five years. “The car was too domesticated when we bought it,” the Stafford residents laughed. 

“It was a plain hot rod,” Al Poulin added. “I built the coffin this winter for ha-has. It’s great for storage.”

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