Elderwood car show attracts a crowd, vrooms with excitement!

Story and Photos by Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

More than 125 cars were on display at the Sept. 18 car show at Elderwood-Grand Island, said Elderwood’s activities director Katey Dulak.

“What a wonderful success. We’re so happy with the success with the outpouring of our community and thankful for all of our vendors,” Dulak said. “We’re the only nursing home on Grand Island. We want the community to know that our residents are here. They want to feel purposeful and have a quality of life and feel that they are engaged with their community. This event is such a blessing. We’re so thankful for our community, that people have come from the community just to see the cars, the super cruisers, our live entertainment. Viola’s, Say Cheese and ice cream. They just love it all.”

The event featured cars, a basket raffle, live music, food trucks, activities for kids and a number of vendors.

Kim Torres, who was dressed in a 1940s-style polka dotted dress, was representing the organization that she founded, Pinups for a Cause.

“It is a love story, a World War II love story that still lives on today,” Torres said. “We are a 1940s-1950s pinup group, and we go to Elderwoods, as well as many other locations like the Wurlitzer on Monday nights and things of that sort. We go to car shows and bike nights to raise money for the greater good. So, today, there’s a basket auction. There’s lots going on here. We’ve got activities for the kids. We’ve got beautiful vendors. We have food trucks. No matter where you walk, you can hear great music.”

One of the vendors, Diane Nasser, owner of Dee Dee’s Honeybees, said, “We were actually here last year. My neighbor is in the nursing home right now. We were visiting her, and Katey, who is running this, happened to mention it, and here we are.”

Nasser sold honey and offered educational information about bees. She said she has been a beekeeper for the past “seven or eight years. I’m not sure. I started out with two hives, and now I have 22. I actually learned to do things right. A lot of people actually lose about 20% or more of their hives every year. For three years in a row, I didn’t lose any. Last year, I did lose two, but I had 17, so I was able to replenish them – plus get up to 22. So, I actually have more bees than I know what to do with.

“My honey is raw honey. I don’t heat it up. I strain it. I don’t filter it. Just to get the big pieces of wax out. Sometimes, there are bee parts in there because bees do die in the hive. So, just to get the big stuff out. Right now, this is summer honey. In another three weeks or so, I’ll probably be getting some fall honey. It’s darker and it’s a stronger flavor.”

Nasser said she loves being a beekeeper.

“They’re fascinating,” she explained. “Just going in the hive and just watching them do their thing. The noise, the buzz. I don’t know. There’s nobody back there with me. Sometimes, my husband is. It’s just peaceful. You’re in nature. I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”

Pinups for a Cause, featuring Kim Torres and Wynnie Starlight and their friend, Andy Balling.

Vernon Harris of Niagara Falls is the owner of this Nissan Maxima.

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Torres expressed gratitude for the event, as well as the people attending it.

“We’re out to thank all of the car show and bike people, to make sure they are thanked and honored,” she said. “Today, we have our ‘Arthritis Avenue’ sign, as well as ‘Interstate 2 Old’ sign. We’re taking pictures with our veterans and our friends and our fans. We’re wrapping up the season in September. Our launch party for our calendar is on Nov. 10.”

The launch party will be held at the Amvets Medallion Post 13 on Review Place in the Riverside neighborhood in Buffalo.

Torres said she enjoys coming to the car show at Grand Island’s Elderwood.

“This event brings me back home,” she said. “Grand Island was home to me for many years. I’m always happy to be back, visiting with all of my friends and family that I’ve gained through the many years. It’s my favorite. It’s well attended and (there are) a lot of vendors. It’s all about community. It’s really wonderful.”

Vernon Harris, who lives in Niagara Falls, brought his car, a 2005 Nissan Maxima, to the car show. The car features Lambo doors (doors that open upward), as well as a blue color scheme.

“I had it all custom done by Sound Choice and Motor Performance. It (the car) turns heads. People are fascinated by the Lambo doors,” Harris said, adding he shows his car “as much as I can.”

The original color scheme of the car is majestic blue.

“I just tried to do that with everything to match the color of the car,” Harris said. “All I had to do was to get the paint code, and I could match (the color). I love the car. I don’t plan on doing anything else to it, I don’t think. I like the way it is.”

“I love driving it,” Harris said.

Torres emphasized the mission of Pinups for a Cause as bringing happiness and joy to people who need it most.

“Life isn’t about what you get, it’s all about what you give,” she said. “When you give, you have priceless opportunities of a lifetime.”