Lowellville plays host to "Cruisin’ the River" event

By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

LOWELLVILLE

Michael Volsko of Struthers took refuge from the heat Monday evening as he admired classic cars from a lawn chair parked in the shade and sipped a lemonade purchased at a Brickhouse Tavern booth.

Volsko is a regular at “Cruisin’ the River,” which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Mondays.

Each week from May until October, revelers gather in downtown Lowellville to inspect classic cars, enjoy music, sample food from local vendors and try their luck at carnival games.

Proceeds from car registrations and raffles benefit local causes.

For Volsko, the atmosphere alone is enough to keep him coming back.

“It’s very sociable,” he said. “It makes me feel like it’s one big family.”

Organizer Al Smith said that, while Monday’s cruise saw less attendance than usual due to the 90-degree heat, the festivities typically draw enthusiasts from as far away as 100 miles.

Connie Penwell of Lowellville noted the event attracts people of all ages. Children she observed especially like the themed cruises, such as the Halloween cruise set for Oct. 10.

The area’s more senior residents were well-represented Monday, as well.

Throughout the night, Smith greeted his buddies from the Lowellville High School Class of 1957.

“If it wasn’t for this Monday night, we wouldn’t see each other,” said Donald Lellio, one of Smith’s high school classmates.

For Lellio, the cruise brings back memories of a time before texting and cellphones. When he was a teenager, Lellio would go into one of the downtown Lowellville storefronts and fork over a nickel to use the pay phone.

Lellio looks forward to the last half-hour of every cruise when organizers block off the streets for dancing and play what he describes as “jitterbug” music.

“He used to be a good jitterbugger,” Smith said of his friend. “Still is.”