The Chronicle - January 2012

by Kathleen Pulek
Though Mother Nature was determined
to put a damper on Cromwells Second An-
nual Memorial Day Car Show Friday, May
30, she graciously held the rain in check
long enough for hundreds of visitors to pack
the historic Main Street. They enjoyed the
beauty of the classic vehicles, the offerings
of the shops and restaurants and two special
presentations made to World War II Navy
veteran Sal Rosano.
Former rst selectwoman Mertie Terry
spearheaded a movement that established an
annual award to honor a town veteran for his
or her patriotism and service, and state Rep.
Christie Carpino and Mayor Enzo Faienza
were on hand to present Rosano with the
rst Veterans Award.
Rosano served his country as an elec-
tricians mate aboard an LST (landing ship,
tank) in the Pacic theater of battle. He also
received a handmade quilt from the Quilts
of Valor Foundation, an organization estab-
lished to provide veterans and combat ser-
vice members who have been touched by
war with a comforting and healing Quilt of
Valor. Jane Dougherty, the Connecticut co-
ordinator for the Quilts of Valor Foundation,
presented the 90-year-old veteran with the
symbol of a grateful nations heartfelt ap-
preciation.
We felt that the highlight of the car
show was the presentation of the Veterans
Award and the Quilt of Valor to Sal Rosa-
no, according to Town Planner Stuart Pop-
per. It was really quite moving. We were so
pleased with Mertie Terrys
idea to present an award to
honor one of our veterans
that we decided to make it
an annual part of our Memorial Day Car
Show because our show is a salute to our
veterans.
We had about 65 cars in attendance,
and our numbers were down because of
the weather. The rain came and ended our
car show early so were hoping for better
weather next year, said Popper.
We want people to come down and
see what Cromwell is all about, Faienza
said, as he mingled with car show attend-
ees. Were proud of the wonderful restau-
rants and businesses down here--including
some new retail merchants--so were trying
to stimulate business. We encourage people
who come down for the Memorial Day cer-
emonies and parade to join us and be part
of the car show, which is sponsored by our
very active Downtown Merchants Associa-
tion and the town.
David Werblow made the short drive
from Portland to display his 1954 MG TF
1250cc Roadster.
I dont consider myself to be a vet-
eran, said Werblow, who served in the Air
Force from 1958-60. I consider the men
and women who served in the First World
War, the Second World War, Korea and
Vietnam, and those now in the military in
Afghanistan to be veterans. I saw an ad for
the car show and Im pleased to be here to
honor our veterans.
I got this car in 2000 from a barn in
northern Connecticut. It was owned by a
gentleman who has an international MG
business. The car came in boxes, a lot of
boxes, he said with a smile.
Herb Casos 852 Auburn turns heads
wherever he takes it.
They made just 13 Auburns with this
body style in 1936 and almost 80 years later,
there are probably only a half dozen left,
said the Cromwell resident.
I bought this car in 1981 in Frankfort,
NY. I was looking for an Auburn and I saw
this one in Hemmings Motor News. Au-
burns speak for themselves as far as classy
cars go.
The car had around 60,000 miles when
I bought it and Ive put on over 4,000 miles
driving it around town and taking it to car
shows. Ive done a 100 percent restoration
myself--every nut and bolt--which took
about 12 years. These cars are hard to nd
parts for, said Caso.
Were trying to build awareness of
our downtown area by offering community
events and family entertainment that dont
cost anything, said Rodney Bitgood, own-
er of Cromwell Automotive, co-chair of the
Downtown Merchants Association and the
driving force behind the car show.
I would like to thank the Town of
Cromwell for co-sponsoring our event,
added Bitgood, as well as the many busi-
nesses who donated money or time to the
Downtown Merchants Association. It takes
a lot of time and planning for an event like
this and a lot of volunteers.
A portion of the car show proceeds will
benet Jensens Fund, a local non-prot es-
tablished by Fred and Cindy Lynn after the
death of their young son from a brain aneu-
rysm in 2003. The fund supports the build-
ing of Sir Jensens Court, a handicapped
accessible playground at Pierson Park.
We appreciate the efforts of the many
volunteers--like Rodney Bitgood, Cara
Ehlers of Liberty Bank, Jay Diclemente
of Brothers Landscaping and Jay Polke of
Willowbrook Spirit Shoppe--needed to put
on an event like the car show, said Pop-
per. We couldnt have done it without all
of our volunteers as well as the cooperative
effort of the town and the police depart-
ment.
Theres no rest for Popper and the
Cromwell Downtown Merchants Associa-
tion, who are already busy planning their
next event. Halloween on Main is sched-
uled for Friday, Oct. 24, from 4 8 p.m.
with a rain date of Oct. 25.
Halloween on Main is always a big
success. It grows and gets bigger every
year. We encourage everyone to come out
and enjoy this fun event, Popper added.
The Chronicle - July 2014
14
Chronicled
Veterans Honored at Memorial Day Car Show
This 1955 Ford Thunderbird, an icon of American culture, pays tribute to the classic Beach Boys song, Fun, Fun, Fun. Photo: Dave Burnham.
Classics and hot rods mingle with muscle cars in the parking lot at Spadas Caf. Photo: Dave Burnham.
Cromwells Herb Caso, his daughter Robin and Remi pose by his 1936 Auburn. Photo: Dave Burnham.
Izabella Ashlyn A. Agasino recently received her
First Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at St.
James Church in Rocky Hill. She is the daughter of en-
gineers Ismael and Arlyn Agasino of Cromwell.
Abie is a second-grader at Edna C. Stevens
School and will attend Woodside Intermediate School
next school year. She is looking forward to having her
long locks, which she has been growing for more than
two years, donated for the second time.
Congratulations, Abie!