Coshocton Senior Center hosts a blast from the past
The Fabulous 50s Drive-in at the Coshocton Senior Center parking lot offered a blast from the past with root beer floats and hotdogs, door prizes and rocking to the oldies courtesy of DJ Rick Williamson and Austin Philabaum from R&D Promotions. The weather was hot, but the music, cars and root beer floats were cool.
Eighty-two cars and trucks with almost 200 guests cruised in for the event.
Getting into the spirit of things, sisters Denise Smith brought her ’67 Camaro RS, all original and Dawn Shook brought a ’65 Chevelle she inherited from her dad. “I saw the event on Facebook, and I’ve been wanting to go to a car show. This is the closest thing to it,” Smith said.
Richard and Debbie Taylor got out their lawn chairs and sat in the back of their 1955 Chevy Pickup Series II. If they had realized how hot it was going to be they would have lined the bed with plastic and filled it with water, Debbie said.
Karen Emerson and friends Gail Jackson and Penny Egler didn’t let the temperature bother them. They got out of their cars and danced to the music. “I’m having fun. It’s great that the senior center provided this for us; glad to see all the folks out,” Emerson said.
Gwen and Roger Thomas arrived in a 1950 Chevy pickup restored by their son Rick and painted a synergy green. “Rock and Roll, root beer floats – oh yeah. We go to car shows all the time. I’ve won 50 trophies with this truck,” he said.
Senior center staff member Kim Jennings was serving up root beer floats to guests and a couple of her family members. “This got my mom and aunt out of the house and they do need to get out of the house,” she said.
The idea for a fabulous 50s drive in came from Mary Mitchell, volunteer coordinator from Community Hospice, who just wanted to do something. There is nothing for people to do right now, so this was something. We could go to the cars and serve them dressed in 50s attire. Everything was organized and prepackaged to keep everyone safe.
“Hospice, the Senior Center, Kno-Ho-Co, Gentlebrook, Alter Care, Lafayette Point, Oak Pointe and local businesses all came together to do it,” activities director Amy Foltz said. “We’re really excited to be able to do this. There were so many people willing to help. But we are still serving patients – still business as usual.”
Guest were given a gift bag and a bottle of water at the entrance and the drive-in concluded with a drawing for door prizes. Bud Mercer along with friend Jean Moore arrived driving a 1951 Chevy pick-up truck and he was a recipient of one of the door prizes.
Mark Kempf attended with his son Kyle and won a door prize as well. Both men said they were having fun. “It’s been very enjoyable,” Mark said.
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