| Car show shares profits with city |
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| Wednesday, 08 July 2009 | |
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Union Editor The Anoka Classic Car Show made its first deposit to the city of Anoka this week. Pete Turok, executive director of the Anoka Business and Landowners Association (ABLA), handed over a check Monday for over $1,900 – the city’s cut of the $3 classic car entry fee for the first four shows. ABLA started hosting the car show this year at the request of the city council. It was agreed earlier this spring that $1 of the $3 classic car entry fee would be turned over to the city, with $2 being used to cover expenses. Any remaining funds will be given to Rediscover Anoka, a merchant group that promotes tourism and business in the community. “This is the first of what will be a monthly check,” Turok told the council on Monday night. Turok said the car show has been averaging 500 to 600 cars every Saturday night. There are still 10 shows left this season – running every weekend until Sept. 26, with the exception of Labor Day weekend. “A lot of people have been touched by this car show,” he said. “There are a lot of players and a lot of volunteers.” Organizers opened up food vendor booths to many non-profits who have taken advantage of the chance to sell treats in exchange for doing a little fund raising. Groups like Youth First, Anoka-Champlin Meals on Wheels, Anoka Halloween, area athletic teams and the Kiwanis Club have all been on board with the car show. Councilmember Mark Freeburg commended the people in the community who have stepped up to the plate to volunteer for events like the car show. “Where would we be without those volunteers?” Freeburg asked. “This town is blessed.” As highlighted by Councilmember Jeff Weaver, those dollars given to the city by the car show will in turn be donated to two community non-profits – Youth First Community of Promise and Alexandra House. Youth First supports young people in at risk neighborhoods in Anoka, Ramsey and Andover, while Alexandra House is a north metro shelter for women and children affected by domestic abuse. Both programs suffered reduced funding from the city as a result of recent budget cuts. The council wanted to use the car show profits as a way to help give extra support to those organizations. The Anoka Classic Car show runs each Saturday night in downtown Anoka, from 5 p.m. to dusk. Cars are on display on Third Avenue north of Jackson Street to Harrison Street and on Van Buren Street from Second Avenue to Third Avenue, including the county surface lot and Golf Street. Cars and trucks must be 1978 and older. Classic cars are charged a $3 entry fee each week to participate in the show, unless the driver can prove residency in the city of Anoka. In that case, there is no charge. Admission to walk the streets and check out the classic cars is free for everyone. Mandy Moran Froemming is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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