Roar By the Shore car show rolls on

It’s been a few years si nc e Ment or - on -t he - Lake’s recreation programs took a hit because of budget constraints.

Among the losses were the Labor Day Parade, the recreation reimbursement program with Mentor and an annual car show started by former Mayor John Rogers.

Last year, some citizens decided the car show should go on, and they created a committee to do so.

T he f irst Roar By the Shore MOL Annual Cruise-in, held at Mentor Beach Park, was put on with donations raised by the committee. Funds raised above operations costs were donated to the Greater Cleveland Fisher House for veterans.

In 2016, more than 200 vehicles took part in the show and $1,200 was do- nated to charity.

“We are shooting higher this year,” said City Councilman Paul Morris, who worked with fellow Councilmen Rob Johnson and Jim Lunder to bring back the event.

T he second annual cruise-in will be from held noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 2 at the park, 7779 Lake Shore Blvd. The show is open to all cars and will feature goodie bags for participants, a local DJ, raff le prizes, food vendors and more.

“To us, the reason to keep the event going became obvious to us last year,” Morris said. “We originally set it up for the same reason the city Parks and Rec committee has the Fall Fest: to bring people into our little city and let the residents have a great time at the end of summer.”

Cash donations will be accepted at the event.

“A lot of the car shows require an entry fee,” Morris said. “We simply ask for a donation at the time that they register their car.”

T he city-funded car show last was held in 2013, during David Eva’s first year as mayor. He said the councilmen — along with community volunteers — have done a nice job of reviving the tradition.

“The hope is our visitors during the car show frequent our restaurants and other businesses while they’re in the area,” Eva said. “It’s always about show ing of f the nice, lakeside community we live in and promoting our businesses in the city. At some point, the visitors may look at Mentor-onthe-Lake as a place to buy a home and raise a family based on what they hear and see during these events.”

“To us, the reason to keep the event going became obvious to us last year. We originally set it up for the same reason the city Parks and Rec committee has the Fall Fest: to bring people into our little city and let the residents have a great time at the end of summer.” — City Councilman Paul Morris