Cruisin' through the shutdown

W
ant to alleviate cabin fever and yet maintain safe social distancing? Then wash off your cars and get ready for Friday and Saturday Cruising Nights. Cruising has long been a part of Americana. Garrett Borton, owner of Renegade Paint and Pipes, posted on Newcastle Talk of the Town a night of cruising event, on Saturday, April 4. The event was published only a couple of hours before it was to take place at 4:30 p.m. By 6:30 p.m, the word had spread, and dozens of cars were cruising up South Summit and down Main Street. People were waving and honking and having a good time.
After the Talk of the Town post, comments started pouring in. All in all, more than 150 posts and comments about the event have been made. Unlike many other posts, this one has garnered only positive feedback. Officer Levi Tacy’s comment let the public know there is no ban on cruising. Other posts have been about doing some select cruising events for charitable causes and even one for the graduating seniors. As these are finalized, notifications will be posted.
Borton, the brainchild of the delightful time, is stressing that this event is not a face-to-face meeting of friends. 
“Right now, we still need to behave ourselves,” he said, “but it is a chance for interaction while still maintaining a safe social distance.” 
This is a recurring event. Every Friday and Saturday night, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., for the foreseeable future, the town will be open for cruising from Loaf and Jug, up South Summit Avenue, and down Main Street to the old Frank’s building just west of the refinery. 
“This is not a car show,” Borton said, “but a chance for anyone with wheels to just get out of the house and have a bit of fun. We even picked up a pizza from Pizza Hut and ate it while we were cruising.” Borton also was amused about how many people washed their cars on such short notice. He said that currently, with the mud on the roads, it’s hard to have a clean car. Starting next weekend, even the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department will have a truck cruising along with everyone else.
Borton again emphasized that using the cruising evenings to meet face to face with others is not OK.
“That would defeat the purpose,” he said, “It is meant to lift people’s spirits. Just to give people some hope and yet stay safe.”
He also has asks that people respect the businesses and homeowners. The idea is just to get the family out of the house safely. Honk and wave and smile at each other. We need to obey the law and the guidelines put out by the state and county, he said.
So wash your cars this Friday and Saturday. Have some fun getting the family out of the house. But let’s stay safe and respectful of others. After all, we are all in this together, even if we have to stay apart.