July 25, 2009

Hot rodders and classic car enthusiasts and spectators from throughout Southeast Michigan - and beyond - will converge on Telegraph Road (US24) for the fifth annual Telegraph Tomorrow Car Cruise on Saturday, July 25.

Spanning the communities of Taylor, Dearborn Heights, Dearborn and Redford Township, the event is expected to draw thousands of enthusiasts between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Eureka Road in Taylor to the south all the way to Puritan Road in Redford to the north.

Car club members and classic vehicle owners alike are encouraged to display their wares along Telegraph Road for this year’s event.

Several business owners and operators along the Telegraph corridor are making their parking lots available to cruisers and spectators, while others are hosting other cruise-related events. Many businesses are holding special events throughout the day. City officials caution that special event permits are required.

The cities of Taylor and Dearborn Heights are encouraging business owners interested in taking a more active role to register as event sponsors or supporters. For a nominal fee, the cities will list companies’ names and logos on their cruise-related Web sites, and include the information in all other cruise-related promotion.

For more information on sponsorship/support opportunities, contact Dianna Battistone in Taylor at (734) 374-4027 or dbattistone@ci.taylor.mi.us or Bob Ankrapp in Dearborn Heights at (313) 277-7405 or rankrapp@ci.dearborn-heights.mi.us.

Current sponsors of the Taylor portion of the cruise are Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, Platinum Communications/AT&T, Telegraph Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep and Walmart.
Current sponsors of the Dearborn Heights portion of the cruise are Traction Bar Lounge, Mister Chicken Restaurant and Harry’s Army Surplus.

The Telegraph Tomorrow Classic Car Cruise, in its fifth year, is named for the Telegraph Tomorrow Association that works to improve and promote the U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) corridor.

For updated information on the Taylor portion of the cruise, visit www.cityoftyalor.com/cruise.

CRUISE NOTES

ŸTelegraph Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep will be one of the festive places in Taylor. Billed as a Telegraph Cruise Official Pit Stop, the dealership will be home to festivities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Management has invited all Mopar custom cars and clubs to display at no cost. There is parking available for 200 cars. Legendary disc jockey John O’Leary will broadcast live for WCSX-FM. The public is invited to a performance of the Blackjack Band from 1 to 5 p.m. Classic concessions will provide refreshments. Restroom facilities will be available.

ŸFree infant/child car seat inspections will be provided from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Michigan State Police Post, located at 12111 Telegraph Road, Taylor. There will be certified car seat technicians to inspect car seats for proper installation and use. The event is sponsored by Guiding Hand Pregnancy Refuge, the Michigan State Police, Taylor Police and Culver’s Restaurant.

ŸBiker Bob’s Harley Davison Motown at 14100 Telegraph Road will raise money for the Penrickton Center for Blind Children, also located in Taylor. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a car show, a chili cook-off and the annual “battle of the babes.”

ŸThe Home Depot store at Telegraph and Goddard in Taylor invite travelers inside the store for vendor demonstrations and contests involving windows, roofing, siding, heating and cooling and air conditioning. Outside the store, The Home Depot invites car enthusiasts to park free in the vast parking lot and purchase Telegraph Cruise merchandise. The parking lot also is home for the day to the headquarters of the Taylor Auxiliary Police.

ŸGilead Baptist Church invites classic car owners to its annual free car show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church parking lot, 12501 Telegraph, north of Northline Road. The event is open to all street rods, muscle cars, classics, trucks and sports cars. (Vehicles 1984 or older please.) Dash plaques will be presented to the first 125 car owners. Admission is free. There will be live music and great food. For more information, call (734) 287-2650.

ŸThe Taylor Moose Lodge will offer parking for cruisers, provide a DJ from noon into the night and sell food and beverages. The lodge is located at 9981 Telegraph Road.

ŸSt. John’s Lutheran Church and School, located at 13115 Telegraph, will be inviting family and friends to enjoy the cruise. Veterans of Foreign Wars 4422 and the Ladies Auxiliary will distribute water and American Flags.

ŸEven businesses close to Telegraph are getting into the fun. Body Shop Solutions at 24737 Eureka Road, west of Telegraph, will be home to a free car show. Organizers will serve barbecue to car owners entered in the show. A DJ will play music. It all starts at 9 a.m.

ŸTodor’s Place at 9895 Telegraph Road will be home to an Operation Quiet Comfort fund-raiser to support the wounded troops overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ŸDrinks Saloon at 9015 Telegraph is usually one of the liveliest spots on cruise day. This year, there will be food, T-shirts and vendor giveaways.

ŸSt. Alfred Parish on Telegraph just south of Wick Road will be home to car club activity, plus a lemonade stand and food service by Boy Scout Troop 816.

ŸTaylor firefighters will be out in force for the annual Fill the Boot fund-raising campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Members of the Taylor Professional Firefighters Union Local 1252 will solicit donations on Telegraph at Eureka, Goddard and Van Born roads. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has proclaimed the last weekend of July as "Fill the Boot Weekend" in Michigan.

ŸThe McDonald's restaurant at 10236 Telegraph Road will have radio station WYCD-FM on site. Jason the 300 Pound Cowboy will broadcast live. The prize machine will be on hand and there will be a raffle for Kenny Chesney concert tickets and a trip to Orlando, Florida.

ŸTaylor resident Elaine Filiak notes that her church, Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church in Dearborn, will be participating in cruise activities for the fifth straight year. Cruisers looking to park can do so in the church lot, located at the corner of Telegraph and Cherry Hill. Organizers request a $10 donation to park in the lot; $20 in the row by Telegraph. There will be plenty of food and beverages, face painting and bouncers. Clean indoor restrooms are available all day. Proceeds benefit the church’s Veterans Day program and other programs throughout the year.

ŸTreehouse Bar & Grill at 12213 Telegraph will feature Eddie Copper and the Exit Band performing at 3 p.m. For more information, call (734) 287-9262.

For more information about Telegraph Tomorrow, call Dianna Battistone of the City of Taylor at (734) 374-4027. For updated information about the cruise, visit the Web site www.cityoftaylor.com/cruise.

Note to Telegraph Businesses, Churches and Other Groups: The information in this report came from organizations that obtained the necessary city permits and reported the information to Dianna Battistone at the Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation. For more information, contact Dianna at (734) 374-4027. To submit information about your event, e-mail it to dbattistone@ci.taylor.mi.us and taylornews@aol.com.

2009 Letter to Telegraph business owners