20 DECEMBER 24, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
HOLIDAYS
Decked out classic cars drive through
Glendale in socially distant parade
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Two dozen classic cars decked out
in Christmas gear drove around
Glendale on Sunday, Dec. 13, to
spread some socially distant cheer.
The Glendale-based East Coast
Car Association and the Glendale
Kiwanis Club brought together car
enthusiasts at the Shops at Atlas
Park for a first-of-its-kind car holiday
parade.
Michael Bilski, the public affairs
director of East Coast Car Association,
dressed up as Santa Claus and
his wife, Sandy, as Mrs. Claus. They
led the caravan on their decorated
1966 Mercury Comet.
“The people that showed up at
Atlas Park were so respectful, wore
their masks and social distanced,”
Bilski wrote in a thank-you post on
Facebook. “It is amazing what can be
done during these dark times when
we come together as a community.”
The caravan passed by parts of
Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth
and Ridgewood.
This isn’t the first time Bilski
drove around with his Mercury —
on Halloween he decorated it with
skeletons and on Easter he dressed
up as the Easter Bunny. The community
knows him for leading cruise
nights, car shows and other events
with the East Coast Car Association,
a nonprofit to benefit St. Mary’s
Hospital for Children in Bayside.
According to Steve Hansen, president
of the Glendale Kiwanis Club,
they’ve received nothing but gratitude
from community members.
“We brought some normalcy to the
neighborhood,” said Hansen. “The
look on kids faces was absolutely
phenomenal. It brought smiles even
to the parents’ faces.”
Hansen and Bilski said they
were advised not to advertise the
event, due to current COVID-19
restrictions.
During the ride, they kept socially
distant while people watched and
waved from afar. Bilski reminisced
about how in years prior, he’d buy
thousands of candy canes, drive in
different neighborhoods as Santa
Claus and give kids with their parents
the candy.
“We gotta adapt to the changing
times,” he said, adding that kids still
need some kind of entertainment
and fun.
The event showcases one of the
ways people in Queens are finding
creative ways to celebrate the holiday
season as a community.
“It looks like these parades are
going to start to become a tradition,”
said Bilski. “Everything is for the
children and the community. Bringing
a smile to at least one child and
allowing them to dream, that’s all
that matters.”
Councilman Robert Holden applauded
the event and organizers.
“Thanks to the Kiwanis Club
of Glendale, East Coast Car Association,
those who participated, and
especially to Glendale’s very own
Santa, Michael Bilski!” he wrote on
a Facebook post.
Photos courtesy of Michael Bilski
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