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Councilman offering to take the next Super Cruise wheel

SALEM — City Councilman Dennis Plegge considers heading up the Salem Super Cruise both a challenge and an honor — one that he’s excited to take on.

Plegge stepped forward in the fall when longtime organizer Gene Johnson of the Cruisin’ Crew announced during a city council meeting that he was stepping away to focus on his wife, Jane, and their family.

“I knew immediately when he walked up to the podium that I wanted to do it. My goal on council was to do everything good for the city,” Plegge said.

He wasted no time and expressed his interest that night in coordinating the popular event, set for June 9-12 this year, stressing the need to keep it going. He repeated that desire to keep it going during a recent interview.

“It’s like an honor to do this. I don’t mind volunteering,” he said, adding it’s the biggest event everybody talks about. “It’s our fair.”

Johnson agreed, saying the cruise brings a lot of folks into town, but in the end, it’s all about the cars and the cruisers.

“I’m excited somebody’s taking over. I hope they keep it going for years to come,” he said.

When he learned about Plegge’s interest, he said he was very happy and agreed to help with the transition and show him the ropes.

“For this first year, I’m like the Elf on the Shelf. If anytime he needs help, I’m here,” Johnson said.

Plegge has experience promoting boxing matches and donating some of the proceeds to worthy causes.

He promoted a fight at Leetonia High School and donated the money to the school and promoted a fight in the municipal lot across from the Timberlanes complex, donating that money to the Salem K-9 unit.

Johnson said a couple of people called the city about being interested in coordinating the cruise, but apparently when they found out they weren’t being paid, they lost interest. Johnson previously received a small portion of the money from ad sales, but he used it to buy the T-shirts, which were then sold with the proceeds going to the food pantries who provide volunteers each year to staff the cruise.

Plegge plans to continue that tradition of donating funds from the T-shirt sales, car shows, raffles and 50/50 to any of the food pantries who provide volunteers, along with Salem band booster volunteers and new this year, the Brightside Project.

As for the event itself, he said “we’re not going to change a whole lot this year.”

Plans are already being made for some of the familiar events that go along with the cruise, such as the Show and Shine car show, the antique car show usually held at Centennial Park, the craft show and other attractions. To do a good event, Johnson estimated a need for 90 volunteers overall and about $42,000 to cover all the costs. He always shot for $25,000 in ad revenue for the cruise booklet, then there’s the money paid by sponsors, food and game vendors and crafters and any grants from the Tourism Board.

Costs include the bands, overtime for police, fire, service department, traffic & safety department, city electrician, city health inspections, trash, electric, water, signs, brochures, rentals, etc.

Besides Plegge being involved, Mick Orosz will continue handling the food and game vendors and city Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello will continue arranging for the bands and coordinate the city services needed for the event, with assistance from Debbie Bricker, Mayor John Berlin’s administrative assistant. The mayor takes part in a lot of the activities, including the kickoff inviting cruisers to start their engines, and handing out the trophies for the Show and Shine to close out the cruise.

Anyone interested in being a cruise sponsor, buying an ad in the cruise booklet or participating as a crafter should call Plegge at 330-420-8537. Also keep up on cruise plans at salemsupercruise.com or the Salem Super Cruise Facebook page. Businesses who buy ads also get featured on the cruise website and social media site.

“This event is going to continue on. Bring your families down, that’s what it’s for. Bring your cars,” Plegge said.

“Our motto always was, if it has wheels, bring it,” Johnson said.

Plegge has an appreciation for all the work that Johnson and the Cruisin’ Crew have put into the event over the years.

He even put it on a plaque that he presented to Johnson that says “in appreciation for all your hard work and dedication to the Salem Super Cruise 2013-2021.”

mgreier@salemnews.net

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