Photo gallery: Rock ’n’ roll cars roll through North Fork, Cutchogue first responders show off new firehouse
Cutchogue’s Village Green was rocking and rolling on Saturday as vintage automobiles cruised in for the Rock and Roll Car Show, bringing a blast from the past to the historic grounds.
The event featured an array of vintage automobiles, with owners showcasing their customized vehicles while visitors took in the cars and explored the Village Green’s historical buildings. It was organized with help from local volunteers, Mike Malkush and Mattituck-Cutchogue Jr./Sr. High School students.
The historical council offers paid internships for Mattituck-Cutchogue students who are interested in history and all proceeds from the event support the internships.
“We’re going to have Best in Show for prewar cars, Best in Show postwar cars, and a special Doo-Wop Best in Show,” Mr. Malkush said, describing the three types of trophy categories.
George Bartunek won the Best in Show prewar award with his 1923 Dodge, Ed Boyd won the Best in Show postwar with his 1956 Gullwing Mercedes and Ralph Passatino won with his Doo-Wop 1958 Chevy Impala convertible.
Six judges, including one high school volunteer, selected the winners.
“I wanted to get young people involved in this wonderful hobby,” Mr. Malkush said.
For some owners, the cars carry meaning beyond a hobby. Brooklyn native and West Babylon resident Mike Losito bought his 1955 Chevy 210 after losing his parents, wife and brother in 2022.
“My father died of prostate cancer, my mother had stomach cancer, my wife had a kidney disease and my brother had brain cancer,” Mr. Losito said.
His Chevy featured a plastic cheese burger with French fries, a chocolate milkshake, soda, mustard and ketchup bottles, a cupcake and a fake menu attached to a tray hanging out the passenger side window. A drive thru radio was attached to the driver-side window.
“When I was a kid, my parents used to take me to a drive thru,” Mr. Losito said. “They used to deliver the food to your car on roller skates. Childhood memories.”
Down Main Road, the Cutchogue Fire Department held an open house, welcoming North Fork residents to see its newly renovated firehouse. The building reopened in January after two and a half years of work to modernize it.
“This event gives residents an opportunity to se how their taxpayer money was spent,” said Fire Commissioner Larry Behr.
“Visitors have responded positively,” said fire commissioner David Blados. “One woman became emotional while learning about the department’s rescue and ambulance operations and seeing the equipment available to the firefighters.”
Ambulance No. 17 is new to the station. The renovation also created more room for firetrucks to move inside the building and added more advanced equipment, making it safer for firefighters to gear up and respond to calls.
“There’s a new ventilation system that removes exhaust gases when trucks are running inside the firehouse, reducing firefighters’ exposure to fumes while they prepare for emergency calls,” said fire commissioner Chris Talbot.
Photos by Nick Mongiovi
