Explorers celebrated as Cruizin’ for a Cause wraps up inaugural season

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It was a night when the Johnston Police Explorer Post 405 shined as brightly as Lou Annunziata’s 1955 black two-door Chevrolet and Joe Terino’s 1937 red and gray Ford coupe.

It was a night when the Johnston Street Machines completed an ambitious five-month series entitled Cruizin’ for a Cause and thanked a number of people, especially co-sponsor Denny’s Restaurant, PriceRite Supermarket and Saletin Real Estate Developers.

It was a night the unique non-profit, which is made up only four volunteers – president Gary Maddocks, vice president George Arakelian, sergeant at arms Anthony Ferrante and treasurer Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian – presented 19 trophies to various vintage vehicle owners, and a half-dozen more honors for motorcycle owners.

It was yet another night in the successful series that saw Richard George, a former public school educator and administrator, continue his prolific performance as “DJ Car Guy” Richard George, playing all sorts of oldies type music that took people back to the days of Bobbi socks and bubble gum.

“When we started these cruise nights,” Maddocks said, “our sole purpose was to give back to the community in a number of ways. We’ve done that for the past five months, and tonight we’re giving our valuable Johnston Police Explore Post $1,700.”

A sudden outburst of applause filled the night’s cool air in the Denny’s Restaurant parking lot in the still developing Hartford Centre on Route 6, as Maddocks continued: “These Explorers are very dear to our hearts; they are the future young men and women who wish to become police officers.”

The crowd, estimated at 300-plus people, also applauded one Explorer, Post 405’s highly respected Deputy Chief Allegra Graziano, after she delivered a powerful and special singing of the national anthem.

Graziano did so amid some special pomp and circumstance, provided by a well-dressed Post 405 Color Guard that included Lt. Katherine Rocha, Sgt. Aaron Blanco and Sgt. Oscar Marin.

“We’d also like to thank [Johnston Police] Capt. Thomas Dolan and Lt. Steven Guilmette for their outstanding leadership of our great Explorer Post,” Maddocks said. “And no one knows the value of being an Explorer better than me. That’s where I started my career in law enforcement.”

As noted, it was the Explorers’ night to shine – and to judge, as all the trophies the Johnston Street Machines presented last Thursday evening were done via ballots from each of the attending Post 405 members.

Also, there was a special Mayor Polisena Award that went to Annunziata and was presented by Chief of Staff Doug Jeffrey, as the mayor was teaching a class at CCRI. Likewise, the night’s Police Chief’s Award – was selected by Chief Richard S. Tamburini – went to Terino.

The Explorers, meanwhile, selected Dwayne Derosier’s 1970 customized Chevy Nova for their Choice Award.

It was also announced that the 20th annual Johnston Police Explorers Macaroni & Meatball Dinner will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812 located off Plainfield Street on the Cranston-Johnston line. Tickers are only $10 per person and will be available at the door.

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