Roselle cancels cruise nights

The organizer of the popular summer Cruise Nights in Roselle canceled this year’s weekly event, saying the village imposed too many restrictions while trying to accommodate businesses.

Several business people and residents spoke on both sides of the issue during a February village board meeting.

Some, like Phyllis Cichon, owner of How Sweet it Is, said the 5-year-old event saved her business by drawing patrons downtown. Others, including Catherine Kelly, who owns 50/50 Furniture Consignment, even asked Cruise Nights to move closer to their businesses to attract customers.

But a handful of other business owners expressed concerns that the roughly 130 Cruise Night cars, as well as the crowds who come to see them, block their paying customers from parking nearby.

Ann Perez, owner of Rock Star Salon near Main Street and Roselle Road, said her business is open until 9 p.m. Fridays and supported moving the event east on Main Street so her clients could park.

Village officials and Cruise Night Director Glenn Rygel, a Roselle resident, agreed to move the event east to begin at Main and Fourth streets. They also agreed cars must park on the north side of Main Street before 6 p.m., and event security would be controlled primarily by community volunteers.

But Rygel said he chose to cancel the event when the village also said Cruise Night organizers must foot the bill for any police overtime, which officials said could cost up to $4,000 for the summer.

“There were just so many conditions,” said Rygel. “We plan our funds at the beginning of the year, and that pays for a DJ each weekend, along with the bands who occasionally play. We can’t afford another bill.”

Cruise Nights offers free admission to view classic cars and hear music. In 2010 it was funded by 41 local sponsors who paid $190 each.

Officials suggested moving the event to Turner Park off Roselle Road or the train station on Irving Park Road, but Rygel said Main Street was ideal for safety reasons and ambience.

Village President Gayle Smolinski said Roselle needs to be responsive to its year-round businesses by making the changes. She said the village can’t afford to fund police overtime after making budget cuts to fill a deficit.

“The Taste of Roselle is going to proceed again this year, but (the Taste Commission) will pay overtime costs,” she said. “They recognize with the deficit we have and we have employees who haven’t received raises, so to have a party and pay for extra police when this is going on is not acceptable.”

Rygel said he is disappointed to end the community spirit created by Cruise Nights in Roselle, and he hopes to resurrect the event in a nearby town.

“It brought people together,” he said. “How often do you see an 18-year-old and a 78-year-old talking about a common interest?”