Chief of Police Steve McLean said Cruise Nite is a “Big community event with a great fun crowd … and it gives me a chance to interact,” with people.
And with local merchants: Richard Rudman got yogurt to go to celebrate the return of Cruise Nite, which he said, is “The first sign of spring!”
Denise Franke of Valencia was carrying a large Easter gift bag stuffed with a dozen others she said “I bought at a dollar store … and I got some fun hair products at a beauty salon!”
Don Tello was keeping an eye on his red 1933 Chevy coupe parked on Mill Street, a vehicle he has owned since 1976.
“I’ve been into hotrods a long time,” and to Tello part of the fun of Cruise Nite is to “hear people talk about what they had, their first cars and favorites … it’s great.”
Some people, 58 to be exact, got free lessons in life-saving and the chance to win a gift certificate for La Cabana for taking the Hands-Only CPR training from members of the Santa Paula Fire Department.
Fire Chief Rick Araiza was pleased: “We were here for about two-and-a-half hours,” and being able to train so many people in the life-saving technique of calling 911 first and then applying Hands-Only CPR was gratifying.
“It was a great turnout, a great night and,” noted Araiza, “an exciting start to the 17th year of Cruise Nite.”
Cruise Nite is held in historic Downtown Santa Paula on the First Friday of each the month, April through October.
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Left: Second-grade student Serenity Burboa learns CPR from Santa Paula Firefighter Derek Doler at Friday’s Cruise Nite at the intersection of Main and Mill streets. Hundreds of passers-by were invited to show Santa Paula firefighters how they can perform Hands-Only CPR to the theme of the Bee Gees 1977 hit song, “Stayin’ Alive.” Those who accepted the challenge were included in a random drawing to win dinner for two at La Cabaña, an award that went to Santa Paula resident Josie Aguilera. Fire Chief Rick Araiza was pleased with this program’s successful outcome at Friday’s event, explaining how important it is to get the word out about this “potentially lifesaving technique involving no mouth-to-mouth contact.” He further explained that “this technique is critical to use if you see someone suddenly collapse, as it increases the likelihood of surviving cardiac emergencies when no medical personnel are present.” Right: From left to right, Santa Paula Firefighters Gary Braun, Andy VanSciver, Derek Doler, Cesar Cervantes, and Travis Hines helped to educate the public at Cruise Nite about how to save a life using Hands-Only CPR. They trained 58 people using hands-on instruction, while hundreds of others watched and learned. This Hands-Only CPR program, aka Sidewalk CPR, is possible through a partnership with Southern California Edison, Santa Paula Fire Department, and Santa Paula Police and Fire Foundation, and has enabled our city’s fire personnel to train more than 1,500 local residents — young and old — at community events, schools, and the Senior Center, with the intent to make regular people lifesavers. |
