BILL ZEI, president of the Westside Cruisers Car Club, has loved vintage cars as long as he can remember.
Now 57, he's the proud owner of a yellow 1940 Chevrolet and a purple-and-white 1940 Ford pickup.
Zei, who lives in Ellicott City, said the club is a great way to meet other vintage car buffs.
The nonprofit club was formed about 10 years ago "to promote the preservation and enjoyment of vintage vehicles, to foster the companionship of those who share the interest, and to raise and donate money to one or more charities," he said.
Zei has been president the past two years.
The club has 26 members, plus spouses and other family members, he said. Most members are empty nesters who have time and money to devote to their hobby, now that their children have grown up and left home. Most members also live in Howard County.
But Zei said the club imposes no geographic or age requirements for members. "I'm probably the average age, but we don't want to discourage anyone who is younger," he said. The only requirement is that a member has a vintage car or is "very seriously about to get one," Zei said.
The vintage cars owned by members range from Chevrolets to Rolls-Royces. One member has a Rolls from the 1920s, Zei said.
The club meets the last Wednesday of each month at Leon's Triple L Restaurant and Lounge in Arbutus, now famous as a favorite hangout for Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
In addition to the meetings, two major events are held each year: a car show in the fall and a dance in the spring. The next dance will be April 5. Both events raise money for charity.
The car show, which was in September, attracted about 120 vintage cars to a Wal-Mart parking lot in Eldersburg, Zei said.
"People just pull them in and park them there," he said. "The general public and anyone who's out on that particular Sunday just stops and looks at them."
Trophies were awarded in categories such as best paint and best interior. A silent auction and door prizes were part of the event, which raised money through admission fees and corporate sponsors.
Since 1999, the club has donated $16,515 to Kennedy Krieger Institute to help children with physical and mental disabilities.
The club is looking for new members, guests and speakers for meetings. Anyone who is interested can call Zei at 410-465-0093 or Gene Hamilton, the club's membership and finance officer, at 410-461-5386.
Holiday on Main Street
Downtown Ellicott City will be alive with holiday cheer Friday when the historic district holds its annual Candlelight Holiday on Main Street.
A trolley will be in operation from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. to take visitors up and down the street. Carolers in Victorian dress from the Patapsco Female Institute's living history troupe, Almira's Polite Society, will serenade visitors.
'A Few Good Men'
Mount Hebron High School will present A Few Good Men at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nov. 21-23 at 7:30 each night in the school's auditorium. This is the play that was made into a 1992 movie of the same name starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson.
The play will be directed by Tom Sankey, who is putting audience members on the stage so they feel as if they are part of the drama.
Students with leading acting parts include Kevin Norman, Connie Heiss and Spencer Hyde. Other featured actors are Chris Riley, Mike Sachs, Jimmy Sterling, Jason Lobe, Amy Allen, Taylor Forry, James O'Brien, Jamie Fritz, Leah Sanders, Arelle Oberlander, Malcolm Johnson, Jason Wiggins, Brennan Love, Noah Bird and Chris Kinslow.
Sarah Pfeifer is the show's student director, and English teacher Lori Peddle is the assistant director.
Reservations: the school, 410-313-2880.