Cool cars and classic hits at Sherwood

Saturday was a day of classics at Sherwood Assisted Living.

A large crowd of residents and friends, family and locals gathered to enjoy the high-energy rock ‘n’ roll of Black Diamond Junction and the classic cars of the Sequim Valley Car Club with free root beer floats and $5 hamburgers and hot dogs with chips on Aug. 19.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen /

The setup encouraged the memories to flow forth from residents.

Ellie Born strolled along the lane of cars lining the front parking lot of the senior living facility, admiring them with friends Madisyn Rayburn, Sherwood’s activities assistant, and Sherwood hospitality aide Amanda Dremen.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
From left, Sherry Niermann, Janaye Birkland and Art Moore work together to serve free root beer floats at the “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” event At Sherwood Assisted Living last Saturday.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen From left, Sherry Niermann, Janaye Birkland and Art Moore work together to serve free root beer floats at the “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” event At Sherwood Assisted Living last Saturday.

Born said it brought back many memories of moving from Germany to the U.S. when she was 9, as well as later in life when she married a fellow automobile aficionado.

“It reminds me of my childhood,” Born said, explaining that before she came to the U.S. she had seen few cars.

“All those cars … I felt like I was in heaven.”

Sherwood Assisted Living’s Saturday event, “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” was a hit with residents and the general community.

Sherwood Assisted Living’s Saturday event, “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” was a hit with residents and the general community.

Sherwood staffer Janaye Birkland served root beer floats to an enthusiastic line of people, saying, “This year we decided to go big!”

Sherwood staff members said that they offered free root beer floats and music previously at this annual event, but this time they added a barbecue. The event started at 10 a.m., and at 12:30 p.m. hot dogs were still being grilled; however, the hamburgers, 120 full-sized and 120 sliders, were sold out.

David Ladiges, Bill Barrett and Zoey Barrett shared Sandy Keys’ 1955 Dodge Suburban Wagon at Sherwood’s “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” event on Saturday. Both the automobile and 2-and-a-half-year-old Zoey, a “Papihavapoo” (Havanese, papillion and poodle) attracted a lot of attention.

David Ladiges, Bill Barrett and Zoey Barrett shared Sandy Keys’ 1955 Dodge Suburban Wagon at Sherwood’s “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” event on Saturday. Both the automobile and 2-and-a-half-year-old Zoey, a “Papihavapoo” (Havanese, papillion and poodle) attracted a lot of attention.

Black Diamond Junction kept the crowd rockin’ at Sherwood Assisted Living’s event “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” on Saturday.

Black Diamond Junction kept the crowd rockin’ at Sherwood Assisted Living’s event “Classic Hits & Classic Cars” on Saturday.