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This week's Buzz of Northwest Georgia (click)
-'09 NAIA football championship & Rome: Upon further review...: The highs and lows of the championship events and what they meant to Rome/Floyd.
-Tight times hitting non-profits hard; RACA faces tough decisions early next year.
-Three-Dot Buzz: Pizza Hunt switch almost ready; Bobby Lee Cook on Broad.
-Peaks & Valleys: A salute to a fresh it of air in the House.
Your Christmas week forecast suddenly looks soggy:
-Welcome to the first day of winter--and the shortest 'day' of the year.
-We once had a possibility of snow in the Christmas Eve forecast but now it looks all wet with up to three inches of rain possible. Click Outlook
-Monday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Low of 32.
-Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Low around 37.
-Christmas Eve: 80% rain chance, low of 34.
-Christmas: High of 47, 30% rain chance.
-Extended forecast> Click / Local radar / regional radar
Christmas week guide> Click
-Gas prices, extended shopping hours, road conditions, closings, weather.
Talk about Christmas jingle: Tuesday's MegaMillions jackpot: $162 million>MegaMillions
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey
-The Saints are human after all; there might yet be hope for Georgia basketball.
Latest updates from Etowah Valley Trails: Winter Solstice Walks, New Year's Eve Hike, Frostbite 5K highlight events> Details
What's ahead in Bartow County:
-Jan. 7: Cartersville City Council, 7 p.m. Hear it live on WBHF 1450 AM or Web cast here on Bartow Headlines (click)
Sports/Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports
-Atlanta Braves' ace Tommy Hanson to appear at Rome Braves' Hot Stove Gathering at The Forum Jan. 25.
-Rome Braves offer new 12-pack flex ticket plans.
-Registration, training begin for 3rd Berry Half Marathon March 6.
'09 NAIA championship game & Rome: Upon further review . . . :
One of the nearly 150 pictures from Aimee H. Madden and Alan Storey available on the NAIA site following Saturday's Sioux Falls-Lindenwood game. Click
A look at what did and didn't work with Rome/Floyd County's second year of hosting the NAIA national championship football game:
-Touchdown: The game itself. It was a thriller following a somewhat slow 8-0 first quarter start. The last two minutes are what college football is all about. A pensive three-point lead, a critical fumble, a defensive struggle and a win.
-Field goal: The weather. From 1.40 inches of rain on Friday to the threat of snow to a brisk mid-40s to a wind chill of maybe 32, it was a step up (thankfully) from the 2008 edition. We were sure someone would demand a dome from Rome before the next game is played, let alone the new turf now on the way.
-Fumble: Shirt vendors. A long-sleeved T-shirt with "custom" decals on the front and back costing $35 each? These vendors need to sign that NAIA "champions of character" pledge if they're allowed back next year.
-Touchdown: The crowd. In addition to the teams and visiting fans, a healthy mix of some of Rome/Floyd County's most dedicated sports fans were there, from kids to church buddies and high school groups to Rome Braves' executives and a fleet of Shorter College leaders. This was the place to be Saturday.
-Field goal: The parking. Barron's fabled parking scramble was actually a breeze. Locals knew where to park; visitors had ample opportunities.
-Touchdown: The hometown atmosphere. The "feel" of the game was complete with an excellent performance by the Rome High Band and the soothing sounds of John McClellan's voice on the PA system.
-Fumble: Blown TV exposure. The broadcast was fine but Rome/Floyd County missed a ton of national exposure opportunities as the CBS College Sports cameras flashed around Barron Stadium. The most dominant image: A Floyd ambulance. This game is a "three-hour infomercial" for the community; take advantage of it.
-Fumble: That Diet Dr. Pepper can. If you sat in the seats closest to the tennis center on Saturday, a big inflatable Diet Dr. Pepper can blocked most of the scoreboard. Next time, try it on the fitness center side. We understand product placement; we also understand $25 seats and a high-scoring game.
-Touchdown: Amen, Mr. Mayor: Perhaps the proudest moment for Rome/Floyd County came Friday during the banquet presentations. Rome Mayor Wright Bagby reminded the audience that even amid a recession, local voters in November approved a $42.3 million SPLOST package that will enhance Barron Stadium with artificial turf and other amenities. "I'm proud of our town," Bagby said. And we're proud of the mayor for letting visiting guests know we've done our part.
-Touchdown: The game hosts and host committee. Once again, a near-flawless job. Even as the rain forced the cancellation of FAN-atic Friday, the crew moved to "Plan B"--as in the Georgia Blues Brothers. The group was to entertain fans on Town Green. When plans changed, the committee brought them indoors to close out the Friday night banquet. That gave 500 guests something to "Shout!" about.
-Final score: Rome/Floyd County is 2-0 with NAIA hosting duties with a chance to make it a three-year sweep next December. And maybe many more Decembers if negotiations go the right way starting next month.
Three-Dot Buzz . . . :
Pizza Hut switch set for this week: Look for the East Rome Pizza Hut to complete its moves to the new Pizza Hut/WingStreet on Martha Berry on Wednesday. The current site eventually will give way to a new Zaxby's as Turner McCall's Fast Food Freeway picks up another restaurant and drive-through . . .
Bobby Lee on Broad Street: Insiders says Summerville's super lawyer Bobby Lee Cook has purchased the building at 510-512 Broad St., now home to Victorian Tea Room and Harbin Clinic's behavioral center. The property, once owned by Mario Armas, was ordered to be auctioned by federal marshals. Cook is said to have been the high bidder during Friday's auction. We hope to have more on his plans for the location soon. Bobby does have a few unique ties to the community. Background . . .
Tough times rack RACA; arts group's board of directors to face some tough decisions in early 2010 as economy cuts donations
By Natalie Simms
It's been a tough year all around and few have been hit harder than the local non-profit sector. When people are tightening their budgets, it usually means their donations are cut or reduced.
One program facing serious financial decisions in the coming months is the Rome Area Council for the Arts. With dropped memberships and donations way down, it's been a tough fourth quarter of 2009.
"We're like every other non-profit in our community. When personal income is down, we're the last place they are thinking about giving money," says Rebecca Koontz, executive director of RACA. "They will choose food over donations. We are surviving but it's a struggle."
The organization had to lay-off its part-time office manager in late November, leaving Koontz as a one-woman show to run the group along with the Board of Directors. RACA has a gallery at 248 Broad St. that features local and regional artists as well as provides a number of programs for adults and children.
"Right now we have to ask, what is our budget going to allow us to do?" says Sherry Childs, president of RACA's Board of Directors. "We hope to still offer these programs in the future. Since we had to let our office manager go, that puts a huge burden on our Executive Director. But we're continuing to look at where to make cuts if needed."
Childs says January and February will be important planning months for the group as it will decide what direction to move with the organization given its current financial situation.
"Our organization has been around since the '70s and our mission is to promote the arts and emerging artists, especially highlighting local artists," she says. "At this point, we're like all non-profits in an economic downturn…but we've been a longstanding organization and done a lot to promote the arts, so we would encourage our community to support us."
Founded in 1976, RACA is recognized for producing, promoting and supporting the arts in Rome and Floyd County. RACA also helps artists and organizations working in the visual arts, literary arts and performing arts, including music, theater and dance. Programs also include classes, workshops, summer art camps, school performances, after school programs and outreach programs to senior centers and mental health facilities.
"If folks look around, you will see the arts do so much to enhance our way of life," Childs says. "Arts are thriving in our community. Just walk up and down Broad Street to see proof of that with music, theatre and art."
RACA works to "parent" other organizations including the Rome Area Songwriters Association and the recent Georgia Literary Festival in October. The group also served as the "incubator" for the Rome International Film Festival.
"We need arts in this community because any industry that comes to town is going to look at our quality of life. They look at everything from arts to schools because they want their workers to have a well-rounded life," Koontz says. "Art affects all of us…everything you touch has a creative person behind it."
And there are a lot of art supporters in this community. RACA held "A Holiday Tasting of Downtown" last Thursday. Approximately 145 participants sampled food and beverages at one of seven participating businesses including 333 on Broad, Harvest Moon Cafe, Jefferson's, La Scala, Old Havana Cigar, Opi's and Schroeder's. Tickets were $15 each.
"The event went very well and we had a lot of positive feedback from the restaurants that participated," says Scott Moody, event organizer and RACA past president. Koontz says RACA made an $1,800 profit from the event and is considering doing a tasting each quarter. The first one was held last fall.
"The tasting of downtown drew a very diverse group of people. There were several folks that came in that had never been inside our place before," says Jay Shell, owner of 333 on Broad. "It gave us a chance to meet those people, let them sample our food and put a menu in their hand so they can see what we are all about. Not to mention it helps a great cause in RACA. Being a new business, we have been honored to have been asked to take part. The Tasting of Downtown not only helps RACA and our business, but it also promotes our beautiful downtown as well."
Steven McDowell of Old Havana Cigar Co. agrees. "Our business was not only a participant but my wife and I attended and saw all seven businesses. We enjoyed all the places in downtown Rome and got to meet with others. The event was very successful and brought some new faces into our business.
"RACA works hard to maintain an excellent reputation," he added. "The current board and volunteers are very good at creative ways to raise money that not only benefits them but benefits the city of Rome…its very positive for downtown."
RACA also is wrapping up a "Clothesline Sale" through Thursday to help raise additional funds. Artists from the group's Art Coterie have donated pieces that are on sale for $50 or less. All proceeds benefit RACA. The studio is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will open at 10 a.m. on Christmas Eve for those last-minute shoppers.
For more information about RACA and how you can donate, visit www.romearts.org or call 706-295-2787. To become a member, click here.
PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak to the majority of state House members: Nice to see a breath of fresh air sweep through the Georgia House of Representatives following the era of "hawks" and other abusive techniques of the Glenn Richardson regime. State Rep. David Ralston, D-Blue Ridge, still must stand for election before the entire House in January, and certainly will have Democratic opposition. But Ralston and supporters have toppled Richardson's remaining regime. We sure wish the list of how each lawmaker voted in Thursday's caucus was public.
Peak to state Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville: The local lawmaker was getting some major looks as a potential speaker's candidate himself. The three-term Republican did the right thing on Wednesday, removing his name from consideration in favor of focusing attention on a single candidate from the conservative pack. Both his short-lived candidacy and the stepping aside have increased Loudermilk's awareness in the district, the House and even statewide if such an opportunity ever arises
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