Clocktower Classic will bring visitors from across the country to Rome in April; merchants discuss race at Coffee Break

Clocktower Classic will bring visitors from across the country to Rome in April; merchants discuss race at Coffee Break

by Doug Walker, Associate Editor Rn T.Com

Broad Street restaurateurs Ricky Patterson (left) of The Patridge and John Schroeder of Schroeder's New Deli compare notes during the Downtown Coffee Break at La Marie's on Friday, March 30. (Doug Walker, RN-T.com)

slideshow

Marie Brinson and Roger Wade visit during the Downtown Coffee Break on Friday, March 30, at La Marie?s, 201 Broad St. (Doug Walker, RN-T.com)

slideshow

Steve White of Citizens First Bank and Paula Blevins of C&S Trophies check in at the Downtown Coffee Break on Friday, March 30. (Doug Walker, RN-T.com)

slideshow

Bob Blumberg (left), owner of Johnny's New York Style Pizza, and Jay Shell, owner of 333 on Broad, check out the goodies Friday, March 30, during the Downtown Coffee Break at La Marie's. (Doug Walker, RN-T.com)

slideshow Plans for the 2012 edition of the Clocktower Classic Handcycling event were laid out for downtown Rome merchants Friday during the monthly Downtown Coffee Break, conducted at La Marie?s, 201 Broad St.

Ann Hortman of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau said the seventh annual Clocktower Classic is planned for April 26-29 and will feature five different races during the four-day period, including one in Polk County and four in Floyd County. The feature event is the Downtown Criterium race, scheduled for Saturday, April 28, at 6 p.m.

Hortman also explained that day will feature Rome?s second Streets Alive event where the 200 block of Broad Street on the Clock Tower side will be shut down for a street festival featuring Zumba, fencing demonstrations, martial arts, ballet, skateboarding and other activities beginning at 2 p.m.

The annual Playtona 500, a benefit trike ride for Cancer Navigators, will take place at 5 p.m. that day, followed by a youth handcycling event at 5:30 p.m.

?Since this is a paralympic year, we expect a lot of handcyclists here gearing up for the games,? Hortman said. ?Registration just opened and about 80 percent of those who have signed up already haven?t been here before.?

She said one of those who has pre-registered is a former California Highway Patrol officer who was injured in the line of duty. Members of the Paralyzed Veterans team are also expected to bring back a large team again this year.

Loma Linda University in California will also have members of their rehab teams participating in the Clocktower Classic.

Members of the downtown merchants group were also reminded that the International Festival is planned for today from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Bridgepoint Plaza. A variety of international foods, arts and crafts will all be on display to help promote the multi-cultural community that Rome has become. Members of a delegation from Ueki, Kumamoto, Rome?s sister city in Japan, are also slated to participate in the festival.

nextdoor premier fitness dan uggla kryptos student loan forgiveness amy winehouse cause of death amy winehouse cause of death