Downtown Headlines

RACA closes on Broad Street; new location set; director released 

(Media release) On Feb. 3, the officers and Board of Directors voted unanimously to close the doors of the Rome Area Council for the Arts gallery at 248 Broad St. and to release Executive Director Rebecca Koontz.

According to RACA’s President, Sherry Childs, “We thank Rebecca Koontz for her service— she has done a fine job during her year and a half service, but we can no longer afford to pay her salary.”

“Faced with the worst financial crisis in the organization’s 34-year history, we had no other choice,” states board member and newly elected treasurer, Cathy Aldredge. “Even after a successful fundraiser in January, there were not enough funds to sustain the operations at the present location for another month. The current financial times have been hard on all non-profit organizations, and especially arts organizations. Donations to our organization are down over 50 percent from previous years.”

Founded in 1976, Rome Area Council for the Arts is a nonprofit community arts agency. RACA provides programs and support to artists, patrons and students in Rome and Floyd County. According to President Childs, RACA has already arranged to move to a new location with a much lower rent; and will run the organization with volunteers for the present time. “RACA is not going out of business. We have a committed group of officers and board members who will enable RACA to survive.”

“We welcome all area residents who are interested in restructuring our organization to contact any of our board members with suggestions or contributions. The arts are an important part of the quality of life in Rome and Floyd County, and we urge everyone interested in the future of the arts to get involved,” states Scott Moody, Past President of RACA.

The current officers of RACA are Sherry Childs, President; Scott Moody, Immediate Past President; David Dohrmann, Vice-President; Sharon Foxworthy, Secretary; and Cathy Aldredge, Treasurer. Nancy L. Smith and Ann Pullen are active Past-Presidents who also serve on the Board of Directors of RACA.

What's ahead this month in downtown Rome:

-Feb. 11/Downtown Development Authority board meeting, 8:30 a.m., Carnegie Building.

 -Feb. 13/Rome Area History Museum's Mother/Daughter Valentine’s Tea,  3 p.m. Come enjoy tea, goodies and games with your daughter, granddaughter or great-granddaughter. The event is free for members and their daughters. Other guests will be $5 per Mother/Daughter duo.

-Feb. 18/Museum will also offer a free Snapshot in Time Lecture: "The year 1963 and the Civil Rights Movement" at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 18.

-Feb. 26/Downtown Development coffee break, at Raymart. 8:30 a.m.

First Friday acts booked: The popular free summer downtown concert series returns to Bridgepoint Plaza on May 7 with Broad & Third. The schedule: June 4, The Jamie Pelfrey Band; July 2, Delta Moon; Aug. 6, Infinity Show Band; and Sept. 3, Georgia Blues Brothers. The concerts are at 7 p.m. each night.

Downtown Development Authority coffee break schedule for 2010:

8:30 a.m. at each site below

Feb. 26: Raymart Signs, 5 West Fifth Ave.
March 26: Cycle Therapy, 608 Broad St.
April 23: Rome News Tribune, 305 Sixth Ave.
May 28: 333 On Broad, 333 Broad St.
June 25: Elysium, 226-B Broad St.
July 30: Lieberman Chiropractic, 421 Broad St.
Aug. 27: disABILITY LINK NW, 411 Broad St.
Sept. 24: DeSoto Theatre, 530 Broad St.
Oct. 29: Johnny’s NY Style Pizza, 233 Broad St.
Nov. 19: The Greener Burger Co., 313 Broad St.
Dec. 17: Coosa Country Club, 110 Branham Ave.

Northwest Georgia's entertainment source: www.mullinsmania.com

-Check Downtown Headlines each Thursday for the latest local entertainment updates from Bryan Mullins of MullinsMania.com. Bryan scouts the local acts and clubs, and has the insider report on who's where and when.

Downtown Parking updates:

-For updates on downtown parking, click Parking

Forum Watch: What's ahead at The Forum