A Memorable Weekend

ABINGTON SUBURBAN EDITOR

What a Memorial Day weekend!

Great weather and attendance accompanied both an inaugural bike race and the 17th annual Memorial Day parade in Clarks Summit.

The U.S. Cycling-sanctioned bicycle was criterium style, with riders biking over the same course. For some races, that was 25 times over the same course.

Folks came to watch and cheer riders on.

A group of cyclists from Sickler's Bike & Sports Shop clapped and shouted encouragement to riders late Saturday morning as the sleek cyclists climbed to the top of Davis Street - what easily became "heartbreak hill."

Gerrie Carey, president of Clarks Summit Borough Council, said that in the three final days before the race, "It all pulled together."

"It turned out to be a very good event," she said. "Next year, it will be back."

By e-mail, race organizer Phil Cable of Pittston said the fact the race, first announced on May 5, came off was "nothing short of a miracle!"

"There were so many opportunities to decide to shut this down and quit on it. But miraculous thing kept happening," he said.

He thanked Clarks Summit Borough Council "for seeing the vision. Barry Kaplan of Everything Natural and David Kaplan of Sickler's Bike & Sports Shop for pushing me to bring the race back in to the downtown. For all the great media coverage, making the event known in short notice."

He praised PennDOT's "amazing efforts" and thanked Joseph Chermak Inc. for a lead vehicle "and Delbert Houser who drove the car all day."

Cable also praised Jack Coleman of Baptist Bible College "for all his hard work and tying of loose ends. Jeff Hash for providing a wonderful sound system. Rob and Laura Hivner for their enthusiastic support and the unnamed farmer who bailed hay for the corners. State Street Grill for giving sprint awards. Cedar BMX track for producing some fierce young competitors and to all the families that came out for the Jack Williams Tire Youth Challenge races."

"Now for the really big thank-yous: Police Chief Lou Vitale and the Clarks Summit Police Department, the Clarks Summit Fire Co., the Dalton police and fire company, Chinchilla Hose Co., Newton-Ranson Fire Co. and South Abington Township Police. Patrick McLaine of Civil Design Partners for providing the traffic plan to install the barriers. Thanks to Jeff Columbo and Interstate Safety Systems for installing and removing the 150 yards of concrete barriers and all the volunteer fire and EMT staff and police staff that came together in the final hour. More than forty volunteers. Thank you so much. With a more lead time and planning, Clarks Summit should have a great event for the borough in years to come," Cable said.

The Clarks Summit race was the second of five. The next race will be in Nanticoke on Saturday, July 3. Follow the series on www.NEPAcycling.com.

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