Monthly Archives: October 2009

Park Service gets MLK property

Date: October 24th, 2009, 11:37 pm

By Maria Saporta
Friday, October 23, 2009

Imagine going back in time to the 1930s when Martin Luther King Jr. was growing up on Auburn Avenue.

Thanks to a partnership between the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Park Service, people from across the world will no longer need to use their imagination. Nearly the entire block that contains the birth home of the civil rights leader now is in public hands.

The Trust for Public Land will transfer ownership Continue reading →

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Women’s progress on boards ‘disappointing’

Date: October 23rd, 2009, 9:03 am

By Maria Saporta
Friday, October 23, 2009

Women have made little to no progress on the boards or in the executive suites of Georgia’s public companies.

The Board of Directors Network (BDN) has been tracking the status of women in corporate boardrooms and executives suites for 17 years. Although there have been significant changes among Georgia’s publicly held companies over the years, as some companies have gone private and others have been acquired, the Continue reading →

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Hard Rock Cafe sings: Good-bye Cadillac; Hello Guitar

Date: October 22nd, 2009, 10:46 am

By Maria Saporta

There’s a new look on Peachtree Street downtown.

The Hard Rock Café Atlanta has just put up a 30-foot neon guitar on the side of its restaurant at the corner of Peachtree and Andrew Young International Boulevard.

It replaces what had been the Cadillac icons that had hung precariously off the side of the building since November, 1992.

A bit of Atlanta history — which was reported earlier this year by my friend Continue reading →

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Songwriter Leonard Cohen passes this way one last time

Date: October 21st, 2009, 1:30 am

By Maria Saporta

When Leonard Cohen came out on stage at the Fox Theatre Tuesday night, he told the audience: “I don’t know when we’ll pass this way again, but I promise you that tonight, we will give you everything we’ve got.”

And Cohen, accompanied by an incredible collection of musicians and singers, did just that.

For nearly three-and-a-half hours Cohen, defied his age of 75, singing songs from all phases of his musical career — one spans more than four decades. Few
Continue reading →

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Column: Effort aims to reduce violence against women

Date: October 19th, 2009, 5:26 pm

By Maria Saporta
Friday, October 16, 2009

The Atlanta-based organization Men Stopping Violence has just received a major vote of confidence.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson is announcing that Men Stopping Violence has been awarded $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to organize and manage the first national initiative to engage men and youth in the work of addressing violence against women.

“It’s very exciting,” said Shelley Serdahely, executive Continue reading →

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Upcoming city elections will show how Atlanta is undergoing profound changes

Date: , 5:47 am

The Atlanta elections of 2009 will go down in history as turning point for our city.

This is our generation’s version of the 1969 election when for voters broke rank and defeated the candidate of the business community in favor of Sam Massell, a Jewish businessman.

Up until Massell’s election, it had been customary for the mayor of the city of Atlanta to become an honorary member of the Piedmont Driving Club. But that offer was not extended to Massell.

And by 1973, when Atlanta’s first black mayor — Maynard Jackson — was elected, the transition was complete. The predominantly white business community no longer had a hold
Continue reading →

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Teaching art in schools helps makes students more successful

Date: October 18th, 2009, 11:39 pm

By Guest Columnist ANNE OSTHOLTHOFF, founder and CEO of ArtsNOW/Creating Pride.

We want our young people to think critically, creatively and demonstrate an ability to solve problems and communicate effectively in today’s workplace. To achieve that goal, then all school leaders should take note, assess their priorities and make sure the arts are central to their school improvement plans for student success.

The reasons are twofold: First, educational research in school reform proves over and over again that students who are engaged in the arts outperform students who are not. Secondly, it is a relatively low-cost first step for school administrators and faculty in helping teachers provide engaging work in the classroom that captures the attention of students.
Continue reading →

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Fran Healy of Travis treats Atlanta to origin of his songs

Date: , 12:39 am

By Maria Saporta

One of my very favorite bands is Travis, a secret treasure of our time.

I was introduced to the Scottish band through 99X during its prime, and I have caught the band just about every time they’ve come to town. The last time was at the Tabernacle a couple of years ago.

Because I’m a true fan, when I heard that lead singer, songwriter Fran Healy was coming to town to do an acoustic set with guitarist Andy Dunlop, I knew I had to be there.

They did not disappoint. On Saturday Continue reading →

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Reorganization of GDOT diminishes role of transit, rail and intermodal programs

Date: October 15th, 2009, 9:15 pm

By Maria Saporta

Leave it to Georgia to put the train in reverse while the rest of the country is moving forward.

Vance Smith, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation, distributed a memo on Thursday, Oct. 15 announcing proposed “organizational changes” in his department.

“Over the last few months, we have worked diligently to strategically reorganize the Department to achieve greater efficiency in both functional alignment and program delivery,” Smith
Continue reading →

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Bernie Marcus teaches Yiddish words at prayer breakfast

Date: , 10:37 am

By Maria Saporta

At the 12th annual Atlanta Interfaith Business Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning, keynote speaker Bernie Marcus had a mission — to teach two words of Yiddish to the crowd of about 1,000 people.

Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot who has become one of Atlanta’s leading philanthropists, was the first Jew to deliver the keynote prayer at the annual event held at the Hyatt Regency.

“I’m going to turn them all into Jews,” joked Marcus, who was pleased Continue reading →

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