Monthly Archives: June 2010

Kennesaw State receives gift from Joel Katz for music and entertainment program

Date: June 28th, 2010, 5:22 pm

By Maria Saporta

Thanks to a gift from leading entertainment attorney Joel Katz, Kennesaw State University announced today that it will launch an Entertainment and Music Management Certificate Program in the fall 2010.

Katz said he was willing to underwrite the program because he would like to see more people enter the entertainment business in metro Atlanta.

“I think this will help grow the business in Atlanta,” Katz said. “One of the problems is finding people to do the business side Continue reading →

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Before he retires, CAP executive Paul Kelman talks about the future of downtown Atlanta

Date: , 3:16 pm

More people living downtown is key to creating a vibrant center city for the Atlanta region.

That is the view of Paul Kelman, executive vice president of Central Atlanta Progress, who recently announced his retirement effective July 16 after 22 years with the downtown business organization.

Kelman is the longest-serving employee in CAP’s 70-year history — providing continuity for the organization through at least seven different presidents, and even filling in as interim president during one of its transition periods.

He is the one member of CAP’s staff who dates back to the tenure of legendary president Dan Sweat — who led the organization during the pivotal 1970s and 1980s — when Atlanta’s political power shifted from white leadership to black Continue reading →

Posted in Maria's Metro | 3 Comments

Creating greenways to manage storm water is key to water quality

Date: June 27th, 2010, 10:59 pm

By Guest Columnist JACKIE ECHOLS, an environmentalist and citizen acitivist.

Second a two-part series on the state of the City of Atlanta’s water and sewer plans.

The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) needs to give top priority to demonstrating that the combined sewer overflow (CSO) tunnels and treatment investments already in place will bring Atlanta into compliance by the current 2014 deadline. No time extension should be granted.

However, a time extension to rebuild sewer infrastructure in the combined sewer areas is appropriate. These areas are served by the CSO tunnel and treatment systems. Because water quality Continue reading →

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First Lady Rosalynn Carter continues fighting for those with mental illnesses

Date: June 24th, 2010, 12:05 pm

By Maria Saporta

Persistence and compassionate dedication describe former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s tireless efforts on mental issues in our state and nation.

Carter, who spoke Wednesday at the Atlanta Press Club luncheon at the Commerce Club, has now documented all that she has done to support the treatment of mental illnesses as well as to reduce the stigma related to mental health issues.

More importantly, in her new book — “Within our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis” — Carter presents solutions Continue reading →

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Charlie Loudermilk and Alex Cooley team up to bring new life to Buckhead Theatre

Date: June 23rd, 2010, 4:13 pm

By Maria Saporta

Walking into the new Buckhead Theatre with Charlie Loudermilk is like walking back in time.

Loudermilk, 82, has invested $6 million in renovating the former Roxy in the heart of Buckhead, and that doesn’t include the $2 million he paid to buy the historic theater and the land it sits on.

Back when he was growing up, Loudermilk said that as a kid, he used to go to see Westerns for a nickel. He also remembered when African-Americans could only sit in the balcony because of segregation.
Continue reading →

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Column: 2010 Big Splash at the aquarium to be ‘the party of the year’

Date: , 7:04 am

By Maria Saporta
Friday, June 18, 2010

Two of Bernie Marcus’ great passions will join forces on the night of Nov. 13 for Big Splash 2010.

On that evening, 1,800 Atlantans will be the first to see the Georgia Aquarium’s new Dolphin Exhibit at a black-tie event benefiting the Marcus Autism Center.
Continue reading →

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Southface welcomes summer and the sun with baby goats

Date: June 21st, 2010, 11:39 pm

By Maria Saporta

The sun has set on the longest day of the year — the Summer Solstice.

Southface, the Atlanta-based organization that promotes green building practices, held its annual ice cream party this evening to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the sunniest day of the year.

With temperatures in the mid-90s, there was no question that summer had arrived and that the sun was burning bright. That’s where the ice cream came in.

This year, there were a couple of special Continue reading →

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Atlanta’s Beltline seeking delicate balance between smart design and quicker progress

Date: June 20th, 2010, 11:10 pm

By Maria Saporta

The magic number on Saturday was 2.5.

Jim and Sarah Kennedy donated $2.5 million to the Atlanta Beltline.

Kaiser-Permanente also donated $2.5 million to the Atlanta Beltline.

And their combined $5 million gift will build 2.5 miles of a multi-purpose trail stretching from Monroe Drive at Piedmont Park to DeKalb Avenue.

On Saturday, there was a celebration to announce both gifts and the latest development plans for the Beltline — a 22-mile corridor that will lasso intown Atlanta.

The long term vision for the Beltline calls for green space with miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails, a transit line and new Continue reading →

Posted in Maria's Metro | 11 Comments

Philips Arena chief Bob Williams named president of the Atlanta Hawks

Date: , 5:02 pm

By Maria Saporta
Friday, June 18, 2010

About six weeks ago, a couple of key Atlanta business leaders called Bob Williams to find out who would be the right person to contact to make a proposal related to the Atlanta Hawks.

Williams, who has served as president of Philips Arena since it was built and before that as president of the Omni Coliseum, said their call served as a “wake-up Continue reading →

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Atlanta Community Food Bank celebrates diaper donation

Date: , 4:58 pm

By Maria Saporta

Note to readers: SaportaReport had some technical issues this past week, but now we’re back up and running.

When Bill Bolling and I got together for lunch on Friday, he wanted to talk about diapers.

Bolling, the founder and executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, had just come from a press conference at his agency’s headquarters announcing that Kimberly-Clark and Huggies was donating two million diapers nationwide.

Of those, the Atlanta Community Food Continue reading →

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