Author Archives: Maria Saporta

About Maria Saporta

Maria Saporta, Editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state.  Since 2008, she has written a weekly column and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children.

Solar power industry grows in Georgia — creating jobs in green emerging industry

Date: February 12th, 2012, 10:19 am

By Guest Columnist DEBBIE DAY, executive director of the Georgia Solar Energy Association

Taking the reins of the Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA) is an exciting opportunity. My recent arrival coincides with the results of GSEA’s effort to amass a comprehensive snapshot of solar development so far in Georgia.  The picture it creates is impressive.
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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.
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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.
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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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Water quality in question as city spends $3.4 billion on water and sewer fixes by 2014

Date: , 8:39 am

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

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

With another 12.5 percent water and sewer rate increase due in July 2010, the question that should be at the forefront of the minds of City of Atlanta residents is: Are we getting what we’re paying for?

Almost 13 years into two federal consent decrees, the City of Atlanta has asked the court for an additional 15 years, until 2029, to complete wastewater fixes that are supposed to finally bring it into compliance with the 1972 Clean Water Act.
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Column: Grady foundation bolsters board, fundraising

Date: June 16th, 2010, 6:17 am

By Maria Saporta
Friday, June 11, 2010

Just as the Grady Health System has been undergoing a transformation, so has the Grady Health Foundation.

Established 14 years ago to support the operations of Grady Hospital, the foundation has just doubled the size of its board and is bolstering its community presence and fundraising efforts.

Several of the new board members represent companies that have made Continue reading →

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