Category: Sections

By Maria Saporta

It almost felt as though Erwin Zaban was speaking at his own funeral.

The service for the legendary Atlanta businessman and philanthropist Wednesday afternoon at the Temple had an unusual twist.

The two rabbis who officiated during the service —Alvin Sugarman, rabbi emeritus; and Peter Berg, the senior rabbi — actually read from several letters that Zaban had written to his family and friends about his thoughts of life and love as well as his wishes for his own funeral.

Of course, with his customary sense

By Maria Saporta

It’s the end of era.

I just found out this afternoon that Erwin Zaban, a pillar in the Atlanta business community, has passed away.

The service for Zaban will be at the Temple on Wednesday, July 7 at 2:30 p.m.

How does one begin to explain what an important and enduring role Zaban played in both the Atlanta business community and the Jewish community.

Zaban was instrumental in building one of Atlanta’s iconic public companies — National Service Industries — which at

By Maria Saporta

When Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed made the official announcement Thursday of the Midtown Festival of the Arts, it appeared that a significant shift was underway.

All indications at the press conference showed that the City of Atlanta is welcoming an arts festival rather than putting up obstacles to prevent it from happening.

Reed told organizers of the Midtown Festival that he was pleased to lend his support and encouragement to the community-led initiative. The annual debut of the festival will be Sept. 25

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

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

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.

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

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

By Maria Saporta

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed today announced a nine-member search committee to select a new airport general manager.

Reed also announced that the city is working with the search firm of Heidrick & Struggles to interview and recommend candidates for the post. The firm is conducting the search on a pro-bono basis.

Ben DeCosta, who has been general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport since 1998, is leaving the post at the end of this month.

By Maria Saporta

Eleven metro nonprofits are in celebration mode.

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has awarded 11 grants totaling $765,000 to nonprofits for general operating support in helping those organizations make a difference in the community.

The “Common Good Funds” are unrestricted, giving the nonprofit organizations maximum flexibility to spend those dollars where they are most needed.

“These investments are needed in our region during a time when nonprofits are

By Maria Saporta

Georgia Tech’s Center for Quality Growth and Regional development has received a $143,747 grant to assess the health impact of the planned Aerotropolis Atlanta Brownfield Redevelopment Project.

The grant was one of six awarded through a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

It will permit Georgia Tech researchers to objectively evaluate the potential health consequences of the plan and implementation strategy to convert the