Friends manage to surprise environmental lobbyist Neill Herring
If one wants to know what’s going on under Georgia’s Gold Dome, a good person to call is Neill Herring, who has been keeping a close eye on legislation for more than four decades.
But close friends of Herring were able to pull a fast one.
At the annual “Bill Burning” party, where journalists and politicos burn pieces of legislation that either passed or failed, Sally Bethea took out a framed copy of HR 1767 – a House resolution recognizing and commending Herring “for his years of service at the Georgia General Assembly.”
Complete with 12 “whereas” comments about Herring’s colorful tenure at the statehouse, the resolution ended with commending him for his “efficient, effective, unselfish and dedicated public service to the State of Georgia.”
During the presentation, an embarrassed Herring stood poker-faced. “We surprised him,” said Bethea, who plotted with retired Sierra Club leader Mark Woodall to get the resolution passed. “As Mark said, Neill isn’t planning to retire any time soon, but we wanted to go ahead and recognize him.”
— Maria Saporta
Alliance Française’s Richard Keatley receives French honor
Order of Academic Palmson April 1 from Anne-Laure Desjonquères, the French consul general in Atlanta, (Photo by Maria Saporta.)
It may have been April Fool’s Day, but it wasn’t a joke.
Richard Keatley, executive director of the Alliance Française d’Atlanta, received the French government’s Order of Academic Palms, rank of Knight, on April 1 at the residence of the French Consulate in Atlanta.
Anne-Laure Desjonquères, the French consul general in Atlanta, awarded Keatley the honor for his passion of the French language and for his 20 years of experience teaching and growing French language and cultural programs.
Keatley joined the Alliance Française in August 2019, leading the French school and cultural organization through COVID and help secure a new home for the organization in Peachtree Center in Downtown Atlanta.
It has also been announced that Keatley has decided to retire once a successor has been found. The Alliance Française is casting a wide net for people interested in applying for the job.
Keatley and his wife plan to move to Italy, where Keatley plans to cook, play classical guitar and travel through idyllic landscapes in Europe.
— Maria Saporta
South Fulton Fire & Rescue launches first Citizen Fire Academy for residents
The City of South Fulton Fire & Rescue Department will host its inaugural Citizen Fire Academy June 1 to 5, 2026, offering residents a weeklong introduction to fire service operations.
The program runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each evening at Fire Station 11, located at 4760 Fulton Industrial Boulevard SW. Participants will take part in hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations covering firefighting equipment, basic CPR, emergency response procedures, and the training demands of fire service personnel.
Department officials say the academy is intended to build transparency between the department and the community it serves, while also expanding fire prevention awareness and emergency preparedness among residents.
The program is open to City of South Fulton residents ages 18 and older. Officials note it may also serve as an introduction for those considering a career in fire service. Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion.
Space is limited, and early applications are encouraged.
— Derek Prall
Grant Park Conservancy breaks ground on outdoor classroom and theatre near historic Milledge Fountain
The Grant Park Conservancy has broken ground on the Milledge Fountain Outdoor Classroom and Theatre, launching a transformation of an underutilized area just beyond one of Grant Park’s most recognized landmarks.
The nearly $1 million project will convert a flood-prone, overgrown space behind the 1927-era Milledge Fountain into a multipurpose outdoor learning and performance venue. Construction will begin with stabilization of the fountain’s original stone walls before reshaping the site into an outdoor classroom and stage, with the former reflecting pool serving as the stage’s foundation.
Additional plans include native landscaping, rain gardens, permeable surfaces for stormwater management, and ADA-accessible pathways. Interpretive elements throughout the site will highlight native plants, local wildlife, and sustainable landscape practices.
The space is intended to support school programming, workshops, performances, and community events. Funding was made possible through Conservancy fundraising, Park Pride support, Moving Atlanta Forward bond funds, and contributions from donors and grant partners.
— Derek Prall
Atlanta Fair closing day set for April 12
The Atlanta Fair is in its last week of its spring run, with rides, games, and family attractions available through Sunday, April 12, across from Center Parc Stadium at 688 Central Ave SW in Atlanta.
Weekly hours run Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 11 p.m.
Featured rides include the Expo Wheel, Nemesis 360, Zero Gravity, and the Himalaya, alongside bumper cars and other midway staples. Children’s rides include the Jumping Jumbos, Tea Cup ride, and Scooby-Doo Kiddie Train.
Admission is $3 for children 42 inches and under. General admission is $5 Monday through Thursday and $10 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Rides require two to four tickets each.
— Derek Prall
Spring Festival on Ponce returns to Olmsted Linear Park this weekend
The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces will host the annual Spring Festival on Ponce at Olmsted Linear Park on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The free, two-day event features work from approximately 125 artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, glass blowers and leather and metal craftmakers. Attendees can also expect local food trucks, a live DJ, and a children’s activity area. Dogs are welcome.
More information is available here.
— Derek Prall
Atlanta History Center marks centennial with book and campus-wide exhibition opening April 25
The Atlanta History Center will open a campus-wide exhibition on April 25 tied to the release of “Atlanta in 100 Objects: A Century of Stories,” an illustrated coffee table book published by Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers as part of the institution’s year-long 100th anniversary celebration.
The exhibition spans the center’s 33-acre campus — including galleries, gardens, and historic homes — as a self-guided, treasure hunt-style experience. The book, which carries a foreword by Andrew Young, draws from a century of collecting to present 100 artifacts tracing Atlanta’s history from its origins as a railroad hub through the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement to the present day.
Objects featured include an 1864 map of Atlanta used by Union troops during Sherman’s campaign, a 1964 letter from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Fox Theatre marquee letters from the 1950s, and a disco ball from the former Backstreet nightclub.
The book is available at the Atlanta History Center gift shop, on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble. More information is available here.
— Derek Prall
