Reporter Newspapers, Author at Reporter Newspapers

Street Talk

Posted by Reporter Newspapers | Feb 8, 2008

Do you feel that Valentine’s Day is simply a commercial holiday? What do you do, if anything, to celebrate it? Asked in front of the shops at Abernathy Square. “It’s good to be considered in terms of it being a special day, but then every day should be a special day for your lover. You should have a special day for that. I don’t think it should be considered a commercial holiday; it should be a day about people who care for each other, a special day for lovers.” Teddy Cabrals “Every holiday now is commercialized, not just Valentine’s. It’s just the media and the stores; all you can find is valentines and more valentines everywhere.” Mohamed Hernza “I think it’s a commercial holiday: I’ve been married 13 years. I feel for (single) people because it puts so much pressure on them. It puts pressure on couples to buy flowers for the wrong reasons because it’s a holiday verses you want to do it. We celebrate it by either going to dinner somewhere nice or I’ll fix a special dinner. My husband brings me roses and I’ll get him something like a gift certificate.” Kim Duncan “I’ll buy cards, flowers, chocolates. I don’t think it’s commercial. It’s a day that we reflect on the one that’s special in our life: it’s a way of paying them back for how...

Enjoying face time with neighborhoods

Posted by Reporter Newspapers | Feb 8, 2008

Editor’s Notes John F. Schaffner Recently I was invited to speak to the quarterly meeting of the Glenridge Hammond Neighborhood Association. It was a blustery, stormy evening and those attending the meeting may have thought I was a little too blustery with my remarks. The association asked me to speak about how I felt the two-year-old city of Sandy Springs was doing. But I also knew the association was involved in heavy discussions and negotiations with developers over plans to greatly expand the Lakeside office complex on Glenridge Drive into a mixed-use development, with office towers, apartments, a hotel and retail that will have much greater density than the present development and is projected to add 3,000 car trips at rush hour to Glenridge Drive. I knew they also wanted me to address development in the city and I did. I forewarned them they might not like all that I would have to say. However, I can say that the group, whether they agreed with what I was saying or not, was courteous and seemed appreciative that I came to speak. I, too, was appreciative, because it gave me an opportunity to explain firsthand the operations and philosophy of our Sandy Springs Reporter newspaper. With our small news staff, we keep relatively busy covering meetings, conducting interviews and chasing stories. But, when time permits, I welcome the opportunity to...

Massell’s ‘State of Buckhead’ for 2008 to be Buckhead business group’s topic

Posted by Reporter Newspapers | Feb 8, 2008

Buckhead Coalition President Sam Massell will give his annual “State of Buckhead” address at the Feb. 14 breakfast meeting of the Buckhead Business Association, which is generally one of the best attended of the weekly meetings. Also at the Feb. 14 meeting, Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford will swear in the new officers and board of directors for the BBA. The Thursday morning meetings are held at Anthony’s restaurant, 3109 Piedmont Road, and run from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The price is $10 for members and $15 for guests and includes a continental breakfast. On Feb. 21, the program will feature motivational speaker Ken Futch, who is author of the book Take Your Best Shot—Turning Situations into Opportunities. On Feb. 28, the speaker will be Rob Hunter, the commissioner of the city of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management. The BBA also is gearing up for its Fourth Annual A Taste of Buckhead Business event May 21 at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Buckhead. The business networking event will feature exhibits by Buckhead businesses and food presentations by 18 Buckhead restaurants. The event runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. that...

Buckhead Coalition prints cartoon book about traffic to counter rage with smiles

Posted by Reporter Newspapers | Feb 8, 2008

The Buckhead Coalition has decided to counter road rage with a smile and a few chuckles. The nonprofit chamber-type organization has introduced a hardback book with 88 cartoons about traffic. The introduction to the book lists several activities underway in the community to reduce traffic congestion—funding for rush-hour traffic police at major intersections, dedicated left-turn lanes, a free shuttle, vanpool programs, the new Peach MARTA bus. Coalition President Sam Massell said, “We must continue to do all that is practical to increase transportation options. At the same time, let’s lighten up our stress levels.” The book is titled “The Buckhead Coalition’s Car Companion” and the cartoons come from issues of the New Yorker Magazine dating back to 1926. The book is dedicated to Karl Bevins, who was the city’s traffic engineer when Massell was mayor of Atlanta. He also served under mayors William Hartsfield, Ivan Allen and Maynard Jackson. Bevins also is said to be the oldest active member of the Buckhead Business Association and attends virtually every breakfast and luncheon meeting of the organization. –John...

CDC director challenges leaders to consider health in every policy

Posted by Reporter Newspapers | Feb 8, 2008

By John Schaffner editor@reporternewspapers.net The Buckhead Coalition began its 20th anniversary on Jan. 30 with a challenge from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Julie Gerberding challenging 150 of Atlanta’s business and political leaders to make health a strategic community and national imperative. Delivering the keynote speech at the Coalition’s annual luncheon at 103 West, Dr. Gerberding told those attending “health has emerged as a really critical strategic business imperative.” She said they need to address two questions: First, Why is it that the country that spends the most money on health is 47th in the world’s health statistics? Second, what could we celebrate as a nation on March 18, 2016? “If you listen to any candidate on any level,” she said, “Everyone is talking about healthcare and healthcare reform and the requirements for changing our healthcare system. I am so respectful of the challenges of Grady Hospital here in our own city and the health challenges that the city is doing an excellent job of facing and addressing,” she continued. “But the challenges are big and they are grave and we really are in an environment where we are defending but not really accomplishing the goals that we have in mind,” Gerberding said. “Part of that is that healthcare is expensive and part of that is the drive to technology. Part of it...