MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Metro Atlanta Red Cross marks 100 years of service

By Clare S. Richie

e year was 1914, when World War 1 broke out in Europe, Henry Ford introduced the Model T assembly line, and the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross received its charter.

For a century, the Metro Atlanta Chapter has helped the city, state, nation and the world face disasters like the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Whether responding to one house re or a tornado that leveled hundreds, the Metro Atlanta Chapter mobilizes volunteers who provide shelter, food, key necessities, kindness and hope. ey ask for our blood to save lives – three lives for each pint, to be exact. And they train citizens to be lifesavers, too.

Headquartered at 1955 Monroe Drive near the I-85 connector, the Metro Atlanta Chapter seeks to “prevent, prepare for, and cope with emergencies,” through disaster response/preparedness, lifesaving training, communications for military members and their families, international humanitarian services, and support for the Southern Blood Services Division headquartered in Douglasville.

“Our long rich history has evolved with the community, but our mission has stayed the same,” said Communications O cer Sherry Nicholson.

What started with 12 volunteer organizers has since grown to 1,700 registered volunteers that outnumber paid sta 40 to 1. Together volunteers, donors, partners and sta serve a 13-county area of 5 million Georgians. e Metro Atlanta chapter also oversees 11 other chapters across the state.

To commemorate its 100th anniversary, the Metro Atlanta Chapter invites residents to participate in its 100-Day Centennial Celebration from March 23 to June 30. Some of the upcoming events the public can get involved in include:

• Join Team Red Cross as a runnerfundraiser at the March 23rd Publix Georgia Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5K in Centennial Olympic Park.

• Experience the chapter’s history through personal stories, recorded in partnership with StoryCorps Atlanta and edited by Morningside multimedia producer Lauren Waits. Listen online and hear from people like 91-year-old Mr. Greason, a disaster relief volunteer for two decades, explain that when disaster strikes, “I’ve got to go”.

• Give blood at one of the 100 Drives in 100 Days, culminating with the June 28 All American Red Cross Blood Drive with the Atlanta Braves at e 755 Club. O cials said Metro Atlanta does not collect enough blood to serve the needs of our community and this drive could help change that.

For more about the Red Cross and upcoming events, visit atlantaredcross.org.

Dr. Summers is a family medicine practitioner and her office sees children and adults. She has extended hours for flu shots and walk-ins (7:15-8:15 a.m. on Tuesday)

Monday & Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuesday 7:15 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

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Introducing Math Camp!

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Atlanta International School Summer Camps

Charlotte Lane founders source items

By Pam Berger SweetPeachblog.com

Atlanta-based couple eir shop also includes plain and poppy pocket squares, which I’m always a sucker for. ese are colored with fabric dye, handstitched and can easily be customized to your liking. I love the idea of any of these vibrant hankies tucked inside a guy’s jacket pocket or back pocket this spring, and for just $12 each, there’s no reason why that can’t happen. has announced it is moving to the city. e studio specializes in “docutainment for multicultural audiences.” Since its launch in October, the studio has six documentaries in various stages of production, including A Genius Leaves e Hood: e Unauthorized Story Of Jay Z and Gunland e Atlanta Track Club (atlantatrackclub.org) has announced that Olympian and two-time World Championship bronze medalist Rich Kenah has been named the new executive director of the organization. In addition to his nine-year professional running career, Kenah brings nearly two decades of experience in events and sports marketing. He comes to Atlanta Track Club from Global Athletics and Marketing, Inc.

Kristine Cholakian and Kenneth Cooke have combined their passions for curating and creating to open an online shop called Charlotte Lane, which features home decor items that are accessible, well made and playful.

Together they scour antique markets, auctions and yard sales to nd one-of-a-kind items, which they embellish, repurpose and restyle for modern use.

I appreciate any shop with lots of vibrancy and color. It makes me think the people behind it are really happy. Check out the entirety of Kristine and Kenneth’s online shop, which also includes a lovely mix of hand-painted stationery and gi tags, at charlotteln.com.

On the site too, you’ll nd a link to Kristine’s day job – running the event planning company, Simply Charming Socials. And Kenneth keeps busy with his own branding company, K Cooke Designs. Amidst all the madness and creativity, they have found a shared passion, and a shared shop that is both happy and by the looks of it, in trend.

Atlanta is number 12 on Forbes’ list of America’s Fastest-Growing Cities 2014. According to the list, Atlanta has a median pay of $62,500, a growth rate of 1.27 percent and an unemployment rate of 7.07 percent. Austin tops this year’s list with Raleigh, Phoenix, Dallas and Salt Lake City rounding out the top ve.

London-based Topshop/Topman (topshop.com) has announced it will open in Lenox Square in Buckhead in 2015. Specializing in clothing for men and women, shoes and accessories, the British retailer will occupy 15,000 square feet at the mall.

Google has released a short list of cities being considered for its new ultrahigh speed broadband network called Google Fiber including the cities of Atlanta, Decatur, Brookhaven, Avondale Estates, Sandy Springs, College Park, East Point, Hapeville and Smyrna. Google Fiber could bring residents access to “Gigabit” Internet connections up to 1,000 Megabits per second—or up to 100 times faster than basic broadband. Google will provide an update on which cities will get Google Fiber by the end of this year.

Los Angeles-based retailer Johnny Was (johnnywas.com) will open a new location at Phipps Plaza this spring. e shop o ers vintage-inspired and “boho chic” women’s clothing and accessories.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (choa.org) has been ranked among Fortune magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America.

It is the ninth consecutive time the notfor-pro t pediatric healthcare system has been named to the list. Landing at No. 43, Children’s is one of only two healthcare systems in Georgia to appear on the list, and one of only four companies headquartered in Georgia. In addition, Children’s is one of only two pediatric hospitals on the list.

Downtown’s Luckie Marietta District advisory committee has appointed Marika Johnson as executive director. Stretching from the Georgia Aquarium to the Georgia World Congress Center, the District is a hub for tourism, entertainment and commerce for locals and visitors.

Atlanta’s status as “Hollywood South” continues to grow as Moguldom Studios

Web-based information provider Connecture, Inc. has relocated to a new, larger o ce at 55 Allen Plaza in Downtown Atlanta. More than 100 employees, including numerous seniorlevel executives, are working at the new, 28,000-square-foot o ce.

MODA Floors & Interiors, located in Atlanta’s West Midtown Design District, has opened a 5100-square-foot retailfocused store in Town Brookhaven. MODA sells materials and provides installation services for hardwoods, tile and stone, carpet, luxury vinyl, laminate, area rugs and window coverings. As a Shaw Design Center, the new showroom includes the latest media technology to enhance the shopping and buying experience.