Bone marrow transplants that result in world travel.

from Atlanta Intown - April 2015

by Rough Draft Atlanta: Atlanta Intown, Reporter Newspapers

SUSTAINABLE SPACES

natural dye demonstrations, farm animal visits from The Art Barn, exploring the Unity Garden, music by Farmer Jason and much more. For more information: chattnaturecenter.org.

Sweep the Hooch: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will conduct its 5th annual Sweep the Hooch on April 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cleanup will include 30 sites with more than 500 volunteers expected. Last year, 580 volunteers removed 7.275 tons of river refuse with more than half-a-ton of trash recycled. To register, visit sweepthehooch.org.

Georgia Tech’s Earth Day Celebration: The 19th annual event is set for April 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tech Walk. The event is free, open to the public and features more than 70 exhibitors. There will also be eco-friendly giveaways, recycling opportunities, a clothing swap, an oﬃce supply exchange, live music, and more. For more information visit earthday.gatech.edu. e Hoochie: The Nature Conservancy’s 21st annual gathering will be held April 24 from 7 p.m. to midnight at Tophat Soccer Field. There will be art, live performances, gourmet food and a silent auction. Tickets are $125 each. The annual event has raised more than $4 million for The Nature Conservancy since it began. For more information, visit nature.org/ hoochie.

Decatur Earth Day Festival: The event will be April 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wylde Center at the corner of Oakview and South McDonough. The festival is gnome-themed this year and will include a parade, bike ride, yoga, arts and crafts, live music, reptile exhibit and more. For details visit wyldecenter.org.

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s survival rates are among the highest in the country for bone marrow transplants. That’s for both related and unrelated donors. It’s one reason why so many people from across the country trust Northside with their cancer care. Northside has seen thousands of cancer survivors walk out their doors. And then, go just about anywhere. For help finding a cancer specialist, call 404-531-4444.

CanCer InstItute

Where the Extraordinary Happens Every Day

Atlanta helps state make national sustainability list

Atlanta has helped propel the state of Georgia into eighth place on the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual ranking of the Top 10 states in the nation for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system.

The per-capita list highlights states throughout the country that are making strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation. LEED-certified spaces use less energy and water resources, save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Georgia has so many committed business and community leaders, policy makers and green building professionals who are using LEED to transform their built environment, producing many innovative spaces that will improve the health of our shared planet, as well as the health of the people who use those buildings every day,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC.

The per-capita list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified throughout 2014. Georgia certified 87 projects representing 17,748,781 square feet of real estate, or 1.83 square feet per resident, in 2014.

A sample of notable projects that certified in Georgia in 2014 include:

• The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, LEED Silver

• The Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, LEED Gold

• Smyrna Area Elementary School in Smyrna, LEED Silver

• The Biological Science Building at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, LEED Gold

• The Hurt Building in Atlanta, recertified LEED Platinum

• One Atlantic Center in Atlanta, LEED Gold

There are more than 326 USGBC member organizations with a headquarters in Georgia and more than 6,810 LEED credentialed professionals in the state.

USGBC calculates the list using percapita figures as a measure of the human element of green building, allowing for a fair comparison of the level of green building taking place among states with significant differences in population and, accordingly, number of overall buildings.

“Georgia’s inclusion in the Top 10 demonstrates that our building owners and operators have come to recognize the importance of LEED certification and the triple bottom line,” said David Freedman, executive director, USGBC Georgia Chapter. “We will continue to build on the momentum generated by the diverse range of public, private and non-profit projects certified in Georgia last year, and we hope to see more states from the Southeastern region join us on this list next year.”

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor Atlanta Streets

Alive is back for a third year and will kick off on April 19 with a return to the West End. The 3.5 mile route – encompassing Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Lee Street, White Street and Peeples Street – will be closed to cars and vehicles giving pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers free rein to explore the historic district.

“There will be a slightly modified route this year highlighting Lee Street,” said Rebecca Serna Woiderski, executive director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, which organizes Atlanta Streets Alive each year. “There’s going to be a pop-up bike lane near the West End MARTA station and we’re also working with the senior center in the neighborhood to encourage more participation.”

Woiderski said last year’s West End event brought out 16,000 and many more were expected for 2015. “The community was very excited and has so much pride in the neighborhood and Atlanta University Center,” Woiderski stated. “They want to show off what they call home and all the hidden gems West End has to offer.”

The West End route is also conveniently along the Atlanta BeltLine trail and visitors are encouraged to use the route. Visitors will also have a chance to visit local businesses and historic sites, like the Wren’s Nest, and parks on the route, including Gordon White Park, Howell Park and Adair Park.

Woiderski is also looking ahead to the fall when two more events are planned: The popular Highland Avenue route (which brought out a record 106,000 last year) on Sept. 27 and Peachtree Street on Nov. 1.

Since Atlanta Streets Alive began in 2010, Woiderski said it’s been satisfying to see how it has become such a popular and anticipated annual event.

“We’ve tapped into this vein in the city and showing people they have options beyond their cars,” she said.

“It also demonstrates how much demand there is for safe, bikable, livable streets.”

Woiderski said plans are in the works to take Atlanta Streets Alive to new neighborhoods, including Lakewood and a community in northwest Atlanta, and eventually making it a monthly event.