New book chronicles, illustrates breast cancer battle Platform tennis coming to Bitsy Grant Tennis Center

By Annie Kinnett Nichols

Plenty of books have been written about battling breast cancer, but Rosemary Griggs’ Mammary Lane: A Sketchbook of Breast Cancer Survival tackles the subject in a unique and artful way.

Part primer, part illustrated journal, Mammary Lane is written in chronological order from diagnosis to wellness. Drawn in black and white and color, the illustrations show how Griggs’ husband, daughter and the community rallied to support her during treatment. She also found peace and solace working in her garden, which helped her heal.

Even though this is a tough subject, I took my 12-year-old daughter to meet Griggs before a recent signing at Charis Books and More in Little Five Points. I wanted her to meet a talented artist who was 100 percent cured, happy and back to making the art she loves. ere’s such hope, play and gratitude in this book.

Pick up a copy of Mammary Lane at Charis and nd out more at mammarylanesketchbook.com.

By Collin Kelley

Plans are under way to construct three platform tennis courts at the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center in Buckhead. e project is being funded entirely by private donations to the American Platform Tennis Association and will be gi ed to the city of Atlanta upon completion.

HGOR planners and landscape architects have been retained for the project, and the platform tennis courts are expected to be completed by February 2015. Lessons, clinics, and league play through the Peachtree Paddle League are just a few of the program o erings that will be available to the public once the courts are completed.

What exactly is platform tennis?

Also known as “paddle tennis,” the sport began in the Northeast in the 1920’s as a way for tennis players to stay active during the winter months. e court is onefourth the size of a tennis court with an all-weather aluminum surface surrounded by 12-foot high screens. It is a combination of tennis and racquetball with long points as the ball can be played o of the screens. Platform tennis is an easy sport for all ages and skill levels and can be played by families, too.

e Peachtree Paddle League, formed in 2005, has been instrumental in growing the sport in Atlanta. e league has 11 teams and holds a championship event each year.

e new courts are part of the ongoing renovations and upgrades to Atlanta Memorial Park, which also includes the Bobby Jones Golf Course.