Harold S. Buckley, Sr., whose 30-year tenure on the MARTA Board of Directors stands as the longest in the Authority’s history, passed away this week at the age of 72 after suffering a stroke. “Harold Buckley was a wonderful man and was an unwavering advocate for MARTA,” said Board Chairman Robert L. Ashe III. “The courage of his convictions, and dedication to a decades-long dream to expand transit along the I-20 corridor, are lessons we all benefitted from, and were inspired by.”
Designed with advice from children, a new 40,000-square-foot play area on six acres in Chastain Park will hold a grand opening celebration on March 19 from 2-5 p.m. An outdoor piano will occupy a corner of a new pavilion that includes spacious and clean restroom facilities. Two long and bumpy slides, donated by YP.com, sit side-by-side, inviting children (and adults) to race each other. There’s a smaller slide for little ones. Boulders and tree stumps invite scrambles up a steep hillside. Three giant ‘oodle’ swings accommodate two, or more, children at once. There is a climbing wall and a place where children can make music on drums and chimes. There’s also a tree house.
Christopher Hicks will serve as the new Director of the Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, effective immediately. Hicks served as the Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam Records, part of Universal Music Group, from 2009 to 2012, splitting his time between Atlanta and New York. In this role, Hicks was part of the team to launch Justin Bieber’s career. Hicks was also a senior vice president at Warner Chappell and served as CEO of Noontime Music Publishing.