By Sydney Sevdalis
There was not a seat left in the house when neighbors gathered at Ormewood Church on Oct. 24 to celebrate The Porch Press’s 40th anniversary. For a newspaper sustained by volunteers and the communities it serves, seeing so many familiar faces and new supporters together was a wonderful way to mark four decades of hyperlocal journalism.
Francesca Ferrero and Rob Sarwark led the festivities speaking to a crowd of 75 neighbors, bringing together an evening of entertainment and appreciation for the people who keep the paper going. The celebration opened with an aerial performance by Liz Wildenhain, followed by live music from Alex Cavanaugh.
Our food and drink contributors gave everyone plenty to enjoy throughout the evening. Halfway Crooks supplied Farina, and The Spotted Trotter contributed a beautiful charcuterie spread. Little Tart Bake Shop shared chocolate sablé cookies, while Southern Sweets Bakery offered a delicious chocolate ganache tart that was both vegan and gluten free. Emilia Bakes Stuff completely outdid herself with a cake designed to look like a stack of Porch Press newspapers, a fitting centerpiece for the celebration, and honestly something I could not believe was cake! (It’s funnier if you have seen the TV show “Is It Cake?”)
As the evening moved into remarks and awards, the paper recognized the sponsors, entertainers, and volunteers whose contributions made the celebration possible. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge the work behind each issue, from writing and editing to production, advertising and getting the newspaper into neighbors’ hands. “Neighborhood News Champion” awards were given to neighbors whose support, expertise, and hard work over the years have made all the difference: Bill Adams, Elena Kaplan, Nan Orrock, Tom McGowan, and Riki and Paul Bolster.
At the heart of that recognition was Henry Bryant, who has been with The Porch Press for all 40 years. As production manager and board president, Henry has devoted decades of work to keeping this community newspaper going. Celebrating him meant celebrating a commitment that extends well beyond the printed page: to the neighbors whose stories deserve to be told and the community that benefits from knowing one another better. We were thrilled to honor his service to both the paper and the neighborhoods it calls home.
Our Democratic leaders Rohit Malhotra and state Sen. Nan Orrock also joined the celebration. We appreciated their presence and their support for the paper which gives neighborhood concerns and accomplishments a place in the public record.
Following the anniversary remarks and awards, the fundraising raffle featured a particularly special prize: a wooden Adirondack chair handcrafted by SAND editor Melanie Regnier. Her generous contribution gave one lucky winner a lasting reminder of the evening and a perfect place to settle in with the paper. Andy Browne then brought live music back to the room before the evening closed with a final call for support.
The anniversary fundraising campaign raised nearly $5,000 to support The Porch Press. We are grateful to everyone who contributed, attended, volunteered, and helped bring the evening together.
Forty years of publishing takes a great many people, and Francesca and Rob put together a party that made that community visible. To look around a full room and see so much enthusiasm for a neighborhood newspaper was deeply encouraging. Thank you for showing up for The Porch Press and for helping us carry its work into the next decade.
We would like to thank the many businesses and local organizations that provided cash, food/beverages, or raffle prize donations that were instrumental in making our evening a success: Pickleheads, Atlanta Preservation Center, Carriage House Collective, Halfway Crooks, Six Feet Under, Wyld Bird, The Back School, the Grant Park Conservancy, Little Tart Bake Shop, Red’s Beer Garden, Regal Cinemas, Spotted Trotter, Zoo Atlanta, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Bookish, Center for Puppetry Arts, Dad’s Garage, Dancing Goats Coffee, Horizon Theatre Company, Little Azio, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, and Ollie’s Market and Deli.
