Email: Ralph.ellis@patch.com
Phone: 404-234-8734
Hometown: Waynesville, N.C.
Birthday: July 31
Bio: Ralph Ellis is a veteran journalist who has lived in Decatur since 2007. He serves on the homeowner’s association board for the 335 West Ponce condo building in downtown Decatur.
Ralph has extensive experience as a writer and editor for newspapers in the Southeast. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1990. He reported on a variety of subjects, such as a couple coming to grips with their son’s homosexuality, the high cost of local elections in North Fulton County, and a man who started a Kenyan orphanage for children with AIDS in honor of his late wife.
Ralph is married to Susan Puckett, the former food editor at the AJC.
He has three grown children, Robert, David and Julia.
When he’s not working, Ralph likes to walk, swim, read, and play with his greyhound, Laney. Ralph belongs to the Atlanta Writers Club and has written a mystery novel (unpublished) and is working on a second novel.
Ralph's Beliefs At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
I have moderate Democratic leanings, but I’ve voted for some Republicans.
Religion
I was raised a Methodist and am now a member of Kairos Church in Grant Park, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
Local Hot-Button Issues
People in Decatur and Avondale Estates care deeply about quality of life issues, and that starts with the local school systems. Both towns have become magnets in recent years for couples with young children, so the emphasis on education will only increase.
Other issues people care about: Dogs, backyard farming, food and drink.
In an annual tribute to soldiers who died in war, members of the Decatur High Close Up Club and Decatur residents gathered at the city cemetery.
In an annual tribute to soldiers who died in war, members of the Decatur High Close Up Club and Decatur residents gathered at the city cemetery.
Other things happening this week in and around Decatur and Avondale Estates: Poetry reading at Savage Pizza, Sydney Rhame at Eddie's Attic, Summerfest in Virginia Highland and a jumble sale at the Church of the Epiphany.
Other openings in Decatur and Avondale Estates: Third-grade teacher at Clairemont Elementary, lifeguard, server at Twain's, after-school counselor and equipment operator for the City of Decatur.
Other openings in Virginia Highland and Druid Hills: Apartment community positions, administrative/accounting clerk, servers and greeters in restaurants.
One man with a pistol robbed the restaurant at 798 Ponce de Leon Ave.
Other things happening this week in Virginia Highland and Druid Hills: Rock Fest at Fernbank, a jumble sale at the Church of the Epiphany, storytime at the library and the Walter Bruno Memorial Ride.
One of the suspects is a basketball star from California.
Sunny skies brought out a good crowd Saturday for the 25th annual Decatur Arts Festival.
With "The Great Gatsby" now showing at local theaters, Professor Jared DeFife of Emory University goes inside the brain of Jay Gatsby.
Readers also looked at articles about crime, the Clermont Hotel and a bus-train wreck in Decatur.
Readers of Decatur/Avondale Estates Patch also clicked on stories about real estate and crime.
Here's a list of vendors for the Saturday Decatur Farmers Market, which starts at 9 a.m. near Decatur High School.
Art is everywhere at the Decatur Arts Festival--even the portable toilets.
The market will open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at 1393 N. Highland Ave.
The "coastal Mexican" restaurant will operate out of the old Feast space on East Howard in Decatur.
The Closeup Club from Decatur High will remove the American flags at 6 p.m. Monday
Expect a lot of traffic around Decatur High Stadium at 196 seniors receive their diplomas.
Other entertainment ideas in and around Virginia Highland and Druid Hills: Live music in bars and clubs, new movies and the Decatur Arts Festival.
Other stuff to do: Improv at the Academy Theatre, singers at Eddie's Attic, four new movies and a benefit concert.