Oak Ridge Today

MCLinc sponsors ADFAC, Bow Tie Event

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Pictured above from left, ADFAC representatives Annie Cacheiro and Louise Mixon accept a corporate contribution from McLinc representatives Barry Stephenson and Michele Sanders. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above from left, ADFAC representatives Annie Cacheiro and Louise Mixon accept a corporate contribution from McLinc representatives Barry Stephenson and Michele Sanders. (Submitted photo)

 

Materials and Chemistry Laboratory Inc., or MCLinc, is a sponsor for ADFAC’s 2017 Corporate Membership Campaign, and the company is also a sponsor for this year’s Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, which will be held Saturday, November 11, a press release said.

MCLinc’s President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Stephenson and Laboratory Manager Michele Sanders met recently with ADFAC representatives to celebrate their corporate support for the local agency.

MCLinc is a commercial applied research company providing high-quality consulting and analytical testing for industrial forensics, materials characterization, environmental chemistry, and process optimization, the press release said.

“As MCLinc is an employee-owned company, all corporate charitable gifts are generously supported by the employees,” Stephenson said. “I am so pleased that our company and our employees are able and excited about supporting such a worthy cause as ADFAC. We are very much looking forward to the Bow Tie Award Event this year as we all celebrate local volunteer Tom Row.”

See previous story on the Bow Tie Award Event here. [Read more…]

American Cancer Society hosts Night of Hope Dinner in Clinton on Thursday

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The American Cancer Society is hosting the Sixth Night of Hope Dinner on Thursday, November 9, in Clinton.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at 205 Main in Clinton. The dinner will feature special guest Maria Cornelius, who is a breast cancer survivor and author of “The Final Season – The Perserverance of Pat Summitt,” a press release said.

The event has been recruiting table hosts, whose role is to invite seven to eight other people to sit at their table and help in serving dinner. They will also be assisted by high school student volunteers who will be waiting on tables. There is no fee to host a table.

Throughout the fun-filled evening, guests at the table will be encouraged to tip their waiters for good service, and tallies will be run throughout the evening for competition, a press release said. The table with the most tips at the end of the evening will be crowned the 2017 Night of Hope Winner and awarded a prize package. [Read more…]

Local volunteer Tom Row to be honored at ADFAC Bow Tie Award Event on Saturday

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Tom Row

Tom Row

 

ADFAC’s Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award Event will be held Saturday, November 11, and it will honor local volunteer Tom Row.

The Bow Tie Award Event is from 5-10 p.m. Saturday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge. Row is the fifth winner of the Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award.

Also Saturday, ADFAC will posthumously honor Kathy Stimpson, whose committed efforts to help those less fortunate led to the inspiration and establishment of ADFAC in the mid 1980s, a press release said.

The Bow Tie Award Event is designed to honor a local volunteer and serve as a signature fundraising event for ADFAC and the Bow Tie Endowment Fund, which was established to ensure the short and long-term sustainability of ADFAC. Previous Bow Tie Award winners include Ray Smith (2013), Tim Myrick (2014), Cande Seay (2015), and Bear Stephenson (2016). [Read more…]

Altrusa, Girls Inc. partner for Make a Difference Day

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Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. Each of the girls had a questionnaire and engaged in conversation with each of the career professionals.

One child has dreams of becoming a baker. When asked what she would like to bake, she explained “cakes, cookies and crème brule.” Other girls were interested in fields such as architecture, nursing, pet care, and coding. One child explained that many girls are interested in coding and being encouraged to go into coding, but she felt that architecture would be a better fit for her. Each girl had big dreams for their futures.

Event organizer Altrusan Jane Palmer commented to the participants: “You are helping each one of these girls look at possible careers in a new way. Your influence will last a lifetime.” [Read more…]

Super Hero Family Fun Day with filmmaker Brett Culp to benefit ADFAC on Saturday

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look to the sky

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“Superman moments…” that’s what filmmaker Brett Culp calls those times when we’re inspired to overcome challenges or do something more for our neighbors. “Look to the Sky” tells the true and uplifting story of young people from around the country who are making a real difference and inspiring hope for us all.

A charity screening of this film will be the culmination of a fun, family friendly super hero day to be held Saturday, October 28, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. “Look to the Sky” will be shown in the Grove Theater beginning at 1:30 p.m., with all proceeds going to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. ADFAC has a heroic 30-year history of serving under-resourced families in our community, bringing hope and light wherever they go.

Culp will be making an appearance and joining us for this community event. As stated on Culp’s website, “Culp is the personal cinematographer for Hollywood stars, music icons, hall of fame athletes, and royal families.” [Read more…]

Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop at UT Arboretum on Tuesday

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will hold a Make and Take Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop on Tuesday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at the UT Arboretum Program Shelter at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Join UT Arboretum Education Program Coordinator Michelle Campanis to make a centerpiece in a fresh pumpkin,” a press release said. “Michelle will lead the group in looking at ideas and examples of fall-themed centerpieces using pumpkins, gourds, and other plants.”

Materials will be supplied. The class fee is $25. Registration is required and is limited to 20 participants. [Read more…]

More than 400 attended Taste of Anderson County

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A file photo showing a previous Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square. (Photo courtesy United Way of Anderson County/Taste of Anderson County)

 

More than 400 people attended the Ninth Annual Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square the last week of September.

“Thanks to the volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and over 400 attendees, the event was a great success!” a press release said. “The whole evening was full of food, fun, and friends.”

This year, 11 restaurants from around Anderson County showcased some of their most delicious treats and eats, the press release said. Among them were Aubrey’s, Burchfield’s, Centennial Golf Course, Hot Bagel Company, Panda Express, Pizza Inn, Razzleberry’s Cafe, Riverview Grill, Smoothie Patch, and The Soup Kitchen.

McAlister’s, McDonald’s, Kroger Marketplace, and Panera donated the tea and lemonade at the event, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 for 10th year in a row

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Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

$1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares

For the 10th consecutive year, ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares, making total donations more than $1 million for the timeframe.

As part of the 2017 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign, a total of $117,604.41 was pledged. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares, or both nonprofit organizations, a press release said. [Read more…]

Mediterranean Delight, others to support ADFAC on Monday, October 9

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Mediterranean Delight has an extensive menu of Middle-Eastern fare including chicken skewers with rice, hummus with pita, grape-leaf rolls, and a cucumber salad. Homemade pita chips sprinkled with spices and herbs are a customer favorite. (Submitted photo)

Mediterranean Delight has an extensive menu of Middle Eastern fare including chicken skewers with rice, hummus with pita, grape-leaf rolls, and a cucumber salad. Homemade pita chips sprinkled with spices and herbs are a customer favorite. (Submitted photo)

 

Tucked away in the end of Ridgeway Center, Mediterranean Delight offers a taste of Middle-Eastern fare from owners Najah and Riad Rejoub.

The little restaurant will be one of 10 participating eateries that will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) through the Dine and Donate program this coming Monday, October 9.

The Rejoubs are from Jordan and have owned the restaurant for 13 years. Some of the menu items include dips like hummus and baba ghanouj, with pita chips sprinkled with zaatar, a Jordanian mix of spices and herbs. Other culinary features include tabouli salads, kubeh, grape leave rolls, chicken skewers, and gyros, a press release said.

Additional restaurants in Oak Ridge and Clinton that will participate in Dine and Donate on Monday include: [Read more…]

Street Painting Festival is Saturday at Roane State

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Photo courtesy Roane State Community College

Photo by Roane State Community College

 

The Street Painting Festival is Saturday at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

Here is an event notice posted by Roane State.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge

When: [Read more…]

Many community organizations support the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell

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The three Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs present a check for $10,000 for the Peace Pavilion that will house the International Friendship Bell, at the kickoff for the fundraising campaign last year. From left, they are last year’s Rotary Club presidents, Devrin Kuipers, Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; Jennifer Campbell, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge; and Emily Jernigan, Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. Accepting the check are Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

The three Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs present a check for $10,000 for the Peace Pavilion that will house the International Friendship Bell, at the kickoff for the fundraising campaign last year. From left, they are last year’s Rotary Club presidents, Devrin Kuipers, Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; Jennifer Campbell, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge; and Emily Jernigan, Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. Accepting the check are Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

When local organizations step up to support local initiatives, communities experience success.

“Communities that organize and work with a goal in mind benefit and prosper far more than those that don’t,” said Pat Postma, co-chair of a group leading a fund drive for a new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell.

Postma is pleased that many local organizations have contributed to the Friendship Bell drive, seeing it as a sign of strong community support when organizations that raise funds for their own causes contribute to other community initiatives, as well. They join contractors, businesses, local governments, and individuals that are supporting the effort, a press release said.

Among the first organization to contribute to the drive was the Girl Scouts Oak Ridge Service Unit, which observes the United Nations International Day of Peace annually at the Friendship Bell and has established friendships with Girl Scouts from Oak Ridge’s sister city in Japan, the press release said.

“The Girl Scouts of Oak Ridge made a donation of $1,000 when we had a visit from our sister Girl Scout Troop 37 in Naka, Japan, in 2014,” said Jerry Luckmann, community service coordinator for the Oak Ridge Service Unit, which covers about 30 troops in the Oak Ridge area. [Read more…]

Dine & Donate returns Monday

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It’s hard to not “squeal” with joy when you see Razzleberry’s “Pigmobile” around town! (Submitted photo)

It’s hard to not “squeal” with joy when you see Razzleberry’s “Pigmobile” around town! (Submitted photo)

 

If it’s the second Monday of the month, it must be Dine & Donate, a special day set aside by several local restaurants to donate a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

Razzleberry’s, a longtime supporter, is the spotlight restaurant for September.

Summer might be winding down, but the treats at Razzleberry’s are always in season, a press release said.

“Known for their delicious and innovative homemade ice cream, eclectic menus, and international marketplace, Razzleberry’s has something for everybody,” the press release said. “The business started as an ice cream parlor in a tiny space in Jackson Square, but owners Waldek and Ilona Kaczocha soon began operating a small kitchen, offering to-go orders and having weekly lunches for high school students. In 2010, it was clear the demand for their impressive eats meant moving to a new, larger location. Fortunately, it was only a few doors down, right on the corner of Jackson Square!” [Read more…]