Oak Ridge Today

Janelle Arthur is the special guest at CASA Barbeque & Bluegrass Bash on Saturday

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Janelle Arthur

Janelle Arthur

 

The Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash by CASA of the Tennessee Heartland on Saturday will include a barbecue buffet and live music by the Mt. Le Conte Jug Band, along with special guest Janelle Arthur. There will also be a silent auction along with a live auction with Bear Stephenson, a press release said.

Tickets are $65 each, or $520 for an eight-person table.

The Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Elizabeth Claire’s at 364 Market Street in Clinton.

You can see the CASA events here. You can see the event page on Facebook here.

Arthur is from Oliver Springs. She began singing in the heart of the Smoky Mountains at eight years old, when she landed the role as a young Dolly Parton in a production at Dollywood, the press release said. She performed thousands of shows in the Smoky Mountains area before moving to Nashville in 2010, where she soon began her “American Idol” journey. After three years of persistence, Arthur made it all the way to the Top 5, the release said. [Read more…]

Three Rotary clubs to present Flatwater Festival on Friday, June 2

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Flatwater Festival logo (Created by Jim Dodson)

Flatwater Festival logo (Created by Jim Dodson)

 

Bands, beer, boats, and bounce houses. A cornhole tournament. Wine, water, and soda pop.

Teams that build, decorate, and paddle boats while you watch and listen to live music. Barbeque, hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream.

Does that sound like a party? It’s the inaugural Flatwater Festival fundraiser on Friday, June 2.

The Flatwater Festival, a fundraiser for community projects supported by the three Rotary clubs of Oak Ridge, will be held from 5 to 11 p.m., Friday, June 2, on the peninsula of Melton Lake Park. Admission to the festival is free, and $5 per person will be charged for unlimited time at the bounce house and obstacle course.

A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to Emory Valley Center in memory of Dr. Gene Caldwell, a pediatrician, state lawmaker, EVC fundraiser, and Rotarian. The rest will support the diverse community service projects of the Rotary clubs. [Read more…]

Dine & Donate: Treat mom early on Monday, May 8

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Candey Seay Hoskins_small

Operating since 1930, Hoskins is an institution in downtown Clinton. The restaurant is well known for its 1940s-style soda fountain and daily lunch specials, and it is a great place to start your day with time-honored breakfast items. (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, May 8, eleven local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

Dine & Donate Mondays are always an easy way to treat loved ones to a special meal that also gives back to the community, a press release said.

“With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, Dine & Donate is a fantastic way to celebrate early with the mom(s) in your life!” the press release said.

Participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Pull For Our Veterans starts 2017 fundraising campaign on Friday

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Pull For Our Veterans, the Oak Ridge-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans and their families, is beginning its 2017 fundraising campaign with its Second Annual Sporting Clays Shoot hosted by the Lucky 7 Ranch in Sweetwater on May 5.

The president of Pull For Our Veterans, Richard Stouder, said: “We’re eager to start 2017 with the first of our two efforts this year. We’ll begin in Sweetwater with our sporting clays shoot. Since we want to support as many different kinds of groups that help veterans and their families, this year we have two different organizations to support. One of the groups is Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, and the other is Operation Stand Down Tennessee. They’re both outstanding organizations that need our assistance. ”

The mission of Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is to enhance the physical and psychological quality of life for wounded veterans by providing custom-trained mobility-assisted service dogs at no cost to the veterans, a press release said. [Read more…]

Relay for Life moved to Midway Road on Friday

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Relay for Life has moved from Melton Lake Park to 97 Midway Road in Oak Ridge on Friday. It is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 5.

The Twilight 5K run will still take place at 8 p.m. Friday at Melton Lake Park, rain or shine.

This is the first year that the former Oak Ridge and Clinton events have combined into one larger event, a press release said.

“The joint effort is sure to make the Relay For Life event bigger and better than ever with more activities to create a fun and festive atmosphere for families to enjoy,” the press release said. “The goal this year is to raise at least $72,000, which can only be reached if the community comes out to join the fun and to support this event.” [Read more…]

Agape House holds chocolate dessert contest at ‘An Evening of Everything Chocolate’

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Jeanne Gorman, chocolate contest judge, holds her prize-winning cake from last year's contest. With her are last year's judges, from left, Naomi Asher, Melanie Fillauer, and Tom Beehan. (Submitted photo)

Jeanne Gorman, chocolate contest judge, holds her prize-winning cake from last year’s contest. With her are last year’s judges, from left, Naomi Asher, Melanie Fillauer, and Tom Beehan. (Submitted photo)

 

Prepare your best chocolate dessert for a culinary contest Saturday at “An Evening of Everything Chocolate” benefitting Agape House of Oak Ridge.

Amateur dessert chefs are invited to enter the chocolate dessert contest, preparing at least eight servings for judges. At least one ingredient must be chocolate, which could be milk, dark or white chocolate, cocoa, syrup, or other form of chocolate. Each contestant may enter up to two desserts.

Judges will be Jeanne Gorman, last year’s gold medal winner; Kelly Callison, Oak Ridge City Council member and chief operating officer of Information International Associates; and Elaine Graham, owner of Estate Sales Professionals, or the “Purple Van People.”

Prizes will be awarded to the top winners. Include your name, name of dessert, phone number, and e-mail address with each entry. There is no entry fee, and contestants need not be present to win. Entries should be at the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church by 6 p.m. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum hosts Celebration of the Young Child on Friday

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Children's Museum of Oak Ridge Celebration of the Young Child April 28 2017

Crafts, storytelling, a teddy bear clinic, and a magician’s visit will be among activities planned for the Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, which is at 461 West Outer Drive.

Magician Danny Gillette will entertain with mystifying magic tricks from 11:30 a.m.-noon, engaging the audience in his family magic show. The Oak Ridge Fire Department will lead a fire safety program, and the Oak Ridge Police Department will present a stranger danger program.

Children’s author Adele Roberts will tell stories from her Sammy the Skunk series of books, accompanied by her Sammy puppets. Her stories are designed to stimulate children’s imaginations and to teach character values based on the situations the animals encounter.

Children may be “kids in motion” with the National Fitness Center’s obstacle course, and they may bring their teddy bears to the clinic hosted by the Methodist Medical Center. Children can make a wind chime craft at the Museum, and take materials to make a Chinese dragon and a hovercraft at home. [Read more…]

‘Fore’ the Girls: Girls Inc. has Golf Classic on May 8

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Girls Inc. Golf Classic

Girls Incorporated of Oak Ridge is hosting its 20th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, May 8, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“What a better way to kick off spring than a beautiful day on the course supporting our next generation of women!” a press release said.

The Golf Classic this year will feature first- and second-place team prizes, division prizes, prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and a putting contest.

“This fun day on the course will include refreshments and snacks as well as a fabulous dinner from the Oak Ridge Country Club by the recently remodeled pool and patio,” the press release said.

This year, the funds received from the Golf Classic sponsors and team fees will all support the upcoming Girls Inc. programs. Girls Inc. supports more than 900 girls per year in intentional and research based programs to empower girls to be healthy, educated, and independent, the press release said. [Read more…]

Suck It Up Buttercup KTM 5k in memory of Kerry Trammell on May 7

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Suck It Up Buttercup KTM 5k Bibs May 7 2017

The Suck It Up Buttercup KTM 5k in Oak Ridge on Sunday, May 7, will be in memory of Kerry Trammell.

The run is presented by Road Kill Timing and United Way of Anderson County.

Kerry Trammell was an active member of the Oak Ridge and Anderson County community. He was involved in almost everything around town, a press release said.

“He was passionate about senior services, emergency response and the beautiful greenways and parks,” the press release said.

The funds raised will help United Way fund programs that were important to Trammell and to which he dedicated his life. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line to bring new film ‘The Listeners’ to Oak Ridge

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Trainee Kortney Rist in the call room at Headquarters Counseling Center., from a scene in the documentary The Listeners. (Photo submitted by CONTACT Care Line)

Trainee Kortney Rist in the call room at Headquarters Counseling Center., from a scene in the documentary The Listeners. (Photo submitted by CONTACT Care Line)

 

Special one-time screening of a new documentary about suicide hotline volunteers; screening requires 80  tickets to be sold by Thursday, April 27

CONTACT Care Line will be hosting a one-time screening of “The Listeners” in Oak Ridge on Thursday, May 4.

“The Listeners” follows a cadre of new volunteer trainees in crisis and suicide prevention as they learn to answer suicide hotlines, a press release said.

“Through their eyes—and more importantly, their ears—the film examines mental health and suicide prevention strategies, volunteerism, and the life-saving power of empathy,” the press release said.

The event includes a brief introduction to the work of CONTACT Care Line and concludes with a 15-minute opportunity for questions.

The film is being screened through Tugg.com, a platform that helps organizations to host screenings in their local theaters. Tickets can be purchased at www.tugg.com/events/the-listeners-xxbt. [Read more…]

Acting Oak Ridge site manager of Manhattan Project park to give info, ask for input Monday

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Niki Nicholas

Niki Nicholas

 

The acting site manager of the Oak Ridge unit of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present information on the park and ask for input about the project during a meeting on Monday.

Besides being acting site manager of the Oak Ridge park unit, Niki Stephanie Nicholas is also superintendent of both the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the Obed Wild and Scenic River.

The Monday meeting is open to the public. It’s a general meeting of AAUW (American Association of University Women), and it’s scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 24, in Room 102 at First Presbyterian Church.

A soup and sandwich luncheon, catered by The Soup Kitchen, will be served at 11:30 a.m., with the program beginning at noon, a press release said. The cost for the lunch is $8. There will be cookies and iced tea and coffee also. Reservations may be made by calling Mary Uziel at (865) 483-1043. Reservations are asked for those also who plan to bring a sack lunch to ensure adequate seating for the program. [Read more…]

Using DUI simulation goggles, ACHS students learn how alcohol, drugs impair driving

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The School Resource Unit of the Anderson County Sheriff's Department and Allies For Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP, in cooperation with Anderson County Schools, hosted a DUI Simulation Event on Friday morning, April 21, 2017 for students at Anderson County High School. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff's Department)

The School Resource Unit of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Allies For Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP, in cooperation with Anderson County Schools, hosted a DUI Simulation Event on Friday morning, April 21, 2017 for students at Anderson County High School. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

 

The School Resource Unit of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Allies For Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP, in cooperation with Anderson County Schools, hosted a DUI Simulation Event on Friday morning for students at Anderson County High School.

Using DUI simulation goggles, students were able to see first-hand the effects of driving while under the influence, or DUI. These goggles simulate different levels of blood alcohol in a person’s system, a press release said. Students drove golf carts through a driving course and participated in field sobriety tests. All of the students who were “tested” could see how alcohol and drugs can seriously impair driving and coordination, the press release said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol, Clinton Police Department, Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Andersonville Fire Department, Clinton Fire Department, and Lifestar, along with representatives with Anderson County Schools, were on hand for this event. [Read more…]