Oak Ridge Today

Volunteers needed for annual children’s Halloween Party

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

Volunteers are still needed to help with the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department’s 2016 Children’s Halloween Party. The deadline to sign up is October 26, the day before the event.

The party is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Volunteers are needed to help run carnival games, work in the “scary room,” help with toddler activities, and assist in the craft room, a press release said.

All volunteers must be 16 and older unless working under the supervision of an adult. Volunteers are given an event T-shirt and a pizza dinner at the conclusion of the event. To volunteer, call the Civic Center information desk at (865) 425-3450. [Read more…]

Dick Smyser Community Lecture on Thursday to feature advanced composites manufacturing executive

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Craig Blue

Craig Blue

The 19th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series on Thursday will feature Craig Blue, chief executive officer of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation.

Blue will give an overview of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. The lecture is sponsored by Friends of ORNL, or FORNL. It’s free and will be at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge.

A reception will be held in the museum lobby starting at 5:30 p.m. (snacks will be served), and the lecture starts at 6 p.m. in the museum auditorium, a press release said. This talk should be of interest to the general public, the release said. [Read more…]

United Way campaign off to strong start

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United Way of Anderson County has held several events already this campaign season, including their inaugural Leading Ladies United luncheon, which provided an opportunity for networking and for attendees to hear about several girls’ and women’s initiatives that United Way has under way.

Taste of Anderson County was a success in September, with live music, food vendors, a full bar, and plenty of kids activities. The community came out to support in full force and had a great Thursday night eating and drinking together, a press release said.

Bob Kesling came to celebrate the Vols with United Way supporters at a September 16 breakfast that focused on getting the community involved through giving back with time and money.

“Of course, Campaign Co-Chair Bear Stephenson auctioned a few Vols items to raise some extra dollars,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Roane Alliance contributes $10,000 to International Friendship Bell Fund

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Steve Kelley, left, Pam May and Wade Creswell present a $10,000 check from the Roane Alliance to Pat Postma, second from right, for the new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell. (Submitted photo)

 

The Roane Alliance recently contributed $10,000 to the fund supporting a new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge’s Bissell Park.

Wade Creswell, president of the Roane Alliance; Pam May, Roane Alliance vice president; and Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley presented the contribution to Pat Postma, co-chair of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee.

Kelley, who represents Roane County Commission District 4 in Oak Ridge, said county officials consider this a tourism contribution that will bring economic benefit to the county.

“The Tourism Committee of Roane County Commission had been looking for ways to help the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park become an economic engine for Roane County,” said Kelley, who chairs the committee. “I suggested a donation through the Roane Alliance to the bell project, to support the Bell and Peace Pavilion as an attraction for national park visitors. We believe it will help increase traffic to the national park and surrounding attractions.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Housing Authority director retiring after 33 years

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Jim Carson

Jim Carson

Jim Carson, executive director of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority, is retiring after 33 years.

Carson, an Oak Ridge resident, announced his intent to retire on December 31 at the September 26 ORHA board meeting, a press release said. Carson has been ORHA executive director for 33 years.

ORHA has an operating budget of about $1 million, and it has about nine employees, the press release said. It manages 128 public housing units on sites scattered around the city, and it currently issues roughly 230 Housing Choice Vouchers and 35 Veterans Assisted Supportive Housing vouchers. [Read more…]

Refugee resettlement in Tennessee the topic at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Holly Johnson

Holly Johnson

What exactly is a refugee? How do they get to the United States? Are they screened and vetted? What services do they receive when they get here? Why should I care?

Holly Johnson will answer all of these questions when she addresses the hot-button issue of refugee resettlement in Tennessee at the next Lunch with the League. The program will be held on Tuesday, October 18, at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The community is invited to attend.

Lunch with the League is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Cuban-U.S. relations the topic of Oct. 31 lecture

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Henry Heredia

Henry Heredia

 

The social, cultural, and environmental development of Cuban society will be the topic of the next lecture in the third annual Roane State Community College–Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning Intergenerational Lecture Series.
Henry Heredia, an international relations specialist from Havana, Cuba, will speak on Monday, October 31, at 4 p.m. in the City Room (A-111) in Roane State’s Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge Campus at the corner of Briarcliff Avenue and Laboratory Road.

He will also speak on how the perceptions that Cubans and Americans have of each other have changed since President Barack Obama’s announcement in December 2014 that normalized American relations with the island nation. People across the U.S. are curious to know more about Cuba and its people, and some Americans have already visited Cuba, prompting changes in perceptions.

An engaging lecturer who speaks English fluently, Heredia can address many questions Americans have regarding Cuban culture, education, history, and social and environmental policies, a press release said. Since 2013, he has lectured at numerous prestigious institutions in the U.S. [Read more…]

Photos: History talk at Freels Bend Cabin, city’s oldest structure

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Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, discussed life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 during a meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. The Freels Bend Cabin was built in 1844, and it is the oldest structure in Oak Ridge. It’s on the National Historic Register. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, discussed life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on Thursday, October 13.

It was the monthly public and membership meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. Here are pictures by D. Ray Smith.

The Freels Bend Cabin was built in 1844, and it is the oldest structure in Oak Ridge. It’s on the National Historic Register. [Read more…]

Grace Veterans’ Ministry joins Vet to Vet TN to identify, honor Vietnam Era Veterans

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The Grace Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge’s Veterans’ Ministry has partnered with Vet to Vet Tennessee to assist in identifying Vietnam Era veterans, spouses of those veterans no longer living but not killed in action, civilians who served the United States during the Vietnam War, or those who served in the military from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. Spouses whose husbands were killed or missing in action are also included in that number.

“Grace would like to honor those in Oak Ridge and surrounding areas who are eligible at a service of reconciliation and healing, where Vet to Vet Tennessee Vietnam veterans will present them with a special service pin or spouse pin and a proclamation from the president of the United States,” a press release said.

The effort is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration, which was authorized by Congress and launched by the President in May 2012. The goal is to thank Vietnam Veterans for their service and to welcome them home, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has fundraiser at Gondolier on Wednesday

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The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program has a fundraiser at Gondolier Restaurant on Wednesday.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, October 12. Ten percent of receipts will be donated to Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, an event flyer said.  The fundraiser is to raise money to purchase Halloween safety items to distribute to children at Party In The Park on October 29.

The Gondolier Restaurant is located at 792 Briarcliff Avenue. You can eat dine-in or carry-out.

Help local families through Dine & Donate on Monday

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What do we “Seay” here? Grandchildren of committee chair Cande Seay enjoying their choice of sandwiches at Which Wich in Oak Ridge! (Photo by ADFAC)

 

On Monday, October 10, six local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. The event, Dine & Donate, happens on the second Monday of each month.

“Dine & Donate is a very important fundraiser for ADFAC,” said Cande Seay, Dine & Donate chair. “It always gladdens my heart to see friends and family dine out on second Mondays—enjoying meals together and helping ADFAC!”

Participating restaurants on Monday, October 10, are: [Read more…]

Today: Oak Ridge Wind Ensemble begins new concert season with Music of Europe Concert

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The Oak Ridge Community Band performs in last year’s Spring Concert at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Submitted photo)

 

With the arrival of fall, the Oak Ridge Community Band becomes the Oak Ridge Wind Ensemble and begins its series of six indoor concerts.

The first performance of this series will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, and it will feature the best of musical selections from various countries of Europe including the Greek “Never on Sunday,” “Amparito Roca Spanish March,” “Tales from Vienna,” “Russian Sailors Dance,” and several others.

Jim Dodson, art teacher at Jefferson Middle School, will be special guest narrator for Sunday’s concert program. [Read more…]