Oak Ridge Today

Reminder: Puppy Pool Party is today

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Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool July 2016

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool is pictured above in July 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Reminder: The City of Oak Ridge is hosting its first-ever Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool today.

The Puppy Pool Party is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. today (Sunday, August 7) at the outdoor pool, which is on Providence Road across from the Oak Ridge High School.

All dogs must be non-aggressive and kept on leashes, a press release said. Pet owners must also have proof of current vaccinations. There is a fee of $3 per dog to participate, or each owner may bring a donation of canned or dry dog food to support the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. [Read more…]

Demonstrator arrested after annual march to Y-12

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OREPA-Rosdatter-Y-12-ORPD-Aug-6-2016-3

Beth Rosdatter of Lexington, Kentucky, in white T-shirt, was arrested on a state misdemeanor charge of obstructing a highway after she walked up to the federal “blue line” and sat on the pavement in front of it at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex on East Bear Creek Road on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:45 p.m. Aug. 7.

A Kentucky woman was arrested on a state misdemeanor charge after she walked up to the federal “blue line” at the front entrance of the Y-12 National Security Complex on East Bear Creek Road on Saturday afternoon and sat down on the pavement at the main entrance to the nuclear weapons plant.

Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, said Rosdatter, a 55-year-old mother who has a doctorate in philosophy, did not cross the blue line. Crossing it can result in federal charges.

In an apparent act of civil disobedience, Rosdatter sat in the roadway, on the hot asphalt near the blue line. She appeared to be questioned by Y-12 security officers and the Oak Ridge Police Department and then detained by the ORPD.

Also Saturday, Michael Walli, one of three protesters who broke into Y-12 on July 28, 2012, and splashed blood and sprayed graffiti on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility as part of an effort to protest nuclear weapons, helped lead a two-mile nuclear disarmament march to Y-12 from Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge. Rosdatter’s arrest followed that march.

Walli was released from prison along with his two fellow protesters, Megan Rice and Greg Boertje-Obed, on May 16, 2015, eight days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned their more serious felony sabotage convictions. [Read more…]

OREPA has nuclear disarmament events at A.K. Bissell Park, Y-12 today

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Y-12 OREPA Peace March

About 125 anti-nuclear weapons activists rallied at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2015, before marching almost two miles to the Y-12 National Security Complex. At front from left are JR Dazo of Las Vegas; Ken Jones of Asheville, N.C.; Buddhist monk Denise Laffan of Newport, Tennessee; and Roberto Guzman of Detroit. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance has organized several nuclear disarmament events at Alvin K. Bissell Park and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge today.

There was a names and remembrance ceremony scheduled from 6-9 a.m. today (Saturday, August 6) in front of Y-12, at the intersection of Scarboro and Bear Creek roads. That annual ceremony marks the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. Uranium for that bomb, code-named Little Boy, was enriched in Oak Ridge.

From 12:30-3:30 p.m. today (Saturday, August 6), OREPA has a Concert for Peace and Rally for Disarmament at Alvin K. Bissell Park with a March for Abolition that starts at the park. [Read more…]

Baby’s Best Fest celebrates World Breastfeeding Month

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Community members gather to show their support for breastfeeding during the 2015 Baby’s Best Fest. This year’s event will take place on Aug. 4 at the A.K. Bissell Park playground. (Photo by MMC)

 

By Kelly Goodman/Covenant Health

Like ice cream and a summer day, some things are just made for each other. That’s how we feel about breastfeeding. Breast milk is made especially for babies, and the staff at Methodist Medical Center and the Family Birthing Center want to encourage all new mothers to consider breastfeeding for your baby’s best health and development.

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Month, Methodist Medical Center, the Anderson County Health Department, and La Leche League will host Baby’s Best Fest, a free event featuring a family ice cream social, children’s activities, community resources, and more. Baby’s Best Fest will take place Thursday, August 4, from 6-7 p.m. at the A.K. Bissell Park Playground, located at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Breastfeeding is about making it work for you and your baby for an extended time,” says Cher Stallings (RN, BSN, IBCLC, CCE), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in the Family Birthing Center at Methodist Medical Center. “So many mothers start out breastfeeding, but as they return to work or get caught up in a busy home life, they may give up breastfeeding earlier than they would ideally like. For some women, it’s a lack of support from family. For others, it’s a lack of tools or knowledge.” [Read more…]

Next ‘Jazz on the Hill’ concert features Groove Therapy at Green McAdoo on Aug. 6

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Green McAdoo Organization Jazz on the Hill July 2 2016

The Jazz on the Hill concert on July 2, 2016, at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton featured Jay Storm Project. (Submitted photo)

 

The next Jazz on the Hill concert features Groove Therapy (Keith Brown) at Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton on August 6.

The Jazz on the Hill concert series is on the first Saturday of each month. It started July 2.

The concerts are hosted by the Green McAdoo Cultural Organization. They are open to the public.

“Bring your families, blankets, lawn chairs, etc.,” a press release said. [Read more…]

United & Strong: Roane County has community celebration on Aug. 1

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United and Strong Logo

Roane County leaders, churches, organizations, police officers, and firemen invite everyone to join them on Monday, August 1, at Roane State Community College as they unite together to celebrate the strength of Roane County while also praying for those communities who have had recent tragedies. The event will be held from 7:30-8:30 p.m. August 1 in the student lounge and will include a candle-lighting ceremony.

“The purpose of this event is to celebrate who we are and who guides us,” said Roane County Commission Chair Ron Berry. “That is what makes us stronger—standing united and loving one another regardless of our differences. So everyone is invited to come out and stand united, and help build an even stronger community.” [Read more…]

Scarboro Alumni Association celebrating with parade, Fun Day, Scholarship Banquet

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2014 Scarboro Reunion photo by Luther Simmons

2014 Scarboro Reunion photo by Luther Simmons

 

The Scarboro Community Alumni Association will hold a weekend of festivities July 29-30 that will include a parade, Fun Day, and Scholarship Banquet.

A Meet and Greet will be held Friday, July 29, starting at 6 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Eagles located at 1650 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 30, organizations, churches, schools, political officials, and entertainers will participate in a parade starting from Spurgeon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, going left on Benedict Avenue, left on Dillard Avenue, right on Hampton Road (passing the old Scarboro School Site), right on Wilberforce, and ending at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a press release said.

The Fun Day event will follow with an array of food and non-food vendors, music, and activities for youth and adults at the Scarboro Community Center, which is at 148 Carver Avenue, from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Butterfly Festival at UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge on July 30

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Butterfly Festival monarch (Submitted photo)

Butterfly Festival monarch (Submitted photo)

 

Monarch release and UT Insect Zoo are highlights

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will present a Butterfly Festival on Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium and surrounding grounds at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.  It is co-sponsored by the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center. The gate will be open at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and donuts will be sold from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The event, designed for children and adults of all ages, will take place rain or shine. This educational and fun activity features four speakers, two local native plant vendor,s and artisans. Speakers will give their presentations in the air-conditioned comfort of the Arboretum’s new Auditorium. The food vendors, plant vendors, and artisans will be stationed near the Program Shelter. The monarch butterfly release will take place on the patio outside the Auditorium.

The day’s highlight will be the release of 100 butterflies at approximately 2 p.m., in honor of the 50th anniversaries of UTAS and the Arboretum. We invite children to help release the monarch butterflies, which will be offered at a cost of $10 per butterfly. [Read more…]

Leadership Oak Ridge remodeling Boys & Girls Club teen room

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Leadership Oak Ridge Class of 2016 (Submitted photo)

Leadership Oak Ridge Class of 2016 (Submitted photo)

 

For 30 years, Leadership Oak Ridge has been informing, training, and empowering leaders in Oak Ridge and the region. With more than 1,000 graduates, Leadership Oak Ridge is one of the longest continuously running leadership programs in the United States.

Each year, a Leadership Oak Ridge class takes on a project aimed at benefiting the Oak Ridge community. This year’s class will lead and implement a plan to renovate a vital part of the Boys & Girls Club in Oak Ridge.

The Boys & Girls Club provides an opportunity for youth to engage in programs and activities to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

“The Boys & Girls Club is a well-known and vital part of the Oak Ridge community, and like all programs of this type, it relies heavily on volunteer support and donations to maintain the quality and relevance of the services it delivers,” said Dennis Yates, of Centrus Energy and Leadership Oak Ridge Class of 2016. [Read more…]

Arts Council celebrating 60 years, asks for your support in United Arts Fund Drive

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Arts Council of Oak Ridge 200x200

The Arts Council of Oak Ridge is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and the organization is asking for your support in its United Arts Fund Drive.

“Our annual United Arts Fund Drive is a way for you or your business to help keep the arts alive and thriving in Oak Ridge,” a letter to supporters said.

The eight members of the Arts Council of Oak Ridge are Oak Ridge Art Center, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association, Tennessee Mountain Writers, Oak Ridge Playhouse/Junior Playhouse, Oak Ridge Community Orchestra, Oak Ridge Community Band, and Music Arts School.

The Arts Council promotes the organizations and their events, raises funds, and provides a network to help them grow, the letter to supporters said.

Pledges to the United Arts Fund Drive must be received by July 31 to be included in programs and publications. [Read more…]

NAACP meeting in Oliver Springs on Tuesday

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The next Oak Ridge/Anderson County NAACP meeting will be at the administration building in Oliver Springs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26.

“We encourage Oliver Springs residents to attend to share concerns and provide opportunities,” a press release said.

The agenda for the NAACP will remain the same for the next three month: Secretaries Report, Financial Report, Presidents report (feedback from the National Convention and July bi-monthly meeting), Civic Engagement/Political Action, Education Committee, Membership Committee, and timeline for October/November local election. [Read more…]

Students use the summer to take a lesson in citizenship

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From left, Katie Starnes, Ryann Whitson, Henry Shen, and Katie Law assemble falls-prevention packets used for patient care. They are just a few of the 45 Junior Volunteers who have taken time from their summer vacations to serve at Methodist Medical Center. (Submitted photo)

From left, Katie Starnes, Ryann Whitson, Henry Shen, and Katie Law assemble falls-prevention packets used for patient care. They are just a few of the 45 Junior Volunteers who have taken time from their summer vacations to serve at Methodist Medical Center. (Submitted photo)

 

When school is out for the summer, many teens look forward to sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and enjoying the freedom of a few unscheduled weeks. But at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, a group of teens used the summer to give back to their community rather than while away the hours in front of the computer or around the pool. These high school students served as Methodist’s Junior Volunteers.

The Junior Volunteers are part of Methodist’s larger volunteer program, and like their adult counterparts, the students assist in many areas throughout the hospital and host special sales and fundraisers to support the patients and services at Methodist Medical Center.

This summer, the Junior Volunteers’ fundraiser included a doughnut sale. They also ran the operation of the fruit wagon and snack cart, which sells goodies around the hospital three days a week. [Read more…]