Oak Ridge Today

TORCH hosts day of free family fun at Children’s Museum

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TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2. (Submitted photo)

TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2. (Submitted photo)

 

TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2.

It was the first TORCH Springtastic! Elaine Graham of Balloonacy Lunacy presented the children with balloon animals, flowers, among other things, while Kelly Mules of Faces Gone Wild painted exquisite designs on their faces. Jeffery Bell portrayed Carley, the dog who is the main character in the TORCH Children’s book series. Nathan Zieger read Dr. Seuss, and Sheila Michel told stories and worked puppets.

Andy O’Quinn, TORCH executive director, put together music videos to which the children could dance. There were arts and crafts, fruits, vegetables and juice boxes to enjoy, and the opportunity to plant a fresh flower in a small pot to take home.

“It was a celebration of spring and healthy life choices,” a press release said. [Read more…]

ORION astronomy club to feature talk on origin of universe, life on Earth

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Bob Compton

Bob Compton

The ORION astronomy club will have a discussion of the origin of the universe and life on Earth during a talk next week.

The talk will be presented by Robert N. Compton, senior corporate fellow emeritus, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and professor emeritus (physics and chemistry), University of Tennessee.

His talk is titled “On the Origin of the Universe and Life on Earth.”

Humans have long desired to understand our origin and place in the grand cosmos, a press release said. [Read more…]

Specialist to discuss the importance of sleep to good mental health

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Gurecki Sleep

Paul Gurecki

Everyone knows that not getting enough sleep at night can impact your energy level the next day, but do you know how much a lack of sleep can impact your mental well-being?

Dr. Paul Gurecki, certified sleep specialist, will discuss the role of sleep in good mental health on Saturday, April 23. The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall at Grace Lutheran Church, which is at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Gurecki said he will also address the value of sleep hygiene and the difficulties that mental health issues, such as medications and depression, can add to sleep habits. A neurologist also specializing in psychiatry and sleep laboratory medicine, Gurecki holds certification in both neurology and sleep medicine from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has had a successful practice in Oak Ridge for more than 20 years. [Read more…]

Kickoff meeting for home energy-saving program is April 26

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City of Oak Ridge Seal

The “Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient (MORE2)” Program will be hosting a kickoff event for Oak Ridge residents on Tuesday, April 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room. The event is an opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about this new program for qualified, low-income residents in the community, a press release said.

Information on other energy-saving programs will also be available for those who do not qualify for the MORE2 program.

The City of Oak Ridge is kicking off the MORE2 program to perform “whole-home, deep energy retrofits” for 229 qualified residents in homes that are at least 20 years old. The project goal is to reduce electrical energy usage in all-electric homes to improve the quality of life for lower income residents and homeowners by significantly increasing the efficiency and comfort of their homes.

Attendees at this event will receive energy-saving items and informant about low- to no-expense energy-saving practices that can immediately improve energy savings in homes. [Read more…]

Roane County executive to speak at Lunch with the League

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Ron Woody, Roane County

Ron Woody

Ron Woody, Roane County executive, will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, April 19. The program will begin at noon in the Social Hall at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Woody will address issues of importance to the county such as where your tax dollars go, problems the county has solved, and problems it is still facing, according to information provided by his office. Among the topics he will address or update in his presentation, “The State of Roane County,” are education, property appraisal, business recruitment, and development of tourism and funding of public services.

What happens in Roane County is of importance to Oak Ridge since a significant portion of Oak Ridge is located in Roane County, and present and future planning affect the lives and wellbeing of these residents and, consequently, all of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Agape House hosts Chocolate Evening, Dessert Contest on May 7

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Chocolate Dessert

Chocolate bakers and candy makers are invited to enter their sweet concoctions in a chocolate dessert contest on Saturday, May 7. (Submitted photo)

 

Chocolate bakers and candy makers are invited to enter their sweet concoctions in a chocolate dessert contest on Saturday, May 7. Agape House of Oak Ridge is hosting the contest during “An Evening of Everything Chocolate,” an event supporting the nonprofit and all-volunteer organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless.

“An Evening of Everything Chocolate,” a Mother’s Day weekend event, will feature tables filled with chocolate desserts from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Truffles, fudge, cookies, brownies, and other treats will be offered, with coffee, sipping chocolate, and water also being served.

For the chocolate dessert contest, the chocolate grand prize winner will receive a $50 gift certificate and a gold medal. A silver medal will be awarded for the best use of chocolate. To enter, bring your dessert to the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church by 6 p.m. May 7. [Read more…]

Legal Aid Society hires two new support staff members

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Mary Burney

Mary Burney

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm, announced Monday that two new support staff members have been added to the firm.

Mary Burney has returned to Legal Aid Society’s Oak Ridge office as the receptionist/intake worker. Burney previously worked for Legal Aid Society in the same capacity from 2008-2014 and was the office manager/legal assistant for Rural Legal Services of Tennessee (predecessor to Legal Aid Society) from 1979-2003. Prior to this return, Burney was a bailiff for the Roane County Sheriff’s Department.

“We are thrilled to have Mary back in the office,” said Janet Mynatt, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s office in Oak Ridge. “Except for our new database, things have remained pretty much the same, so Mary has been able to jump right back in. Her past experience with this office will be an asset to our staff and clients alike.” [Read more…]

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, April 13.

Ten percent of dine-in or carry-out receipts will be donated to the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, organizers said.

The fundraiser is from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Gondolier Restaurant is at 792 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge.

April celebrations at Habitat for Humanity include new home, mortgage payoff

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Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County Spring Break Volunteers 2016

Pictured above is a group of college students from Juniata College in Pennsylvania that came to work with Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County on their Spring Break 2016. They helped put the finishing touches on the Core house in Andersonville. (Submitted photo)

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County has a lot to celebrate in the month of April. A family will be moving into their new home, and another family paid off their mortgage. Two local churches will be hosting celebrations for both of these momentous occasions.

The Core family has a new home in Andersonville. After months of hard work, they are excited to be moving in later this month. Usually, HFHAC holds a dedication service for a new home at the home itself. This time, however, the dedication will take place at Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge. Choosing this church was easy because it’s the home church of the Mr. and Mrs. Cal Knoke. The Knokes donated a very large sum of money toward this particular build.

As wonderful as it is to have the opportunity to show off the finished product to the community, it was decided that in this case, it wouldn’t be the best idea. The yard cannot be seeded and strawed just yet, it’s been too rainy this spring. Rather than invite people to tromp through mud, HFHAC would like for everyone interested to come to the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, April 17, at Faith Lutheran Church, which is at 1300 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

“There will be pictures of the house during construction, a chance to meet the Core family, and best of all, cake!” a press release said. [Read more…]

Agape House, which helps homeless, hosts Chocolate Evening May 7

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Morgan Anderson at An Evening of Everything Chocolate

Morgan Anderson dips fruit and marshmallows in a chocolate fountain at last year’s first “An Evening of Everything Chocolate.” (Submitted photo)

 

Tasting a variety of chocolate desserts will be a special treat during “An Evening of Everything Chocolate” on Saturday, May 7, in support of Agape House of Oak Ridge.

The Mother’s Day weekend event will feature tables filled with chocolate culinary temptations in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The second annual “An Evening of Everything Chocolate” will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Truffles, fudge, cookies, brownies, and other treats will satisfy any sweet tooth, with coffee, sipping chocolate, and water also being served.

All proceeds will go to the direct support of Agape House, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless. Since opening in 2014, Agape House has helped 20 homeless families or individuals with short-term, temporary housing, and other support services as they work with agencies to take steps toward self-sufficiency.

Agape House is an all-volunteer agency, and a significant portion of its budget is raised through this fundraising event. [Read more…]

Pastor addresses CWU on school concerns

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Community-Matters-Unitarian-Universalist-Nov-1-2015-14

Pictured above at a Community Matters forum at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Nov. 1, 2015, are the Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, center, the Rev. Jake Morrill of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and Father Brent Shelton of St. Mary’s Parish. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The high stress levels of students at Oak Ridge High School. The increasing number of students who take multiple Advanced Placement courses for status reasons, in response to parental pressure or to be in class with friends. The lack of social workers at ORHS, which has a rising number of at-risk, underfed students who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches.

The finding that less than 2 percent of ORHS students are referred for almost half of the disciplinary actions taken, including suspensions. Yet, because of privacy laws, people interested in mentoring at least two dozen disciplinary students cannot learn their names.

These were some of the teacher and community concerns highlighted by the Reverend Derrick Hammond, pastor at Oak Valley Baptist Church, at a recent meeting of the Oak Ridge unit of Church Women United.

He announced that on Sunday, April 24, at Oak Ridge High School, from 4-5:30 p.m., city leaders will respond to public concerns raised during the three “Community Matters” sessions held last October and November. The speakers will include Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald and Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi. [Read more…]

2016 Tennessee Fall Homecoming lineup announced

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Museum of Appalachia Wilson Barn Stage

A performance at a previous Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia near Norris. (Submitted photo)

 

The Museum of Appalachia has announced the music lineup for its 37th Annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming from October 7-9.

High-profile artists scheduled to appear include 20-year Homecoming veteran, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver—an IBMA Hall of Fame Member and 2016 Grammy-Nominated artist; Mountain Faith, semi-finalists on Season 10 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”; Lonesome River Band, Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo award-winners; and seven-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year award-winners, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.

One of the nation’s largest, most authentic music and folk festivals, Homecoming features more than 70 musicians performing on four outdoor stages, a press release said. Each year, tens of thousands of music fans come to enjoy concerts spanning many genres—including bluegrass, country, gospel, and Americana music. [Read more…]