Oak Ridge Today

Ernie’s Creek cleanup is Saturday

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Several organizations and volunteers will be cleaning up a section of Ernie’s Creek in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The cleanup is hosted by the National Ecological Observatory Network (Domain 07 Appalachians and Cumberland Plateau), in partnership with Oak Ridge Healthy Waters and the Adopt-A-Stream program.

“The event aims to provide an opportunity for our office and the greater community of Oak Ridge to work together to reduce the impacts of accumulated garbage in a local creek,” a press release said. “Work gloves, safety vests, trash bags, etc. will be provided along with extra water for hydration.”

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ORNL FCU announce lineups for Summer Sessions concerts

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A previous ORNL Federal Credit Union Summers Sessions concert is pictured above in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. (File photo courtesy ORNL Federal Credit Union)

ORNL Federal Credit Union has announced the lineup for its annual Summer Sessions concert series in Oak Ridge and Kingston. This year’s free concert series will again feature bluegrass and Americana bands from throughout the region, a press release said.

Summer Sessions is open to the public and will kick off in May and continue through August. Concerts will be held at the pavilion in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge and at The Amphitheater at Fort Southwest Point in Kingston.

Here is the lineup:

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Breakfast with Legislators on Monday

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will host Breakfast with the Legislators on Monday, April 24.

The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Senators Randy McNally and Ken Yager and representatives John Ragan and Monty Fritts have been invited to provide updates about what’s happening in the Tennessee General Assembly, which is the state legislature. Members of the audience may ask questions and give opinions, a press release said. A light continental breakfast is provided at no charge. The public is encouraged to attend.

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MCLinc donation funds ramp for Children’s Museum

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Barry Stephenson, left, Michele Sanders and Beth Shea stand on steps leading to the World of Trains exhibit in the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. A ramp funded by Materials and Chemistry Laboratory Inc. will be built here later this year. (Submitted photo)

Submitted

Barry Stephenson believes the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is one of the city’s treasures.
The laboratory he leads, employee-owned Materials & Chemistry Laboratory Inc. (MCLinc), wants to make sure this treasure continues to serve children and families well. MCLinc recently made a $50,000 contribution to fund the final ramp needed to make the interior of the historic Children’s Museum building accessible for strollers and those with disabilities.

The ramp will meet standards of the Americans for Disabilities Act, which describes what is needed for a building to be physically accessible to persons with disabilities. The ramp will connect the Selma Shapiro Wing of the Museum to the next level housing the World of Trains exhibit. [Read more…]

Pint Night with Sam & Mary Ann Venable to benefit Front Page Foundation

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Mary Ann and Sam Venable

Sam and Mary Ann Venable will bring humor and conversation as celebrity guest bartenders at a Pint Night raising funds for journalism and communications scholarships on Thursday, April 13, at Scruffy City Hall.

The Venables will help the nonprofit Front Page Foundation raise money for scholarships from 5-8 p.m. April 13 at the bar and restaurant at 32 Market Square in Knoxville. Scott and Bernadette West, Scruffy City Hall’s owners, will donate a portion of drink proceeds to the Foundation, which hosts Pint Nights periodically with celebrity guest bartenders.

Sam Venable, columnist specializing in humor for the Knoxville News Sentinel, has written for the newspaper since 1970. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, he is the author of 14 books, most recently “The Joke’s on YOU! All I Did Was Empty My Files.” [Read more…]

Community Band to perform ‘Music for Spring’

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The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform in a “Music for Spring” concert in Knoxville on Sunday, March 12. (Photo by Oak Ridge Community Band)

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform in a “Music for Spring” concert in Knoxville on Sunday, March 12.

The concert is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 711 South Northshore Drive in Knoxville.

The concert is free, but seating is limited. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the community is encouraged to arrive early to secure their seats, a press release said.

“‘Music for Spring’ promises to be an exciting and diverse musical experience, featuring an array of classical, jazz, and pop music selections that celebrate the arrival of spring,” the press release said. “Under the direction of Shaun Salem, the Oak Ridge Community Band comprises musicians of all ages and skill levels, dedicated to delivering high-quality performances that resonate with the community.”

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Community Egg Hunt is Saturday, April 1

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Image by City of Oak Ridge

The City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host its free annual Community Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 1 at 11 a.m.

The egg hunt will be a traditional style Egg Hunt held at Alvin K. Bissell Park. Parking will be available at both the East and West Civic Center parking lots. In the event of severe weather, eggs and prizes will be handed out via drive through at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The event is limited to children aged four through fourth grade. Families are asked to pre-register at Eventbrite.com. Pre-registration helps staff plan for the correct number of eggs and other supplies, a press release said.

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Today: International Festival at Children’s Museum

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The Tennessee Irish Dancers, here at an earlier International Festival with the Children’s Museum mascot Charlie the Curious Bear, will entertain again with traditional Irish dance.

Crafts, cuisines, and entertainment from world cultures will be presented at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge International Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, February 25.

The family-friendly International Festival will have musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. Children may “make and take” crafts, and several booths will offer activities and crafts for children.

Raya Quttaineh and María Guzmán of WBIR-TV will serve as festival emcees. Quttaineh, originally from Jordan, is a morning anchor and reporter. Guzmán, originally from Nicaragua, is a bilingual journalist reporting in English and in Spanish for the Spanish newscast Noticias WBIR. Both came to the United States as children with their families.

Entertainers will include Katrien Sevrin of Belladance, who performs and teaches Middle Eastern dance; the Tennessee Irish Dancers, students taught by professional and champion Irish dancer Katie Carver; a Shamisen performance on a Japanese banjo-style instrument; and a traditional Japanese story, Kamishibai. [Read more…]

Saturday: Rock to Bach Music Festival & Fundraiser

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Four Leaf Peat (Image courtesy ORCMA)

The all-day Rock to Bach Music Festival and Fundraiser will feature performing groups on two stages in Oak Ridge today, Saturday, February 18.

Besides music, there will be a silent auction, celebration dinner, and special after-dinner entertainment with Four Leaf Peat, a traditional Irish music group in East Tennessee. The event has been organized by Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

You can come and go as you please during the music and hear these performers and more:

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AMVETS to kick off 75th celebration with Janelle Arthur concert

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Janelle Arthur

AMVETS of Oak Ridge will celebrate its 75th anniversary in March, and the ceremonies will include a concert by American Idol Top 5 finalist Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs.

The concert is Friday evening, March 10. The 75th Anniversary and Veterans Appreciation Celebration is Saturday, March 11, at 190 Adams Lane in Oak Ridge.

“To say thank you, veterans and active-duty service members will receive a free gift bag and can register to win other items including an American flag, local gift cards, and Post 2 merchandise during their 75th Anniversary and Veterans Appreciation Celebration,” a press release said.

AMVETS is an organization of veterans serving veterans, the press release said.

“Only a few organizations in Oak Ridge have stood the test of time to remain active for 75 years, which makes the celebration of the AMVETS 75th Anniversary a very special occasion,” the press release said.

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Presentation: Laws & children of different sexual identities

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On Tuesday, February 7, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will host John Jaruzel and Anne Backus, co-chairs of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Oak Ridge, and Nathan Higdon, CFO of Knox Pride, to discuss laws and children of different sexual identities.

This hybrid Lunch with the League event (available in person and virtually via Zoom), will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday at the Unitarian Universalist Church Social Hall in Oak Ridge. A lunch from The Soup Kitchen will be available for purchase or bring your own lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. If you cannot attend in person, you can use the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85481905266.

Since moving to Oak Ridge seven years ago, John Jaruzel has continued his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in East Tennessee, a press release said. As treasurer of the AIDS Housing Project in South Knoxville, he helps provide low-cost housing for people dealing with HIV/AIDS. He co-chairs PFLAG Oak Ridge, is on the Grants and Allocation committee of the East Tennessee Ryan White Planning Council, and volunteers with the Bearden Central Baptist Church outreach group Samaritan Ministries doing HIV prevention outreach.

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Roane State Dental Clinic offering free cleanings for kids

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Free dental cleanings for children ages 4 to 12 are being offered through the end of March at the Roane State Dental Hygiene Clinic.

The clinic is located on the first floor of the Coffey/McNally Building on Roane State’s Oak Ridge Branch Campus, located at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.

The free procedures include teeth cleaning, all necessary dental X-rays, and a fluoride treatment, a press release said. The clinic is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, and on Fridays from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. during the spring semester.

The free cleanings for children are only offered during the months of February and March 2023. Availability is limited due to demand, so parents and caregivers are encouraged to book quickly, the press release said.

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