Oak Ridge Today

UT Arboretum Society has Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 21

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale will be held Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy UT Arboretum Society)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale will be held Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy UT Arboretum Society)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale will be held Saturday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge.

“Fall is the ideal time to add plants to your landscape,” a press release said. “Beaver Creek Nursery, East Fork Nursery, Riverdale Nursery, Sunlight Gardens, as well as the UT Arboretum Society’s members and friends, will be offering a variety of high quality plants at this sale.”

Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted for payment. [Read more…]

Housing Authority dedicates administration building in honor of James A. Carson

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A resident of Oak Ridge, James A. Carson served the Oak Ridge Housing Authority as its executive director for 33 years. Carson retired from OHRA in December 2016. On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, the ORHA Board of Commissioners honored his many years of service through the dedication of the Administration building. (Submitted photo)

A resident of Oak Ridge, James A. Carson served the Oak Ridge Housing Authority as its executive director for 33 years. Carson retired from OHRA in December 2016. On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, the ORHA Board of Commissioners honored his many years of service through the dedication of the Administration building. (Submitted photo)

 

A resident of Oak Ridge, James A. Carson served the Oak Ridge Housing Authority as its executive director for 33 years.

“He consistently showed a great respect for diversity, and in all things pursued fair policies and actions,” a press release said. “He worked tirelessly to make ORHA sustainable, and faithfully served the low-income and economically disadvantaged in our community.”

Carson retired from OHRA in December 2016. [Read more…]

Mount Harmony Baptist Church has community food drive on Oct. 21

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mount Harmony Baptist Church will have a community food drive with the help of Eternal Vision, Heart to Heart, Gloryway Believers, and the Heiskell Fire Department as a drop-off point.

The food drive is planned for October 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting. It will be located at the Heiskell Fire Department at 9444 Heiskell Road in Heiskell.

“Come bring a chair and any non-perishable food items and/or monetary donations for this special singing event,” a press release said.

If it rains, volunteers will move the location of event to Mount Harmony Baptist Church at 819 Raccoon Valley Road NE in Heiskell.

Camera Club of Oak Ridge has photo exhibit from Oct. 30-Nov. 9

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

First place in Scenic by Mike Boyd in the Camera Club of Oak Ridge Photographic Salon. (Submitted photo)

First place in Scenic by Mike Boyd in the Camera Club of Oak Ridge Photographic Salon. (Submitted photo)

 

The Camera Club of Oak Ridge will have its 69th Annual Photographic Salon on display at the New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex from October 30 to November 9.

The exhibition contains photographs in nine categories from wildlife and landscapes to abstracts and creative development, a press release said.

The New Hope Center is located at 602 Scarboro Road in Oak Ridge. The Salon will be on display there during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. [Read more…]

Veterans Day Parade is in Clinton on Saturday, Nov. 11

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The 11th Annual Anderson County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, November 11, at 10 a.m. in downtown Clinton.

The parade has been announced by the Clinton American Legion Post #172 in partnership with The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12051 and AMVETS Post #2.

This year’s theme is the “Appreciation for All Anderson County Veterans,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge High School holds annual September 11 memorial

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge firefighters are pictured above at the 9/11 memorial at Oak Ridge High School on Sept. 11, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

Oak Ridge firefighters are pictured above at the 9/11 memorial at Oak Ridge High School on Sept. 11, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Submitted

As is emblazoned in many of our memories, September 11, 2001, was the day that 19 militants associated with al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against several targets in the United States. Beginning at 9:03 a.m., two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third airplane flew into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and the fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died in these attacks.

To ensure Oak Ridge residents remember the impact of this day in history, Ken Senter, Advanced Placement US History teacher, arranged for remnants of the Twin Towers and a block of granite from Ground Zero to serve as a memorial at Oak Ridge High School. The display resides at the north entrance to the school on Providence Road. Each September 11, beginning exactly at 9:03 a.m., students at Oak Ridge High School gather at this site for a tribute to the lives of victims and first responders, both living and lost. For the past decade-and-a-half, our students have shared their own memories of the day’s events. [Read more…]

Lunch with the League features Marc DeRose of Explore Oak Ridge on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Marc DeRose

Marc DeRose

Marc DeRose of Explore Oak Ridge will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, October 17. His presentation will center on Explore Oak Ridge’s responsibility for maximizing the economic impact of visitors to Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Explore Oak Ridge was formerly known as the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Lunch with the League meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

DeRose, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, has a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science from Trent University, Peterborough, Canada, and a master’s degree in biology and quantitative genetics from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, the press release said. He spent more than 15 years as a professional rowing coach at the junior, NCAA, national, and international levels. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade to be held Saturday, Dec. 9

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Parade was Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (Photo by Eli Welton)

The last Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade was Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (File photo by Eli Welton)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9.

This year’s theme is “A Toyland Christmas: Past 75 Years/Future 75 Years,” a press release said. It promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, the release said.

The parade will be a part of Oak Ridge’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. Sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company. There is no cost to participate.

The Chamber will be accepting entries online through Monday, December 4. Register by visiting the Chamber’s website at www.oakridgechamber.org.

According to Greta Ownby, executive vice president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce: “People began signing up for the parade in August, as soon as we announced our theme. The second Saturday in December is always the date for our Christmas parade, and it’s nice to know that people start planning early make the parade a special part of their holiday tradition. We also wanted to incorporate the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge into the event this year.” [Read more…]

More than 400 attended Taste of Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

eighth-annual-taste-of-anderson-county

A file photo showing a previous Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square. (Photo courtesy United Way of Anderson County/Taste of Anderson County)

 

More than 400 people attended the Ninth Annual Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square the last week of September.

“Thanks to the volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and over 400 attendees, the event was a great success!” a press release said. “The whole evening was full of food, fun, and friends.”

This year, 11 restaurants from around Anderson County showcased some of their most delicious treats and eats, the press release said. Among them were Aubrey’s, Burchfield’s, Centennial Golf Course, Hot Bagel Company, Panda Express, Pizza Inn, Razzleberry’s Cafe, Riverview Grill, Smoothie Patch, and The Soup Kitchen.

McAlister’s, McDonald’s, Kroger Marketplace, and Panera donated the tea and lemonade at the event, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 for 10th year in a row

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

$1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares

For the 10th consecutive year, ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares, making total donations more than $1 million for the timeframe.

As part of the 2017 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign, a total of $117,604.41 was pledged. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares, or both nonprofit organizations, a press release said. [Read more…]

Wendel Werner ‘Concert of Peace’ at 6 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wendel Werner

Wendel Werner

Local pianist and composer Wendel Werner and friends will present a “concert of peace” on Sunday, October 15, at 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in the wake of the racially charged violence August 12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The free concert will feature local singers and instrumentalists who will perform songs having themes of hope, inclusivity, and love, a press release said.

The release said the following words of Leonard Bernstein, famous American composer and conductor, continue to inspire musicians to offer gifts of melody, rhythm, and harmony to their communities: [Read more…]

‘Jeopardy!’ run ends for Oak Ridge woman

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show "Jeopardy!" (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

Scarlett Sims, right, of Oak Ridge is pictured above with Alex Trebek, host of the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” (Photo courtesy Jeopardy Productions Inc.)

 

The “Jeopardy!” run of Scarlett Sims of Oak Ridge ended on Friday.

Sims, a stay-at-home mom, ended the 12-game winning streak of New York City bartender Austin Rogers on Thursday, when she won $33,000, according to WBIR-TV of Knoxville, which broadcasts the show.

She missed the Final Jeopardy question Friday, ending the second night with $400, WBIR reported. [Read more…]