Oak Ridge Today

Street Painting Festival honors Scarboro 85, raises funds for Roane State scholarships

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The theme for the 2021 Street Painting Festival, “Honoring Scarboro 85,” recognized the first Black students from the former Scarboro School who integrated Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High on Sept. 6, 1955. The Honoring Scarboro 85 award went to the team of Dawn and Her Guys. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

The 2021 Street Painting Festival, hosted by the Noon Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, is in the books having raised more than $14,000 to help fund scholarships for Roane State Community College students in Anderson County.

Held in Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square each October, the festival blends art, history, and community for a fun event in support of local students. Nearly $300,000 in scholarships issued by the nonprofit Roane State Foundation have been provided since the start of the festival in 1999, a press release said.

Festival sponsors make a tax-exempt donation to the Foundation, with levels ranging from $5,000 for Platinum down to $100 for Individual. Sponsors’ names are assigned to sidewalk squares upon which the artists then paint pictures with chalk. Materials and Chemistry Laboratory Inc. once again sponsored the event at the Platinum Level. 2021 marked the 20th consecutive year of festival sponsorship for the company.

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Trunk or Treat at Roane State is Thursday

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Trunk or Treat is at Roane State Community College on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. (Submitted photo)

The always popular Trunk or Treat event is back this year at Roane State Community College, scheduled for the evening of Thursday, October 28, a press release said.

Trunk or Treat festivities will begin at 5 p.m. and wrap up around 7 p.m., the press release said. College students, employees, and members of the community are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

The event will take place in the student parking lot next to the O’Brien Theatre on the Roane County campus, located at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman. Signage on campus will direct visitors where to go when they arrive.

Participants will be able to collect candy and other treats as they visit vehicles lined up in the parking area. Many event volunteers will be in costume.

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CORRE has membership meeting Nov. 8

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The Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees will have its annual meeting on Monday, November 8. The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. online on Zoom.

CORRE is an organization of retirees that works to improve the welfare of all former employees and surviving spouses of the managing contractors of U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge facilities, a press release said.

The November 8 agenda includes reports about 2021 activities, election of board members and officers, and a report to the CORRE membership from President Dave Whitehead.

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Georgia man died in Monday crash

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One person died after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wisconsin Avenue late Monday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2021. (Submitted photo)

Steven D. Hinson of Georgia has been identified as the person who died in the Monday afternoon crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wisconsin Avenue.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said the two-vehicle crash remains under investigation and no other details will be released at this time. However, the police department is asking anyone with information that may help investigators to call ORPD at (865) 425-4399. Crime tips can also be submitted online at http://oakridgetn.gov/department/ORPD/Home. Information can be given anonymously, the ORPD said.

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Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest at PetSmart

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There will be a Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest at PetSmart in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 30.

The contest is presented by the Anderson County Animal Shelter and the County Mayor’s Office, a press release said.

It will begin at 11 a.m. that day. Registration for the contest will begin at 10:15 a.m. under the tent in the parking lot, the press release said.

PetSmart is at 203 Main Street in Oak Ridge.

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Roane State launches business ownership certificate

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There are always pitfalls and challenges when launching a new business, and Roane State has started a new program to help fledgling entrepreneurs succeed.

The Business Ownership Certificate is a two-semester program that focuses on the most common barriers to startup companies, said Roane State Community College Associate Professor Mike Farmer, the college’s business program director.

“Business owners need to both be experts in their field and be ready for the hidden challenges of ownership,” Farmer said. “They must handle finances, taxes, business regulations, employee management, human resources, and advertising.”

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RMS RamSat team to discuss cube satellite

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Robertsville Middle School students and mentors assembling the RamSat cube satellite. (Submitted photo)

ORION will welcome the Robertsville Middle School RamSat cube satellite team to a Zoom session on Wednesday evening, October 20.

The Robertsville Middle School CubeSat began its construction in the 2015-2016 school year after Robertsville became the first middle school selected by NASA’s Cube Sat Launch Initiative program. RamSat is a two-unit cube satellite, with dimensions of 20 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters. Its mission is to take pictures of the forests around Gatlinburg, which were destroyed by wildfire in 2016.

RamSat has an educational co-mission to develop a middle school STEM curriculum, a press release said. The mission has been designed and carried out by students, teachers, and mentors. The cube satellite has been dubbed RamSat for the school’s mascot.

The Wednesday Zoom session will start at 7 p.m. It is open to the public. [Read more…]

One dies in two-vehicle crash

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One person died after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wisconsin Avenue late Monday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2021. (Submitted photo)

One person died after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike at Wisconsin Avenue late Monday afternoon.

The crash was reported shortly after 4:15 p.m. Monday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately available, and neither was the condition of any other drivers or passengers involved in the crash.

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Missing Goats to perform at Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event

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From left to right are Tom Beehan, Mary Tuskan, and Steve Reddick. (Submitted photo)

 

ADFAC will host “The Starry Night,” their ninth annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, in Oak Ridge on Saturday, October 23.

The fundraising event will honor this year’s award recipient, Jim Dodson, and feature music by local band The Missing Goats, a press release said.

“This self described ‘pub band’ features members Tom Beehan, Mary Tuskan, and Steve Reddick as well as guest player Gary Coleman with a repertoire including Irish, Scottish, bluegrass and Appalachian songs,” the press release said. “Band members have a love for Ireland so much so that they have travelled to Ireland for concerts (and a little travel fun along the way) and performed at many local St. Patrick’s Day activities.” [Read more…]

Dodson running for state rep

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Jim Dodson

Oak Ridge City Council member Jim Dodson is seeking election in 2022 to serve as a state representative in Anderson County.

Dodson is running to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33, which includes most of Anderson County.

He is running as a Democrat. The seat is currently held by John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican who is in his sixth two-year term.

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ADFAC Bill Wilcox Bow Tie will honor Dodson

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Left to right, past Bow Tie awardees announcing Jim Dodson as this year’s recipient: Ray Smith, Louise Mixon, Teresa Myrick, Jim Dodson, Cande Seay, Tom Row, Tom Beehan, and Bear Stephenson. Not pictured: Bill Capshaw. (Submitted photo)

 

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ADFAC will host “The Starry Night,” their ninth annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, on Saturday, October 23, at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. This event celebrates an important volunteer in our community each year who exemplifies the values of the late Bill Wilcox. This year’s honoree is local educator and community volunteer Jim Dodson.

The cocktail-attire event will begin at 5 p.m. It will feature Elaine Graham as the emcee, and it will be a night of celebration while making every effort to host a safe and fun event to raise funds for ADFAC, a press release said.

“ADFAC and the Bow Tie Committee, chaired by Wendie Aurin, are excited about the fun opportunities this year’s event offers, including a special performance by The Missing Goats, self-described as a four-piece pub band, who entertain with Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian songs,” the press release said.

The program will also include stories shared by some of Dodson’s friends and family about his important contributions to the community and opportunities to learn more about ADFAC’s mission and work in the area, the press release said. [Read more…]

CNS contributes $100,000 in community grants to 17 nonprofits

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A Consolidated Nuclear Security Community Investment grant funded a therapist for Willow Brook Elementary School in Oak Ridge.  (Submitted photo)

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Awards recommended by Y-12 employees in 2021 focused on at-risk youth, food insecurity, mental health, and aid to frontline workers

Consolidated Nuclear Security, in partnership with East Tennessee Foundation, recently awarded 17 grants totaling $100,000 to nonprofit organizations in 10 East Tennessee counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Hamblen, Knox, Monroe, Roane, Scott, and Sevier.

The CNS Employee Investment Advisory Committee at Y-12 National Security Complex reviewed dozens of grant proposals this year, conducted staff interviews, and made site visits before recommending funding based on the committee’s four focus areas for the year: at-risk youth, food insecurity, mental health, and aid to frontline workers.

With the latest round of community investment grants, Consolidated Nuclear Security topped $880,000 of investment in the East Tennessee community during the last five years, a press release said.

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