Oak Ridge Today

In cities surrounded by good bear habitat, wildlife officials generally let bears keep moving

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Black Bear at Grill

A black bear investigates a backyard grill in north Oak Ridge in May 2012. To encourage bears to move on, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recommends trying to eliminate outdoor food sources such as dog and cat food, bird seed, and grease traps. (Photo by George Ostrouchov)

Oak Ridge and Knoxville are surrounded by very good bear habitats—including the largest black bear preserve in the world—and it’s not unusual to see up to a half-dozen bears come through the Oak Ridge area each year and at least that many in the Knoxville area, Tennessee wildlife officials said this week.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Sgt. Roy Smith of Morristown said the bear seen in Oak Ridge on Monday was not the first in the area this summer, and there have also been a few in Anderson County.

“It’s not an isolated incident,” Smith said. “We have bears moving through Oak Ridge from time to time.” [Read more…]

Secret City Festival features ‘something for everyone’

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Homemade Wine Band

The Homemade Wine Band played after the Friday morning opening ceremony at the Secret City Festival.

The annual Secret City Festival started today, and it features Manhattan Project bus tours and history displays, World War II living history activities and demonstrations, arts and crafts and antiques dealers, food vendors and exhibitors, a children’s festival area and youth events, and a car show and concerts.

“Join more than 20,000 visitors and residents to celebrate the end of World War II and the heritage of Oak Ridge from 1945 to the present,” a press release said.

Oak Ridge was built during World War II as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, a federal program to build the world’s atomic bombs, and the festival celebrates the city’s heritage.

Festival organizers have provided an overview of some of the many activities and events taking place at this year’s festival:
 [Read more…]

Lavender Festival returns to Jackson Square on Saturday

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Lavender Festival

Celebrating all things herbal in Oak Ridge, the Lavender Festival returns to Historic Jackson Square on Saturday. It’s the festival’s 15th year, and it’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The free festival features food and music, and close to 100 vendors. They will have plants and herbs, and products related to gardening, cooking, health, and aromatherapy, in addition to fine art and crafts. There will also be booths for children, with crafts, a dinosaur exhibit, and street performers.

Festival-goers can sample foods made with herbs from 9 to 11 a.m. and watch a grilling-with-herbs demonstration by Market House chefs beginning at 1 p.m. Live music will be performed by local musicians throughout the day. Informative presentations and workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the CapitalMark Bank and Trust building next to the playhouse. [Read more…]

Faith column: Highland View Church of Christ record year, hearts of hospitality

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Second Harvest Delivery TruckThe faces are eagerly anticipating the needed food. As individuals line up every Thursday to receive the bag of groceries provided, words of thanks and gratitude are expressed. Retired men and hungry families are joined together in common care and genuine response.

Times are tough for families in the Oak Ridge area. This difficult set of circumstances is felt at the family breakfast, lunch, and dinner table daily. With mouths to feed and bills to pay, so many families are feeling the anguish of the crunch that only seems to be ever tightening around their pocketbooks and their hearts. It is to this situation that the retired men of the Highland View Church of Christ have responded to the call that God has placed on their hearts.

[Read more…]

DOE employees donate more than 11,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest

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Second Harvest Feds Feed Families

At right, John Shewairy of the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge gives Second Harvest’s John Bell, center, a food donation as part of the Feds Feed Families campaign. Aaron White, left, coordinated this year’s campaign. (Photo by Lynn Freeny/DOE)

U.S. Department of Energy employees donated 11,437 pounds of food on Thursday to the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

The donation was part of the national Feds Feed Families campaign, a press release said.

“This is the third year the DOE’s Oak Ridge site has participated in the annual summer campaign, which helps replenish local food banks and raises awareness about the prevalence of hunger nationally,” the release said.

Under the direction of DOE’s local federal employee mentor program, more than 11,000 pounds of food has been donated for three consecutive years, the release said.

[Read more…]

Taste of Oak Ridge on Sept. 22 in Jackson Square

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The fourth annual Taste of Oak Ridge on Sept. 22 in Jackson Square will feature food samples from local restaurants, music, and the opportunity to help a local medical facility, a press release said.

Restaurants that will take part include Dean’s Restaurant, Gondolier, The Market House, Razzleberry Lab and Kitchen, The Soup Kitchen, Time Out Deli, and The Other One. RNfit Weight Management will be offering samples as well.

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