Oak Ridge Today

Velo Classic on July 25, 26 to feature bike races, Wellness Fest, Kids Bike Rodeo

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Oak Ridge Criterium

A picture from a previous Criterium race in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

A bicycle racing event in Oak Ridge on July 25 and 26 will feature three types of races, a Family Wellness Festival, and a Kids Bike Rodeo.

It’s the URS-CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) Oak Ridge Velo Classic.

Three types of races that include 13 categories of competitors will be offered. The road races and time trials will be staged from the parking area of the East Tennessee Technology Park beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 25, and the criterium races will be held at the Horizon Center beginning at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, July 26. This year’s criterium races—which are very much like “NASCAR on bikes”—have been designated the state championships by the Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association.

The race promoters expect almost 400 competitors for the two-day event. The Comfort Inn is the official race hotel and is offering special rates to out-of-town competitors. Early race packet pickup will be held at a reception on Friday evening, July 24, poolside at the Comfort Inn. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic fundraiser on Aug. 8 to feature rock band, dancers

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The Hit Men

The Hit Men, a rock and pop dance band, will perform at the FMC Bash on Aug. 8, a fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Hit Men, a Knoxville rock and pop dance band, will provide music for dancing during the FMC Bash on Saturday, August 8. It’s the annual fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. August 8 in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church at 327 Vermont Avenue. It will include a catered dinner, Celebrity Dance Contest, and live auction conducted by the entertaining Bear Stephenson.

Band members are Alan Keck, lead vocals and guitar; Bob Andres, vocals, lead guitar, and flute; Pat Andres, vocals and keyboard; Uwe Lueth, drums, and Mark Akers, bass. You can learn more about them by visiting their website.

Couples who have entered in the Celebrity Dance Contest are Sharon and Brian Annis, Naomi Asher and Jim Dodson, Tom Beehan and Kay Brookshire, David and Sandy Bradshaw, Gene Caldwell and Dottie Thompson, Keys Fillauer and Scott Hinton, Judy Gooch and Michael Shrader, Austin Keathley and a secret partner, and Nancy Stanley and Gary Riser. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic’s FMC Bash: Auctions, dinner, dance contest

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Michael Burns and Sumner Byrne

Michael Burns and Sumner Byrne placed first in the dance contest at the Free Medical Clinic fundraiser last year, bringing in the most money for this crowd-pleasing event. (Submitted photo)

Save the date: Volunteers and staff at the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge will present their annual “fun” fundraiser, the FMC Bash, on Saturday, August 8.

You can wear a neon T-shirt and jeans—dress is casual. An excellent dinner will be provided by Morrison Catering.

You can hear and dance to Second Opinion, the band of a few rockin’ doctors associated with Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

You can “vote” on the amazing and amusing Oak Ridge couples as they compete in the Celebrity Dance Contest.

And you can bid on hand-crafted items and services in the silent auction. At the live auction, Bear Stephenson, member of the FMCOR board, will auction dinners, a vacation cabin, and services such as interior decorating advice and computer repairs. [Read more…]

Lunch with League: Impact of Affordable Care Act on Free Medical Clinic

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Teresa Brittain

Teresa Brittain

Teresa Brittain, executive director of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, will discuss the continuing need for charitable healthcare facilities—even in the era of the Affordable Care Act—during a lunchtime meeting today (Tuesday, April 7).

Brittain will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic receives $10,000 grant for prediabetic program

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Free Medical Clinic

The American Medical Association Foundation has awarded a $10,000 “Healthy Communities/Healthy America” grant to the Free Medical Clinic in Oak Ridge. The grant will be used to support a two-year program that identifies and provides early intervention for prediabetic patients, a press release said.

By completing the lifestyle intervention program, participants should lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and improve their overall health, the release said. The prediabetes initiative will run in conjuction with the “Healthy Habits, Healthy Lives” wellness program that the clinic began this fall. The wellness program is supported by a three-year grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation. [Read more…]

Food, music at Taste of Oak Ridge to benefit Free Medical Clinic

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Taste of Oak Ridge

 

The format will be the same, but this year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held at the new Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike—instead of in Jackson Square. It was moved because organizers weren’t sure when construction work might start on a revitalization project at Jackson Square.

Taste of Oak Ridge features food from Oak Ridge restaurants and performances by local musicians.

The sixth annual festival, scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, will raise money to benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. The Free Medical Clinic provides free medical care to residents of Anderson, Roane, and Morgan counties who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay for care.

Area restaurants will showcase some of their finest food in small portions. The price range for the “tastes” from each vendor will be $1 to $4 per item. Tickets will be available for purchase at entrances to the event. Attendees can buy as many tickets as they want for $1 each. In addition, beer and wine will be available to buy.

This year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at its new address at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, north of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building. [Read more…]

Doctors’ rock band to perform for Free Medical Clinic’s Atomic Blast

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Second Opinion

Members of Second Opinion include, from left, Melissa Carter, vocals; John Jernigan, drums; Tim Comer, vocals; Todd Wright, lead guitar, and Daryl Harp, keyboards. (Submitted photo)

 

Second Opinion, a group of Methodist Medical Center physicians and friends who perform classic rock, will provide music for dancing Saturday, Aug. 16, during the Atomic Blast, the annual fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church, 327 Vermont Ave. It will include a catered dinner, Celebrity Dance Contest, and live auction conducted by the entertaining Bear Stephenson.

Second Opinion was formed about 20 years ago. The group, which has had several generations of physician band members, plays for charitable and other local events.

“We have performed for Doc Rock, which benefits Hospitality Houses for MMC outpatients and their caregivers,” said Dr. Ken Luckmann, a recently retired gastroenterology specialist in Oak Ridge and a volunteer at FMCOR. “Our band also performed at the Feast With The Beasts on the Knoxville Zoo main stage and on stage at the Tennessee Theater and Bijou Theater.” [Read more…]

Children’s Clinic to donate helmets at Velo Classic bike race, wellness fest

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Oak Ridge Velo Classic

Professional and top amateur males race in a previous Oak Ridge Velo Classic. (Photo submitted by Lou Rabinowitz)

The Children’s Clinic of Oak Ridge is donating more than 20 children’s bicycle helmets to be distributed at the seventh annual UCOR Oak Ridge Velo Classic Bicycle Racing Event and Wellness event this weekend.

The Wellness event is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at the Horizon Center. It will feature a “Kids Bike Rodeo” that will emphasize safe bicycle handling and skills games for children age nine and under, a press release said. Helmets donated by the Children’s Clinic will be distributed to children who need one at no charge.

In addition, Roane State Community College is giving away a limited number of T-shirts to Kids Rodeo participants, and all children who participate and stay to watch the Pro/1/2/3 criterium race beginning at 1:30 p.m. will be entered to win one of two $50 gift cards donated by R&R Properties.

The Kids Rodeo is a “drop in” event. Parents can bring children anytime between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.. A short “Kids Race” will take place on part of the criterium race course at Horizon Center immediately following the Kids Rodeo. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera to take pictures of children posing on the podium with Velo Classic competitors including 2014 Tennessee State Road Race Champions and 1996 Olympic Bicyclist Kent Bostic. [Read more…]

Coffeehouse features local talent, new guitar class to benefit Free Medical Clinic

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Nicolas Cagle

Nicolas Cagle

Submitted

Guitars are being restrung, duos are reuniting, and vocal chords are being stretched yet again for the first coffeehouse of the summer.

Coffeehouse veteran Nicolas Cagle is especially excited to be performing for this fundraising series, now in its third summer. A recent graduate from Clinton High School, Nic wins over audiences with his big personality and vocal style. His vocal sound is unique in that he has a crooning quality that some say is reminiscent of ’50s great Buddy Holly.

Nic will be attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville in the fall, and plans on devoting much of his summer to not only performing at the coffeehouses, but teaching a new generation of performers as well at First Presbyterian Church.

An accomplished songwriter and guitarist, Nic will be leading a free guitar class for the next three weeks from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for young performers. Just as the swing dancing initiative last summer was created to give high school and college students another creative outlet and place to gather, the guitar workshop hopes to do the same. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic receives donation

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Free Medical Clinic Donation

At left, Tanya H. Vargas, co-medical director of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, receives a donation from Oak Ridge Panhellenic Alumnae Treasurer Emily Flatau. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge PanHellenic Alumnae Association presented a donation of $1,500 to Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge Co-Medical Director Tanya Vargas at a recent meeting. The donation is earmarked to purchase two pieces of much-needed equipment: an ophthalmoscope and an otoscope, a press release said.

The Free Medical Clinic serves residents of Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties who are uninsured and can’t afford to pay for medical care. The clinic is located at 116 Division Road in Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge PanHellenic Alumnae Association is an organization made up of a cross-section of community-spirited women who meet monthly to exchange ideas, learn from programs presented, conduct their business meetings, and have fun, the press release said. [Read more…]

Honors: Free Medical Clinic founder honored at surprise reception

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Free Medical Clinic Founder Honored

John Auxier, left, is welcomed by FMCOR Co-Medical Director Dr. Jim Michel at a surprise reception held in his honor. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

While the waiting room often gets crowed at the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge (FMCOR), it was packed to capacity on a recent Sunday afternoon. People huddled together not to see a doctor, but to surprise the person whose efforts led to the clinic’s opening nearly four and a half years ago.

John and Mary Lou Auxier arrived at the clinic with John’s sister for a pre-arranged tour by Executive Director Teresa Brittain. Instead, John was surprised by more than 60 friends, colleagues, and clinic volunteers who gathered for a reception to honor him for turning his dream into a reality, a free clinic that provides basic medical care to the uninsured or to those who can’t afford to pay for medical care. Since opening, more than 3,500 residents of people who reside in Anderson, Roane, or Morgan counties have received care in more than 15,000 visits. [Read more…]

Free flu shots, warm coats available at Jan. 31 Stone Soup meal

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ORUUC Stone Soup Community Meal and Flu Shots

Free flu shots will be available at the Jan. 31 Stone Soup community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. (Submitted photo)

Free flu shots and warm coats will be available at the Jan. 31 Stone Soup community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Everyone is invited to the free community meal, scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said. The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Stone Soup team will prepare and serve homemade white chicken chili, corn bread, and a cookie and milk.

The Stone Soup Ministry team has partnered with the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, or FMCOR, to provide free flu shots to anyone in need. Nurses who are volunteers at FMCOR will be on hand to give the shots, the press release said. The vaccine is being provided by the clinic. [Read more…]