Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge has Children’s Halloween Party on Oct. 26

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A hay ride at the Children's Halloween Party in Oak Ridge in 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A hay ride at the Children’s Halloween Party in Oak Ridge in 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2017 Children’s Halloween Party on Thursday, October 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

This annual event is now in its 35th year and will be attended by hundreds of local children and their parents, a press release said. Activities will be planned for every room in the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and a hay ride will be offered in A.K. Bissell Park, weather permitting.

Businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor a game booth for the party. Sponsors will supply two to four volunteers to operate the game throughout the evening. The Recreation and Parks Department will provide the games and prizes unless sponsors wish to provide their own, the press release said. Games should be appropriate for children age 10 and under. Applications can be emailed or picked up at the Civic Center front desk. [Read more…]

Senior Board to meet with design firm to discuss new Senior Center on Monday

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This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board will meet with a design firm to discuss the new Senior Center on Monday.

The special meeting, a work session, is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, October 16, in the B room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center. During that work session, the Board will be meeting with Studio 4 Design to discuss the new senior center project.

“Board members and other interested citizens are invited to attend,” a notice said.

If you have any questions, contact Recreation Manager Linda McGhee at lmcghee@oakridgetn.gov or (865) 425-3999.

Oak Ridge Police Department will host National Night Out on Tuesday

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Oak Ridge Police Department K9 Officer Ray Steakley is pictured above at a K9 demonstration at the 2016 National Night Out at Alvin K. Bissell Park. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge Police Department K9 Officer Ray Steakley is pictured above at a K9 demonstration at the 2016 National Night Out at Alvin K. Bissell Park. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department is teaming up with the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program to host a National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, October 3.

The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Alvin K. Bissell Park behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center. National Night Out is a free community gathering that heightens awareness of local efforts to prevent crime, violence, and drug use while generating support for and participation in anti-crime programs, a press release said. [Read more…]

Memory Magic scrapbook event in Oak Ridge in September

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A previous Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A previous Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is sponsoring the 12th Annual Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Friday, September 22, and Saturday, September 23.

The event will include vendors and a large crop area, but there is limited seating, a press release said. Online registration is under way and will continue through Wednesday, September 20. Walk-in registration is also available during business hours at the Civic Center front desk.

The crop area will open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. each day. Participants will receive a crop space, an event tote, light snacks during the evening hours, and tickets for prize drawings, the press release said. The cost to crop is $30 for one day or $50 for both days. [Read more…]

U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America to play free concert on Friday

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U.S. Air Force Airlifter Brass

The U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America’s Airlifter Brass will play in a free concert at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Amphitheater on Friday, June 30. The performance will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Details on individual concerts can be found at www.bandofmidamerica.af.mil/events or www.facebook.com/BandofMidAmerica/events, a press release said.

“Grab your chairs and bring the family for a great night of music,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival includes free concerts, art show, other activities this weekend

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Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A.K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

 

The Secret City Festival features free concerts and other activities at Alvin K. Bissell Park this weekend. Organizers have posted an entertainment schedule for both days, which is printed below.

Organizers said parking is available at the west end of the park (enter via Badger Road), Oak Ridge High School, First Methodist Church, and various paid lots around town. Accessible parking is available at the Oak Ridge Public Library.

The TN Creates Juried Art Show begins at 10 a.m. daily in the Shep Lauter Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and all other festival activities begin at 2 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday, organizers said. Admission is free.

There are free water stations throughout the park and water and other drinks are available for purchase via vendors, organizers said. There are food vendors at the festival, and “we have plenty of cold beer and moonshine cocktails ready to go,” organizers said.

Other activities include a petting zoo, wildlife encounter, Home Depot area, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Traveling Science Fair, according to an event map, which is included below.

Here’s the entertainment schedule for Friday and Saturday: [Read more…]

Reminder: Graduation Celebration is tonight

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A photo of the annual balloon drop of prizes at Graduation Celebration in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

A photo of the annual balloon drop of prizes at Graduation Celebration in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Reminder: The 21st annual Graduation Celebration is at the Oak Ridge Civic Center tonight (Thursday, June 1).

Graduation Celebration starts at 10 p.m. June 1. It’s an all-night safe party for high school graduates in Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge High School seniors can register for the free party, where they can win cash and prizes while making memories with their classmates in a safe environment, a press release said.

For more information, visit www.graduationcelebration.org or contact Matt Reedy at (865) 425-3442 or via email at mreedy@oakridgetn.gov.

Secret City Festival: Seven days of celebration

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Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

 

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge.

The new Secret City Festival, brought to you by Celebrate Oak Ridge, will be bookended by two special weekends. The first weekend will celebrate Oak Ridge and World War II history. A free family movie will be shown on Tuesday, June 6; the arts will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 7; and music and art are the focus of the second weekend, June 9-10.

Celebrate Oak Ridge June 2017 Schedule Web

On Friday, June 2, tours of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with shuttles running to and from the American Museum of Science and Energy and New Hope Center. U.S. citizenship and pre-registration are required for tours. Graphite Reactor tours at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will also be held then on a first-come, first-served basis, with departure on buses from AMSE.

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch will officially open the festival, and the crew of the U.S.S. Oak Ridge will present and ring the U.S.S. Oak Ridge bell at 8:30 p.m. At 9 p.m., the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” will be shown free of charge.

Overnight, approximately 200 re-enactors will be setting up an overnight encampment with World War II-era tents in Bissell Park. [Read more…]

Graduation Celebration for ORHS seniors is June 1

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Students always enjoy the “photo booth” at Graduation Celebration. This was taken at the June 2016 party. (Submitted photo)

Students always enjoy the “photo booth” at Graduation Celebration. This was taken at the June 2016 party. (Submitted photo)

 

The 21st annual Graduation Celebration event will be held at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Thursday, June 1. Oak Ridge High School seniors are invited to register for the free party, where they can win cash and prizes while making memories with their classmates in a safe environment, a press release said.

The event requires nearly 200 volunteers and dozens of spots are still open. Volunteer jobs are available in security, inflatables, thank you notes, casino, food, prizes, and more. Please visit www.graduationcelebration.org to register as a volunteer. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge will host American Cornhole state championships in June

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The American Cornhole Organization will have the 2017 Tennessee State Championships of Cornhole at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on June 16 and 17, 2017. (Submitted photo)

The American Cornhole Organization will have the 2017 Tennessee State Championships of Cornhole at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on June 16 and 17, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge will host the state cornhole championships in June.

The American Cornhole Organization will have the 2017 Tennessee State Championships of Cornhole at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on June 16 and 17, a press release said.

The ACO is the worldwide governing body and professional organization for the cornhole sport, the release said.

The state championships in June were announced by Explore Oak Ridge on Friday.

Members of the public can test their skill by participating in the public open tournament, Big Blind Luck Draw, starting at 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, the press release said. Registration for the tournament is from 4-7:30 p.m. The entry fee is $10. The prize purse is $200 for first, $80 for second, and $20 for third, the release said.

“The American Cornhole Organization is one of the fastest-growing sports organizations in the country, garnering a lot of national attention,” said Steve Winfree, Explore Oak Ridge sales manager. [Read more…]

Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday

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McNally-Ragan-Calfee-at-Breakfast-with-Legislators-April-25-2016

The monthly Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday. It’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2017, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Pictured above from left during a Breakfast with the Legislators on Monday, April 25, 2016, are Sen. Randy McNally, Rep. John Ragan, and Rep. Kent Calfee. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The monthly Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday. It’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 24, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Breakfast with the Legislators is organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. A light continental breakfast is provided at no charge, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Tennessee senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to bring everyone up to date on what’s happening in the state legislature, the Tennessee General Assembly, the press release said. [Read more…]

Senior Advisory Board recommends Senior Center west of Civic Center

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This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:20 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board has recommended that the new senior center be built on the west side of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The board unanimously recommended the site on a voice vote during a special meeting on Monday morning.

The site was one of two options presented to the board during Monday’s meeting. The board had been presented four options earlier, but one of those had been ruled out and two others had been combined.

The proposed site west of the Civic Center could have a building of about 15,000 square feet. It could include a kitchen and administrative space; game and exercise rooms; a large multi-purpose room for activities such as dancing, bingo, and card games; and billiard/pool and media rooms. Dancing is the most preferred activity, according to surveys, said Pat Gengozian, chair of the Senior Advisory Board, or SAB.

The site could be considered by the Oak Ridge City Council in May. The site is just west of the indoor pool and south of the parking lot on the west side of the Civic Center. [Read more…]