Oak Ridge Today

Roane State to host Virtual FAFSA Workshop on March 24

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Roane State Community College’s Financial Aid team is inviting current and potential students to a Virtual FAFSA Completion Workshop on March 24.

During the sessions, students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a financial aid expert to get their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filed accurately and timely, a press release said.

Meetings last approximately one hour, with students able to choose a time slot that works best for their schedule. Session start times are available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., but they are expected to fill quickly, the press release said. Students must register at least 24 hours before the appointment time in order to reserve a spot.

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Today: International Festival at Children’s Museum

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The Tennessee Irish Dancers, here at an earlier International Festival with the Children’s Museum mascot Charlie the Curious Bear, will entertain again with traditional Irish dance.

Crafts, cuisines, and entertainment from world cultures will be presented at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge International Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, February 25.

The family-friendly International Festival will have musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. Children may “make and take” crafts, and several booths will offer activities and crafts for children.

Raya Quttaineh and María Guzmán of WBIR-TV will serve as festival emcees. Quttaineh, originally from Jordan, is a morning anchor and reporter. Guzmán, originally from Nicaragua, is a bilingual journalist reporting in English and in Spanish for the Spanish newscast Noticias WBIR. Both came to the United States as children with their families.

Entertainers will include Katrien Sevrin of Belladance, who performs and teaches Middle Eastern dance; the Tennessee Irish Dancers, students taught by professional and champion Irish dancer Katie Carver; a Shamisen performance on a Japanese banjo-style instrument; and a traditional Japanese story, Kamishibai. [Read more…]

Saturday: Rock to Bach Music Festival & Fundraiser

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Four Leaf Peat (Image courtesy ORCMA)

The all-day Rock to Bach Music Festival and Fundraiser will feature performing groups on two stages in Oak Ridge today, Saturday, February 18.

Besides music, there will be a silent auction, celebration dinner, and special after-dinner entertainment with Four Leaf Peat, a traditional Irish music group in East Tennessee. The event has been organized by Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

You can come and go as you please during the music and hear these performers and more:

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Reminder: Free dental, vision, medical services this weekend

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A dental exam at a RAM clinic. (Photo courtesy Remote Area Medical (RAM))

Remote Area Medical (RAM)—a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision, and medical care to those in need—is having a free, two-day clinic in Oak Ridge this weekend.

The clinic is Saturday, February 18, and Sunday, February 19, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The clinic is in collaboration with the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

All RAM services are free, and no identification is required, a press release said. Free dental, vision, and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The patient parking lot was scheduled to be open no later than 11:59 p.m. (midnight) on Friday night, February 17, and remain open for the duration of the clinic, the press release said. Once in the parking lot, additional information regarding clinic-opening processes and next steps will be provided. Clinic doors open at 6 a.m.

Due to time constraints, patients should be prepared to choose between dental and vision services, the press release said.

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AMVETS to kick off 75th celebration with Janelle Arthur concert

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Janelle Arthur

AMVETS of Oak Ridge will celebrate its 75th anniversary in March, and the ceremonies will include a concert by American Idol Top 5 finalist Janelle Arthur of Oliver Springs.

The concert is Friday evening, March 10. The 75th Anniversary and Veterans Appreciation Celebration is Saturday, March 11, at 190 Adams Lane in Oak Ridge.

“To say thank you, veterans and active-duty service members will receive a free gift bag and can register to win other items including an American flag, local gift cards, and Post 2 merchandise during their 75th Anniversary and Veterans Appreciation Celebration,” a press release said.

AMVETS is an organization of veterans serving veterans, the press release said.

“Only a few organizations in Oak Ridge have stood the test of time to remain active for 75 years, which makes the celebration of the AMVETS 75th Anniversary a very special occasion,” the press release said.

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Olivia Blackmon joins ORAU

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Oak Ridge, Tenn. — Olivia Blackmon, Ph.D., has joined ORAU’s Research and University Partnerships Office as a senior research advisor.

Blackmon boasts an impressive background with more than 20 years of professional experience in partnership and business operations. Before coming to ORAU, she directed a $30 million United States Agency of International Development (USAID) program for DAI, Inc., to enable the digital transformation of the Western Balkans, Black Sea Region, and South Caucasus. Through her work with organizations such as MITRE, George Mason University, George Washington University, DevTech and Thurgood Marshall College Fund, she built and managed more than $130 million in programs with multiple federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, USAID, Health and Human Services, Department of Health Services and National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Olivia has joined our team,” said Ken Tobin, Chief Research and University Partnerships Officer. “Her educational and professional background is exemplary, and her experience will be a major asset to the RUPO team and ORAU.”

Blackmon speaks five languages and earned a doctoral degree from George Mason University in Sociology with a concentration in Education Policy, Applied Statistics and Mixed Methods in 2015. She has served as both a Fulbright Scholar and a Fellow at Harvard University in Education. In her new position at ORAU, she will establish, execute, and lead a strategic partnerships business plan, and will lead a new center focused on promoting and strengthening regional ecosystems for next generation talent.

ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.

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Two songwriters advance in state contest

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Image courtesy Explore Oak Ridge

Two songwriters from Oliver Springs and Nashville will advance in a state competition after qualifying in Oak Ridge on Wednesday.

The two songwriters who advanced were Rachel McIntyre-Smith of Oliver Springs and Sam Hatmaker of Nashville. They were selected from a field of 20 contestants in a qualifying round at Oakey’s Bar and Grill in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, February 8.

“Each competitor was judged based on their overall performance, originality, and connection to the audience,” Explore Oak Ridge said in a press release.

The songwriters played their original compositions before a panel of expert judges and an audience of supporters. The judges’ panel featured a mix of musicians and songwriters from the area representing various musical genres and expertise, including former “American Idol” finalist Janelle Arthur.

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Presentation: Laws & children of different sexual identities

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On Tuesday, February 7, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will host John Jaruzel and Anne Backus, co-chairs of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Oak Ridge, and Nathan Higdon, CFO of Knox Pride, to discuss laws and children of different sexual identities.

This hybrid Lunch with the League event (available in person and virtually via Zoom), will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday at the Unitarian Universalist Church Social Hall in Oak Ridge. A lunch from The Soup Kitchen will be available for purchase or bring your own lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. If you cannot attend in person, you can use the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85481905266.

Since moving to Oak Ridge seven years ago, John Jaruzel has continued his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in East Tennessee, a press release said. As treasurer of the AIDS Housing Project in South Knoxville, he helps provide low-cost housing for people dealing with HIV/AIDS. He co-chairs PFLAG Oak Ridge, is on the Grants and Allocation committee of the East Tennessee Ryan White Planning Council, and volunteers with the Bearden Central Baptist Church outreach group Samaritan Ministries doing HIV prevention outreach.

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CNC Bootcamp returns to Oak Ridge High School this spring

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Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors over fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest-ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place. (Photo courtesy RSCC)

A popular bootcamp is returning to Oak Ridge High School this spring thanks to a recent partnership between Roane State Community College and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).

Roane State announced its workforce training partnership with IACMI last year, making the college just the third location in the State of Tennessee to offer specialized no-cost machine tool training opportunities through America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), a press release said.

ACE is a joint Department of Defense and Department of Energy effort launched in 2020 to re-establish American leadership in the machine tool industry through transformative thinking, technology innovation, and workforce development, the press release said.

Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors during fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest-ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place.

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Roane State Dental Clinic offering free cleanings for kids

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Submitted image

Free dental cleanings for children ages 4 to 12 are being offered through the end of March at the Roane State Dental Hygiene Clinic.

The clinic is located on the first floor of the Coffey/McNally Building on Roane State’s Oak Ridge Branch Campus, located at 701 Briarcliff Avenue.

The free procedures include teeth cleaning, all necessary dental X-rays, and a fluoride treatment, a press release said. The clinic is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, and on Fridays from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. during the spring semester.

The free cleanings for children are only offered during the months of February and March 2023. Availability is limited due to demand, so parents and caregivers are encouraged to book quickly, the press release said.

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UCOR announces management change

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Tom Dieter

United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC, the lead cleanup contractor at federal sites in Oak Ridge, has announced a top management change that will be effective April 1.

UCOR Chief Operating Officer Tom Dieter has announced he will retire March 31, and Kent Fortenberry has been appointed to take his place.

In a press release, UCOR said Dieter has had a 30-year career, and during that time, he has earned a national reputation, leading more than $3 billion in cleanup successes in complex nuclear enterprises in several states.

“Tom led UCOR’s transition for our 10-year, $8.3 billion Oak Ridge Reservation cleanup contract, and we’re grateful for his leadership in the company maintaining a strong safety performance in our first year,” said UCOR President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Rueter.

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Y-12 honored with DOE sustainability partnership award

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Pictured above are Y-12 refrigerant cylinders to be sent for reclamation. (Photo by CNS Y-12)

The Y-12 National Security Complex recently received a U.S. Department of Energy Sustainability Award for Strategic Partnerships for Sustainability.

The Y-12 team was recognized for its efforts to improve efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency of the site through partnerships with other DOE contractors and private companies, a press release said.

Through its sustainability program, Y-12 said it is reducing greenhouse gases, minimizing waste, and improving waste treatment on a large scale.

The partnership efforts for which the team was recognized include Energy Savings Performance Contract implementation, including helping to reuse refrigerant, using additive manufacturing for unique part production, and implementing wastewater treatment process improvements.

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