Oak Ridge Today

‘Everything Chocolate’ evening on April 29 supports Agape House of Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A chocolate fountain coats fruit and marshmallows in sweet chocolate.

A chocolate fountain coats fruit and marshmallows in sweet chocolate.

 

Sample chocolate desserts, savor the flavors, and support Agape House of Oak Ridge at its third annual “An Evening of Everything Chocolate” on Saturday, April 29.

The event will feature tables filled with chocolate culinary temptations from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, a press release said. Guests will indulge in fudge, chocolate-covered potato chips and popcorn, truffles, chocolate-dipped fruit, brownies, and other special treats, including fresh baked-on-site chocolate chip cookies. Coffee, sipping chocolate, and water will also be served.

All proceeds will go to the direct support of Agape House, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless, the press release said. Since opening in 2014, Agape House has helped 36 homeless families or individuals with short-term, temporary housing, and other support services as they work with agencies to gain self-sufficiency.

“Because of support from the community, 36 families have had their lives positively changed and are now on a path to self-sufficiency, with positive future stories to tell,” said Michael McCutcheon, director of Agape House of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Roane State Education Department to host open houses

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Roane State Community College Education Department will host open houses for anyone interested in becoming a K-12 teacher.

An open house at the college’s Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue will be held on Thursday, April 20, at 6 p.m. The event will be held in Room 336 in the Goff Health Sciences and Technology Building.

An open house at the college’s Roane County campus, 276 Patton Lane in Harriman, will be held on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. Visitors will meet in Room 224 in the O’Brien Humanities Building. [Read more…]

Center for Leadership & Community Development starts ‘Encounter Oak Ridge’ program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development, an organization affiliated with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, has announced a new program, Encounter Oak Ridge.

Encounter Oak Ridge is a new four-session program designed to introduce Oak Ridge to new residents, new employees, and everyone interested in learning more about the community where they live or work. Participants will be introduced to the unique aspects of Oak Ridge. Sessions will take place on four consecutive Mondays, beginning on April 24 and concluding on May 15. Encounter Oak Ridge is sponsored by NSPS.

“Participants in this new program will benefit from learning about our community and from the new business and personal contacts they will make through Encounter Oak Ridge,” said Bonnie Hebert of Oak Ridge National Laboratory/UT-Battelle and chair of the Encounter Oak Ridge program.

“Encounter Oak Ridge is our organization’s latest offering to inform and empower Oak Ridge’s workforce and residents to be engaged in the community where they live and/or work,” said John Garrity of NSPS LLC and chairman of the Center for Leadership and Community Development.

Each session will focus on different aspects of the Oak Ridge community, the press release said: [Read more…]

Five ways to foster resilience in young children

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

By Marjorie Alcorn: Home Visitor Healthy Families Tennessee/Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee East Region

Resilience is defined as the ability to thrive, adapt and cope despite tough and stressful times. It’s a natural counterweight to negative events children experience commonly called adverse childhood experiences. The more a child learns to be resilient, the more likely they are to deal with negative experiences in a healthy way that won’t have unfavorable outcomes over their lifetime.

We aren’t born resilient. It’s actually a skill that can be taught, learned, and practiced. Every child has the ability to become resilient if surrounded by the right environments and people. As a parent or caregiver of young children, here are a few ways you can foster resilience in the little ones you love so much. [Read more…]

Project Linus Blanket Day is April 22; organizers donating blankets to children

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chapter Logo-Tag

Project Linus Blanket Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. Organizers said they’re nearing their goal of donating 30,000 blankets to children in traumatic situations.

A Blanket Day is a gathering of friends, family, volunteers, and others to knit, crochet, quilt, or sew blankets, a press release said.

“Can’t sew? Don’t worry we have plenty for you to do—you can help sew labels, check blankets or even learn to ‘tie’ a quilt,” the press release said. “Feel free to bring your crocheting or knitting to work on—there will be a nice lounge area for this. Or, just stop by to learn more about Project Linus of East TN and how we are nearing our goal of donating 30,000 blankets to children in traumatic situations.”

Registration is not required, but organizers would like you to RSVP so they can plan. There is no cost for the Blanket Day. Snacks and drinks will be available throughout the day. [Read more…]

Holocaust Remembrance program on April 23

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mira Kimmelman

Mira Kimmelman

The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed April 23 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2017.

The Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, or JCOR, and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, or ORUUC, have partnered together to study the Holocaust and to conduct a Holocaust Memorial Service. The service will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the JCOR Sanctuary at 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge on April 23. There will be a candle lighting ceremony conducted by Mira Kimmelman, as well as song, readings, and prayers.

The Holocaust Memorial Service is a community service sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, a press release said. The Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership is a new community organization based out of ORUUC, and it is designed to bring people from different religious backgrounds together so that the group can educate, eliminate prejudice, and build a stronger community, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Farmers Market opens Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Farmers Market

The Oak Ridge Farmers Market opens for the season in Jackson Square at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 15. It will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and from 3 p.m. to sellout on Wednesdays starting June 7. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Farmers Market opens for the season in Jackson Square on Saturday, April 15.

The Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. It will be open from 3 p.m. to sellout on Wednesday starting June 7.

The farmers markets are operated by the East Tennessee Farmers Association for Retail Marketing, or FARM. FARM celebrated its 40th anniversary last fall.

According to FARM history, two law students from the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University organized Food Fairs in 1976 that would bring farmers together to eventually create the Farmers Association for Retail Marketing.

“The primary objectives of the project were to increase income for family farmers in Tennessee by providing new markets and to get fresh, homegrown produce to urban consumers at fair prices,” the FARM history said. [Read more…]

SIRA Regatta in Oak Ridge this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

SIRA-Regatta-April-17-2016-Slider-1

The 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta is pictured in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association, or SIRA, Regatta is in Oak Ridge this weekend. The regatta started Friday, April 14, and it will end Saturday, April 15.

It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. It’s the 49th annual SIRA Regatta in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“Few partnerships have stood the test of time like that of SIRA and Oak Ridge,” said the press release, which was from Explore Oak Ridge.

This year, the regatta will feature 59 teams from 12 states.

“This is the largest regatta in SIRA history for an Easter weekend,” said Sarah McAuliffe, Oak Ridge Rowing Association regatta director.  “We are looking forward to a great weekend of rowing.”

The race distance is 2,000 meters, or about 1.25 miles. You can view the start line from Calhoun’s restaurant on Melton Lake Drive. Teams cross the finish line downstream at the UT-Battelle Rowing Tower. Coaches and spectators can now view races from start to finish with no obstructions because of the recent completion of the eighth lane, the press release said. [Read more…]

Today: Dine & Donate helps ADFAC

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Gondolier in Clinton has an extensive menu including Italian pasta favorites, pizza, salads, sandwiches, and much more. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert, though. Gondolier also offers delicious cakes and pastries! (Submitted photo)

Gondolier in Clinton has an extensive menu including Italian pasta favorites, pizza, salads, sandwiches, and much more. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert, though. Gondolier also offers delicious cakes and pastries! (Submitted photo)

 

Eleven local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales today to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“Dine & Donate Mondays are always an easy way to treat loved ones (or yourself!) to a special meal that also gives back to the community,” a press release said.

Here are the restaurants participating today (Monday, April 10). [Read more…]

TSBDC hosts free export seminar

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College is hosting a free workshop for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to learn more about succeeding in the global marketplace.

The free workshop covers export financing options (Ex-Im Bank), logistics and freight forwarding, compliance, legal issues, and information about export assistance available, a press release said.

If you are just exploring exporting, or have done international business in the past, this workshop is for you, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge receives $2 million wastewater loan

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge has received a $2 million state wastewater loan, officials said Friday.

The loan is for the city’s Infiltration and Inflow Correction project. It will be used to rehabilitate approximately 30,000 linear feet of sewer line, a state press release said. The project will be funded with a 20-year, $1,860,000 loan with an interest rate of 1.89 percent and $140,000 in principal forgiveness that will not have to be repaid, Tennessee officials said.

The loan was announced Friday by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. They said that three communities have been approved to receive more than $9.3 million in low-interest loans for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

“The State Revolving Fund Loan Program helps citizens enjoy a better quality of life by assisting communities with current and future infrastructure needs for improved environmental health,” Haslam said.

Tennessee’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $1.7 billion in low-interest loans since its inception in 1987, the press release said. Tennessee’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program has awarded more than $296.2 million in low-interest loans since its inception in 1996. [Read more…]

Georgia judge to speak at Roane State forum on April 12

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Michael C. Clark

Michael C. Clark

Judge Michael C. Clark of Gwinnett County, Georgia, will discuss his career as a family court judge in the Atlanta area for the spring 2017 Roane State Social and Behavioral Science Forum.

The forum will be at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. It’s scheduled from 12:30-2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, in the City Room (A111).

Clark, born and raised in Macon, Georgia, served for more than 21 years as Superior Court Judge in Gwinnett County. He became a member of the bar in 1980, worked briefly as a law clerk for a Superior Court Judge in Floyd County (Rome), as an assistant district attorney in Gwinnett County, and as a private lawyer before being elected to the bench in 1992. He was re-elected five times.

Before being elected to the bench, Clark had a reputation as an excellent trial and appellate lawyer, a press release said. In March 2014, he stepped down to return to the private practice of law. As a trial judge, he presided over approximately 150 jury trials and handled about 30,000 cases. [Read more…]