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ORHS Masquers presents ‘Little Mermaid’ this weekend

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The ‘Good Guys’ in ‘The Little Mermaid’ presented by Oak Ridge High School Masquers this weekend (March 6-8, 2020) are Emily Salko as ‘Flounder,’ Marian Vacaliuc as ‘Ariel,’ Mazzie Zawisza as ‘Sebastian,’ and Jack Lloyd as ‘Scuttle.’ (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” the musical based on the classic animated film, in four performances this weekend.

The performances are Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center. Advanced tickets are $8, and they are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $9 for students and $10 for adults.

Under the direction of Dana Wham—who has directed, choreographed, or acted in numerous adult and children productions throughout the region— this year’s “The Little Mermaid” continues the ORHS Masquers tradition of bringing excellent performances, impressive sets, amazing orchestration, and technical panache to the stage, a press release said.

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Shiitake Mushroom Inoculation Station at Winter Farmers’ Market on Saturday

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New shiitake mushrooms sprout on an oak log in the back yard of Jason Schmidt, a local gardener. Schmidt will be leading a “Mushroom Inoculation Station” on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Winter Farmers’ Market, in which participants will be making their own mushroom logs to take home. Spaces are sold out, but visitors to the market are encouraged to stop and watch the event. It will be held at the main entrance of the market, which is in the gym at St. Mary’s School at 323 Vermont Ave. in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Winter Farmers’ Market will be conducting a “Mushroom Inoculation Station,” on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. While spaces in the station are sold out, shoppers are encouraged to stop and watch the activity at the entrance to the farmers’ market in the gym of St. Mary’s School at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Shiitake mushrooms grow on oak trees, so it’s no surprise that Oak Ridge is an excellent place for growing these and other types of mushrooms,” said Jason Schmidt, coordinator of the project. “We will be drilling holes in four-foot oak logs early in the morning, injecting them with shiitake spawn, and then sealing the holes with locally sourced bees wax. In about six months, the spawn should fruit and produce a harvest of shiitake mushrooms that will continue in a cycle for several years.”

The workshop is sponsored by Davenport Tree Service, which provided a freshly cut oak tree for the event.

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Roane State, SL Tennessee starting apprenticeship program

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Tyra Copas, state apprenticeship director, workforce services, talks to local employers and educators about Tennessee’s initiative to boost apprenticeship programs during a question-and-answer session at Roane State Community College’s Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility. (Submitted photo)

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Roane State Community College is joining the state’s growing movement to better train new workers by sponsoring apprenticeship programs with area businesses and industries. The college is currently working with one of Anderson County’s biggest employers.

“We will be working with SL Tennessee and our Middle College students in mechatronics to develop programs of study and identify specific apprenticeship tasks,” said Kim Harris, the college’s director of workforce training and placement.

“We look forward to working closely with Roane State in starting the apprenticeship program,” said SL Tennessee Director Scott Laska. “We believe that this program will help solve our skills gap in our operation and provide meaningful career opportunities for the community.”

SL Tennessee, located in the Clinton Interstate 75 Industrial Park, manufactures automotive parts and is near Roane State’s Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility. The college’s classes in mechatronics—the engineering of electrical and mechanical systems—are offered there.

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Emory Valley Dental Clinic to host tooth extraction clinic on Friday

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The Anderson County Emory Valley Volunteer Dental Clinic in Oak Ridge will conduct a special tooth extraction clinic for adults only (age 19 and older) on Friday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Extractions are $20 (cash only) per tooth, a press release said. To qualify for the extraction clinic, you must be an Anderson County resident who does not have dental insurance.

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‘A Change is Gonna Come’: Musical journeys through American race relations

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Come for an afternoon of music and a great way to end February, Black History, and Interfaith Harmony Month in Oak Ridge!

Multiple community organizations join to make this free concert available. The greater Oak Ridge community welcomes Eric Dozier to the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday February 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and a Q&A with the artist will follow. The program is free to the public, and donations will be accepted.

From the small rural town of Bakewell, Tennessee, where he was born, Dozier has brought his love of music to the world. He has traveled throughout the United States and Canada, and toured internationally since the age of 12. It was a critical encounter in the Czech Republic, a far cry from Bakewell, that prompted him to pursue his calling. This led him to recognize the true power of music to heal hearts. Of himself he says: “I am a cultural activist, anti-racism educator, and itinerant blues preacher leveraging the power of music to promote healing, justice, and racial reconciliation.”

Eric Dozier is a music educator, cultural activist, and recording artist who uses music to engage communities in dialogue about racism. Encouraging people in finding and lending their voice to the ever-emerging story of humanity lies at the heart of his work. He is committed to “Uniting the World One Song at a Time.” A graduate of Duke University and Duke Divinity School, Dozier is currently pursuing a doctorate researching the effects of Black Gospel Music on communities outside of the Black Church.

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AC corporal named national anti-drug instructor of year

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Pictured above are Anderson County Sheriff Russell Barker, left, and Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Kim Lay, who was named the National L.E.A.D (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) Instructor of the Year on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, at the National L.E.A.D Conference in New Jersey. (Photo courtesy ACSO)

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Kim Lay was named the National L.E.A.D (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) Instructor of the Year on Tuesday at the National L.E.A.D Conference in New Jersey, a press release said.

In addition to her national award, Lay was named Instructor of the Year for the state of Tennessee. She received notice of the state award prior to attending the conference, but she was surprised when the L.E.A.D president called her name for the prestigious national award, the press relief said.

“Words cannot express how honored I am to receive these awards,” Lay said. “The L.E.A.D program has changed many lives, and I am grateful to play a small part in the process.”

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City manager Watson to discuss ‘state of city’ on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will present his annual “State of the City” during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Watson has served as Oak Ridge city manager since August 2010. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration and city management from the University of Kansas. In 2019, he received his doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

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Applications open March 1 for Community Action Grants from Breakfast Rotary Club

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The application process opens March 1 for the 2020 Community Action Grants from the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.

The Community Action grants are open to nonprofit groups to help with special projects or initiatives of their organizations, a press release said.

In 2019, the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club awarded a combined total of $20,000 in Community Action Grants to 13 recipient organizations, the press release said. [Read more…]

Winter Farmers’ Market moves to different room this Saturday only

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The Winter Farmers’ Market. (Photo courtesy Grow Oak Ridge)

The Winter Farmers’ Market will be in the Social Hall, rather than the gym, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Saturday, February 22, a press release said. The Social Hall is in the basement of the church chapel.

The market is open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through March 28. It has free entry and free parking.

“We have the same great farmers and bakers, just a different room this week,” said market director Rebecca Williams. The move to the different room is only for this week.

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Experience world cultures at Children’s Museum International Festival

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Folk dancers representing many cultures around the world will be among entertainers at the International Festival on Saturday, February 29, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from many countries, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home. The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Februar 29 at the Children’s Museum at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

Entertainers include the Oak Ridge International Folk Dancers; Spice of India Dancers; Kinetics Wellness Studio, with instructor Katrien Sevrin and students presenting contemporary Egyptian dance; Pasión Flamenca, performing flamenco and Spanish folk dances; the Meriaki Greek Dancers from St. George Greek Orthodox Church; the Tennessee Irish Dancers; Debka and the Oasis Dancers; National Martial Arts, demonstrating martial arts with audience participation; and the Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, along with the University of Tennessee Japanese Program. [Read more…]

Anderson County Democrats host chili cookoff, auction on Thursday

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The Anderson County Democratic Party will host its annual chili cookoff and live auction from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 20, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Gym at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Clinton Auctioneer Bear Stephenson, of Stephenson Auction and Realty, will conduct the live auction, a fundraiser for the Democratic Party. Homemade desserts and other items will be offered during the auction.

Chili chefs will bring meat and vegetarian chili to the gathering. Attendees will vote on their favorite chili prepared by local Democrats. Chili fixings, cornbread, desserts, iced tea, and other beverages will be served. The admission charge is $5 per person.

For more information, contact Ellen Faby at [email protected].

This press release was submitted by an advertiser or subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.

Secret City Weather releases ‘East Tennessee Almanac’

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Secret City Weather has released its “2020 East Tennessee Almanac” available through a free download on Monday, February 17, at SecretCityWeather.com/AlmanacDownload. The 2020 East Tennessee Almanac will feature climatic trends including monthly temperatures, precipitation, snow accumulations, hours of daylight, sunrise and sunset, growing seasons, and more for businesses and residents throughout the eastern counties of the state, a press release said.

“We’re proud to make this free resource available to East Tennessee business owners and agriculture who rely heavily on weather patterns for their daily operations,” said Brandon Bonds, owner of Secret City Weather. “Having a better understanding of natural trends over the past 23 years will increase profitability and add to the bottom line throughout the year.” [Read more…]

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