Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Schools PTA-PTO’s candidate meet-and-greet

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Oak Ridge Schools PTA-PTOs will have a candidate meet-and-greet on Thursday, October 20. It’s scheduled from 7-8 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Cafeteria. It will feature candidates for Oak Ridge Board of Education and Oak Ridge City Council.

“Please come join us at the Oak Ridge Schools PTA- PTO’s Candidate Meet and Greet,” a press release said. “You will have the opportunity to speak with the Board of Education and City Council candidates about their visions for our school district and our city. We look forward to seeing you there!”

This press release was submitted by Holly Cross.

Help local families through Dine & Donate on Monday

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What do we “Seay” here? Grandchildren of committee chair Cande Seay enjoying their choice of sandwiches at Which Wich in Oak Ridge! (Photo by ADFAC)

 

On Monday, October 10, six local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. The event, Dine & Donate, happens on the second Monday of each month.

“Dine & Donate is a very important fundraiser for ADFAC,” said Cande Seay, Dine & Donate chair. “It always gladdens my heart to see friends and family dine out on second Mondays—enjoying meals together and helping ADFAC!”

Participating restaurants on Monday, October 10, are: [Read more…]

Today: Oak Ridge Wind Ensemble begins new concert season with Music of Europe Concert

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The Oak Ridge Community Band performs in last year’s Spring Concert at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. (Submitted photo)

 

With the arrival of fall, the Oak Ridge Community Band becomes the Oak Ridge Wind Ensemble and begins its series of six indoor concerts.

The first performance of this series will be at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, and it will feature the best of musical selections from various countries of Europe including the Greek “Never on Sunday,” “Amparito Roca Spanish March,” “Tales from Vienna,” “Russian Sailors Dance,” and several others.

Jim Dodson, art teacher at Jefferson Middle School, will be special guest narrator for Sunday’s concert program. [Read more…]

Clinch River Fall Antiques Festival continues Saturday

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The Clinch River Fall Antiques Festival, which started Friday, continues Saturday in historic downtown Clinton. It’s hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.

The Friday events included food vendors, entertainment, and a “Cruze-In” for muscle cars on Market Street sponsored by Fox Toyota, and the antique shops, specialty shops, and eateries were open late. There was also a reverse raffle for the Education Foundation for Clinton City and Anderson County Schools.

On Saturday, October 8, more than 90 antique dealers and artisans will line the streets in the historic district for an old-time street festival. It’s scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

“Dealers from throughout the Southeast will gather to provide shoppers and visitors a great selection of antiques and collectibles,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Tourism in Oak Ridge, Anderson County shows increased economic impact

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The economic impact of tourism in Anderson County and Oak Ridge has increased for a second year in a row.

In September, the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development released its 2015 annual report showing that visitors to Anderson County, which includes Oak Ridge, were responsible for spending more than $119 million in the county, an increase of 2.9 percent over the previous year, a press release said. Visitor spending in Anderson County yielded nearly $3 million in local sales tax.

“Marketing efforts continue to pay off as part of an organized effort to increase tourism in Oak Ridge and Anderson County,” Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said in the press release. “Tourism is not only a way to increase our tax revenues, but the people who visit us positively add to the fabric and culture of our community—making tourism investment an all-around win.”

In its annual report, Explore Oak Ridge released data that showed Oak Ridge hotel revenue was up by 11 percent compared to the previous year (hotel revenue is a typical measure tourism’s economic effect on a city). Local tax generated from Oak Ridge hotels exceeded $585,000 in the 2015-16 fiscal year. [Read more…]

Before Oak Ridge: Life along the Clinch River in Anderson, Roane counties

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Historic Freels Bend Cabin: A marvelous setting for the Oct. 13, 2016, public and membership meeting of Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, in partnership with UT-Battelle. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. to be sure the program can be completed before dark. (Photo courtesy ORHPA)

 

Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, will discuss life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on October 13.

It’s the monthly public and membership meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, a press release said. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, October 13, at the Freels Bend Cabin.

“We will meet at the parking lot at the Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ South Campus at 5 p.m., and at 5:15 p.m., we will caravan to the Freels Bend Cabin,” the press release said.

Astor’s topic is “Before Oak Ridge: Life Along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane Counties.” [Read more…]

Children’s Halloween Party set for Oct. 27

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2016 Children’s Halloween Party on Thursday, October 27, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. The party is primarily for preschool and elementary aged children. Older children attending with their families are welcome, a press release said.

Volunteers are needed to help run carnival games, work in the “scary room,” help with toddler activities, and assist in the craft room. All volunteers must be 16 and older unless working under the supervision of an adult, the press release said. Volunteers are given an event T-shirt and a pizza dinner at the conclusion of the event.

Activities include carnival games, inflatables, toddler game room, Halloween cartoon videos, face painting, concessions, glow room, and craft room. The “Scary Room” is a haunted castle theme and is suitable for younger children. A hayride is planned for Bissell Park, weather permitting, the release said. [Read more…]

Community veterans invited to community breakfast Saturday

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Military veterans from Anderson County are once again invited to come together this weekend for a community Veterans Breakfast, a press release said.

The breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens and sponsored this month by Ray Varner Ford, will be held Saturday, October 8, at the Clinton Community Center. “Chow line” opens at 8:30 a.m., and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m., the press release said.

Varner will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, and the special speaker will be Commander Tommy Mariner, Senior Naval Science Instructor at Anderson County High School. Door prizes are provided this month by Ray Varner Ford. [Read more…]

Headrick to discuss individual, collective climate solutions at ORUUC

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Climate activist Mary Headrick, a doctor, will discuss the importance of both collective actions and “next steps” attendees can take can take to effectively reduce the carbon footprint on Thursday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The program is free and open to the public. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

“Our nation has heard reports of quadrupled extreme weather disasters, rising sea levels, rising global temperatures, and disruption of water, food, and animal cycles due to a man-made climate crisis,” Headrick said in a press release. She will show attendees how to calculate their own carbon dioxide, or CO2, tonnage with and without both big “bang for the buck” changes and small changes, too. She suggests things as knowing your utility bill’s kilowatt-hours (kWh) and your gallons of gas per tankful (each gallon becomes 20 pounds of CO2). [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale is Saturday

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale is in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The plant sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the UT Arboretum, which is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Fall is the ideal time to add plants to the landscape,” a press release said. “To help satisfy that need, Beaver Creek Nursery, East Fork Nursery, Riverdale Nursery, Sunlight Gardens, as well as the UT Arboretum Society’s members and friends, will offer a variety of high-quality plants at this sale.”

Will Witte, the Society’s “Answer Man,” will be at the plant sale to answer all of your plant questions. Dano’s Hot Dogs will be back with his popular dogs, burgers, and lemonade, the press release said. [Read more…]

Tennessee Fall Homecoming this weekend at Museum of Appalachia

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Tennessee Fall Homecoming Musicians

File photo courtesy Museum of Appalachia

Tennessee Fall Homecoming is this weekend at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris.

The historic three-day festival is scheduled from Friday, October 7, to Sunday, October 9. It’s the 37th annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming.

It’s one of the nation’s largest, most authentic music and folk festivals, a press release said. It features more than 70 musicians performing on four outdoor stages.

“Each year, tens of thousands of music fans come to enjoy concerts spanning many genres—including bluegrass, country, gospel, and Americana music,” the press release said.

The music lineup for this year’s event includes: [Read more…]

Reminder: Forum tonight features candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission

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A forum tonight will feature the Oak Ridge candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission.

The forum will start at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 6, in the City Room (A-111) at Roane State Community College at 701 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Here are the Oak Ridge candidates: [Read more…]