Oak Ridge Today

Tech 2020 awarded $250,000 EDA grant

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Tech 2020 Logo

Center for Entrepreneurial Growth to administer funds to support entrepreneurs

Tech 2020, a nonprofit corporation that serves to foster entrepreneurship, has received a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, or EDA.

The grant is part of nearly $1.8 million EDA is distributing through its Partnership for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization, or POWER, Planning program.

The POWER Planning grants were awarded to development and entrepreneur groups throughout the country for “developing targeted economic strategies, feasibility studies, impact assessments, asset mapping, and other relevant strategic planning efforts,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Chamber has Primetime networking on Thursday; public invited

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has its Fall Primetime networking event on Thursday, October 22, and the public is invited.

More than 60 Chamber-member organizations have already reserved exhibit space for the event titled “Primetime Tailgate Party.” It will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. under the tent in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Primetime is one of the Chamber’s biggest networking events of the year, a press release said.

“Anyone—Chamber member or not—is encouraged to attend,” the release said. [Read more…]

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of atomic bomb book gives lecture Thursday

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Richard Rhodes

Richard Rhodes

Richard Rhodes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Making of the Atomic Bomb,” will be the featured speaker at a lecture in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

Rhodes will be the guest at the 18th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series on Thursday, October 22, at the American Museum of Science and Energy.

The title of his presentation is “The Light of New Fires: Energy Challenges Yesterday and Today.” This presentation is jointly sponsored as part of Nuclear Science Week in the Knoxville/Oak Ridge area by UT Battelle LLC, the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, and Friends of ORNL. The event is free of charge and will be held at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Environmental scientist to discuss radioactive waste management Oct. 26

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith, environmental scientist and Oak Ridge mayor pro tem, will discuss radioactive waste management on Monday, October 26.

Smith will be the featured speaker at the luncheon meeting of AAUW (American Association of University Women). The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Room 102 of the Activities Building.

Smith’s talk is scheduled to start at noon. [Read more…]

Memphis detective to speak here on sex trafficking

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Barbara Tolbert

Barbara Tolbert

By Carolyn Krause

Human trafficking—forcing people into sex acts or labor against their will—is a growing threat to children, students, and young adults worldwide. It’s present throughout Tennessee and our nation, regardless of economic, social, or racial background.

Teens who run away from abusive homes and those enticed to leave “good” homes by promises of a fun job or an exciting time may become victims of sex trafficking. Other youths are “rented out” as prostitutes or sold into sex slavery by their own parents, especially those addicted to drugs or challenged by economic stress.

Some 300,000 American kids are estimated to be victims, or at risk of becoming victims, of the multibillion-dollar sex trafficking industry. [Read more…]

Tuition equality in Tennessee higher education to be discussed Tuesday

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Eben Cathey

Eben Cathey

Tuition equality in Tennessee higher education will be discussed during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday.

Eben Cathey, advocacy manager of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, or TIRRC, will give a presentation on tuition equality for undocumented students at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, October 20, the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Cathey will discuss current legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly that would grant undocumented students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. Currently, undocumented students in Tennessee must pay out-of-state tuition at public universities, even if they have lived in Tennessee for most of their lives, the press release said. [Read more…]

Photos: Choices Resource Center Walk for Life

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Choices Resources Walk for Life on Oct. 17, 2015

The Choices Resource Center Walk for Life was Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Choices Resource Center Walk for Life was Saturday, October 17, at the Oak Ridge Marina. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

Choices Resources Walk for Life on Oct. 17, 2015

The Choices Resource Center Walk for Life was Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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See copy of ORPD review by MTAS here

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The Municipal Technical Advisory Service at the University of Tennessee presented its report on the six-month review of the Oak Ridge Police Department in a 20-page report presented to the Oak Ridge City Council in a special work session on Thursday. See a copy of the MTAS report here.

MTAS-Review-ORPD-Oct-15-2015-Page-1 MTAS-Review-ORPD-Oct-15-2015-Page-2 [Read more…]

Party in the Park features family-friendly fun, crime prevention, music, food on Saturday

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Neighborhood Watch Program Party

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer John Thomas, front left, invites children to meet one of the ORPD’s K-9s at last year’s crime prevention celebration. Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi is pictured at back left. (Submitted photo)

 

The first annual Party in the Park on Saturday will feature family-friendly activities for children and adults, crime prevention presentations and information, free food, and more. It’s scheduled from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, October 17, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2015 Party in the Park, with activities celebrating the partnership between the community and the police department. The focus of the event is crime prevention, safety, health, and wellness.

Kristine Kinsey will serve as master of ceremonies and comedian. Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, and drug abuse prevention information. [Read more…]

City Council, BOE have joint work session on preschool on Oct. 20

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The Oak Ridge Board of Education and City Council have a joint work session on Tuesday, October 20, to hear an update on plans for the Oak Ridge Preschool.

The work session starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Municipal Building Courtroom. The two boards will receive an update from the Joint City/Schools Preschool Building Committee.

Applications available for city boards, commissions

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City of Oak Ridge Seal

The Oak Ridge City Clerk’s Office is currently accepting applications from interested citizens to serve as a member of a board and commission as part of the city’s end-of-year election.

This year’s application process is similar to previous years in that interested residents must complete a 2015 Boards and Commissions Application available on the City Clerk’s departmental website or by visiting www.oakridgetn.gov/online/cityclerk/bcelections.

Applicants may also attach additional documents that includes cover letters, references, and resumes to their application. The application allows residents to choose and rank their top three board choices for membership consideration.

Paper editions of the online application are also available in the City Clerk’s Office located in Room Number 109 in the Municipal Building.

Currently, the city is recruiting membership for 16 boards and commissions that include: [Read more…]

Legal Aid Society Community Award honors Anderson County Juvenile Court

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Oak Ridge Community Award and Anderson County Juvenile Court

Picture above from left to right are April Seiber (ACJC Lead Youth Services Officer), Sandy Slater (ACJC Youth Services Officer), Betsy Hunt (Judge Hunt’s wife), Judge Brian J. Hunt, Angie Perez (ACJC Judicial Assistant), Denise Casteel (ACJC Youth Services Officer), and Elizabeth Risner (ACJC Youth Services Officer). Not shown: Andrew Williams (ACJC Youth Services Officer) (Submitted photo)

 

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands’ Oak Ridge office honored Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brian J. Hunt and the staff of the Anderson County Juvenile Court with its inaugural Community Award at a reception on Tuesday, October 6, at CapitalMark Bank and Trust in Oak Ridge.

Legal Aid Society’s Community Award honors individuals and/or organizations in the community for their leadership and compassion in supporting the nonprofit law firm’s mission, a press release said.

More than 60 people, including Representative Kent Calfee, Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark, former Mayor David Bradshaw (who hosted the event as President of CapitalMark Bank and Trust in Oak Ridge), United Way of Anderson County Executive Director Naomi Asher, and Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson celebrated Judge Hunt and the Anderson County Juvenile Court, or ACJC, for partnering with Legal Aid Society to advance access to justice among our region’s youth. [Read more…]