Oak Ridge Today

Festive Italian music featured in Aug. 29 ORCO concert

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Marcelo Urias

Marcelo Urias

By Dale Gedcke

The mystery maestro can now be revealed. The new conductor and music director for the Oak Ridge Community Orchestra is Marcelo Urias.

Those long familiar with the ORCO will recall that Urias was an enthusiastic conductor of the orchestra from February 2009 through September 2010. In the meantime, he was working diligently on a doctorate in choral conducting, which he received from the Indiana University School of Music in 2014.

Now, he has returned to build an exciting program of music that everyone is going to enjoy. Uriah maintains strong roots in the area, with full-time employment as music director at the Cokesbury United Methodist Church in West Knoxville.

For a free concert on Saturday, August 29, Maestro Marcelo has programmed the energetic “Roman Carnival Overture” by Berlioz and the vibrant “Capriccio Italienne” by Tchaikovsky.

In addition, he has arranged a surprise bonus of famous and fabulous opera arias sung by April Hill, Kathryn Marvel, Taylor Stone, and Ryan Colbert.  Their performances will be the “whipped cream and cherry on top of the banana-split sundae.” This will be a flavorful program to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon. [Read more…]

Wildcat Day is Saturday

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Wildcat Day Flyer

The Oak Ridge High School Football Boosters will host Wildcat Day on Saturday, August 15, from 7-9 pm at ORHS Ben Martin Track.

Wildcat Day is a community-wide pep rally. Fans can begin arriving at 7 p.m. for free pizza, provided by Pizza Inn, as well as hot dogs and drinks. Wildcat players and coaches will be on hand to talk about the upcoming season with the crowd members before the formal pep rally begins at 8 p.m.

“The ORHS Cheerleaders, Dance Cats, and Pep Band will combine with the football team and coaching staff to make this a very spirited evening,” a press release said. “Wildcat Day will be a big motivational push for the Wildcats as they kick off the season against Clinton on Friday, August 21, at Blankenship Field.”

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ORHS Football Boosters have auction today to support team

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The Oak Ridge High School Football Boosters is having a live auction on Friday, August 14, from 7-10 p.m. The auction will be broadcast on BBB Communications Channel 12.

Auction items—including new merchandise, gift cards, and amusement park passes—have been donated by local and surrounding area businesses.

“Fantastic items such as Dollywood tickets, fine jewelry, spa items, golfing gear, autographed collectables, and much, much, more will be available,” a press release said.

Items being auctioned may be viewed on Facebook by searching for the “Wildcat Football Auction” page.

“Please participate and support the 2015 Oak Ridge High School football team…’Roll Cats, Roll!'” the release said.

Oak Ridge firefighters receive national designation

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Four members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department have been notified that they have received the Fire Officer Designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Captain Eric Mocsari, Firefighter Paramedic Steve London, Firefighter Engineer Thomas Giles, and Firefighter Engineer Ben Taylor have received notification from the CPSE that their professional portfolios have been peer reviewed for evaluation of knowledge, community involvement, professional contribution, and plans for future advancement. The Fire Officer Designation was awarded from that review, a press release said.

“A professional designation is recognition of broad career and educational professional accomplishments,” the release said.

Designations offered by the Commission on Professional Credentialing are internationally-recognized third-party verification of professional competence in fire and emergency services. [Read more…]

United Way announces $1.2 million goal for 2015 campaign

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Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher

By United Way of Anderson County

Under new leadership and with renewed focus, United Way of Anderson County announces a goal of $1.2 million for the 2015 fall campaign. The announcement comes as UWAC is ramping up for the campaign kickoff later in August with a full roster of community and fundraising events.

As with previous years, the funds from this year’s campaign will support the agencies working hard in our community to improve the quality of life of our friends and neighbors.

UWAC has been working to re-establish relationships with the people and businesses of Anderson County after the departure of former leader Rick Morrow in March of this year. However, Executive Director Naomi Asher and the UWAC board of directors are working to maximize the impact of this year’s campaign. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line needs volunteers

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CONTACT Care Line is in need of volunteers to answer its Crisis Line and to make daily Reassurance Calls to its elderly, disabled, and home bound clients. CONTACT is a United Way Agency and all of its services are free of charge. They serve all nine counties in the 865 area code area.

CONTACT Care Line is offering The Art of Active Listening Training on Tuesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. for eight weeks from August 25-October 13 in the Austin Peay Building at 1404 Circle Drive in Knoxville.

A press release said this training teaches empathetic listening skills that you can use with co-workers, family. and friends. [Read more…]

Swimming lessons begin Aug. 11

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The next session of the swimming lessons offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department starts Tuesday, August 11.

This session’s classes are on Tuesdays and Saturdays. These classes include Preschool Aquatics (for children to start developing good attitudes and safe practices around the water and to be able to separate from their parents), Parent-Child (for children 6 months to 3 years with their parent), and additional levels of 1-6 and adult.

There are eight classes, each 30 minutes. The fee is $65 with a $10 non-resident fee for children who reside outside Oak Ridge. Registration is at the Civic Center Front Desk with payment due at the time of registration. Cash and checks are accepted. Enrollment is limited.

Visit http://orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov or call (865) 425-3450 for more information about this or others programs offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

Working on transportation plan, state officials welcome public comments during Oak Ridge stop

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TDOT Logo

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is working on a statewide long-range transportation plan, and TDOT is partnering with the Oak Ridge Senior Center to hear from the local community about what transportation needs exist in the Oak Ridge and Anderson County area.

Regional TDOT officials will be available to hear your insights and opinions during a stop at the Oak Ridge Senior Center at 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 23. The two TDOT officials who will be there are Nick Weander and Jack Qualls, TDOT community transportation planners for the Knoxville region.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center is located at 728 Emory Valley Road. Please call (865) 425-3999 to reserve a space and be a part of this important conversation, a press release said.

You can also like the Oak Ridge Senior Center on Facebook, check our their website at http://orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov, or call (865) 425-3999 for more information about this or others programs offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

ORHPA will celebrate 70th anniversary of end of WWII with special showing of historic movie

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The Beginning or The End

A historic Ed Westcott image of the original showing of the movie, “The Beginning or the End”—The Story of the Atomic Bomb and Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

A 70th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II will feature a special showing of the historic movie “‘The Beginning or the End,’ The Story of the Atomic Bomb and Oak Ridge.”

The celebration has been organized by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. It’s scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, August 29, at the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Grove Center.

The program will include the presentation of the flag by the Volunteer State Honor Guard, patriotic music by the Oak Ridge High School Ensemble, and the special recognition of all veterans, a press release said. Also, a special proclamation will be presented to the Y-12 National Security Complex recognizing 70 years of supporting our nation’s freedom, the release said. [Read more…]

Friends of ORNL meeting will feature discussion of data-driven health innovation

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The Tuesday lunch meeting of Friends of ORNL will feature Gina Tourassi, director of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She will discuss data-driven health innovations at ORNL.

The August 11 meeting starts with lunch at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at 12 p.m. It’s in the University of Tennessee Resource Center, the white-colored building at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike between Taco Bell and Applebee’s at the intersection of the Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue. Use the canopy entrance at the southwest (back) corner of the building.

This meeting is open to the public. [Read more…]

Suicide prevention the focus of Aug. 22 training

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Scott Payne of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, or TSPN, will offer a free one-hour gatekeeper training program for all who want to learn more about suicide prevention on Saturday, August 22, at Grace Lutheran Church. The church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The presentation, which is titled “Addressing Suicidal Ideation and Behavior,” will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Free child care will be provided.

The training is appropriate for anyone who may come in contact with a person who is having suicidal thoughts and wants to help that person choose life, a press release said.

In information provided by Payne, he noted that the training is a customized version of the evidence-based, best practice “Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)” suicide prevention training and that it will enhance each participant’s awareness of their values, attitudes, and beliefs regarding suicide. [Read more…]

Community Mediation has fall training for volunteer mediators

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Community Mediation Services Banner

Community Mediation Services of Anderson County has early fall training for those interested in becoming a volunteer mediator.

“You will learn new skills while you help others,” a press release said.

“CMS’s four mediation programs make very real differences in the lives of youth and families in our community,” the release said. “Our mediators say amazing things happen at the mediation table when people arrive to discuss often difficult issues and leave with a solution they have all agreed upon.”

Training for Basic Mediation Skills is scheduled for Friday, August 21, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [Read more…]