Oak Ridge Today Staff - Author at Oak Ridge Today

Experience world cultures at Children’s Museum International Festival

Posted at 4:28 pm February 20, 2020
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 4:27 pm February 17, 2020
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

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 elfab418@gmail.com.

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

Secret City Weather releases ‘East Tennessee Almanac’

Posted at 3:09 pm February 17, 2020
By Brandon Bonds Leave a Comment

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…]

Nature walks scheduled on Oak Ridge Reservation

Posted at 12:31 pm February 17, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Submitted

On the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation, located in East Tennessee, more than 1,100 vascular plants, 72 fish, 34 mammals, and more than 200 bird species have been observed.

This year, the public is invited to nine nature walks designed to highlight not only the rich flora and fauna diversity of the reservation, but also to demonstrate the work being done to sustainably manage and conserve this resource. Walks will take place on several locations across the Oak Ridge Reservation beginning in late winter through mid-summer. No pets, please.

Reservations for the following events must be made in advance by noon the Thursday prior to each walk by contacting Tracy Clem at (865) 574-5151 or bodinetm@ornl.gov. More information about these walks is available by contacting Trent Jett at (865) 574-9188 or jettrt@ornl.gov.

[Read more…]

ORISE to host virtual career fair for ORNL internships, fellowships, research associates

Posted at 11:00 am February 16, 2020
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Submitted

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education will host a virtual career fair on Thursday, February 20, from noon to 3 p.m. Eastern time to highlight the paid internships, fellowships, and research associate programs available to college students and recent graduates at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

During this time, attendees can interact with ORNL scientists, researchers, recruiters, and staff, as well as ORISE program representatives. They also can learn more about the different directorates, or major focus areas, that make up ORNL, such as Computing and Computational Sciences, Energy and Environmental Sciences, Neutron Sciences, Nuclear Science and Engineering, and Physical Sciences.

“The ORISE Virtual Career Fair provides a unique and exciting opportunity for university-level students and postgraduates to investigate internships, fellowships, and research associate programs available at Oak Ridge National Laboratory,” said ORISE Workforce Development Director Craig Layman. “Representatives from ORNL and ORISE will be on hand to chat with the virtual attendees.” [Read more…]

Family Justice Center to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 6:00 pm February 14, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Melissa-Miller-Dave-Clark — Pictured above are Melissa Miller and District Attorney General David Clark when Clark signed the grant acceptance form enabling Anderson County to establish the Family Justice Center. (Submitted photo)

The Lunch with the League program on Tuesday, February 18, will feature Melissa Miller, site coordinator of the new Anderson County Family Justice Center, and Detective Wendy Zolkowski of the Oak Ridge Police Department.

The Anderson County Family Justice Center will open in July 2020, a press release said.

“Miller and Zolkowski are working together to set up a world-class center that will provide a combination of services and interventions available in one location to help victims of child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence,” the press release said. “The Center will help victims break the cycle of violence and become thriving survivors by providing access to onsite professionals who will assist them in making this transition. The Center will be a free and confidential resource for clients.”

[Read more…]

Community Band has ‘Tennessee Tribute’ concert on Sunday

Posted at 5:39 pm February 14, 2020
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

George Hayden

The Oak Ridge Community Band has a “Tennessee Tribute” concert on Sunday.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, February 16, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“This performance will be a celebration of the rich musical heritage of Tennessee and will also feature guest director George Hayden,” a press release said. “Also, with Valentine’s Day on Friday, treating your special somebody by attending Sunday afternoon’s ORCB concert is a great way to celebrate this special weekend.”

George Hayden, band director at Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School in Maryville, will conduct the Community Band in Gary Gilroy’s “Three Stars of Tennessee,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Free backyard mushroom workshop Saturday at Winter Farmers Market

Posted at 5:21 pm February 14, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Geordie Schmidt of Oak Ridge holds a giant wine cap mushroom, grown in a mulch bed in his family’s backyard. Geordie’s father, Jason Schmidt, will be hosting a free workshop at the Winter Farmers’ Market on Growing Backyard Mushrooms, Sat., Feb. 15, 2020, at 11 a.m. The market is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the gym at St. Mary’s School, 323 Vermont Ave., Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Winter Farmers’ Market will offer a free workshop about “Growing Backyard Mushrooms” on Saturday, February 15, at 11 a.m. at the Winter Farmers’ Market, which is in the gym at St. Mary’s School at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge. The market is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, and the workshop is in the back room of the market.

“Oak Ridge is a great place to grow mushrooms,” said Jason Schmidt, who will be presenting the workshop. “They don’t need a lot of room, and they love shady, wooded areas, which we have in abundance.”

Participants will be able to sign up for a “Mushroom Inoculation Station” offered March 7, in which they can make their own shiitake mushroom log at the market.

The Winter Farmers’ Market features 30 local farmers, bakers, and artisans, and it is open every Saturday through March 28.

[Read more…]

Utilities Business Office returning to Municipal Building

Posted at 6:28 pm February 7, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Utilities Business Office Exterior — Oak Ridge Utilities Business Office (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Utilities Business Office will return to the Municipal Building following the completion of renovations. The Utilities Business Office, or UBO, will reopen in its updated space on Monday, February 10, the Oak Ridge Electric Department said.

UBO operations were moved to the nearby Oak Ridge Civic Center for about four months while renovations were under way. The changes were needed to increase efficiency and safety, the Electric Department said.

Customers routinely handle utility and property tax concerns at the UBO, including signing up for new accounts, terminating services, and making payments, the press release said. Utility and tax bills are also generated in this office.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Orchestra, violist to pay tribute to trailblazing black, African American composers

Posted at 11:22 am February 7, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra with special guest violist Derek Reeves will pay tribute to trailblazing black and African American composers in Musical Firsts on Sunday.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 9, in the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Tickets are available at ORCMA.org, by phone at (865) 483-5569, or at The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices are $25 for adults, $10 for young adults ages 19-29, and free for youth 18 and younger through the Penny4Arts initiative.

The orchestra will perform music by acclaimed composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Jessie Montgomery. Reeves, the soloist, will be featured in the music by Still and also the “Viola Concerto” by Georg Friedrich Telemann before leading area viola students in a master class, a press release said.

“I’ve known Derek since he was a talented undergraduate student at Indiana University,” said Music Director Dan Allcott. “Now a seasoned professional, Derek belongs to that special category of musicians who has the ability to cross multiple boundaries and musical genres to engage all audiences. Oak Ridgers are in for a treat.”

[Read more…]

Dine and Donate to help ADFAC on Monday, Feb. 10

Posted at 8:53 am February 7, 2020
By Jamie LaRose Leave a Comment

Submitted

Punxsutawney Phil might think early spring is on the way, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy your favorite winter weather comfort foods and help local families!

On Monday, February 10, leave the cooking to ADFAC’s Dine & Donate partners. On that day, participating restaurants will donate a portion of sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

February’s featured Dine & Donate supporter is the Soup Kitchen, located in Jackson Square. Although spectacular any time of year, there’s nothing quite like a hot bowl of homemade soup to disrupt winter’s chill. In addition to soup, the Soup Kitchen also offers a variety of in-house baked bread, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. [Read more…]

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