Oak Ridge Today

Holiday reception for seniors is Friday

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center’s annual holiday reception for area senior citizens has been scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s Shep Lauter Room (gymnasium) at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Photo City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Senior Center’s annual holiday reception for area senior citizens has been scheduled for Friday, December 13, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event will be held inside the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s Shep Lauter Room (gymnasium) at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The reception will feature a light lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies, as well as holiday music and fellowship, a press release said. The Senior Center guitar group will be playing live Christmas music beginning at 11 a.m.

Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m., and door prizes will be given away during that time, the press release said. Bingo will be after lunch for those who want to stay and play, the release said.

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Learn about women in the Manhattan Project on Dec. 21

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Close up of welding in prefabrication shop 1944 (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

What was life like for women and women scientists during World War II and the Manhattan Project?

You can join National Park Service staff on Saturday, December 21, as they discuss the social changes that occurred during World War II and how that affected women in the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during the war, and it included Oak Ridge.

The December 21 program is free to the public, but if you would like to explore the Children’s Museum, you will need to pay admission at the front desk. The Children’s Museum is located at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

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‘Elf’ will be shown at Kids’ Movie Night on Friday

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The Christmas movie “Elf” will be shown during Kids’ Movie Night in Oak Ridge on Friday.

Kids’ Movie Night will start at 6 p.m. Friday, December 13, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“Elf” is a 2003 Christmas movie that is rated PG. It will be shown in the Shep Lauter Room (gymnasium) at 7 p.m. Friday. Before the movie, participants can enjoy milk and cookies, crafts, a visit with Santa, and other activities, a press release said. Admission is free. Children, teens, and parents are encouraged to attend, the press release said.

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Close to 100 entries registered for Christmas Parade on Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade is pictured above on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (File photo by Eli Welton)

 

Almost 100 organizations and individuals have already registered to be a part of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14.

This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World,” and it wil provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, a press release said.

The first official entry of the parade is always a crowd favorite: the award-winning Oak Ridge High School Marching Band. Other entries will include skaters, adoptable animals, antique and classic vehicles, dancers, and much more, the press release said.

All of these entries help lead the way for the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa will be helped along his way by the Oak Ridge Fire Department, the press release said. [Read more…]

Want to serve on city board or commission? Applications are available

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As part of Oak Ridge’s end-of-year election, the City Clerk’s Office is accepting applications from citizens who wish to serve on a board or commission. The submission deadline is Friday, January 24, 2020, at 5 p.m.

Interested residents must complete a Boards and Commissions application available online by visiting www.oakridgetn.gov/online/cityclerk/bcelections. Applicants may attach additional documents such as cover letters, reference lists, and résumés. The application allows residents to choose and rank their top three board choices for consideration.

The city is recruiting membership for a total of 16 boards and commissions:

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Power outages planned in west Oak Ridge on Saturday

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Oak Ridge electrical infrastructure (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Electric Department is advising customers in far west Oak Ridge of two planned power outages set for Saturday, December 7.

The first outage is scheduled to take place close to 7 a.m., with the second outage set for 2 p.m. Each outage is expected to be brief, lasting approximately 15 minutes.

Customers likely to be affected by the planned outages include the far west end of Oak Ridge at or near The Preserve.

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O’Kegley, Santa to conduct Oak Ridge Chorus on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Chorus Concert
The Oak Ridge Chorus is pictured in a concert above. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will continue the celebration of its 75th anniversary season by presenting the Oak Ridge Chorus in “GLORIA!” on Saturday, December 7.

The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, which is at 212 North Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge. Tickets are available at ORCMA.org, by phone at (865) 483-5569, at The Ferrell Shop, or at the door. Prices are $15 for adults, $5 for young adults ages 19-29, and free for youth 18 and younger through the Penny4Arts initiative. An extended Cyber Monday sale waives fees for online purchases, a press release said.

The performance of John Rutter’s Gloria is scored for chorus with organ, timpani, and an octet of brass players.

“Thanks to our affiliation with the Oak Ridge Symphony, musicians from the ranks of the orchestra will fulfil those roles, with St. Stephen’s Music Director Simon Ballintoy as our organist,” said Choral Director Seth O’Kegley.

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Leadership Oak Ridge provides outdoor seating area at AMSE

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Leadership-Oak-Ridge-2019-Graduation.jpg

Members of the 2019 Leadership Oak Ridge Class recently graduated and dedicated their class project: a gathering space near the American Museum of Science and Energy. (Submitted photo)

 

 

Information from Kathy Gillenwaters and Amanda Meixel Kinghorn

Members of the Leadership Oak Ridge program recently finished a project that provides enhancements to the American Museum of Science and Energy. The multi-offering project was made possible through numerous volunteer hours from participants and generous donations from local businesses, a press release said.

Additions include a new outdoor seating area, landscaping, and beautification installations, the press release said.

“The new gathering area was a project of particular importance and filled a need that existed since AMSE’s location change last year,” the release said.

AMSE now has outdoor classroom space, transition space for rotating large groups through the educational facility, and seating for the bus tour that departs from the building nine months of the year. The project also included new landscaping and beautification pieces that enhance the visual appeal of Oak Ridge’s expanding Main Street area, the press release said. [Read more…]

Call center relocates to Oak Ridge

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Avant LLC

Avant LLC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Avant recently relocated its call center operations to Commerce Park in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

Avant LLC recently announced that the company has completed the relocation of its call center operations from nearby Louisville to Commerce Park in Oak Ridge.

This completes a year-long series of planning discussions that started in the fall of 2018, a press release said. The financial services company currently employs 200 people in the region. Site director Steve Massey expects that number to grow to between 350 and 400 in 2020.

“Our move has been very successful so far, and we are looking forward to growing with Oak Ridge into a bright future here,” Massey said.

“It’s exciting to see a company that is growing and already has plans to increase employment levels come into the City of Oak Ridge,” said Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson. [Read more…]

Celebrate—or take a break from—the holidays with Dine and Donate!

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ADFAC Dine and Donate

ADFAC’s Becky Hook and Nan Shugart recently brought ‘Addy the School Supplies Frog’ along for a celebratory lunch at Mediterranean Delight. (Submitted photo)

 

The holiday season is in full force! Black Friday is over, and Cyber Monday has come and gone—but the blizzard of holiday activities won’t be over for a few more weeks.

On Monday, December 9, rest your feet and enjoy good eats with ADFAC’s Dine and Donate event! On that day, participating restaurants will donate a portion of sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC). Whether you need a break from holiday stress or want to share an early festive meal with friends and family, Dine and Donate restaurants are ready for you.

December’s featured Dine & Donate supporter is Mediterranean Delight, located in Security Square shopping center, tucked behind Methodist Therapy Services. Mediterranean Delight offers exceptional ethnic cuisine. Customers “delight” in regional Mediterranean specialties such as tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanoush, kubeh, shawarma, and kebabs. Multiple vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are available. [Read more…]

Winter Farmers’ Market opens Saturday

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The Winter Farmers’ Market will open in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, and it will be open through March 28, 2020, in St. Mary’s School gym in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy Grow Oak Ridge)

The Winter Farmers’ Market will open in Oak Ridge on Saturday, and it will be open through March.

With more than 30 vendors each week, the Winter Farmers’ Market is the largest one in Anderson County, a press release said.

This weekend’s opening is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, December 7, in the gym at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge.

This year, the Winter Farmers’ Market will extend an extra four weeks, through March 28, 2020. It is closed only on the Saturday after Christmas, December 28, the press release said.

“Our farmers grow a wide array of crops all winter long,” said Rebecca Williams, director of Grow Oak Ridge, the nonprofit organization that produces the market.

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City’s leaf pickup program under way

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The City of Oak Ridge’s leaf pickup program for 2019 began on Monday, November 25. It is coordinated by Waste Connections of Tennessee. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible, a press release said.

“Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather, resident participation, and the amount of leaves collected,” the press release said.

The following guidelines will help make the leaf pickup process easier for Waste Connections crews and homeowners, the press release said:

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