Oak Ridge Today

Pulitzer Prize winner from Oak Ridge the featured speaker at YWCA event

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Ellen Reid (Photo by James Matthew Daniel)

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid, an Oak Ridge native, will be the featured speaker at a YWCA event next week.

It’s the second Talk and Toast for the YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley, and it will be on Thursday, October 10, in honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The public is invited, a press release said.

Networking will begin at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday, and the program will start at 6 p.m. at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge.

A $40 seat will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer or wine, and an intimate discussion with Reid, the press release said.

[Read more…]

ORAU names Laura Kopp business development manager

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Laura Kopp (Submitted photo)

 

Laura Kopp, former alliance manager for MITRE Corporation (a new ORAU strategic partner), has been named business development and capture manager for ORAU.

In her new role, Kopp will share her extensive expertise in identifying and capturing new large-scale business opportunities; identifying emerging markets, growth opportunities, and new contract vehicles that will help enable growth; and leveraging and growing existing networks to help align new ORAU partners with complementary capabilities, strong federal sponsor relationships, and aligned goals, a press release said.

Initially, Kopp will focus on growing ORAU’s footprint within health and life sciences by targeting new business opportunities, the press release said. She also will serve as the business development liaison for ORAU’s University Partnerships Office. [Read more…]

Pet Fest and Blessing is Saturday

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Horse Haven of Tennessee will have their popular miniature horse Twinkles at the 18th Annual Pet Fest and Blessing, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Grace Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge will celebrate its 18th Annual Pet Fest and Blessing on Saturday, October 5.

“This year’s event will provide a chance to spend an enjoyable afternoon with your pet while you gather important information about the services and associations available to pets and their owners,” a press release said.

The Blessing of the Animals will be held in the pavilion behind the church at 4 p.m. The church will also hold a bake sale, rummage sale, and silent auction to raise funds for all the participating rescue groups. Boy Scouts and other volunteers will walk your pet while you shop, the press release said.

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ORPD hosts Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday

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The Oak Ridge Police Department will host Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday.

It’s part of National Coffee with a Cop Day.

The Oak Ridge event will be at Starbucks at 1305 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Everyone is invited to stop by from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. for free brewed coffee provided by Starbucks and conversation with Oak Ridge police officers,” a press release said.

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Oak Ridge Business Office to be temporarily relocated

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

The Oak Ridge Utilities Business Office will temporarily relocate to the Oak Ridge Civic Center for about four months to allow workers to renovate the office to improve safety and efficiency, a press release said.

The Utilities Business Office is where Oak Ridge residents can pay utility bills and city taxes.

The temporary relocation, which will start Monday, October 7, was announced by the Oak Ridge Electric Department.

“The move is due to planned renovations of the UBO that are needed to increase efficiency and safety,” the press release said. “The affected offices are normally located inside the Oak Ridge Municipal Building at 200 South Tulane Avenue. Signs will be posted to direct patrons to the temporary offices.”

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Felon disfranchisement to be discussed at Lunch with the League

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Pippa Holloway

Felon disfranchisement will be discussed at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, October 1.

The speaker will be Pippa Holloway, Middle Tennessee State University history professor and 2019-2020 president of the Tennessee University Faculty Senates.

Disfranchisement is not part of the sentencing of a person for a felony conviction, a press release said. However, it is imposed by certain states on all convicted felons regardless of their offense or the length of their jail time. In other states, felons never lose their right to vote, even while incarcerated. This presentation will help to educate attendees on the enormity of disfranchisement, the press release said.

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Oak Ridge hosting NAACP state convention

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PASTOR DERRICK HAMMOND
Derrick Hammond

This week, Oak Ridge is hosting the NAACP Tennessee State Convention and Civil Rights Advocacy Conference.

It’s the 73rd annual NAACP Tennessee State Convention, and it starts today (Thursday, September 26) and continues through Saturday, September 28.

Thursday’s events will be held at Oak Valley Baptist Church in Oak Ridge. The events on Friday and Saturday will be at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

The Anderson County/Oak Ridge NAACP Branch under the leadership of local president Dave Anderson is the sponsoring branch, a press release said.

The convention will feature a variety of events and workshops that will 1) encourage attendees to become civically engaged around religious affairs, and 2) assist in expunging the records of people wanting to return to the workforce, the press release said. Other actions include helping members become more effective in their work related to advocacy, human rights, and youth empowerment—all designed to equip people with the necessary knowledge to assist in making their voices and votes count, the press release said.

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TSBA recognizes Tara Kneiser, Laura McLean

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Pictured above are Oak Ridge Board of Education members Ben Stephens, left; Keys Fillauer, second from left; Laura McLean, third from right; Angi Agle, second from right; Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers, right; and Tara Kneiser. (Photo submitted by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

The Oak Ridge Board of Education recently nominated Tara Kneiser to qualify as the Tennessee School Board Association Volunteer of the Year. In the first round of qualification, Kneiser earned the East District School Volunteer of the Year award. She now is one of nine volunteers from across the state who qualifies to become the State School Volunteer of the Year. This state-level award will be presented to one of the nine finalists at the TSBA Convention in November, a press release said. [Read more…]

New Senior Center opens Thursday

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The front of the new Oak Ridge Senior Center is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The new Oak Ridge Senior Center opens today (Thursday, September 26) in Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge.

The new Senior Center was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. Normal operating hours were scheduled to resume Thursday, and so were most activities.

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department called it a “soft opening.” Oak Ridge municipal officials are planning a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for later, and details will be announced soon, a press release said.

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Karen’s Jewelers hosts show of gemstones from around the world

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Colorful gemstones, such as this aquamarine, will be among gems in the show at Karen’s Jewelers on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Thousands of loose gemstones in a range of colors will be on display at Karen’s Jewelers for a one-day gemstone show on Thursday, September 26. The show featuring gemstones from mines around the world will be from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the store, which is at 1120 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Aquamarines, emeralds, garnets, rubies, opals, sapphires, tourmalines, and zircons will be among gemstones included in the show. Among rare gemstones will be alexandrite, which changes color from bluish mossy green in daylight outdoors to red in lamplight indoors, and sphene, a brilliant transparent yellowish green or green with a diamond-like luster.

“We invite Artinian Gems, which has sourced fine gemstones from around the world for two generations, to Oak Ridge for this show of loose, colorful gems,” said Martha Hart of Karen’s Jewelers. “The California gem firm emphasizes environmental sustainability and fair trade gems, in addition to presenting a beautiful collection.”

The gemstones come from Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Nigeria, and other remote mining locations. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project Park: Commemorate tennis court dances in Jackson Square

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Oak Ridge Tennis Court Dance NPS
This undated photo shows a tennis court dance in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will commemorate the tennis court dances that occurred in Jackson Square 75 years ago with a dance and costume contest in October.

The Tennis Court Dance and Costume Contest is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, October 11, in the Jackson Square tennis courts. The free event will feature swing dancing music from the 1940s World War II era.

The National Park Service is partnering with Explore Oak Ridge to host the dance, a press release said.

“All ages are welcome to attend and everyone is encouraged to participate in the costume contest with their best 1940s costume,” the press release said. “One winner will be announced for best individual costume and one for group costumes.”

[Read more…]

Small business donates $10,000 for new Center for Math & Science at Pellissippi State

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GEM Check Presentation

Romaine Evans, GEM vice president; Michael Evans, GEM president/CEO; Ryan Overton, GEM vice president; Anthony Wise, Pellissippi State president. Left to right, back row: Susanna Waters, GEM business development manager; Esam Abid, GEM employee and current student at Pellissippi; and Ben Jerrell, GEM chief financial officer. (Submitted photo)

 

GEM Technologies has donated $10,000 to the Pellissippi State Community College Foundation to support the construction of the new Bill Haslam Center for Math and Science, a press release said.

Pellissippi State is Tennessee’s largest community college, and the 82,000-foot Bill Haslam Center for Math and Science will play an integral part in meeting the increasing demand for lab spaces and classrooms on Pellissippi State’s Hardin Valley Campus, which has the largest enrollment of the college’s five campuses, the press release said.

“As a long-time neighbor to Pellissippi State’s Hardin Valley Campus, GEM is thrilled to partner with the college as they continue their excellent work educating the students of the community,” said GEM President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Evans after presenting GEM’s contribution to Pellissippi State President L. Anthony Wise Jr. on September 13. [Read more…]