Oak Ridge Today

Election 2018 Community Forum: Liberty and Justice for All

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Submitted

A local faith-led, multiracial and interdenominational coalition of congregations, community organizations, and labor groups will present its vision for East Tennessee to candidates on October 7 from 3-5 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Cox Auditorium on the UT-Knoxville campus.

Through a months-long process of discussion and voting in a series of meetings open to all, the Alliance for Community Transformation of East Tennessee (ACT-ET) has arrived at three specific ways our elected representatives can improve the quality of life in our community:

  • Provide a path for all Tennessee residents to obtain a valid driver’s license.
  • Ensure local lending institutions provide equal opportunity to home mortgages for all families.
  • Increase access to necessary medical treatment for those struggling with opioid dependence.

ACT-ET member organizations include Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Members of First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, and Oak Valley Baptist Church participated in choosing the issues and planning the public meeting. [Read more…]

Reminder: Fire & Crime Prevention Celebration is Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Fire Department Fire Prevention Parade in 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department Fire Prevention Parade in 2017. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

A reminder: The Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program are teaming up to host the Fire and Crime Prevention Celebration on Saturday.

“Everyone is invited to participate and support this free event, which combines the police department’s annual National Night Out and the fire department’s Fire Prevention Parade into one big community celebration,” a press release said.

Goals of the Fire and Crime Prevention Celebration include: [Read more…]

No injuries reported after basement fire

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No injuries were reported after a basement fire in a house on Delaware Avenue on Wednesday evening, Oct. 3, 2018. (Photo by Tom Scott, Oak Ridge Fire Department photographer)

No injuries were reported after a basement fire in a house on Delaware Avenue on Wednesday evening, Oct. 3, 2018. (Photo by Tom Scott, Oak Ridge Fire Department photographer)

 

No injuries were reported after a basement fire in a house on Delaware Avenue on Wednesday.

The fire was reported at about 6:23 p.m. Wednesday. The first unit from the Oak Ridge Fire Department was there within minutes, a press release said.

The occupants of the home said they were alerted by the smell of smoke and the sound of the smoke detector, the press release said. They were able to evacuate the residence without injury and call 911. [Read more…]

Julie Forkner named director of Oak Ridge Public Library

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Julie Forkner

Julie Forkner

 

The City of Oak Ridge has named Julie Forkner as director of the Oak Ridge Public Library. Forkner was hired in 2016 as manager of library operations. She has served as acting library director for the last six months.

“Please join us in congratulating Julie on her new position,” a press release said.

Forkner is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, receiving her master’s degree in library and information science in 2012. Prior to this, she obtained a master’s degree in English rhetoric and composition from UT-Chattanooga and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. [Read more…]

DOE public bus tour now starts at new AMSE

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s facilities public bus tour started departing from the new American Museum of Science and Energy, which is located at 115 Main Street East in Oak Ridge, beginning Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. (Photo courtesy DOE Oak Ridge Office)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s facilities public bus tour started departing from the new American Museum of Science and Energy, which is located at 115 Main Street East in Oak Ridge, on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. (Photo courtesy DOE Oak Ridge Office)

 

The U.S. Department of Energy’s facilities public bus tour started departing from the new American Museum of Science and Energy on Monday.

The new AMSE is at Main Street Oak Ridge near JCPenney. The address is 115 Main Street East.

The new museum, which replaces the former museum on South Tulane Avenue, opened to the public on Monday (October 1) with a limited schedule, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed weekends), a press release said.

“Participating in the public bus tour allows visitors to go behind the scenes and explore the lives of those who lived and worked behind the fences of the 1940s city of Oak Ridge, also known as the Secret City,” the press release said. “Visitors will experience the race to build the first atomic bomb through artifacts, audiovisuals, live demonstrations, and interactive exhibits.” [Read more…]

ORFD hosts ‘Stop the Bleed’ class on Oct. 24

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Oak Ridge Fire Department Stop the Bleed Class 102418

The Oak Ridge Fire Department will host a “Stop the Bleed” course on Wednesday, October 24, at 6 p.m. Participation is limited to 20 people, and there is no cost involved in taking the course, a press release said.

Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call to action, the press release said. Stop the Bleed is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives, the release said. [Read more…]

Pull For Our Veterans Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot is Friday, Saturday

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Pull For Our Veterans, a nonprofit organization in Oak Ridge dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, is sponsoring its Seventh Annual Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot on Friday and Saturday.

The Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot is scheduled from 1:30-6 p.m. Friday, October 5, and from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, October 6. It will be held at the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association facilities, which are located at 2625 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, a press release said. The entry fee for shooters is $100, and other visitors are free. [Read more…]

Rain delays flat top house move to Children’s Museum

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The historic flat top house that has been at the American Museum of Science and Energy for about a decade will be moved to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, officials said Monday, Sept. 10. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The historic flat top house that has been at the American Museum of Science and Energy for about a decade was scheduled to be moved to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, but the move has been postponed. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Moving the historic flat top house from the American Museum of Science and Energy to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge had been scheduled for today (Tuesday, October 2), but the move has been postponed because of delays in site preparation due to recent heavy rains, a press release said.

The move will be rescheduled for later this month, according to Beth Shea, executive director of the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. Residents along West Outer Drive from the Museum to Illinois Avenue will be notified of the move date and asked to move cars from the street on the day of the move, the press release said.

The Children’s Museum offered to give the flat top a new home when AMSE, now closed temporarily as the museum moves to Main Street Oak Ridge, announced its move. Its new location doesn’t have space to keep the flat top as an exhibit. The Children’s Museum does have room on its property southeast of the museum building at 461 West Outer Drive, the press release said. [Read more…]

Explore Oak Ridge appoints Kendall as interim president

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Lisa Kendall

Lisa Kendall

 

Explore Oak Ridge, the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, announced Friday that it will appoint Lisa Kendall to the position of interim president.

Marc DeRose, the former president of Explore Oak Ridge, announced in late August that he planned to resign from the position in September to pursue other career goals after four years, but he would remain in the position until September 30 (this past Sunday) to assist in the search and transition to a new president.

Kendall currently serves as vice president of Explore Oak Ridge, and she oversees visitor event development and support, a press release said. Since joining Explore Oak Ridge in 2015, Kendall has led many initiatives to enhance the economic impact of visitors on Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Turtle expert to be featured at UT Arboretum Society dinner, community event

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George L. Heinrich with an adult male alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Harris County, Texas. (Photograph by Jordan Gray)

George L. Heinrich with an adult male alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Harris County, Texas. (Photograph by Jordan Gray)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society is offering two opportunities to hear renowned turtle expert George L. Heinrich in October as part of a nationwide speaking tour. Heinrich is executive director and co-founder of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust.

The first opportunity to hear him speak will be at the UT Arboretum Society’s Annual Membership Dinner and Silent Auction. It’s scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Monday, October 15, at Calhoun’s Event Center at 100 Melton Lake Peninsula in Oak Ridge. Heinrich will be the featured speaker. The public is welcome to attend, and the cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members of the UT Arboretum Society, a press release said.

Reservations are required for the dinner. To reserve a place or for more information on the annual dinner and silent auction, call Pat Row at (865) 482-9096 or send her an email at patrow@comcast.net. Credit cards, cash, or checks will be accepted at the door, the press release said.

“Come enjoy an evening of great food, an interesting presentation, and silent auction,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Public notice: Workshop to discuss 205 Main Street, AC senior program

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Anderson County commissioners have been notified that there will be a workshop next week to discuss the 205 Main Street building in Clinton, which had been expected to be used for the Anderson County Senior Center, and to discuss the development of, and ideas about, the county’s senior program.

The workshop has been scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, October 1, at the current Senior Center location on Edgewood Lane in Clinton.

Blossom Center wins $10,000 grant from ORNL FCU

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Photos by Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

Photos by Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

 

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence of Oak Ridge is one of seven nonprofit organizations to receive $10,000 grants from ORNL Federal Credit Union.

Here is a press release announcing the grants:

Since August 6, 1948, ORNL Federal Credit Union has been a trusted financial cooperative for members, and the East Tennessee community. To celebrate its 70 year history, the Credit Union recently offered its members the opportunity to nominate worthy nonprofit organizations to receive one of seven $10,000 grants through a $70,000 Community Giveback and Investment opportunity.

The following organizations were selected to each receive a $10,000 grant:

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

By providing a sliding tuition scale based on income, the Oak Ridge-based Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence provides day care, after school care, and pre-school programs for low-income families for children from ages 12 months to 13 years old. Their programs include healthy meals, educational activities including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs, and play time. The center is open each day from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. to accommodate parents with varying work schedules. [Read more…]