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Community Band has July 4 concert, followed by fireworks show

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The Oak Ridge Community Band performs at the July 4 concert in 2018. (Photo by Bill Dodge)

The Oak Ridge Community Band will have its annual Independence Day concert on Thursday, July 4, at Alvin K. Bissell Park. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., and it will mark the 75th anniversary of the Community Band’s first concert, which was held on July 4, 1944.

“Come early, bring chairs or blankets for outdoor seating, and enjoy the music and fireworks,” a press release said. Refreshments will be available for sale.

This is a free event, the press release said. However, donations are appreciated to help offset band expenses.

The Community Band’s July 4 performance is a family-friendly event, and it provides an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy a fun evening of music and fireworks, the press release said. [Read more…]


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Roane State student artists display work, earn honors

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Pictured are three of the winners of Roane State’s annual Juried Student Art show. From left: Steve Williams, best of show; Talitha Chafin, second place; and Archie Clark, honorable mention. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and other mixed media work showcasing the artists’ talents, imaginations, and creative visions were on display during Roane State’s 2019 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.

Stunning black-and-white photos, a solargram revealing the sun’s path through the sky over the course of months, and a giant wire spider dangling from a wall were among those judged by an artist who has exhibited internationally.

The 31 selections were on display in April in the O’Brien Art Gallery, located on the college’s main campus in Roane County.

“This is a great opportunity for students to get practice with submitting and exhibiting in a juried exhibition that culminates with a celebration of their hard work over the past year,” Roane State Art Professor Stacy Jacobs said. [Read more…]

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Watch ‘Aquaman’ at outdoor pool Saturday night

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road will show the 2018 movie “Aquaman” on Saturday night, June 15, 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool will show the 2018 movie “Aquaman” on Saturday night, June 15.

“Aquaman” (rated PG-13) will be shown poolside on an inflatable screen during the “Flick N Float” movie night, a press release said.

Gates will open at 8:30 p.m. with the movie scheduled to start at approximately 9 p.m., the press release said. Attendees can watch the movie while floating in the water (shallow end only) or sitting in the grassy area.

[Read more…]
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Roane State’s Stephens honored for her work

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DeAnna Stephens

Roane State Community College assistant professor of English DeAnna Stephens earned two honors this spring.

Stephens won the poetry competition at the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival.

She also received first place in the fiction category at the Tennessee Mountain Writers Conference Awards Banquet.

Stephens said she was very excited when informed in mid-March that she was a finalist in the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival. Before she won, Stephens said she hadn’t planned to attend the event.

Things changed, especially since the recognition included a $1,000 prize, a free pass to the festival, and the opportunity to read her poems to an appreciative audience, a press release said. [Read more…]

Lavender Festival features herbs, crafts, food, music Saturday

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2017 Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

Tennessee’s only Lavender Festival returns for its 21st year in Historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge on Saturday, June 15. The festival is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Celebrating all things herbal, crafts, local foods, and more, the Lavender Festival is free to customers, and last year attracted an estimated crowd of 11,000,” a press release said. “In addition to free admission, Lavender Festival also offers plenty of free parking in city and business lots surrounding Jackson Square.”

The festival is full of tradition and fun, and it always features something new, the press release said. For example, a traditional bagpipe player will open the festival at 8 a.m., playing from upper Blankenship Field into Jackson Square. Also keeping with tradition, Alan McBride will follow with the hammered dulcimer in the bandstand, the release said. A complete music schedule is included below.

The highlight of Lavender Festival will be the group of 150 artisan, herb, and floral vendors that will line the covered walkways of Jackson Square, the parking lot, and both sides of Broadway Avenue, which will be closed to traffic.

[Read more…]

ADFAC’s Dine and Donate is Monday

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Razzleberry’s is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Enjoy fantastic food and support an amazing organization at the same time!

On Monday, June 10, you can beat the heat by staying out of the kitchen while supporting a fantastic organization serving the community, a press release said. Several area restaurants are donating a portion of their sales on Monday to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

The featured partner restaurant for June is Razzleberry’s, located in historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. This fun restaurant has become an important part of the Oak Ridge community, the press release said.

“Come play in the splash pad in Jackson Square, take your picture with the pigs all around the restaurant, and get some fantastic ice cream, too,” the press release said. “It’s a perfect day!” [Read more…]

ORNL Federal Credit Union to host free bluegrass/Americana concerts

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ORNL Federal Credit Union will continue its free concert series in Oak Ridge this summer. The concerts will feature bluegrass and American bands from throughout the region, a press release said. The musicians will include Jim Lauderdale and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, among others.

The series kicks off in June and will continue through September, a press release said. All concerts will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

The first show will be held on Saturday, June 15, and it will feature legendary songwriter Jim Lauderdale and his band, along with East Tennessee native Steve Gulley and his band, New Pinnacle, the press release said.

“The community is invited to bring their lawn chairs and their friends and family for an evening of free Americana roots music,” the press release said. Local food truck vendors and Oak Ridge’s own Crafter’s Brew will be on site, the release said.

Future concerts will be held on the following Saturdays: 

[Read more…]

Secret City Festival is Friday, Saturday

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Secret City Festival (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The two-day Secret City Festival on Friday and Saturday will feature music, food, history, science, and much more, a press release said.

The festival is hosted by the City of Oak Ridge and presented by Celebrate Oak Ridge. It will be in Alvin K. Bissell Park from 10 a.m. until about 11 p.m. on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8.

The festival showcases Oak Ridge’s unique role in American history and scientific innovation with various events and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Musical headliners at the concerts will include iconic rock bands Loverboy, performing on Friday, June 7, and 38 Special, performing on Saturday, June 8. Tickets for each concert are available online. The festival is free to attend, but concert-goers must purchase a ticket.

[Read more…]

Battle of the Bands is Tuesday

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It’s festival season in Oak Ridge, and pre-festival events will be going on all week leading up to the Secret City Festival weekend on June 7-8, a press release said.

“One of those pre-festival events is Battle of the Bands ‘Rocking the Ridge’—a great night of local talent, food, and beer!” the press release said. “Check out some amazing local bands who will be ‘Rocking the Ridge’ and take the top spot in their category.”

The show will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, in the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce parking lot and will go until the winners are crowned, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Tennessee’s growing wine industry showcased at Nine Lakes Wine Festival in Oak Ridge

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The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been scheduled for May 31-June 1, 2019, in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival, pictured above in 2018, celebrates Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. (Photo by Keely Rountree/Courtesy Nine Lakes Wine Festival)

Festival at Melton Lake Park celebrates local wineries with 100+ Tennessee wines, ciders May 31-June 1

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this weekend, Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently proclaimed May as Tennessee Grape and Wine Appreciation Month.

The Nine Lakes Wine Festival is open to the ticket-holding public and produced by the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association.

On Friday, May 31, the VIP Taste of Gold will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. featuring only the best in Tennessee wines, a press release said. This all-inclusive evening features gold medal and reserve wines, gourmet small plate foods, and live music by the David Slack Trio.

And then on Saturday, June 1, the Grand Tasting Event will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park. This event features 17 wineries pouring more than 100 Tennessee wines and ciders, with live music and a “Barrels of Fun Charity Race” benefitting up to 24 local charities, the press release said. The public can sign up to roll wine barrels in support of their favorite Tennessee charities for fun and competition.

[Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Pictured above from left to right are Carmen Agra Deedy, Bill Lepp, and Bobby Norfolk.

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will feature three world renowned storytellers in Oak Ridge this weekend.

This annual event is led by the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge, all volunteers. This second annual storytelling festival will be held at the Historic Grove Theater. Due to public demand at the 2018 performances, a larger venue and an additional performance have been added, a press release said.

Bil Lepp, Carmen Agra Deedy, and Bobby Norfolk will perform for the 2019 festival. They have achieved national and international recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the press release said.

On Saturday, June 1, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will present the art and magic of live storytelling with three performances at the Historic Grove Theater: 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 5 p.m. (with intermission), and 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (with intermission). There will be different stories at each session. Although the stories would be rated PG, it is suggested that the 10 a.m. performance would be most enjoyable for children five and older as it is a special family-oriented performance, the press release said. A free crafts-for-kids activity will be offered beginning at 9 a.m. at the Grove Theater.

[Read more…]

Writing workshop on Friday starts Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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Minton Sparks

Renowned writer and storyteller Minton Sparks will present another writing workshop this year as part of the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival that starts on Friday.

The writing workshop is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Let Minton help you craft stories from your family history and experiences, and structure it for effectiveness,” a press release said. “Join us for this workshop that will ‘spark’ your creativity and inspire you in your writing journal. This is the first event of the 2019 Flatwater Tales weekend.”

Minton Sparks will conduct a three-hour interactive writing workshop titled “My Crazy Kin—Transform Your Family Stories into a Compelling Personal Narrative.”

[Read more…]

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