Oak Ridge Today

A note about comments on Oak Ridge Today

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During the past few months, we’ve tried to be fairly consistent about moderating reader comments that do not follow our first posting guideline: Use your real name, including last name.

But we may not have been quite as consistent in moderating some of the other guidelines, including those that ask readers who comment to stick to the issues and not make their comments personal.

And during the past few months, readers have let us know they want us to keep the comment section civil, and not allow personal attacks or off-topic posts.

So, we pledge to work harder to ensure that those who comment follow the other guidelines as well. In general, this will probably mean that we simply remove comments that we don’t think follow the other guidelines (be civil, stick to the issues, etc.). In some cases, we may send a short e-mail explaining why the comment was removed. [Read more…]

Girls Inc. aviation program features hot air balloon rides

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Girls Inc. Hot Air Ballon Ride

An aviation program at Girls Inc. recently featured hot air balloon rides. (Submitted photos)

Girls Inc. recently received a grant for $10,000 from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, or AOPA.

The grant is allowing the nonprofit organization to have a “Sky Girls” aviation program. In that program, the girls will learn about air traffic controllers and their alphabet, women in aviation, and weather experiments, have field trips to an aviation museum, and hear from women pilots, a press release said.

In November, the girls were able to ride in a tethered hot air balloon from Tennessee Balloon Rides, the release said.

Here are a few pictures courtesy of Girls Inc. [Read more…]

ORHS boys’ soccer has pancake breakfast at Applebee’s on Saturday

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The Oak Ridge High School boys’ soccer team has a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s on Saturday morning.

The breakfast is from 8 to 10 a.m., and tickets are $5. For more information, Call Tracey Clowers, ORHS boys’ soccer booster secretary, at (865) 254-2602.

Applebee’s is at 1213 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

AAUW has holiday tea Sunday

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The Oak Ridge Branch of the AAUW has its annual Holiday Tea from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church.

The AAUW, or American Association of University Women, is a national organization that works to provide scholarships, fellowships, and grants to assist women in pursuit of their education and careers. The public is invited to attend.

The tea is in Room 106 at First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette.

Saturday open house offers information on Affordable Care Act

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Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge will host an open house on Saturday to provide information about getting insurance via the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called “Obamacare.”

The open house is from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

“Although the deadline for individuals to sign up has been extended to Dec. 23, time is getting short for those who wish to have insurance that takes effect as of Jan. 1,” a press release said.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the new health care act is invited to attend this educational event, especially those who need to get health insurance in the new Marketplace, the release said. Both printed information and computers to get online resources will be available to those attending, as well as individual assistance. [Read more…]

Elks Lodge dance on Friday

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The Oak Ridge Elks Lodge is inviting adults 21 and older to be their guests at a dance on Friday that features the Jay Storm Project. The dance will be held from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Lodge located at 684 Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge. There is no admission fee.

“Join friends for an evening of fun dancing to the sounds of the popular Knoxville based band, the Jay Storm Project,” a press release said.. “Described as a mix of as a mix of rhythm and blues, rock, funk, and soul, their music is the perfect combination to get any crowd moving on the dance floor.”

Guests must sign in at the door. No one under 21 will be admitted. A cash bar will be available.

For more information, call (865) 483-3510.

Political activist, pro wrestler ‘Kane’ talks politics at Roane State on Thursday

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Glenn Jacobs

Glenn Jacobs

You know him for his signature chokeslam.

What you may not know is that WWE wrestler Kane is a political activist, an accomplished author, and a student of history, politics, and economics.

Glenn Jacobs, known as “Kane” in professional wrestling, will speak at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. Call it the Clash in the City Room or the Rumble at Roane State if you wish, but Jacobs will not be talking about half-nelsons. Instead, he’ll share his views on a variety of political issues.

Presented by Roane State’s Arts and Lectures Committee, Kane’s lecture will be held in the City Room, and food will be served. The event is free and open to the public, but seating will be limited. [Read more…]

Atomic City Journal Club meets on first Thursdays

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The Atomic City Journal Club is a very informal group of science writers and communicators who meet up to exchange story ideas and to discuss new trends in the field of science communications. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Panera in Oak Ridge.

Anyone interested in enhancing their science communication skills is welcome to join the group, a press release said. Join the Facebook Group to stay updated on events at https://www.facebook.com/groups/atomiccityjournalclub/.

Panera is at 471 S. Illinois Ave.

What’s happening in Oak Ridge from Dec. 5-11

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Here is a summary of events happening in Oak Ridge starting Thursday, Dec. 5, and continuing through Dec. 11.

This weekly listing of events is compiled by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau: [Read more…]

Youth Board buys Christmas gifts through Mission of Hope

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Youth Advisory Board and Mission of Hope

Pictured above from left to right are Abby Douglas, Lara de Almedia, Ellie Brown, Wes Robinson, Koren Foglesanger, Jared Galloway, Candace Pang, Shichen Zhang, Ricky Goyette, Peter Magill, Laura Skipper, Shelby Chambers, Curtis Rookard, Lauren Collier, Megan Peters, Caroline Bradshaw, Lewis Wang, Ashley Riedy, Shane Harris, and Esten Dunn. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board members recently agreed to spend time and money Christmas shopping at Kmart for area children through Mission of Hope.

The board raises funds at events throughout the year to make this possible and spent $1,639.78 on gifts, a press release said.

The YAB would like to encourage other student groups and families to consider holiday projects that help those in need, while also reminding everyone to shop in Oak Ridge this holiday season, the press release said.

For more information about the Youth Advisory Board, visit www.orrecparks.com or contact Matt Reedy at (865) 425-3442.

Free screening of ‘Chasing Ice,’ global warming discussion on Wednesday

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Chasing Ice

Volunteers will show an award-winning movie on global warming and its effects on the world’s glaciers in Oak Ridge on Wednesday evening.

The movie “Chasing Ice” was filmed by Jeff Balog, a photojournalist working for National Geographic, a press release said. It will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Balog filmed the movie in the “stunningly beautiful and dangerously challenging Artic landscape, in search of the truth about global warming and its effects on the world’s glaciers,” the press release said. Released in 2012, “Chasing Ice” received the Excellence in Cinematography Award from the Sundance Film Festival.

“Ninety seven percent of scientists agree that manmade climate change is real, and is happening now,” the release said. “A majority of Americans accept the science of climate change, but many do not fully understand its impacts. Jeff Balog himself was once a skeptic, until he saw firsthand how the warming planet is losing ice, even in the planet’s most brutally cold lands.” [Read more…]

Comfort Inn holiday events benefit CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

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Breakfast with Santa

Proceeds from a “Breakfast with Santa” at Comfort Inn Oak Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will benefit CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. (Photo courtesy T. Whigham Photography)

Families can kick off the Christmas season with Santa and help a local nonprofit volunteer organization at the same time by visiting the Comfort Inn Oak Ridge during December. The hotel is offering several different activities for the community to get in the holiday spirit with a portion of the proceeds from each event going to CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.

“We are so thankful to Comfort Inn for contacting us with this opportunity,” said Naomi Asher, executive director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. “Every dollar raised will help provide a voice in court for an abused and neglected child right here in our community.”

The Comfort Inn Oak Ridge will serve as the official site for “Pictures with Santa” throughout the holidays. T. Whigham Photography will be taking professional photos with Santa at the hotel from Friday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 21. The hours are as follows: Monday through Friday from 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays from noon-6 p.m. One dollar from every photo taken will benefit CASA and will be matched by Enrichment Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]