Oak Ridge Today

City will recycle Christmas trees on Jan. 4, 11

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The city of Oak Ridge will recycle Christmas trees from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, and Saturday, Jan. 11.

The drop-off site is the parking lot at Big Turtle Park off Monterey Road.

Trees will be accepted any time up to Jan. 13, but if you come at the designated times, your Christmas tree may be exchanged for a sugar maple seedling. Wreaths and garland will be accepted, but brush will not. Please be sure to remove all tinsel and other decorations, a press release said.

For more information, contact the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or visit the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov.

Pictures: Oak Ridge Christmas Parade

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santa-oak-ridge-christmas-parade

Here are a few pictures of the Dec. 14 Christmas parade, courtesy of Ray Smith. To see more photos, visit Smith’s album on Google Plus.

 

oak-ridge-christmas-parade-float oak-ridge-christmas-parade-float-2

Clinton Christmas Parade winners announced

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Second Baptist Church Clinton Christmas Parade

The Clinton Christmas Parade, “A Christmas to Remember,” highlighted 92 entries on Saturday, Dec. 7, the largest to ever enter the parade.

Even though it was a cold and windy evening, a large crowd lined Market and Main streets to enjoy the hours of work on display in the floats, cars, trucks, and motorcycles, a press release said.

“Judges had their work cut out for them,” the release said. [Read more…]

ORNL Federal Credit Union employees, members sponsor 55 Angel Tree children

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ORNL Federal Credit Union and Angel Tree

Pictured above from left to right are Robert Langford, Silas Reynolds, and
Brian Cox of ORNL Federal Credit Union’s Facilities Department, and Jason Long, Oak Ridge branch manager. (Submitted photo)

Each year, employees and members of ORNL Federal Credit Union support the Family Resource Center’s Angel Tree program as one way to give back to the Oak Ridge community, and 2013 was no exception, a press release said.

“Our involvement in the Angel Tree program is truly one of the highlights of each year for many of our employees,” said Jason Long, Oak Ridge branch manager. “This year, we committed to sponsoring 55 children, and we were fortunate to have gifts donated for each and every one.” [Read more…]

Hospitality houses get decked in Christmas cheer by cheerleaders

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ORHS Cheerleaders Decorate Hospitality House

Cheerleaders from Oak Ridge High School helped to decorate the Hospitality Houses of Methodist Medical Center for Christmas. The houses offer temporary lodging to patients and families who must travel for extended care at Methodist, even during the holidays. (Submitted photo)

Cheerleaders from Oak Ridge High School decorated hospitality houses at Methodist Medical Center for Christmas.

The Hospitality Houses provide a home away from home for cancer patients and families who must travel for extended medical care at Methodist Medical Center.

“But just because some guests can’t be home during the holiday season doesn’t mean they have to miss the festive feel of garland-draped porches and trees glittering with lights,” a press release said. “Thanks to the Oak Ridge High School cheerleaders, the Hospitality Houses at Methodist Medical Center will be a welcoming Christmas site for all the guests who stay there.” [Read more…]

Picture: Christmas lights on Newberry Circle

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Christmas Lights on Newberry Circle

A home on Newberry Circle is decorated with Christmas lights. (Photo courtesy David Nelson)

Oak Ridge Today reader David Nelson sent us a picture of his home at 119 Newberry Circle decorated with Christmas lights. Thank you, David.

If you have pictures of a house that you think we should feature, you may send your photo(s) to [email protected]. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.

Sponsored: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Noble Metals

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Noble Metals Christmas and New Year 2013

The staff at Noble Metals wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The staff at Noble Metals wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Noble Metals is on Belgrade Road in Oak Ridge, and the company pays cash to recycle your metals, including cars, jewelry, appliances, batteries, wires, pots and pans, scrap iron and steel, and silver and gold.

Pick-up service is available for commercial customers, and a drive-through scale is available to weigh loads or vehicles.

The staff at Noble Metals is involved in the community, and this year employees participated in the Feed the Need Thanksgiving Dinner at High Places Community Church.  [Read more…]

Anderson County Toy Run raises money for children at Christmas, helps them shop

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Santa Claus at Kmart

Submitted

Each year for 21 years, the Anderson County Toy Run has worked hard to raise funds for children at Christmas.

In February, there is a Chili Cook off; in April, June, and August, there are poker runs; and in October, there is a Parade Run and final effort to raise funds for that year.

Local churches help gather the list of the children, and at 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Oak Ridge Kmart and Clinton Walmart, 150 children were greeted by Santa Claus and volunteers and staff of the Anderson County Toy Run and local football teams, churches, and other organizations who helped the children shop. [Read more…]

Holiday concert on Sunday features Oak Ridge Symphony, Chorus, Sound Company

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Sound Company Children's Performing Choir

The Sound Company Children’s Performing Choir of Oak Ridge is pictured above singing in an earlier concert. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra will join Sound Company and the Oak Ridge Chorus to “ring in” the holiday season during a concert on Sunday.

The concert starts at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

The holiday concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.

The orchestra, under the direction of Dan Allcott, will open the concert with the “Hanukah Festival Overture,” composed by Knoxville’s own Lucas Richman. Music from “Mass of the Children,” and “Colors of Christmas,” will feature the children and the civic choruses. The performance will be dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Connecticut last year. [Read more…]

Christmas sing-along at First Baptist on Sunday

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Oak Ridge Community Band

The Oak Ridge Community Band performs at the Dec. 6 Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Civic Center. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Community Band and Wind Ensemble has a Christmas sing-along concert on Sunday.

The free concert is at 7 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church at 1101 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The concert will be held in the church sanctuary, dress is casual, and song books will be handed to the audience members to sing familiar Christmas carols along with the band, a press release said.

Another highlight of the concert will be several selections performed by the band including Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” Johann Bach’s “If Thou Be Near,” Gustav Holst’s “Christmas Day” featuring a medley of carols, and “The Little Drummer Boy” arranged by former Oak Ridge Community Band director Steve “Doc” Combs and former band member Glenn Bigelow. [Read more…]

Sponsored: Music Arts studios move to Robertsville Baptist, lessons make great gifts

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Music Arts Michael Johnston and Warren Clark

Trumpet teacher Warren Clark, left, and student Michael Johnston, a junior at Oak Ridge High School, practice at Music Arts’ new studio space at Robertsville Baptist Church.

Music Arts, a longtime Oak Ridge music school, has moved across town to a larger space at Robertsville Baptist Church.

Its two dozen professional instructors continue to offer top-quality instruction at competitive prices. They offer private lessons on all instruments and also teach voice lessons, jazz improvisation, and music theory and composition.

Music Arts moved to Robertsville Baptist Church in October. The school had been at Oak Ridge Alliance Church. Lessons are offered Monday through Saturday.

“We offer instruction in a wide variety of instruments,” Music Arts says. “Our faculty have been educated at such schools as the University of Tennessee, Peabody, Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Hartt School of Music.” [Read more…]

Treat yourself to an early holiday meal with ADFAC’s ‘Dine and Donate’

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With the hustle and bustle of holidays all around, ADFAC says it’s a great time to treat yourself and your loved ones to a special meal.

With their monthly “Dine and Donate” event, there is a way to do that and support the less fortunate in our community.

This month’s event is Monday, and five local restaurants are participating. They have agreed to donate a portion of their sales to support ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties).

The participating restaurants are: [Read more…]