Oak Ridge Today

2016 Tennessee Fall Homecoming lineup announced

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Museum of Appalachia Wilson Barn Stage

A performance at a previous Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia near Norris. (Submitted photo)

 

The Museum of Appalachia has announced the music lineup for its 37th Annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming from October 7-9.

High-profile artists scheduled to appear include 20-year Homecoming veteran, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver—an IBMA Hall of Fame Member and 2016 Grammy-Nominated artist; Mountain Faith, semi-finalists on Season 10 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”; Lonesome River Band, Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo award-winners; and seven-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year award-winners, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.

One of the nation’s largest, most authentic music and folk festivals, Homecoming features more than 70 musicians performing on four outdoor stages, a press release said. Each year, tens of thousands of music fans come to enjoy concerts spanning many genres—including bluegrass, country, gospel, and Americana music. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum hosts Young Child Celebration on April 16

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Jim and Woodenstar

Jim and the Woodenstars will present a ventriloquist’s show for children when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts a Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 16. (Submitted photo)

 

Jim and the Woodenstars will present a ventriloquist’s show for children when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts a Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 16.

The comedy ventriloquist’s act, at 11:45 a.m., will headline a host of children’s activities, including creative movement, storytelling, crafts for kids to make and take, and LEGO building. The Oak Ridge Fire Department will lead a fire safety program, and the Oak Ridge Police Department will present a stranger danger program.

Jim Bryson has taken his Woodenstars’ family entertainment to festivals and events nationally and internationally, and they have appeared on cruise ships. The act has opened for Alabama and for Grammy award winner Michael W. Smith, among others. A former police officer, Bryson also presents safety and fire prevention shows with his Woodenstars.

Author Kathleen Fearing will join in the celebration, entertaining children with her stories. She writes books for children of various ages, among them “Adisa’s Basket,” “Voyage of Dreams—An Irish Memory,” and “My Friend the Werewolf—What Would You Do.” She also has had several stories published at www.storiesforchildrenmagazine.org. Fearing has won awards from Writer’s Digest and the Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Conference. She retired in Norris after teaching education and children’s literature at the college level. [Read more…]

Arts and Antiques in Jackson Square starts this month

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The Jackson Square Merchants Association is starting a series of Saturday events called Arts and Antiques in the Square.

The series will be on the last Saturday of the month. It starts April 30 and runs through October 29.

“Our goal is to celebrate the local artistic talent in our area, help recycle antique/vintage items, as well as showcase the businesses in and around the square,” a press release said.

It pointed out that Oak Ridge Farmers Market is also in the square on Saturdays, starting later this month.

Arts and Antiques in the Square is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month, with setup from 8-8:30 a.m. Local artisans and vintage/antique dealers can sell, and there is a $25 cost for space. [Read more…]

Education Foundation to award $85,000 in grants at April 13 ceremony

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Jay Searcy

Jay Searcy

As part of its “Making the Critical Difference” campaign, the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation will award approximately $85,000 in grants to Oak Ridge teachers at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 13.

Jay Searcy, a national award-winning sports writer and Oak Ridge Class of 1952 alumnus, will be the featured speaker at the event sharing his talk entitled, “How to Improve Our Schools Without Knowing How.” The ceremony is open to the public and will be held in the Oak Ridge High School cafeteria beginning at 4 p.m. April 13. Demonstrations and displays of some of the projects and technology funded by the Foundation will be given after the formal ceremony. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of Oak Ridge Utility District.

The 2016 grant recipients are as follows:

  • Oak Ridge Preschool—Margaret Johnston
  • Glenwood Elementary—Amelia Bell, Lauren Blair, and Gwen Harrell
  • Linden Elementary—Ginger Adams and Lisa Buckner
  • Willow Brook Elementary—Ashley Branson and Andrew McDonald
  • Woodland Elementary—Susie Carden, Kim Howard, Michael Martin, and Evan Parker
  • Jefferson Middle School—Jim Dodson, Emily Haverkamp, Heather Henderlight, Julie McCullough, Lexie Scott, and Brian Smith
  • Robertsville Middle School—David Goforth, Mariah Kidwell, Mardee Miller, and David Scott
  • Oak Ridge High School—Christina Henry, Spence Milligan, Vidal Moreno, Deanna Pickel, Sharon Thomas, and Will Waterson

[Read more…]

Youth Showcase, Auction features rising stars in benefit for Child Advocacy Center

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Sydney Buckner

Sydney Buckner will perform at the Third Annual Youth Showcase and Auction on Friday, April 22, 2016, at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

 

The Third Annual Youth Showcase and Auction on April 22 will feature rising stars—extremely talented performers in their late teens and early 20s—in a benefit for the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, a press release said.

The Youth Showcase and Auction is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 per child/youth.

“Arrive at 6 p.m. to enjoy delicious treats, socialize, and browse the silent auction items,” the press release said. The performance begins at 6:45 p.m.

Matt Shafer Powell

Matt Shafer Powell

Matt Shafer Powell of WUOT-FM will be the master of ceremonies.

“Zach Farrar returns as auctioneer, and will get (the) audience bidding on exciting items such as Disney Park Hopper tickets, a Volunteer Princess Sunset Dinner cruise for two, beautiful quilt, etc., during the performance,” the release said. There will also be a raffle.

All proceeds will be used to provide services for children who have been victims or witnesses of child abuse, neglect, or other crimes. The services are provided by the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. [Read more…]

‘Dine and Donate’ returns April 11

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ADFAC Christmas 2014

In December 2014, ADFAC’s board of directors provided the staff with a holiday Soup Kitchen luncheon. This timeless photo is a great example of the Soup Kitchen being an ideal place to share a meal with your co-workers, friends, and family! (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, April 11, six local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. It’s a Dine and Donate Monday.

“Dine and Donate Mondays are always an easy way to treat loved ones to a special meal that also gives back to the community,” a press release said.

In Oak Ridge, these restaurants are participating on April 11:

  • Mediterranean Delight
  • Razzleberry’s
  • The Soup Kitchen

In Clinton, you can dine at the following participating restaurants on April 11: [Read more…]

ORHS juniors take ACT on Tuesday, April 19

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ACT testing for Oak Ridge High School juniors will be on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

All Oak Ridge High School juniors will take the ACT on Tuesday, April 19.

Oak Ridge Schools’ goal is to improve the college and career readiness of all Oak Ridge students in order to provide them with a better foundation of knowledge and skills, allowing them to be prepared for a more technologically sophisticated and internationally competitive working world, a press release said. In order to reach this goal, the system has The Seven Keys to College and Career Readiness, and the fifth key is for all students to score an ACT composite of 27 or higher.

“Last year, Oak Ridge High School ranked first among east Tennessee districts in composite ACT scores, but there is still work to be done to reach our goal,” a press release said. “Our next opportunity to shine is coming up in April.”

This year, the City of Oak Ridge is partnering with ORHS to provide secure, quiet space at the Oak Ridge Civic Center for testing, the press release said. All members of the Class of 2017 should report to the Civic Center for testing on the morning of April 19 by 7:30 a.m. Testing should conclude by noon. ORHS school lunch will be available for students who wish to return to ORHS after testing. Students who choose to go home immediately after the testing or immediately after lunch will have an excused absence from their afternoon classes. [Read more…]

Council to consider contract to evaluate water plant

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Oak-Ridge-Water-Treatment-Plant-2009-1

The Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant is pictured on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider hiring an engineering company to evaluate the city’s 70-year-old water plant. There are questions about whether Oak Ridge and the U.S. Department of Energy should continue to invest money in the water plant, build a new one at a new site, or consider other alternatives.

The Council on Monday will consider awarding a $98,250 contract to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. of Knoxville to evaluate the plant. Jacobs Engineering has offices in Oak Ridge.

The city’s 1940s-era water treatment plant is on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex, and it provides water to businesses and residents of Oak Ridge, as well as to DOE.

“The plant is currently 70-plus years old and continues to show signs of aging despite efforts over the last 15 years to modernize and upgrade,” said Shira McWaters, the new Oak Ridge Public Works director. “Many of the plant’s assets are near or have exceeded their useful life cycle and require replacement or major rehabilitation.”

Discussions about the future of the current plant came up as the city and DOE negotiated a contract extension for water supplied to Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [Read more…]

Today: Music of America Concert at ORHS

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The Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble is pictured above during its Spring Concert on April 19, 2015. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble will present its last indoor concert of the 2015-2016 “Every Day is Better with Music” series on Sunday, April 3. This performance will be held at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for all adults over age 18, and it includes free refreshments in the lobby at the conclusion of the show.

“This Sunday’s performance promises to be exceptional featuring music about America and a number of selections written by American composers,” a press release said. “A highlight of this concert will be guest soprano vocalist Lettie Andrade De La Torre, who will be making a return appearance to sing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beautiful ‘Music of the Night’ from ‘Phantom of the Opera.'”

Another high note of Sunday’s show will be a unique narration of Ernest Thayer’s poem by Oak Ridge High School student Lucas Potter as the band plays Randol Bass’s “Casey at the Bat” focusing on America’s favorite summertime sport, baseball, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber celebrates nonprofit members Tuesday, April 5

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Community members and members of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce learn more about local nonprofits at last year’s Give it UP for a Cause. This year’s event will take place on April 5. The event is free and the public is invited. (Submitted photo)

To celebrate National Volunteer Month, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is hosting a nonprofit fair on Tuesday, April 5. It’s scheduled from 8-10 a.m. at Pollard Technology Conference Center, which is at 210 Badger Road. The community is invited to attend.

“Give it UP for a Cause” is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual event to honor the nonprofit members of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Several nonprofit organizations will be on hand to share what they do in the community, what their needs are, and how those who are interested can get involved.

Gene Caldwell, longtime community volunteer, will be the guest speaker. Caldwell was a pediatrician at the Oak Ridge Children’s Clinic for many years before being elected to the Tennessee State House of Representatives. He will speak about the importance of volunteerism.

Exhibitors for the event are: [Read more…]

Four more spring nature walks set on Oak Ridge Reservation

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Herpwalk-2015

Children learn to identify a corn snake during a 2015 nature walk on DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation. (ORNL photo)

 

Four more nature walks are planned this spring on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation beginning with a wildflower walk at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

Participants will see many native spring wildflowers in the woods along the bluffs of Watts Bar Lake during the 3.5-hour walk. Limited to 25, walking will be off trail in moderately rough terrain of one to two miles. Participants need to have good balance and stamina, dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, and bring bug spray and water.

Reservations must be made no later than Thursday, April 7, by contacting Tracy Clem at (865) 574-5151 or [email protected]. If bad weather forces postponement of an event, it will be announced on ORNL’s Information Line at (865) 574-9836 at least two hours before the scheduled start of the walk. [Read more…]

United Way has annual meeting Thursday, April 21

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United-Way-Annual-Meeting-2016

The United Way of Anderson County will have its annual meeting on Thursday, April 21.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate a successful campaign season, recognize businesses and board members as well as see the impact made on the community through United Way contributions,” a press release said.

The annual meeting is scheduled from 7:30-8:30 a.m. April 21 at the New Hope Center on Scarboro Road.

Tom Hilton will present a president’s report, Eric Abelquist will give a report of strategic planning outcomes, and John Garrity will report on community impact through grants, the press release said. Gene Patterson and Jim Dodson will present the 2015 campaign report, and the 2016 campaign chairs will be revealed, the release said. [Read more…]