Oak Ridge Today

Civic Center Recreation Building to be temporarily closed for floor maintenance

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Oak Ridge Civic Center Gym

Pictured above is a basketball game in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gym. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Center Recreation Building will be closed Saturday, August 1, through Tuesday, August 4, for gym floor refinishing. This will include the gymnasium, the game room, all meeting rooms, and the indoor swimming pool.

The indoor swimming pool will reopen on Wednesday, August 5. The offices, meeting rooms, and game room will reopen on Thursday, August 6, at 8 a.m. The gym will remain closed until Monday, August 10.

During this time, visitors to the Civic Center Recreation Building will need to use the main entrance that faces the fountain. Staff will be available at both the Scarboro Community Center at (865) 425-3950 and the Oak Ridge Senior Center at (865) 425-3999.

Clinton Church of Christ has ‘A Backyard Adventure’ VBS this week

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Clinton Church of Christ has its 2015 Vacation Bible School “A Backyard Adventure” this week.

There will be classes for all children’s ages—newborns through high school, a press release said. Adult class sessions will feature a different speaker each night.

The VBS started Sunday evening. It continues Monday-Thursday from 7-9 p.m. The children will begin each night with singing, go to their classes for the Bible lesson, and then gather again for snacks and a trip to the Puppet Theater, the release said. The evening will end with a craft back in their classrooms, games, and then some more singing.

“Please join us if you are able!” the release said.

See this flyer for more information: VBS2015flyer.

Democratic Women host tea

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The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club will host an English tea on Monday, July 27, for members of the Democratic Party.

The tea will be from 5-7 p.m. July 27 in the Hearth Room of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. Tea and light refreshments will be served.

Women are invited to wear hats as they come for tea and for discussion of issues important to Democrats. The club will offer its support to Democratic candidates from the region, and candidates are invited to attend.

For more information, contact Ann Mostoller at amostoller@msw-law.com or Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937.

FUMC offers Divorce Recovery Group for adults

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Submitted

Divorce is a difficult time and often traumatizing. Feelings can be overwhelming, and it is easy to get stuck in denial, anger, fear, and loneliness. First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, is offering a Divorce Recovery Group on Wednesdays, August 12-September 16, from 6-7:30 p.m. for adults who have experienced a recent or not-so-recent divorce or the end of a relationship.

The group will provide adults a safe, supportive community in which to express and explore the many reactions that come in the aftermath of divorce. Adults can share their experiences, struggles, concerns, sorrows, fears, anger, joys, hopes, and dreams to the level of their own comfort. Meetings will be in a relaxed informal setting. There is no cost for participation except for a $5 fee for class materials, which include “Rebuilding When the Relationship Ends” by Bruce Fisher and will be available at the first session. Scholarships are available for the materials if needed. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge may not increase tax rate above reappraisal change

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Oak Ridge City Council 2014

The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above in 2014. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Property tax rates are already expected to go up in local cities and counties because of an unprecedented drop in property assessments.

And additional increases have been approved or are anticipated in budgets that have already passed in Anderson County, Clinton, Oliver Springs, Roane County, and Rocky Top.

Oak Ridge could be the exception. The city could see an increase in the certified tax rate (state officials call it a tax-neutral rate) from $2.39 per $100 of assessed value to $2.52.

So far, no Oak Ridge City Council members have publicly endorsed raising taxes beyond the change in the tax-neutral rate required by the five-year reappraisals completed this year.

Four City Council members, a majority of the seven-member body, said during a budget work session on Tuesday that they will support the $2.52 tax-neutral rate or that it’s important to stay at that rate for now, until they have more information. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge High School Band has free preview show today

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Oak Ridge High School Wild Band

Members of the 2015 Oak Ridge High School Wild Band are pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Band has a free Fall Preview Show at 6 p.m. today (Friday, July 24) on Blankenship Field.

“The students have been going strong during the past week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in preparation for ‘The Music of Bond,’” a press release said. “Come pick out your favorites from the ‘Bond Medley,’ which includes tunes from ‘Goldfinger,’ ‘Skyfall,’ ‘Live and Let Die,’ and of course Bond’s signature tune from ‘Goldeneye.'”

Due to parking lot construction at the lower ticket booth, entrance to the stadium will be only through the upper ticket booth on Kentucky Avenue. But no tickets are required, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools start Aug. 3

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Oak Ridge Schools start Monday, August 3. It’s the first year under a new balanced calendar.

The first day of school, August 3, will be early dismissal for all students. The second day, Tuesday, August 4, will be early dismissal for elementary and middle school students.

Counselors and facilitators reported to work on July 13, and teachers will report on July 27.

The last day for students will be Friday, June 3, 2016. [Read more…]

Taste of Anderson County offers local food, music; benefits United Way, Free Medical

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Taste of Oak Ridge

File photo courtesy Atom Ray Photography

 

The Seventh Annual Taste of Anderson County will be at Jackson Square on Saturday, September 19, and it will feature food and local musicians.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a sampling of food from some of Anderson County’s best restaurants, which will showcase their fare in small, taste-sized portions, a press release said.

“This event is a great opportunity for local restaurants to share some of their favorite dishes, while proceeds will benefit the United Way of Anderson County and the Free Medical Clinic,” the release said.

“Tastes” from each vendor will be priced from $1 to $4 per item. Tickets will be available to purchase for $1 at entrances to the event. Attendees may buy as many tickets as they like; in addition, beer and wine will be available for sale. [Read more…]

New Life Church has free Backyard Vacation Bible School this weekend

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New Life Church of the Nazarene will be hosting a Backyard Vacation Bible School free to the community on Friday, July 17, from 5-7 p.m. and then Saturday, July 18, from 9-11 a.m. at Cedar Hill Park.

“Come and join us for a bible story, snack, games, and crafts!” organizers said. “Then, on Sunday, July 19, at 12:30 p.m., we will be hosting a party in the parking lot for the community to come out and enjoy some bounce houses and slides, a hot dog lunch, and fun and fellowship for all!

“Come and join us this weekend at Cedar Hill Park and then at New Life Church of the Nazarene at 200 Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge.”

If you have any questions, you can call the church at (865) 964-0665.

NABF World Series baseball tournament starts in Oak Ridge

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NABF World Series Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, center, throws out the opening pitch at the NABF World Series baseball tournament in Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 16, 2015. (Photo by Greta Ownby)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:19 a.m. July 17.

The NABF World Series baseball tournament started in Oak Ridge on Thursday. Oak Ridge is one of the communities in the area hosting games between teams from the United States and Canada.

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch tossed the first pitch to open the series in Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge baseball fields are being used from Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19, for the NABF World Series baseball games. Knoxville is also hosting games.

The Oak Ridge High School Summer Team plays in Oak Ridge at 12:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. [Read more…]

Roane reappraisals show 3.47 percent assessment drop; OR tax rate calculated at $2.52

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Jason Mumpower

Jason Mumpower

Note: This story was last updated at 5 p.m.

Roane County properties showed an overall 3.47 percent drop in assessed values in the five-year reappraisal process taken over by state officials this year, and the tax-neutral property tax rate in the City of Oak Ridge has been calculated at $2.52, the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office announced Thursday.

The tax-neutral rate is up from the current $2.39 per $100 of assessed value, a 13-cent increase.

Separately, the Oak Ridge City Council has been asked to consider a tax rate increase of up to eight cents, with a one-cent increase requested by the municipal staff and a seven-cent increase requested by the Oak Ridge Board of Education. The one-cent increase would help maintain city services and allow for a 2 percent pay raise for city employees, and the seven-cent increase would help cover a deficit and add money for salaries and staff, including a 3 percent pay raise.

Any tax increase, if approved by city officials, would be in addition to the tax-neutral rate calculated by the state. Each additional cent on the property tax rate generates about another $90,000 in revenue. A one-cent increase would cost the owner of a $145,000 house another $3.63 per year. An eight-cent increase could cost that homeowner another $29 per year. [Read more…]