Oak Ridge Today

Guidebook highlights Oak Ridge’s natural assets

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Oak Ridge Natural Assets Guidebook
Image by Legacy Parks Foundation

A new guidebook highlights Oak Ridge’s natural assets.

The “Oak Ridge Natural Assets Guidebook” by Legacy Parks Foundation is a collaborative project created at the request of the City of Oak Ridge, Roane County, and Anderson County civic and business leaders, a press release said. It’s in response to recommendations from the Oak Ridge Blueprint Plan that urged the exploration of both recreational opportunities and enhancement of the area’s natural assets.

“The Guidebook is intended to be a living, working document that will serve as a philosophical and practical set of guidelines for how to maximize the area’s natural assets so that they provide a sustainable foundation to engage residents, promote wellness, attract tourism, and increase economic development,” said Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation.

The Guidebook identifies natural assets and related opportunities on public land in Oak Ridge, including U.S. Department of Energy land, but it does not consider future uses of that land for mission-related or growth purposes, Evans said.

[Read more…]

Applications open March 1 for Community Action Grants from Breakfast Rotary Club

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The application process opens March 1 for the 2020 Community Action Grants from the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.

The Community Action grants are open to nonprofit groups to help with special projects or initiatives of their organizations, a press release said.

In 2019, the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club awarded a combined total of $20,000 in Community Action Grants to 13 recipient organizations, the press release said. [Read more…]

Family Justice Center to be discussed Tuesday

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Pictured above are Melissa Miller and District Attorney General David Clark when Clark signed the grant acceptance form enabling Anderson County to establish the Family Justice Center. (Submitted photo)

The Lunch with the League program on Tuesday, February 18, will feature Melissa Miller, site coordinator of the new Anderson County Family Justice Center, and Detective Wendy Zolkowski of the Oak Ridge Police Department.

The Anderson County Family Justice Center will open in July 2020, a press release said.

“Miller and Zolkowski are working together to set up a world-class center that will provide a combination of services and interventions available in one location to help victims of child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence,” the press release said. “The Center will help victims break the cycle of violence and become thriving survivors by providing access to onsite professionals who will assist them in making this transition. The Center will be a free and confidential resource for clients.”

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Dine and Donate to help ADFAC on Monday, Feb. 10

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The Soup Kitchen features eight soups each day. Monday’s selections include chili, hearty vegetable, and gratin Savoyard. (Submitted photo)

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Punxsutawney Phil might think early spring is on the way, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy your favorite winter weather comfort foods and help local families!

On Monday, February 10, leave the cooking to ADFAC’s Dine & Donate partners. On that day, participating restaurants will donate a portion of sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

February’s featured Dine & Donate supporter is the Soup Kitchen, located in Jackson Square. Although spectacular any time of year, there’s nothing quite like a hot bowl of homemade soup to disrupt winter’s chill. In addition to soup, the Soup Kitchen also offers a variety of in-house baked bread, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. [Read more…]

UT creative writing director to speak at Lunch 4 Literacy in Oak Ridge

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A creative writing director at the University of Tennessee will speak at Lunch 4 Literacy in Oak Ridge in March.

The popular annual event is co-sponsored by the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club and the Altrusa International Club of Oak Ridge. It will be held at Oak Ridge High School at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 24.

This year, the award-winning speaker is Margaret Lazarus Dean, an associate professor and director of creative writing in the Department of English at the University of Tennessee. [Read more…]

ASAP of Anderson seeking stuffed animals to help kids in Juvenile Court

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Juvenile Court running low on stuffed toys to comfort children

ASAP of Anderson is seeking stuffed animal donations for children involved in the Anderson County Juvenile Court system.

“Stuffed animals are offered as a comfort item in a juvenile court setting for children who have been separated from their parents or guardians,” a press release said. “The animals provide a sense of warmth and reassurance in a potentially stressful setting.”

Juvenile Court Judge Brian J. Hunt said: “Coming to court can be frightening for children. Receiving a stuffed animal can alleviate anxiety and stress and lets children know they are in a safe place.”

ASAP of Anderson has partnered with Juvenile Court after learning their stuffed animal supply has been running low, as no child should have to go without a feeling of support during a hard time, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Free food tastings, classes offered Saturday at Winter Farmers’ Market

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Children 12 and under who taste two bites of a vegetable get $2 to spend on fruits and vegetables at the Winter Farmers’ Market in the free Power of Produce Club. (Submitted photo)

The Winter Farmers’ Market, located in the gym at St. Mary’s School, 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge, is offering a series of free market workshops on healthy eating and gardening this winter.

On Saturday, January 25, at 11 a.m., Dr. Elaine Bunick will present “Healthy Eating on a Budget,” with a variety of healthy foods to sample and recipes to share. Bunick is a retired endocrinologist who has helped hundreds of patients manage diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases, a press release said. Bunick says she wants “kids and adults to see how good healthy eating can be.”

The UT Extension Service will also be at the market, offering healthy recipes and food tastings as well. The market is open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through March. 

For children, the Anderson County Health Department’s public health educator Sabrina Greene will present an “All About Veggies” activity. Plus, the market’s popular Power of Produce Club will offer free vegetable tastings for children 12 and under. Those who take two bites get $2 to spend on fruits and vegetables in the market.

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Altrusa, Breakfast Rotary seeking applications for literacy grants

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The Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge Foundation and Breakfast Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Foundation are again seeking applications for grants for projects, programs, and activities that foster literacy in Oak Ridge and Anderson and Roane Counties during 2020, a press release said.

Applications may be requested by emailing Lunch4LiteracyGrants@gmail.com. The deadline for electronic submissions is December 22. Selections and notifications will be made by February 1, 2020, and the period of performance ends December 31, 2020.

These grants are funded each spring when hundreds of community members attend or sponsor the Lunch 4 Literacy luncheon hosted by Altrusa and Rotary with an interesting author as guest speaker, the press release said. [Read more…]

Celebrate—or take a break from—the holidays with Dine and Donate!

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ADFAC Dine and Donate

ADFAC’s Becky Hook and Nan Shugart recently brought ‘Addy the School Supplies Frog’ along for a celebratory lunch at Mediterranean Delight. (Submitted photo)

 

The holiday season is in full force! Black Friday is over, and Cyber Monday has come and gone—but the blizzard of holiday activities won’t be over for a few more weeks.

On Monday, December 9, rest your feet and enjoy good eats with ADFAC’s Dine and Donate event! On that day, participating restaurants will donate a portion of sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC). Whether you need a break from holiday stress or want to share an early festive meal with friends and family, Dine and Donate restaurants are ready for you.

December’s featured Dine & Donate supporter is Mediterranean Delight, located in Security Square shopping center, tucked behind Methodist Therapy Services. Mediterranean Delight offers exceptional ethnic cuisine. Customers “delight” in regional Mediterranean specialties such as tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanoush, kubeh, shawarma, and kebabs. Multiple vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are available. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge’s oldest structure recognized with historical sign

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Freels-Bend-Cabin-Historical-Marker-Oct-20-2019
Photo courtesy D. Ray Smith

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m.

The Freels Bend Cabin, Oak Ridge’s oldest structure, was recognized with a historical sign in October.

The historical sign by the Tennessee Historical Commission said the Freels Bend Cabin, next to Melton Hill Lake east of Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge, is the only Oak Ridge home that is still standing that was built in the 1800s.

It was one of the earliest cabins built in Anderson County. It’s on the National Historic Register.

[Read more…]

ASAP, which works to prevent substance abuse, moves into new office

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ASAP of Anderson, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse in Anderson County, has moved into a new office in Clinton that was provided by county school officials. ASAP dedicated the new space with a ribbon-cutting and open house on Oct. 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy ASAP of Anderson)

ASAP of Anderson, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse in Anderson County, has moved into a new office in Clinton that was provided by county school officials.

ASAP dedicated the new space with a ribbon-cutting and open house on October 24.

ASAP, which celebrated 10 years of prevention last year, started out in a small space at the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, but its operations quickly grew. The organization next occupied space within District Attorney General Dave Clark’s office in Clinton, and the ASAP staff eventually landed, in 2011, on the fourth floor of the Robert Jolley Building on Main Street in Clinton. That space was provided by the Anderson County schools director at the time, Larry Foster.

In August, ASAP moved into a building not far from their original offices. The big difference? A space all their own, a press release said. A space where they can host their own coalition meetings, community trainings such as responsible alcohol sales classes and opioid overdose trainings, and host meetings for other community agencies.

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ADFAC Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Celebration and Fundraiser is Nov. 9

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Bill Capshaw: 2019 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award recipient (Submitted photo)

 

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties is hosting its annual Bow Tie Gala on Saturday, November 9, at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. This year’s honoree is celebrated local artist Bill Capshaw.

The Bow Tie award was established several years ago as a tribute to local historian Bill Wilcox. Each year’s honoree has exemplified the values of community and philanthropy that Wilcox demonstrated himself, a press release said.

“The purpose of the event is to honor a cherished community leader, but also raise much-needed funds for ADFAC’s long and short-term sustainability with proceeds partially benefiting ADFAC’s Bow Tie Endowment,” the press release said.

Past recipients of the award have included Ray Smith, Tim Myrick, Cande Seay, Bear Stephenson, Tom Row, Kathy Stimpson (posthumously), and Louise Mixon. [Read more…]