Oak Ridge Today

Public invited to League’s holiday luncheon on Sunday

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Stewart Clifton

Stewart Clifton

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has a holiday luncheon on Sunday, December 6, and the public is invited, a press release said. The luncheon is at Burchfield’s at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

The invitation is being extended to anyone interested in learning how the LWVOR and other League chapters across the state strive to make democracy work for Tennessee residents, the press release said.

The invited guest speaker, Stewart Clifton, will discuss the League’s work in Tennessee on issues such as education, climate change, homelessness, hazardous waste, mental health, immigration, and others that affect our families and communities, the release said. [Read more…]

Senior Citizens Holiday Reception is Friday

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Oak Ridge Senior Center Holiday Party

A previous holiday party at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. (File photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Center is having a Holiday Reception for area senior citizens on Friday, December 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., a press release said.

“Come join us for a light lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies as well as holiday music and fellowship,” the release said. “The Senior Center guitar group will be playing live Christmas music. Bingo will be offered, and door prizes given away. Goodie bags will be given out while they last. The event is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Senior Center and made possible by many generous donations from area businesses.”

Like the Oak Ridge Senior Center on Facebook, visit the website at http://orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov/, or call them at (865) 425-3999 for more information about this or other programs offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ORUUC Annual Holiday Craft Fair is Sunday

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Annual Holiday Craft Fair will be held on Sunday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

A tradition in the community and a holiday favorite, the Craft Fair has become a source of inspiration and a place of diversity for those “one of a kind” gifts on one’s gift giving list, a press release said. Featured will be work of some of the region’s finest artisans working with glass, clay, wood, quilts, and other hand sewn items, and photographs.

A percentage of the sales will benefit the Senior High class. The class will hold a fund raiser lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information call the ORUUC church office at (865) 483-6761.

CNS creates community investment fund; grant applications accepted

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Applications for grants from the Consolidated Nuclear Security Y-12 Community Investment Fund are being accepted. The application process started November 30.

Nonprofit organizations in CNS Y-12’s 20-county service area with projects or programs that address community needs and economic development opportunities are encouraged to apply for one-year grants, a press release said. The 20-county service area includes, but is not limited to, Anderson, Roane, and Knox counties.

CNS has established the fund through the East Tennessee Foundation as part of its commitment to Oak Ridge and surrounding counties, the press release said.

“With the leadership of the employee-based CNS Y-12 Investment Advisory Committee, CNS employees will have the opportunity to grant support where the need is greatest and the resources ae best allocated,” the release said.

Funding preferences include: [Read more…]

Alternative Gift Fair, Bake Sale/Mini-Bazaar at Kern Church on Saturday

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Kern-Church-Santa-12-5-15

Kern Church will host its annual Alternative Gift Fair Saturday, Dec. 5, in conjunction with the UMW Bake Sale/Mini-Bazaar. Thelma Douglass, center, will bake her famous apple stack cake. Beautiful Fair Trade items such as the scarves worn by Debbie Shope, left, and Ashley Lockridge, right, will be offered for sale, and Santa, back, will be available for free pictures. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

Kern United Methodist Church will hold its annual Alternative Gift Fair Saturday, December 5, in the church’s Family Life Center from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“Shop the World Gifts” of Englewood, Tennessee, a Fair Trade ministry, will have booths full of beautiful, useful gifts for everyone on your list. Fair Trade is a global ministry that has been fighting world poverty and hunger successfully for more than 60 years. They help some of the poorest people in the world…third world artisans who certainly are among “the least of these.” These artisans have been blessed with tremendous artistic ability but have no market for their products. Every purchase makes a difference. By bringing these handmade creations (e.g., jewelry, purses, pottery, woven goods, baskets, table linens, musical instruments, shawls, scarves, skirts, etc.) to their customers, “Shop the World Gifts” helps these artisans feed and educate their children and build better lives. Their customers benefit by receiving a unique quality product at a reasonable price, knowing there was no forced or child labor involved and that the product was made in an environmentally sustainable manner.

At the Heifer International booth, shoppers may choose to donate farm animals to help families around the world become self-reliant. In honor of Heifer, a live llama will visit Kern Church during the Alternative Gift Fair. Your favorite Fair Trade Equal Exchange coffees and chocolates will be available for purchase. Local programs that serve people in our community and beyond will also have items for sale. All proceeds go to support ministries and programs for people in need. [Read more…]

Land Bank ‘ahead of curve’ in repairing, redeveloping blighted homes

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Matt Widner and Charlie Jernigan Nov. 6, 2015

Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Community Development housing specialist, left, and Charlie Jernigan, board chair for the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp., are pictured above during a housing work session on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A two-year-old effort to repair or redevelop blighted and abandoned homes in Oak Ridge is making above-average progress, an official said in November.

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, the first of its kind in Tennessee, has sold two homes and donated two and has more listed, board chair Charlie Jernigan said.

Other land banks around the country haven’t had any sales until their third year.

“We’re ahead of that curve,” Jernigan said after a November 6 work session on housing at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the second this year. [Read more…]

BOE vice chair to discuss education in Oak Ridge on Tuesday

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Bob Eby

Bob Eby

Robert Eby, vice chair of the Oak Ridge Board of Education, will discuss education in Oak Ridge at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, December 1.

Lunch with the League starts at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Eby is currently serving his fourth term on the board. He was chairman from 1991-1995. He is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. [Read more…]

OREPA celebrates 16 years of Sunday vigils this week

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OREPA Vigil Announcement Nov. 29, 2015

The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance will celebrate 16 years of uninterrupted Sunday vigils at the gates of the Y-12 National Security Complex on Sunday, November 29, a press release said. The vigil starts at 5 p.m.

The vigils, which began on the first Sunday of Advent in November 1999, are intended to “bear witness to life and peace at the place where workers prepare for the destruction of the planet,” the press release said.

Thousands of people have attended the Sunday vigils; every continent except Antarctica has been represented; two presidental candidates have attended, the press release said.

“We welcome everyone to the vigils,” said OREPA coordinator Ralph Hutchison. “They attest to the persistent desire for peace and the refusal to be silent in the face of the threat Y12 poses to all humanity.”

For more information, contact Hutchison at (865) 776-5050.

Nominations being accepted for Anderson County Ally of the Year

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Do you know someone who lives, works, does business, or worships in Anderson County who cares for its citizens and is passionate about creating a healthy and productive Anderson County? Then consider nominating them for Anderson County Ally of the Year.

ASAP’s Anderson County Ally of the Year campaign is a fundraising competition during January, coinciding with the Red Ribbon Rivalry among a select group of individuals in the community. While each candidate conducts their own campaign, all candidates are united by one goal: to use their leadership, influence, and communication skills to raise funds to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in Anderson County.

ASAP (Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention) of Anderson County has made significant reductions in the number of Anderson County students who have used alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. However, ASAP relies on the generosity of individuals and business to continue these efforts. By accepting the nomination, candidates will have from December 14, 2015, to January 28, 2016, to accumulate the most “votes.” Every dollar raised counts as one vote. The individual who raises the most votes during the campaign will be named the Anderson County Ally of the Year at the Awards Luncheon on January 29, 2016. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project Park: ‘Hanford’s Pioneers’ tour launches

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Sally-Jewell-Ernest-Moniz-Manhattan-Project-National-Historical-Park-Nov-10-2015-1

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz shortly after they signed a memorandum of agreement and created the 409th park in the National Park System, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The park was authorized by Congress in December 2014. The park will have three sites in Los Alamos, New Mexico; Hanford, Washington; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The ceremony took place at the South Interior Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015. (NPS Photo by Anthony DeYoung)

 

By Atomic Heritage Foundation

The Atomic Heritage Foundation has launched an online program called “Hanford’s Pioneers,” where visitors can hear first-hand accounts of the people who lived on the Bruggemann ranch and other pre-war sites. This release is timely as the Manhattan Project National Historical Park was officially established last week, on Tuesday, November 10.

In a signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., Secretary of Energy Ernie Moniz and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell made the park official. One of the original sponsors of the legislation, Senator Maria Cantwell, spoke of the importance of creating the park, which includes many pre-war sites.

Besides Hanford, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park also includes Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

The “Hanford’s Pioneers” tour allows visitors to listen to stories from people who grew up in the towns of Hanford and White Bluffs and the Bruggemann farm, or lived in the Hanford construction camp. Visitors can choose from more than 30 short audio/visual vignettes. [Read more…]

Today: Yager’s chili supper, charity auction at Roane State benefits Habitat

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Ken Yager

Ken Yager

A chili supper and silent auction at Roane State Community College in Harriman today (Friday, November 20) will benefit Habitat for Humanity, and Governor Bill Haslam will attend, a press release said.

It’s the 22nd annual chili supper and silent auction by Tennessee Senator Ken Yager, a former Roane County executive who now serves in the Tennessee General Assembly representing District 12, which includes Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Pickett, and Scott counties.

The chili supper and silent auction is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 20 at Roane State Community College in Harriman. Haslam will join other state and local officials who will be celebrity servers at the event, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony performs Saturday

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Oak Ridge Symphony with Dan Allcott

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra is pictured above with conductor Dan Allcott. (Photo by ORCMA)

 

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra will perform this Saturday. The “Baroque to Modern” concert will feature Telemann’s “Don Quixote,” Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings.”

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 21, at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. The church is at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The concert is free to all students 18 and under, and special discount tickets are available to young adults, 19-29.

“It will be a fun, family-friendly concert—all are welcome!” organizers said. [Read more…]