Oak Ridge Today

Tuition equality in Tennessee higher education to be discussed Tuesday

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Eben Cathey

Eben Cathey

Tuition equality in Tennessee higher education will be discussed during a lunchtime meeting Tuesday.

Eben Cathey, advocacy manager of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, or TIRRC, will give a presentation on tuition equality for undocumented students at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, October 20, the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Cathey will discuss current legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly that would grant undocumented students the opportunity to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. Currently, undocumented students in Tennessee must pay out-of-state tuition at public universities, even if they have lived in Tennessee for most of their lives, the press release said. [Read more…]

Photos: Choices Resource Center Walk for Life

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Choices Resources Walk for Life on Oct. 17, 2015

The Choices Resource Center Walk for Life was Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Choices Resource Center Walk for Life was Saturday, October 17, at the Oak Ridge Marina. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

Choices Resources Walk for Life on Oct. 17, 2015

The Choices Resource Center Walk for Life was Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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Party in the Park features family-friendly fun, crime prevention, music, food on Saturday

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Neighborhood Watch Program Party

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer John Thomas, front left, invites children to meet one of the ORPD’s K-9s at last year’s crime prevention celebration. Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi is pictured at back left. (Submitted photo)

 

The first annual Party in the Park on Saturday will feature family-friendly activities for children and adults, crime prevention presentations and information, free food, and more. It’s scheduled from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, October 17, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2015 Party in the Park, with activities celebrating the partnership between the community and the police department. The focus of the event is crime prevention, safety, health, and wellness.

Kristine Kinsey will serve as master of ceremonies and comedian. Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, and drug abuse prevention information. [Read more…]

Legal Aid Society Community Award honors Anderson County Juvenile Court

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Oak Ridge Community Award and Anderson County Juvenile Court

Picture above from left to right are April Seiber (ACJC Lead Youth Services Officer), Sandy Slater (ACJC Youth Services Officer), Betsy Hunt (Judge Hunt’s wife), Judge Brian J. Hunt, Angie Perez (ACJC Judicial Assistant), Denise Casteel (ACJC Youth Services Officer), and Elizabeth Risner (ACJC Youth Services Officer). Not shown: Andrew Williams (ACJC Youth Services Officer) (Submitted photo)

 

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands’ Oak Ridge office honored Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brian J. Hunt and the staff of the Anderson County Juvenile Court with its inaugural Community Award at a reception on Tuesday, October 6, at CapitalMark Bank and Trust in Oak Ridge.

Legal Aid Society’s Community Award honors individuals and/or organizations in the community for their leadership and compassion in supporting the nonprofit law firm’s mission, a press release said.

More than 60 people, including Representative Kent Calfee, Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark, former Mayor David Bradshaw (who hosted the event as President of CapitalMark Bank and Trust in Oak Ridge), United Way of Anderson County Executive Director Naomi Asher, and Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson celebrated Judge Hunt and the Anderson County Juvenile Court, or ACJC, for partnering with Legal Aid Society to advance access to justice among our region’s youth. [Read more…]

Grace Covenant Church has community meal today (Thursday, Oct. 15)

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Submitted

Grace Covenant Church of Oak Ridge will serve its regular third Thursday community meal on Thursday, October 15, from 5-6 p.m.

The menu calls for creamy baked chicken, rice, salad, and dessert.

The meal is free, and all members of the community are welcome.

Please park in the church’s upper parking lot at 320 Robertsville Road, and follow the sidewalk to the Social Hall on the lower level, a press release said. Disabled parking only is available in the lower parking lot.

ORUUC rummage sale this weekend

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

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Bargain hunters have come to rely on the low prices for much-needed or desired items at the upcoming Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Rummage Sale. It will be held Friday, October 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Proceeds raised will help to support various ministries of the church.

Along with the necessities such as linens, kitchenware, small appliances, furniture, home décor items, clothing, shoes, and accessories for the entire family, there will be DVDs, CDs, children’s books, baby items, toys, tools, athletic equipment, plants, low-cost computers, and other electronic devices, all in working order.

Silent auction items including a work bench with a lathe, drill press, and grinder; table saws; pianos; and a brass bed frame. The Boutique will feature art, designer wear, and collectibles. Prices are doubled on Friday evening for the preview sale.

“Being advocates for recycling and repurposing, this sale saves items from loading our landfills, and instead finds a home with someone who can reuse it.” said Betsy Bauer, who for more than two decades has been the sale organizer.

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

Sister City Support Organization has annual meeting Oct. 22

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The Sister City Support Organization has scheduled the annual meeting for Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the Robertsville Middle School cafeteria.

Buffalo Tours, the California agency that is coordinating the 25th anniversary trip to Japan in July, is sending a representative to preview the trip and take deposits. SCSO will also have a slide show of photos from the 2015 exchange with Naka shi, Japan; discuss recent developments in their relationship with Obninsk, Russia, and elect officers. A member of the Friendship Bell structure renovation committee will give a status report on this project.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Middle School Exchange with Naka shi, Japan, the Sister City Support Organization is planning a visit to Naka and tour of Japan.

“We are inviting any interested Oak Ridgers to join us,” a press release said. “It is especially important that we have representatives of the Oak Ridge city government and schools, SCSO members, previous Naka middle school travelers and host families. This is your turn to have the ‘Naka experience’ that so many students have enjoyed for 25 years.” [Read more…]

Children’s Halloween Party is Oct. 29

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The 2015 Children’s Halloween Party is Thursday, October 29.

The party is hosted by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department. It’s scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29, at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

“The Halloween party is primarily for preschool and elementary-aged children; however, older children attending with their families are welcome,” a press release said.

Activities include carnival games, inflatables, toddler game room, Halloween cartoon videos, face painting, concessions, glow room, and craft room. The Scary Room will have a haunted castle theme. A hayride is planned for Bissell Park, weather permitting. [Read more…]

‘Dine and Donate’: Eat out to help our less fortunate neighbors

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Jefferson Soda Fountain

Jefferson Soda Fountain, located at 22 N. Jefferson Circle, has been serving local residents since 1944.  The restaurant continues to delight customers with “not fast food, but good food fast,” serving breakfast from 7:30 – 11:00 and lunch from 11:00 – 3:00. (Submitted photo)

 

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner (or all three!), dining out at seven local restaurants on Monday, October 12, is an easy and tasty way to help the needy in our communities. The second Monday of each month is designated as Dine and Donate Monday, during which local citizens are encouraged to eat out at participating restaurants. The restaurants, in turn, provide a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

On Monday, October 12, the following restaurants are participating in Dine and Donate:

  • Hoskins in Clinton
  • Jefferson Soda Fountain in Oak Ridge
  • Mediterranean Delight in Oak Ridge
  • Papa Murphy’s in Oak Ridge
  • Razzleberry’s in Oak Ridge
  • Riverview Grill in Oak Ridge
  • The Soup Kitchen in Oak Ridge

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St. Mary’s Fall Festival this weekend

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The 65th Annual St. Mary’s Fall Festival is this weekend.

“The public is welcomed and wholeheartedly invited to join us,” a press release said. “We will be celebrating this tradition and community celebration the weekend of October 16-17, and we look for the turnout to be the best yet!”

The festivities begin on Friday, October 16, with the Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner kicking off at 5 p.m. The dinner will be held in the family life center/Columbus Hall until 7 p.m., with “take out dinners” available.

“The most exciting part of Friday evening is the live auction that begins at 7 p.m.,” the release said. “Attendees thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to bid on those prized items! Some up for bid this year are date nights and family fun packages, artwork, vintage glass and silver serving pieces, exercise equipment including a bow flex and elliptical, living room, bedroom, dining and outdoor furniture, handmade quilts and afghans, jewelry, golf clubs, and a craftsman 42” riding mower. And this is to name just a few!” [Read more…]

Can a robot have a mind? Learn more Tuesday

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On Tuesday, October 13, Friends of ORNL will have a lunch meeting and an interesting program. This month, Bruce MacLennan of the University of Tennessee Electrical and Computer Science Department in Knoxville will speak on the topic “Can a Robot Have a Mind?”

This meeting is open to the public.

The meeting location in Oak Ridge will be at the UT Resource Center (the white-colored building at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike (State Highway 95) between Taco Bell and Applebee’s at the intersection of the Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue. Use the canopy entrance at the southwest (back) corner of the building.

The lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation is at noon.

Learn how music therapy can help treat mental illness, health on Oct. 17

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Erica Buchhammer Music Therapy

Erica Buchhammer, music therapist (Submitted photo)

“Music Therapy and Mental Health” is the topic for the Mental Health Ministry program to be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 17, at Grace Lutheran Church.

The presenter, certified music therapist Erica Buchhammer, will discuss and demonstrate with numerous musical instruments how music may be used in the treatment of individuals challenged by mental illness or other health issues.

In her synopsis about the presentation, Buchhammer describes music therapy as “a psychotherapeutic method that uses musical interaction as a means of communication and expression, with the goal of developing relationships and addressing issues where words alone may not suffice.”

A part of the presentation will be interactive, demonstrating the various categories of music activities used in the therapy from listening and responding to playing and composing to movement, recreation and relaxation, or combined with other expressive arts. [Read more…]