Oak Ridge Today

A Taste of Ireland on Saturday features Irish food, drink, music, dancing

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Shamrock Road

Shamrock Road will play at A Taste of Ireland on Saturday, February 28, in Oak Ridge.

 

A Taste of Ireland on Saturday will feature Irish food, drink, music, dancing, and a silent auction.

It’s presented by the Ulster Project of East Tennessee, and it’s scheduled from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at St. Mary’s Family Life Center in Oak Ridge.

The dinner will feature Irish specialties that include shepherd’s pie, potato and salmon pie, and lentil soup. Dessert will be just as special, with Bailey’s Irish Crème bars and Andes Mint Chocolate brownies, among other options, a press release said.

The silent auction will include a bed and breakfast getaway, a variety of gift baskets including a sandalwood fragrance basket donated by the Ferell Shop in Oak Ridge, and a basket of goodies and gift cards donated by the Casual Pint in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Whittler, woodworker Bill Henry earns prestigious arts award

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Bill Henry

Bill Henry

Oak Ridge resident, whittler, and woodworker Bill Henry was one of 10 people to earn a Governor’s Arts Award for representing the best in arts and culture in Tennessee in 2015.

Henry won a Folklife Heritage Award. He will receive the award, considered Tennessee’s highest honor in the arts, from Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam on March 17.

Distinguished artists honored include Mary Costa, Dr. Bobby Jones, B.B. King, Loretta Lynn, and Cormac McCarthy, a press release said.

“We want to congratulate the recipients for their incredible work adding to the rich cultural heritage of Tennessee,” Governor Haslam said. “Their dedication, leadership, and contributions to the arts have enhanced our way of life and will continue to influence Tennesseans for many years to come.”

The 2015 recipients are: [Read more…]

Tennessee Taxpayer paralegal to discuss the fate of immigrant women

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A paralegal from Tennessee Taxpayer Project will discuss the fate of immigrant women in a lunchtime lecture in Oak Ridge on Wednesday.

Paula R. Murphy Trujillo will speak at the Wednesday meeting of the Altrusa Club.

Murphy Trujillo began work in 1996 as a volunteer at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee in the Oak Ridge office.

She was then hired in 2000 as a paralegal for the Tennessee Taxpayer Project, and she continues in this capacity today. [Read more…]

KPD training specialist to discuss bullying on Monday

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Aubrey Maples

Aubrey Maples

Aubrey Maples, training specialist for the Safety Education Unit of the Knoxville Police Department, will speak at the Monday, February 23, luncheon meeting of the Oak Ridge Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) in Room 102 of the Activities Building at First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Maples, who is a civilian educator with the KPD Safety Education Unit, will talk about the Department’s “Take a Stand Against Bullying” Program. Also present will be Officer Lori Banks of the Safety Education Unit.

Maples received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and is currently pursuing her master’s in applied behavioral science, with an emphasis on criminal justice and social problems, a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools closed Monday, Breakfast with Legislators canceled

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Randy McNally

Randy McNally

John Ragan

John Ragan

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed Monday, February 23, due to some dangerous secondary roads.

Due to the Oak Ridge Schools being closed, the League of Women Voters has also canceled Breakfast with the Legislators. The League’s policy is to cancel the breakfast when school is canceled.

The next Breakfast with the Legislators will be March 23. Breakfast with the Legislators this year includes senators Randy McNally and Ken Yager and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee.

Schools in Clinton and Anderson, Knox, and Roane counties have also announced that they will be closed Monday.

Roane State Community College said its Fentress and Morgan campuses will be closed Monday due to weather.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Saturday concert features Suchon Wind Quintet, pianist Otaki

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Suchon Wind Quintet

Suchon Wind Quintet

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s Chamber Series continues Saturday with the initial U.S. appearance of one of the Slovak Republic’s premier chamber groups, the Suchon Wind Quintet, and pianist Michiko Otaki. The concert will be at 7:30 pm Saturday, February 21, in the ORAU Pollard Auditorium.

The group’s namesake, Eugen Suchoň, is one of the major classical composers of the 20th century, and his work made a significant contribution to the crystallization of Slovak national music. The Quintet had taken part in numerous European and international music festivals. [Read more…]

Taste of Ireland to feature Irish food, drink, music, dancing

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Shamrock Road

Shamrock Road

 

A Taste of Ireland on Saturday, February 28, will feature Irish food, drink, music, dancing, and a silent auction.

It’s hosted by the Ulster Project of East Tennessee. It’s scheduled from 6-10 p.m. February 28 at St. Mary’s Family Life Center in Oak Ridge. The center is at 327 Vermont Avenue.

The pubs will open at 6 p.m., the buffet is scheduled from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Shamrock Road will play music from 8-10 p.m.

The Ulster Project was started in 1975 as a way for Northern Irish and U.S. Catholic and Protestant teens to be involved in a project that allowed for opportunities to learn of the similarities and differences between their religious affiliations, as opposed to the prejudices, a press release said. [Read more…]

International Festival postponed to Feb. 28 at Children’s Museum

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Spice of India dancers at the Children's Museum International Festival

Spice of India dancers at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The International Festival scheduled for this Saturday, February 21, has been postponed due to weather forecasts for a snow and freezing rain Friday night and a wintry mix Saturday morning.

The postponement was announced by Carroll Welch, deputy director of the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 28, at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. It will feature the same entertainment line-up, food, and culture booths originally set for this weekend. [Read more…]

Habitat to dedicate home built in honor of Myricks on Feb. 28

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Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County

The Cook-Brown family is pictured above with Tim and Teresa Myrick at right. 

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County: The House That Love Built is complete!

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will dedicate a house built in Heiskell in honor of Tim and Teresa Myrick on Saturday, February 28.

The dedication service will start at 10:15 a.m. February 28 at Wolf Valley Baptist Church, which is at 1031 East Wolf Valley Road in Heiskell. The house is located just three blocks from the church at 119 Valley View Lane and will be open for touring from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Honorary Committee, Board of Directors, and staff of HFHAC invite the public to join in this very special celebration.

The Cook-Brown Family will be moving in shortly. Eddie, Amanda, and their three children will  have a four-bedroom, two-bath home to call their own. They have been working diligently to complete their 400 hours of sweat equity and have paid their down payment. Home ownership is no longer a dream, but a reality for them. [Read more…]

CASA’s Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is Saturday

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Ridge City Ramblers

The Ridge City Ramblers are pictured above. (File photo/submitted)

 

Submitted

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s 12th Annual Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is this Saturday. After all the snow and crazy weather, it’s time to get out of the house and have some fun!

Once again, the Ridge City Ramblers will be pickin’ and singin’ through the night, a delicious barbeque buffet will be provided, and the night will hold lots of entertainment. The event moves this year to an exciting new venue—205 Main (previously the Ray Viles Ford Building in Clinton).

A full barbeque buffet dinner (including pulled pork, grilled chicken, salad, mac and cheese, and baked beans—vegetarian option available) will be provided along with desserts, wine and beer bar, and moonshine tastings. Silent and live auctions include vacation packages, Raku Pottery from Bill Capshaw, fine jewelry, and many more exciting baskets and packages. [Read more…]

Church Women United seeks support in Blankets+ Campaign

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CWU 2015 Blankets+ Campaign

Church Women United participants Fay Martin (from left), Gay Marie Logsdon, Clara Chambles, Carolyn Mayes, Goldie Kennedy, and Laura Robbins encourage individuals, organizations, and churches to collect blankets and donations in support of the 2015 Blankets+ Campaign. (Submitted photo)

 

Church Women United in Oak Ridge invites area individuals, organizations, and church groups to join its spring 2015 Blankets+ Campaign benefiting disaster victims locally and worldwide. People are asked to support the campaign in two ways: by collecting bedding for Ecumenical Storehouse in Oak Ridge and by collecting cash donations for CWU to send to the Blankets+ Program managed by Church World Services.

Ecumenical Storehouse serves displaced individuals and families from Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties who have lost their homes because of fire, flood, or other emergencies and have been referred to the storehouse for support in setting up a new household. The storehouse offers basics such as bedding, towels, dishes, and furniture regardless of the client’s color, race, faith, gender, or handicap. Ecumenical Storehouse is located at 134 East Division Road in Oak Ridge and can be contacted at (865) 481-0274. [Read more…]

Updated: Lunch with League—Law and order in Anderson County

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Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Tom Marshall

Tom Marshall

Note: This Lunch with the League has been canceled due to weather.

Anderson County District Attorney Dave Clark and Public Defender Tom Marshall will be the guest speakers at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 17. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

There won’t be defendants, witnesses, or a jury but the prosecutor—Dave Clark—and the defender—Tom Marshall—will discuss the current status of the Anderson County criminal justice system.

The Seventh Judicial District encompasses all of Anderson County. The district attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases on behalf of the citizens of the state. The public defender’s office represents individuals accused of crimes who cannot afford a lawyer. Both the district attorney and public defender are elected for eight-year terms. [Read more…]