Oak Ridge Today

Top 12 ways to have fun at the 12th Annual Secret City Festival

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Secret City Festival Logo

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  1. Start planning now for two days of activities to celebrate more than 70 years of Oak Ridge’s history. From 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 13, until the concerts are over, there is something for everyone.
  2. Remember there is no parking onsite at the festival! Plan to park at the City Center and take a free shuttle over to the festival. For a map of available parking near the Secret City Festival, visit http://www.secretcityfestival.com/festival-411/parking/.
  3. Be sure to visit the Secret City Festival website (www.secretcityfestival.com) to plan your weekend. You will find all event information, tour schedules, and concert information here.
  4. Concerts are festival seating—don’t forget your lawn chairs for the best views and most comfortable seating. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. each evening to claim your seat. [Read more…]

Boys and Girls Club has signups for football, cheerleading, ORHS football camp

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The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge has signups for youth tackle football, youth cheerleading, and Oak Ridge High School football camp on Saturday, June 7, and Saturday, June 14.

The signups are from 8 to 11 a.m. both days.

See this flyer for more information: Boys and Girls Club Sign Up Flyer.

Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry in Oliver Springs on June 21

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A Second Harvest mobile food pantry will be in Oliver Springs on Saturday, June 21.

Everyone is welcome to attend, a press release said.

The free food distribution includes fresh foods, canned goods, and much more, the release said. There are no income requirements.

It’s sponsored by Norwood Elementary School and Cornerstone Church/Compassion Ministries.

The food pantry is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Norwood Elementary School, 809 E. Tri-County Blvd, in Oliver Springs.

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universal Church has music festival fundraiser

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary

The sanctuary of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is pictured above. (File photo)

There is a free music festival at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universal Church on Saturday. It will feature local bands and food for sale, a press release said.

Two of the bands scheduled to play are Haze of Oliver Springs and Scarlet Victory of Clinton, the press release said. Haze has been described as a “groove” based rock band that plays what the crowd wants to hear, the release said. Both bands have a large local fan base.

The festival is free, but a suggested donation of $5 would gratefully be accepted, the release said. The event will be held in the ORUUC Social Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Pancake breakfast fundraiser June 14 for Emory Valley Center

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Emory Valley Center Early Learning Center

The Emory Valley Center on Emory Valley Road is pictured above. (File photo)

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On your way to the Secret City Festival on Saturday, June 14, stop and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast at Applebee’s in Oak Ridge and also support Emory Valley Center. Proceeds will benefit the ongoing capital campaign for a new building to better serve children and adults with disabilities.

Breakfast will be served from 8–10 a.m. and will include hot-off-the-griddle pancakes and sausage as well as a variety of beverages. Tickets are only $5 each (children under three eat free), and they are currently on sale at Emory Valley Center at 715 Emory Valley Road. Those who attend may also pay at the door the morning of the fundraiser.

Local Emory Valley Center “Celebrity Supporters” planning to help staff greet and serve pancakes include Tennessee Sen. Randy McNally, Rep. John Ragan, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, Dottie Thompson, and Gene Caldwell (Emory Valley Center capital campaign co-chairs), Bear Stephenson of Stephenson Real Estate and Auction, Anderson County Chamber Board President Terry Payne, and David Erb of Allstate in Clinton. [Read more…]

US 25 yard sale under way, passes through Anderson County

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The US 25 Yard Sale started Thursday and ends Saturday. It’s 425 miles of sales beginning in Covington, Ky., running through Anderson County and ending in Woodfin, N.C.. There are 42 communities participating along the route.

Buyers can make a complete circle through East Tennessee. In Corbin, Highway 25 splits into Highway 25W, which runs through Anderson County, and Highway 25E, which goes through Jefferson County, another participating community. They merge back together in Newport, Tenn.

If you live on US 25W in Anderson County, all you have to do to participate is set up your yard sale on your property.

If you do not live on US 25W and you would like to set up for the yard sale, you can go to the Lake City Recreation Center/Ball Field. There will be a set up fee of $10 per 10’ x 10’ space, and the covered area will be $20 per bay area. [Read more…]

Coffeehouse features local talent, new guitar class to benefit Free Medical Clinic

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Nicolas Cagle

Nicolas Cagle

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Guitars are being restrung, duos are reuniting, and vocal chords are being stretched yet again for the first coffeehouse of the summer.

Coffeehouse veteran Nicolas Cagle is especially excited to be performing for this fundraising series, now in its third summer. A recent graduate from Clinton High School, Nic wins over audiences with his big personality and vocal style. His vocal sound is unique in that he has a crooning quality that some say is reminiscent of ’50s great Buddy Holly.

Nic will be attending the University of Tennessee Knoxville in the fall, and plans on devoting much of his summer to not only performing at the coffeehouses, but teaching a new generation of performers as well at First Presbyterian Church.

An accomplished songwriter and guitarist, Nic will be leading a free guitar class for the next three weeks from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for young performers. Just as the swing dancing initiative last summer was created to give high school and college students another creative outlet and place to gather, the guitar workshop hopes to do the same. [Read more…]

Honors: Legal Aid Society attorney receives second ARC of Anderson County Dove Award

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Theresa-Vay Smith

Theresa-Vay Smith

The ARC of Anderson County, a United Way agency serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, recently honored Theresa-Vay Smith as one of the recipients of the organization’s 2014 Dove Awards. Smith is an attorney with the Oak Ridge office of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands.

Dove Awards are given every year to recipients who display outstanding service to children or adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities, a press release said.

The Emory Valley Center in Anderson County, a nonprofit agency serving children and adults with disabilities, nominated Smith for the award. Smith represents disabled individuals of the Emory Valley Center who need home-based care.

This is Smith’s second time being honored. She first received the award in 2011. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival: Deadline extended for early bird tickets

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Kix Brooks with Mic

Country artist Kix Brooks performs at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 27. (Submitted photos)

It’s not too late to purchase discounted tickets for Secret City Festival

The deadline for early bird tickets to the 12th Annual Secret City Festival’s headline concerts has been extended through Thursday, June 5. This extension will allow the public to continue to purchase tickets to both the Friday night Eddie Money concert or the Saturday night Kix Brooks concert for the discounted rate of $18 each.

Friday night’s concert will feature 80s rocker Eddie Money as he brings his blue-collar rock ‘n’ roll sound to the UCOR concert stage. Opening for Eddie Money will be local band Jada Blade and Dez Money and The Faze. Dez Money is the son of Eddie Money, but he’ll bring his own unique style to the Friday night line-up. Concert goers can expect to hear hits from Eddie Money’s career including “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Shakin,’” and “Baby Hold On.” Friday night’s concert is sponsored by Pro2Serve, CROET, and Classic Hits 93.1 WNOX.

Saturday night’s concert brings legendary country music artist Kix Brooks, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, to the UCOR stage. As part of one of the biggest duos in country music history, Brooks has received many industry accolades including two Grammy awards, 20 Country Music Association trophies, and 27 Academy of Country Music honors. After Brooks and Dunn announced their retirement, Brooks has enjoyed success on and off the stage as a solo artist, radio host, and actor. Nashville band, Phoenix Drive, will open the show. Saturday’s concert is sponsored by LDA Engineering and 96.7 Merle FM. [Read more…]

DOE public bus tour begins June 2

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DOE Public Bus Tour

A U.S. Department of Energy public bus tour in August 2012. (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)

Visitors see Oak Ridge’s past and present

The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2014 Oak Ridge facilities public bus tour begins June 2 and continues through August 29. The tour offers visitors a first-hand look at the DOE’s Oak Ridge facilities and provides historical commentary on the transformation of the Oak Ridge Reservation during the past 70 years.

The reservation-wide tour is a popular attraction for tourists visiting the area. Since its inception in 1996, the DOE public tour program has attracted more than 30,000 visitors from all 50 states. The three-hour tour allows visitors to see the Oak Ridge Reservation and learn about its history. It also provides participants a chance to find out about the world-class missions underway in Oak Ridge.

Bus stops include: [Read more…]

Child advocacy seminar at Roane State on Thursday

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People concerned about the community’s children are invited to attend the fourth annual Nurturing and Safe World Child Advocacy Seminar this Thursday, June 5, in the Roane State Community College City Room on the Oak Ridge campus, a press release said.

The seminar will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Ministerial Association and the Oak Ridge Police Chaplains. Robert May of Oak Ridge Police Department Chaplains; Margaret Durgin of the Child Advocacy Center; David Allred, previous coordinator for Safe and Drug Free Schools; and Sarah Littlefield, a marriage and family therapist, will present sessions on the issue of bullying and hostile environments as it relates to children who are affected by this challenging problem.

There is no charge to participate, and lunch will be included. Certificates of Participation will be available for those who need annual training hours.

Pre-registration is required by contacting Myra Mansfield at (865) 220-8826 or by emailing nurturingandsafeworld@comcast.net.

Habitat for Humanity has groundbreaking Saturday for Myrick home build

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Tim and Teresa Myrick and Habitat for Humanity

Tim and Teresa Myrick are pictured above. (Photo: Jason Richards)

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will have a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday for a home build that will pay tribute to Tim and Teresa Myrick.

The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Saturday on Valley View Lane in Heiskell.

“We are about $20,000 away from our goal,” Habitat for Humanity said in an event flyer. “As soon as we reach it, we will begin construction.”

Habitat said Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Oak Ridge Associated Universities, along with friends of the Myricks, have contributed or pledged more than $60,000. [Read more…]