Oak Ridge Today

Secret City Festival concert tickets on sale today

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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)

Eddie Money and Kix Brooks to headline 2014 concerts

It’s Secret City Festival time again in Oak Ridge! The bands have been selected, the schedule is filling up, and tickets to this year’s headliner concerts go on sale today (Tuesday, April 29). Tickets are priced at an early bird rate of $18. After May 30, ticket prices go up to $20. Children 10 and under are free with a paying adult.

Grammy-nominated ’80s rocker Eddie Money will bring his blue-collar brand of rock ‘n’ roll to the concert main stage on Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m. The Friday night concert also features local band Jada Blade.

Legendary country music artist Kix Brooks will bring his high energy, hit-filled show to the main stage Saturday, June 14, at 7 p.m. The Saturday night concert will feature opening band Phoenix Drive. [Read more…]

Emory Valley Center ‘Celebrates Spring’ with Capital Campaign fundraiser on Friday

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Emory Valley Center Logo

Emory Valley Center Logo

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Make plans now to join Emory Valley Center on Friday, May 2, for a “Celebrate Spring” fundraising event. Proceeds will benefit the ongoing Capital Campaign for a new building to better serve children and adults with disabilities.

The Knights of Columbus of St. Mary’s Church are partnering with Emory Valley Center for the event, which will be held in the St. Mary’s Church Gym from 6–8:30 p.m. and feature a full-course meal they will prepare. Tickets are currently on sale and only $25 each. Attendees will be served their buffet-style meal by youth of St. Mary’s Church, enjoy musical entertainment by the band Early Bird Special, and have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction. Some of the silent auction items donated by local supporters and friends include jewelry, a variety of art items, golf rounds, restaurant certificates, area attraction tickets, “themed” baskets, and more. The event is casual, so plan to come after work and bring your family, friends, and colleagues. [Read more…]

Ninja 5K Race to support Wounded Warriors, Graduation Celebration

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Ninja 5K Race Logo

Registration is now open for the inaugural Ninja 5K race coming to Oak Ridge on June 28. Organizers said the race was created to raise funds for our local Graduation Celebration event, while also supporting the Wounded Warriors Project.

The Ninja 5K is a 3.1-mile race and walk that is planned for the Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge. The race course is very flat and accessible for all ages and abilities, a press release said. The race will be timed, but both runners and walkers are encouraged to participate.

“Martial arts groups will be on hand doing demonstrations, and everyone is encouraged to dress up ninja-style for the event,” a release stated. “Events like this one are sweeping the country because people are looking for something fun to do as a family. We hope to see the whole family dressed out in martial arts uniforms, or as Ninja Turtles, Karate Kid, Kung Fu Panda, etc.” [Read more…]

Biblical scholar to give science, religion talk on Sunday

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Stan Saunders

Stan Saunders

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The topic for the 11th annual Jackson B. Davidson Memorial Lecture on Science and Religion will be “A Dwelling Place for God: Recovering the Forgotten Story of God, Humankind, Temple, and Creation.”

Stanley Saunders, associate professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., will deliver the lecture at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 27, in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike (at Lafayette Drive).

Refreshments will be served after the lecture, and childcare will be provided during and after the free talk.

“Modern, western Christians typically presume that Christian salvation entails escape from our bodies and this earth, so that we can dwell with God in an ethereal heavenly realm,” Saunders said. “The New Testament, on the other hand, much more clearly affirms a vision of God coming to dwell with us.” [Read more…]

‘Legends of the Knight’ screening to benefit ADFAC this Sunday

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Legends of the Knight

A movie poster for “Legends of the Knight,” which will be screened at the Historic Grove Theater on April 27 to benefit ADFAC.

A special screening of “Legends of the Knight,” a documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Brett Culp, will be held at the Historic Grove Theater on Sunday, and it will benefit a local nonprofit.

“Legends of the Knight” weaves together the uplifting true stories of individuals who have overcome devastating obstacles, unselfishly given to the community, and embraced their inner superhero because of their love of Batman, a press release said.

The screening starts at 3:45 p.m. Sunday at the Grove Theater, which is at 123 Randolph Road. It will benefit Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. [Read more…]

Forecast calls for good weather for Earth Day Festival on Saturday

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Earth Day Logo

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With temperatures forecasted to be 80 degrees and no chance of rain, it looks like Saturday will be a great day to celebrate our lush green environment and play outdoors. Keep Anderson County Beautiful will be hosting the seventh annual Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

A big emphasis in this year’s festival will be showing children how to play ”neighborhood games” that require simple instructions and no costly equipment. Believe it or not some kids don’t know how to play hopscotch or play double jump rope (see demo here) or even sing the child’s rhythmic, ” Strawberry Shortcake, huckleberry pie…”

Many other simple games will be demonstrated with time for kids to learn how to play. Student chess club players will help novices learn how to play with large and traditional size chess pieces. There will be a recycle relay and basketball free throw, bocce, croquet, flying discs, and ladder ball. Prizes will be offered. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum to have presentation on bats on Thursday

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Bat at UT Arboretum

Northern Long-eared Bat (Photos courtesy of Middleton Photos)

The University of Tennessee Arboretum will host a presentation on bats—“Let’s Go BAT-ty”—from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Gerry Middleton, a biologist who has studied bats extensively, will present a slide show at the Visitor’s Center to discuss his two-year study of Arboretum bats. Using his “bat detector,” he will take the group outside to look for the nocturnal creatures.

A biologist with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in the U.S. Department of Energy-Oversight Office, Middleton promised that this will be an opportunity for all ages to learn more about the local bat population, a press release said. Middleton has an master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. [Read more…]

Get your tickets to support MMC Casino Night 2014

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MMC Casino Night

Grab your best girl and swing into Methodist Medical Center’s Casino Night 2014! The 40s-themed event will celebrate Oak Ridge’s heritage as a military town, and promises to be a night of fun, food and fancy footwork. (Photo courtesy MMC)

Tickets are still available for the Methodist Medical Center Foundation’s Casino Night 2014: Secrets, Science and Swing on Saturday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the New Hope Center at Y-12. This year’s theme hearkens back to the early days of Oak Ridge when the street were in mud, couples were in the mood, and mum was the word.

Guests at Casino Night will enjoy dinner and dancing, as well as silent and live auctions that include tickets to local and national attractions, local art, fine jewelry, weekend getaways, and week-long trips in the Rocky Mountains, Sunset Beach, and the Caribbean. The band Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam will provide late night entertainment. [Read more…]

Stone Soup Ministry serving free community meal Friday

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Stone Soup Community Meal

From left to right, volunteers Jinx Watson, Beatrice Holt, Todd Sherline, and daughter Poppy prepare for guests at a recent ORUUC Stone Soup Free Community Meal. The next meal will be served on April 25. (File photo)

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will be serving a free community meal on Friday, April 25. Dine-in or takeout will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Social Hall of the church.

This month’s meal includes homemade tomato soup, sandwiches, chocolate cupcakes, and milk.

The Stone Soup Ministry free community meal is held the last Friday of every month at the same time in the Social Hall of the church. Food for the free monthly meal is provided by the ORUUC congregation along with financial support from several members of the Oak Ridge Community. [Read more…]

Community meal at Oak Ridge Family Bible Church on Wednesday

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Oak Ridge Family Bible Church Logo

Oak Ridge Family Bible Church will host its monthly community meal, Dinner with our Neighbor, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

This event began a number of years ago and has not just been feeding the community, but has also been a time of building relationships and helping neighbors during lonely and difficult times, a press release said.

The Rev. Robert May said: “There are many folks in our area that will sit down to have a meal alone, and it is our aim to give them an opportunity to have a meal with someone who cares and possibly make some new friends. Also, there may be some folks that are finding it difficult to feed their family, and the dinner we serve might relieve that pressure.” [Read more…]

Altrusa to host author Jay Searcy on Wednesday

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Jay Searcy

Jay Searcy

On Wednesday, the Oak Ridge chapter of  Altrusa Club International will be hosting Jay Searcy from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel.

Searcy is an acclaimed newspaper man and author of “The Last Reunion.” The topic of his presentation is  “The Last Reunion—Stories of wartime life in Oak Ridge.”

The Doubletree Hotel is located at 215 S. Illinois Ave.

Youth Pride Fest in Oak Ridge May 31

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Clockwise from Olivia Erkins, Caroline Dobyns, Keith Coyle, Kawon Whiteside, Anne Backus (president of Oak Ridge PFLAG), Joe Sears, Particia Edou, Alex Todd, Misty Neergaard

The Pride Fest planning committee is pictured above. Clockwise from left to right starting in the back row are Olivia Erkins, Caroline Dobyns, Keith Coyle, Kawon Whiteside, Anne Backus (president of Oak Ridge PFLAG), Joe Sears, Particia Edou, Alex Todd, Misty Neergaard. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge’s first Youth Pride Fest will be Saturday, May 31.

It’s for all East Tennessee LGBTQ youth and allies under the age of 21, and parents.

The Youth Pride Fest will be held at First Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. May 31. Youth should register by May 24 to attend the full day.

In the morning, there will be discussions on activism and being involved, spirituality, and coming out, as well as a presentation, “Love is not black and white” by members of the ORHS chapter of GSA. During the day, there will also be a scavenger hunt with prizes. [Read more…]