Oak Ridge Today

League of Women Voters has membership celebration Monday

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has its annual Spring Membership Celebration on Monday, April 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Hearth Room of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. Reservations are not needed. The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

The event is open to current and past members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and anyone interested in learning more about the League, a press release said.

“Good food and interesting people to chat with are promised at the event,” the release said. [Read more…]

Guest column: We all have a role to play in ending child abuse

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CASA Child Abuse Prevention Month

By Naomi Asher 

By the time you finish reading this article, more than 30 cases of child abuse will have been reported to authorities nationwide. By the end of today, that number will swell past 9,000. And four of those children will die at the hands of their abuser. All in a single day.

When we take stock of these sobering statistics during April—National Child Abuse Prevention Month—it’s easy to be overwhelmed and to ask yourself, “What can I possibly do to make a difference?”

The answer is, you can do a lot. Everybody can play a role in preventing child abuse and neglect by becoming advocates for children.

For some of us, that advocacy comes in a formal role. Teachers, child care workers, health care providers and others who come into daily contact with children can be vigilant for signs of abuse and neglect. Their actions to report suspected abuse or to offer extra time and attention to fragile children can do more than make a difference. It can save lives. [Read more…]

Women’s Interfaith Dialogue hosts free forum on world belief systems on Monday

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Women's Interfaith Dialogue Steering Committee

Members of the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue Steering Steering pictured above are, from left to right, Barbara McCord, Jo Ann Garrett, Eileen Handler, and Cleva Marrow. (Submitted photo)

The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge will sponsor a free community forum on different world belief systems at 11 a.m. Monday. The forum, “Tell Us about Your Faith: Learning from Each Other,” will be at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge.

The presentations by a dozen or so local women will be organized from oldest belief system in origin to newest, including Wicca, Hindu, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Islam, many of the major Protestant denominations, Quaker, Universalist and Baha’i.

A question and answer session will follow the presentations. The forum is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.

The presenters include Nayeema Ahmad, Sharon Annis, Carolyn Dipboye, Margaret Dory, Diane Edwards, Jo Ann Garrett, Kas Gomathinayagam, Barbara McCord, Kathy Olsen, Ruth Prince, Fran Silver, and Toni Stephenson. [Read more…]

ORNL division director to discuss international thermonuclear reactor Tuesday

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Hans Vogel

Hans Vogel

A division director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss heating, fueling, and cooling the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project at ORNL during a Tuesday meeting in Oak Ridge.

The lunchtime meeting featuring Hans Vogel will be hosted by Friends of ORNL.

This will be the second in a series of three talks on the U.S. ITER project. The next one on May 13 will feature Graeme Murdoch.

During the Tuesday talk, Vogel, who is the ORNL Nuclear Systems division director, will discuss the Tokamak cooling water system, ion cyclotron transmission lines, electron cyclotron transmission lines, pellet injection system, disruption mitigation system, and the tokamak exhaust processing system. These systems are valued at more than $500 million, a press release said. [Read more…]

Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge to show ‘Dear Mr. Waldman’ on Saturday

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The Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge will have its monthly Jewish Film Series on Saturday, April 5, at 7 p.m.

Each month, the rabbi picks a different Jewish film ranging from comedy to drama, from fiction to documentary. This is a free event and refreshments are provided.

This month’s film will be “Dear Mr. Waldman” (Israel, 2006, NR, 84 minutes). Set in early 1960s Tel Aviv, this coming-of-age story centers on 10-year-old Hilik and his struggle to help heal the emotional wounds of his father, who hasn’t recovered from losing his elder son at Auschwitz. Still in denial, Moishe believes his son escaped and is now President Kennedy’s aide. To help his father move on and gain the father-son relationship he sorely needs, Hilik puts Moishe’s love to the test. [Read more…]

Butterflies for Hope for lupus research at Hot Bagel on Saturday

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Butterflies for Hope at Hot Bagel 2012

Riders in Butterflies for Hope at Hot Bagel in April 2012.

Butterflies for Hope, a benefit for lupus research, starts Saturday morning at Hot Bagel in Oak Ridge.

Registration for the bike rides begin at 8:30 a.m. with bagels and coffee. The 50- and 62-mile bike rides start at 10 a.m., and the 20-mile ride begins at 10:15 a.m.

Kent Bostick, who has won many national titles, will lead the race with his wife Rhonda, a press release said.

There will be free food and drinks after the ride beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Butterflies for Hope is for research on lupus, an auto-immune disease that affects joints and organs. More than 35,000 Tennesseans are battling this disease and hoping that a cure can be found, the press release said.

Train rides resume in Oak Ridge

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Southern Appalachian Railway Museum

SARM offers spring colors, Easter dinner trains

Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, or SARM, kicks off its 2014 excursion train schedule in Oak Ridge with one-hour Spring Colors trips and an Easter Weekend dinner train for April.

The narrated one-hour Spring Colors train rides will depart at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, and Saturday, April 19. Ticket prices are $19 for adults and $15 for children three through 12. Popcorn, refreshments and railroad souvenirs will be available in the train’s commissary car. During the rides, a short narrative will describe the historic Manhattan Project and the historical significance of the railroad that served it. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the museum at (865) 241-2140. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line has annual flea market Friday, Saturday

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CONTACT Care Line has its annual flea market on Friday and Saturday.

You can bring donations to First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge on from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, or from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 4.

The flea market is from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 4 (buy at twice the price), and from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 5.

The First Baptist Church is at 1100 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Call the CONTACT office at (865) 312-7450 for earlier pick-up of large items.

MMC April classes: Prepare for baby, exercise, find support group

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Methodist Medical Center

Methodist Medical Center

Spring is here, and Methodist Medical Center has lots of classes to support your growing family or help your healthy habits take root. Whether you want to get in shape, prepare for the birth of a baby or find support from others going through a similar experience, Methodist has a class for you!

Classes will be held at the hospital, located at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge, unless otherwise noted. For more information and registration, call (865) 835-4662 or 1-800-468-6767.

[Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament this month helps youth, families

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Community Mediation Services Big Ed's Golf Tournament

The 13th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 25, continues a long tradition that combines a great day of golf with active commitment to youth and families. The tournament supports Community Mediation Services’ work with youths and families, and it honors the community spirit and caring of “Big Ed” Neusel, founder of Big Ed’s Pizza, and David Neusel, and their belief in giving to others while seeking recognition from no one, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful and challenging venue for the Big Ed’s Memorial Tournament. Early registration is Wednesday, April 16. Registration forms are available by calling (865) 483-6888 or e-mailing info@cms-tn.org. Registration online is also available through the website at www.peacefulresolution.org. [Read more…]

Helen Ross McNabb coordinator to discuss Safe Place outreach on Monday

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Safe Place Logo

The residential program coordinator for the Helen Ross McNabb Center will discuss Safe Place outreach efforts of businesses and community volunteers during a Monday evening meeting in Oak Ridge.

Desiree Miller will be the guest speaker at a Monday evening meeting of Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG, at the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“Miller will share information about Safe Place outreach efforts of businesses and community volunteers in the Knoxville area seeking to establish a network of easily accessible places (schools, fire stations, libraries, youth-friendly businesses, etc.) to which children and teens can turn when they are in need of help,” the press release said. [Read more…]

The Arc Anderson County names new executive director

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Dargie Arwood

Dargie Arwood

Dargie Arwood of Oak Ridge, a mother of three boys with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has been chosen to fill the position of executive director of The Arc Anderson County, a press release said.

Arwood started on Nov. 11, and she has been working to create a support group for families with a member who has I/DD, an anti-bullying seminar, and various other programs in the community.

If your family is in need of assistance, call (865) 481-0550 or stop in at 728 Emory Valley Road, Suite 42, in Oak Ridge from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday or Thursday.