Oak Ridge Today

Watson to discuss ‘State of the City’ at Lunch with the League

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give an update on the state of the city during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

The meeting starts at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Watson became Oak Ridge city manager in August 2010. He is the chief administrative officer of the city, and his responsibilities include planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating the operations of the municipal government in order to implement Oak Ridge City Council policies in an effective and economic manner, a press release said. [Read more…]

Co-director to discuss Free Medical Clinic’s role under new health care law

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Tanya Vargas

Tanya Vargas

Dr. Tanya Vargas, co-director of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, will discuss the role of the clinic under the new health care act in a community forum to be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Grace Covenant Church, 320 Robertsville Road.

Her presentation is entitled “The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge after the Affordable Care Act.” Vargas said she will address the question, “If everyone is going to be insured after the Affordable Care Act, why would free medical clinics like FMCOR be needed?”

Vargas moved to Oak Ridge in 1990, after completing her pediatric training at Tulane University School of Medicine and Affiliated Hospitals, and three years of private practice in New Orleans.

She has been active in multiple organizations in Oak Ridge, including Oak Ridge Playhouse, ShowKids, Oak Ridge Baseball Association, and Montessori School of Oak Ridge. She is a founding member of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge board of directors and has served in various capacities on that board, including service as president. [Read more…]

Grace Lutheran has Reach Out Music Festival on Sunday

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Ridge City Ramblers

Members of the Ridge City Ramblers, who will play at the Reach Out Music Festival at Grace Lutheran Church on Sunday, are, from left, Gary Coleman, Mary Tuskan, Scott Linn, Abbie Hoerner, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and Steve Reddick. (File photo/submitted)

Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge has its 8th annual Reach Out Music Festival on Sunday.

The community is invited to enjoy the 3 p.m. concert at the church, which is located at 131 West Gettysburg Ave., a press release said. The festival will feature local bluegrass and Americana group, the Ridge City Ramblers, who have been picking together since 2010.

Two choirs will also be performing: Grace Lutheran under the direction of Paula Smith, and Church of the Resurrection under the direction of Ruben Weaver. Audience participation is encouraged, but not required, the release said. [Read more…]

Girls Inc. has fundraising pancake breakfast on Saturday

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Girls Inc. will have a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Applebee’s.

Tickets ($5 ) may be purchased at Girls Inc. or at the door.

Funds raised will assist in providing programs that will help girls be strong, smart, and bold, a press release said. Applebee’s is at 1213 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Free Medical Clinic has open house, ribbon cutting at new location

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The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge will have an open house and ribbon cutting celebration at its new location next week.

The clinic has moved to an expanded location at 116 East Division Road in Oak Ridge (immediately behind Zaxby’s restaurant).

The open house will be from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m.

Before moving to the new location in mid-October, FMCOR was housed in the Trinity Center on Robertsville Road. The larger facility will help to meet the ever increasing requests for care, a press release said. Since opening in January 2010, more than 3,000 patients have been served in nearly 13,000 visits. [Read more…]

Anderson County will receive close to $30,000 in emergency food, shelter funding

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Anderson County will receive $29,369 in federal funds to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county, a press release said.

The money has been awarded under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

A local board consisting of representatives from the United Way of Anderson County and other local nonprofit and governmental agencies will determine how the funds will be awarded to emergency food and shelter programs run by local service organizations in Anderson County. [Read more…]

Annual Christmas tree lighting in Bissell Park scheduled for Dec. 6

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Oak Ridge Christmas Tree Lighting

The Oak Ridge Woman’s Club and the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will have the annual Christmas tree lighting at A.K. Bissell Park on Friday, Dec. 6.

The Oak Ridge Woman’s Club and the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will sponsor the annual Christmas tree lighting and reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6.

Participants should gather at the Secret City Commemorative Walk on the east side of the Oak Ridge Public Library parking lot for a brief ceremony, a press release said. Following the tree lighting, a reception will be held in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium. Participants will enjoy seasonal music and refreshments provided by the Oak Ridge Woman’s Club Civic Affairs Committee.

For more information, visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department website at www.orrecparks.org.

Veterans Day Parade in Clinton on Monday, Nov. 11

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2013 Anderson County Veterans Day Parade

The 7th Annual Anderson County Veterans Day Parade will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in downtown Clinton.

This year’s theme is “Showing Our County’s Veterans We Care.”

The parade will start on Market Street in Clinton and move toward Main Street, passing in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.

Immediately after the parade, there will be a ceremony celebrating veterans featuring a “mini-concert” by local favorites Russ and Becky Jeffers in the Ritz Theater. [Read more…]

Secret City Wildbots have ‘Tech or Treat’ on Friday

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Spook-Tech-Ular!

The Secret City Wildbots are hosting the first annual Tech or Treat at Oak Ridge High School on Friday evening. (Submitted image)

The Secret City Wildbots are hosting the first annual Tech or Treat at Oak Ridge High School on Friday evening.

Tech or Treat will support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in Oak Ridge Schools and the surrounding areas.

Tech or Treat is similar to trunk or treat. STEM-related clubs and teams from around the area will set up booths in the Oak Ridge High School Cafeteria and hand out candy to community trick-or-treaters. There will even be special guests from technology research companies in the area, a press release said. [Read more…]

Trick or treating is on Halloween in Oak Ridge, Clinton, AC, OS, officials say

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Trick or treating is on Halloween in Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Clinton, and Oliver Springs, officials said Monday.

Some parents and Oak Ridge Today readers have asked whether there is an official trick or treating date and time. There is not. The Oak Ridge City Manager’s Office said trick or treating is always on Halloween, and the city doesn’t specify times, leaving it up to the parents’ discretion.

Government representatives in Anderson County, Clinton, and Oliver Springs confirmed that there aren’t officials dates and times there either. [Read more…]

United Way Golf Tournament raises close to $19,000

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United Way Golf Tournament First Place 2013

The first place team in this year’s United Way Golf Tournament included Shane Peters, Rick Cornell, Jason Hembree, and Alan Grigsby. (Submitted photos)

An annual golf tournament for the United Way of Anderson County raised close to $19,000 this month, officials said Monday.

The tournament was Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“We are so pleased to have raised nearly $19,000 through this year’s tournament,” said David Wilson, tournament chairman. “We had 16 teams come out and enjoy great weather and great golf!” [Read more…]

Altrusa’s annual spaghetti dinner, auction on Wednesday

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Altrusa will have its fundraising Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction on Wednesday evening at the DoubleTree Hotel on South Illinois Avenue.

“Enjoy dinner, wine, and entertainment, a press release said. [Read more…]