Oak Ridge Today

Author DiGregorio a special guest at Southern Women Expo this week

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Judy DiGregorio

Judy DiGregorio

Oak Ridge author Judy DiGregorio is one of the special guests for the first-ever Southern Women Expo to be held at the Knoxville Expo Center on Friday and Saturday, a press release said.

DiGregorio is the author of “Life Among the Lilliputians” and “Memories of a Loose Woman” from Celtic Cat Publishing. She also has a CD of humorous stories called “Jest Judy.” Her work has appeared in “The Army Times,” “The Writer,” “ByLine Magazine,” “Chicken Soup Books,” “The Oak Ridger,” and numerous other publications. [Read more…]

Habitat for Humanity celebrates reorganized, cleaned-up store

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Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Local officials and Habitat for Humanity workers and volunteers celebrate with a June ribbon-cutting ceremony at the renamed home store, which has been cleaned up and offers lower prices, officials said.

Local officials and Habitat for Humanity workers and volunteers celebrated the opening of a reorganized, cleaned-up store in Grove Center during a June ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Formerly known as the Home Store, it’s now called ReStore, said Jennifer Sheehan, interim executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County.

Four large shipping containers that had been in front of the store and used for storage have been removed, and trees have been trimmed, creating a better line of sight to the store from the road, Sheehan said.

“We’re working hard to improve curb appeal,” she said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Fair starts Monday night

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The Anderson County Fair officially kicks off this evening and will run through Saturday on the Fairgrounds in Clinton. Gates open at 5 p.m. today, and children ages 17 and under will get in for free.

In addition, if you can find Kubota of Knoxville owner Ron Krise at the Fair, he has purchased 100 armbands that will allow kids to ride the rides on the midway all night long. The midway opens at 6 p.m. and those armbands will be $20. [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic hosts M*A*S*H Bash in August

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Mash Bash 2012

“Hot Lips” and “Klinger” at last year’s M*A*S*H* Bash to benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Tickets are now on sale for M*A*S*H Bash 2013, Oak Ridge’s one-of-a-kind fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

The fun-filled event, fashioned after the M*A*S*H television series, is set for Saturday, Aug. 10, in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church.

Included in the $60 per person ticket price will be a buffet dinner, door prizes, silent and live auctions. and dancing to the classic rock sounds of the Second Opinion band. [Read more…]

Better late than never: Postponed fireworks shows on Saturday

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Information from WYSH Radio

A few of the area’s postponed Independence Day celebrations and fireworks shows will be held today, Saturday, July 13.

In Kingston, “Smokin’ the Water” begins at 11 a.m. at City Park with a car show, a watermelon eating contest, a homemade raft race, a kids area, vendors, games, laser tag, and more. Fireworks will be shot at dark.

Lake City’s annual celebration will be held beginning at 2 p.m. with a car show and games on the ball field. Fireworks will be shot at 10 p.m. Merle FM’s own Big Rick—who celebrates his birthday today—will broadcast from the Lake City celebration Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m.

Anderson County Fair starts Sunday with pageants

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Fair starts Sunday at Anderson County High School with the Tiny Miss and Fairest of the Fair pageants.

The Tiny Miss pageant will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday and the fairest of the Fair—including the Princess, Junior, and Senior divisions—will be held at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 and kids ages six and under will get in free. For more information, visit www.andersoncountyfairtn.com.

Ulster Project has annual Irish Fry on Saturday

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The Ulster Project has its annual Irish Fry on Saturday.

It will include a full traditional breakfast of eggs, sausage, tomatoes, beans, soda bread, juice, coffee, and tea served by Ulster Project teens from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church cafeteria in Oak Ridge. The breakfast costs $8 per person and $7 for seniors (65+).

Officials to offer update on Alexander Inn project tonight

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Guest House

The Guest House in Oak Ridge, now known as the Alexander Inn, as it looked during the top-secret Manhattan Project in World War II. (Photo by Ed Westcott)

Rick Dover, general manager of the company converting the historic Alexander Inn into an assisted living center, will provide an update on the project during an Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association meeting this evening.

Also present will be Knox Heritage’s Ethiel Garlington, director of preservation field services for the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. today (Thursday, July 11) in the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road at the corner of Robertsville Road and Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Quilters’ gifts bring warmth, encouragement to cancer patients at Hospitality Houses

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Ritzy Thimble Quilters Guild Group Picture

Members of the Ritzy Thimble Quilters’ Guild gather around the quilts they made and donated to Methodist’s Hospitality Houses. (Submitted photo)

The Hospitality Houses of Methodist Medical Center have been a refuge for thousands of visitors as they travel to the hospital for treatment. The houses provide a welcoming, home-like atmosphere for cancer patients and their families who must travel at least 30 miles to receive cancer treatment.

The Hospitality Houses are supported through generous donations from the community. For the last 10 years, one community organization, the Ritzy Thimble Quilters’ Guild, has offered a unique kind of support to the cancer patients at the Hospitality Houses. [Read more…]

CASA celebrates 25th anniversary

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CASA 25th Anniversary

Tennessee Sen. Randy McNally, left, and Naomi Asher, CASA executive director, during a 25th anniversary celebration in May. (Submitted photo)

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland celebrated its 25th anniversary in May by giving out cupcakes at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and hosting an awards banquet at the Riverside Grille.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates and has served as an advocate for more than 270 children since July 1, 2012, in Anderson, Blount, and Scott counties, a press release said.

All the volunteers were acknowledged for their hours of service, including Horace Friedman, who has served since the inaugural class in 1988. Horace received a lifetime of achievement award, the press release said. [Read more…]

AARP driver safety classes for July

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ARRP is offering driver safety classes in numerous places for the month of July.

The schedule is as follows: [Read more…]

Advisory board member stays busy with many activities

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Fay Martin With Trophies

Fay Martin displays her award for winning the singles title for women 55 in the 1996 Tennessee State Tennis Open. In the background are just a few of the numerous trophies she has won over the years. (Submitted photo)

Fay Martin is a very busy person. She’s an athlete. She’s a writer. She’s an artist. She’s involved in the community. The multitude of trophies, awards, certificates, and samples of her work proves that she has been doing all of these things for a long time.

She is also a member of the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, a federally appointed citizens’ panel that provides independent advice and recommendations to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management, or EM, program to clean up portions of the Oak Ridge Reservation. With all she does why would she want to be a member of ORSSAB? “I want to remain involved; to continue to be a helping hand on the board,” she says, “and I think DOE listens to what the board says through the recommendations it makes.” Fay is the vice chair of the board’s Stewardship Committee. [Read more…]