Oak Ridge Today

Winter Farmers’ Market opens Saturday

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The Winter Farmers’ Market will open in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, and it will be open through March 28, 2020, in St. Mary’s School gym in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy Grow Oak Ridge)

The Winter Farmers’ Market will open in Oak Ridge on Saturday, and it will be open through March.

With more than 30 vendors each week, the Winter Farmers’ Market is the largest one in Anderson County, a press release said.

This weekend’s opening is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, December 7, in the gym at St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge.

This year, the Winter Farmers’ Market will extend an extra four weeks, through March 28, 2020. It is closed only on the Saturday after Christmas, December 28, the press release said.

“Our farmers grow a wide array of crops all winter long,” said Rebecca Williams, director of Grow Oak Ridge, the nonprofit organization that produces the market.

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Francisco Franco to be discussed at ‘Dictator’s Playbook’ today7

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The Community Education and Development group is hosting viewings and discussions of the PBS series, “The Dictator’s Playbook.”

You can join them from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, November 17, in the social hall of Oak Ridge Universal Unitarian Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, to learn about Francisco Franco’s rise and fall, a press release said. This is the fifth of six sessions, with each session covering a dictator who arose to infamy in the 20th century, the press release said. A final discussion and reception will be held on Sunday, December 8.

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Reservations now open for ‘Breakfast with Santa’

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The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board is hosting a “Breakfast with Santa” on Saturday, December 7. The event will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The cost for the breakfast is $7 per participant ages 3 and up. Activities will include a kid-friendly breakfast buffet, Christmas crafts, and photos with Santa. 

Reservations are required as spots for the event are limited, a press release said. Digital photos will be available online for free, but participants may opt to pay $5 for a 4×6 photo at the event.

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Oak Ridge receives award for partnership that led to AMSE opening in new space

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The City of Oak Ridge was formally honored with a Community Partnership Award during a Celebration of Service to the Profession as part of ICMA’s Annual Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, center; Government Affairs and Information Services Director Amy Fitzgerald, second from left; and Administrative Services Director Bruce Applegate, left, accepted the award in Nashville. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge has received an award for the intergovernmental partnership that led to the American Museum of Science and Energy opening in a new centrally located space in Main Street Oak Ridge.

The 2019 Community Partnership Award was presented to the city by the International City/County Management Association, or ICMA.

“The award recognizes innovative programs or processes between and/or among a local government and other governmental entities, private sector businesses, individuals, or nonprofit agencies to improve the quality of life for residents or provide more efficient and effective services,” a press release said.

The City of Oak Ridge was formally honored during a Celebration of Service to the Profession as part of ICMA’s Annual Conference on Wednesday, October 23. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Government Affairs and Information Services Director Amy Fitzgerald, and Administrative Services Director Bruce Applegate accepted the award in Nashville.

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Free community Thanksgiving Dinner is Thursday, Nov. 28

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High Places Community Church
The Grove Theater at High Places Community Church is pictured above.

Everyone is invited to a free community Thanksgiving Dinner in Oak Ridge on Thursday, November 28, a press release said.

The dinner is scheduled from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving at the Historic Grove Theater, which is located at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Reservations are not required.

“The grassroots annual tradition continues!” a press release said. “Everyone should have someone to give thanks with on Thanksgiving!”

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Oak Ridge’s oldest structure recognized with historical sign

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Freels-Bend-Cabin-Historical-Marker-Oct-20-2019
Photo courtesy D. Ray Smith

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m.

The Freels Bend Cabin, Oak Ridge’s oldest structure, was recognized with a historical sign in October.

The historical sign by the Tennessee Historical Commission said the Freels Bend Cabin, next to Melton Hill Lake east of Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge, is the only Oak Ridge home that is still standing that was built in the 1800s.

It was one of the earliest cabins built in Anderson County. It’s on the National Historic Register.

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Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 14

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The Oak Ridge High School Softball team prepares for the 2018 Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. This year’s parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (Submitted photo)

 

The annual Christmas Parade organized by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will be Saturday, December 14.

This year’s theme is “Christmas Around the World.” The parade promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, a press release said.

The sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company. There is no cost to participate.

The Chamber will be accepting entries online through Monday, December 9. Register by visiting the Chamber’s website at www.oakridgechamber.org. [Read more…]

ASAP, which works to prevent substance abuse, moves into new office

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ASAP of Anderson, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse in Anderson County, has moved into a new office in Clinton that was provided by county school officials. ASAP dedicated the new space with a ribbon-cutting and open house on Oct. 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy ASAP of Anderson)

ASAP of Anderson, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse in Anderson County, has moved into a new office in Clinton that was provided by county school officials.

ASAP dedicated the new space with a ribbon-cutting and open house on October 24.

ASAP, which celebrated 10 years of prevention last year, started out in a small space at the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, but its operations quickly grew. The organization next occupied space within District Attorney General Dave Clark’s office in Clinton, and the ASAP staff eventually landed, in 2011, on the fourth floor of the Robert Jolley Building on Main Street in Clinton. That space was provided by the Anderson County schools director at the time, Larry Foster.

In August, ASAP moved into a building not far from their original offices. The big difference? A space all their own, a press release said. A space where they can host their own coalition meetings, community trainings such as responsible alcohol sales classes and opioid overdose trainings, and host meetings for other community agencies.

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Cannabis in Tennessee to be discussed Tuesday

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Cannabis in Tennessee will be discussed at “Lunch with the League” in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The speaker will be Patricia K. Freeland, professor and associate head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A long-time educator, Freeland has had an extensive and interesting career in all aspects of public administration and public policy, the press release said. She has written numerous books and articles on public administration, food policy, technology policy (drones), religion, and politics.

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ADFAC Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Celebration and Fundraiser is Nov. 9

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Bill Capshaw: 2019 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award recipient (Submitted photo)

 

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties is hosting its annual Bow Tie Gala on Saturday, November 9, at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Ridge. This year’s honoree is celebrated local artist Bill Capshaw.

The Bow Tie award was established several years ago as a tribute to local historian Bill Wilcox. Each year’s honoree has exemplified the values of community and philanthropy that Wilcox demonstrated himself, a press release said.

“The purpose of the event is to honor a cherished community leader, but also raise much-needed funds for ADFAC’s long and short-term sustainability with proceeds partially benefiting ADFAC’s Bow Tie Endowment,” the press release said.

Past recipients of the award have included Ray Smith, Tim Myrick, Cande Seay, Bear Stephenson, Tom Row, Kathy Stimpson (posthumously), and Louise Mixon. [Read more…]

‘Lighting of the Tree’ is Nov. 25 in Roane County

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By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

It’s Roane County’s “Lighting of the Tree,” and it’s a highlight of the holiday season in the region.

Now in its third year, the family-oriented event is at Roane State Community College at 276 Patton Lane in Harriman, and it starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 25.

The event features the lighting of a huge Christmas tree and a “Festival of Trees,” featuring Christmas trees decorated by school groups, churches, civic groups, businesses, and individuals.

Also scheduled are holiday-themed games, refreshments, selfies with Santa, and Christmas carols sung by local choirs.

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Judge to discuss Juvenile Court, school truancy

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Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brian Hunt

Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brian J. Hunt will present a program about the court’s approach to truancy issues in Anderson County schools, including Oak Ridge, on Monday, October 28.

The presentation will be during the general meeting of AAUW (American Association of University Women) at First Presbyterian Church, Room 122 at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Hunt’s talk will begin shortly after noon, with a luncheon catered by The Soup Kitchen being served at 11:30 a.m., a press release said. Reservations for the luncheon are $8.50 and may be made by calling Mary Uziel at (865) 483-1043. A choice of soups and sandwiches will be available, with desserts and iced tea and coffee. Those attending who want to bring a sack lunch or not have lunch are asked to make a reservation to ensure adequate seating for the program, the press release said.

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