Oak Ridge Today

League of Women Voters to help register new citizens as voters

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has been awarded a national grant from the League of Women Voters of the U.S. to increase the voter registration of the country’s newest citizens following their participation in a Citizenship and Immigration Services ceremony.

LWVOR and the U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee will work together to celebrate the swearing in of immigrant residents who have chosen to call the United States their new home, a press release said. Volunteers will provide a celebratory reception and guide the new citizens through the voter registration process at six naturalization ceremonies before November 8, 2018. Other dates may be added, the press release said.

The ceremonies will take place at the Big South Fork National Recreation Area on April 26, at 10:30 a.m.; in Chattanooga (900 Georgia Avenue), on May 11, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; in Knoxville (800 Market Street), on July 24, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and again in Knoxville (800 Market Street), on October 19, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Other dates may be added. [Read more…]

David Haskell, author of ‘Songs of Trees,’ to speak at UT Arboretum tonight

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David Haskell

David Haskell

 

Author David Haskell will speak about his new book, “The Songs of Trees: Stories from Nature’s Great Connectors,” in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday, April 24).

Haskell, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for an earlier book, will be at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday. The Arboretum is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The event is co-sponsored by Strata-G LLC, the UT Arboretum Society, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, an Oak Ridge-based environmental advocacy organization that offers informative programs and news about environmental issues affecting Tennesseans, a press release said.

Haskell, a British-born American biologist, is an author and professor of biology at Sewanee: The University of the South. Copies of his new book and “The Forest Unseen” will be available for sale at the event from Union Avenue Books, the press release said. He will be signing books purchased at the event before and after his talk. [Read more…]

Breakfast with Legislators is Monday

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The Oak Ridge League of Women Voters will host Breakfast with the Legislators on Monday, April 23.

The meeting will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A free continental breakfast will be served.

Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, Senator Ken Yager, and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to provide a summary of the legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly, and respond to questions and hear opinions from the audience, a press release said. The public is invited to attend. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project Park premieres Minuteman missile film on Saturday

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The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will have a special premiere showing of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site film, "Beneath the Plains," in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Submitted photo)

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will have a special premiere showing of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site film, “Beneath the Plains,” in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 21, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will have a special premiere showing of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site film, “Beneath the Plains,” in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The film showing is scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Museum of Science and Energy, which is at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The 30-minute film gives visitors a glimpse of how 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert, a press release said.

“Hidden in plain sight during the Cold War, these nuclear weapons stood as a deterrent against a nuclear attack to the United States and its allies,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Rally for Second Amendment, Constitution on Saturday

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Anderson County residents have organized a rally to show support for the Second Amendment and the U.S. Constitution in Clinton on Saturday.

“Aware of the threat to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of our great nation, some very concerned citizens of Anderson County, Tennessee, have banded together to demonstrate to those who attack our liberties that they will not be successful in their attempts to destroy America,” a press release said.

“While recognizing there is no immediate threat to to our liberties in East Tennessee, we feel strongly that we must stand with those in other parts of our county who are seeing immediate threats to their right to keep and bear arms, a right that is guaranteed and protected by the Constitution of our country,” the press release said.

The rally is scheduled to start at noon Saturday, April 21, on the steps of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. It is meant to “show support and solidarity with freedom-loving citizens throughout the United States,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Run on Saturday will support autism organization

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Joe Judkins, right, of Oak Ridge, gets a high-five from Seth Krichinsky, an adult with autism who cheers on participants and helps hand out awards. Judkins came in first in his age group in the 5K run last year. (Submitted photo)

Joe Judkins, right, of Oak Ridge, gets a high-five from Seth Krichinsky, an adult with autism who cheers on participants and helps hand out awards. Judkins came in first in his age group in the 5K run last year. (Submitted photo)

 

The 12th annual Breakthrough Run for Autism will be held April 21, with Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville inviting individuals, teams, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate.

The 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Stadium 18 in Farragut’s Turkey Creek. The run, held during National Autism Awareness Month, supports Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville, a nonprofit organization committed to helping adults facing the challenges of autism in the East Tennessee region.

Lori Tucker, WATE-TV news anchor, will serve as honorary chair of the run and will be the emcee during the awards ceremony. Happy Lee, a Breakthrough volunteer, is the race director.

Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville invites any individual with a disability to register for the run or walk as a “breakthrough buddy,” a press release said. A “buddy” may request to participate with a volunteer, who will run or walk the course with the buddy. Breakthrough buddies receive special recognition during the award ceremony. [Read more…]

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Community Mediation Services

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Oak Ridge Country Club Golf CourseAn annual golf tournament that helps Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country is next week in Oak Ridge.

The 17th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament is Friday, April 27, at the beautiful and challenging Oak Ridge Country Club, a press release said.

Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament benefits Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, “providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in our community while having a great day of golf,” the press release said.

The Tournament starts at 8 a.m. Friday, April 27, in a scramble format. Golfers will get a complimentary breakfast, beverage carts, and a smoked barbecue lunch provided by Big Ed’s. Prize contests for participants will be awarded and a Hole-in-One Grand Prize will be available. Free Big Ed’s shirts and golf towels for all golfers are included. An on-site silent auction will be available, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has plant sale this weekend

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University of Tennessee Arboretum Society Spring Plant Sale (Submitted Photo)

University of Tennessee Arboretum Society Spring Plant Sale (Submitted Photo)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a spring plant sale this weekend that will gather the best of four local nurseries in one location.

The public sale, the 51st Annual Spring Plant Sale, will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. The “Members Only” sale will be on Friday evening, April 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Memberships may be purchased at that time for this “early bird” shopping opportunity, a press release said.

“By joining UTAS on Friday night, people can enjoy the membership benefit of having the first pick of our beautiful selection of plants, some of which sell out that evening,” the press release said.

Checks, cash, and credit cards will be accepted. [Read more…]

Greenways Oak Ridge to be discussed at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Dan Robbins Birdwalk

Dan Robbins, second from right, leads an ORICL group on a birding walk along a Melton Hill Lake paved greenway. (File photo)

 

Dan Robbins, chairman of Greenways Oak Ridge, will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday. His presentation will focus on the history, current status, and future plans of the Greenways Oak Ridge organization, which celebrates 25 years of existence this year, 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.

Robbins, who grew up on a tobacco farm in rural eastern North Carolina, earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his doctorate in analytical chemistry from Princeton University, then spent a year at the Technical University of Norway on a Fulbright post-doctoral fellowship. [Read more…]

United Way has annual meeting on Thursday

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United Way of Anderson County has its annual meeting in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

It’s scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 19, in the New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

“Please join us to celebrate an incredible year…Enjoy a complimentary breakfast, friendly company, some highlights from 2017,” a press release said. “We are so excited to showcase what we’ve accomplished this past year as well as some exciting plans for 2018!”

United Way said the community helped raised enough money last year to fund 43 agencies and more than 55 programs in Anderson County and Campbell County. [Read more…]

Community Band Concert is Sunday at ORHS

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Kim Kasten plays "Star Dust" on the trumpet at a recent rehearsal of the Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble. (Submitted photo)

Kim Kasten plays “Star Dust” on the trumpet at a recent rehearsal of the Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band/Wind Ensemble has its last indoor concert of the 2017-2018 series on Sunday. It’s the “April Showers” show at Oak Ridge High School.

The concert starts at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

The summer season of outdoor concerts begins on Memorial Day, a press release said.

The Sunday performance promises to be exceptional, featuring a variety of songs including Hoagy Carmichael’s “Star Dust,” featuring trumpet soloist Kim Kasten; Leonard Bernstein’s “Highlights of West Side Story”; Alfred Reed’s exciting “Punchinello”; and James Curnow’s lovely “Cherry Tree” from his “Appalachian Dances,” the press release said. Other numbers on Sunday’s program will be Jean Sibelius’s “Finlandia,” John Clifford Heed’s “In Storm and Sunshine,” and Leroy Anderson’s “Belle of the Ball.” [Read more…]

Holocaust Remembrance Program is Sunday in Oak Ridge

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Mira Kimmelman

Mira Kimmelman

There will be a Holocaust Remembrance Program at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge on Sunday.

It’s presented by the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The Holocaust Remembrance Service is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, a press release said. The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed April 15 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2018, the press release said.

The Holocaust Remembrance Program will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Sanctuary, which is at 101 West Madison Lane. There will be a candle lighting ceremony, songs, readings by members of both congregations, and prayers, the press release said. [Read more…]