Oak Ridge Today

CONTACT Care Line volunteer wins national award

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Doris Jolley

Doris Jolley

 

A longtime volunteer for the CONTACT Care Line, an East Tennessee crisis intervention resource, was recently honored with a national award for outstanding contributions, a press release said.

Doris Jolley, a CONTACT volunteer for more than 43 years, was awarded the Spirit of Contact Award given by the National Association of Crisis Center Directors and Contact USA following their annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, last fall. The award is the highest given by the organization and recognizes Jolley’s supreme commitment to serving community members in crisis, the press release said.

Having completed the newly implemented CONTACT training course, Jolley was accredited to take calls on the brand new Oak Ridge Contact Helpline in October 1973. Since then, her service to the organization has continued without interruptions, the press release said. Over the years, Jolley has served the organization in a variety of roles: crisis line volunteer, scheduler of volunteers, mentor to new volunteer recruits, as well as executive director for 16 years. Since 2009 alone, Jolley has logged more than 4,000 hours of service. [Read more…]

Get update on Manhattan Project National Park on Thursday

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Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson

 

You can hear an update on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge, during a Thursday evening meeting.

The meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 9, at the Midtown Community Center’s Wildcat Den at 102 Robertsville Road. It’s open to the public.

Robert Johnson will present an update on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge. He will discuss the status of the park and announce upcoming events, a press release said.

Here are some links to website pages on the park, which also includes Hanford, Washington, and Los Alamos, New Mexico: [Read more…]

Relay for Life ‘Divas for a Cure’ is March 4

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American Cancer Society Relay for Life Logo

The Third Annual “Divas for a Cure” Relay for Life event is Saturday, March 4, in Oak Ridge.

It’s sponsored by Team Got Hope, and it is scheduled from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at High Places Community Church in the Grove Center in Oak Ridge.

Admission is $30 per diva, a press release said, and it will include:

  • Entry to the event
  • Lunch buffet
  • Mimosa bar (two per diva), and
  • Four tickets for use at a pampering station of your choice.

[Read more…]

Children’s Museum to host International Festival Feb. 18

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Obayana Ajanaku of Indigenous Vibes will create positive vibes on the djembe drums Feb. 18, 2017, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Submitted photo)

Obayana Ajanaku of Indigenous Vibes will create positive vibes on the djembe drums Feb. 18, 2017, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Submitted photo)

 

Indigenous Vibes, a culture-based entertainment group that creates positive vibrations using traditional West African drums, will be the featured performer when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts its annual International Festival on Saturday, February 18.

Led by Obayana Ajanaku, Indigenous Vibes drummers use the djembe drums to bring the message of diversity, confidence, unity, and pride through their entertainment, a press release said. The festival audience will be invited to participate in dancing to the drum rhythm.

The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from cultures around the world, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home, the press release said.

The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 18 at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive, with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. [Read more…]

Reader photos: 500 attend ‘Standing in Solidarity’ event hosted by AC Democratic Party

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About 500 people attended the "Standing in Solidarity" event hosted by the Anderson County Democratic Party at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Jan. 21, 2017. (Photo by Ellen Smith)

About 500 people attended the “Standing in Solidarity” event hosted by the Anderson County Democratic Party at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. (Photo by Ellen Smith)

 

Organizers said they expected about 70 people. Instead, roughly 500 people showed up.

It was the “Standing in Solidarity” event hosted by the Anderson County Democratic Party at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday, January 21.

The purpose was to show support with the worldwide protests of President Donald Trump, said Scott Julius of the Anderson County Democratic Party. He said there were tables from 20 different progressive organizations at the January 21 event.

Several readers have sent photos from the event. Here are some of them. [Read more…]

ASAP: Students get the facts on drugs, win free chicken

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Victoria Seiber, the Chick-fil-A Cow, and Alexis Roy at Clinton High School for the ASAP Ambassador’s National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge. (Photo by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County)

Victoria Seiber, the Chick-fil-A Cow, and Alexis Roy at Clinton High School for the ASAP Ambassador’s National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge. (Photo by Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County)

 

Submitted

The ASAP Ambassadors Youth Coalition from Anderson County, Clinton, and Oak Ridge high schools celebrated National Drug and Alcohol Facts week last week. Aiming to increase their peers’ awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, the student-led group organized the event.

Students from the three high schools tested their knowledge on drugs and drug abuse by taking the 2017 National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge during their school’s lunch periods. Student contestants answered questions in a buzzer style trivia game related to mental health, marijuana, and other drugs.

With the support of Project AWARE and Chick-fil-A, the event was a crowd-pleasing success, but most importantly, students gained valuable knowledge. [Read more…]

Community-wide Valentine’s Dance at First United Methodist on Feb. 11

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first-united-methodist-church-of-oak-ridge-jan-2017

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge will celebrate recent renovations with an open house on Sunday evening, Jan. 8, 2017. The church is located at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and North Tulane Avenue. (Photo courtesy Jeff Kile)

 

First United Methodist Church has its Third Annual Community-wide Valentine’s Dance on Saturday, February 11.

The Valentine’s Day dance is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. February 11 in the Multipurpose Room at First United Methodist Church, which is at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Come dressed to impress for a fun-filled night of dancing and fellowship!” a press release said.

Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORUUC to host February PFLAG meeting

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will host the February PFLAG meeting on Monday, February 6. Upcoming Tennessee legislation affecting the LGBTQ community will be the topic, a press release said.

Social time will begin at 6:45 p.m. The meeting will be from 7 to 8 p.m.

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike (close to traffic light #2.) The community is invited to attend, the press release said. [Read more…]

Benefit spaghetti supper to help ORPD officer

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David Ridenour Benefit 2017

Information from WYSH Radio

A benefit, all-day spaghetti dinner will be held on Saturday, February 11, at Main Street Baptist Church in Rocky Top for Oak Ridge Police Department Officer David Ridenour.

Last year, Ridenour, while building his new home, had an accident with a nail gun that caused a serious injury to his eye.

Despite numerous surgeries and other treatments to try and save the eye, it had to be removed on January 24. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project National Historical Park to be discussed at Feb. 11 meeting

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The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will be discussed at a February 11 meeting. It’s a meeting of the Clinch Bend Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

The guest speaker will be Frank Graham from the National Park Service.

The meeting starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 11, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge.

Call (865) 567-8250 if you are interested in DAR or have questions.

Children’s Museum temporarily closes through Wednesday

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Photo courtesy Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge

 

Due to renovation work and concern for visitor safety, the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is closed Tuesday, January 31, and Wednesday, February 1.

The Museum apologizes for any inconvenience.

The Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive, will reopen Thursday morning at 9 a.m.

Oak Ridge Civic Music Association has new choral director

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Jaclyn Johnson

Jaclyn Johnson

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association has a new choral director, Jaclyn Johnson.

A press release said Johnson has made it her life goal to share her passion for music with ensembles and audiences around the world. Before completing her doctoral degree in choral conducting at the University of Michigan, Johnson had a thriving career as a high school choral educator and church musician, the press release said.

Ensembles under her direction have received numerous honors and awards, including performances at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference (2011), Western Division Conference (2010), and Central Division Conference (2014), the press release said. In 2014, Johnson represented the United States as an international exchange conductor to China. She is currently the associate director of choral activities at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

“I am honored to be the new choral director for ORCMA and to work with such brilliant individuals,” Johnson said in the press release. “Oak Ridge has a rich and unique musical history, and I aspire to further this excellence with inspiring and exciting programs. We welcome any new members who have a passion for singing!” [Read more…]