Benjamin Fowler and Julie Golden of Oak Ridge High School and Scot Smith of Robertsville Middle School have been named as Outstanding Educators for 2017 by Humanities Tennessee. Three of this year’s six recipients of the award are from Oak Ridge Schools. According to Humanities Tennessee, the Outstanding Educator Awards recognize teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching the humanities and who encourage the humanities to be an important part of their students’ lives. Each of the recipients, selected from a pool of nominees from across the state, receive a $2,000 fellowship to further their professional development in the humanities; their schools receive $1,500 for humanities programs and materials, a press release said. [Read more…]
An Evening Out to benefit Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County
Photo courtesy Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County
Some of East Tennessee’s most exciting performing artists will share one stage in Oak Ridge in a concert to raise funds for the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, or CACAC, a press release said.
The event attracts a cadre of talented singers, songwriters, dancers, and performers from the area, the press release said. This year, it’s scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Grove Center.
Two of the area’s most talented performers will be highlighting the evening, the press release said. Kelle Jolly, “The Tennessee Ukulele Lady,” is one of East Tennessee’s most celebrated jazz musicians and a WUOT personality, the release said. Dominick White, a baritone with the Marble City Opera Company, will share his talent in the evening of fun.
Other singers, plus dance ensembles, will be performing including tango, lindy hop, and Greg Carney’s hip-hop. The emcee of the evening will be Zach Farrar who will also be handling the live auction.
“This event makes a difference in the lives of children,” said Sally Avery, president of the CACAC Board of Directors. “An evening of entertainment while supporting the kids, it is the event to be at this year!” [Read more…]
Photos: Secret City Wildbots competing in First Robotics Championship in Houston
The Secret City Wildbots Team 4265’s robot, Luna, successfully climbs at the end of the second qualifying match of the day at the First Robotics Championship in Houston on Thursday, April 20, 2017, with the drive team in background. (Photo by Angi Agle)
The Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 are competing in the First Robotics Championship in Houston this week.
Qualifying matches started Thursday, and there are matches scheduled for today (Friday, April 21).
Here is a schedule sent by Angi Agle, with Team 4265 playing at the following times and with corresponding match numbers, in case the matches run off schedule: [Read more…]
Photo: JMS First Lego League team competing in Houston
At the First Robotics World Championship in Houston, the Jefferson Middle School First Lego League team, the JMS Master Builders, is also competing in the FLL Division. Pictured above on Thursday, April 20, 2017, are team members, from left to right, Matthew Alexander, Thora Spence, Amelia Thomson, Jessica Mohr, Stella Scott, and Adam Blanchard. (Photo by Angi Agle)
At the First Robotics World Championship in Houston, the Jefferson Middle School First Lego League team, the JMS Master Builders, is competing in the FLL Division (see photo above).
The FLL matches began Thursday at 12:50 p.m. Central time.
Photo and information provided by Angi Agle.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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Top 5 during City Blueprint meeting: Senior Center, green space, disc golf, animal shelter, public transportation
Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge
The Oak Ridge city staff has tallied the top five comments received during the City Blueprint initiative, which kicked off with a public meeting in Grove Center in January. Here are the top comments:
- Seniors need their own, updated senior center.
- More green space.
- Improve disc golf.
- New animal shelter.
- Public transportation to and from Knoxville.
There is an effort under way to build a new senior center.
The city estimated that about 500 people attended the January 26 kickoff meeting for the City Blueprint at High Places Community Church in Grove Center. There were 670 suggestion cards turned in, with 775 comments on the cards and another 100 comments shared on Facebook. [Read more…]
Housing report recommends more new homes, rental units
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and its Housing Task Force, which was chaired by Melinda Hillman, right, present a housing report to the Oak Ridge City Council during a non-voting work session on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. At left is Parker Hardy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce president. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The competition to provide housing for workers is fierce, and Oak Ridge needs more new homes in the $180,000-$280,000 price range and more rental units in the $900-$1,200 price range, according to a housing report presented to Oak Ridge City Council by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
Also proposed in the housing report: the development of attractive, convenient mixed use gathering spaces; improving the appearance of existing neighborhoods through aggressive codes enforcement; beautification projects in public spaces to make Oak Ridge more appealing; developing and implementing a consistent “brand” for Oak Ridge that encompasses livability, economic development, and tourism; incentivizing home improvements in the Manhattan District Overlay; and developing public/private partnerships to work on housing.
The report, which was presented to City Council in a non-voting work session on Tuesday, studied where Oak Ridge employees live, based upon the zip codes of 7,372 employees from eight major Oak Ridge employers. It found that 22 percent of Oak Ridge workers live in Oak Ridge. That’s compared to 44 percent who live in Knox County, primarily in Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, Karns, and Cedar Bluff.
Ten percent of the Oak Ridge workers live in Roane County, 6 percent live in Clinton, and less than five percent each live in Loudon, Blount, Morgan, and other counties, the report said.
The housing report only reviewed Oak Ridge as it compares to the five most popular communities where people who work in Oak Ridge choose to live (Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, Karns, and Cedar Bluff).
“Competition for residents is fierce, and Oak Ridge competes with some of the most desirable communities in the region,” the report said. [Read more…]
Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday
The monthly Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday. It’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2017, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Pictured above from left during a Breakfast with the Legislators on Monday, April 25, 2016, are Sen. Randy McNally, Rep. John Ragan, and Rep. Kent Calfee. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The monthly Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday. It’s scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 24, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Breakfast with the Legislators is organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. A light continental breakfast is provided at no charge, and the public is encouraged to attend.
Tennessee senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to bring everyone up to date on what’s happening in the state legislature, the Tennessee General Assembly, the press release said. [Read more…]
Roane State award-winning author Genovise has new book
Elizabeth Genovise
There’s a “bit of the magical” in her new work of fiction, author and Roane State assistant professor Elizabeth Genovise says.
Genovise’s latest literary effort, what she describes “one very long ‘short’ story,” is titled “The Stone Pear.” It’s now available for pre-order from publisher Anchor & Plume Press in Louisiana.
It’s the coming-of-age story of a girl coming to grips with her mother’s fragile health while also becoming obsessed with a pair of migrant workers boarding at her parents’ farm.
Genovise, who has taught English composition and literature at Roane State since 2010, says “The Stone Pear” is an unusual departure from what she calls her “strictly realistic stories.” [Read more…]
Oak Ridge recreation manager named a community hero
Matt Reedy, left, receives an official ICMA Community Hero certificate and letter from Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, right. From left to right in background are Mayor Pro Tem Rick Chinn, Council member Jim Dodson, and Council member Kelly Callison. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)
Oak Ridge Recreation Manager Matt Reedy has been named a 2017 Community Hero by the International City/County Management Association, or ICMA. Reedy is one of just 10 people chosen from across the country, a press release said.
“The honor is part of an ICMA initiative called ‘Life, Well Run,’ which aims to raise awareness of and appreciation for the value professional managers bring to build ethical, efficient, effective local government, and great communities we’re proud to call home,” a press release said.
Reedy was surprised with the announcement and a presentation of a certificate from ICMA at the regular city council meeting on Monday, April 10, the press release said. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson spoke about Reedy’s devotion to the city and its people, in particular its youth. [Read more…]
First United Methodist hosts ETSU BucsWorth Men’s Ensemble on Friday
ETSU BucsWorth Men’s Ensemble (Submitted photo)
As part of the Newsong Concert Series, First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge will host the East Tennessee State University BucsWorth Men’s Ensemble on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to attend. The suggested donation is $10, a press release said.
BucsWorth Men’s Choir was formed in the early 1990s at East Tennessee State University as a primarily a capella chamber ensemble called “10 BucsWorth”—which referred to the number of guys in the ensemble and a play-on-words reference to the ETSU mascot, the Buccaneers, the press release said. In 2013, the ensemble was expanded to a full men’s choir under the direction of Alan Stevens. [Read more…]
New healthy living exhibit opens at Children’s Museum on Saturday
Children will find plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating and many suggestions for movement to keep them fit when the new Kids in Action! Healthy Living exhibit opens Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)
Children will find plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating and many suggestions for movement to keep them fit when a new exhibit opens Saturday at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
The Kids in Action! Healthy Living exhibit opens with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 22, in the east wing of the Museum. The exhibit opening will feature special activities in the gym and drawings for door prizes throughout the day, with one week of summer camp as the grand door prize. The museum is open until 4 p.m. Saturday.
A members’ sneak preview of the new exhibit will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. Museum visitors may join that evening if they wish to participate in the sneak preview.
“The exhibit is an opportunity for kids to learn through play where their food comes from. We have a henhouse and a farmers’ market. Children and families can learn about making healthy food choices,” Beth Shea, the museum’s executive director, said of the “Healthy Eating” part of the exhibit.
The “Healthy Activity” section of the exhibit encourages kids and families to keep healthy and fit through exercise and movement. [Read more…]
