Oak Ridge Today

Hike near Norris Dam State Park on Saturday

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The trail in a greener season. (Photo courtesy Joe Feeman)

The trail in a greener season. (Photo courtesy Joe Feeman)

 

The Norris Municipal Watershed, situated adjacent to Norris Dam State Park, is a 2,300-acre area that is the watershed of Clear Creek; it is managed for water quality protection, sustainable forest management, and public recreation. A network of about 30 miles of forest roads and single-track trails are managed by the Norris Watershed Board.

A Saturday, October 29, outing will include a hike up Clear Creek Trail to Lower White Pine Trail, up Raccoon Run Trail to Red Hill Trail, and then to the White Oak Spring Trail and back down Clear Creek Trail to the start.

“As we walk, we’ll learn about the forest and discuss the history of this area,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Community invited to Breakfast for Dinner free community meal Friday

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The Stone Soup Ministry team at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will be firing up the griddle instead of filling up soup pots for a special free community meal Friday, October 28, from 5-6 p.m. Everyone is invited to the breakfast for dinner meal that will include pancakes and bacon along with fresh fruit, and milk, all provided by Kroger, a press release said. The October meal marks the start of the seventh year of the ministry.

Dine-in or takeout will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Social Hall of the church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike (close to traffic light number #2) in Oak Ridge.

“We are so grateful to our community partner Kroger for supplying the food for the October meal and for helping it to become a community tradition. This is the fourth year they have donated the food,” said program coordinator Jinx Watson. “Throughout the year they also provide fresh fruit to serve at our meals, something our diners really enjoy.” [Read more…]

Central Baptist has Trunks With Treats on Wednesday

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Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge has Trunks With Treats on Wednesday.

There will be hot dogs, popcorn, and lots of candy, an event flyer said.

“Come and join us for a safe and fun time at Central Baptist Church,” organizers said.

Trunks With Treats is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m. at Central Baptist Church, which is at 130 Providence Road in Oak Ridge. Call (865) 483-7495 for more information.

MMC hosts Walk to Remember for those dealing with the loss of a child

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No matter the length, every child’s life leaves an impression on a parent’s heart. That’s why the Walk to Remember was established 16 years ago. The national event brings together parents, nurses, and caregivers who’ve lost children. It is a time to celebrate the lives of children who’ve passed away, a time to share memories and remember the life of a child.

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge will host the Walk to Remember on Sunday, October 30, from 2-4 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Arboretum, located at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. (The walk will be canceled in the event of rain.)

Whether you are a parent who has lost a child of any age or a nurse or caregiver of a child, all are invited to attend the walk, bring mementos, and take part in a remembrance ceremony, a press release said. Walk to Remember is a free memorial walk sponsored by Methodist Medical Center. The program is held in cities across the country each October, and the Oak Ridge walk is the only program in the greater Knoxville area. [Read more…]

Charter Commission candidates debate term limits, reducing County Commission, electing law director

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Seven candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission sparred over term limits, cutting the Anderson County Commission almost in half, and electing the law director during a public forum in Oak Ridge in October. The candidates, all from three Oak Ridge districts, are pictured above. They are, from top left, top row, Marjorie Mott Lloyd, Steve Mead, Kathy Moore, Theresa Scott, and from bottom left, bottom row, Bob Smallridge, David Stanley, and Hugh Ward. (Photos by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Candidates for Anderson County Charter Commission sparred over term limits, cutting the Anderson County Commission almost in half, and electing the law director during a public forum this month.

There was also a heated exchange over whether two candidates—both county commissioners, including one in her first term and another halfway through his second—are permanent officeholders.

The seven candidates are running for three seats on the eight-member Anderson County Charter Commission in the November 8 election.

The debate over term limits has focused on whether the limits are necessary, whether they would encourage more young people to run for office, and whether Anderson County voters already have the right to impose term limits through elections, among other arguments for and against.

As proposed during the campaign, there could be a two-term limit on county commissioners and the county mayor. However, nothing will be official until the Charter Commission is elected next month, and the Charter Commission is not obligated to consider the proposal. Whether the commission even considers term limits could depend upon which candidates are elected. Any changes proposed by the Charter Commission will be considered by voters in November 2018. If approved, they would go into effect in September 2019. [Read more…]

Charter Commission a ‘big deal’ for Anderson County, attorney says

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Joe Jarret

Joe Jarret (Submitted photo)

 

The Charter Commission being elected on November 8 is a “big deal” for Anderson County, an attorney said this month.

“If you live here, you’re going to be affected by it,” said Joe Jarret. He is an attorney who has served two different charter county governments as law director-chief legal counsel, a University of Tennessee lecturer, and former chief legal counsel to the Knox County Charter Review Commission.

Jarret said there are three types of county government in Tennessee: [Read more…]

Party In The Park on Saturday will feature free family fun

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Party in the Park on Saturday will feature family-friendly activities for children and adults, crime prevention presentations and information, free food, and more.

It’s free and presented by the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program.

Party in the Park is scheduled from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 29, from 12 to 5 p.m. at Alvin K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

Party in the Park is designed to heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention, to generate support for local anti-crime programs, and to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, a press release said. [Read more…]

Gem Show at Karen’s Jewelers this week to feature 60,000 rough, cut gemstones

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Gary Bowersox, right, joins a miner at a Colombia emerald mine after lecturing at the First International Emerald Symposium there. (Submitted photo)

 

Explorer and gem hunter Gary Bowersox will bring a Smithsonian-style gem show to Karen’s Jewelers this week that will feature more than 60,000 rough and cut gemstones and jewelry. The show will feature many new cut gems, including finished jewelry pieces of Afghanistan emerald, Tajikistan ruby, and Vietnam aquamarine.

The gem show, “Magnificent Gemstones of the World,” will be presented from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, October 27 and 28, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, October 29, at Karen’s Jewelers, which is at 1120 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The Lady of the Nile aquamarine, a designer piece valued at $86,000, will be among one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry at the show, which will include gems valued from $5 to $100,000. Bowersox purchased the rough aquamarine at Thuong Xuan, Vietnam, then took it to fourth-generation carver Uli Pauly in Germany for carving in the Egyptian theme. Jewelry designer Gregg Crawford finished the piece, which is set in an 18-carat gold Egyptian motif with 12 platinum prongs surrounded by three Afghanistan emeralds and 1.14 carats of fine diamonds.

Besides emerald, ruby, and aquamarine, the exhibit includes garnet, tourmaline, lapis lazuli, amethyst, topaz, sapphire, and kunzite. The exhibit features gems often seen only in museums. [Read more…]

Hope responds to PAC endorsements

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

Oak Ridge City Council member Chuck Hope, the one incumbent running for re-election in the November 8 election, has responded to the endorsements by the Progress PAC political action committee.

The Progress PAC endorsed Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, and Hans Vogel, who are all making their first runs for seats on the seven-member City Council. The endorsements were announced last week.

Hope was not endorsed. You can see his response here.

The PAC was established two years ago by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and it operates autonomously from the Chamber’s Board.

All six of the candidates endorsed by the Progress PAC two years ago were elected, although one candidate who wasn’t endorsed, Rick Chinn, was also elected. [Read more…]

Column: Hope, the incumbent, responds to PAC endorsements

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Chuck Hope

Chuck Hope

By Chuck Hope

First of all, I want to say congratulations to Jim Dodson, Joe Lee, and Hans Vogel on being endorsed by the Chamber’s Progress PAC political action committee. I think it is important for the citizens of Oak Ridge to know that those three candidates are not the only candidates who support a vital economic development plan for Oak Ridge.

My community involvement has been extensive, serving on both the Chamber Board and the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City’s Beer Permit Board before being appointed to Council. I was selected by a council majority in July 2011 to fill a vacated council seat and successfully ran for election in 2012. My vision for economic development is to continue to grow our retail sector while continuing to work harder on industrial growth opportunities. Growth like carbon fiber, whose industry is showing a lot of promise right now.

I want voters to know that I was the top vote-getter in my first election, and I am one of just a few Council members that have been on both the Chamber of Commerce Board (chairman in 2010) and City Council. I have been a businessman in Oak Ridge since 1982, and during the past 15 years, I have supported the City/Chamber contracts and aligned myself with what I thought to be the Chamber’s “mission, vision, and legislative priorities,” and worked closely with the Oak Ridge Board of Education. [Read more…]

Children’s mental health advocate to discuss AWARE program in AC Schools on Monday

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Kim Guinn

Kim Guinn

Kim Guinn, an advocate for children’s mental health, will discuss the Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education, or AWARE, program in Anderson County Schools during a meeting on Monday.

Guinn is director of the Project AWARE initiative for Anderson County Schools.

The Monday program is at 11:30 a.m. October 24 in Room 102 of the Activities Building of First Presbyterian Church. It’s presented by the AAUW, Oak Ridge Branch.

The AWARE program is supported by a federal five-year-grant to help students with mental health or substance abuse issues, a press release said. In this program, teachers and other adults who interact with young people are taught “mental health first aid.” [Read more…]

Owl Prowl at UT Arboretum on Saturday

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Owl Prowl is Saturday. It’s one of the most popular events offered at the University of Tennessee Arboretum.

Owl Prowl is sponsored by the UT Arboretum Society and the Clinch River Raptor Center. Kathy Strunk and Katie Cottrell, naturalists from the Clinch River Raptor Center, will bring live owls for display and will give information about their natural history, a press release said.

Owl Prowl is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 22, at the UT Arboretum, which is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]