Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Symphony: ‘A Double Dose of Awesomeness’ on Saturday

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Dan Allcott

Dan Allcott, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association director, is pictured above.

Violinist Wei Tsun Chang and cellist Wesley Baldwin will join forces for a performance of the Brahms double concerto with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Additional music will honor the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Wagner and Verdi with performances of La Forza Del Distino and Renzi overtures.

The concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. Tickets are available from the ORCMA office at (865) 483-5569.

ADFAC annual meeting Monday features auctions, presentation on ‘Bow Tie Fund’

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ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties Inc.) is ready to celebrate with the community another year of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”

This year’s annual meeting is free to the public, and it’s sure to be a treat (no tricks!) for all who attend, a press release said. The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and will be held at the New Hope Center at the front entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex. [Read more…]

Girls Inc. room gets makeover by Leadership Oak Ridge, tennis court project next

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Girls Inc. Tennis Court

The middle school room at Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge has received a makeover from Oak Ridge Leadership Class of 2013, which also wants to resurface the tennis courts, pictured above. (Submitted photo)

It was in need of renovations, and the middle school room at Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge has received a makeover from the Oak Ridge Leadership Class of 2013, a press release said.

The Leadership Class had selected Girls Inc. as their 2013 community project, and members repainted the walls of the middle school room, made wall-mounted tables with raised plugs for electronic devices, created a study area, and added new pillows, organizer bins, tables, lamps, and chairs, the release said. [Read more…]

Mentors needed for tnAchieves, a statewide scholarship and mentoring program

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tnAchieves, a statewide scholarship and mentoring program, has accepted 521 scholarship applications from the Class of 2014 in the three local high schools.

The mission of tnAchieves is to increase higher education opportunities for Tennessee students by providing last-dollar scholarships with mentor support. Last year, the program worked with 345 students in Anderson County alone.

Eliminating the funding barrier is important, but tnAchieves believes that the mentoring component is truly the heart of the program. Due to the increase in applicants this year, the program needs more volunteer mentors than ever. Mentors provide encouragement and structure to students as they navigate the college-going process. Current mentors report that the time commitment is only about 10 hours annually.

For more information, visit www.tnachieves.org or contact Graham Thomas at (615) 604-1306 or graham@tnachieves.org.

Trunk Sale features jewelry, art; benefits Habitat for Humanity

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Bombay by Design Trunk Sale Flier

A Trunk Sale at Grove Center this weekend will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, and it will feature items ranging from exquisite jewelry and exotic beads to apparel and linen, organizers said.

The sale is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 105 Randolph Road.

Other items will includes accessories, handicrafts, and tribal and bohemian art, organizers said. Merchandise is designed and crafted by banjara (gypsies) and artisans in India.

What’s happening in Oak Ridge from Oct. 24-30

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Here is a summary of events happening in Oak Ridge starting Thursday, Oct. 24, and continuing through Oct. 30.

This weekly listing of events is compiled by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau: [Read more…]

New low-income apartments for seniors under construction

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Information from WYSH Radio

A new three-story apartment complex for very low-income seniors over the age of 62 is currently being constructed in Oak Ridge and could be open for occupancy by next spring.

Dogwood Manor Apartments is being built behind Linda Brown Realty on Oak Ridge Turnpike and is funded by a federal Housing and Urban Development grant worth $3.1 million. The new facility will feature 23 one-bedroom apartments and a two-bedroom apartment for the on-site manager. The apartments are all designed to be handicap-accessible and one unit will be designed for use by someone with vision or hearing impairments.

Residents would pay 30 percent of their income for rent and utilities in the subsidized housing complex. The work is being performed by J&S Construction of Cookeville.

Boys and Girls Club has fall festival Friday

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The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge has its fourth annual fall festival on Friday.

The festival is at the club from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, and it costs $4. That includes unlimited time in the bounce house, a cake walk, one trip through each of the program areas, and a hot dog, chips, and drink. Extra tickets for the haunted house can be bought for $1.

Each program area will be filled with exciting activities and delicious treats, and there will be an obstacle course and corn hole tournament, organizers said. [Read more…]

Anderson County Republican Party has open house Tuesday

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The Anderson County Republican Party will have a community open house between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge.

“This is an opportunity to learn about the Republican Party and meet local office holders and candidates, who will be there to share ideas and gain input for the upcoming elections,” a press release said.

The Midtown Community Center is located at 102 Robertsville Road, at the intersection with Oak Ridge Turnpike. Refreshments will be served. [Read more…]

Roane rallies around injured student-athlete

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Information from WYSH Radio

Classmates of a Kingston High School sophomore football player who broke his neck on the first play of last week’s game against Sequoyah showed their support and rallied the community’s support for him on Tuesday.

Seth Haynes shattered the third vertebrae in his neck in the game and underwent surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center over the weekend. He could be released from the hospital as early as today and has expressed interest in attending the Yellow Jackets game this Friday night. [Read more…]

IDB has public hearing, special meeting to consider mall plan Thursday

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Oak Ridge Mall Master Plan

A city board will have a public hearing and special meeting Thursday to consider a tax financing agreement for the $80 million redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall. (Submitted image)

A city board will have a public hearing and special meeting Thursday to consider a tax financing agreement for the $80 million redevelopment of the Oak Ridge Mall.

The public hearing starts at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom. It will include a presentation by Crosland Southeast, the North Carolina company that has a purchase contract on the mall and has proposed redeveloping it. The public hearing will also include public comments.

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will have a special meeting after the public hearing to consider approving the tax increment financing, or TIF, agreement, which could be recommended to Oak Ridge City Council and Anderson County Commission. [Read more…]

No new date yet for Y-12 safety, UPF meeting canceled due to shutdown

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

A federal nuclear safety board has not yet rescheduled a Knoxville meeting to discuss, among other things, the risks associated with continuing to operate old buildings involved in weapons work at the Y-12 National Security Complex, pictured above, and the progress made in the past year to incorporate safety into the design of the multi-billion dollar Uranium Processing Facility. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

A federal nuclear safety board has not yet rescheduled a meeting in Knoxville that had been expected to discuss this week, among other things, the risks associated with continuing to operate old buildings involved in weapons work at the Y-12 National Security Complex—and the progress made in the past year to incorporate safety into the design of the multi-billion dollar Uranium Processing Facility.

The federal Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board had been scheduled to have the day-long meeting and public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Knoxville Convention Center. But it was delayed due to the partial shutdown of the federal government, which started Oct. 1 and ended Oct. 17.

[Read more…]