Oak Ridge Today

Forecast calls for good weather for Earth Day Festival on Saturday

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Earth Day Logo

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With temperatures forecasted to be 80 degrees and no chance of rain, it looks like Saturday will be a great day to celebrate our lush green environment and play outdoors. Keep Anderson County Beautiful will be hosting the seventh annual Earth Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

A big emphasis in this year’s festival will be showing children how to play ”neighborhood games” that require simple instructions and no costly equipment. Believe it or not some kids don’t know how to play hopscotch or play double jump rope (see demo here) or even sing the child’s rhythmic, ” Strawberry Shortcake, huckleberry pie…”

Many other simple games will be demonstrated with time for kids to learn how to play. Student chess club players will help novices learn how to play with large and traditional size chess pieces. There will be a recycle relay and basketball free throw, bocce, croquet, flying discs, and ladder ball. Prizes will be offered. [Read more…]

City egg hunt April 12

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2014 Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12. Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, and more than 15,000 candy and prize filled eggs will be hidden in A.K. Bissell Park with a first, second, and third place prize egg in each age group, a press release said.

Participants should assemble in the Civic Center gymnasium prior to 110 a.m. The children will be divided into separate age groups from four years old through 4th grade, and they will be escorted to their respective hunt areas. This event will be held “rain or shine,” so participants should dress for the weather. If severe weather prevents hiding the eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the gym and a drawing will be held for the prizes.

The Recreation and Parks Department staff will make a reasonable effort to provide appropriate accommodations for special needs. Parents of children who require a more accessible hunt area are encouraged to call ahead. [Read more…]

International Friendship Bell closed as city assesses damage to housing structure

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Friendship Bell Repairs

A symbol of the friendship between Oak Ridge and Japan, the 20-year-old Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park was closed in December to allow the city to make repairs to the structure holding up the bell.

The International Friendship Bell, located in Oak Ridge’s A.K. Bissell Park, has been closed in order to assess damage to the housing structure in which the bell is displayed. A routine inspection by city staff late last year revealed cracking in the wooden support columns. Temporary fencing has been placed around the structure; additional fencing and signage will be installed this week in order to restrict direct access to the bell.

The structure housing the bell is a unique, open, timber-frame structure with six main timbers measuring approximately 12” square supporting the entire frame. A preliminary inspection by a local engineering firm has revealed significant wood root and deterioration to the structure. In addition, a large crack has developed in the stone wall supporting one of the columns at the south end of the bell structure. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge has Children’s Halloween Party on Oct. 24

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Halloween Flyer

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2013 Children’s Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. Activities will be planned for every room in the Civic Center, and a hay ride will be offered in A.K. Bissell Park, weather permitting.

There will a scary room, games, prizes, food, crafts, face painting, and many other fun activities. Tickets must be purchased for each activity, and each ticket costs $0.25 each. All access armbands are available and cost $5 each. Armbands give unlimited access to all activities; however, this does not include sale items or food.

For more information call the Oak Ridge Civic Center at (865)425-3450. For more information about this and other events, visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks website at www.orrecparks.org.

Oak Ridge to support crime prevention with National Night Out

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Oak Ridge will join communities throughout the country celebrating National Night Out from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. The evening is designed to heighten awareness of crime prevention and to strengthen neighborhood involvement in anti-crime programs and police-community partnerships.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program is supporting the Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office in planning the city-wide National Night Out event. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this unique crime prevention program promoted by the National Association of Town Watch Groups. [Read more…]

More than 1,200 runners, walkers expected in Neon Vibe 5K this weekend

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Neon Vibe 5K Oak Ridge

A Neon Vibe 5K will be held in Oak Ridge on Sept. 21. (Photo courtesy Neon Vibe 5K)

Runners and walkers will “light up the night” in Oak Ridge on Saturday, as the state’s first Neon Vibe 5K makes its way to the Secret City. Race organizers are expecting large crowds with more than 1,200 participants already registered and more expected to sign up later this week and on race day.

The road race begins at 8 p.m. near the Pavilion inside A.K. Bissell Park. Participants and spectators should plan to arrive early, at least an hour before the race, and allow ample time to find parking prior to road closures occurring around the race site.

Parking for participants and spectators is available at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, the Oak Ridge Municipal Building, Oak Ridge High School, the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau at the Midtown Community Center, and the back parking lot of Oak Ridge Associated Universities. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band has Labor Day concert

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The Oak Ridge Community Band will performs its annual Labor Day concert on Monday, Sept. 2, at A.K. Bissell Park.

The free concert starts at 7 p.m. at the pavilion behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for outdoor seating, and refreshments will be available for sale, a press release said. [Read more…]

Children’s Halloween Party scheduled, game booth sponsors needed

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2013 Children’s Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This annual event will be attended by hundreds of children and their parents. Activities will be planned for every room in the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and a hay ride will be offered in A.K. Bissell Park, weather permitting.

Businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor a game booth for the event. Sponsors will supply two to four volunteers to operate the game throughout the event. The Recreation and Parks department will provide the games and prizes unless sponsors wish to provide their own. Games should be age-appropriate for children age 10 and under. Applications can be emailed or picked up at the Civic Center front desk. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Community Band has Summer Concert Sunday

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Oak Ridge Community Band

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at the A.K. Bissell Park Pavilion. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge Community Band has a free Summer Concert at A.K. Bissell Park on Sunday.

The band will perform a program of swing, jazz, classical, movie themes, marches, and novelty pieces, a press release said.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at the park’s pavilion at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Fireworks still scheduled for tonight as heavier rains move out of area

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July 4 Fireworks Setup

Workers set up fireworks at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge for a Sunday evening (July 7) show. (Photo by Darryl Kerley)

The Oak Ridge fireworks show is still scheduled for this evening, and crews were loading the fireworks Sunday morning, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said.

The July 4 fireworks were rescheduled for 10 p.m. today (Sunday, July 7) because of forecasts calling for heavy rain before and on Independence Day.

The event itself starts at 7 p.m. today at A.K. Bissell Park. Radio host Jack Ryan will be transmitting live from the park beginning at 6 p.m. and will conclude the live broadcast on Merle 96.7 FM with a patriotic medley as the fireworks are shot, according to a city press release last week. [Read more…]

Teen Battle of the Bands on July 20

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Guitar Player at Battle of the Teen Bands

A guitar player is pictured above at a previous Battle of the Teen Bands at A.K. Bissell Park.

Y-12 Federal Credit Union is hosting a Teen Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m. July 20 at the A.K. Bissell Park Pavilion behind the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

This is an all-ages community event, and admission is free. Concessions and T-shirts will be available.

In case of rain, the event will be moved to the gym inside the Oak Ridge Civic Center. For more information, send an e-mail to bands@y12fcu.org.

July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge rescheduled to Sunday

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July 4, 2012 Fireworks

The July 4 fireworks show in Oak Ridge has been rescheduled for 10 p.m. Sunday at A.K. Bissell Park. (Photo by Charles Samuels)

The July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge have been rescheduled from Thursday to Sunday, an official said Tuesday.

“After consulting with the National Weather Service and our fireworks contractor Pyro Shows, I have made the decision to re-schedule the event,” Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said in a press release. “The community investment is too great for the event to not be spectacular.”

He said heavy rain is expected Wednesday and Thursday, and that could cause problems setting up and loading the shells. The rain could also result in misfires during the Independence Day show and make it difficult for residents and visitors to sit outside and enjoy the display. [Read more…]